NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2026

by | Jul 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2026

The notable players remaining in the UFA market, and Matthew Tkachuk bids farewell to former teammates Sergei Bobrovsky and Evan Rodrigues. Check out the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DAILY FACEOFF: Wingers Anthony Mantha, Patrick Kane, and Patrik Laine top the list of notable players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mantha has been linked to the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Montreal Canadiens in the rumor mill. It’s believed Kane could return to the Detroit Red Wings or sign with his hometown club, the Buffalo Sabres. Some observers have suggested the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs look into signing Laine, but there’s no indication whether those clubs are interested in him.

Other noteworthy players include defenseman Logan Stanley, wingers Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting, and Eeli Tolvanen, and goaltender Cam Talbot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There were some suggestions that Stanley would be a good option for the Canadiens or the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kurt Leavins and Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal recently debated whether Tarasenko would be a good fit with the Oilers.

Surprisingly, Tolvanen hasn’t been signed up yet. Given his age (27) and two-way play, he’d be an affordable middle-six addition for most clubs. As for Talbot, time may be catching up with the 39-year-old netminder.

Defensemen John Klingberg, Nick Blankenberg, and Carson Soucy, center Adam Henrique, goaltenders Connor Ingram and James Reimer, and wingers James van Riemsdyk and David Perron round out the list.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk is going to miss former teammates Sergei Bobrovsky and Evan Rodrigues.

Bobrovsky departed the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1. Rodrigues was traded to the New Jersey Devils two weeks ago as part of the return for Jacob Markstrom, who replaced Bobrovsky as the Panthers’ starting goaltender.

Speaking with his brother (and new teammate) Brady Tkachuk on their Wingmen podcast, Matthew said he would miss Bobrovsky on and off the ice, calling him one of his favorite teammates. However, he is excited about reuniting with Markstrom. The two were teammates with the Calgary Flames until Tkachuk’s trade to the Panthers in 2022.

Tkachuk described Rodrigues as “a Swiss Army knife” because of his versatility. He hopes their paths cross again because he loved playing with him.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber reports this season will be a critical one for Washington Capitals forward Ivan Miroshnichenko.

Chosen 20th overall in the 2022 draft, the 22-year-old winger has had 52 games with the Capitals over the past three seasons, but hasn’t yet nailed down a regular roster spot.

Silber observed that Miroshnichenko will face competition from incoming wingers Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miroshnichenko must elevate his game to have any chance of securing a regular spot on the Capitals’ roster this season. Otherwise, he’ll spend another season in the minors and could become a trade candidate before the March deadline.

ILLEGAL CURVE: Winnipeg Jets prospect Viggo Bjorck is leaving Swedish club Djurgardens to continue his playing career in North America.

Winnipeg chose the 18-year-old winger eighth overall in this year’s NHL Draft. It hasn’t been reported yet whether he’s signed an entry-level contract with the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bjorck has either signed his ELC and it hasn’t been reported yet, or he will do so with the Jets later this summer, perhaps as early as this week.

THE ATHLETIC: Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is hoping to bring an NBA expansion franchise to his city. He publicly declared his intent to do so last month and is rounding up a group to submit a bid.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Real estate executive Stephen Stroud, who played a role in bringing the Carolina Hurricanes to Raleigh, passed away Saturday at age 83.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Stroud’s family, friends, and the Hurricanes’ organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2026

by | Jul 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, I attempt to answer some of the lingering offseason questions for the 32 NHL clubs.

SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen recently listed one lingering offseason question for each NHL team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a two-parter for me. Today, I’ll provide my answers for the first 16 teams on Boylen’s list, followed by the remaining 16 on Sunday.

Starting with the Anaheim Ducks, Boylen wondered how they would free up sufficient salary-cap space to re-sign scoring winger Cutter Gauthier. He speculated that a winger such as Frank Vatrano or Alex Killorn could become a cost-cutting trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano seems the more likely trade option largely because of his reduced role with the Ducks and his seven-team no-trade list.

The Boston Bruins must decide whether to re-sign or trade Pavel Zacha. He’ll be UFA-eligible next July. Boylen cited colleague Elliotte Friedman, who claimed the Bruins had spoken with other teams about the versatile 29-year-old forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of what I’ve read and heard out of Boston suggests the Bruins want to re-sign him. We’ll see if that pans out over the course of this summer.

Boylen wondered whether last season’s improvement by the Buffalo Sabres could help them land an impact player. He noted that Elliotte Friedman recently said that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebucyk was willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to Buffalo. He also felt Vincent Trocheck had been open to going there before he was traded last week to the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible, though the likelihood could fade over the course of the summer. Still, there’s no doubt the Sabres are a more desirable destination than they once were. If they pick up from where they left off last season, they shouldn’t have much difficulty finding significant additions in the trade market, provided they have the cap space to acquire them.

Zach Whitecloud has been a terrific addition to the Calgary Flames, but he’s also been the subject of trade rumors. Boylen mused over whether the 29-year-old defenseman could be moved this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whitecloud will draw attention from contenders seeking an affordable, experienced defenseman. He’s got two years remaining on his contract, so the Flames aren’t in any hurry to move him.

The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t made a big play yet, prompting Boylen to ponder if they might have something up their sleeve. He noted Friedman saying they were thinking of signing a player to an offer sheet and then attempting to trade them to another club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated this week that a team that matches an offer sheet cannot trade the player for one year, but the team that successfully signs away a player from another club has no restrictions on moving them. The Hurricanes could go that route, but after the Carlsson offer sheet, they could find it more difficult now to sign away another club’s restricted free agents.

Boylen pondered what Connor Bedard’s next contract with the Chicago Blackhawks would look like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One rumor has Bedard seeking a long-term deal worth $17 million. Take it for what it’s worth.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

“Will Cale Makar become the highest-paid player in the NHL?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes. The league’s maximum salary for 2027-28 is $22.6 million. The Colorado Avalanche superstar’s next AAV will be close to that.

Boylen wondered what was next for Columbus Blue Jackets’ forwards Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli. He also asked, “Is the Zach Werenski saga truly over?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said they aren’t trading Marchenko despite his camp’s claim that their client isn’t interested in signing a contract extension. Fantilli has been mentioned as an offer-sheet candidate by the Philadelphia Flyers after their failed attempt to sign Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, but reports out of Philadelphia claim they won’t shift their sights to the young Blue Jackets center.

As for Werenski, he claims he wants to stay in Columbus after vetoing a trade to the Dallas Stars last week. However, he could change his mind about staying if the Blue Jackets fail to improve this season.

“How will the Jason Robertson situation be resolved?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson could get a one-year, $13 million contract through arbitration, setting the stage for his departure from the Dallas Stars via free agency next summer.

Boylen mused over whether the Detroit Red Wings will honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not as long as Larkin insists on a short list of trade destinations. He recently expanded it to four teams by including the Dallas Stars, but Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants more options. Yzerman has set a high asking price for Larkin, seeking Wyatt Johnston from the Stars and Matt Boldy from the Minnesota Wild, which are pretty much deal-breakers for those teams.

The Edmonton Oilers have a lot of cap space remaining, prompting Boylen to ask how they intend to use it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could still try to add to their roster before next season. Some Oilers observers believe they could use a second-line winger, with some suggesting UFA Vladimir Tarasenko as an option.

Boylen wondered if the Florida Panthers might have any more surprises up their sleeves regarding their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything’s possible, but they’re probably done after acquiring winger Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They don’t have much tempting trade bait left, and they’re not parting with two-way center Anton Lundell.

The Los Angeles Kings could use more blueline depth. Boylen cited Elliotte Friedman, who recently suggested they could use another puck-moving rearguard. Given their limited cap space, it would have to be a money-in, money-out move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means they won’t be looking at the free-agent market, where the pickings were slim to begin with. They could have better odds through a trade, but there don’t seem to be any expendable assets on their roster that they could move to address that need. This could be an issue that carries over into the regular season.

Boylen wondered if Quinn Hughes would sign with the Minnesota Wild and for how much.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he was open to a contract extension, and Wild owner Craig Leipold recently insisted that his club would re-sign the 27-year-old superstar defenseman. However, that was before the Leo Carlsson offer-sheet saga set a new benchmark for superstar talent. It could cost them between $18 million and $20 million to get Hughes under contract.

The Montreal Canadiens still need a top-six forward. Boylen pondered over whether they might find one this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ biggest need is for a second-line center. However, the rumors linking them to Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets suggest that they believe they stand a better chance of adding a young top-six winger. They have the tradeable assets to make a tempting offer, but their search could continue into the regular season before a suitable option is found.

For the Nashville Predators, the question is where they can find more skill. Elliotte Friedman believes they’re going to try to add more to their blue line to help team captain Roman Josi.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s very little help left in the free-agent market, so it’s off to the trade market. Alexander Nikishin could be an option, as the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly willing to move the 24-year-old RFA blueliner.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2026

by | Jul 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2026

The latest on Connor Bedard’s contract situation, the reason why Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Mammoth, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Jack Bushman examines whether Connor Bedard’s shoulder surgery will affect his contract negotiations with the Blackhawks.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

Bedard, 21, is a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights coming off his entry-level contract. He underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week and will be sidelined for four months.

Bushman believes his surgery could complicate those negotiations. So will Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson’s five-year, $90 million contract with its league-leading $18 million average annual value.

According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Bedard camp is seeking an AAV of $17 million for their client’s next contract. Bushman doesn’t think the Blackhawks will try to play hardball with their franchise player, but he speculated they could use his injury history as justification for a lower annual cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see how Bedard’s negotiations shake out. The Carlsson offer sheet saga overshadowed his contract talks with the Blackhawks. There’s been little indication whether any progress has been made. With the Ducks retaining Carlsson, perhaps we’ll see more coverage of Bedard’s contract situation.

Bedard’s also been mentioned as a possible offer-sheet target, but it’s believed he’s not interested in contract pitches from rival clubs. If so, that removes a major concern for the Blackhawks, enabling them to negotiate without fear of being blindsided as the Ducks were with Carlsson.

NEW YORK POST: Andrew Crane looked at why Vincent Trocheck wound up being traded to the Utah Mammoth on July 1 after months of reports claimed his preference was to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Crane reports the move to Utah wouldn’t have been possible last season, when Trocheck had a 12-team no-trade list. However, that list shifted to 10 teams on July 1, enabling the Rangers to send him to the Mammoth.

“It was just going to a team that I think can win was the most important thing to me,” Trocheck said on Friday when asked about the change to his no-trade clause. He explained that he’s been in the league a long time and hasn’t won anything yet.

Trocheck noted the Mammoth have made significant strides over the last two seasons. Crane also noted that Trocheck and Mammoth first-line winger Clayton Keller were teammates on Team USA’s gold-medal-winning men’s Olympic team. He also skates with Mammoth center Logan Cooley during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck is a center who can also skate on the wing. He said Friday that he’d be open to playing on the wing with the Mammoth.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Lou Korac reported the St. Louis Blues brought back Oskar Sundqvist, signing the 32-year-old forward to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sundqvist was an unrestricted free agent after completing a two-year contract worth an AAV of $1.5 million. Korac also reported that he makes his home in St. Louis and isn’t inclined to move. He’s spent eight of his 11 NHL seasons with the Blues and was part of their 2019 Stanley Cup run.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks announced the hirings of Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog as their new assistant coaches.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2026

by | Jul 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2026

What’s next for the Ducks and Flyers now that the Leo Carlsson offer sheet saga is over? Which players could become offer-sheet targets? What’s the latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DUCKS AND FLYERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered if the Anaheim Ducks could build a Stanley Cup contender around an $18 million player.

On Thursday, the Ducks matched the five-year, $90 million offer sheet that Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last Friday. His $18 million AAV is the highest in NHL history, taking up 17.30 percent of the Ducks’ salary cap for this season.

“Now the Ducks will try to ice a winner with a top-heavy financial structure in the same vein that the Minnesota Wild will proceed with Kirill Kaprizov and his eight-year, $136 million ($17 million AAV) contract taking effect in the coming season,” Stephens wrote.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The Ducks’ next task is signing restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauthier, who tallied a team-leading 41 goals and 69 points last season. The 22-year-old Gauthier is ineligible to sign an offer sheet, but that probably won’t stop him from seeking an AAV over $10 million.

With just over $9 million in cap space, the Ducks will have to shed salary to create room for Gauthier’s new contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could take the Ducks most of the offseason to hammer out a new contract with Gauthier. They still hold leverage because of the winger’s lack of arbitration rights, but playing hardball probably isn’t a good idea after making Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league for this season.

Their cost-cutting trade candidates could include wingers Chris Kreider or Alex Killorn (15-team no-trade clauses). Frank Vatrano (seven-team NTC) is the more likely option, but his declining play and injury history could make him harder to move.

Another concern is their defense corps, which lost two experienced blueliners with the departures of Jacob Trouba and John Carlson. Apart from the 35-year-old Nick Jensen, the rest of their top-six rearguards are 25 and younger. They might’ve had sufficient room to add one or two veteran defensemen if not for the Carlsson offer sheet, but that’s out the window now.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz doesn’t expect Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere to target another player with an offer sheet after his effort to land Leo Carlsson was matched.

The Flyers’ glaring need for a first-line center remains. However, a Flyers team source indicated that the offer sheet for Carlsson was as much about circumstances as it was about the player. Their offer was well-planned, designed to put economic pressure on the Ducks to let Carlsson go.

Kurz expects the Flyers will likely turn to adding some depth players to support their promising youngsters. They must also re-sign winger Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who filed for salary arbitration on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks might suggest the Flyers pursue Dylan Larkin, but that’s not happening unless the Detroit Red Wings center is willing to expand his list of destinations to include Philadelphia. So far, he’s only added the Dallas Stars to his list, which also includes the Minnesota Wild (his prime destination), Vegas Golden Knights (who lack suitable tradeable assets) and the Florida Panthers (ditto, because they won’t part with Anton Lundell).

WHAT OTHER POTENTIAL OFFER SHEET TARGETS ARE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER?

THE SCORE: Michael Bradburn listed the restricted free agents who are eligible to receive offer sheets this summer.

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets headline the forwards. Bedard is sidelined for four months, recovering from shoulder surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets also have plenty of salary-cap space, meaning a club will have to overpay significantly to have any chance of successfully signing Bedard or Fantilli. Based on Kurz’s report, the Flyers aren’t looking at going the offer-sheet route again this summer.

Bradburn singled out Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings and Arber Xhekaj of the Montreal Canadiens as the most intriguing options among the defensemen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forget about landing Edvinsson unless you’re willing to offer him well over $12 million annually. That’s the amount the Red Wings have reportedly set aside in case someone signs the 21-year-old blueliner. As for Xhekaj, a rival club could pursue him, but that might be more through a trade than an offer sheet.

THE LATEST ON ELIAS PETTERSSON

CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reports there’s been lots of trade talk about Elias Pettersson. However, the Vancouver Canucks have not asked the 27-year-old center to waive his no-movement clause.

“Lots of chatter but don’t believe anything is close,” Dhaliwal tweeted.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As always, Pettersson’s expensive contract and the decline in his play over the past two years remain significant sticking points that are difficult to surmount.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2026

by | Jul 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2026

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

THE DUCKS MATCH THE FLYERS’ OFFER SHEET FOR LEO CARLSSON

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

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN OTHER NEWS…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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










NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2026

by | Jul 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2026

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

THE LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

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

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UPDATE ON MORGAN RIELLY

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

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

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

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