NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2026

by | May 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2026

Check out the latest on the Ducks, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS?

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looked at the keys for the offseason for the Anaheim Ducks after they were eliminated from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights.

The biggest challenge facing general manager Pat Verbeek will be signing young stars Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson to new contracts as they emerge from their entry-level deals. Young defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are also completing their ELCs.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verbeek has a reputation for playing hardball with players coming off their entry-level deals, as Mason McTavish learned last summer and former Duck Trevor Zegras discovered in 2023. Their negotiations dragged on throughout the summer and into training camp, which adversely affected their performances once they were under contract.

However, Gauthier, 22, and the 21-year-old Carlsson were their leading scorers during this season and in the playoffs, playing significant roles in the rebuilding Ducks ending their seven-year postseason drought. It will be interesting to see how Verbeek handles those two.

Mintuykov surfaced in the rumor mill earlier this season when he started seeing less playing time. However, that changed as the season went on, finishing this season with an average ice time of 18:26.

Clark also noted that veteran defensemen John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas are UFA-eligible this summer. He pointed out that the Ducks have plenty of projected salary-cap space, but it could be difficult to re-sign everyone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have over $40 million in projected cap space, but that doesn’t mean they’ll spend to the cap ceiling. New deals for Gauthier and Carlsson will take up a significant portion.

They are reportedly in contract talks with Carlson. They could also bring back Trouba. The 35-year-old Gudas could be the odd man out.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens doesn’t rule out Verbeek making a franchise-altering move for an established star this summer. He pointed out that players such as Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and “even Brady Tkachuk” of the Ottawa Senators could be available in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews could be available if he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with new Leafs GM John Chayka’s vision for the club. The Stars intend to re-sign Robertson even if it means shedding salary to free up room.

The Blues set a very high asking price for Thomas, who has a full no-trade clause and isn’t keen to move on. Tkachuk has already shot down the latest spate of trade rumors, so no, he’s going to be available this summer. Speaking of Tkachuk…

THE LATEST ON BRADY TKACHUK

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker looked at the obstacles preventing the Rangers from acquiring Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk. The speculation over his future persists despite his repeatedly reaffirming his commitment to the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: “This is the song that doesn’t end. Yes, it goes on and on, my friends. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they’ll continue singing it forever just because this is the song that doesn’t end…”

I don’t deny that Tkachuk could decide at some point over the remaining two years of his contract that he won’t win a Stanley Cup in Ottawa and must move on. Or that the Senators could trade him next summer if he won’t commit to a contract extension.

However, we’re not there yet, and Tkachuk and the Senators have made it clear that he’s not going anywhere this summer. If the Rangers want Tkachuk, they’ll have to wait until at least next summer at the earliest to find out, and even then, they might not have sufficient tradeable assets to outbid other clubs on his list of preferred trade destinations.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle looked at what’s next for Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka after firing head coach Craig Berube earlier this week.

Apart from finding a new bench boss, Mirtle believes Chayka has a shopping list “filled with incredibly hard-to-add items.” They include finding a mobile top defenseman to anchor the power play, a top-six forward for Auston Matthews’ line, a “minute-eating center who can play difficult minutes,” and improved depth at nearly every position except perhaps in goal.

Mirtle pointed out that Chayka doesn’t have the luxury of a deep prospect pool or high draft picks to use as trade currency. He also doesn’t have much of value to trade from the roster if the goal is finding immediate help.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs do have the first-overall pick and young power forward Matthew Knies. Either of those could help land a player who can address one of those issues. However, trading that pick sacrifices a big piece of the future, while moving Knies to add, say, a No. 1 defenseman would mean finding two top-six forwards instead of one.

Meanwhile, Mirtle’s colleague Chris Johnston reports league sources claim Matthews is interested in seeing what changes occur during the draft and free-agent period rather than hearing what could theoretically happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka has to sell Matthews on his vision for the Maple Leafs. That’s going to be difficult if he can’t sufficiently bolster the roster during that time.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

by | May 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

The Golden Knights advance to the Western Conference Final, the Canadiens rally to push the Sabres to the brink of elimination, reaction to the Oilers firing Kris Knoblauch, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series. Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals, and Mitch Marner had two points (including a highlight-reel game-opening goal) for the Golden Knights, who took the series in six games. Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks.

The Golden Knights will face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final starting on Wednesday, May 20, in Denver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights’ experience and defensive play made the difference in this series. Marner played a key role during this series, playing his way into early Conn Smythe Trophy contention with his playoff-leading 18 points. Dorofeyev has come into his own as a postseason sniper with nine goals to lead all scorers thus far.

The Ducks’ season is over, but they exceeded expectations this season by ending their seven-year playoff drought and upsetting the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Their young roster has a bright future and will be better in the coming years.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their second-round series. Ivan Demidov scored his first career NHL playoff goal, Cole Caufield extended his goal streak to three games, and Juraj Slafkovsky collected three assists as the Canadiens overcame 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 deficits. Jason Zucker, Josh Doan, and Konsta Helenius scored for the Sabres.

The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead and can wrap it up in Game 6 in Montreal on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That first period was a wild one, with Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes giving up three goals on four shots. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis asked goalie coach Marco Marciano if he felt Dobes should be pulled, but Marciano said no. Dobes settled down, stopping the next 32 shots for the win. Habs defenseman Lane Hutson set up two goals, tying him with Suzuki for the team’s points lead with 12.

Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave up five goals on 23 shots and was replaced by Alex Lyon for the third period. Neither goalie was helped by their teammates’ poor defense, especially in the second period, when Montreal tallied three unanswered goals to take control of the game. Meanwhile, Sabres power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series after tallying seven points in six games against the Boston Bruins in the first round.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday. He’d been in the position for three seasons, coaching the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, the Oilers were eliminated in the opening round of this year’s playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. He was about to start a three-year contract extension worth $7.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were roasted on social media for their bungled handling of this situation. Everyone knew earlier this week that Knoblauch was a goner after it emerged that they sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former bench boss, Bruce Cassidy.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal listed 13 factors behind Knoblauch’s dismissal. In my opinion, he’s paying the price for the mistakes of Oilers management over the last two years.

The question now is who becomes Knobluach’s replacement. It’s believed they’re still zeroed in on Cassidy despite the Golden Knights’ denying them permission to speak with him.

The hiring will be consequential, given superstar Connor McDavid’s two-year contract extension begins on July 1. If the Oilers fail to improve next season, it could lead to the latter’s departure as early as next summer.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks officially named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents and promoted assistant general manager Ryan Johnson as their general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprises here, as these hirings have been expected for days. While all three are well-respected within the organization and among Canucks fans, they have a big job ahead of them.

The Canucks are coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, culminating in the departure of superstar Quinn Hughes in a trade with Minnesota in December. It will take several seasons to build this club back into a playoff contender.

Their first decision could be whether to replace head coach Adam Foote, who’s been in the job for one season.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere revealed 10 players were dealing with significant injuries during their playoff run.

Emile Andrae played with a fractured wrist that requires surgery. Noah Cates fractured his foot but doesn’t need surgery. Christian Dvorak suffered a fractured rib and a separated shoulder. Garnet Hathaway played through a fractured fibula. Travis Konecny had a fractured rib and a nasal fracture. Owen Tippett dealt with internal bleeding and a sports hernia, and Cam York played through a fractured rib.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve singled out the most serious of the injuries suffered by Flyers players. One wonders how much better they might’ve fared against the Carolina Hurricanes if they had been healthier for that second-round series.

NESN: The Boston Bruins announced that assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner is departing to pursue other opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Langenbrunner is rumored to be heading to Vancouver to join the Canucks’ front office.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Bruins, they signed winger Lukas Reichel to a one-year, $950,000 contract extension.

TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks signed prospect forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year, entry-level contract.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL defenseman Paul Boutilier has passed away at age 63. No cause of death was announced.

Boutilier spent eight seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets from 1981-82 to 1988-89. In 288 regular-season games, he had 27 goals and 83 assists for 110 points, and 10 points in 41 playoff games. Boutilier won the Stanley Cup with the Islanders in 1982-83.

Following his playing career, Boutilier served as an assistant coach and head coach for Saint Mary’s University in Halifax from 1991 to 1997. He was an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs from 2015 to 2017, helping them win the league championship in 2016-17. In 2024, he joined the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats as a defensive consultant, helping them win the league championship in 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Boutilier’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 14, 2026

by | May 14, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 14, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: what’s next for the Wild, more speculation about Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, and potential cost-cutting trade candidates for the Stars.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE WILD?

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looks at what’s ahead for the Minnesota Wild following their second-round elimination by the Colorado Avalanche.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin has eight players slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer. They include Vladimir Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, Nick Foligno, Marcus Johansson, Michael McCarron, Zach Bogosian, and Jeff Petry.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild have just over $13.5 million in projected salary-cap space for 2026-27, with 17 active roster players under contract.

Zuccarello should be back for sure, given his value to the Wild. Johansson and Tarasenko might also return on affordable short-term deals if they remain interested in playing for a contender. McCarron’s physical style could also earn him a new contract.

Clark believes the Wild must consider adding top-six help. He noted that they will have limited cap space for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that Guerin was in the market for a first or second-line center before the March trade deadline. The Wild were linked to Vincent Trocheck, but there’s no certainty the 33-year-old New York Rangers center would agree to be traded to Minnesota when his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Guerin must balance his need to add a center for his top-two forward lines with signing some of those pending UFAs to affordable contracts.

THE LATEST MATTHEW KNIES SPECULATION

TSN: During an appearance on “Overdrive” with Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan, Chris Johnston discussed the potential trade strategies this summer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Among them was what type of return Matthew Knies might fetch in the trade market.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).

Knies surfaced in the rumor mill before the March trade deadline as former Leafs general manager Brad Treliving was reportedly listening to offers for the 24-year-old power forward.

Johnston wondered if new Maple Leafs GM John Chayka would reopen those Knies discussions. He believes a key part of that deal would be what the Leafs would get back for a defenseman if they’re going to take a forward with the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.

Asked why Knies’ name came up in the trade market before the March deadline, Johnston said his lack of no-trade protection was the biggest factor. Trying to move someone like William Nylander would be difficult because his no-movement clause limits where he might prefer to go.

Johnston said he spoke with someone who works for an NHL team who claimed they would be willing to give up more for Knies than for Leafs superstar Auston Matthews. That’s because Matthews has only two years left on his deal, while they would have five years of Knies in his prime. Johnston claimed one team offered six pieces for Knies before the trade deadline, but it wasn’t good enough for Treliving.

There’s a new front office in Toronto now, and they might not be as willing to move Knies. However, Johnston isn’t ruling it out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those six pieces were probably mostly draft picks and prospects, whereas Treliving was seeking a return that would provide more immediate help for his struggling roster.

Recent reports suggest Chayka thinks highly of Knies and doesn’t seem keen to move him. We’ll see if that’s the case as the offseason unfolds.

WHICH MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS STARS COULD BECOME COST-CUTTING CANDIDATES?

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos listed four players the Stars could trade to create enough cap space to sign winger Jason Robertson to a new contract.

Robertson, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who is also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He’s completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. Robertson could seek a deal comparable to the eight-year, $96 million contract ($12 million AAV) signed by teammate Mikko Rantanen last year.

Assimakopoulos listed forwards Radek Faksa ($2 million annually through 2027-28), Sam Steel (one year at $2.1 million), and defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin (one year, $3.25 million) and Tyler Myers (one year, $1.5 million) as potential trade candidates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars have a projected $11 million in cap space for next season with 19 active roster players signed. How much Robertson gets will determine which (or how many) of those four will be moved.

Myers seems the most likely, as he wasn’t a good fit after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks before the trade deadline. However, his struggles with the Stars could also hurt his trade value.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2026

by | May 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2026

The Avalanche advance to the Western Conference Final, reaction to Matthew Schaefer winning the Calder Trophy, the Maple Leafs firing head coach Craig Berube, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche are going to the Western Conference Final after defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on an overtime goal by Brett Kulak in Game 5 to take the series four games to one.

The Wild opened the scoring on a goal by Marcus Johansson and expanded that lead to 3-0 on two goals by Nick Foligno. However, Avalanche forward Parker Kelly made it 3-1 in the second period, with Jack Drury and Nathan MacKinnon scoring late in the third period to tie it, setting the stage for Martin Necas making a great individual effort to set up Kulak’s series-winning goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild were seemingly poised to send the series back to Minnesota for Game 6. They dominated Colorado early, driving Mackenzie Blackwood from the Avalanche net after he gave up three goals on 13 shots. Scott Wedgewood took over and stopped all seven shots he faced as the Avalanche stormed back, outshooting the Wild 22-7 over the remaining two periods and overtime.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

MacKinnon’s tying goal was a back-breaker, sniping a wrist shot from the faceoff circle that went over the right shoulder of Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and bulged the twine under the crossbar.

Necas’ assist on Kulak’s goal occurred because he realized the Avalanche didn’t have enough men on the ice as he was about to go off for a line change. He stayed on, gained control of the puck, skated around the Wild net, and set up Kulak to end the series.

The Wild were hampered in this series with the absences of two-way center Joel Eriksson Ek and blueline stalwart Jonas Brodin, and blueliner Zach Bogosian missed this game with an upper-body injury. The Avalanche were banged up too, playing without forward Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Sam Malinski for the second straight game. Superstar blueliner Cale Makar left this game briefly with an upper-body injury.

Colorado’s depth and experience made the difference in this game and in this series. The Wild are an excellent team and should remain a contender next season, but the Avs showed everyone in this series why they’re the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year.

The Avalanche await the winner of the Anaheim Ducks-Vegas Golden Knights series. The Golden Knights hold a 3-2 series lead and could advance to the Western Conference Final with a win on Thursday.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved honor for Schaefer, who was chosen first overall in last year’s draft by the Islanders, quickly establishing himself among their core players. He was presented with the Calder Trophy by his family while appearing on ABC’s “GMA3” in New York.

Schaefer is the second player to win the award by unanimous vote, joining Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne, who won it in 1993. He set the NHL record for points by an 18-year-old defenseman (59) and tied the single-season record for most goals (23) by a rookie blueliner. He’s the youngest player to win the Calder, and the first Islander to do so since Mathew Barzal in 2017.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov was runner-up to Schaefer for the Calder Trophy, garnering the majority of the second-place votes. Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes finished fourth behind Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke, and Habs center Oliver Kapanen was 11th.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov led all rookies in 43 assists and 62 points. Dobes led all rookie netminders with 29 wins, and was second in goals-against average (2.78) for rookie goalies with at least 20 games played. Kapanen was third among rookie goal scorers with 22.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube on Wednesday morning. He was their bench boss for the past two seasons, coaching them to first place in the Atlantic Division with 108 points in 2024-25 and the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. However, they tumbled to 78 points this season and missed the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Berube paid the price for the poor decisions by Brad Treliving, who lost his job as general manager in March. Some insiders assumed he was safe because of his friendship with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment honcho Keith Pelley, but that obviously wasn’t the case.

Berube will likely land with another NHL club at some point. Meanwhile, Treliving’s replacement, John Chayka, must find a suitable replacement for Berube who will meet the approval of team captain and franchise player Auston Matthews.

Chayka claimed that the players had no input into his decision to fire Berube. However, he will have to take into account what effect the next coach will have on Matthews, who has two years left on his contract and has made Leafs Nation nervous with his silence about his future.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb received a one-game suspension for his hit on Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling during Game 5 of their second-round series on Tuesday.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks appeared poised to make assistant general manager Ryan Johnson their next general manager.

Johnson is also the GM of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Reports by CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, and Canucks Army’s Irfaan Gaffar claimed Johnson is set to take over the role.

MAYOR’S MANOR: The Los Angeles Kings are getting closer to staging an NHL outdoor game on the beach in Santa Monica, CA.

RATINGS.COM: Marco D’Amico profiled prospect winger Wyatt Cullen, who is the son of former NHL forward Matt Cullen.

The 6’1, 180-pound Cullen is in his second season with the US National Development Team, overcoming an injury that sidelined him during the opening months of the season to finish with 16 points in 15 games. He also had a breakout performance at the U-18 World Championships, with three goals and nine points in five games for Team USA.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 13, 2026

by | May 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 13, 2026

The latest on Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs, Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins, and Matvei Michkov of the Flyers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE OR RETAIN MATTHEWS AND RIELLY?

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently examined what’s next for the Toronto Maple Leafs and team captain Auston Matthews.

Matthews has surfaced in the rumor mill amid reports claiming the 28-year-old superstar center isn’t sure if he’ll return to the Maple Leafs this fall. He’s under contract for two more seasons, and Kypreos noted that Matthew’s agent, Judd Moldaver, hasn’t spoken out against the rumors.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Kypreos noted the Maple Leafs have yet to confirm if head coach Craig Berube will be back. He believes they’ll conduct due diligence on Matthews before committing to a coach. He also believes the Leafs must act quickly to confirm Matthews’ status. The longer Matthews remains silent on this matter, the louder the speculation becomes.

**UPDATE** The Maple Leafs fired Berube this morning. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews likely wants to find out first what the Leafs’ plans are under their management. John Chayka, the Leafs’ new general manager, is expected to meet with his team captain soon.

If Matthews is on board with Chayka’s vision, he won’t be going anywhere. If he’s not, that could lead to a blockbuster trade this summer. For now, we have to wait.

TSN: During a May 11 appearance on “First Up with Korolnek and Colaiacovo”, NHL insider Darren Dreger said that Maple Leafs management is expected to meet with Morgan Rielly to discuss the possibility of the 32-year-old defenseman waiving his no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly said that he wanted to stay with the Maple Leafs and be part of their retooling process, but he also acknowledged the possibility of a new Leafs general manager asking him to waive his clause.

However, it might not be easy to move Rielly. He’s signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $7.5 million and has a full NMC through 2027-28. His production has declined, and he seems to have lost a step over the past couple of seasons.

PENGUINS COULD BRING BACK MALKIN, BUT MIGHT NOT SPEND TO THE CAP MAXIMUM

THE SCORE: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said his club would love to bring back Evgeni Malkin next season. The 39-year-old forward completed his 20th season with the club and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Dubas cited Malkin’s resilience and ability to bounce back after a down year. He also indicated that the Penguins currently have no one in their prospect pipeline who can step up and replace the future Hall of Famer in their lineup for next season.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Tim Benz reported Dubas hinted he might not spend to next season’s salary cap of $104 million.

The Penguins have over $42 million in cap space for next season, the highest among all NHL clubs. However, Dubas cautioned that he might not be spending as much as people think come July. He said that he didn’t want to burn through all that cap space and have nothing left in a year or two when better trade and free-agent options might become available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of quality talent in this summer’s UFA market could partly explain why Malkin might be back next season, and why Dubas is cautioning Penguins followers not to get their hopes up for some major additions this summer.

That doesn’t mean Dubas won’t be eyeing the trade market to see who’s available who might improve the Penguins. Instead of acquiring established NHL stars, it could be more affordable to acquire short-term options or younger players with potential. That might not be a bad thing, as he brought in Egor Chinakhov, Samuel Girard, Elmer Soderblom, and Arturs Silovs that way.

If Dubas goes the trade route, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now suggested the Penguins’ best trade chips are winger Rickard Rakell, prospects such as Tristan Broz, Owen Pickering, and Rutger McGroarty, and their 19 picks in the first three rounds of the next four NHL drafts.

FLYERS WON’T GIVE UP ON MICHKOV

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco weighed in on the speculation about Matvei Michkov’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 21-year-old winger had a difficult sophomore campaign, reporting to training camp out of shape, and at times having his playing time reduced or being benched by new head coach Rick Tocchet for his inconsistent play.

The Flyers aren’t in a hurry to run Michkov out of town. He remains a valuable part of their rebuild. Besides, trading him during a down year wouldn’t be the best asset management. Nevertheless, he’s no longer considered “untouchable”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: William James of Philly Hockey Now noted that Michkov was in a positive mood while talking to reporters during his end-of-season media availability. He cited the youngster’s appreciation of the Flyers fans and his determination to improve.

We can’t fully dismiss the possibility of Michkov getting traded this summer if the Flyers receive an irresistible offer, such as an established first-line center. However, it’s more likely that he’ll return to the club next season in better shape and motivated to silence his critics.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

by | May 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

The Golden Knights push the Ducks to the brink of elimination, the Sabres tie their series with the Canadiens, the finalists for GM of the Year are announced, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to give his club a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their second-round series. Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist while Jack Eichel collected two assists for the Golden Knights, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series. Beckett Sennecke and Olen Zellweger scored while Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier each had two assists for the Ducks.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights can win this series in Game 6, which will be held in Anaheim on Thursday, May 14.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an entertaining, closely contested game. Zellweger’s goal tied it to force overtime late in the third, but Dorofeyev was the star of this one with his clutch scoring for the Golden Knights.

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected for interference when he laid out Ducks center Ryan Poehling with a big hit when the latter no longer had possession of the puck. Poehling was helped from the ice and didn’t return.

The Golden Knights played this game without team captain Mark Stone, who remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury suffered during Game 3 of this series.

Game 6 will be a big test for the Ducks as they try to counter the Golden Knights’ experience to force Game 7 back in Las Vegas.

The Buffalo Sabres knotted their series with the Montreal Canadiens at two games apiece with a 3-2 win. Zach Benson snapped a 2-2 tie with a third-period power-play goal, Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots in his return to the Sabres’ net. Alex Newhook extended his goal streak to three games while Cole Caufield tallied his second straight power-play goal for the Canadiens. Game 5 is in Buffalo on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson’s goal was a flukey one. With the Canadiens up 2-1 in the second period, he fired a dump-in from center ice that took a weird bounce off a stanchion that surprised Habs goalie Jakub Dobes, bouncing off his right pad into the net. It was a game-changer that set the stage for Benson’s winner in the third.

The Canadiens were flat through the first half of the opening period, but they had the better of the play for most of the game. They also had seven power-play opportunities but only scored on one of them, while the Sabres went 2-for-4 with the man advantage. Luukkonen was outstanding for the Sabres, who regained home-ice advantage as the series narrowed to a best-of-three.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, Chris MacFarland of the Colorado Avalanche, and Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim Ducks are the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The award is given annually based on a vote of NHL general managers and a panel of league executives, print, and broadcast media.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin and MacFarland got the nod for their trades this season, including the Wild’s acquisition of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes in December and the Avalanche’s obtaining Nazem Kadri, Nicolas Roy, Brett Kulak, and Nick Blankenburg before the trade deadline.

Verbeek also made a splash by landing defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals, but he’d be my choice because of his work rebuilding the Ducks, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reported the Edmonton Oilers sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former head coach Bruce Cassidy, who was fired in March. However, the Golden Knights have thus far withheld permission from their division rival.

Seravalli said the Golden Knights haven’t outright rejected the Oilers’ request, but they’re keeping the Oilers waiting as they continue their second-round series with the Ducks. Cassidy is also reportedly being targeted by the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, which is why teams must seek permission to speak with him. Seravalli speculates this could prompt a call from league commissioner Gary Bettman to sort this out.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes this is a weird bit of gamesmanship by the Golden Knights in line with their front-office reputation for ruthlessness. It’s garnered a mix of puzzlement and criticism around the league, with those in the latter camp (myself included) considering it an unprofessional, classless act.

This also isn’t a good look for the Oilers, who are searching for a new bench boss while leaving their current coach, Kris Knoblauch, twisting in the wind.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed center Charlie Coyle to a six-year, $36 million contract worth an average annual value of $6 million. Coyle, 34, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year deal with an AAV of $5.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are trying to maintain a roster that narrowly missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Coyle played a key role with his versatility, leadership, and two-way play.

Nevertheless, this contract won’t age well. The salary increase is marginal, and the Blue Jackets can afford it in the short term, but six years is way too long for a player at this stage of his career. He’s also getting a full no-movement clause for the first four years.

This contract could complicate things for the Blue Jackets down the road if they need cap room to retain or acquire a better player.

SPORTSNET: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000 by the NHL for butt-ending Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron during Game 4 of their playoff series on Monday.

Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin will remain sidelined by injuries for Game 5 against the Avalanche.

TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will replace New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal on Team Canada in the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship. Barzal is coping with a minor, preexisting injury.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended from the first six games of the Bruins’ 2026-27 regular-season schedule for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incident happened late in that game when Benson took McAvoy’s skates out from under him with a slew-foot move, sending him crashing into the end boards. An infuriated McAvoy got up, charged at Benson, and leveled a two-handed chop of his stick to Benson’s upper body.

McAvoy’s anger was understandable as he could’ve been injured, but that didn’t justify his subsequent action.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers winger Owen Tippett revealed that he missed his club’s second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes with an internal-bleeding issue. He said that he was dealing with a sports hernia injury during their first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett said he’s confident he’ll make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp in September.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers rookie forward Porter Martone will be joining Team Canada for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken have hired Sportsology Group to conduct an audit of its hockey operations department, including the organizational structure, scouting, and player development departments.