NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 8, 2026
Oilers captain Connor McDavid wins the Lindsay Award, the latest on the Hurricanes and Golden Knights, Joe Pavelski is among the candidates to become the next coach of the Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has won the Ted Lindsay Award, which is given annually to the league’s most outstanding player as voted by the membership of the NHL Players’ Association.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth time that McDavid has won the Lindsay Award, tying Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history. McDavid is also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA), which he’s won three times.
The Lindsay Award is the second trophy that McDavid has won this season. In April, he won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer for the sixth time.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes face multiple questions as they find themselves down two games to one to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
The biggest is whether to have Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi in net for Game 4 on Tuesday. Andersen has started every game in this postseason for the Hurricanes, but was pulled after the second period in Game 3 after giving up four goals. Bussi played well in the third period as the Canes rallied to force overtime before falling 5-4 in the second OT period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes played poorly in front of Andersen in Game 3, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets the start on Tuesday.
Some argue that Andersen was tired after 16 straight postseason starts, but it’s unlikely that fatigue was a factor in Game 3. Andersen’s workload hasn’t been that heavy in these playoffs. He and his teammates had nearly two weeks off between the second round and the Eastern Conference Final, and they made quick work of their three previous opponents before facing the more experienced Golden Knights.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has garnered praise from his teammates and head coach John Tortorella for his toughness in this series.
McNabb left Game 2 in the first period with facial injuries that required a trip to a local hospital for repairs. After receiving over 20 stitches in his nose, he played in Game 3 wearing a protective cage on his mask, logging 35:47 minutes of ice time and collecting two assists.
TSN: Former NHL forward Joe Pavelski is among the candidates to be head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs as the club’s search enters its second phase.
Pavelski played 18 seasons in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars from 2006-07 to 2023-24, netting 1,068 points in 1,332 regular-season games. However, he has limited coaching experience other than coaching his son Nate at the youth level.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen if Pavelski would get the job, but it shows the Maple Leafs are at least willing to think outside the box a little.
Like Pavelski, Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis’ only coaching experience was working with his sons when the Montreal Canadiens named him head coach in 2021-22. He’s since led that rebuilding team from dead last four years ago to the Eastern Conference Final this season.
RATINGS: Marco D’Amico recently profiled center Caleb Malhotra of the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. The 18-year-old rookie finished second among the Bulldogs with 84 points.
The son of former NHL player and current Vancouver Canucks coach Manny Malhotra, Caleb hopes to emerge from his father’s shadow and shift the focus onto the player he’s trying to become.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see where Malhotra gets selected in the first round. Most scouting sites have him being chosen in the top 10 between fourth and seventh overall.
BOSTON HERALD: Milan Lucic officially announced his retirement on his 38th birthday (June 7).
Lucic spent 18 seasons in the NHL from 2007-08 to 2023-24 with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames. He had 233 goals, 353 assists, 586 points, and 1,301 PIMs in 1,177 regular-season games. Lucic also had 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points in 136 playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lucic’s best seasons were with the Bruins, becoming one of the league’s top power forwards during that time. However, his performance tailed off over the final seven seasons as age, injuries and the faster pace of the game took its toll.
Lucic attempted a comeback with the Blues this season, but that ended after five games with their AHL affiliate in Springfield. He finished this season in England with the Fife Flyers.
NHL players are starting to catch up to ,NFL,MLB,NBA players where they want to have more control in their careers. GM s are being hamstrung by their NTC clauses. Word around the league is Larkin won t be the last player this off-season with a similar request!
Bang on, Sr. In fact, if you query Google AI “do some believe that the Larkin trade request won’t be the last such request this year?” this is what pops up (and, of course, leading the way is Brady Tkachuk):
“Yes, multiple NHL analysts and insiders believe that Dylan Larkin’s shocking trade request will not be the last of its kind this offseason.
The June 2026 trade demand by the Detroit Red Wings captain has sparked a broader conversation about a permanent shift toward NBA-style player empowerment within the NHL. Rather than being viewed as an isolated incident, sports media figures believe it signals a growing trend where star players with significant term left on their contracts will actively leverage their status to force moves to winning organizations.
Why Analysts Expect More Trade Requests
• The Player Empowerment Movement: Hockey analysts from outlets like Sportsnet note that Larkin’s decision marks a major shift in how NHL stars view contract loyalty. Star players are increasingly taking control of their career paths rather than waiting out lengthy, stagnant rebuilds.
• Precedent for Star Capitals: Pundits are already pointing to other frustrated stars on struggling teams as the logical next candidates to ask out. For instance, hockey insiders writing for The Athletic have openly speculated that Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk could be the next high-profile star to follow Larkin’s blueprint if long-term contract extension talks or team performance stall.
• Frustration with Management Rebuilds: Larkin’s decision stemmed from navigating a 10-year playoff drought in Detroit and building frustration over GM Steve Yzerman’s conservative trade deadline approaches. Across the league, other elite, prime-age talents stuck on perpetual fringe-playoff rosters are expected to monitor the outcome of Larkin’s leverage play.
Key Context of the Larkin Move
• Contract Term Control: Larkin is 29 years old and has five years remaining on an eight-year contract paying him $8.7 million annually. Requesting a trade with this much term remaining is highly unusual for an NHL captain.
• Full No-Trade Leverage: Because Larkin possesses a full no-trade clause (NTC), he retains total control over his destination, giving him the unique power to narrow his field to a select list of true Stanley Cup contenders.”
I did not want to see Bussi go he was very good with Providence hopefully the bruins don’t make the same mistake and let The best goalie in the ahl two years running Dipietro go. If Canes win game 4 Tuesday it’s 7 games series if Vegas wins it’s over. I’d be happy if Boston picked up either Larkin, Mason or Kent.
Dang George. Don’t know if Rangers should go after Larkin, Kyrou, or wait for Brady!
Slick62, I would prefer Larkin. He fills an immediate need, still in his prime and is cost controlled for the next 5 yrs. Out of the 3 you mentioned, he would have the biggest and most positive impact for the Rangers.
Heh. I think if he ever does decide to “pull a Larkin” as a preferred destination I’d bet NY would come in at a distant 4th b/o St. Louis, Florida, Tampa and … why not? – Vegas.
No offense George, but I for one hope those rumors don’t come to fruition. Other than a physical presence, I don’t see the lure of Brady. He doesn’t provide a huge amount of offense; in fact, he is nowhere near the best player on the Sens IMHO. Since being drafted, they have only made the playoffs twice and both of them were 1st round exits. In the series against Carolina this year, he didn’t register a single point. He does nothing to move the needle for the Rangers, and I would much rather have Larkin or Kyrou over him. Again, not trying to offend you or any other Sens fans, I just don’t buy the hype that he gets.
No offense taken Nhblueshirt94.
But while his offensive contributions may not be on a par with, say, Stutzle, they aren’t exactly non-existent either. Over his 572gp to date, his 82-game averages work out to 31g 36a 67pts. That, added to his primary value, which is his willingness to go into the rough areas and lead by example, is what makes him attractive to some teams. And on any team he’s a part of, no Shrinking Violets are welcome.
As for not garnering a point in the Carolina series, he was also a prime target of one of the hardest-checking teams in the entire league.
Nor can anyone say they were “dominated” in that series, despite losing 4 straight. Discounting empty-netters (one in the opening 2-0 loss and another in the deciding 4th game) every game was decided by one goal, and included a double-OT.
George, I didn’t imply he doesn’t contribute, I just don’t personally believe he is the missing piece the Rangers need. His willingness to go into the rough areas is nice to see, but that quality can be found in many other players that don’t come at the cost it would take to acquire him. I would much rather Drury try to get Pinto in a deal as he would fill their needs more effectively.
If Drury were to pursue a Tkachuk, I would rather it be Matthew as he has proven to be a big game player who also has a lot of snarl to his game.
Several of the younger players that were called up last year showed real promise. Hopefully Drury sees that and gives them the opportunity to continue to grow and become regular contributors. Liam Greentree is another prospect I am looking forward to seeing at camp this year. The 5th OA pick should provide another opportunity to get a young stud who will help build them back into a contender.
I actually hope Drury is trying to package both 1st rd picks this year together to try and switch with SJ and grab one of either McKenna or Stenberg.
I was asked yesterday about Joel Eriksson Ek and to be honest I’d rather have him than Larkin on the Habs.
If there was a way to swing a 3-way deal that brought Eriksson Ek to Montreal and Larkin to Minnesota with a number of other players moving to satisfy Detroit, I’d be very interested.
HF30, is your decision based on whether or not Larkin would leave the states?
Sr,
No, I like Eriksson Ek more as a fit in Montreal and he’d cost less. Habs need a 2C, Minnesota needs a 1C.
Erickson Ek would be the player I’d target as well.
I like his game better than Larkins.
That wouldn t solve the problem in Minnesota. If they trade Ek they have to go find a second line center like everyone else in the league is looking for! 3 way deals are tough to pull off. Satisfying 3 teams.
Sr,
Minnesota would play Larkin as 1C and Hartman would be the 2C.
After that it depends on who the swing players are and where they slot in.
for example: Struble, Brodin, Kapanen, Yurov, Engstrom, Stramel, Rasmussen.
Detroit gets most of the swing
Minnesota next
Montreal last.
just some hypothetical placeholder names:
Detroit-Yurov/Kapanen/Brodin/Stramel
Minnesota-Larkin/Struble/Engstrom
Montreal- Eriksson Ek/Rasmussen