NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

by | May 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

The latest on the Avalanche and Golden Knights before Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, reaction to the Canucks firing head coach Adam Foote, the Devils to retain coach Sheldon Keefe, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights begins on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 pm ET in Denver.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

The Avalanche enter this series with superstar defenseman Cale Makar’s status for Game 1 uncertain. He missed his third consecutive practice on Tuesday, sparking speculation that he’s dealing with an injury. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he’s not concerned yet about Makar’s status for the series-opening contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar’s absence, even for one game, would be a challenging adjustment for the Avalanche. Even if he plays, his performance could be hampered by this possible injury.

TSN: The NHL Coaches’ Association is closely monitoring the situation involving former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy late in the regular season, replacing him with John Tortorella on an interim basis. The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings recently asked the Golden Knights for permission to speak with Cassidy, but they’ve yet to do so.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that teams have asked for permission to speak with Cassidy.

“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands it, as well.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, who are within their rights to grant or deny permission to clubs that are interested in hiring him.

However, McCrimmon’s excuse doesn’t hold water. The Golden Knights have had almost a week off between playoff series, giving him plenty of time to consider whether he’ll grant permission to those clubs to speak with Cassidy.

SPORTSNET: The Golden Knights lost their appeal for breaking the league’s media access rules following Game 6 of their second-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000, and the Golden Knights will lose their second-round draft pick in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league has had enough of Tortorella’s battles with the media and with the Golden Knights for ignoring previous warnings about violating the media access rules.

These shenanigans have robbed the Golden Knights of positive coverage for their upcoming series with the Avalanche.

THE SCORE: The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Adam Foote on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Foote was promoted from assistant coach to bench boss last year when Rick Tocchet departed for the Philadelphia Flyers. He faced huge obstacles this season that would’ve challenged even the most experienced head coach.

Manny Malholtra could be the favorite to take over from Foote. He’s currently the head coach of their farm team in Abbotsford. He also has NHL experience as an assistant coach with the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

TSN: Former Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to pursue a new coaching job for the time being. He was recently fired after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knoblauch can afford to take his time and consider his future. He’s under contract with the Oilers for the next three seasons.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Sheldon Keefe will return as the Devils’ head coach, but he will need a couple of new assistants. Goaltending coach Dave Rogalski was relieved of his duties, while Sergei Brylin will be taking on a new role within the organization.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will resume his playing career next season after undergoing a procedure two months ago to remove a blood clot. The 22-year-old missed all but 12 games this season because of the clot.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2026

by | May 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2026

The Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Final, plus the latest on Sidney Crosby, Filip Gustavsson, Mark Stone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Alex Newhook gave the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of their second-round series.

Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (NHL Images)

The Canadiens took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc. However, the Sabres dominated the next two periods, with Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin scoring to force overtime.

Jakub Dobes was once again the hero for the Canadiens with a 37-save performance. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 22 shots for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens will face the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final with Game 1 starting on Thursday, May 21, at 8 pm ET.

With an average age of 25.8, the Canadiens are the youngest team to advance to the Conference Finals since the 1992-93 Canadiens, whose average age was also 25.8.

Dobes joined Canadiens Hall of Famer Ken Dryden as the only two rookie goalies in NHL history to win two Game Sevens on the road in the same postseason. Newhook became the second player in playoff history to score the winning goal in multiple Game Sevens in the same playoff year. Nathan Horton was the first to accomplish that feat, doing so with the 2010-11 Boston Bruins.

This was a hard-fought, entertaining series between two rising powers in the Eastern Conference. It may not be the last time they face each other in postseason competition in the next several years.

Dobes was spectacular again in consecutive Game 7 situations, holding the fort as the Sabres came at him in waves. The Canadiens went into a defensive shell after the first period, and it nearly cost them, but Dobes was the difference.

Buffalo was the better team after the first period, so this loss will be tough to take after battling back from a 3-2 series deficit to come up short in overtime. Nevertheless, their fans cheered their performance after this game.

How this series ended won’t define the Sabres. Their rise this season indicates that their years in the wilderness are finally over. They’re a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, and they will attempt to build on this season’s successful campaign.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby pushed for Macklin Celebrini to remain the team captain when he joined Canada’s roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Celebrini had been named captain before the Stanley Cup Playoffs began. Team Canada’s management made a courtesy call to Crosby after his Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the opening round, but were surprised when the 38-year-old center agreed to join the club.

“When Sid came, he was adamant that Mack remain the captain,” Canadian GM Brad Treliving said. “At the same time, Mack was adamant that Sid be the captain.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The issue was resolved with Celebrini remaining as captain and Crosby named as an alternate captain.

TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery in the coming weeks. He won’t know until after the surgery if the 28-year-old Gustavsson will be ready for the start of the season. The injury is considered to be the cause of normal wear and tear for an NHL goalie.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The nagging injury explains the decline in Gustavsson’s performance since the Olympic break.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon are expected to be game-day decisions for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers are expected to have a formal interview with former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. They’re still awaiting permission from the Golden Knights to interview their former bench boss, Bruce Cassidy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that the Golden Knights had granted permission to the Los Angeles Kings to speak with Cassidy. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports they haven’t permitted any club to talk to their former head coach.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they’ve reached out to University of Denver head coach David Carle.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2026

by | May 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2026

The Canadiens and Sabres prepare to face off in Game 7 of their second-round series, the Hurricanes set a playoff record, the front office changes continue for the Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens face off in the seventh and deciding game of their second-round series on Monday night in Buffalo at 7:30 pm ET. The winner advances to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn and Arpon Basu examined the key storylines to watch for in Game 7.

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky (NHL Images).

One storyline will be whether Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis shuffles his lines after maintaining continuity in this series. Basu believes Juraj Slafkovsky may be dealing with an injury after watching his performance in Game 6, noting that he had no strength on his stick, was knocked off the puck easily, and had difficulty with his puck handling.

For the Sabres, Fairburn believes the Sabres goaltending has become a concern. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon have been inconsistent in this series, which could become a factor in this critical seventh game.

The Canadiens have experience in this situation, having eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 during the first round. Several of their players, including team captain Nick Suzuki and high-scoring winger Cole Caufield, were also part of the Habs that eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in their 2021 first-round series.

Meanwhile, the Sabres could have the most to lose in this series. While the Canadiens would carry the sting of blowing a 3-2 series lead into the summer, their young roster core will remain intact for next season. This could be the last opportunity for this current Sabres core, given Alex Tuch’s UFA eligibility and the trade rumors that have swirled about Bowen Byram since last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever the outcome, the Canadiens and Sabres have provided their fans with an entertaining postseason series. They’ve served notice that they are rising forces in the Eastern Conference. This might not be the last time these two clubs meet in the playoffs over the next several years.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Hurricanes have set a modern NHL playoff record for the longest wait between series. They have 11 days off between the end of Game 4 of their second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers and the start of the Eastern Conference Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes will be well-rested and fully recovered from the bumps, bruises, and injuries suffered during the first two rounds. Given how quickly they dispatched Ottawa and Philadelphia, and their first-overall place in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, they will be considered the favorites to win the Conference Final.

However, the long layoff will leave the Hurricanes rusty for the first game or two. Their opponent must strike quickly in those contests to garner an early series advantage before the experienced Canes inevitably regain their form.

TORONTO SUN: Front office changes for the Maple Leafs continued Sunday as assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey left the organization.

Pridham had been with the Maple Leafs since 2014, playing a major role as a salary-cap expert in managing the club’s salary-cap payroll. Clancey spent the past three seasons as the assistant GM of player personnel. He’d previously spent 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given their resumes, both men shouldn’t have much difficulty landing jobs with other NHL clubs.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche got some good news as defensemen Josh Manson and Sam Malkinski were full participants during Sunday’s practice. Both were among several Avs nursing injuries.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal listed all the fines and suspensions handed out thus far during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The most notable was Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella being fined $100,000 and the Golden Knights being forced to forfeit their second-round pick in this year’s draft for flagrant violations of the league’s regulations following their series-ending victory over the Anaheim Ducks last week.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy received the biggest punishment handed down to a player. He will serve a six-game suspension starting next season for slashing Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 17, 2026

by | May 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 17, 2026

The Sabres crush the Canadiens to force Game 7 in their second-round series, examining Mitch Marner’s strong postseason with the Golden Knights, several Avalanche players are nursing injuries, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres overcame an early 3-1 deficit with five unanswered goals to thump the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 in Game 6 of their second-round series, forcing a seventh and deciding game in Buffalo on Monday, May 18.

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (NHL Images)

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin led the way with a goal and four assists, becoming the first defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to record five points in a game when facing elimination. Tage Thompson had a goal and three assists, and Jack Quinn tallied twice and collected an assist. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 18 shots after replacing Alex Lyon, who was pulled after giving up three goals on four shots early in the first period.

Jake Evans had a goal and an assist, Ivan Demidov scored for the second straight game, and Arber Xhekaj netted his first-ever playoff goal for the Canadiens. Jacob Fowler replaced starter Jakub Dobes in the third period after the latter gave up six goals on 33 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Facing elimination for the first time in this postseason, the Sabres responded with their best performance of this series, one that may have changed the direction of this series in their favor.

The turning point in the game occurred at 11:47 of the first period when Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson received a double-minor for high-sticking Sabres forward Josh Norris, leading to Jason Zucker’s power-play goal that narrowed the score to 3-2. Led by Dahlin and Thompson, the Sabres dominated the next two periods.

This was the Canadiens’ worst performance of this postseason, something team captain Nick Suzuki admitted after the game. Even when leading 3-1, they were struggling to adjust to the changes that Sabres’ head coach Lindy Ruff made to his forward lines. He shifted Thompson to right wing alongside Norris and Zach Benson on the first line, with Ryan McLeod centering Alex Tuch and Josh Doan on the second line. Rookie Konsta Helenius centered Zucker and Quinn on the third line, with Peyton Krebs between Jordan Greenway and Beck Malenstyn on the fourth line.

Ruff’s quick replacement of Lyon with Luukkonen in the first period also paid dividends, providing some much-needed stability between the pipes that helped to settle down his teammates.

It will be interesting to see what Game 7 brings us. Both teams have played well on the road, but struggled at home. That could work in the Canadiens’ favor, but the momentum the Sabres gained in Game 6 could propel them into the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Regardless of the outcome of Game 7, the Eastern Conference Final will begin on Thursday, May 21, in Carolina.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato looked at what’s behind Mitch Marner’s dominant playoff performance with the Vegas Golden Knights after years of criticism about his postseason play with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of the factors listed by Amato, getting away from that harsh spotlight in Toronto and the structure of Vegas’ roster are probably the main reasons why Marner’s an early candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Golden Knights play a solid two-way game with several forwards who play well defensively, so he’s not having to carry that burden as much as he did with the Leafs.

Some observers wondered how well Marner would perform after John Tortorella took over as head coach late in the season. Rather than struggling under the demanding Tortorella, Marner is thriving, earning his coach’s respect and support.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche has several players considered day-to-day as they nurse various injuries. They include Cale Makar, Brent Burns, Josh Manson, Artturi Lehkonen, and Sam Malinski.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first game of their Western Conference Final series with the Golden Knights begins on Wednesday, so those players have several days to recuperate. Don’t be surprised if they’re all ready to go for Game 1.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Hurricanes aren’t concerned about their long layoff between series adversely affecting their performance against the Canadiens or Sabres in the Eastern Conference Final. They will have had 12 days to rest, recuperate, and prepare for their next opponent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes will be a little rusty in the first game and perhaps the second, which could work to their opponent’s favor. However, the Canadiens and Sabres won’t have much time to recover from two long, physical series. That could work to the Hurricanes’ advantage as the Conference Final progresses.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anaheim Ducks forward Mikael Granlund is joining Finland’s roster in the 2026 IIHF World Championship.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 16, 2026

by | May 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 16, 2026

The Canadiens and Sabres prepare for Game 6, Matthew Schaefer garners praise from several Hall of Fame defensemen, the latest on the Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens hope to advance to the Eastern Conference Final on home ice in Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead following their 6-3 victory over the Sabres in Game 5 on Thursday.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis understands that eliminating an opponent will be difficult. He pointed out that he believed his team played their best game of this postseason in their Game 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice in the first round.

“So, you know, it probably takes your best. And more,” St. Louis said.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said his players will likely stay at their hotel on Saturday morning and not hold a pregame skate so they can save their energy for Game 6.

Ruff stressed that his club has responded well to every challenge they’ve faced this season, rising from last place in the Eastern Conference in early December to finishing first in the Atlantic Division and eliminating the Boston Bruins in the first round.

The Sabres need more from their top-six forwards. Power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series. Center Tage Thompson has only scored twice against the Canadiens and may be playing injured.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Carolina Hurricanes await the winner of this series in the Eastern Conference Final. If the Canadiens win tonight, Game 1 of the Conference Final starts on Tuesday, May 19, in Carolina. If it goes seven games (which would be held on Monday, May 18), the winner will face the Hurricanes in Carolina on Thursday, May 21.

THE ATHLETIC: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer earned praise from several Hall of Fame blueliners after he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

Raymond Bourque believes Schaefer has “a great chance” to become a generational player. Chris Pronger pointed out his positive impact on the Islanders since his debut, and Nicklas Lidstrom lauded the 18-year-old’s speed and heads-up performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer’s rookie performance took some of the sting out of the Islanders’ failure to make the playoffs. He is now their franchise player, and management will do all it can to build a contender around him.

TSN: Mitch Marner “feels great” after advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in his NHL career. Nevertheless, he and his Vegas Golden Knights’ teammates are keeping their focus on winning the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner leads all scorers in his postseason with 18 points. He must be considered among the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they must forfeit a second-round pick and were fined $100,000 for not speaking to the media postgame at Honda Center following their series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

The Golden Knights will have a chance to appeal the punishment to league commissioner Gary Bettman in New York next week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights didn’t open their dressing room for interviews, but rather in an adjacent room. Shea Theodore spoke briefly in that room, while forwards Mitch Marner and Brett Howden both spoke at the podium for less than five minutes.

The collective bargaining agreement requires players and coaches to be made available for interviews daily during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ESPN.COM: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek revealed that they were unable to play in their club’s second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche because of broken bones in their feet. The Avalanche took that series in five games.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier revealed he broke the L1 and L2 vertebrae in his back against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 30. He praised the Ducks’ medical staff for helping him return to action sooner than expected.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier played in all 12 playoff games for the Ducks with a team-leading 12 points.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.

CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Daniil Miromanov has reportedly signed with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. The 28-year-old blueliner spent most of this season playing for the Flames’ AHL affiliate.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

by | May 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

The Golden Knights advance to the Western Conference Final, the Canadiens rally to push the Sabres to the brink of elimination, reaction to the Oilers firing Kris Knoblauch, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series. Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals, and Mitch Marner had two points (including a highlight-reel game-opening goal) for the Golden Knights, who took the series in six games. Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks.

The Golden Knights will face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final starting on Wednesday, May 20, in Denver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights’ experience and defensive play made the difference in this series. Marner played a key role during this series, playing his way into early Conn Smythe Trophy contention with his playoff-leading 18 points. Dorofeyev has come into his own as a postseason sniper with nine goals to lead all scorers thus far.

The Ducks’ season is over, but they exceeded expectations this season by ending their seven-year playoff drought and upsetting the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Their young roster has a bright future and will be better in the coming years.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their second-round series. Ivan Demidov scored his first career NHL playoff goal, Cole Caufield extended his goal streak to three games, and Juraj Slafkovsky collected three assists as the Canadiens overcame 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 deficits. Jason Zucker, Josh Doan, and Konsta Helenius scored for the Sabres.

The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead and can wrap it up in Game 6 in Montreal on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That first period was a wild one, with Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes giving up three goals on four shots. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis asked goalie coach Marco Marciano if he felt Dobes should be pulled, but Marciano said no. Dobes settled down, stopping the next 32 shots for the win. Habs defenseman Lane Hutson set up two goals, tying him with Suzuki for the team’s points lead with 12.

Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave up five goals on 23 shots and was replaced by Alex Lyon for the third period. Neither goalie was helped by their teammates’ poor defense, especially in the second period, when Montreal tallied three unanswered goals to take control of the game. Meanwhile, Sabres power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series after tallying seven points in six games against the Boston Bruins in the first round.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday. He’d been in the position for three seasons, coaching the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, the Oilers were eliminated in the opening round of this year’s playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. He was about to start a three-year contract extension worth $7.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were roasted on social media for their bungled handling of this situation. Everyone knew earlier this week that Knoblauch was a goner after it emerged that they sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former bench boss, Bruce Cassidy.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal listed 13 factors behind Knoblauch’s dismissal. In my opinion, he’s paying the price for the mistakes of Oilers management over the last two years.

The question now is who becomes Knobluach’s replacement. It’s believed they’re still zeroed in on Cassidy despite the Golden Knights’ denying them permission to speak with him.

The hiring will be consequential, given superstar Connor McDavid’s two-year contract extension begins on July 1. If the Oilers fail to improve next season, it could lead to the latter’s departure as early as next summer.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks officially named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents and promoted assistant general manager Ryan Johnson as their general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprises here, as these hirings have been expected for days. While all three are well-respected within the organization and among Canucks fans, they have a big job ahead of them.

The Canucks are coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, culminating in the departure of superstar Quinn Hughes in a trade with Minnesota in December. It will take several seasons to build this club back into a playoff contender.

Their first decision could be whether to replace head coach Adam Foote, who’s been in the job for one season.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere revealed 10 players were dealing with significant injuries during their playoff run.

Emile Andrae played with a fractured wrist that requires surgery. Noah Cates fractured his foot but doesn’t need surgery. Christian Dvorak suffered a fractured rib and a separated shoulder. Garnet Hathaway played through a fractured fibula. Travis Konecny had a fractured rib and a nasal fracture. Owen Tippett dealt with internal bleeding and a sports hernia, and Cam York played through a fractured rib.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve singled out the most serious of the injuries suffered by Flyers players. One wonders how much better they might’ve fared against the Carolina Hurricanes if they had been healthier for that second-round series.

NESN: The Boston Bruins announced that assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner is departing to pursue other opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Langenbrunner is rumored to be heading to Vancouver to join the Canucks’ front office.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Bruins, they signed winger Lukas Reichel to a one-year, $950,000 contract extension.

TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks signed prospect forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year, entry-level contract.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL defenseman Paul Boutilier has passed away at age 63. No cause of death was announced.

Boutilier spent eight seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets from 1981-82 to 1988-89. In 288 regular-season games, he had 27 goals and 83 assists for 110 points, and 10 points in 41 playoff games. Boutilier won the Stanley Cup with the Islanders in 1982-83.

Following his playing career, Boutilier served as an assistant coach and head coach for Saint Mary’s University in Halifax from 1991 to 1997. He was an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs from 2015 to 2017, helping them win the league championship in 2016-17. In 2024, he joined the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats as a defensive consultant, helping them win the league championship in 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Boutilier’s family, friends, and former teammates.