NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 16, 2026
The Canadiens and Sabres prepare for Game 6, Matthew Schaefer garners praise from several Hall of Fame defensemen, the latest on the Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens hope to advance to the Eastern Conference Final on home ice in Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead following their 6-3 victory over the Sabres in Game 5 on Thursday.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis understands that eliminating an opponent will be difficult. He pointed out that he believed his team played their best game of this postseason in their Game 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice in the first round.
“So, you know, it probably takes your best. And more,” St. Louis said.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said his players will likely stay at their hotel on Saturday morning and not hold a pregame skate so they can save their energy for Game 6.
Ruff stressed that his club has responded well to every challenge they’ve faced this season, rising from last place in the Eastern Conference in early December to finishing first in the Atlantic Division and eliminating the Boston Bruins in the first round.
The Sabres need more from their top-six forwards. Power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series. Center Tage Thompson has only scored twice against the Canadiens and may be playing injured.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Carolina Hurricanes await the winner of this series in the Eastern Conference Final. If the Canadiens win tonight, Game 1 of the Conference Final starts on Tuesday, May 19, in Carolina. If it goes seven games (which would be held on Monday, May 18), the winner will face the Hurricanes in Carolina on Thursday, May 21.
THE ATHLETIC: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer earned praise from several Hall of Fame blueliners after he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
Raymond Bourque believes Schaefer has “a great chance” to become a generational player. Chris Pronger pointed out his positive impact on the Islanders since his debut, and Nicklas Lidstrom lauded the 18-year-old’s speed and heads-up performance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer’s rookie performance took some of the sting out of the Islanders’ failure to make the playoffs. He is now their franchise player, and management will do all it can to build a contender around him.
TSN: Mitch Marner “feels great” after advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in his NHL career. Nevertheless, he and his Vegas Golden Knights’ teammates are keeping their focus on winning the Stanley Cup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner leads all scorers in his postseason with 18 points. He must be considered among the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they must forfeit a second-round pick and were fined $100,000 for not speaking to the media postgame at Honda Center following their series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
The Golden Knights will have a chance to appeal the punishment to league commissioner Gary Bettman in New York next week.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights didn’t open their dressing room for interviews, but rather in an adjacent room. Shea Theodore spoke briefly in that room, while forwards Mitch Marner and Brett Howden both spoke at the podium for less than five minutes.
The collective bargaining agreement requires players and coaches to be made available for interviews daily during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
ESPN.COM: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek revealed that they were unable to play in their club’s second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche because of broken bones in their feet. The Avalanche took that series in five games.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier revealed he broke the L1 and L2 vertebrae in his back against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 30. He praised the Ducks’ medical staff for helping him return to action sooner than expected.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier played in all 12 playoff games for the Ducks with a team-leading 12 points.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.
CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Daniil Miromanov has reportedly signed with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. The 28-year-old blueliner spent most of this season playing for the Flames’ AHL affiliate.
The fine and punishment has nothing to do with the sport of hockey but everything to do with the business of hockey. If they let this go, then maybe every team stops talking to the media. Then maybe the media stops covering hockey. And on and on. A draconian punishment nips this in the bud.
However, this will be appealed and the punishment lessened considerably. The league has made it’s point.
Not surprised at all that it’s Vegas that’s thumbing its nose at NHL rules. Their philosophy on such requirements is more or less like those drivers who think stop signs are there as bird perches.
Interesting, though, that Bettman dinged Ottawa a 1st round pick for breaking a rule related to trade requirements, but lowered the penalty for Vegas to a 2nd rounder.
That’s because the trade violation was more serious, George. Dorion withheld Dadonov’s no-trade information from the Golden Knights when he sent him to Vegas. This press kerfuffle is rumored to be because the Golden Knights are pitching a fit about Brayden McNabb’s one-game suspension for his hit on Ryan Poehling.
Yeah, a communication error during the trade call did fail to alert Vegas of the Dadinov trade restriction that was part and parcel of his contract when the deal was agreed to on July 28, 2021. But you also have to think that SOMEONE in the Vegas office had at least scanned through his contract in the ensuing 8 months before they tried to deal him to Anaheim on March 21, 2022.
That much might well be borne out by the fact that the ensuing controversy resulted in the league spelling out specific step-by-step procedures to be followed when deals are being discussed involving contracts with such limitations.
Regardless, the trade violation was more serious than staging a hissy fit over a suspension by limiting media access.
Lyle is there a possibility Bettman is sending a message to Vegas for not allowing Cassidy to interview with the Oilers? Yes they are paying his salary but to block the man from getting another coaching job & moving on is a bit ruthless but nothing the league could do or say. Just curious if the two could be related as this sounds pretty harsh punishment when players that almost end careers on dirty hits get a fine or a couple of games suspension. A 2nd round pick is significant.
Potlicker: No, this is a straightforward response by the league for what appears to be a CBA violation by the Golden Knights regarding media availability. Cassidy is under contract with the Golden Knights and thus they’re within their contractual rights not to grant him permission to speak to any team as they so choose.
Seems only fair that Vegas gets to choose what year to forfeit the pick. Then they wait till the last year. Then the league caves and gives them the 64th pick that year.
I see what you did there, Chrisms…😉
All in all, where Ottawa is concerned, picking 24th (which is where they finished in the pecking order) and the option to trade that pick in a deal to move up, is a lot better than picking 32nd … and not being allowed to trade the pick position n any sort of deal.
If Vegas does get the 64th pick at some point, it better also come with the same limitation.
Fair.
Fun fact on attendance:
Centre Videotron in Quebec City is showing the playoff games, tickets selling at $12.
They draw 15,000 to watch on a jumbotron.
What makes it impressive is that Quebec Nordiques were the Habs major rival when they existed.
Talk about rocking the sweater.
I think it’s good night Irene for the sabres the Canadiens have the momentum now. Over to my team now just as long as the bruins can be competitive I’m good with that. But even to do that Sweeney going to have to make some big moves. Back to the Habs I cannot cheer for them, Gonna have to go with the Avs. love watching McKinnon the second fastest skater in the league personally I think he’s every bit as fast as McDavid.
JA what big moves can Sweeney pull the trigger on?
We had a Bus to catch? Series is over that a pretty lame excuse. Almost as lame as firing Casidy and not allowing him to talk to other teams that want him. But Bettman is in love with Vegas. Just rename that team the Vegas Golden Boy Knights.
Nope
Hey LJ, not sure if you’re around. Just read your response to me regarding yesterday’s post on Marner. I couldn’t agree with you more. Marner absolutely left because of all the idiots who invaded his personal space. Never acceptable. I’m just not quite sure why you thought I was saying otherwise. I just pointed out the fans and media have the right to voice their displeasure with someone who consistently underperforms in big games. Big difference between words and driving over to someone’s house to vandalize.
The actions of a few though, do not represent the majority and to do so is disingenuous. The Marner situation has more layers than just some losers making a public figures life miserable…fyi his father was no Walter.