NHL Rumor Mill – May 6, 2026

by | May 6, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 6, 2026

Check out the latest on the Penguins, Bruins, Blue Jackets, and Sharks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO WITH EVGENI MALKIN?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports sources with Evgeni Malkin’s management team say they have not yet spoken with Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas about a contract extension. Dubas is currently handling end-of-season interviews and focusing on their AHL affiliate during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

Malkin’s camp intends to reach out to Dubas later this week to set a date for an in-person meeting to discuss a new contract. Yohe believes the Penguins GM has not yet offered Malkin a new contract. Sources within the 39-year-old center’s camp say he’s not seeking a raise from his current $6.1 million average annual value.

Yohe cited sources with the Penguins last summer, claiming that Dubas had no intention of re-signing Malkin once his contract expired. However, the veteran star exceeded expectations this season, and team captain Sidney Crosby has said he’d like Malkin to return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Opinion seems divided among the Pittsburgh media regarding Malkin. Some, like Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now, believe it’s time for the Penguins to part company with Malkin and focus on the future. Others, like Mark Madden of TribLive.com, see no problem with bringing back Malkin, though he acknowledged it would mean another year or two of being no better than they were this season.

Dubas seems reluctant to re-sign Malkin. It would surprise me if he inks the aging star to a new contract.

SOME OFF-SEASON PROPOSALS FOR THE BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa proposed several options for Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s off-season “to-do” list.

Checking into Brady Tkachuk’s trade availability is his most notable suggestion. He wondered if the Ottawa Senators might be concerned about whether their captain wants to stay after his contract expires in two years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators GM Steve Staios shot down the notion of Tkachuk getting traded this summer, while the 26-year-old left winger insisted that he wants to stay in Ottawa. Maybe that changes by this time next year if the Senators fail to improve in 2026-27. For now, he’s not going anywhere.

Other suggestions by Shinzawa include trading backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo, defenseman Mason Lohrei, and center Casey Mittelstadt. He also thinks Sweeney should keep an eye on New Jersey Devils restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Nemec and on Tampa Bay Lightning pending UFA blueliner Darren Raddysh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Korpisalo, Lohrei, and Mittelstadt have surfaced in trade rumors since last year. One of them could be used as a trade chip to add to their roster. Nemec would be an expensive addition via trade, while Raddysh could cost over $8 million annually on a long-term deal.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUE JACKETS

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reported earlier this week that the Blue Jackets’ management sees re-signing pending unrestricted free-agent forwards Charlie Coyle and Mason Marchment as priorities. Losing both to free agency would be tough losses and could prompt other moves.

Portzline rules out the possibility of the Blue Jackets targeting a restricted free agent star from a rival club.

GM Don Waddell is likely to go the trade route to improve his club this summer. Waddell has indicated that the Blue Jackets’ 2026 first-round pick (14th overall) could be in play for the right offer.

The Blue Jackets could be in the market for a reliable backup goaltender. However, they would first have to attempt to move Elvis Merzlikins, who has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $5.4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The limited number of decent goalies available in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets could make Merzlikins easier to move, but there’s still no certainty the Jackets will find any takers. They might have to retain part of his salary or bundle him with a draft pick or prospect to make him more enticing.

SHARKS OPEN TO TRADING THEIR 2026 FIRST-ROUND PICK

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier said he’s open to trading his 2026 first-round pick, which sits second overall following Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery.

Grier said he’d consider moving that pick for the right offer. However, he also has no problem using it to add another promising youngster to his deep prospect pipeline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 6, 2026

by | May 6, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 6, 2026

The Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead over the Wild, the Maple Leafs win the draft lottery, the Calder Trophy candidates are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of their best-of-seven second-round series. Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist while Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 shots for the Avalanche, who hold a 2-0 series lead. Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Johansson replied for the Wild. This series shifts to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This wasn’t the high-scoring affair of Game 1, but there were still plenty of offense and scoring chances in this one. The difference was that Colorado did a better job defensively than they did in Game 1, while the Wild continued to struggle in their efforts to contain the Avalanche’s top line.

Filip Gustavsson replaced Jesper Wallstedt in goal for the Wild after the latter had a rough outing in Game 1. However, he was rusty from not playing in nearly three weeks, giving up goals on the first two shots he faced.

Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian missed this game with a lower-body injury. Jeff Petry replaced him in the lineup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after winning the draft lottery on Tuesday evening. Top prospects in this year’s draft include left wing Gavin McKenna of Penn State University and forward Ivar Stenberg of Frolunda HC in Sweden.

The San Jose Sharks got the second overall pick, while the Vancouver Canucks dropped to third overall.

The Chicago Blackhawks hold the fourth overall pick, followed by the New York Rangers (5), Calgary Flames (6), Seattle Kraken (7), Winnipeg Jets (8), and Florida Panthers (9), with the Nashville Predators rounding out the top 10.

The St. Louis Blues hold the 11th overall pick, followed by the New Jersey Devils (12), New York Islanders (13), Columbus Blue Jackets (14), St. Louis Blues (15th, from the Detroit Red Wings), and the Washington Capitals at 16th.

The remainder of the draft order will be determined over the course of the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This result was a ray of hope for the Maple Leafs after a disappointing season and questions about the direction of the club under its new management. They could listen to trade offers if it fetches a player who immediately improves the roster, but they will likely retain it.

The last time a first-overall pick was traded was in 2003, when the Florida Panthers sent it to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who used it to select future Hall of Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

TSN: Speaking of Gavin McKenna, he passed up the chance to play for Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. He’s focused on preparing for the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo from May 31 to June 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the World Championship, Edmonton Oilers defensemen Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse, and Calgary Flames blueliner Zach Whitecloud will be part of Canada’s roster.

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke are this year’s finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov led all rookies this season with 43 assists and 62 points, while Sennecke led in goals (23) and was second in assists (37) and points (60). Both are worthy candidates, but the favorite is Schaefer. The 18-year-old defenseman led all rookies in ice time per game (24:41), tied with Sennecke with 23 goals, and was third in points with 59 while playing for the offensively anaemic Islanders.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence since March 19 was caused by a need to address his mental health. He admitted it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the correct one.

Hedman thanked his teammates, the Lightning organization, his family, and his therapist for their support, saying he was in a “much better place today.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anyone who has dealt with mental health issues knows how difficult it can be to admit that they need help and to seek it out. Here’s hoping Hedman continues healing and returns to action next season.

SPORTSNET: Jim Rutherford will step down as the Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations following the 2026 NHL Draft (June 26-27). He intends to remain with the team as an advisor and alternate governor.

THE PROVINCE: Rutherford indicated that the Canucks are down to five candidates in their search for a new general manager. It’s believed Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, former Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion, and Boston Bruins assistant GM Evan Gold.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The news of Dorion being among those candidates has some Canucks followers nervous because of the way his tenure in Ottawa ended. The Senators were forced to forfeit a first-round pick as punishment for trading Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights without sharing information about his no-trade list. The forfeiture was later overturned, but Dorion lost his job as a result.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikitin has been cleared to return to action after dealing with a concussion suffered during Game 4 of his club’s first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. Nikitin could return to action on Wednesday for Game 3 of the Hurricanes’ current series with the Philadelphia Flyers.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Flyers, forward Noah Cates is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered during Game 2 against the Hurricanes.

NHL.COM: The New York Islanders have named Rocky Thompson as their new assistant coach.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed fourth-line center Stephen Halliday to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.075 million.

THE MERCURY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks signed depth winger Patrick Giles to a two-year, two-way contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 5, 2026

by | May 5, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 5, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Stars winger Jason Robertson, and some suggested targets for the Jets.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with team captain Auston Matthews. The 28-year-old superstar center has two years left on his contract, but league sources say he still isn’t sure if he’ll be back in the fall.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Matthews has reasonable concerns over the Maple Leafs’ direction under new general manager John Chayka. The two are expected to meet within the next two weeks. Chayka said he’s not putting a deadline on the Leafs captain regarding his own intentions.

Johnston believes Matthews wants to see a roster meaningfully upgraded by trades and free-agent signings. Keeping the high-scoring center in the fold will be critical to the club’s plans to retool the roster rather than a full-fledged rebuild.

As great a player as Matthews is, the Maple Leafs won’t get full value for him in a trade. Johnston believes the best-case scenario would be a return comparable to the package of future assets the Vancouver Canucks received from the Minnesota Wild for Quinn Hughes last December.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka faces a daunting task attempting to retool the Leafs this summer. Selling Matthews on his plans could be his biggest challenge.

If Chayka fails, he’ll have to peddle Matthews for the best return he can find, which won’t be easy given the latter’s no-movement clause.

Matthews will waive his clause if he wants out, but he will likely only have a handful of preferred destinations. The fewer he has, the harder it would be for Chayka to land a quality return.

Convincing Matthews to stay will be a far better option for Chayka than trying to move him for a return that won’t come close to being fair market value.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos reports Jason Robertson left a bit of uncertainty about his future with the Stars during his end-of-season media availability on Monday.

The 26-year-old left winger is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. He’s also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility unless he signs a long-term deal.

Robertson acknowledged that it’s a business on both sides, but he’s optimistic. “It’s a business,” Robertson said. “I learned that four years ago. It’s not my first time.”

Assimakopoulos believes Robertson is due for a significant pay raise. She speculated he could seek an extension similar to teammate Mikko Rantanen’s eight-year deal worth $12 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson lacked arbitration rights after completing his entry-level contract four years ago, giving Stars management the leverage in those negotiations. It’s a different story this time.

A lack of salary cap space further complicates things for the Stars, prompting speculation that they’ll shed salary to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Robertson.

The Stars could peddle Robertson rather than making a cost-cutting trade or two that might weaken their roster depth. However, they would have difficulty replacing the offense he brings to their lineup.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently looked at several types of players the Winnipeg Jets could target to upgrade their defense this summer.

One option could be free agency if they want to add a big, physical defenseman. Ates suggested e Carson Soucy, Andrew Peeke, and Connor Murphy as possible targets.

Another could be targeting a young RFA-eligible defenseman capable of more, such as Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils or Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 5, 2026

by | May 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 5, 2026

The Hurricanes take a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers, the Golden Knights take Game 1 of their second-round series with the Ducks, the Masterton Trophy finalists are announced, the 2026 Draft Lottery will be held Tuesday evening, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall scored his first NHL overtime playoff goal to give his club a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven second-round series. The Flyers took an early 2-0 lead on goals by Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier, but the Hurricanes rallied as Nikolaj Ehlers and Seth Jarvis scored to send the game to overtime. Frederik Andersen stopped 34 shots for the Hurricanes, who hold a 2-0 lead as this series shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4. Dan Vladar made 40 saves for the Flyers.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers had a much better effort in this game compared to the series opener, but they couldn’t build on their lead or shut down Carolina’s offense. Once again, it was the second line of Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven that made the difference for the Hurricanes. Speaking of Stankoven, this was the first game in this postseason that he was held off the score sheet.

Game 3 of this series is Thursday at 8 pm ET.

A controversial tie-breaking goal by Ivan Barbashev gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their second-round series. Barbashev’s goal came moments after a linesman waived off what appeared to be an icing call, infuriating Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville, who pleaded his case with the officials to no avail. Brett Howden extended his goal streak to four games while Mitch Marner had an empty-netter for the Golden Knights. Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks. Game 2 of this series is on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game saw Golden Knights center William Karlsson’s postseason debut after being sidelined since November with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon is expected to miss this series with an undisclosed injury suffered during his club’s series-clinching win over the Utah Mammoth last Friday.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche, and Jonathan Toews of the Winnipeg Jets are the finalists for the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 6, in real time starting at 7 pm ET at NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. It will involve the 16 teams that failed to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers have the best odds of winning the lottery based on their position in the standings at the end of this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team that sits lower in the order can move up 10 places if they win the lottery. However, only those sitting among the top 11 seeds can win the first overall pick.

Last year, the New York Islanders won the lottery despite having the 10th-best odds of doing so. They used that pick to select defenseman Mathieu Schaefer in the 2025 Draft. Schaefer had an immediate positive impact with the Islanders this season and is considered the favorite to win the 2026 Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs formally introduced Mats Sundin and John Chayka as their new management team. Sundin is the Leafs new senior executive advisor of hockey operations, while Chayka is their new general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs ownership was already facing criticism from pundits and fans in Leafs Nation for these hirings before the introductions were made.

Sundin is a former captain of the Leafs and among the greatest players in franchise history, but he’s never held a management position before, and his role as a “senior executive advisor” suggests he won’t have a direct role in hockey ops decisions.

Most of the criticism was leveled at Chayka. His checkered past as GM of the Arizona Coyotes has many observers questioning Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment honcho Keith Pelley about the vetting process involved in Chayka’s hiring.

It led to an awkward moment when Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons directly challenged Pelley and Chayka, citing anonymous league sources critical of the latter’s previous experience with the Coyotes. Pelley insisted that the Leafs conducted their due diligence, while Chayka sidestepped questions about his complicated past.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that “at least one team” raised a tampering concern with the league, claiming that employees under contract may have been contacted by the Maple Leafs without proper permission. However, the league looked into the matter and found the complaint to be unsubstantiated. Seravalli stated that a Maple Leafs spokesman declined to comment but acknowledged the interaction with the league.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators forward Ridly Greig will miss the first two games of the 2026-27 season for sucker-punching Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during Game 4 of the first-round series between the two clubs.

D MAGAZINE: Robert Tiffin reports Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said he tore an oblique muscle during the Apr. 9 regular-season game against the Minnesota Wild. He said the injury was slowly improving with each game, and he expects he’ll be fully healthy over the summer.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres center Sam Carrick (upper-body injury) might be available for his club’s upcoming second-round series with the Montreal Canadiens after all. He was initially considered unavailable, but is further along in his recovery than expected.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forwards Nico Hischier and Timo Meier will play for Switzerland in the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL defenseman Korbinian Holzer has retired. He played in 206 NHL games from 2010-11 to 2019-20 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, and Nashville Predators, finishing with six goals and 27 points. Holzer spent the past six seasons playing in Russia, Germany, and Austria.










2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Second Round Predictions

by | May 4, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Second Round Predictions

My colleagues and I at Bleacher Report NHL recently made our predictions for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The following are my selections. You can see the full staff list by following this link.  

Sabres vs Canadiens

The Sabres advanced to their first second-round series since 2007 by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games. Meanwhile, the Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a tightly contested series that went the full seven games.

Despite their overall lack of playoff experience, the Sabres’ speed and scoring punch shone through against the Bruins. They also got timely offense from defensemen Bowen Byram and Rasmus Dahlin. Alex Lyon provided solid goaltending after taking over as their starter after Game 2.

The Canadiens earned valuable lessons during their tough first-round series against the Lightning, including the importance of playing a physical, tight-checking style. Goalie Jakub Dobes was outstanding, while the Habs got scoring from their supporting cast when the Lightning’s checking stifled their top line.

Prediction: Canadiens in 6

Hurricanes vs Flyers

The Hurricanes reached this round by sweeping the Ottawa Senators, while the Flyers punched their ticket by upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

This season has been a significant step forward for the rebuilding Flyers. Dan Vladar has given them clutch goaltending. Rasmus Ristolainen has been a standout in his first-ever NHL postseason, while youngsters Porter Martone and Trevor Zegras have performed well despite their lack of playoff experience.

However, that won’t be enough to counter the Hurricanes’ experienced depth and their physical defensive game. The second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake was lethal against the Senators, providing the Hurricanes with a much-needed extra measure of scoring punch.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 5

Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, while the Wild defeated the Dallas Stars in six games. This series could be the best of the second round, given how closely matched these clubs are.

Led by superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche pack plenty of scoring punch, but they struggled on the power play against the Kings. Their defensive play remained solid in that series, but they will face a stiffer challenge from the Wild’s more potent offense.

The Wild have the scorers in Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes to match up well against the Avalanche. However, their penalty-killing percentage (60.0) was the second-worst in the opening round. If that persists against the Avalanche, it could prove costly.

Prediction: Avalanche in 7

Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks

The Golden Knights advanced to the second round by eliminating the Utah Mammoth in six games in their first-round series. Meanwhile, the Ducks upset the Edmonton Oilers in six games.

Despite a difficult regular season, the Golden Knights’ experience and two-way play shone through in their series against the Mammoth. Carter Hart’s goaltending remains a question mark, but veteran stars such as Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone should continue to lead the way.

The Ducks’ speed and scoring ability were key factors in reaching this round. Playoff rookies Jackson LaCombe, Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier played well against the Oilers. However, their 3.50 goals-against per game is the second-highest among teams in this round, and that could prove fatal if it doesn’t improve.

Prediction: Golden Knights in 6










NHL Rumor Mill – May 4, 2026

by | May 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 4, 2026

Could the Lightning consider trading Nikita Kucherov? What position could the Bruins attempt to improve this summer? What’s the latest on the Kings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SHOULD THE LIGHTNING CONSIDER TRADING NIKITA KUCHEROV?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun pondered what’s next for the Tampa Bay Lightning after their fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Lebrun wondered if general manager Julien BriseBois would consider trading Nikita Kucherov. The 32-year-old superstar winger was held pointless by the Montreal Canadiens in the final three games of the series, and his frustration was apparent throughout the series.

Kucherov has a year remaining on his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. He has a 10-team no-trade list on his current contract.

LeBrun believes the Lightning’s priority is to sign Kucherov to a contract extension. However, he pointed out that BriseBois hasn’t been afraid to make a big move in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The only way I see the Lightning peddling Kucherov is if the two sides can’t agree to a contract extension this summer. It would be a significant roster change, representing another shift away from the core that won back-to-back Stanley Cups earlier in the decade.

THE BRUINS NEED A BLUELINE UPGRADE

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Boston Bruins must upgrade their blueline this summer.

Shinzawa noted the Bruins’ bottom three defensemen couldn’t take the burden off top-three blueliners Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov during their first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.

He also noted that the Sabres’ defensemen account for six goals in that series, while the Bruins’ blueliners generated none.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes will likely be coming to the Bruins’ blueline during the offseason. They have over $16 million in cap space with 21 active roster players under contract for 2026-27.

Winger Viktor Arvidsson is their only notable player eligible for free agency this summer. If they re-sign him, they’ll still have enough to make an addition or two to their defense corps. They could explore the limited options in this summer’s free-agent market, and they could be active in this summer’s trade market.

THE LATEST ON THE KINGS

MAYOR’S MANOR: Alexander Leggart highlighted the notable points from Friday’s press conference by Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland, who expressed his unhappiness over the club’s disappointing season.

Holland indicated that interim head coach DJ Smith will be a candidate to fill that role permanently. He also said that he’s likely to retain his 2026 first-round draft pick (17th overall) rather than use it as a trade chip for more immediate help.