NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2026
The Hurricanes defeat the Golden Knights to tie the Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requests a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Seth Jarvis gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at a game apiece.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (NHL Images).
Brett Howden scored twice to give the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead entering the third period. Howden leads the playoffs with 13 goals, tying Jonathan Marchessault’s franchise record for the most goals in a single postseason.
The Hurricanes rallied to take a 3-2 lead on goals by Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, and Jordan Staal. The latter’s goal was the result of a failed coach’s challenge by the Golden Knights for a disallowed goal by Ivan Barbashev, leading to a power play for the Hurricanes.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone tied the game with 1:21 remaining in the third, but it was Jarvis who was the hero for the Hurricanes on the power play in the extra frame.
The series shifts to Las Vegas for the next two games, with Game 3 on Saturday at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb left this game midway through the first period after the puck struck him in the face. He left the arena to receive treatment at a local hospital. That left the Golden Knights playing the remainder of the game with five defensemen.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman broke the news that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade.
Larkin has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Red Wings. The last time the 29-year-old center skated in the playoffs was during his rookie season in 2015-16.
Friedman stated neither Larkin’s camp nor Red Wings management would comment, but his potential availability in this summer’s trade market would be massive. Several teams are in the market for centers.
Larkin is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He also has a full no-trade clause until the end of the 2027-28 season, giving him complete control over this situation.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This report was a bombshell that could be a serious setback for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and his rebuilding efforts, dubbed the “Yzerplan.” Larkin is the Wings’ first-line center, and trading him would significantly deplete their already-thin depth at center.
Yzerman doesn’t have to honor Larkin’s trade request, but having an unhappy team captain would be a major distraction for the Wings next season. Stripping him of the captaincy would only add to the hype surrounding this story.
This request by Larkin shouldn’t come as a surprise. It was evident last season that he was growing weary of the Wings’ inability to become a playoff contender when he openly criticized Yzerman for not making any significant additions at the trade deadline.
Larkin got an overdue taste of winning while playing for Team USA’s Olympic men’s gold-medal team in February. It had to have been crushing to go from that emotional high to missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season, and likely prompted him to reevaluate where he is in his career and whether his Stanley Cup hopes will be fulfilled in Detroit.
Yzerman is largely responsible for the Red Wings’ ongoing playoff drought during his seven-year tenure as general manager, especially over the past three years when they’ve faltered down the stretch.
However, Larkin also deserves his fair share. He’s the team captain and is supposed to lead by example, but at times his performance has seemed uninspiring. Injuries certainly haven’t helped, and he can’t be faulted for those, but that doesn’t fully absolve him from his responsibility as captain to motivate his teammates.
So, which clubs could be suitable trade destinations? Find out later this morning in my daily Rumor Mill update.
NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno is this season’s winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is presented to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community.”
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers are reportedly close to signing goaltender Dan Vladar to a five-year contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar played a major role in the Flyers exceeding expectations by qualifying for the postseason and eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins from the opening round. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the deal is all but done, but it can’t be formally announced until July 1.
SPORTSNET: Ivan Demidov hopes to sign a long-term contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens this summer. The 20-year-old winger has one year remaining on his entry-level contract. He led all rookies with 62 points, and was runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov reportedly wants to get a deal done as soon as possible. Canadiens management does as well, especially since the deadline for re-signing players to eight-year contracts is Sept. 15. After that, the maximum term for re-signings will be seven years.
It remains to be seen what the AAV for Demidov’s next contract will be. However, the Canadiens tend to re-sign their young core players to affordable deals. Given that Lane Hutson inked an eight-year extension worth an AAV of $8.85 million last fall, Demidov could get a deal of similar term with roughly a similar cap hit.
Well I know one team that would be a great fit for Larkin. The Montreal Canadiens. Expect Hughes to be all over that.
Obviously a Larkin trade anywhere is far from certain. Word is he’s not getting along with Yzerman. One solution is to wait it out a year. If the wings improve and make the playoffs next year maybe all will be forgiven. If not Yzerman will be gone.
Why not just fire Yzerman now? Lord knows his record is clear justification.
and who would you hire? Yzerman started with nothing in the minors. Holland traded away picks and prospects just to try to make it into the playoffs (for 24 years). I think the highest Yzerman picked was 4th. Even when they had the worst record in the league. If Detroit had been in the western conference they would have easily made they playoffs. His very first pick was Moritz Seider. Other teams have had more success because the GM had more to work with when he started.
That would be a good idea George but if they haven’t done it by now, two months after the season ended, I highly doubt it’ll be done now.
But Ed, he’s been there for 7 long years! More than enough time to make the moves necessary to re-build the team. Which he did – to some degree at least – but never quite enough to get them over the hump. As Larkin has charged. Who to hire? Well, when it comes to that why would Detroit be any different than other teams in recycling?
As for being a playoff team if in the West, Vegas wouldn’t have made the playoffs in the East either … but here they are 3 wins away from the Cup with home-ice advantage. In an imbalanced schedule that means nothing.
Right now there are a few ex-GMs looking for jobs whose previous teams at least never spent going on 11 seasons on the outside looking in:
“Pierre Dorion: The former Ottawa Senators GM, who interviewed for the Vancouver Canucks’ vacant head of hockey operations position.
Mike Gillis: The former Vancouver Canucks GM, whose cerebral approach has recently drawn attention and who has circulated in connection with executive vacancies in Toronto.
Peter Chiarelli: The former Edmonton Oilers (and Boston Bruins) GM, who has continued to interview for high-level management roles in cities like Nashville.
Marc Bergevin: The former Montreal Canadiens GM, who has provided consulting assistance for teams and remains a high-profile executive name on the market.
David Poile: The winningest GM in NHL history, recently stepped down from the Nashville Predators but has remained an accessible, seasoned hockey mind often linked to front-office and advisory openings.
Ron Francis: The former Carolina Hurricanes GM, who remains a well-regarded executive capable of stepping into GM or President of Hockey Operations roles.”
How long do you wait with Yzerman?
Habs I doubt would want to give up the assets to land him. Redwings need to win now and if they trade their first line center they’ll need one back, so I don’t see a fit with Montreal TBH. I think Larkin is just pushing Stevie into making some big moves.
Does this player finally move the needle to offer up hage richenbacher and their 1st? Or some combination of top assets?
Chrisms:
At least not Hage and Reinbacher. Remember the Habs need both a 2C and a RHD. Does it make sense to you that the Habs would make a move that puts them worse off in terms of holes to be filled?
Could Zharovski and Hage go? Ouch. But that should get a hard look from Montreal.
Because Larkin has a full no-trade clause giving him all the leverage as to where he winds up – which probably excludes any Canada-based team – perhaps Yzerman can work something out with one of the 3 U.S.-based teams picking in the Top 5 of this year’s entry draft: San Jose (# 2), Chicago (# 4) and NYR (# 5).
Getting one of those picks + could well work to his advantage.
The question is, does Larkin have some other destination in mind?
I would think the number of teams interested in his services will be somewhere around 31.
with his NMC, he’ll get to pick his destination.
It’s one thing to be interested but there aren’t 31 teams that can offer what Detroit needs. They don’t need picks and prospects
Ed, all Larkin has to do is say for example, trade me to the panthers or knights or wild only, everything else I’ll reject with my NTC.
Players demanding trades isn’t a good thing for struggling teams or small market teams. The rate this is happening as well as the player quality is concerning no matter what team is being faced with this.
On another note, what good does Freidman’s article serve for anyone really? What I’m talking about is even if this was true it makes both parties look bad… alienate their own fans, make haters of the team mock the fans, spill hate or towards the player or towards management? I really struggle with the validity of this reporting. The ramifications isn’t a valid cost for unsubstantiated rumors like this and it’s getting worse and worse and seems like first one out is more important than actual fact or respecting Individual or business decisions. Even if this is a fact again, what good does this serve until it’s actually a done deal?
I disagree, Larkin will basically accept a trade to anything not in a rebuild if he wants to move. You cant compare him to Hughes or Tkachuck who both had one year or less left on their deal. With that said, there arent that many teams that can send a grade A Center prospect back which is/will be a demand by Yzerman. Ducks, SJ, Columbus, Montreal, Chicago should be the frontrunners, both having the assets, need, cap and on the rise. There are pretenders like Wild and Ottawa but doubt they can outbid the teams above
I’m not so sure Yzerman would settle for a young prospect at this stage. There is frustration all through the team and fan base. If he moves Larkin it needs to be for immediate help IMO George and it pretty much needs to be a Centre. RE already have sub par center depth with Larkin.
Owen, Yzerman will probably have no choice in the matter since Larkin holds all the cards. The only hope Yzerman has, really, is if there are at least two locations to which Larkin wouldn’t mind relocating bidding for his services. More than 2 even better.
But who knows what he has in mind? If there is just 1 specific location, that team will, of course, be aware pf that and so can say “here’s what we’re offering … take it or leave it.”
Not all the cards, George. Yzerman has been known to play hard ball before. If Larkin refuses to play ball and make it easy and worthwhile to trade, maybe Yzerman just says ok, no trade and forces him to play up to his contract. Not ideal, but maybe he’ll play poker and put the pressure on Larkin to save face in front of his hometown crowd.
Either way it puts Yzerman and the team in a bad spot; a disgruntled employee, or making a bad trade that also puts your team in the dumpster for years to come.
Maybe Gustafson pulls the plug on Yzerman and avoids this problem. It will be interesting to see.
I wonder if Zack Werenski being Larkin’s close friend might give the Jackets an advantage. With his full NTC, Larkin does get to dictate where he’s sent.
Ever since the Danny Heatley fiasco in Ottawa, I have always felt that, if and when a contracted player demands to be traded, thereby seeking a release from the obligations of a contract he signed, at the same time he must abrogate any NTC clauses in that contract.
You want out? Fine. But you go to the team that makes the best offer to the team you’re choosing to abandon. And that includes site on both sides of the border. After all, they are part of a 32-team league.
I don’t disagree. But that’s not how it works, so it is fair to wonder which team(s) Larkin would agree to go to. The only certainty, in my mind, is that he’ll reject a trade to a rebuilding team.
I dont know about that rebuilding thing… if you’re Larkin and can go to San Jose and play with Celibrini and one of the top two players in this year’s draft, would you?
San Jose would be my bet. Detroit doesn’t pick in this year’s entry draft until Round 2 (47th).
If San Jose sees Larkin as a major step towards becoming a bona fide top competitor and well worth giving up the 2nd pick overall, at least Yzerman gets to choose a very good player who could step right into the NHL this coming season.
SJ can get Larkin w/o trading #2 OA:
Larkin for Misa, Graf or Eklund, #20 OA
That is a great idea, George. Not going to happen, but still, it’s a great idea.
EXACTLY
Sorry, guys, but Larkin’s trade demand is, from reports, because he’s tired of playing on a perpetually rebuilding team. That strongly suggests he doesn’t want to go to another rebuilding team.
Larkin is the best trade chip Y could hope for in getting a decent return and getting YOUNGER. He will soon be 30 but still in his prime, had his highest goal total this season and is somewhat durable. A lot of trades are being speculated and it does no good for Y to hold on to his disgruntled but very valuable employee for another season. He will be traded.
The team that could use Larkin the most is Minnesota, I just don’t think they have the assets to go the other way.
Realistically speaking for Larkin to be traded you need a serios C in return, not a D or a G, so at best a sideways move of unhappy talented players who keep missing the playoffs which is counter intuitive.
San Jose could send Will Smith
Anaheim could send McTavish, Mintyukov
NJD could swap Hischier
NJ gets Larkin, Sandin-Pelikka, Cossa and a 2nd
Detroit gets Hischier, Nemec
NJ gets the cap relief they need with being able to put ASP in the minors and not have Nico’s next big contract, enabling more space for Quinn to arrive. NJ also gets an NHL ready BU in Cossa I believe he can start in the minors if necessary but will require waivers if called up to go back down.
Detroit gets a better C and an NHL ready RD and has the space to sign both.
I agree with your assessment Habfan. RW would 💯 need a center back. If I were SJ I’d probably keep Smith. Anaheim would probably need a sweetener, but that would be a great trade for them. The NJ scenario is interesting but Hishier only has a year left, so Detroit would assurances.
Probably have to do it after July1 when Nico is eligible for an extension (sign and trade).
I would love to see Drury find a way to add Larkin to the Rangers. He would definitely help speed up the retool and solidify their need for a true #1 center, Perhaps Vinnie Trocheck could be part of the return if they aren’t on his no trade list.
i don’t have a horse in the stanley cup final aside from the hockey itself.
How is the goal disallowed on review? The player jabbed a puck that was loose in the crease into the net. any contact with the goalie was collateral damage. A loose puck is a loose puck and it isn’t hockey if they can’t battle for it.
Game changing loss on a bad call.
Agreed. You need a divining rod and a bowl of chicken innards to tap into the NHL’s calls, goals, goaltender interference, lack of suspensions.
It’s a pro league run by accountants whose interest is revenue generation.
Sooo…. You’re saying it’s a business?
Some business! Can you just picture someone applying for a job in a company run by Bill Gates demanding, in his contract or employment conditions, that there be a “no fire” clause. Or a movement to a related business, without his OK.??
Or Gates changing the parameters of employment by allowing every employee to negotiate the terms of his employment?
Business my butt.
Anderson had a rough night; I pretty much believe his gaffes led to the hurricanes winning that game. Give Carolina credit but those mistakes are gifts. Reminded me of the Avalanche gaffes against them
I believe Vegas will prevail but that was a huge win for hurricanes obviously.
The last 9-10 minutes was like a totally different game; it’s amazing how fast the wheels can come off due to a simple turnover!