NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 6, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request puts the Jets at a crossroads; the winners and losers from the Cale Makar contract; this season’s top Norris Trophy candidates; six CBA changes you should know; and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle examines how Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request puts the Winnipeg Jets at a crossroads. They must either try to remain competitive with “an older, mediocre roster on the decline,” or begin a painful rebuild like the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Mirtle noted that more players are putting Canadian teams on their no-trade lists, including some that have listed all seven teams. He pointed to the recent departures of several other notable stars from Canadian teams, creating new existential questions north of the border, and how the rising salary cap could make it difficult for smaller-market clubs to retain or attract NHL stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mirtle reminds us that stars like the Tkachuk brothers, Johnny Gaudreau, and Quinn Hughes had different reasons for leaving their Canadian teams. In Hellebuyck’s case, he’s concerned about the Jets’ decline and the difficult task of reversing their fortunes.
Nevertheless, the issue gained more attention after Hellebuyck’s request and Brady Tkachuk’s trade from Ottawa to Florida in June.
However, Hellebuyck didn’t want out a year ago after the Jets won their first Presidents’ Trophy, and Hughes wasn’t forcing a trade when the Canucks seemed a rising force in the Western Conference following their 109-point performance in 2023-24.
Mirtle briefly touched on what he called the “massive season change” the NHL is undergoing, with a rapidly rising salary cap and NHL stars using their considerable leverage for bigger contracts and where they want to play.
Those factors could affect small-market NHL teams in Canada (Winnipeg and Ottawa) and the United States (Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets) that already had issues retaining or attracting star talent. It could also affect other smaller-market teams like the Nashville Predators, Utah Mammoth, and the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski recently listed the winners and losers of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar’s record-setting eight-year, $163.2 million contract, making him the first NHL player to earn an average annual value of over $20 million ($20.4 million).
Among the winners are New York Islanders promising defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who could join Makar in that rarefied contract air if his sophomore season is as good (or better) than his outstanding rookie campaign.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is among the losers, as it will cost him a lot more to re-sign blueliner Quinn Hughes, though it’ll likely be on a shorter contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link for Wyshynski’s follow list. Another notable winner is the Montreal Canadiens, who got rising star Lane Hutson inked to an eight-year extension last season worth $8.85 million AAV.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of Makar, he’s on Matt Larkin’s recent ranking of his top-10 Norris Trophy candidates for 2026-27. Hughes and Hutson are also on this list, along with 2025-26 Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link for the complete list and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau examines six notable changes to the NHL collective bargaining agreement that begin on Sept. 15.
The reduction in contract term limits tops the list, with the maximum length for re-signing players dropping from eight years to seven, while those for unrestricted free agents drop from seven to six.
Others include an 84-game schedule with a shortened preseason, mandatory neckguards for new players, and stricter qualifications for emergency backup goaltenders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reducing maximum contract lengths won’t affect most NHL players, as such deals are usually reserved for the stars. However, that could also be changing, as the best talent could start pursuing shorter, top-dollar deals enabling them to become UFA-eligible while still in their prime.
SPORTSNET: A group hoping to bring an NHL expansion team to Atlanta said a report claiming their bid was in its final stages was “premature and incomplete”.
Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment, said the league “has made no decisions with respect to our project, and we are not in the expansion application phase.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t mean the possibility of another NHL franchise in Atlanta is dead. Krause indicated that the ownership group “has a strong interest in making this vision a reality,” adding that they will continue discussions with the league as the latter sees fit.
Helly is linked to Sj now! For Askerov and 2 of their young forwards, such as Graf and Misa.
Link?
I assume this – https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/community/connor-hellebuyck-trade-rumors-could-the-san-jose-sharks-make-the-blockbuster-move-nobody-saw-coming
Of course, that’s just some more “could he” “would he” speculation of the type tossed around in these pages daily.
If mirtles right I don’t get it. To be honest with don’t want to get into politics but because of Trump my wife and I won’t go on vacation in the us anymore at least until he’s gone. Canada is the best place to live in the world I ‘m a bruins fan. But hey still cheer for the Jays live in the cold northwest but I have my handy dandy snowblower. Still play hockey in the winter. Can walk the streets at night without Ice. Sorry guys but I get a bit offended when I hear some hockey players don’t want to come here. I know there are other reasons of an economical level higher taxes, media scrutiny. But hey when you’re making around 7 or 10 million. Come on. On another topic why haven’t the bruins ever considered Lohrei as a forward I think the guy with his moves and speed could net you 20 goals.
John … and although I have no way of substantiating it … I would think the vast majority of “no Canada-based teams” relates to things like taxes, weather and performing under the media “fishbowl” aspect.
But I’ll tell you what – if ANY Canada-born player has such “no-go” lists he should be advised NOT to expect any invitation to join Team Canada in things like the 4 Nations (or whatever the Hell it’s called), Worlds and Olympics. And I don’t give a crap WHO that player is. Shove their “pride” up their butts. You don’t want to play for one of the 7, then best take out citizenship somewhere else because that’s the only way you’re going to take part in such events.
That’s my take and I don’t – for a fleeting second – expect the wimps at Hockey Canada to ever take that strong a stand.
I hundred percent agree with this. No trade to Canada, no play for Team Canada.
George
I agree 100 %!
The managing partner of my last employer was a very domineering (and usually correct) person. We would have firm picnics where people would hold up signs saying, e.g, “I agree with Frank”; “Gee, I think Frank is right this time”; “Gee, I wish I had thought of that, Frank!,”etc. George O., I cannot think of any time I have fundamentally disagreed with you, and with many others, greatly appreciate your posts!
I don’t know for sure but if you look carefully at the league overall, you’ll come to realize one thing, and I think players also see, a lot of talent spread thinly throughout the 32 teams.
Generally, that’s a good thing. A league full of competitive teams but mostly suffering from weaknesses in one form or another. Looking at this from a player’s perspective, it’s easy to see how someone whose career has been somewhat unsuccessful (at winning a championship) that after years of trying to win, the doubts of ever being successful it’s easy to understand and see how at some point they begin to look and see the grass looking greener in another market realize where their opportunity to win is present unlike where they currently are. Their choice is simple, win or never win. Loyalty is a two way street – the owners/management must by any means put the team’s chances of winning at the top of their priority who unfortunately have their own problems and restrictions to overcome unrelated to the star player.
What would any of us do if you have a few years left where you can be a difference maker?
I think expansion will only make this a more common practice. It’s happening to some teams now as players are looking at their best options to win because most teams have too many holes that can’t be filled to risk spending the rest of your career where they are currently at. I don’t think there’s much to it than that…everything else like taxes, cost of living, services, homes, daily life, etc. can be a factor but nothing compares to the opportunity to win or not, especially with such short careers.
Seems convenient how conveniently the abuse that Helleybuck’s family took after the olympics is deleted from the conversation. Same for Brady.
It’s just like how everyone in Pittsburgh booed Sid and threatened his family after he scored the golden goal in Vancouver because they didn’t like Canada’s PM at the time.
Oh wait, that never happened. At least own that ridiculous behavior. Think about it, adults actually harassing his wife and daughter because his team honored an old (and stupid) tradition of visiting the capital after momentous wins in their field. Insanity.
Over what, a hockey game? Now I’d break my own Mom’s arm in the heat of competition, but when it’s over it’s over. Relax people.
Plenty of idiots on US side of border that showed poor sportsmanship as well, but it wasn’t the players.
If I’m in Helly’s shoes, to have wife and daughter abused under those circumstances after all he’s contributed to that franchise, I’d not want to play for that fan base either.
Keep politics out of sports. That goes for players and fans.
I’ll try and keep that in mind next time I’m boating on Lake America.
Eagle, are you sure it was Canadians harassing Helley and his family?
I know it happened just not sure it came from folks up here. Especially the WH visit.
He never got booed or anything from what I have read.
Thank you for mentioning this.
I guess Matthews did not mind all he faced.
I think they call that TDS.
The number of points required East and West to make the playoffs over the past 5 82-game seasons were (in order of last season to 2021-22): East 99, 91, 91, 92, 100 – West 90, 96, 98, 95, 97. On average – and despite the pitiful points accrued by the 3 Pacific Division teams and 2 WC teams in the West last season – that actually works out to 95 for both Conferences. That’s 58% of the total points “possible” over 82 games – 164. This season, with 84 games to play, and the total possible now at 168. the playoff “target” works out to 97 for each Conference (assuming the Pacific doesn’t repeat those woeful results).
So, looking at the point totals for the playoff qualifiers and those that missed last season and, 97 as the cut-off for both Conferences, here’s how many points each team would need to lose or gain in order to either drop out ,,, or make it:
Needed To Lose For The Qualifiers: Colorado 24; Carolina 16; Dallas 15; Buffalo 12; Tampa 9; Montreal 9; Minnesota 7; Boston 3; Ottawa 2; Pittsburgh 1; Philadelphia 1; (the kicker here is, the 3 qualifiers in the Pacific – Vegas, Edmonton and Anaheim – along with the 2 WC teams – Utah and Los Angeles – would actually have to GAIN 2, 4, 5, 5 and 7 respectively to qualify if, indeed, 97 also becomes the cut-off out West);
Needed To Gain By The Non-Qualifiers: Washington 2; Detroit 5; Columbus 5; NYI 6; New Jersey 10; St. Louis 11, Nashville 11, San Jose 11, Florida 13; Winnipeg 15, Seattle 18, Toronto 19; NYR 20, Calgary 20, Chicago 25, Vancouver 39.
Of course, this sort of projection is predicated upon both Conferences becoming more or less equally competitive without a repeat of that Pacific aberration.
Two organizations that might be close to making a big move are treading carefully. Both Montreal and SanJose have outstanding young players and quality depth in their group. Would love to see Montreal make that move for the top 6 forward that they covet and in the same breath have SJ take a flyer on Helly with all the prospects and young players that they have!
This Atlanta bid would finally make sense, since the proposed arena is much closer to an NHL hockey fanbase. An arena in the city never made any sense.