NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2026

by | Jul 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2026

Leo Carlsson is staying with the Ducks, Red Wings center Dylan Larkin slightly expands his trade list, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini receives the top individual international hockey award, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE DUCKS MATCH THE FLYERS’ OFFER SHEET FOR LEO CARLSSON

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER/PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Anaheim Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet to center Leo Carlsson, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL this season.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

Carlsson, 21, was a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights after completing his entry-level contract. His new deal is for five years, with a league-leading average annual value of $18 million, the largest in league history.

More than 40 percent of the $90 million contract will be paid out in signing bonuses.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlsson got a $19.5 million signing bonus for this season. He’ll get $18.1 million in 2027-28, $17.050 million in 2028-29, $15.2 million in 2029-30, and $15 million in 2030-31.

Forget about the recent grumbling over no-trade/no-movement clauses. That isn’t a hill the NHL will die on in the next round of collective bargaining in 2030. Signing bonuses will be the real bone of contention. Expect those to be capped in the next CBA.

DAILY FACEOFF: Carlsson said he’s happy that the Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer.

“It was an offer that 99% of people would sign too,” Carlsson said. “It’s a pretty simple answer. I really wanted to be here, though. I really wanted them to match. I wanted to be an Anaheim Duck.”

Carlsson also said he spoke with his Ducks teammates, who were supportive of his decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most observers expected Anaheim to match the offer. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is publicly pleased to retain Carlsson, but his lack of foresight in this situation has significant salary-cap consequences for his club.

Keeping Carlsson screws up the Ducks’ salary cap for this season, leaving little space to re-sign high-scoring winger Cutter Gauthier and to bolster their young blueline. It will also affect their cap plans throughout Carlsson’s contract, potentially hampering their development as a future Stanley Cup contender.

However, not matching the offer would’ve cost them their first-line center, setting them back for a few years as they tried to find a suitable replacement.

Some observers suggested using the four compensatory first-round picks they would’ve received from the Flyers as trade bait to address that issue. That’s much easier said than done, and anyone they find might not adequately replace Carlsson.

Where do both teams go from here? Find out in my NHL Rumor Mill.

IN OTHER NEWS…

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has expanded his list of trade destinations to include the Dallas Stars. However, the Red Wings would prefer that he include some other options.

Larkin’s request for a trade was reported a month ago. His original list includes the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers.

Khan cited a league source claiming the Red Wings had trade discussions with the Stars. They asked for young center Wyatt Johnston in return, but there was no chance of that happening.

It’s believed the Stars offered up winger Jason Robertson, but he’d had to agree to sign a long-term contract with the Red Wings. There’s no reason to believe he will do that after rejecting a long-term offer from the Seattle Kraken worth $15 million annually, and it’s unlikely the Red Wings will pay him that much.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants young NHL talent in return for Larkin. He’s not interested in a return of draft picks and prospects unless he can turn that return into assets that can help the Wings right away.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Khan believes that if a deal could’ve been had to send Larkin to Minnesota, Vegas, or Florida, it would’ve happened by now. He thinks it could take a three-team deal to pull this off, or Larkin expanding his list of destinations further.

IIHF.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has been voted the IIHF’s Male Player of the Year for 2025-26. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finished second in the voting, with Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho finishing third.

Celebrini led the 2026 Olympics with five goals and was second in points with 11. He later played in the World Championship, finishing second in scoring and being named the tournament’s top forward. In the NHL, he finished fourth in scoring with 115 points, the third-highest by a teenager after Wayne Gretzky (137 points) and Sidney Crosby (120).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This won’t be the only individual hardware Celebrini will receive in his professional career. The kid is something special and will be a contender for the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy in the coming years.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils captain Nico Hischier is being lauded for his role in rescuing a family in distress from a river in Switzerland.

Hischier downplayed his role in the rescue, crediting others who joined him in helping the family until first responders arrived. No one was hurt in the ordeal.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER/TSN: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is facing criticism for having his name and that of his wife and five school-age children engraved on the Stanley Cup.

The Dundon family took up the first two lines etched into the side of the Cup to commemorate the Hurricanes winning the NHL championship in 2025-26.

SPORTSNET: The Dundons aren’t the only family members to be engraved on the Cup. In 2024 and 2025, Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola included his wife, Teresa, and their three sons. Penny Vinik, the then-wife of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik, had her name engraved on the Cup.

In 1984, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington had his father’s name etched on the Cup, but it was later covered with Xs because he had nothing to do with the championship.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is an embarrassment for the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Whoever approved this should be sacked.

Tom Dundon is the only member of his family who has any official role with the team. His wife and children do not. Like Basil Pocklington with the 1984 Oilers, they had nothing to do with the Hurricanes’ championship.

Dundon’s name should be on the Stanley Cup as the club’s owner. The rest of his family doesn’t belong there.

As for the other families, they are there because the spouses and adult children held official roles with those teams.

Viola’s wife is the co-owner of the Panthers, as was Vinik’s then-wife in 2021. Viola’s sons also have roles within the Panthers’ organization.

The Illich family have their names engraved on the Cup commemorating the Red Wings’ 2007-08 championship. Like the Violas, they also had official roles within the franchise.

The league and the HHoF can easily fix this by making a rule that only the primary owner of the team will have their name engraved on the Cup. But of course, they won’t do that because it would upset the team owners.

TSN: Haley Wickenheiser announced she is no longer working for the Toronto Maple Leafs. She’d served as their assistant general manager in charge of player development since 2018.

SPORTSNET: The Maple Leafs named Steve Sullivan as the new head coach of their AHL franchise, the Toronto Marlies. He replaced John Gruden, who was promoted to assistant coach with the Leafs.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators avoided salary arbitration with forward Xavier Bourgault, signing him to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2026

by | Jul 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2026

Could the Penguins pursue Jason Robertson or Elias Pettersson? Could the Flyers pursue Adam Fantilli if their offer sheet to Leo Carlsson falls through? What’s the latest with Morgan Rielly? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports the Pittsburgh Penguins are “very much open” to acquiring Jason Robertson. They see the Dallas Stars winger as a building block for general manager Kyle Dubas.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

Yohe believes there’s a real chance that Robertson would agree to play for the Penguins. Acquiring his brother, Nick, from the Toronto Maple Leafs doesn’t hurt.

Sources say the Stars still hope to sign the 26-year-old Robertson to a long-term contract. Yohe believes the Penguins wanted to have trade talks with Stars GM Jim Nill, but those discussions never got serious. “Not yet, anyway,” Yohe said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson filed for salary arbitration on July 5. His hearing will be scheduled for sometime between July 20 and Aug. 1. The schedule will be released shortly.

It’s believed Robertson wants to stay in Dallas, but he’s reportedly seeking a long-term deal worth $14 million, while the Stars are reportedly offering $12 million.

If this goes to arbitration, Robertson will get a one-year contract that takes him to unrestricted free-agent eligibility next July. That could grease the skids for his departure, making a trade to Pittsburgh (or another club of his choosing) before next summer seem more likely.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski took note of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting that Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson could be a good fit with the Penguins.

Kingerski indicated that Friedman was merely offering his opinion, but he disagreed that Pettersson would be a good addition to the Penguins. He cited the decline in the 27-year-old center’s performance and his hefty contract, which runs through 2031-32 with an average annual value of $11.6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “Pettersson-to-Pittsburgh” speculation seems more like wishful thinking than anything based in reality. Granted, anything can happen, but his contract is so unwieldy and his struggles so well documented that it’s difficult to envision Dubas taking that chance.

COULD ADAM FANTILLI BECOME THE FLYERS’ OFFER SHEET “PLAN B”?

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco was asked if the Philadelphia Flyers would attempt to sign Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli if the Anaheim Ducks match their offer sheet for Leo Carlsson.

According to Di Marco, his sources say that’s not in the cards. One reason is that the Flyers don’t view Fantilli as worth the same money and risk as Carlsson. If they attempted to sign the 21-year-old center to a lesser offer, the Blue Jackets would likely match it.

Di Marco also noted that Cam Briere, the son of Flyers GM Daniel Briere, is a video coach with the Blue Jackets. He believes that it could also play a factor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlsson projects to have a higher ceiling than Fantilli. Both are excellent centers, but Carlsson has superstar potential, which explains why the Flyers are willing to take the risk in making him the highest-paid player in the league.

The Flyers might not pursue Fantilli with an offer sheet, but another club could. The Blue Jackets must closely monitor his situation to avoid being blindsided like the Ducks were with Carlsson. Even if they match an expensive offer, it could mess up their salary cap plans.

UPDATE ON MORGAN RIELLY

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who recently reported the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t willing to add a big sweetener in their efforts to trade Morgan Rielly.

Friedman said he’d heard the Maple Leafs weren’t going to pay a high price to move Rielly. The 32-year-old defenseman is coming off two difficult seasons. He carries an AAV of $7.5 million for the next four seasons, along with a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly isn’t keen to leave the Maple Leafs, but he submitted a list of acceptable trade destinations to management. It was assumed the San Jose Sharks would be interested, but they instead acquired Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Leafs are gauging the trade market for Rielly, but it doesn’t seem like they’re desperate to move him this summer. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s still on their blueline when the regular season opens in October.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2026

by | Jul 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2026

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is sidelined again, the Mammoth match Barrett Hayton’s contract offer from the Devils, the Canadiens make a change to their coaching staff, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Connor Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Blackhawks center suffered the injury during on-ice training last week in Vancouver. He is expected to be sidelined for four months.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

Bedard injured his right shoulder during a game last December, but didn’t require surgery. He missed about a month of action and was at less than 100 percent for another month or so following his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a significant setback for Bedard and for the Blackhawks. As their franchise player, he was to play the key role in management’s plan to push the club into playoff contention this season.

The report suggests Frank Nazar and rookie Anton Frondell will likely start the season centering the Blackhawks’ top two lines until Bedard’s return in mid-November.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Utah Mammoth matched the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet that center Barrett Hayton signed with the New Jersey Devils on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hayton, 26, is expected to center the Mammoth’s third line. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July, but the Mammoth can sign him to an extension starting on Jan. 1. Because they matched the offer sheet, they cannot trade him for one year.

The Devils attempted to acquire Hayton through a trade, but those talks broke down. They were hoping that the decline in his production and playing time last season, combined with his UFA eligibility next summer, would make the Mammoth less inclined to match their offer.

Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said there were no hard feelings between him and Devils GM Sunny Mehta over Hayton’s offer sheet.

“It’s just business. Players want to get paid; they want to make as much money as they can in their lifetime. We get it,” Armstrong said. He also said there were no hard feelings toward Hayton for accepting the Devils’ offer.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens hired Derek Lalonde to replace Trevor Letowski on their coaching staff.

Lalonde was head coach of the Detroit Red Wings from 2022 to 2024. He won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach. Lalonde spent last season as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Letowski has been with the Canadiens’ coaching staff since 2021-22. He’s stepping away to spend more time with his family, but the Canadiens hope to keep him in the organization.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars have done little to improve their rosters thus far in this offseason.

The three clubs dominated the Central Division last season and were considered Stanley Cup contenders.

The Avalanche’s forward groups have taken a step backward, with their fourth line especially weak. The Stars made no significant additions, traded away Mavrik Bourque, and are trying to re-sign Jason Robertson with just $9.8 million in salary-cap space. The Wild have made some depth moves to replace departed veterans Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, and Vladimir Tarasenko, but they still lack a true first-line center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of those three teams, the Avalanche will likely suffer the biggest decline. I’ll go as far as to say that their Stanley Cup window is closing. They got older this summer, not better.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders are making NHL history by allowing their fans to play a role in designing the club’s third jersey.

Fans have until July 24 to submit their designs before the organization lets the fans vote on their five favorites. The winner of the competition will get a ticket to the game in which the team wears their designed jersey for the first time.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 8, 2026

by | Jul 8, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 8, 2026

A look at some potential offer-sheet targets, plus the latest on Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH RFA PLAYERS COULD BE OFFER-SHEET TARGETS?

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at possible offer sheet targets in the wake of the Leo Carlsson offer sheet signing.

Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks are the two biggest potential targets among this summer’s restricted free agents.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

Dixon wondered if any team that had contemplated an offer sheet for Carlsson would pivot to Fantilli. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks paid a heavy price to acquire and sign defenseman Bowen Byram. Dixon believes now is the time for them to lock down their franchise center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said on Monday that his club is in a position to match any offer for Fantilli. I said he wasn’t expecting the 21-year-old center to receive an offer sheet, but didn’t rule it out.

The word out of Chicago is that Bedard’s shoulder injury might put any offer sheet talk on hold. It’s believed that he remains committed to the Blackhawks and isn’t interested in signing with another team.

Dixon also looked at how the Carlsson offer sheet could affect 2027 RFA-eligible players such as Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Kirill Marchenko of the Blue Jackets, and 2028 RFAs such as Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders and Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The cost of re-signing Celebrini and Schaefer could exceed $20 million annually. They’re superstar franchise players and will seek top dollar on their next contracts.

Michkov isn’t expected to get an extension this summer while Marchenko reportedly isn’t interested in signing one. Depending on their performances this season, their asking prices could exceed $10 million.

Sennecke’s case will be intriguing. He finished second in points (62) among last season’s rookie class and was third among voters for the Calder Memorial Trophy. He could command up to $15 million annually if he has a strong sophomore season. However, that will take a huge chunk out of the Ducks’ cap space if they match Carlsson’s offer sheet and re-sign Cutter Gauthier for at least $10 million annually this summer.

DID THE AVALANCHE LOOK INTO ACQUIRING CONNOR HELLEBUYCK?

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen cited a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who claimed “a couple of teams” told him that they wondered if the Avalanche attempted to acquire goaltender Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.

Friedman didn’t indicate that there were any negotiations between the Avalanche and Jets. He wasn’t sure how that deal would work between the two clubs, or what the Avs could offer, or if the Jets would be interested.

Any deal to take on Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million average annual value would mean the Avalanche would have to move out some salary in the deal or in a separate cost-cutting trade. They also lack the tradeable assets to tempt the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche management may have contacted the Jets to inquire about Hellebuyck’s availability. However, as Deen pointed out, they lack the cap space and trade capital to make it work.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN

DAILY FACEOFF: cited Helene St. James of the Detroit Red Press, who reported that Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has not expanded his three-team trade list.

The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers are Larkin’s destinations of choice. St. James stated those clubs have not made offers that have intrigued the Red Wings, who seek value-now players for a first-line center with a very favorable contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers made their big moves this summer by acquiring Brady Tkachuk and Jacob Markstrom. Their unwillingness to part with young two-way center Anton Lundell takes them out of the running.

Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently pointed out why the Golden Knights can’t afford Larkin. Put simply, they lack the cap space and the assets to meet the Red Wings’ asking price. They traded away their best trade chip (Pavel Dorofeyev) to the Rangers last month.

The Wild also lack cap space, but could move some money in the deal for Larkin or in a separate trade with another team. They also have some promising young players in their system. However, it’s rumored that the Wings want one of the Wild’s best players (Matt Boldy) in return, which obviously isn’t happening.

Unless one of those three teams can get a third team involved to acquire the necessary assets to acquire Larkin, he will remain with the Red Wings when next season begins, for better or for worse.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2026

by | Jul 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2026

A list of the notable players still available in the UFA market, Daniel Alfredsson joins the Maple Leafs coaching staff, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Several notable players remain unsigned a week into the unrestricted free-agent market.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Patrick Kane, Anthony Mantha, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Patrik Laine are among the noteworthy forwards. Defensemen include John Klingberg and Logan Stanley, while Cam Talbot is the most notable goaltender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of these players are now past their prime as stars, but some of them could be affordable depth additions.

Mantha is hoping to leverage a career-best performance (33 goals, 64 points) into a lucrative long-term contract, but his inconsistency and injury history could explain why he’s still unsigned.

Massimo De Luca-Taronno of The Winnipeg Sun recently reported the Jets could consider adding some secondary scoring depth, mentioning Mantha and Laine (a former Jet) as possible options.

MLive.com’s Ansar Khan reports the Detroit Red Wings would like to bring back Kane for another season. They reportedly still have an offer on the table, but it appears he’s looking at other options, including his hometown club, the Buffalo Sabres.

OTTAWA SUN: Former Senators captain and Hall of Famer Daniel Alfredsson has joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an associate coach. Alfredsson was an assistant coach for the Senators from 2023-24 to 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Alfredsson’s signing surprised fans of both clubs, who remember his role as captain of the Senators in “The Battle of Ontario” between the two teams in postseason competition from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

It’s believed that former Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin, the Leafs’ new Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations, played a role in bringing Alfredsson to Toronto. While the two had their on-ice battles, they are good friends off the ice.

Speaking of the Senators, they officially announced Claude Giroux’s new one-year contract on Tuesday. The deal has a $2 million base salary, with an additional $3 million in performance bonuses.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators hired Vukie Mpofu as assistant general manager.

Mpofu spent the past three seasons as director of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before that, he was the manager of hockey operations for the Los Angeles Kings (2021-2023) and the Vegas Golden Knights (2020).

THE PROVINCE/CALGARY SUN: Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary were shut down on Tuesday by Rogers Sports and Media, along with four other stations across Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: AM talk radio has been dying in recent years as listeners turn to podcasts and other sources for sports news and information. Nevertheless, it’s a devastating blow to the respective staff of both stations. My thoughts are with those folks who lost their jobs yesterday.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026

by | Jul 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026

A look at how Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet could affect the Ducks’ efforts to re-sign Cutter Gauthier, plus the latest on the Sharks, Red Wings, Hurricanes, Bruins, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE DUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Anaheim Ducks will have less than $10 million in salary-cap space if they match Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. That will affect their efforts to re-sign restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauther.

The 22-year-old Gauthier tallied 41 goals in the final season of his entry-level contract. Stephens doubts the Ducks will be able to re-sign him to an average annual value of under $10 million.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

Gauthier lacks arbitration rights and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek could use that leverage to play hardball with the young winger. However, Stephens pointed out that it didn’t work well with now-former Ducks Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish. Gauthier was also the pure finisher that Verbeek wanted to pair with Carlsson when he acquired the winger from the Flyers two years ago.

If the Ducks match Carlsson’s offer sheet and re-sign Gauthier, they’ll have to shed salary to become salary cap-compliant before the start of their regular season in October.

Winger Frank Vatrano seems the obvious choice, but moving his $4.57 million AAV through 2026-27 (and its deferred money) won’t be easy. It seems unlikely they’ll move Chris Kreider or Alex Killorn, both of whom have 15-team no-trade lists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano would have to be packaged with a draft pick or prospect to facilitate a trade. Even then, clubs might balk at taking on his contract. Kreider or Killorn would draw more interest, possibly from teams not on their no-trade lists.

If the Ducks don’t match Carlsson’s offer sheet, they’ll have to find a suitable replacement. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings could be an option if he agrees to accept a trade to Anaheim, but at 29, he’s already hit his ceiling. Another possibility could be Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barzal has a 22-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. So would the Islanders’ asking price, as they’ll likely want a good young player in return. So would the Red Wings with Larkin.

NOTABLE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” PODCAST

SPORTSNET: In his final “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” for 2025-26, Elliotte Friedman wondered how much it will cost the San Jose Sharks to sign superstar center Macklin Celebrini to a contract extension.

Celebrini, 20, has a year left on his entry-level contract. He’ll be an RFA without arbitration rights next summer and eligible to sign an offer sheet.

The Sharks will want to avoid Celebrini becoming an offer-sheet target. Friedman mused whether they would try to convince him to accept less than the league maximum on his next cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The maximum cap hit is 20 percent of the salary cap for the first season in which the contract is signed. For 2027-28, it’s $22.6 million.

Given that Leo Carlsson’s new contract has set the benchmark with his league-leading $18 million average annual value, the Sharks will likely try to keep their offer to Celebrini to between $18 million and $19 million. However, his representatives could push for over $20 million.

Friedman said the Carolina Hurricanes are hoping to use an offer sheet to make a big splash this summer. He wondered if they could be eyeing Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Hurricanes will need a defenseman because they’re reportedly shopping Alexander Nikishin, who is an RFA this summer. Friedman said they’re also trying to include forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the deal, which would free up $4.25 million in cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now reports the Red Wings have set aside $12 million in cap space in case Edvinsson signs an offer sheet. Even if the Hurricanes can move out Kotkaniemi, they won’t have enough to make an unmatchable offer for the Wings blueliner.

Friedman also said the Hurricanes were considering signing a player to an offer sheet and then trading him if the signing was successful. If a team matches an offer sheet, they cannot trade the player for one year. However, there are no restrictions for a team that successfully signs away a player with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In that scenario, the Hurricanes would sign a player they don’t need, and then flip him to another team to address a more pressing roster issue.

Pavel Zacha’s contract extension talks with the Boston Bruins caught Friedman’s attention. He thinks they’ve spoken with other clubs about him. He assumed one of them was the Montreal Canadiens, but two sources denied it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably prefer to retain Zacha, but it doesn’t hurt to gauge the trade market just in case.

Speaking of the Canadiens, Friedman said they’re still searching for a top-six forward. He indicated that they’ve made numerous calls to the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kirill Marchenko, but the Jackets aren’t willing to move him right now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nick Lariviere of The Sick Podcast suggested Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken as a trade option for the Canadiens. The Kraken are reportedly shopping the 22-year-old center.

The Canadiens passed over Wright in the 2022 draft in favor of winger Juraj Slafkovsky. He’s struggled to establish himself as a top-six center with the Kraken. He still has time to achieve that goal and would be an affordable acquisition in terms of salary and return.

However, the Canadiens have been reportedly pursuing more established young talent, such as Marchenko and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. Wright doesn’t fit that profile.