NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 11, 2026
The latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the league is moving ahead with an investigation into former coach Mike Babcock, takeaways from Peter Laviolette’s introduction as the new Kings coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
SPORTSNET: Eric Francis believes the Vegas Golden Knights need more from their top line if they’re going to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final.
The line of center Jack Eichel, “whether it featured Pavel Dorofeyev or the newly assembled combination with Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev”, has struggled against the Hurricanes in this series.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).
After four games, Eichel, Stone, and Barbashev each have two points in this series. Dorofeyev hasn’t collected any points since Game 2 of the Western Conference Final.
Meanwhile, the second line of Mitch Marner, William Karlsson, and Brett Howden has combined for nine of Vegas’ 16 goals in this series.
Francis noted that Eichel, the franchise center, has played well in this series at both ends of the ice. Given how close this series has been, Vegas needs more offense from Eichel and his linemates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes’ first line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis has also had its difficulties generating offense in this postseason. Aho has done a little better than Eichel with four assists, but Jarvis and Svechnikov each have two points in this series.
Like the Golden Knights, the Hurricanes’ second line (Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake) has stepped up, though not at the same level as the Marner line.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has had a bigger impact on this series. He has five goals and an assist through those four games, including the series-tying game-winner in Game 4.
THE SCORE: cited a report by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, who indicated that the Hurricanes talked to the Florida Panthers about goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky at the trade deadline. However, they balked at the Panthers’ asking price of a first-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes made do with Frederik Andersen until Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. He was replaced in that game with Brandon Bussi, who got the loss in that contest, but went on to win Game 4 in his first NHL playoff start.
TSN: The NHL is moving ahead with an investigation of former head coach Mike Babcock at the request of the NHL Players’ Association. The investigation is regarding allegations that Babcock invaded players’ privacy during his brief tenure as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.
This investigation began after the Edmonton Oilers consulted with the NHLPA to determine whether any objections needed to be resolved before they could potentially hire Babcock.
DAILY FACEOFF: cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli claiming the PA is in receipt of “significant” additional claims from their own investigation with players that were not publicly reported in 2023. Those claims were presented to the league before Babcock resigned from the Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league was looking into the allegations against Babcock, but reportedly stopped when he stepped down as the Blue Jackets’ coach. The PA requested the league continue its inquiry after being contacted by the Oilers about their intention to hire him.
MAYOR’S MANOR: Alexander Legget has seven takeaways from Peter Laviolette’s introduction press conference as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.
The most notable is Laviolette’s intention to implement a more offensive-minded system while ensuring they don’t sacrifice their defensive play. He also wants to see his defensemen join the offensive rush more often.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have played a defensive-oriented style for years, going back to their Stanley Cup championship runs in 2012 and 2014. As Laviolette pointed out, it is now a more attack-oriented game, and they have the players who could make it happen. They include forwards Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Alex Laferriere, and Quinton Byfield, and puck-moving defenseman Brandt Clarke.
THE SCORE: Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said he’s interested in coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs if granted permission to be interviewed by the Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have prevented Cassidy from speaking with the Oilers and the Kings about their coaching jobs. Some observers believe it’s because they don’t want him becoming the bench boss of a division rival. It’ll be interesting to see what their reaction would be regarding his desire to apply for the Leafs job, assuming they’re interested in hiring him.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Steve Ott signed a contract extension to remain the head coach of the St. Louis Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Whoever wins tonight has the series. I don’t think this Babcock thing reaches another week. Bad fit for the oilers. Man they have to have faster review system on matters like this it can mean the difference between a winning season or losing season. Go Bruins for heavens sake do something Donny.
Vegas will delay until the Oilers have a coach. We see where this is going right?
First it it was the playoffs…then they will need a week to come down from the run or cup victory….then it will be readying for the draft…then they will use the Torts contract and that negotiation as a delay tactic for as long as they can if they need to, trying to be certain that they tie this up through the draft and July 1. So holding out for Cassidy is a fools errand imo. However the moment the Oilers announce a coach, then Cassidy will be free.
Nope I’ve come to terms it will be Babcock. The oilers have a long history looking beyond the past of players and now execs and this will be the same. We had MacT, Kane, Perry, Bowman…Babcock is not a stretch for this club at all.
And how he impacts the club is anyone’s guess but I think they need to get someone in place before the draft one way or another otherwise who knows what Bowman may try to do lol. At least with a coach you would hope they are on the same page.
Agree on what Vegas will do, but we don’t know it. So wait. My guess the lineup for Babcock isn’t very long, and likely only the Oil.
Still think it’s a dick move, and their justification is a flat out lie. Can’t do it because they are focused on the playoffs?
Call your legal counsel, tell him to write the basic form letter granting Cassidy permission to speak to other teams. If you take a job, we stop paying you and your contract is terminated. 5 minute phone call and 15 minutes to review and approve the letter.
Disagree on what if any value Babcock will have at the draft. Guessing he has watched plenty of Oiler games prior to interviewing but he has no clue on the players who may be available in Rd 2 & 3. Bowman knows his coaching style. This player won’t be on the Oilers for 3-4 years in all likely hood, even he even plays a game with them. The Oilers could look drastically different then.
Just take the best player.
Bowmans heavy lifting will be the trade market, UFA and getting Murphy & Dickenson signed.
Ray Bark, I think you are on to something regarding this being a dick move by the Oilers. Here are some former Oiler head coaches.
Ken HitchCOCK
Dave TIPpett
Jay WOODcroft
Kris KNOBlauch
And considering
Mike BabCOCK
Coincidence or trolling?
Ray Bark – my comment on the draft was more or less in relation to potential player trades…not on the prospects…should have clarified that.
Lol. That’s fine work, Snold49. Fine work indeed.
Holy Penis Envy Batman! LOL.
Agree SOP, fine work indeed.
Well done Snold49
I think the league will block Babcock I heard of more “invasions” of privacy than they are stating now. And I think he stepped down in Columbus because he knew it. The oil may get LUCKY and the league will suspend Babcock Keep your fingers crossed Lol
There can be little doubt that much of “coach recycling” has, as its basic root, an attempt by a GM to use the manoeuvre as a distraction from much deeper systemic talent AND salary cap deficiencies which THEY created … in cruder terms “cover their ass.” Besides, it’s a lot easier to scapegoat the coach than making trades involving players who, even though perhaps the best bet to bring back the greatest returns, can’t be moved thanks to NM/NT clauses THEY doled out.
And it’s a rare occasion when a jittery GM will turn away from the “old boys club” re-cycling and put their trust in a coach who would be making his NHL debut – such as Montreal did with St. Louis – even though that move by Montreal amply demonstrates that it CAN work. Instead, because bringing in a re-cycled coach often results in what’s been termed as a “Dead Cat Bounce” – in other words, an immediate spike in team effort (e.g. Tortorella in Vegas after getting dumped by Philadelphia – just his latest of several dumps).
But rarely does it work anywhere over the long term, as what caused “losing the room” in past jobs almost always resurfaces at some point. One reason why the NHL’s coaching tenure remains one of the shortest in all of pro team sports.
Hence the Laviolettes and Babcocks will always have their names in a GM’s quick-reference guide, and why, out of 32 teams, just 2 have first-time coaches – Montreal ans San Jose (Ryan Warsofsky).
And unless Chayka takes the plunge and hires Joe Pavelski, you can almost bet that, whoever takes over in Toronto and Edmonton will be from the re-cycle heap. For any GM who, first and foremost, is intent on covering his own rear-end (and that, seemingly, is widespread), that is seen as the saf est route.
Since 2016 – a decade – these coaches made their NHL debuts:
Jon Cooper – Tampa 2013; Mike Sullivan became the interim head coach in Pittsburgh in December 2015 and later secured the job, leading to two Cup wins; Jared Bednar took over in Colorado in 2016, leading to a Cup in 2022; After some AHL success, Sheldon Keefe became the Leafs coach in November 2019; in 2021 Andrew Brunette was named interim coach in Florida before later becoming Nashville’s head coach at the end of May 2023; Martin St. Louis got the Habs job in February 2022; another in 2022 was Jay Woodcroft in Edmonton, named interim coach on February 10 before being canned on November 12, 2023, following a 3-9-1 start to the 2023-24 season; Spencer Carbery in 2023 became head coach in Washington; also in 2023, Ryan Huska was hired by Calgary; the following year Ryan Warsofsky, at age 37, became the youngest NHL coach when hired by San Jose; another first-timer in 2023 was Kris Knoblauch in Edmonton before becoming a classic “scapegoat”; before giving the job to multiple re-cycled Laviolette, the L.A. Kings appointed Jim Hiller as interim coach in 2024 and had the interim tag removed in May.
If I’ve overlooked a first-timer in that 10-year span, please let me know.
The re-cycle heap isn’t a term I would use George. Almost every coach gets fired eventually, doesn’t mean they aren’t good coaches. It’s not like the jobs us regular folk do.
All I know is I am better at my job than I was when I first started and have gotten better as time goes on as we keep learning. And yes, experience matters, we learn as much or more from failure as we do from wins.
Why would coaches be any different?
And everybody makes mistakes/fails and anyone who claims otherwise is a total fool or lying. Don’t hire that guy. My concern with Babcock as there is a chance he might be that guy from some of the stories that are circulating around Edmonton. Hubris. We just don’t know how much of that noise is being overblown and what is accurate. This investigation might just save Katz, and it is Katz making this push.
I should take my crack about Katz’s nose back, turns out he had a bad sinus infection that was antibiotic resistant and had a bunch of surgeries.
The Oil have flip flopped on both sides giving some nhl head coaching roles to first timers like MacT, Eakins Woodcroft and Knaublauch and also plucking from the older boys as well…both with mixed results.
A successful nhl season depends on a wide array of ingredients that have to blend well at each step.
George shouldn’t Dan Muse be added to your first time head coaches list.
Goerge add Pascal Vincent to the list he had the misfortune of to replace Mike Babcock in Columbus
Thanks Fred and Snold49 – both valid additions to the first-timers’ list of hirings over the past decade.
Brind’Amour, 2018
Sheesh. How did I overlook him? Thanks Whalercane.
After all, he is, in fact, the 3rd longest-tenured first-time NHL coach, appointed in May 2018 by Carolina, after Jon Cooper of Tampa (hired March 2013) and Jared Bednar of Colorado (hired August 2016).
8 years and he’s 3rd in tenure, George?
We’ve come a long way from the Bowmans and Arbours
Now ~5 years is a long run.
How do tampering rules work for coaches? I think what Vegas is doing with Cassidy is really unethical, but if he’s still contractually bound to them, it’s surprising to me how openly he’s talking about wanting to engage with other teams.
Imagine if a player who was benched or sent to the minors was talking like this without being given permission to negotiate with other teams.