NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 27, 2026

by | Apr 27, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 27, 2026

The Avalanche eliminate the Kings as Anze Kopitar’s playing career ends, the Sabres humble the Bruins, the Ducks push the Oilers to the brink, and the Lightning even their series with the Canadiens. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 to sweep their best-of seven first-round series. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and collected an assist while Gabriel Landeskog picked up two assists for the Avalanche. Joel Edmundson replied for the Kings in what was the final game for team captain Anze Kopitar, who announced last fall that he would be retiring at the end of this season.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Minnesota Wild series, which is currently tied at two games apiece. The previous three games in this series were closely contested, but the Avs’ depth made the difference as the series progressed.

Kopitar received a standing ovation from the Los Angeles crowd as he skated out for his final shift. He was among the best two-way forwards in the game, and ended his career as the greatest player in franchise history.

In 20 NHL seasons (all with the Kings), Kopitar is their all-time leader in games played (1,521), assists (864), and points (1,316). He helped them win two Stanley Cups, took home the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times, and the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2015-16.

A four-goal first period powered the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-1 romp over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round series. Alex Tuch, Bowen Byram, Josh Doan, and Peyton Krebs each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who hold a 3-1 lead over the Bruins as the series returns to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday. Sean Kuraly scored for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Sabres win Game 5, it’ll be their first playoff series victory since 2007.

The Bruins were justifiably embarrassed by their lackluster performance in this game. Head coach Marco Sturm refused to blame starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who was hung out to dry by his fellow Bruins. Swayman had some harsh words for his teammates on the bench after he was finally pulled from the game, prompting Sturm to say that at least one of his players had some fire in them on Sunday.

Speaking of the Bruins, winger Viktor Arvidsson left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Ryan Poehling gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round series. The Oilers took 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but the Ducks battled back with Jeffrey Viel scoring the tying goal that sent the game into OT. Evan Bouchard had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who are now on the verge of elimination with the Ducks holding a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is in Edmonton on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was some controversy over Poehling’s goal. The puck appeared to fully cross the goal line, but it was pinned under the skate of Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry. The on-ice officials had no clear view of it from their vantage points, and there was no conclusive footage in the video reviews. Nevertheless, the ruling from the Situation Room was that the puck had indeed fully crossed the goal line.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, tying their series at two games apiece. Brandon Hagel scored twice in the third period while Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield scored their first goals of this postseason for the Canadiens. The series returns to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Wednesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were cruising with that 2-0 lead in the second period until Lightning defenseman Max Crozier laid out Habs winger Juraj Slakovsky with a thunderous, clean hit at center ice. Slafkovsky left the game but returned for the third period none the worse for wear. Nevertheless, that hit was the turning point, energizing the Lightning players as they rallied back for the victory.

Hagel has been the Lightning’s best player in this series. He leads all postseason scorers with six goals. Meanwhile, sidelined Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (thumb injury) has resumed skating and will be reevaluated on Tuesday. If he’s good to go, he could make his series debut on Wednesday.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy’s poise and timely scoring have made him a clutch player in his club’s first-round series with the Dallas Stars.

TRIBLIVE.COM: If the Pittsburgh Penguins hope to overcome a 3-1 series deficit against the Philadelphia Flyers, forwards Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov must regain their scoring touch. Both players have been held scoreless in this series.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Speaking of the Flyers, sophomore winger Matvei Michkov could be a healthy scratch in Game 5 against the Penguins on Monday in Pittsburgh. Michkov skated with two of the Flyers’ extra forwards during practice on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Young Flyers such as Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone have thrived in their first-ever NHL playoff series. However, Michkov has struggled to adjust to the postseason pace and was held scoreless through the first two games.

SPORTSNET: MacKenzie Weegar is relishing his leadership role with the Utah Mammoth in his return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Weegar was acquired from the Calgary Flames at the March trade deadline and is tied for the team scoring lead in this series with two goals and three points.

TSN: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin suffered a concussion on Saturday after taking a crushing hit by Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven. The Hurricanes swept that series, and Nikishin returned to Carolina with his teammates, where he will continue concussion protocols.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There is currently no timetable for Nikishin’s return.

OTTAWA SUN: Speaking of the Senators, forward Ridly Greig will have a hearing with the league’s department of player safety for sucker-punching the Hurricanes’ Sean Walker during the second period of Game 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no excuse for Greig’s actions in that situation. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets a slap on the wrist or a multigame suspension at the start of next season.

TSN: Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist avoided having to go to the hospital after being struck in the face by a skate blade during Game 4 of his club’s series with the Wild.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 26, 2026

by | Apr 26, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 26, 2026

Check out the latest speculation about the Jets and the Kraken in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates examined the decline of the Winnipeg Jets into a “mushy middle” team (too good to tank, too flawed to win), and suggested how they can get out of it.

One way could be trading one of their core players, such as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, winger Kyle Connor, defenseman Josh Morrissey, or center Mark Scheifele.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Hellebuyck could fetch a top-four defenseman or a second-line center. Connor might be able to fetch a return comparable to what the Calgary Flames received when they traded Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in 2022. The return for Morrissey or Scheifele would include a young player who might develop into a top defenseman or a top center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ates doubted that the Jets would take a proactive approach to that kind of deal. Nevertheless, he thinks such deals are worth discussing.

Ates also looked at some trade options to address their need for a second-line center.

The top one would be Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues if he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause to come to Winnipeg. However, Ates admits that Thomas serves the purpose of an unattainable star talent.

Targeting a restricted free agent center stuck in a third-line role on another club is another option. Ates suggested someone such as Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars or Peyton Krebs of the Buffalo Sabres.

They could also pursue a young center lacking no-trade protection, such as Connor Zary of the Calgary Flames, Ridly Greig of the Ottawa Senators, or Emmitt Finnie of the Detroit Red Wings. However, there’s no certainty that those clubs will part with them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ates also looked at veterans past their prime or those on bad contracts, but he doesn’t see the Jets going those routes. Pursuing someone like Bourque or Krebs might be an easier route, but that doesn’t mean they’re available. If they are, the Jets will have competition to get them. It seems most clubs are in the market for skilled centers.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Tim Booth and Kate Shefte looked at which players on the Kraken could be on the move this summer.

Shefte noted that Kraken general manager Jason Botterill wants to upgrade his forward lines. She believes Matty Beniers is safe, and she doesn’t see the Kraken parting with promising forward Berkly Catton. She also thinks Chandler Stephenson’s contract would be difficult to move.

Everyone else should at least be on the table. Shefte believes pending UFA Bobby McMann is worth keeping and acknowledged they’ll have to “throw a wad of cash at him” to get him to stay, but she doesn’t want them to overpay too much.

Booth believes goaltender Philipp Grubauer’s improvement this season could improve his value in the trade market. He would let defenseman Jamie Oleksiak depart via free agency, and also wondered whether moving one of Ryker Evans, Vince Dunn, or Adam Larsson would be unreasonable. He thinks they’ll have to part with one of them if they hope to bring in help for their forward lines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken were among the league’s lowest-scoring teams. That popgun offense was largely responsible for their inability to remain in the playoff race this season. It must be addressed, which could force Botterill to make a bold move or two this summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2026

by | Apr 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2026

The Hurricanes eliminate the Senators, the Penguins stave off elimination, the Wild tie their series with the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 to sweep their best-of-seven series. Logan Stankoven scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, Sebastian Aho tallied twice, and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves for the Hurricanes. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens replied for the Senators, who got a 26-save performance from goalie Linus Ullmark.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven (NHL Images)

The Hurricanes await the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was another close-checking affair, but both clubs ramped up the physical play. The flashpoint was a devastating (but clean) hit by Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven on Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikitin, knocking the latter out of the game with a suspected concussion.

The Senators gave everything they had to avoid elimination. Ullmark silenced his critics with his outstanding play while the injury-depleted blueline did its best despite the absence of Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub. However, their offense struggled against Andersen’s solid goaltending and the Hurricanes’ suffocating defense. Team captain Brady Tkachuk was a physical presence in this game, but was held scoreless throughout this series.

Carolina’s second line of Stankoven, Tayler Hall, and Jackson Blake was a factor in this game and throughout this series. Stankoven was the star of this series with four goals, including three game-openers. The Hurricanes got the win without winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist as his club avoided elimination with a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kris Letang netted the game winner, Rickard Rakell also had a goal and an assist, and Arturs Silovs stopped 28 shots in his series debut for the Penguins. Denver Barkey and Travis Konecny replied for the Flyers, who hold a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. Game 5 is in Pittsburgh on Monday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby finally broke through offensively after being held to an assist through the first three games. The Penguins still had their issues defensively, but were bailed out by Silovs, whose performance in this game should earn him the start in Game 5.

An overtime goal by Matt Boldy lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars, tying their first-round series at two games apiece. Brock Faber had a goal and an assist while Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 43 shots for the Wild. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen scored, Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen collected two assists each, and Jake Oettinger stopped 40 shots for the Stars. This series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Mats Zuccarello missed his third straight game in this series with an upper-body injury. Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left this game in the second period after being struck in the face by the skate blade of Wild forward Michael McCarron. Following the game, Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Lundkvist suffered a deep facial cut. He will be reexamined in Dallas.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont listed his top-three reasons why the Canadiens hold a 2-1 lead in their first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They include high-danger scoring chances and the Canadiens’ secondary scoring.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis isn’t concerned over the lack of scoring from first-line forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. He pointed out that they’re always a big part of the club’s success, whether they’re on the scoresheet or not. “They’re going to be fine,” St. Louis said.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers have struggled against the Anaheim Ducks in their first-round series, which the Ducks lead two games to one. Their top players have been invisible, they’ve given up 13 goals in their last two games, goaltender Connor Ingram has a save percentage of .849, and their penalty killing is the worst among the 16 playoff clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the headline suggests, the Oilers must find a way to address these issues, or this will be a short series.

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres are shaking up their power play ahead of Game 4 of their series with the Boston Bruins, which is Sunday at 2 pm ET. They’re hoping the addition of Noah Ostlund to their top unit will help them snap a 0-for-36 funk with the man advantage.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Bruins are making a change to their third line, replacing rookie James Hagens with winger Lukas Reichel. Hagens struggled with the Sabres’ physical play through the previous two games.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is considered unlikely to play in Game 4 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings. Manson suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 of this series, in which the Avalanche holds a 3-0 lead.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights need their top players to get going if they’re to overcome a 2-1 series deficit to the Utah Mammoth. Team captain Mark Stone has scored two power-play goals but none at even strength. Ivan Barbashev has two, but one was an empty-netter. Jack Eichel has one goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitch Marner has two assists, and Tomas Hertl has one. Puck-moving defensemen Shea Theodore and Rasmus Andersson have no points through three games.

Meanwhile, the Mammoth are getting production from their best players, including Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, who each have two goals and an assist, while winger Lawson Crouse has two goals.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2026

by | Apr 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2026

Check out the latest on possible changes for the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White are reportedly emerging as the finalists for the job of Maple Leafs general manager.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports White and Chayka are subject to further diligence, with Chayka holding an edge.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hornby acknowledged Chayka’s messy departure from the Coyotes, but pointed out that he’s done ground-breaking analytics work, which would suit the Maple Leafs’ search for a data-driven general manager.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Terry Koshan believes the first order of business for whoever becomes the next Maple Leafs general manager is speaking with team captain Austin Matthews about the club’s plans going forward and what his role would be.

If Matthews balks at those plans, Koshan believes the Maple Leafs must trade him. The 28-year-old superstar center could fetch a return of top draft picks, top prospects, or players who are either stars or on the cusp of becoming ones.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We already know that Leafs ownership wants to retool the roster rather than stage a rebuild. How that retooling will be done will be of interest to Matthews because it will determine the outcome of next season and of his decision whether to sign a contract extension next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel recently examined which Maple Leafs will go and which ones will stay this summer.

Among the notables most likely to move are forwards Max Domi and Nick Robertson, and defensemen Brandon Carlo and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

WHICH RANGERS COULD BE MOVED THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano looked at some of the biggest questions facing the New York Rangers during the offseason.

What happens to Vincent Trocheck topped the list. Rangers GM Chris Drury attempted to move the 32-year-old center at last month’s trade deadline, but found the offers were restricted by limited buyers and limited salary-cap space. Drury believes the market for Trocheck will improve in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be surprising if Trocheck isn’t moved this summer. There was genuine interest in him at the trade deadline, especially from Eastern Conference teams that were not on his no-trade list.

Braden Schneider could also be moved. The 24-year-old defenseman is valued within the organization for his defensive skills, but the need for right-shot blueliners around the league could make him a valuable trade piece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schneider recently said he’d love to remain a Ranger, but he seems resigned to his fate. Mercogliano stated that Drury is seeking a scoring forward and could target a team like the San Jose Sharks, who have plenty of young forwards but need blueline depth.

Alexis Lafreniere’s strong finish to this season should ensure he remains with the Rangers. Moving him wouldn’t make sense for a club that’s looking for forward depth. Mercogliano doesn’t rule out Lafreniere being moved as part of a trade package if a top trade target becomes available, but he thinks the young winger will be staying put.

WHAT CHANGES COULD BE IN STORE FOR THE DEVILS?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently looked at what might be in store for the New Jersey Devils under new GM Sunny Mehta.

It remains to be seen if head coach Sheldon Keefe will be back, but the fact that he was in attendance at Mehta’s introductory press conference suggests he could return behind the Devils’ bench next season.

Mehta must decide what happens with defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who has been the subject of frequent trade speculation since last summer. He could decide to move Hamilton and his $9 million cap hit, or see his 28 points in his last 37 games of this season and decide he’s worth retaining.

Whatever happens to Hamilton could determine Simon Nemec’s fate. The young blueliner is coming off his entry-level contract. He’s earned praise for his offense, but his defense game needs improvement.

Nichols also wondered whether Mehta will retain or trade the Devils’ 2026 first-round pick. He also mused about how aggressive the new GM will be to improve the roster, such as pursuing a big-name player like Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators or Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars if they were to become available.

Mehta must also open contract extension talks with team captain Nico Hischier, who is UFA eligible next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mehta’s coming into his new job with a lot on his plate. It will be interesting to see what he’s got in store for the Devils this summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 25, 2026

by | Apr 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 25, 2026

The Canadiens, Mammoth, and Ducks take 2-1 leads in their respective series, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Lane Hutson lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who outshot the Tampa Bay 29-17. Brandon Hagel tallied his fourth goal in this series, and Brayden Point netted his first for the Lightning. Game 4 is on Sunday in Montreal at 7 pm ET.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

SPECTORS’ NOTE: The Canadiens were the better team in this game, while Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper considered it his team’s worst. It would’ve been a more lopsided score for the Habs if not for the solid play of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Bolts struggled to contain the Habs’ speed. Canadiens forwards Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, and Josh Anderson had breakaways but failed to capitalize.

This game was redemption for Dach, Texier, and linemate Zach Bolduc, who faced criticism for their performances in the first two games. This trio was the Canadiens’ best line in this contest. Both teams dialled back on the scrums that dominated the first half of Game 2, though there were a couple of moments in this one.

The Utah Mammoth picked up their first playoff home victory as they doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Lawson Crouse tallied twice, MacKenzie Weegar got his first of the series, and Dylan Guenther had his second goal as the Mammoth took a 2-1 series lead. Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd replied for the Golden Knights. Game 4 is Monday in Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots in this one. Speaking of the Mammoth, they will host the Colorado Avalanche in the 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

A four-goal third period gave the Anaheim Ducks a 7-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists while Jackson LaCombe and Leo Carlsson each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who go up 2-1 in this series. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each collected their first two points of this series for the Oilers. Game 4 goes Sunday in Anaheim at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim dominated Edmonton in the first period, outshooting them 20-7. If not for Oilers goalie Connor Ingram, the Ducks’ lead would’ve been more than 2-1 in that period. The Oilers rallied to make it 3-2, but they couldn’t handle the Ducks’ speed, who tied the game 3-3 in the second period and ran away with it in the third.

McDavid got on the scoreboard at last, but he hasn’t been the dominant player we expected to see in this series. He downplayed an ankle injury suffered in Game 2, but one has to wonder if it affected him in this contest. The Oilers’ overall defensive game has been dreadful over the last two games. If it doesn’t improve, their hopes of a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final will be dashed.

HEADLINES

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed that defenseman Jake Sanderson suffered a concussion in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Sanderson was hit in the head by a check from Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall and will not play in Game 4 on Saturday. Hall did not receive supplemental discipline for the incident.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senator owner Michael Andlauer wasn’t pleased, blasting the on-ice officials for only assessing Hall with a minor penalty. Sanderson’s absence couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Senators, who are down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and face elimination in Game 4.

THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Julian McKenzie breaks down why their second line of Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake has dominated the Senators in this series.

NESN: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak believes his club’s power play must improve against the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins failed to score with five man-advantage opportunities during Game 3 of their first-round series.

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. He appeared to suffer an injury to his right arm during Game 3 on Wednesday. Vladar didn’t practice on Thursday, and the Flyers had an off-day on Friday. The Flyers lead the series 3-0.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against the Dallas Stars. Zuccarello missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Wild forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) will not play in Game 4, which goes on Saturday in Minnesota.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was still being evaluated on Friday for an upper-body injury suffered during Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Avalanche lead the series 3-0 with Game 4 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets announced that assistant coaches Mike Haviland and Scott Ford, and video coach Aron Augustitus, will not be returning with the club next season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders relieved assistant coach Benoit Desrosiers of his duties.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2026

by | Apr 24, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2026

The Red Wings could go shopping for help this summer, plus the latest on the Blues in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RED WINGS TO ATTEMPT MAJOR OFFSEASON ROSTER MOVES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff reports Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was asked what his club needed to get over the hump and end their decade-long postseason drought.

“Well, the most obvious answer would be we need better players,” Yzerman said. He added that it was “incumbent upon me and my staff to improve the team.”

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL.com).

Yzerman made those remarks during his first end-of-season media availability since his club was eliminated from postseason contention last week. Head coach Todd McLellan was seated alongside Yzerman during the presser.

The Red Wings GM indicated that no one on his roster was untouchable, be it a player or a prospect, when it came to trade talks. However, he stressed that he’s not going to get rid of everyone.

Yzerman said the club’s ownership is disappointed with the outcome of this season. However, he said he intends to do his job to the best of his ability and to see this thing through.

Improving the Wings won’t be easy. Duff pointed out that this summer’s free-agent market is thin on the type of talent they need. He speculated that Yzerman could revisit trade talks with the New York Rangers for center Vincent Trocheck, and wondered if the Wings GM would roll the dice on Vancouver Canucks mercurial center Elias Pettersson.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan also noted that Yzerman is prepared to make a major move to improve his club in the offseason, but he wondered if such a move is available.

Khan noted that players such as Trocheck and Pettersson, as well as Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, were the subject of trade rumors this season. He speculated that Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs could become the biggest name in this summer’s rumor mill.

Goalscoring is the Red Wings’ biggest need, especially at even strength. Khan believes Yzerman will seek a top-six forward, preferably a center. They must also improve their bottom-six forwards.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yzerman and McLellan won’t be replaced, but they will be feeling the pressure to bring the Red Wings’ long playoff drought to an end next season.

Most of that pressure will fall on Yzerman, as the past seven years of that 10-year drought occurred on his watch. He could be in real danger of losing his job if the Red Wings fall short next season.

As Duff and Khan observed, finding suitable players to address their roster weaknesses won’t be easy this summer. There’s little available in free agency, and a lot of teams flush with salary-cap space will turn to the trade market, and perhaps even try the offer-sheet route.

Still, Yzerman does have a couple of factors that could work in his favor. The Red Wings have over $32 million in cap space for 2026-27, with 15 active roster players under contract.

Simon Edvinsson is completing his entry-level contract and will get a significant raise. Patrick Kane is the only one of their unrestricted free agents expected to be re-signed. They’ll have plenty of space to add a scorer or two.

Yzerman can also draw on a deep pool of prospects for trade bait. He was reluctant in the past to dangle those players, but his comments on Thursday suggest he understands he must consider that option to address his roster’s pressing needs.

UPDATE ON THE BLUES.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford believes the St. Louis Blues would be open to moving forwards Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Jonathan Drouin this summer.

Buchnevich is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8 million. He thinks they’re likely regretting that contract because of the 31-year-old winger’s declining production. As a result, it’s hard to imagine there will be much trade interest in him around the league.

Kyrou’s name wasn’t mentioned as much in trade rumors as other Blues, such as Robert Thomas, Colton Parayko, and Jordan Binnington. However, that doesn’t mean they weren’t shopping the 27-year-old winger. There could be more trade talks involving Kyrou this summer. He’s also signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $8.125 million.

Drouin was acquired as part of the return in the Brayden Schenn deal with the New York Islanders. He has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4 million and was a healthy scratch in eight of the last 13 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou’s recent minor knee procedure explained why his production was down this season. There could be clubs seeking offense willing to bet that he’ll bounce back.