NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2026

by | Jun 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2026

The latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, Finland wins the 2026 IIHF World Championship, the Kitchener Rangers win the 2026 Memorial Cup, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen looked at the notable storylines to watch during the upcoming Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner will be facing the team he refused to be traded to last season when he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner was in the final season of his contract with the Maple Leafs. However, he invoked his no-movement clause to reject a trade to the Hurricanes because his wife was in the third trimester of pregnancy and he didn’t want to leave her or Toronto.

The potential goaltending battle between the Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen and the Golden Knights’ Carter Hart is another storyline to follow. Another will be Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal chasing his second Stanley Cup after winning his first Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins 17 years ago.

THE SCORE: Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius scored in overtime to give Finland a 1-0 victory over host Switzerland in the gold medal game at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen stopped 22 shots for Finland, who won their fifth World Championship and their first since 2022.

Norway shocked Canada 3-2 in overtime in the bronze-medal game, marking the first time the Norwegians have medalled in the World Championship. St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas scored both goals for Canada.

Predators defenseman and Swiss captain Roman Josi was named tournament MVP. Team Canada captain Macklin Celebrini, who plays for the San Jose Sharks, was named the tournament’s top forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a disappointing season for Canada on the international stage, taking silver in the Olympics and bronze in the World Juniors. Some observers wonder whether Canada’s depth in skilled players is declining. That may be true when it comes to goaltending, but the real reason is the rest of the world has caught up. There are no longer any easy games in international play, and if you take your opponent for granted, it will cost you.

Former NHL stars Patrice Bergeron, Niklas Kronwall, and Thomas Vanek were inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to all the inductees for this well-deserved honor.

TSN: The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Everett Silvertips 6-2 to win the 2026 Memorial Cup.

Rangers winger and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly has three points in the game and nine points in the tournament, winning the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham had a goal and an assist in the Cup-clinching game.

It’s the second straight year that Rangers defenseman Jared Woolley has won the Memorial Cup. The Los Angeles Kings prospect won it last year with the London Knights.

TSN: Chris Johnston reported Sunday that there was no validity to speculation linking the Toronto Maple Leafs to University of Denver coach David Carle. The Leafs are searching for a new head coach, and Carle was among those they were interested in Carle.

TWINCITIES.COM: Judd Brackett, the Minnesota Wild’s director of amateur scouting, will be leaving the club for an elevated role with another team. Brackett’s former team, the Vancouver Canucks, are believed to be a potential destination. He’s also been linked to the Maple Leafs.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 31, 2026

by | May 31, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 31, 2026

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on this summer’s notable UFA-eligible players, and some suggested cost-cutting trade candidates.

UPDATE ON SEVERAL OF THIS SUMMER’S NOTABLE UFA PLAYERS

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently listed the latest rumors and reports on this summer’s notable players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

Fox speculates that Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch could get a significant pay raise if he tests the open market on July 1. As the top forward available, the 30-year-old Tuch could fetch more than the $10.625 million average annual value that Adrian Kempe received from the Los Angeles Kings last fall.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Tuch and the Sabres are expected to begin contract talks in early June. Fox believes those negotiations could go either way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Tuch wants to stay with the Sabres, he’ll probably have to accept much less than Kempe’s AAV to do it. Otherwise, he’ll have to test the market, where there will be interest in his services, but his woeful production during the Sabres’ second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens could hurt his value.

It’s believed the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Rasmus Andersson intend to sign an extension, but they’ll first have to do some roster surgery. Hanging over this situation is the fate of sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who spent this season on long-term injury reserve.

If Andersson goes to market, Fox speculated the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights only have $4.625 million in cap space for 2026-27. They can exceed next season’s $104 million salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must be cap-compliant when their season begins in October.

Pietrangelo comes off LTIR at the end of this season. The Golden Knights can place him on LTIR again for next season if his chronic hip injuries prove to be career-ending, freeing up his $8.8 million cap hit to re-sign Andersson.

It was reported that Pietrangelo hasn’t ruled out returning to action in 2026-27. If he does, the Golden Knights must trade someone to free up cap room for Andersson or risk losing him to free agency.

Another complicating factor is that scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent this summer. If he doesn’t go to arbitration, he could become a tempting offer-sheet candidate given the Golden Knights’ cap constraints, especially if Pietrangelo doesn’t return to LTIR.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh could seek a deal nearing that of defense partner JJ Moser’s $6.75 million on a four-year contract. That could price him out of Tampa Bay. If he goes to market, Fox speculated the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and his hometown Maple Leafs could be some of the teams interested in him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh had two solid 30-plus point campaigns before this season’s career-best 70-point performance. The risk is whether he can match that number again or if he’ll regress to a 30-point blueliner.

Fox indicated that fans of the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets would like to see their respective teams pursue Bobby McMann if the Seattle Kraken forward becomes available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann fit in well with the Kraken after joining them from Toronto at the trade deadline. It wouldn’t surprise me if he inks an extension with them.

Boone Jenner’s long tenure with the Blue Jackets could be ending. They already signed Charlie Coyle to a $36 million contract. The Jackets must also re-sign restricted free agents Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves.

It’s expected that Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner could get a term deal in free agency worth an AAV of $4 million.

POTENTIAL COST-CUTTING TRADE CANDIDATES

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin recently listed 10 players who could become salary cap-casualty trade fodder this offseason.

Larkin’s list (in alphabetical order) includes Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens, Ross Colton of the Colorado Avalanche, Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils, and Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson remains a solid power forward for the Canadiens, especially in the playoffs. He also carries a reasonable $5.5 million AAV through next season. The Habs will more likely trade or buy out winger Brendan Gallagher ($6.25 million) and goalie Samuel Montembeault ($3.15 million).

Colton, Greenway, and Hartman have frequently come up as cost-cutting candidates this summer. So has Hamilton, who first surfaced in the rumor mill last summer. He reportedly rejected a trade to the San Jose Sharks. He has a 10-team trade list, but reportedly would be open to expanding it for the right destination.

Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights, Ilya Lyubushkin of the Dallas Stars, Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers round out Larkin’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hill’s Stanley Cup run in 2023 could make him enticing for teams seeking goaltending help. Merzlikins has one year left on his deal, which could make him a more palatable trade option.

Kotkaniemi’s decline this season could make him a buyout candidate if the Hurricanes can’t find any suitors. Lyubushkin will be moved to enable the Stars to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Jason Robertson.

As for Nurse, plenty of Oilers fans hope their club can find a suitor in this summer’s trade market. His performance has declined, and his $9.25 million AAV through 2029-30 takes up a big chunk of their cap payroll. However, those factors could also ensure he remains an Oilers. His full no-movement clause further complicates things.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2026

by | May 31, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2026

The leading candidates to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, the latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen and Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner are the leading choices of NHL.com’s staff writers to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as this season’s playoff MVP.

Of the 15 staffers, eight predicted that Andersen would win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Four predicted Marner would take home the award.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (NHL Images).

Hurricanes forwards Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall each received one vote. Golden Knights center Jack Eichel also got one vote.

Ten of their staff writers also predicted the Hurricanes would become Stanley Cup champions.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final begins Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Professional Hockey Writers Association selects the Conn Smythe Trophy winner at the end of the playoffs.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The remaining original members of the Vegas Golden Knights (aka “The Golden Misfits”)are preparing for their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final since the club’s inaugural season in 2017-18.

They include defenseman Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb, and forwards William Karlsson and Reilly Smith.

Of the four, Smith is the only one not to have played the entire nine seasons with the Golden Knights. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins following their 2023 Stanley Cup run. Smith also spent time with the New York Rangers before returning in a trade last season.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is “super thankful” that his club has reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Since Dundon became majority owner of the Hurricanes in 2018, the club reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2019, 2023 and 2025, but was unable to advance to the Cup Final until this season.

Dundon is pleased with the work done by general manager Eric Tulsky building the roster. He’s especially happy for Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour and the five Hurricanes who’ve played through those eight years: Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Martinook, and team captain Jordan Staal.

“There’s a reason those five are still here,” Dundon said. “They’re super important to me. They’re super important to the organization. And yeah, it would be awesome, and Rod, it would be awesome for him (to win the Cup).”

DAILY FACEOFF: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson praised the Hurricanes’ performance following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday. He also noted that he and his teammates still have a ways to go to contend for the Cup.

“They played really well too, but I’m not really sure why we couldn’t bring better,” Hutson said after the Hurricanes eliminated the Canadiens in Game 5. “We’re still far off, and we know it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have a promising young core that includes Hutson and forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov. However, it will be up to the club’s management to continue improving the roster depth around those core players.

DAILY FACEOFF: The family of former NHL star Claude Lemieux released a statement on Saturday indicating that they will be donating his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank to study the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries and repetitive head impacts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lemieux died by suicide last week at age 60. His family indicated that he had been battling depression. The study will determine if he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a degenerative brain disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive head trauma.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Former NHL star Dennis Hull passed away on Saturday at age 81.

The younger brother of Hall of Fame winger Bobby Hull, Dennis played 14 NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings from 1964-65 to 1977-78. He spent 13 of those seasons in Chicago, with eight of those as Bobby’s teammate.

Hull scored 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season games, along with 33 goals and 34 assists for 67 points in 104 playoff contests. That included a career-high 40 goals in 1970-71 and 90 points in 1972-73. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Blackhawks in 1965, 1971, and 1973. Hull was also a member of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Hull’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Blackhawks’ organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2026

by | May 30, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2026

What could the offseason hold for the Canadiens and Ducks? What’s the latest on Vincent Trocheck, Morgan Rielly, and Matvei Michkov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS?

RDS.CA: Francois Gagnon examined what could be in store for the Montreal Canadiens following their elimination from the Eastern Conference Final.

Gagnon believes the Canadiens need a second-line center who can help winger Ivan Demidov and take some of the burden off first-line center Nick Suzuki.

The Canadiens could also use a third line with more offensive bite, a fourth line with more bite overall, and a reliable sixth defenseman who can skate more than eight to 10 minutes per game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding the second-line center is the priority, but it won’t be easy to do.

Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues is often mentioned as a trade target, but I’m not convinced they want to move him given the high asking price they’ve set for him. He also has a full no-trade clause and stated his preference is to stay in St. Louis.

Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks could be available. The 23-year-old center could fit in well among the Canadiens’ young stars, but the decline in his performance this season and concerns about his foot speed could be red flags for a forward carrying a $7 million average annual value for the next five years.

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton also looked at what could be ahead for the Canadiens during this offseason

Shilton anticipates the Canadiens could attempt to shore up their defense with veteran talent to support their younger talent. She suggested bringing in a free agent to boost the third pairing and improve the penalty kill.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The depth of talent in this summer’s free-agent pool is shallow, even for third-pairing defensemen. Most are in their early to mid-thirties and might not be much of an improvement over the promising youngsters within their system. The best of the bunch will be seeking raises that could price them outside the Canadiens’ $10.9 million cap space.

That doesn’t mean Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes won’t attempt to improve his blueline depth. However, he could prefer going the trade route for options that will fit within his club’s age group and salary-cap constraints.

THE LATEST DUCKS SPECULATION

THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: The Anaheim Ducks aren’t under pressure to trade Mason McTavish this summer. The 23-year-old center is coming off a disappointing performance in the first season of his six-year contract.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)

However, Johnston suggested the Ducks might have to consider moving McTavish. Center Leo Carlsson is a restricted free agent this summer, and Johnston believes he could get a “monster contract” worth an AAV of $14 million. Winger Cutter Gauthier is also an RFA in line for a significant raise.

Despite McTavish’s struggles this season, Johnston felt that some teams believe the young center could be a good fit with them if the Ducks attempt to trade him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite the concerns I noted earlier about McTavish, I concur with Johnston that he could still attract plenty of interest from clubs seeking depth at center, particularly on the second line. Whether the Ducks are willing to go that route remains to be seen.

The Ducks have over $38 million in salary-cap space, which should give them plenty of space to re-sign Carlsson and Gauthier. GM Pat Verbeek has a reputation for playing hardball with RFA players coming off their entry-level deals, which could result in those two being signed for less than expected.

However, Carlsson and Gauthier are bigger stars than the previous young RFAs that Verbeek has dealt with in the past. He might have to pay much more this time around. If the Ducks aren’t going to spend to the cap, it could turn McTavish into a cost-cutting trade candidate.

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal listed Olen Zellweger of the Ducks, Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils, Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers, and Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres as four restricted free agents who could be traded this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec, Schneider and Kesselring have surfaced in the rumor mill in recent weeks, especially Nemec and Schneider. However, it’s interesting that Dayal mentioned Zellweger as a trade candidate.

Dayal noted that Zellweger averaged between 17 and 19 minutes of ice time per game over the past two seasons. However, he was a healthy scratch for nine straight games before the postseason. Dayal also noted that the Ducks already have Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov on the left-side defense chart. The club could also face a salary-cap crunch with Carlsson and Gauthier in line for substantial raises.

SHOULD THE BRUINS PURSUE VINCENT TROCHECK?

NESN: Evan Cormier suggested the Boston Bruins should attempt to acquire Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers if they are unable to land one of the few big-dog centers that might become available in this summer’s trade market.

The 32-year-old Trocheck’s experience and ability could make him a good short-term first-line center for the Bruins. With the Rangers wanting to get younger, trading draft picks and prospects for him might make sense from the Bruins standpoint.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck is better suited for a second-line role. The Rangers’ asking price could also include a promising young player such as Fraser Minten or James Hagens, which would be deal-breakers for the Bruins.

SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR MORGAN RIELLY

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed several potential trade destinations for Morgan Rielly if the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman is willing to waive his no-movement clause.

They include the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Vancouver Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no secret that the Sharks and Blackhawks will be in the market for blueline depth this summer. However, Rielly might not be keen to join a rebuilding club, even one as promising as the Sharks.

The Jets might be willing to take the chance on Rielly improving on a better team, but they could prefer the Leafs retain part of his cap hit. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas knows Rielly from his days as the Leafs GM, but he’s been shipping out aging veterans for younger talent, and acquiring Rielly would fly in the face of that process.

Given the potential high cost for the Ducks to re-sign Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, they might not be keen to add a declining defenseman with an AAV of $7.5 million for the next four years. As for the Canucks, see my previous comment about the Sharks and Blackhawks.

DOES FLYERS WINGER MATVEI MICHKOV NEED A CHANGE OF SCENERY?

ESPN.COM: Rachel Kryshak included Matvei Michkov on her list of under-25 players who might benefit from a change-of-scenery trade. The 21-year-old Philadelphia Flyers winger struggled during his sophomore season under head coach Rick Tocchet, who joined the team last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the players on Kryshak’s list have been noted here before. Other pundits have also mused about the possibility of Michkov getting traded this summer.

Kryshak makes a good case for moving Michkov, noting that Tocchet hasn’t had a strong track record with promising young talent. Nevertheless, I don’t believe the Flyers intend to give up on Michkov after one poor season. They seem intent on remaining patient with the promising young winger, who acknowledged his struggles and vowed to do better next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2026

by | May 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2026

The Hurricanes advance to the Stanley Cup Final, Timo Meier suspended from the World Championship semifinal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the Stanley Cup Final by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, winning the best-of-seven series four games to one.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).

Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and two assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes. Cole Caufield scored the only goal for the Canadiens.

The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a well-deserved series victory by the Hurricanes. After a 6-2 defeat in Game 1, they dominated the Canadiens over the next four games, limiting them to just five goals. Their aggressive forechecking and suffocating defensive play left their opponents in this series, and in this postseason thus far, with little time and space to maneuver. It has given them an impressive 12-1 record after three rounds entering the Stanley Cup Final.

This victory was an emotional one for Andersen. He dedicated the win to his late agent, Claude Lemieux, who died on Thursday. “It’s so special to be able to show up for him and make him proud, just go out and battle,” Andersen said. “The whole team supported me as well. This has been so special to be a part of.”

What’s also notable is the Hurricanes reached this stage without making a significant addition to their roster at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the moves made by Eric Tulsky since becoming general manager two years ago contributed to this run. Hall and Stankoven were among his acquisitions, along with Nikolaj Ehlers, K’Andre Miller, Shayne Gostisbehere, Eric Robinson, William Carrier, Sean Walker, and Brandon Bussi.

As for the Canadiens, it’s a disappointing end to their surprising playoff run. However, it doesn’t overshadow their impressive improvement this season. They finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with 106 points and eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in the first two rounds.

Given their core of young talent, and with more on the way, the Canadiens have a bright future. They weren’t good enough to defeat the Hurricanes in this series. However, if they can learn from the hard lessons of this series, the same lessons the Hurricanes themselves learned in their last three trips to the Conference Final since 2019, the Habs could soon become a serious Stanley Cup contender.

DAILY FACEOFF: The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Switzerland forward Timo Meier from the semifinal of the 2026 World Championship for kneeing Swedish forward Oskar Sundqvist during the quarterfinal game between the two countries.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Utah Mammoth’s acquisition of forward JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring backfired on them during this postseason.

Peterka put up decent numbers in the regular season (25 goals, 47 points) but was held scoreless in the Mammoth’s six-game playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, raising questions about his postseason readiness.

Meanwhile, Doan had 25 goals and 52 points during the regular season with the Sabres. He thrived during their two-series playoff run, finishing with three goals and 10 points in 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Time will tell which team ultimately wins this deal, but the early nod must go to the Sabres.

BOSTON.COM: Former Bruins enforcer and radio host Lyndon Byers was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), his family announced on Thursday.

Byers passed away last June at age 61. Before his death, he had pledged his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University’s CTE Center for further testing. His family authorized the results of the testing to be revealed to raise awareness about the effects of CTE.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL has consistently rejected the link between head trauma and CTE. However, Byers is among 20 former NHL players to be diagnosed with the condition following their deaths, including Hall of Famers Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Henri Richard.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2026

by | May 29, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, check out the latest on the Rangers, Flyers, and Sabres, plus an update on Morgan Rielly.

WHO COULD THE RANGERS TARGET THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano looked at what players could be available to help the Rangers this summer through trades and free agency.

Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres would be the most appealing option for the Rangers via free agency. Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the top UFA defenseman, but they’re unlikely to splurge on a right-shot power-play quarterback when they already have Adam Fox filling that role.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

The Rangers require a top-four, left-shot defenseman. Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres might be a target option if the Sabres should put him on the block to free up cap room to re-sign Tuch and restricted free agent forwards Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs.

Mercogliano wondered if the Dallas Stars would make Roope Hintz available in a cost-cutting move to free up cap space for Jason Robertson’s next contract. He also mused about the Rangers dangling defenseman Braden Schneider to the San Jose Sharks for a young winger such as William Eklund or one of their promising prospects.

Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues could be available, but the Rangers aren’t likely to pay the high asking price. Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights might be a trade candidate if the Golden Knights become fearful of losing him to an offer sheet.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker also looked at several options for the Rangers to address their needs through trades and free agency this summer.

Affordable free-agent options on defense could include Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, Ryan Shea of the Pittsburgh Penguins, or Jake Bean of the Calgary Flames. Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks or Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres could make good trade targets.

Top-six forward UFA options could include Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, Anthony Mantha of the Pittsburgh Penguins, or Viktor Arvidsson of the Boston Bruins, though the latter would go against their push to get younger. Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets might be a trade option.

Bobby McMann of the Seattle Kraken or Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres could be good additions to the Rangers’ bottom-six forward lines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers general manager Chris Drury is expected to be busy this summer bolstering his roster. He has $26.575 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, which is plenty of room to make a significant addition or two, which could include at least one of the players mentioned by Mercogliano and Walker.

Drury can free up another $5.275 million by trading veteran center Vincent Trocheck. He could use some of the pieces from whatever return he gets from that deal to put toward acquiring another player.

THE LATEST ON MORGAN RIELLY

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary noted a report by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, in which the latter claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Morgan Rielly are likely to explore trade options this summer.

Rielly, 32, has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. He has a full no-movement clause, but Johnston indicated that he’s softened his stance on waiving it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Rielly’s performance could hurt his value in this summer’s trade market. It would also prompt teams to request the Maple Leafs retain part of his salary to facilitate a deal.

SUGGESTED OFFER SHEET TARGETS FOR THE FLYERS

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James listed four restricted free agents that he believes could be worthwhile offer sheet targets for the Flyers.

They include Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, and Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikishin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have the cap space to match James’ suggested $10,008 million offer sheet for Fantilli. Ditto the Ducks for the proposed $6.059 million for Mintyukov, and the Hurricanes for the $6.44 million for Nikishin. However, the $8.060 million pitch for Nemec could be difficult for the Devils to match, unless they’re moving out Dougie Hamilton and his $9 million AAV.

**UPDATE** PuckPedia indicates that Nikishin is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. Stick tap to “GP” for pointing that out in the comment section below.

UPDATE ON THE SABRES

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn looked at possible options to upgrade their goaltending via trade or free agency.

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets could be a trade option given his pointed questions about the Jets’ direction. However, his $8.5 million salary-cap hit would be an issue for the Sabres, who have only $12.9 million in cap space with forwards Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, and Peyton Krebs to re-sign.

Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers is the best option in this summer’s UFA market. The big question is whether he’d come to Buffalo, and there could be teams that could offer him more.

Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild is a more appealing option given his age (23), solid performance this season, and affordable $2.2 million cap hit for next season. However, it’ll take a lot to acquire him, as the Wild have been in the market for a center for some time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck’s questioning of the direction of the Jets was understandable given their collapse this season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year. However, it’s unlikely that he’ll force a trade.

Bobrovsky will probably re-sign with the Panthers. If he does become available, his preference could be playing with a southern NHL team.

Wallstedt would be an excellent fit with the Sabres. However, the Wild won’t part with him until Filip Gustavsson has recovered from his recent hip surgery. If they move Wallstedt, it’ll be in a package deal to acquire an established first-line center, which the Sabres don’t have to part with.