NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 9, 2026

by | Sep 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 9, 2026

Sidney Crosby is interested in re-signing with the Penguins; Jets believe Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request won’t be a distraction; Alex DeBrincat defends teammate Dylan Larkin’s trade request; and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Sidney Crosby said contract extension talks are underway with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 39-year-old center is in the final season of his two-year contract. He admitted his age makes it “a little bit more difficult” to project where he’ll be.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

“I’d like to continue playing for a number of years,” Crosby said. “It’s just I don’t know what that number is. I guess your mind and body tell you that eventually. Right now I feel pretty good, though.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby and the Penguins management aren’t in a rush to get a deal done, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they agree to another two-year extension.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets captain Adam Lowry and veteran defenseman Dylan DeMelo don’t believe that teammate Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request will be a distraction. The 33-year-old goalie recently revealed he requested a trade earlier this season and believes it’s in his best interests to move on.

Lowry believes the trade request is a personal decision by Hellebuyck that won’t create a great divide with the Jets’ dressing room. DeMelo said the focus will be on preparing for the upcoming season regardless of what happens with Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets will put a brave face on this situation, but there’s no denying that Hellebuyck’s trade request will affect the club’s performance whenever management moves him. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner was expected to play a large role in their efforts to rebound from last season’s disappointing performance. Losing him will adversely affect those plans.

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat said he understands how awkward and disappointing it is that teammate Dylan Larkin requested a trade, but he claimed it doesn’t change what he and his teammates think about him.

“He’s still a great player. He’s been a great friend and a great teammate to me, and we obviously love him here,” DeBrincat said. “That’s kind of for him to answer, what’s next for him. But for us, I think it’s all the same. We’re happy to see him at the rink and happy to get started.”

TSN: Simon Edvinsson intends to attend training camp despite lacking a new contract with the Red Wings. The 22-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level deal. He’s reportedly waiting patiently for the Red Wings to hire a new general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s trade request and Edvinsson’s contract negotiations remain in limbo until the Red Wings find a new permanent GM. Training camp opens on Sept. 17. Tick-tock….

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks co-president Daniel Sedin said there is no timeline for Thatcher Demko’s return. The 30-year-old starting goaltender had season-ending hip surgery in January. He’s been skating on his own, but hasn’t participated in the informal workouts leading up to the start of training camp on Sept. 17.

OTTAWA SUN: Tim Stutzle brushed off Florida Panthers pest Brad Marchand mocking the possibility of the 24-year-old center being among the candidates for the Senators’ captaincy. “I really don’t care, to be honest,” Stutzle said. “I don’t care about that at all.”

Senators winger Drake Batherson was taken aback by Marchand’s reaction. He trains with the Panthers’ winger during the offseason. “I texted him. I’m like, ‘Marchy, what are you doing?’ That’s just Marchy. He’s been doing that for years. I told Timmy. It’s all good,” Batherson said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand missed his calling as a WWE heel.

Speaking of the Senators, the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports general manager Steve Staios said Artem Zub is still rehabbing the injury he suffered during the playoffs. The defenseman is expected to be ready for training camp, but if not, Staios would consider signing a player or two to a professional tryout offer.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed center Fraser Minten to a seven-year, $50.4 million contract extension. Minten, 22, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. His new deal carries an average annual value of $7.2 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Canucks with Zeev Buium, the Bruins are making a big bet on Minten reaching his potential as a top-six center. He had a promising rookie season in 2025-26 with 17 goals and 35 points in 82 games and a team-leading plus/minus of plus-21.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Veteran goaltender Ilya Samsonov is returning to the NHL after a one-year stint in the KHL, signing a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level. The Sharks now have four goalies with NHL experience, as Samsonov joins Yaroslav Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic, and Eric Comrie.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samsonov is expected to start this season with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year, $850,000 contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forward Tyson Jost will attend the Nashville Predators’ training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

TSN: For a third straight year, the NHL Draft will be decentralized. It will be held on June 25-26, 2027.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 8, 2026

by | Sep 8, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 8, 2026

Check out the latest on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Senators winger Drake Batherson, and Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE SHEET WITH JEFF MAREK: ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski weighed in on Sidney Crosby’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Wyshynski said he’s been in the “Sid’s gonna play somewhere else business for a long time.” He’d love to see Crosby join his friend Nathan MacKinnon with the Colorado Avalanche, or become the elder statesman for his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens.

However, the more Crosby is in Pittsburgh, the more Wyshynski feels that the future Hall of Famer will stay there and finish his career as a “one-team guy.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wyshynski wasn’t the only pundit wondering about Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh over the past couple of years.

The Penguins exceeded expectations last season by reaching the playoffs, silencing calls for Crosby to move on. That chatter could resume if the Penguins struggle this season, but it will probably be half-hearted.

Every indication is that Crosby intends to finish his career with the Penguins. Barring a significant change in his relationship with the club, he’s there to stay.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports we’ll learn by next week whether Drake Batherson and the Senators can agree to an eight-year contract extension.

Batherson, 28, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Garrioch reports the winger wants to stay in Ottawa and the Senators want to keep him. However, they have until Sept. 15 to get a deal done for the current maximum of eight years.

After that date, the maximum term drops to seven years for re-signing players, and from seven years to six for unrestricted free agents.

Garrioch reports a gap remains between the two sides. Batherson’s current average annual value is $4.95 million. Garrioch cited sources claiming the winger’s camp could seek a deal comparable to Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe ($10.625 million AAV) or Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch ($10.5 million AAV).

The Senators don’t want to lose Batherson, especially after trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in June. However, Garrioch believes there’s a sense that Batherson could head to free agency next July if a new deal isn’t in place when the Senators open their season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Basically, no change in the Batherson situation. However, talks could pick up now that he’s back in Ottawa for training camp, which opens later this week.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple league sources claim that Mason Lohrei is drawing trade interest around the league again.

Murphy indicated that the 25-year-old Boston Bruins defenseman was in play last season when the club looked into acquiring Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley noted Murphy’s report, adding that Lohrei popped up on Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos’ trade board earlier this summer. Studley noted that Lohrei told NHL.com’s Belle Fraser that his goal this season is to play all 84 games with the Bruins and improve his game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a crowded blueline, which could result in one of their defensemen getting traded, perhaps in a deal to address another roster need.

Lohrei’s youth, affordable contract, and potential as a puck-moving defenseman could make him an enticing trade target.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 8, 2026

by | Sep 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 8, 2026

The latest on the Red Wings, Panthers, Sabres, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Detroit Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg withdrew his name for consideration for the Detroit Red Wings’ GM position. The Red Wings have been searching for a general manager since Steve Yzerman stepped down after seven seasons without a postseason appearance.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan suggested the Red Wings promote assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff if there is no suitable external option.

Khan noted that time is running out for the Red Wings to find a suitable option. Training camp starts next week, Dylan Larkin’s trade status needs to be resolved, and restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson must be signed.

Horcoff knows the organization well. He’s been the club’s assistant GM for three years and the GM of their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. He worked alongside Yzerman and assistant GM Kris Draper in all hockey operations matters.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s taken the Wings far too long to find a replacement for Yzerman. Khan suggests making Horcoff the interim general manager until a more suitable option is found.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Edvinsson, Max Smith believes the price of signing him to an extension has gone up after the Vancouver Canucks signed sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium to an eight-year extension worth an average annual value of $9.38 million.

Edvinson, 23, is coming off his entry-level contract. He had 31 points in 78 games during 2024-25 and 25 points in 72 games last season.

Smith believes Edvinsson is well-positioned to seek a higher AAV than Buium and potentially a shorter-term contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edvinsson could seek over $10 million annually on a four-year contract. After that, he would be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent while in his playing prime, when he would be in line for a more lucrative deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau examines how the Florida Panthers’ aging core could jeopardize their hopes of regaining Stanley Cup contender status.

The Panthers’ lineup is filled with greybeards including Brad Marchand (38), Garnet Hathaway (34), Lars Eller (37), Radko Gudas (36), Dmitri Kulikov (35), and Jacob Markstrom (36).

Others remain susceptible to injuries. Four of their top-six scorers missed at least 18 games last season. Defensemen Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola missed a combined 44 games, and captain Aleksander Barkov missed all of last season with a knee injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers remain a good team that cannot be taken lightly. Nevertheless, they enter this season as the NHL’s second-oldest team (30.32), with Marchand already sidelined for the start of the season.

Barkov, defenseman Aaron Eklbad, and two-way forward Sam Bennett have long injury histories. Winger Matthew Tkachuk played a combined 83 games over the last two years. Jones last played more than 72 games in 2022-23.

More concerning, as Proteau pointed out, is Markstrom’s decline since his career-best season with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22. Even if the Panthers are healthier this season, a sub-par effort by their new starting goalie could derail their Stanley Cup dreams, especially in the tough Atlantic Division.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe reports Sabres forward Josh Doan believes his club will be fine this season despite the offseason departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram.

“Everyone’s got their own opinion on us again this year on whether or not we’re going to take a step, or whether or not we lost and got worse this summer, which, I mean, you can guess all you want, no one really knows what anyone’s done,” Doan said. “I think our group’s pretty confident in that we’re a better team heading into this year.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch and Byram played key roles in the Sabres’ improvement last season. How they adjust to their absence will depend on the performance of young players like Doan.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle recently profiled former NHL defenseman Jason Marshall, who went on to become an architect, helping design arenas across North America.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marshall spent 12 NHL seasons (1991-92 to 2005-06) with the St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, and San Jose Sharks before finishing his playing career in Europe.

ROTOWIRE: Former NHL center Jean-Sebastien Dea announced his retirement. The 32-year-old spent most of his pro career in the AHL and the KHL. From 2016-17 to 2022-23, he played 37 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Arizona Coyotes, scoring five goals and two assists for seven points.

NEW YORK POST: Nashville Predators prospect Austin Roest has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to support his girlfriend, former figure skater Milara Okabe, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a cancer that attacks organ glands.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link to donate.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 7, 2026

by | Sep 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 7, 2026

Which five players could hit the trade market if their teams get off to a slow start to this season? Are the Utah Mammoth a worthwhile destination for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert recently listed five players who should be on the trade market if their teams get off to a slow start this season.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators topped Lambert’s list. The 35-year-old center is in the final season of his contract. The previous management treated him as though he had a no-trade clause, but Lambert suggested current GM Chris MacFarland consider moving him if the Predators stumbled from the gate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacFarland has shaken up the Predators roster since taking over as GM earlier this summer. O’Reilly could be a prime trade candidate if they struggled through the opening weeks of this season, though MacFarland would likely ask him for a list of destinations.

Zach Whitecloud could be a valuable trade chip for the rebuilding Calgary Flames if they start poorly. The 29-year-old defenseman carries an affordable $2.75 million average annual value through 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames reportedly have no intention of trading Whitecloud after acquiring him in January from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Rasmus Andersson deal. He quickly adapted to his new team and fit in well, so much so that they see him as a mentor for their young defensemen. That doesn’t mean he won’t be moved if a rival club makes an irresistible offer, but it’s unlikely the Flames will peddle him if they start poorly.

Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann could be a trade option if his club decides to rebuild. The 30-year-old scoring forward is in the final season of his deal with a $5 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McCann, defenseman Vince Dunn, and goalie Philipp Grubauer are UFA-eligible next summer. They’ll be prime trade candidates if management decides to retool or rebuild.

Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi could become available if the Jets trade franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 27-year-old winger is signed through 2030-31 with a $7.5 million AAV. He also lacks no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season could be teardown time for the Jets’ roster if they struggle without Hellebuyck between the pipes. They might prefer hanging onto Vilardi, but we can’t discount the possibility that he’ll be among the players they could make available this season.

Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers rounds out Lambert’s list. He believes it’s put-up-or- shut-up time for the 24-year-old winger, who has never really delivered on his promise since being chosen first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another inconsistent performance could see Lafreniere become available in the trade market. However, they’re unlikely to get a significant return given his erratic production and $7.45 million AAV through 2031-32.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara recently wondered if the Utah Mammoth would be interested in Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, provided the latter was willing to accept a trade to Utah.

O’Hara believed the Mammoth aren’t ready to go all-in on a big-ticket player like Hellebuyck. While they have the tradeable assets to make a competitive bid, they’re not yet a Stanley Cup contender, which has to be a consideration for potential destinations for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner.

He also felt that maintaining the current process of building their roster toward potential championship contention would be better than trying to accelerate the process by sacrificing assets for an elite goalie.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebucyk is reportedly willing to consider a wide selection of teams as potential destinations, but we don’t know how many. My guess is 10, since his no-movement clause becomes a 10-team trade list after this season. We also don’t know which clubs would be his preferred landing spots, which explains the guessing game about where he might go.

Until we know Hellebuyck’s, we can’t rule out the Mammoth making a bid for him. They possess plenty of trade capital, and GM Bill Armstrong has shown in recent years that he’s willing to make significant moves to acquire veteran talent.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2026

by | Sep 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2026

Ivan Demidov’s agent explains why the Canadiens winger signed a team-friendly deal, Red Wings center Dylan Larkin may have overplayed his hand with his trade request, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Herb Zurkowsky reports player agent Dan Milstein said his client, Ivan Demidov, signed a team-friendly contract with the Canadiens to leave financial room for management to improve the roster.

Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov (NHL Images)

The 20-year-old winger signed an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension on July 1 with an average annual value of $9.15 million.

“If I had my way, the deal probably would’ve looked a little different,” Milstein said. “Ivan basically said he wanted the eight-year deal. He wanted it done quickly and wanted to leave room (financially) for Montreal to get even better.”

“His exact words were, ‘We’re in a great situation. I feel like we’re going to be winning for many years.’ He wanted to leave money on the table so they can sign other players.”

Milstein also noted that Demidov will be in his late-20s when his extension expires, putting him in a good position to land a more lucrative contract. The agent also believes his client has the potential to become one of the top players in the NHL within the next several years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov’s comments tie in with those of teammate Juraj Slafkovsky, who recently said he and his teammates care more about pursuing Stanley Cup rings.

The young winger also seems to be following the example of teammate Lane Hutson, who rejected a $72 million deal in favor of a $70 million one to give the Canadiens the salary-cap flexibility to maintain a competitive roster. He also probably saw Hutson’s negotiations become the subject of media and fan scrutiny and wanted to avoid that distraction.

It’s been suggested that the agents for Hutson, Demidov, and Slafkovsky let their clients down by not pushing for better contracts. Milstein’s comments, however, indicate the players called the shots on those deals.

The Canadiens are trying to build a winning culture among their players, especially their core talent. Doing so requires having sufficient cap space to build a strong supporting cast around them. Hutson, Demidov, and Slafkovsky will be justified for accepting those contracts if management uses that cap flexibility to bring in the depth necessary to win the Stanley Cup.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Whitaker believes Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin may have overplayed his hand with his request to be traded.

It’s been three months since the request was reported, but Larkin remains with the Red Wings. His status remains in limbo as the club continues its search for a new general manager. Whitaker suggests that Larkin’s unwillingness to expand his three-team trade list has proven to be a major miscalculation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin couldn’t have known that the Wings would replace Steve Yzerman as GM midway through the summer. Nevertheless, his insistence on maintaining such a narrow list of trade destinations hampered the club’s efforts to move him. As Whitaker observes, it will likely put him in an awkward situation with the fans if he’s still on the Red Wings’ roster when their regular season begins on Oct. 2.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins plan to reduce top defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s workload on the penalty kill. That was part of the reasons why they acquired Will Borgen from the New York Rangers in July.

Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said they felt that reducing McAvoy’s penalty-killing minutes will give him more energy for other parts of his game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McAvoy had the second-most total shorthanded ice time among Bruins defensemen (193:38), but he led the club in shorthanded ice time per game (2:48).

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Vegas Golden Knights could take a step back in 2026-27 after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season.

The Golden Knights have maxed out their cap space. Their bottom-six forwards are weaker; they have few high-end prospects who could be difference-makers this season, and they have less trade capital than ever. There are questions about the performance of goaltenders Adin Hill and Carter Hart, and they have a rookie head coach in Ryan Craig.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have proven their naysayers wrong in the past, but the issues that Proteau raises could take their toll this season.

TORONTO SUN: Rob Longley reports Amazon Prime is no longer in the picture as negotiations between NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and Rogers Sportsnet drag on.

It had been reported that Friedman was considering an offer to work on Amazon Prime’s midweek games, which wouldn’t have conflicted with his Sportsnet duties.

Longley also reported that sources claim Sportsnet’s NHL analyst Kevin Bieksa has entertained opportunities to work for an American network.










The Carlsson Offer Sheet And Its Aftermath

by | Sep 6, 2026

The Carlsson Offer Sheet And Its Aftermath

With NHL training camps opening on Sept. 16, I’m looking back on my reaction to some of the summer’s biggest stories.

The following is my initial reaction to the Philadelphia Flyers signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet on July 3, with what was then a league-record average annual value of $18 million.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

The last time any team signed a player to an expensive offer sheet was in the summer of 2012, when the Flyers (!) inked Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators to a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet, which the Predators matched. That contract finally expired at 11:59 PM on June 30.

It’s a bold move by Briere, one that could be costlier than the big bite it will take out of the Flyers’ salary-cap payroll if the Ducks decline to match the offer.

Carlsson has established himself as a first-line center with the potential to become a superstar. However, he hasn’t yet reached the level where he deserves to be the league’s highest-paid player in terms of AAV. That will have a wide-ranging effect on the cost of signing every comparable young NHL player, including those of the Flyers going forward (hello there, Matvei Michkov, if he has a significant bounce-back performance this season). 

Another factor is the possibility that Carlsson struggles to adjust to a new club in one of the NHL’s bigger markets under a much harsher spotlight than he’s faced in Anaheim. He’ll definitely feel the pressure to meet the expectations that come with that massive annual cap hit.

If Carlsson adjusts quickly and meets those expectations, this signing could be remembered as the moment when the Flyers became a powerhouse. If he falters, it will be seen as the beginning of the end of Briere’s tenure as general manager.

For the Ducks, some folks believe this is karma biting Verbeek for his years of playing hardball with restricted free agents such as Drysdale, Zegras, and Mason McTavish, all of whom no longer play for the Ducks. They feel Verbeek could’ve avoided this had he signed Carlsson to a lucrative new contract on July 1 instead of trying to play the waiting game.

The Ducks are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Most observers expect they’ll swallow hard and match the Flyers’ offer. Doing so will definitely screw up their salary cap for this season and complicate efforts to re-sign Gauthier and Mintyukov, especially if the latter signs an offer sheet. Letting Mintyukov go will weaken their already thin blueline for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On July 9, the Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer sheet for Carlsson. 

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.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On July 30, I looked at the long-term impact the Carlsson offer sheet would have on future contracts for NHL stars.

The ripples from the Flyers’ bid to land Carlsson will be felt for years. It couldn’t have happened without the substantial increases in the salary cap.

It could also create a situation in which the NHL once again finds itself with “have” and “have-not” franchises, something the salary cap was supposed to address over 20 years ago. Teams in smaller markets could find it difficult to reach the annual salary cap minimum, losing players through free agency or cost-cutting trades to wealthier markets flush with cap space. 

The NHL has a better revenue-sharing system in place to help small-market or struggling franchises than it did over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, it might not be enough to help some of them remain competitive against richer, well-managed teams.