NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 3, 2026

by | May 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 3, 2026

The Hurricanes defeat the Flyers in the opening game of their second-round series, the schedule for the second round is released, the latest on the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes winger Logan Stankoven scored twice to lead his club over the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round playoff series. Frederik Andersen had a 19-save shutout, and Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Dan Vladar stopped 20 shots for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers played better in the third period, but it was all Hurricanes in the first period and most of the second. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet admitted his team wasn’t mentally prepared for this contest. He believes they were still riding the emotional high of making the playoffs and winning their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins

Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven (NHL Images)

Carolina’s second line of Stankoven, Blake, and Taylor Hall remains a scoring force in this postseason.

Stankoven is tied with Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel for this postseason’s goal-scoring lead with six goals. He’s also set a franchise record with a five-game playoff goal-scoring streak. Four of his six goals were series-openers.

Carolina winger Nikolaj Ehlers returned to action after a lower-body injury sidelined him from Game 4 of the Hurricanes’ first-round series with the Ottawa Senators. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin remained out of their roster as he continues to recover from a concussion.

Flyers forward Owen Tippett missed this contest with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day.

NHL.COM: The schedule for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs was released.

Game 1 of the series between the Hurricanes and Flyers began Saturday. Game 2 will be on Monday, May 4, in Carolina.

The opening game of the series between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche will be on Sunday, May 3, in Colorado. Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek is questionable for Game 1 of this series with a lower-body injury.

Game 1 of the series between the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights begins on Monday, May 4, in Las Vegas.

The Buffalo Sabres will face the Montreal Canadiens or the Tampa Bay Lightning. Game 1 of that series begins on Wednesday, May 6, in Buffalo. The Canadiens and Lightning face off in Game 7 in Tampa Bay on Sunday.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl was frank about his club’s performance and his concern about their future. Speaking with the media on Saturday, Draisaitl said he felt the Oilers “are not trending in the right direction,” adding that they’ve taken “big steps backward.” He warned that the Oilers must get a grip on this situation and return to the right direction.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid concurred with Draisaitl’s assessment of the club’s direction. Following their first-round elimination by the Anaheim Ducks, McDavid said he felt the Oilers were “an average team all year.” He said he still felt that way, adding that he and Draisaitl deserve their share of the blame, and that they can all be better and need to improve.

“There’s no doubt everybody knows what we’re trying to do here in Edmonton, and it’s no secret,” McDavid said, referring to their goal of winning the Stanley Cup. “We’re pressing pretty hard, so the patience is obviously worn pretty thin.”

McDavid also shot down trade speculation that surfaced during and after the series against the Ducks. “I want to win, and I want to win here in Edmonton. That’s my focus.”

However, McDavid declined to comment on whether he’ll play out his upcoming two-year contract with the Oilers. “I’m not going to get into all that,” he said. “The only thing that matters is competing for the big trophy. That’s all that matters. And if I feel that’s here, then yeah.”

McDavid also confirmed that he played with an injury during the Ducks series, suffering a fractured bone in his left foot in Game 2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers GM Stan Bowman acknowledged the club isn’t where they want to be while pointing to the positives from this season, such as the evolution of players Vasily Podkolzin, Matt Savoie, and Josh Samanski.

Nevertheless, the comments from McDavid and Draisaitl are a shot across Bowman’s bow. He’ll face a daunting task attempting to improve the Oilers. I’ll have more about that in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to hold a press conference on Monday to officially announce the hiring of former team captain Mats Sundin and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka to join their front office.

It’s been previously reported that the Leafs were interested in hiring Sundin as vice president of hockey operations and Chayka as general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports of Sundin and Chayka being the frontrunners for those positions drew a nervous vibe from Leafs Nation. It will be interesting to see what those two have in store for the club during this offseason.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will have an in-person meeting with the league’s department of player safety for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.

THE SPORTING NEWS: Speaking of the Bruins, forward James Hagens is reportedly joining Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Championship.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators forward Ridly Greig will have a virtual hearing with the department of player safety on Monday for his sucker punch to the head of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during Game 4 of their first-round series.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers owner Vinnie Viola got his second Kentucky Derby win on Saturday. Viola is a co-owner of Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot that won the 152nd running of the Derby at Churchill Downs.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers promoted assistant director of player development Tanner Glass as their new director of player development.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 2, 2026

by | May 2, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 2, 2026

Check out the latest on the Senators, Penguins, and Blues in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS

SPORTSNET: Alex Adams looked at what Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios must do to take his club to the next level.

Whatever moves Staios makes this summer will either hamper or improve his efforts to sign Brady Tkachuk to an extension next year.

Adams believes Staios must re-sign winger Drake Batherson and defenseman Artem Zub to long-term contract extensions. Both are a year away from UFA eligibility.

Batherson set an NHL record by improving his point tally in each of his first eight NHL seasons, finishing this season with 33 goals and 71 points. That could earn him between $8 million and $9 million annually on the open market. Meanwhile, Zub has formed a solid chemistry with defense partner Jake Sanderson. He’s open to staying in Ottawa, prompting Adams to suggest a six-year extension with an AAV of $6 million.

Blueline Jordan Spence is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, completing a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.5 million. Adams speculated a five-year deal worth $5 million annually might make sense for both sides.

Adams also noted the Senators need a scoring forward, an experienced left-shot defenseman, a backup goaltender, and a fourth-line center. They also need to determine if Claude Giroux intends to return or retire.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Batherson, Zub, and Spence are necessities. They have the cap space for 2027-28 to sign the first two to contract extensions. They have $17.3 million in cap space for next season, giving them enough to re-sign Spence and still have enough left for a scoring forward, though it won’t leave much to address their other needs.

Adams believes the Senators have plenty of really good players on their roster, so maybe they can make a quality-for-quality move. That could mean peddling Dylan Cozens or Shane Pinto. Both players lack no-trade protection and carry AAV in excess of $7 million.

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano noted that Tkachuk and Staios denied the trade rumors linking the Senators captain to the New York Rangers. However, until Tkachuk signs a contract extension, the speculation will likely persist.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

If the Senators trade Tkachuk, Mercogliano believes the Rangers, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and Minnesota Wild could be among the suitors. However, the substantial cost of acquiring Tkachuk might not turn the Rangers back into contenders. He believes it’s not worth the cost of selling what’s left of a failing farm system for a quick fix.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what happens with Tkachuk next summer when he’s eligible to sign a contract extension. If he’s reluctant to sign, the Senators will likely shop him for the best deal available rather than lose him to free agency for nothing in 2028.

A trade to the Rangers could be possible if they’re the only club Tkachuk would waive his no-movement clause for, but that’s not a certainty. And as Mercogliano points out, acquiring Tkachuk could come at the cost of short-circuiting their efforts to retool the roster.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio noted the trade rumors that popped up about Tkachuk. Due to his ties to the St. Louis Blues and the trade speculation about Blues center Robert Thomas, some fans have proposed trading the latter for Tkachuk.

Gaudio doesn’t see that happening. For the Blues to get the most out of Tkachuk, they need a playmaking center like Thomas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those fans are also forgetting that Thomas has a full no-trade clause and has stated his desire to stay in St. Louis. The Blues also set a high asking price, which may have been designed to scare off interested clubs. If Tkachuk joins the Blues, it could be as a free agent in 2028.

WILL THE PENGUINS SHED VETERANS TO ADD MORE YOUTH?

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski believes sweeping changes are necessary for the Penguins despite reaching the playoffs this season. He felt that it wasn’t enough to make the postseason, pointing out that this team isn’t a Stanley Cup contender.

Kingerski felt they must break with their past and focus more on building for the future. He doesn’t see any reason to retain their core of veterans if this season’s performance is the best they can do.

Those forwards include long-time Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Others include Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe noted the Penguins were largely carried by those veterans this season. He also noted that general manager Kyle Dubas’ efforts to add younger talent have been a mixed bag thus far. Some, such as Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Elmer Soderblom, and Avery Hayes, have given cause for optimism. Others, such as forward Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and defenseman Harrison Brunicke, have yet to develop as hoped.

Malkin is UFA-eligible this summer, and there’s no certainty he’ll be back. Letang struggled through most of this season, but he has two more years left on his contract, and they won’t get any cap relief if they buy him out. Pending UFAs Kevin Hayes, Connor Clifton, and Noel Acciari almost certainly won’t be back.

Yohe expects Dubas could spend some money in this summer’s thin UFA market, but expects he’ll focus more on the trade market. The Penguins have interest in 26-year-old Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. Yohe noted that Dubas has a glut of draft picks, older veterans, and salary-cap space to use as trade bait to add younger talent if any becomes available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen how much of a break with the past that Dubas is willing to make. He likely wants to retain the 38-year-old Crosby, who’s proven he still has plenty left in the tank. He has a year remaining on his contract and is taking a wait-and-see approach about an extension.

Dubas has seemed reluctant to re-sign Malkin, even though he had a bounce-back performance this season. The 39-year-old center has indicated he’ll sign with another NHL team if he ends up hitting the open market on July 1. Whatever happens to Malkin could affect Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh.

UPDATE ON THE BLUES

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford offered up some offseason predictions for the St. Louis Blues.

Rutherford doesn’t see Robert Thomas going anywhere this summer. He speculated that the Blues might revisit efforts to trade Colton Parayko, but wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in St. Louis.

Jordan Kyrou might be more willing to waive his no-trade clause than Thomas and Parayko. Rutherford believes there’s interest in moving the 27-year-old winger, but doesn’t see it happening unless they’re getting the value of a 40-goal scorer.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington was the subject of trade speculation this season. However, Rutherford believes he’ll play out the final season of his contract with the Blues.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio listed the Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes as potential destinations for Binnington if the Blues attempt to move him this summer.

The Panthers and Hurricanes could need new starting goalies if their current starters (Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederik Andersen) hit the open market this summer. The Oilers will need someone to share the duties with struggling Tristan Jarry.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 2, 2026

by | May 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 2, 2026

The Sabres and Golden Knights advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning force Game 7 with the Canadiens, the Jack Adams Award nominees are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ACTION

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres picked up their first playoff series win since 2007 by defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 6 to win their best-of-seven first-round series four games to two. Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Benson each had two points, Mattias Samuelsson scored the winning goal, and Alex Lyon stopped 25 shots for the Sabres, who await the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens series. David Pastrnak replied for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo’s speed and scoring depth made the difference in this series against the defensive-minded Bruins. Alex Lyon also stabilized the goaltending for the Sabres, replacing a struggling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the starter after Game 2 and winning three of the next four games.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was ejected from the game late in the third period for slashing Benson after the latter slewfooted him to the ice. Following the game, Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov told reporters he played through a torn MCL suffered during Game 3 of this series.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club to a series-winning 5-1 victory in Game 6 of their first-round series against the Utah Mammoth. Brett Howden extended his goal streak to three games while Carter Hart made 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who took this series in six games and will face the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. Kailer Yamamoto scored for the Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner silenced critics of his playoff performance with a clutch effort in this contest. It was a heartbreaking lopsided loss for the young Mammoth, who had played well through the first five games, but the Golden Knights’ experience and solid defensive play tilted this series in their favor.

The Tampa Bay Lightning nipped the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 6 of their first-round series, forcing a seventh and deciding game back in Tampa Bay on Sunday. Gage Goncalves scored in overtime while Andrei Vasilevskiy had a 30-save shutout for the Lightning. Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This has been the best series of the opening round. This physical, fast-paced, closely contested tilt between these evenly matched teams should be going the distance. Every game has been decided by one goal, with four of them requiring overtime. Each contest could have gone either way.

HEADLINES

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Game 1 of the second-round series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes is Saturday in Raleigh at 8 pm ET.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Alexander Nikishin are expected to play in Game 1 against the Flyers. Both players were injured during the Hurricanes’ first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.

NHL.COM: Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres are the finalists for the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year, as voted by the National Broadcasters’ Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to three worthy finalists. Cooper has never won this award despite his many years of success with the Lightning. Muse is a finalist in his first-ever season as an NHL head coach. Ruff won the award in 2005-06 during his first tenure with the Sabres.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said he hasn’t thought about signing a contract extension this summer. The 38-year-old superstar has completed the first season of his two-year contract. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but we’ll wait and see,” Crosby said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby likely wants to find out what general manager Kyle Dubas’ offseason roster plans will be, and whether they include negotiating an extension.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Evgeni Malkin said he’ll sign with another NHL team if the Penguins don’t re-sign him this summer. The 39-year-old forward is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how Crosby reacts if his long-time teammate ends up signing elsewhere this summer.

THE ATHLETIC’s Josh Yohe reported Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was dealing with a knee injury during the first-round series against the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Yohe observed, you’d never know Silovs was playing hurt based on his performance in that series.

SPORTSNET: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov in Game 6 of their first-round series on Thursday. The Wild won that game and eliminated the Stars.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues signed winger Dylan Holloway to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway signed a two-year offer sheet with the Blues two years ago that went unmatched by the Edmonton Oilers. It was a costly loss for the Oilers, as the speedy 24-year-old winger has been a good fit with the Blues. He netted a career-high 63 points in 77 games last season, and had 51 points this season despite missing 23 games with an ankle injury.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks center Connor Bedard won’t be playing for Canada in the upcoming IIHF World Championship. The 20-year-old center is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury.

SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs had hoped to interview Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois as part of their ongoing search for a new GM. However, the Lightning denied them permission.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils announced they are parting ways with assistant general manager Dan MacKinnon and senior advisor Chuck Fletcher.

THE ATHLETIC: Jed Ortmeyer is out as the New York Rangers’ director of player development.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 1, 2026

by | May 1, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 1, 2026

What’s next for the Oilers and Stars following their postseason eliminations? What’s the latest on the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE OILERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille and Chris Johnston looked at what’s next for the Edmonton Oilers after their first-round elimination by the Anaheim Ducks. They don’t have much time to rebuild back into perennial Stanley Cup contender status. Team captain Connor McDavid will be starting his new two-year contract next season.

League sources claim McDavid remains determined to bring the Oilers to the promised land despite this season’s setback. However, he’ll expect management to deliver on specific roster adjustments this summer.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Finding a suitable starting goaltender remains a prime issue for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry has two years remaining on his contract, and didn’t imbue any confidence that he can handle the starter’s job. Connor Ingram is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The pickings are slim in this summer’s UFA market. Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights could be trade candidates, though it’s hard to imagine the latter helping out a division rival.

Forwards Adam Henrique, Jason Dickinson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Curtis Lazar, and defenseman Connor Murphy are also UFA-eligible.

The biggest decision could be what to do with Darnell Nurse. He has four years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9.25 million and a full no-movement clause. If the Oilers can find a way to trade him, it would free up cap space to address other needs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman faces what could arguably be the biggest challenge of his management career this summer. This club is at a crossroads, and trying to rebuild around the core on the cheap likely won’t work any better than it did this season.

Puckpedia indicates the Oilers have over $16.4 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, with 15 active roster players under contract.

Finding a suitable goaltender will be difficult given the limited talent in the trade and free-agent markets. It’s easy to suggest trading for Binnington or Hill, but they both have 10-team no-trade lists, and there’s no certainty they’ll accept a trade to the Oilers.

Nurse’s contract makes moving him a daunting challenge. Even if he agreed to waive his clause, few teams will be willing to take on his full cap hit. The Oilers would have to retain some of it to facilitate a deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara believes the Oilers’ collapse raises questions about McDavid’s future and head coach Kris Knoblauch’s job.

If the trade whispers about McDavid were to become reality, O’Hara believes the Los Angeles Kings would make sense.

While the Kings also made an early postseason exit, O’Hara believes their defensive structure and reliable goaltending are things that McDavid hasn’t had in Edmonton, and could make them an enticing destination.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I put no stock into those “whispers” that McDavid wants out. Assuming he did, I don’t see the Kings as a destination.

Like the Oilers, the Kings are at a crossroads, with Anze Kopitar retiring and long-time defenseman Drew Doughty in the twilight of his career. Yes, they play better defense and have better goaltending, but that hasn’t been enough to get them past the first round over the past five years. They also lack the assets to meet what will be a significant asking price for McDavid.

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark believes the only concern for the Oilers is how to build up a better roster around superstar Connor McDavid. He acknowledged there are other needs to be addressed, but improving the supporting cast around McDavid is the main concern.

The Oilers will have to accomplish that by finding help at team-friendly prices. One way they could resolve that is move one of their higher-paid players not named McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If they can’t move Nurse (and I doubt that they can without adding a significant sweetener to the deal), trading away any of their other high-salaried guys (Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) would do more harm than good. They could attempt to trade defenseman Jake Walman ($7 million AAV starting next season), but he has a full NMC.

The easier player to move that would free up considerable cap space is Evan Bouchard. He earns an AAV of $10.5 million, lacks no-trade protection, and he would fetch a better return than the aforementioned players. However, moving him would take away their top puck-moving defenseman, leaving them scrambling to find a suitable replacement. Trading Bouchard could also send the wrong signal to McDavid, making the prospect of his early departure more likely.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE STARS?

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos reports that losing in the first round of the playoffs was never an acceptable outcome for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations like the Stars. They will start again and try to get back to the level they were a year ago.

The roster might have a slightly different look next season. They still have to re-sign winger Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. They could also have a new team captain if Jamie Benn retires.

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark believes the cost of re-signing Robertson will be expensive, pointing to the expensive deals signed by wingers Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau wondered if Robertson’s play could price him out of Dallas. The 26-year-old winger had 45 goals and a team-leading 96 points this season, and was second among his teammates in this postseason with eight points in six games.

The Stars have $11.1 million in projected cap space next season. Robertson is coming off a four-year contract with an AAV of $7.75 million, and his next deal will exceed $10 million annually. That could force general manager Jim Nill to make a cost-cutting move or two to free up space to re-sign him.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus wondered if Nill will re-sign Robertson or dangle him in the trade market for a return that replenishes their depleted prospect and draft-pick pools.

Like Proteau, Lazerus believes Nill would have to make a salary-dumping deal to re-sign Robertson. He wondered if veteran center Matt Duchene or the oft-injured (but still highly respected) Roope Hintz would become a trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is earning an AAV of $12 million on an eight-year contract, while Kapizov will earn $17 million annually when his new contract kicks in next season. Robertson won’t get Kaprizov money, but he could end up in the same neighborhood as Marner.

Hintz would be more valuable than Duchene in the trade market, but both players have full no-movement clauses. Thomas Harley ($10.5 million starting next season) and Wyatt Johnston ($8.4 million) would each fetch significant returns and lack no-trade protection, but Nill isn’t going to move those core players.

THE LATEST ON THE RED WINGS

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman looked at some potential offseason free agents and trade targets for the Detroit Red Wings to boost their chances of ending their long playoff drought.

Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, Mason Marchment of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Anders Lee of the New York Islanders top his list of potential free-agent candidates.

Trade targets could include Buffalo Sabres forwards Josh Norris and Jack Quinn, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson.

Bultman also looked at which players on the current Red Wings roster are likely to stay and which ones are likely to move. Players with term remaining on their contracts (J.T. Compher, Michael Rasmussen, and Mason Appleton) are potential trade candidates. Pending UFAs James van Riemsdyk, David Perron, and Cam Talbot could move on.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2026

by | May 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2026

The Ducks and Wild advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers won’t be making a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, falling to the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven first-round series, winning this series in six games.

Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Chris Kreider each had a goal and two assists, Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal stopped 25 shots for the Ducks, who took this series in six games and will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights-Utah Mammoth series. Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin replied for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first series win for the Ducks since 2017. Their victory over the Oilers is an upset, but it was clear as this series unfolded that they were the better club. Several of the Oilers’ key players, including team captain Connor McDavid, were dealing with injuries, but even he admitted that they were an average team throughout this season.

The Oilers’ early postseason exit is already sparking conjecture about their offseason plans. I’ll have more in today’s Rumor Mill.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club over the Dallas Stars 4-2 to win their first-round series in six games. Matt Boldy tallied two empty-net goals for the Wild, who won their first playoff series since 2015 and will face the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Wyatt Johnson and Mavrik Bourque briefly gave the Stars a 2-1 lead before Vladimir Tarasenko tied the score and Hughes netted the winning goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a terrific series between two well-matched opponents. This loss is a bit of a setback for the Stars, who reached the Western Conference Final in each of the last three years. I’ll be taking a look at what they face in the offseason in today’s Rumor Mill.

The Wild won this series without defenseman Jonas Brodin, who missed this game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Stars defenseman Tyler Myers was a healthy scratch from this contest.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson are this year’s finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The award is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and ability as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All three are worthy candidates, with Kopitar having won it three times. With the Kings’ captain retiring, he’ll likely be the sentimental choice for the voters.

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the second-round series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers will be on Saturday, May 2, at 8 pm ET in Carolina. 

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson is expected to miss Game 6 of his club’s first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. He’s been sidelined since Game 4 with a suspected shoulder injury.

NESN: Bruins rookie forward James Hagens is expected to be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are trailing the Sabres three games to two and hope to avoid elimination in Game 6 on Friday in Boston.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Speaking of the Sabres, defenseman Logan Stanley is questionable for Game 6 due to an illness.

TSN: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Elias Salomonsson underwent shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for six months.

THE PROVINCE: Calgary Flames assistant general manager Brad Pascall and Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Jeff Tambellini are among the candidates to become the next general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Other candidates include Boston Bruins assistant general managers Evan Gold and Jamie Langenbrunner, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brent Peterson, NHL front office executive Patrick Burke, former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, Toronto Maple Leafs executive Shane Doan, and Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks appear to be casting a wider net in their search for a new general manager than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who seem to be putting more of an emphasis on “data-driven” candidates.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell is leaving the club to explore other opportunities as her contract expires. She was the first woman to become an assistant coach in NHL history. The door remains open if she wishes to return to the Kraken.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 30, 2026

by | Apr 30, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 30, 2026

Senators captain Brady Tkachuk addresses the trade rumors swirling about him, the Penguins could face some tough choices about two of their top players, and the latest on the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BRADY TKACHUK SHOOTS DOWN TRADE RUMORS AGAIN

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators captain Brady Tkachuk dismissed the trade rumors that have swirled around him in recent weeks.

“I’ve never said (that I want to be traded), teams never said it, I’ve always believed in this team, I’ve always believed in playing for this city, and the city’s always been good to me,” Tkachuk said. “I don’t know what else to say other than what I’ve said countless times, but I still have to answer to it. A lot of that stuff has never come from my mouth.”

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Tkachuk said he remains fully committed to the team and the city, adding that the rumors about his future in Ottawa have become a frustrating distraction.

The Senators captain has two years left on his contract with a full no-movement clause. He and the Senators can begin discussions on an extension next July.

Tkachuk said he hasn’t given any thought to an extension because it’s a year away, focusing instead on what improvements he and the team can make for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All the conjecture about Tkachuk has been based on random media musings as some pundits attempt to glean his mood through his on-ice performance, body language, and interactions with his brother, Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk.

There’s no reason to doubt Tkachuk’s sincerity about his commitment to the Senators. Nevertheless, as Sportsnet’s Wayne Scanlan observed, the speculation about his future in Ottawa will likely persist until contract extension talks begin next year.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PENGUINS?

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton looked at what the offseason keys are for the Pittsburgh Penguins following their first-round elimination by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Shilton believes this could be the summer when the Penguins must decide whether they’re going all in on rebuilding their roster. They have four picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft, and could get a lot more if they put Sidney Crosby on the trade block.

Crosby has a year left on his contract, and he probably isn’t keen to spend it fronting a retooling roster. They must also decide if they’ll re-sign Evgeni Malkin or let the long-time Penguins star depart as a free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be surprising if general manager Kyle Dubas tries to convince Crosby to accept a trade. If that deal goes through, it’ll likely be because Crosby asked to be traded.

The Penguins exceeded expectations this season as they continue to transition toward a younger roster. Dubas and Crosby could be fine with seeing how things go next season.

Whether Malkin returns could affect that plan, but Crosby could return even if his long-time teammate signs elsewhere.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Toronto Maple Leafs are working on installing former Leafs captain Mats Sundin as vice-president of hockey operations and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka as their new GM.

“As it stands right now, I’m under the impression it’s gonna be Sundin and Chayka, and they just have to close the deal,” Friedman said. “Nothing is done until it’s done, but that’s what I believe is going on.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka being a candidate for the Leafs GM role isn’t sitting well with pundits and podcasters in Leafs Nation. He checks the ownership’s requirement for a “data-driven” general manager, but his checkered past as GM of the Coyotes raises questions about who is conducting this search and why they haven’t found better options.