NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 6, 2026
Cale Makar could be next to become the league’s highest-paid player, plus the latest on the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Penguins and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen wonders if Cale Makar will be the NHL’s latest highest-paid player this summer.
The 28-year-old Colorado Avalanche defenseman is in the final year of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. However, he can sign an extension with the Avalanche now.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)
Deen feels the amount of Makar’s next contract will overshadow the length of the superstar blueliner’s new deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini is currently set to become the NHL’s highest-paid player after signing a five-year contract extension with a league-leading average annual value of $18.8 million. His new contract eclipsed the offer sheet that Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last month (five years, $18 million AAV), which the Ducks matched.
Celebrini has quickly risen to NHL superstardom, and Carlsson has the potential to join him. However, their respective teams are paying for potential, whereas Makar has the resume that justifies making him the league’s highest-paid player.
In his seven-year NHL career, Makar’s become the league’s top defenseman, winning the Norris Trophy as the top blueliner twice and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Avalanche’s run to the 2022 Stanley Cup. He also won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2019-20.
DETROIT FREE PRESS: Helene St. James reports the Red Wings are hiring a search firm to find a new general manager.
The Red Wings announced last month that Steve Yzerman was moving out of the general manager position into the role of senior advisor to team owner Chris Ilitch.
St. James indicated that Ilitch and the search firm will focus on an analytics- and data-driven successor to Yzerman. Assistant GM Shawn Horcoff is handling the day-to-day management duties, but they do not extend to trades.
Whoever replaces Yzerman must deal with center Dylan Larkin’s trade request. According to St. James, Larkin has not changed his mind.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wondered if a new general manager could foster a reconciliation with Larkin. Based on St. James’ report, that appears unlikely. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars are reportedly among his list of preferred destinations.
Honoring Larkin’s trade request will have to wait until the new GM is in place, which might not happen until September. Even then, it could be difficult to move him to one of the teams believed to be on his list.
NHL.COM: Finding a new team captain is among the three questions facing the Chicago Blackhawks this season. Bowen Byram’s readiness for top-pairing minutes and making the playoffs are the other questions to be addressed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram’s role as the Blackhawks’ new top defenseman will draw significant interest this season. Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in June, this will be the 25-year-old blueliner’s first opportunity to play first-pairing minutes on a full-time basis.
The article noted that the Blackhawks have invested heavily in Byram, signing him to a six-year contract extension with an AAV of $12.5 million. He’ll be facing considerable pressure to prove himself worthy of the role and the raise that came with it.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Mark Madden is concerned that there may not be much room for younger players such as Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, and Bill Zonnon to crack the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster this season. It could potentially stall the club’s rebuilding process.
Ben Kindel will return after his promising rookie performance last season. However, the 19-year-old center will likely see third-line duty behind veterans Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The top power-play unit (Crosby, Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell) has an average age of 36.
NHLPA: The NHLPA Goals & Dream program, in conjunction with New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, has donated 25 sets of hockey equipment to Hockey Loisir Gatineau through the Hull Minor Hockey Association. It will support children with continued access to the sport of hockey.
DAILY FACEOFF: Kelly Hrudey announced on social media that his contract with Sportsnet has not been renewed. He’d spent 28 years with Hockey Night in Canada following his 18-season NHL goaltending career.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hrudey’s announcement has raised questions about what other changes might be in store for Sportsnet’s NHL coverage, especially with their broadcast and game analyst staff.
NEW YORK POST: Former NHL star Ron Duguay is out of the hospital and recovering after collapsing last week. He is battling Stage 4 colon cancer, which has spread to his liver.
Duguay, 69, was hospitalized after fainting and suffering facial injuries. Doctors determined that he suffered from dehydration after feeling sick and having trouble eating.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My thoughts are with Duguay and his family today.
Trying to determine the “development-thinking” behind any NHL team can often be tricky at the best of times, but when it comes to Pittsburgh, it’s virtually impossible.
Their veteran core (Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Karlsson, Letang and Van Riemsdyk) average 36.5 in age. So, at what point does their ownership/management come to what has to be the inevitable conclusion that, while the combination might keep them in a playoff hunt for maybe another season, their chances of going all the way to a Cup range from slim to none?
Continuing to finish middle of the pack and not exactly infusing your prospect pool (currently ranked 23rd of 32 by The Hockey Writers) with top-end prospects, not to mention having traded away your 1st round pick twice over the past 6 drafts, isn’t a formula for success.
I don’t know … is the reason why there’s “no room” for guys like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, and Bill Zonnon simply because they’ve been deemed no good enough to replace players in their mid- to late 30s? How long do 1st round picks Owen Pickering (# 21 overall in 2022) and Brayden Yager (# 14 overall in 2023) have to wait before getting a real chance at the NHL level?
Could be as soon as next year George, depends how this year goes I guess.
Malkin 40 – UFA after season
Crosby 38 – UFA after season
Karlsson – 36 UFA after this season
Letang is 39 with 2 years left.
It seems older players get hurt more and take longer to recover, but I can’t back that up with any data. Maybe that will create an opening for some of the younger guys.
PIT will be in tough to make it in east. Might be easier to make top 3 in Metro vs a WC spot, just like last year.
Same is true for both of our teams. Atlantic is going to be tough. Both the Panthers (healthy) and Leafs got better in the off season and both missed last year.
Heh. Ray, your comment about hurt older players taking longer to recover got me curious, so I put the Q to AI just for the heck of it. The response is long …. but interesting:
“No, medical and statistical data specific to the NHL does not prove that older players take longer to return to the ice; in fact, peer-reviewed sports medicine research reveals that each additional year of age slightly reduces an NHL player’s Return-To-Play (RTP) timeline.
While it is a universal biological reality that cellular regeneration, muscle healing, and tissue elasticity slow down as humans reach their mid-30s, this biological timeline does not directly translate to longer injury absences for veteran NHL players. Instead, data shows that a mix of competitive pressure, experience, and the “survivorship bias” of elite athletes actually accelerates their return.Data-backed insights into why this phenomenon occurs include the following:
1. The Statistically Faster Return-to-Play
A major orthopedic study analyzing elite hockey players published in PubMed Central (PMC) evaluated time to return to play following major surgeries.
The Age Effect:
The data revealed that each additional year of age reduced RTP by 7.5 days.
The Reason:
Researchers concluded that older players generally return sooner due to a greater familiarity with injury management and a shorter remaining competitive career window. Veterans understand exactly how to navigate rehabilitation protocols and face an urgent “now or never” timeline regarding their remaining playing years.
2. Biological Decline vs. Elite Survivorship Bias While general sports medicine confirms that a person in their mid-30s physically heals slower than a 20-year-old, an NHL player who is still active at age 35 is an extreme statistical outlier.
The Cliff:
Comprehensive hockey aging curves show that standard player performance peaks at age 24 or 25, declines moderately until 30, and plummets significantly by age 34 or 35.
The Survivors:
Because the risk of absolute performance collapse or forced retirement is so high by the mid-30s, the few players who remain in the NHL at that age possess exceptional genetic resilience, superior conditioning, and higher pain tolerances. They are the “survivors” of the system, meaning their physical baselines do not match the average aging population.
3. Positional Demands Dictate Recovery, Not Just Age
When analyzing public NHL injury data, factors like position and injury type heavily outweigh age when determining how long a player stays sidelined.
Longest Recovery Window
Position Defenders (average ~203 days for complex surgeries)
Goalies (average ~437 days for complex surgeries)
Physical Factors
Stable time on ice, relies more on positioning Relies heavily on high-mobility, reflexes, and extreme lateral flexibility
Summary
While a 35-year-old NHL player’s body structurally requires more effort to recover from micro-tears and bone bruising than a rookie’s, the tracking data does not prove they stay out longer. Instead, the urgency of their closing career window, veteran rehabilitation experience, and elite genetic makeup cause them to return to the lineup just as fast, if not faster, than their younger peers.
Ray. Panthers should be Atlantic fave. I am not so sure leafs got better if so only slightly. Will depend how Gavin does and if Bob has anything left
That was interesting George. Basically they suck it up more as they know the clock is ticking, not their first rodeo so know what they’re doing, or their genetics are simply different. Kinda makes sense actually, especially the suck it up and play part. These guys got some grit.
MB4, agreed Bob is the risky one. Raddysh was too, but he will help them for sure even if he doesn’t match his point totals.
But Leafs get some guys back too, Matthews missed a bunch of time at the end, Tanev missed all but 11 games. I can see Gavin putting up some points but will have his warts defensively too.
Gonna be interesting. We need to stay healthy and need Swayman to be great again. Will go right down to the wire I’m guessing.
The Panthers will certainly be better with Barkov back, and the addition of Brady should provide at least a safety net for the inevitable decline in a 38 year of Marchant. The Leafs will be better principally based on a healthier Matthews but not enough to challenge Tampa, Montreal, Buffalo or the Panthers for a playoff spot. Let’s not put too much expectation on an 18 year old McKenna.
As much as one can make prognostications in August …
I think if you ask most Pens fans they’re happy sticking with the status quo.
All that being said, when the inevitable, miserable long rebuild finally hits, they need to remember the sentiment they wished for!
This teams fans have abandoned them before during hard times. To nearly the brink of extinction!
They ready to buckle down and be fans through a 5+ year rebuild this time? Time will tell!!!
Personally, I’d rather see assets managed better and the franchise waiving the white flag if I were a fan. But I’m not a sentimental kinda guy.
The three cups during this era will keep many fans satiated for awhile. And what is missed by outsiders about the rough pre Crosby years is that it wasn’t losing alone that caused fans to check out. It was the poppy treatment of the fans by ownership. Pittsburgh fans won’t tolerate owners trying to sell a turd as a filet. With the cap now in place I don’t see a repeat of that happening again. And Dubas has given fans hope that the post big three era will not be as painful as some years past.
That’s not true at all. If sid were the captain of your team I’d bet you’d want him to stay. You can say you wouldn’t but guess there’s no way of ever really knowing.
Randino,
I just don’t get sentimental like that on players and I never will.
It’s just not in my DNA. I look at everything from the business perspective.
Of course players I like have been traded in the past, including recent ones. But I never get gushy about it.
The way of knowing that is my comments here in the past. And even mentioning ones from a long time ago like Leetch etc.
Nobody here can accuse me of being sentimental. If anything, quite the opposite. I am ready to move on before it time most of the time. Asset management means more than any one particular player.
Chrism,
Those cups are coming up on 10 + years in the rear view mirror.
Realistically, I don’t think Pittsburgh is anywhere near another and if they tore it down today, they’re least 5 years away.
That’s 15 years of everything goes right? Not sure Pittsburgh makes it through yet another bankruptcy.
Rebuild is an ugly word to most fans. I don’t expect many owners / management to come out and paint it as the sky is falling. But any way you spin it , it’s inevitable.
Pittsburgh should have started thinking “re-tool” 7-8 years ago. And “rebuild “ 4-5 years ago.
They’ve completely aged out at the expense of 1st round ousters or not making the playoffs at all. Not a good look.
They’ve taken valuable pieces and turned them into liabilities / costs to move.
The problem with the statement about sentimentality coming from a ny fan is they’ve never had a home grown generational talent. You literally can’t know what that feels like. Some really good even all star players played out their career in ny. But nothing like Pittsburgh has had. And you can’t cast dispersion on the length of time since a cup because… how long since an Edmonton oiler led the rangers to a cup? Lastly, have you seen the value these nhl teams have now thanks to bettman? Bankruptcy is out of the question.
Chrisms, bringing the Oilers into this, eh’.
I’ve always struggled with what passive aggressive actually means, but I think this qualifies:
“how long since an Edmonton oiler led the rangers to a cup?”
Or am I wrong about that?
Ray. I was alluding to the fact messier led the rangers to a cup but he will always be known as an oiler. Goes to my point that the rangers never have had a generational talent developed with them. Leech lundquist richter all really good. But generational? Messier is in that convo.
NY has had plenty, just not the opportunity to draft “generational” talent.
Leetch, Lundqvist, Patrick, Richter, Zubov etc.
The Edmonton jab is pretty low brow. Pittsburgh won their cups without Fa’s?
Remind us all , who was the Conn Smythe winner in 94? Who back stopped them?
It’s been 32 years since NY won, is 2017 coming back before 1994? Lmao. Rear view mirror. 10-15-32 years, it’s history. You get a year or two bragging rights. Not 10 after 10 of mediocracy. The parade is over buddy.
Bankruptcy is not out of the question . Neither would relocating. Especially for a team that can’t or won’t support its team without a Lemieux or Crosby dropping in their laps every 10 – 20 years.
The “fair weather” in Pittsburgh isn’t the kind UFAs are seeking.
😳
GeorgeO,the smartest guy in Pittsburgh is previous owner John Henry. Sold the team last year before the Pens bottom out and made a handsome profit.With Washington improved dramatically and Carolina bringing back a haul they are a reach to make the playoffs.
I trust Dubas knows more about building a winner than some armchair quarterback.
Of course he does Randino. Whoever suggested otherwise?
But that’s what we are in here … a collection of fans who can only view things through a fans eyes. If that somehow provokes you into your consistently snarky posts, perhaps Lyle should close the site. or perhaps change it so only comments from diehard “my team is perfect” types. Like yourself. As usual, I don’t expect to see a reply since that’s your usual approach.
Sr, as to your rational post, I have no special insight into their thinking, of course, but while the moves to re-up Koivunen and Novak, and the acquisitions of Kuzmenko, Lapierre and Nick Robertson may have some Penguins fans satisfied that Dubas is on the right track, the bottom line is, they still have that OLD core described above, and the combination of those two groups is also blocking the advancement of their top prospects.
I suppose that that approach stems, in part, from the sudden up-tick in their seasonal performance this past season following 4 straight years of full 82-game seasons that featured a consistent downward trend:
2021-22 – 46 25 11 103 .628 272 229 +43
2022-23 – 40 31 11 91 .555 262 264 -2
2023-24 – 38 32 12 88 .537 255 251 +4
2024-25 – 34 36 12 80 .488 243 193 -50
2025-26 – 41 25 16 98 .598 293 288 +5
But that core also got 5 years old over that stretch, and I don’t think they are going to get suddenly better.
That’s my take on it anyway.
All seems pretty darn reasonable to me George.
I do appreciate that the Pens kept guys like Sid and Malkin around. Mutual respect and treating them that way is a good thing IMO.
Yes, it’s delaying the inevitable to Captain’s point, and I agree with him that it is costing them a bit longer term as guys like Rust and Rakell are likely worth less this TDL than they would have been 1 or 2 years ago.
So it’s nice and all to have that loyalty, but Captain’s right IMO, there is a cost to that. Seems like Pens fans are cool with it though. At least on here.
Rust and rakell may have less value… but if they have decent seasons they will be top 6 wingers paid like third line wingers. That will have value. Will all depend on their seasons.
And George. The koivenon deal is a head scratcher for sure. I disagree with the position that the old core is blocking prospects. The pens prospects haven’t proven yet they are being blocked for top 6 roles. If they take steps this year then maybe that’s true. But most of the players listed haven’t even played a full season in ahl yet. Ovi was right about the pens depleting resources to compete now. Up to a couple years ago coinciding with Dubas hire. The pens prospects haven’t pool is still recovering and growing. Too early to say they are blocked.
Sensitive group George , its always the usual 3.
Venomous when it comes to hearing realities they don’t like.
Heh. Yeah, CaptainObvious, I’ve always classified the fan who adopts that “sentiment above logic” position … and then goes viral when anyone dares to point out the obvious, as “tell me what I WANT to hear … never what I SHOULD hear fans.
And let me hasten to add that I am NOT including chrisms in that group – he can accept the logical arguments without going off the deep end but stick by his position that, having a generational player play his entire career with one organization is special.
I might not agree with that because, like you, there is not a sentimental bone in my body when it comes to the proper way to run a professional operation in sports. Any sport.
And the history books are chock-a-block full of mega-star generational players moving on to another franchise – Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Durant, om Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, Mark Messier, Doug Harvey, Frank Mahovlich, Ted Lindsay …. and many more.
“… 5 years oldER …” sheesh
Pens core is getting old but the fat is that they keep producing.
Crosby and Malkin are still ppg players.
Karlsson had 66pts.
Rust and Rakell had 29 and 24 goals.
The kids aren’t going to put up those kind of numbers now, so better to nurture them for now.
Penguins aren’t a Stanley Cup team now but they’ll give teams a good run for their money and the added young blood could be a surprise.
They have failed to win a round / or qualify for the playoffs in 9 years.
At this point a surprise would be making the playoffs or winning a round. Which is pretty much more of the same. I don’t think they’ll be surprising anyone without significant change.