NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 13, 2026
The salary arbitration schedule is revealed, predicting who will fill 10 vacant team captain positions, former Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby joining the Lightning, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
PUCKPEDIA has learned the hearing dates for the upcoming 2026 NHL salary arbitration schedule (July 20 to Aug. 1).
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).
Monday, July 20: Jamie Drysdale, Philadelphia Flyers; Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets.
Wednesday, July 22: Trevor Zegras, Philadelphia Flyers.
Thursday, July 23: Jet Greaves, Columbus Blue Jackets.
Saturday, July 25: Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars; Connor McMichael, St. Louis Blues.
Monday, July 27: Cole Sillinger, Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tuesday, July 28: Nick Robertson, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Wednesday, July 29: Braden Schneider, New York Rangers; Ronan Seeley, Carolina Hurricanes.
Thursday, July 30: Alex Jeffries, New York Islanders; Kirby Dach, Montreal Canadiens.
Saturday, August 1: Akira Schmid, Florida Panthers; Peyton Krebs, Buffalo Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: History tells us that most, if not all, of these cases will be settled before their hearing dates. The players and their teams can continue to negotiate up until the date of their hearings.
If a case goes before an arbitrator, the award decision will be announced within 48 hours of the hearing. The team will have 48 hours from the date of the award to accept it. If it is rejected, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Jason Robertson’s case will be most closely watched. He’s the biggest star on this list and is seeking a lucrative long-term contract reportedly worth an average annual value of $14 million. It’s believed the Stars offered up an eight-year deal worth an AAV of $12 million.
At one point, the Stars had a trade in place that would’ve shipped Robertson to the Seattle Kraken, but the deal fell through after he rejected their offer of an eight-year extension worth $15 million annually.
DAILY FACEOFF: Hunter Crowther predicted which players could fill the 10 NHL captain vacancies for 2026-27.
Notable predictions include David Pastrnak taking over the captaincy of the Boston Bruins, Connor Bedard for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bo Horvat for the New York Islanders, Jake Sanderson for the Ottawa Senators, and Macklin Celebrini for the San Jose Sharks.
Crowther noted that Drew Doughty would love to take over as captain of the Los Angeles Kings. However, with the Kings not yet committed to a contract extension for the 36-year-old defenseman, Crowther suggested Adrian Kempe as the safer choice.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Who do you think should take over as the new team captains for those 10 clubs? Let us know in the comments section below.
DAILY FACEOFF: cited a report from Sweden, indicating that former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby is embracing a fresh start with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Hildeby, 24, was traded to the Lightning on July 1. He said he has fond memories of his time with the Leafs organization, but is now looking forward to practicing alongside two-time Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy in Tampa Bay. He’ll be expected to challenge for the backup role this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If things go well for Hildeby, he could eventually become Vasilevskiy’s successor.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Colton Dach to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.2 million.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators head coach Travis Green was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame, joining former NHLers Andrew Ladd and Josh Gorges, NHL official Malcolm Ashford, and broadcaster Daryl Reaugh.
Just because Bedard and Celebrini and others are excellent players does not male them excellent Captains. Those kids have enough to worry about withoit the additional pressure and work of being Captain. The on ice stuff is hard enough bit Captains do so much more off ice. Their wives generally do as well for the community and for new players families coming to town. Leave it to a solid Vet.
Counterpoint: Sidney Crosby was 19 when he was named captain of the Penguins. Gabriel Landeskog was 19 when he became captain of the Avalanche. Connor McDavid was 19 when he was named captain of the Oilers.
I would tend to agree with Az. Let a seasoned vet with leadership skills have the captaincy. Sure there are historic examples of young captains, but that doesn’t mean they were the best decisions at the time. It would be reasonable to assume that young players have a lot to learn and come up to speed with, and not having to worry about “leading” the team with the locker room and media dynamics, helps a young player focus on their own growth first.
I don’t think we can simply paint all theses guys with the same brush. Are they leaders or aren’t they?
Ya, some extra responsibilities come with the C, but first and foremost it’s about what you do on the ice. Both in game and in practice. As well as how do you treat people.
I would suggest Celebrini is already the clear leader of the Sharks. At least from everything I have read and seen from him. And he didn’t even really need to try to be one, it’s just who he is and how he works. I know a lot less about Bedard.
he is going to work his ass off everyday and play the right way on the ice. He ain’t cheating for offence.
Something to be said for it being one of your best players too.
During the Decade of Darkness in Edmonton, before McDavid was captain it was Andrew Ference. By all accounts a great/stand up guy. Had won a cup in Boston. There were issues with some of the younger guys, Taylor Hall in particular, who didn’t really listen to him or follow his lead. Basically because he was a 3rd pair D-man and past his prime.
So basically – why are we listening to this guy, when he contributes less than we do?
Is that on Hall? Yes. But maybe a young guy like Nuge or Klefbom could have been a better choice and avoided that problem.
All players look up the best players, and look to them to lead them to victory as they are the most important players. You’re kinda F’d if they don’t.
Slightly off point, Habs fans who should get the A that Brendan Gallagher wore last year? I say Cole Caufield. But Lane Hutson would be a good choice too.
I was under the impression that traditionally you had one “A” in the forward group and one in the D corps so Caulfield. But I know it is not always so streamlined and has been shared amongst a group in past years.
I’d “C” Celebrini and “A” Bedard. The latter has enough on his plate with injuries, past frustration etc. Take a little pressure of him and let him ease into it.
Josh Anderson.
He wore the A whenever Gallagher wasn’t in the lineup.
He’s a respected veteran in the league and on the team.
Boy, we’re in the dog days of hockey if this is our topic de jour. It is unusual and counterproductive to have a C and an A captain on the same line. Thus, of your choices, Hutson. He isn’t often paired with Matheson so that spreads out the on ice coverage for captaincy.
HabFan, Anderson likely won’t be around for the long term. It’ll be one of the younger players.
Macklin Celebrini, at 19, is the youngest-ever captain of Canada’s senior men’s hockey team, leading Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
It seems he already has experiance!
It’s been said before but just because you’re the best player on the team doesn’t mean you would be a good captain.
Ottawa:
Chabbot
Giroux
Sanderson
That would be my order.
I agree. Love Sanderson… but I am currently a little gun shy of having another USA captain…
Drew Doughty has earned the captaincy in LA. This whole notion about him not being resigned is nonsense. Kempe can be the captain later.
Agreed. It would be a farce to give the C to anyone else on that team.
Sabres just signed Krebs to 4 years at $4.5 mill per year. One fewer arbitration case…let’s hope for more signings soon.
Hildeby in Tampa where JBB has indicated e would be the backup likely means Johansson is available as a very affordable & experienced backup for likely little more than future considerations. He’s a backup who is OK with being a backup but has played in big games and can handle a ten game stretch if need be.