NHL Trade Tracker – June 26, 2026

by | Jun 26, 2026

NHL Trade Tracker – June 26, 2026

The Utah Mammoth traded the 23rd overall pick to the Detroit Red Wings for goaltender Sebastian Cossa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth needed a backup for Karel Vejmelka, who could one day become a starter. Cossa will have an opportunity to take over that role in Utah. 

The Anaheim Ducks trade Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the No. 15 and 29 picks in this draft (as per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet).

Anaheim Ducks trade center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McTavish was a fixture in the rumor mill for months. He’ll likely slot into their second-line center position with promising Dalibor Dvorsky centering their third line. He can also skate on the left wing. McTavish, 23, is a cost-controlled young player with an AAV of $7 million through 2030-31.

The New York Rangers acquire winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in this draft, a third-rounder in this draft, and a conditional 2028 first-round pick (top-10 protected). 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent, meaning the cap-strapped Golden Knights might not have been able to match an offer sheet for him. The 25-year-old winger is a two-time 30-plus goal scorer who should be a solid fit among the Rangers’ top-six forwards. It’s also a significant loss for the Golden Knights’ offense. 

**UPDATE**  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Rangers will sign Dorofeyev to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $11 million. 

The Boston Bruins have acquired winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and the 2028 first-round pick (originally from the Florida Panthers, top-10 protected).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A year ago, the Mammoth acquired Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring, signing him to a five-year deal worth an average annual value of $7.7 million. After tallying 68 points with the Sabres in 2024-25, he had 47 points in 82 games with the Mammoth, and no points in six playoff games.

The Chicago Blackhawks trade winger Andre Burakovsky to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 sixth-round pick (as per Frank Seravalli).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Straightforward salary dump by the Blackhawks. Burakovsky has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.5 million. His best season was in 2021-22 with the Avalanche, netting 61 points. He hasn’t come close to those numbers since.

The Anaheim Ducks trade defenseman Olen Zellweger to the Buffalo Sabres for prospect center Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick (45th overall) in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s your replacement for Bowen Byram, Sabres fans.

Ottawa Senators acquire goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs acquired Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers in a multiplayer trade on June 16.

The Montreal Canadiens acquire forward Brett Berard from the New York Rangers for defenseman William Trudeau.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 26, 2026

by | Jun 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 26, 2026

The 2026 NHL Draft begins Friday, Jason Robertson rejects a trade to the Kraken, Wild owner vows to re-sign Quinn Hughes, the latest on Zach Werenski and Alex Ovechkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

WHO WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS CHOOSE WITH THE FIRST-OVERALL PICK?

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs face a big decision with the first overall pick as the 2026 NHL Draft begins with the first round on Friday in Buffalo.

Penn State winger Gavin McKenna and forward Ivar Stenberg of SHL club Frolunda are the top two prospects.

The San Jose Sharks hold the second overall pick, followed by the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers to round out the top five. The Calgary Flames possess the sixth overall selection, followed by the Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, Sharks, and Nashville Predators to complete the top 10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s widely believed that the Leafs will select McKenna. San Jose is expected to take Stenberg, provided they haven’t traded that pick beforehand. Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he’s received at least one interesting trade offer. The Sabres could also peddle their pick for an established player, and the Rangers could dangle their pick for more immediate help. I’ll have more about that in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON, QUINN HUGHES, ALEX OVECHKIN & ZACH WERENSKI

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports sources claim the Dallas Stars permitted the Seattle Kraken to speak with Jason Robertson. They offered him an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $15 million, but the 26-year-old winger rejected the offer.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

Friedman indicated that the two clubs were believed to have worked out a trade before the Kraken were permitted to talk to Robertson, with the Kraken’s first-round pick in Friday’s draft (seventh overall) as part of the return.

Robertson is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He and the Stars are reportedly $2 million apart in negotiations. The Stars’ top contract belongs to winger Mikko Rantanen at $12 million annually, and the hope was that Robertson might come in around that number.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: According to Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek, the St. Louis Blues offered a trade package to the Stars that included multiple first-round picks. However, the deal didn’t go through because Robertson wasn’t interested in signing with the Blues.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs tried to get involved in the Kraken-Stars deal by offering up Matthews Knies to the Stars for the seventh-overall pick had the Robertson trade gone through. The Ottawa Senators were also believed to be interested in Robertson, but were told that he wasn’t willing to sign with them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If these reports are anything to go by, Robertson has played his final game with the Stars. The two sides could continue their contract negotiations, but the fact that the Stars were close to trading him to Seattle suggests the salary gulf between them can’t be bridged.

Robertson lacks no-trade protection, but his RFA status gives him leverage over where he can be traded. No one is going to part with significant assets for a star who won’t commit to a contract beyond next season. The Stars will likely keep searching for trade offers from clubs that are acceptable destinations for Robertson.

The Kraken’s offer could be based on what Robertson seeks in his negotiations with the Stars. His rejection of that proposal busts the myth that free-agent talent only wants to play in no-tax states. Robertson is the second player to reject a big-money offer from the Kraken, as Artemi Panarin did the same in February when he rejected a trade to Seattle in favor of a move to the Los Angeles Kings. Their odds of landing either player would’ve been better if they were a winning franchise.

Robertson could receive an offer sheet on July 1, but the cost of signing him would include four first-round picks to the Stars as compensation, as it’s clear he’s seeking well over $12 million annually. However, the Stars’ attempt to trade him suggests they’re seeking a return that could also provide more immediate help.

TSN: Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold expects his club to re-sign Quinn Hughes. The 26-year-old superstar defenseman has one season remaining on his contract and will be UFA-eligible next July.

“We had to give up a lot to get him in this past year,” Leipold said, referring to the trade last December with the Vancouver Canucks. “We are going to re-sign him. The question is for how long. We would like to go as long as we could.”

Leipold believes Hughes will probably want a shorter deal than the one Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Wild last fall. “Shorter being maybe three years,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leipold made similar comments about Kaprizov months before his club inked the superstar winger to an eight-year extension. The Wild can sign Hughes starting on July 1.

A three-year extension would give Hughes four years with the Wild, which is probably the window that Leipold and general manager Bill Guerin believe their club has to win the Stanley Cup. After that, Hughes could pursue his dream of playing with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber reports Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carberry said Alex Ovechkin is “very impressed, very happy” with the big trades the club made this week.

The Capitals acquired winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The following day, they brought in winger Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade deal with the Buffalo Sabres.

Ovechkin is expected to decide in July whether he’ll return for another season with the Capitals. If he does commit for 2026-27, Carberry said the 40-year-old winger is willing to accept a modified role with the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some saw the acquisitions of Kyrou and Tuch as the Capitals preparing for Ovechkin’s retirement, while others saw them as a way to entice him to play one more season. Bringing in those two should address both possibilities.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said he intends to meet with Zach Werenski soon to discuss his future with the club.

Werenski won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as this season’s top NHL defenseman. The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, but there’s been speculation about how long he plans to remain with the Jackets.

“I know for right now, there’s some matters that we’re dealing with that should probably stay internal,” Waddell said. He added that he’s had some conversations with Werenski’s agent, saying there’s been “no definitive plan, for sure.”

Waddell also said he didn’t get the sense that Werenski was basing his decision on the Blue Jackets’ offseason plans, but that could factor into it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We saw one of those plans on Thursday when the Blue Jackets acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche. I’ll have more on that below.

Waddell’s cryptic comments about keeping some things internal suggest that Werenski may have expressed his frustration over the Blue Jackets’ inability to clinch a playoff berth over the past two seasons. The uncertainty over his future ensures he will be a frequent subject for trade speculation.

NHL TRADE TRACKER FOR JUNE 25

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH/COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Blue Jackets acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (43rd overall), a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin is a replacement for Boone Jenner or Mason Marchment. Both are pending UFAs who are unlikely to return. As for the Avalanche, this was a cost-cutting move, freeing up Nichushkin’s $6.125 million AAV from their books. They now have almost $11 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, which will likely be used to shore up their blueline.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW/FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Garnet Hathaway and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-rounder. The Flyers are retaining half of Hathaway’s $2.4 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hathaway will be a replacement for UFA-eligible forward AJ Greer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Washington Capitals traded forward Hendrix Lapierre to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

THE HOCKEY NEWS/NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Capitals also traded defenseman Declain Chisholm to the New Jersey Devils for a 2027 fourth-round pick.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 25, 2026

by | Jun 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 25, 2026

Reaction to the Sabres sending Alex Tuch to the Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal, the Sabres re-sign Zach Benson, the Avalanche trade Jack Drury to the Predators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT/THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Sabres shipped winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday as part of a sign-and-trade deal. In return, they receive a 2027 third-round pick and the rights to pending free-agent center David Kampf.

Buffalo Sabres trade winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals (NHL Images)

Before sending Tuch to the Capitals, the Sabres signed the 30-year-old power forward to an eight-year, $84-million contract. The average annual value is $10.5 million, with a full no-movement clause in the first four seasons, dropping to a modified no-trade list for the final four seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second major move by both teams this week. On Tuesday, the Sabres shipped defenseman Bowen Byram and winger Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Capitals acquired winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues.

The Sabres reportedly pitched a final offer of seven years at just under $10 million, but they weren’t comfortable with what he was seeking. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen was concerned that it could force them to move out other players to make the dollars fit within their salary cap payroll.

Kekalainen said his club would consider all options to replace Tuch, who played a key role in the Sabres’ ending their 14-year playoff drought this season. They have the draft capital to use as trade bait, including the fourth-overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, which they received from Chicago in the Byram deal.

The additions of Tuch and Kyrou bring significant right-wing scoring punch to the Capitals, who are attempting to bounce back from missing the playoffs this season. They might not be done making moves, as they could consider adding another scoring forward and another penalty killer.

These moves also raise questions about Alex Ovechkin’s future with the Capitals. The 40-year-old winger has completed his contract, raising speculation that he’s planning to retire. Bringing in Tuch and Kyrou could be seen as an enticement for Ovechkin to return for another season, or it could be the Capitals’ preparation to offset the loss of his offense if he doesn’t return.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed winger Zach Benson to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $7.5 million. He has a modified no-trade clause (a seven-team no-trade list) for the final three years of the deal.

Benson, 21, had completed his entry-level contract. He’s coming off a breakout performance in his third NHL campaign, with 43 points in 65 regular-season games, and nine points in 13 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benson stepped up this season as a pesky, two-way forward. He was a spark plug for the Sabres, pumping up his teammates with his clutch scoring and energetic play. If that sounds familiar, it’s because his style of play is comparable to Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers. Benson could become an important core player for the Sabres in the next several years.

THE TENNESSEAN/COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Nashville Predators acquired center Jack Drury, prospect forward Chase Bradley, and a third-round pick in 2029 from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forwards Zach L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second trade in as many weeks that Predators GM Chris MacFarland has made with his former team, having acquired forward Ross Colton last week.

This is a move involving role players who weren’t working out with their former clubs. L’Heureux and Svechkov were former first-round picks with the Predators, while Drury was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes last season as part of the Mikko Rantanen trade.

Drury’s RFA status likely played a part in this deal. The Avalanche have limited cap space for next season, and re-signing the 26-year-old center probably would’ve cost more than they could comfortably afford.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher will be named an honorary citizen of the city of Montreal. This honor is bestowed on someone “who has a lasting impact on the well-being of Montrealers through their actions, art, and commitment.”

The 34-year-old Gallagher has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Canadiens, but he’s expected to be traded this summer. His agent has permission to speak with other teams to facilitate a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher’s pesky, hard-working style made him a fan favorite throughout his tenure with the Canadiens.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 24, 2026

by | Jun 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 24, 2026

Brady Tkachuk hopes to write a new chapter in Florida, Zach Werenski and the Blue Jackets to discuss his future, analysis of Tuesday’s trade action, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE LATEST ON BRADY TKACHUK AND ZACH WERENSKI

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Brady Tkachuk was formally introduced as the newest member of the Panthers on Tuesday. He was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

Tkachuk said he’s looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life and career with the Panthers. He got to know the team well during its back-to-back Stanley Cup championships through his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.

“Their sole focus is winning, and that’s something I’m excited to join, to help out,” Tkachuk said.

Tkachuk also thanked his former club, singling out team owner Michael Andlauer, general manager Steve Staios, his former coaches and teammates. He said it wasn’t an easy decision to leave, and would always be thankful to the Senators for what they did for him as a player and a person. “They always have a piece of my heart,” he said.

THE ATHLETIC: Justin Bourne pushed back against the notion that the appeal of warm-weather, US-based teams in no-tax states is a growing trend, suggesting it’s part of a boom-bust cycle.

Teams such as the Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars have been riding high in recent years, and NHL players want to play for winning franchises. However, Bourne pointed out several factors that will make it harder for those clubs to maintain their positions.

A significant factor will be the increasing difficulty of maintaining Stanley Cup contenders when they’re getting thin on tradeable assets. Their respective prospect pipelines rank 24th or worst among all NHL clubs. Some are lacking first-round picks over the next two to four years. As key players age out and their contracts remain on their books, it becomes harder to acquire talent to replace them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Strong management was the prime reason why those four clubs became preferred destinations for NHL stars. However, as Bourne points out, they could soon reach the point where they will lack sufficient assets to maintain their place as Cup contenders.

Meanwhile, well-managed teams like the Hurricanes and Wild are becoming enticing landing spots for talented players. Rising clubs like the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Mammoth could join them if they build into Stanley Cup contenders.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Columbus Blue Jackets and Zach Werenski will meet following the upcoming NHL Draft to discuss his future. The 28-year-old superstar defenseman will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July 2028.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

With trade requests around the league dominating headlines and the rumor mill, Werenski’s future in Columbus has become the subject of growing speculation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets narrowly missed the playoffs over the past two seasons, sparking the conjecture that Werenski might be getting frustrated over their inability to get over the postseason hump. However, he could be willing to see how next season unfolds before deciding if his future lies elsewhere. They could also name him their new team captain if Boone Jenner departs via free agency on July 1, which could also factor into his plans.

ANALYSIS OF TUESDAY’S TRADES

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for the details of the four notable trades that occurred on Tuesday.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe wonders what other moves Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has in store after shipping defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Moving Byram and winger Jordan Greenway free up over $10.25 million in salary cap space. The Sabres could use it to attempt to re-sign pending UFA winger Alex Tuch, or to add another established talent.

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn reported Tuch is expected to test the free-agent market on July 1. He thinks GM Jarmo Kekalainen could use the first-round pick in this year’s draft (No. 4 overall) that he received from the Blackhawks as a trade chip if he wants to add another player. However, the Sabres GM could keep the pick and use it to add a potentially franchise-altering talent.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Jack Bushman believes Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson overpaid for Byram and Greenway by including the fourth-overall pick as part of the return, along with blueliner Louis Crevier and a 2026 second-round pick.

Bushman also pointed out that Davidson still has to find a suitable winger to play alongside first-line center Connor Bedard. That task becomes more difficult without that No. 4 pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Davidson made no secret of his intent to bolster their blueline. Nevertheless, the reaction to this move has been mostly negative among Blackhawks fans. Some preferred he use that first-round pick to select a promising young defenseman, while others hoped he’d use it as bait for a proper wingman for Bedard.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber believes Jordan Kyrou will be a perfect fit with the Washington Capitals. They acquired the speedy winger from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. She noted that the Capitals needed scoring depth at right wing.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford pointed out that more moves could be coming for the St. Louis Blues. They got a first-round pick from the Capitals in this deal, giving them four in this year’s draft. He also thinks the addition of Connor McMichael will boost the Blues’ top nine, while forward Milton Gastrin will boost their prospect pipeline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful the Blues will retain all four of those picks. They could bundle a couple of them in a trade for another young player or two.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch noted that Senators GM Steve Staios wasted little time making another trade after shipping Brady Tkachuk to Florida on Sunday. He bundled the first-round pick (No. 9 overall) he received from the Panthers with two prospects to the San Jose Sharks for winger William Eklund. Garrioch believes Staios will use the No. 25 pick as a trade chip to pursue another player, pointing out their interest in Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng noted the Sharks now hold the No. 2, 9, and 27 picks in this year’s draft. Moving Eklund could clear the path for them to use the No. 2 pick to select prospect forward Ivar Stenberg, but they could also use it as trade bait for an established talent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks still need to bolster their blueline. One or two of those draft picks could be used to add a quality defenseman.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Flames GM Craig Conroy pursued Simon Nemec because he thought highly of the young defenseman. He traded away two first-round picks (one from the Golden Knights, one from the Colorado Avalanche) to the New Jersey Devils as part of the return for the 22-year-old blueliner.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that the Flames don’t have a contract extension in place for Nemec, who is a restricted free agent on July 1. The move frees up space on the crowded Devils blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec should be a good addition to the rebuilding Flames. He was going to be an expensive re-signing for the Devils. They can use those two first-round picks as trade chips to address their need for more scoring punch among their top-six forwards. This move probably means that the Devils won’t be trading veteran blueliner Dougie Hamilton.

IN OTHER NEWS…

EDMONTON JOURNAL: As expected, the Oilers officially hired Mike Babcock as head coach.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Hoffman Family of Companies received unanimous approval from the NHL Board of Governors to purchase the Penguins. The purchase process had been ongoing since last August.

THE ATHLETIC: The NHL is exploring the feasibility of expansion into either Austin or Atlanta. It has entered a short-term agreement with Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin to put a franchise in one of those cities. The agreed-upon price is $3.5 billion, covering the expansion fee ($2 billion) and the cost of a new arena ($1.5 billion).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The worst-kept secret in the league is now, finally, out in the open. Expect an NHL franchise in at least one of those cities by 2030.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders hired Pascal Dupuis as their new Director of Player Development. Since 2021-22, the former NHL forward has owned the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, serving in different roles with the team.










NHL Trade Tracker – June 23, 2026

by | Jun 23, 2026

NHL Trade Tracker – June 23, 2026

St. Louis Blues trade winger Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals (NHL Images).

 The Buffalo Sabres trade defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the fourth-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, defenseman Louis Crevier, and a 2026 second-round pick.

The St. Louis Blues trade winger Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward Connor McMichael, prospect forward Milton Gastrin, and a first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2026 NHL Draft. Kyrou waived his no-trade clause to join the Capitals.

The Ottawa Senators acquire winger William Eklund, forward Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to forward prospect Brandon Svoboda from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the No. 9 pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. That pick originally belonged to the Florida Panthers.

The New Jersey Devils traded defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for conditional first-round picks in the 2027 and 2028 drafts, a second-round pick in the 2026 draft, and prospect defenseman Etienne Morin. Both conditional picks are top-10 protected.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2026

by | Jun 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2026

Patrice Bergeron and Carey Price among the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, the Senators plan their future without Brady Tkachuk, Darren Raddysh explains why he joined the Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Center Patrice Bergeron, goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne, and winger Keith Tkachuk headline the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The induction ceremony will take place in November. 

Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke will be inducted into the builder’s category. Former USA women’s star and coach Cindy Curley was also inducted into the player category. Curley was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, and Keith Tkachuk will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (NHL.com)

Bergeron was one of the greatest two-way players in NHL history. Spending his entire 19-season career with the Boston Bruins, he won the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward a record six times. Bergeron also helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011, and captained the club from 2021 until his retirement in 2023. He’s third all-time among the Bruins with 1,294 games played, 427 goals, and 1,040 points.

Price spent his 15-season NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the franchise leader with 361 wins in 712 games. In 2014-15, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, Ted Lindsay Award as NHLPA MVP, Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender, and the Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals-against. Price also won the Masterton Trophy in 2021-22 and backstopped Canada to Olympic gold in 2014.

Rinne spent his entire 13-season NHL career with the Nashville Predators. He’s their franchise leader for goalies in every major statistical category, including wins (369), goals-against average (2.43), save percentage (.917), and shutouts (60) in 683 games. Rinne won the Vezina Trophy in 2017-18.

Tkachuk was among the greatest American-born goal scorers in NHL history. He’s third all-time in that category with 538 goals. In 18 NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers, Tkachuk had 1,065 points in 1,201 games. He won gold for Team USA at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Burke began his NHL management career with the Vancouver Canucks in 1987. He went on to become GM of the Canucks, Hartford Whalers, and Anaheim Ducks (winning the Stanley Cup in 2007), and Toronto Maple Leafs, and served as team president of the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Class of 2026 for this well-deserved honor.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios has no intention of rebuilding his roster after trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Staios said he intends to be “active in the (trade) market” when it comes to the ninth and 25th overall picks in the upcoming NHL trade. He acquired those picks as part of the return for Tkachuk.

“I have no intention of this team taking a step back,” Staios said. “We’re active, and we’re open.”

Staios also indicated that Tkachuk told him of his wish to be traded about a week and a half after their season ended. He began with a list of four teams (Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights) but whittled that list down to one.

The Senators GM indicated that he wouldn’t shy away from acquiring American players in the future. “I don’t look at the passport, I look at what they can offer the Ottawa Senators,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are believed to be interested in center Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks. They also reportedly “kicked tires” on New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere, and Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle examined the factors that have recently led to stars from Canadians teams to head to the United States. Those include notable American players such as Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes and the late Johnny Gaudreau, as well as Toronto native Mitch Marner, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and Danish winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

Mirtle cited several factors, including media attention, weather, taxes, and politics, but a key one is that Canadian teams have struggled to contend consistently in the salary cap era.

Before the salary cap, teams asked players to commit to long-term deals, then buy them out or trade them when their play declined. Today, players have more leverage, especially given the decline of the free-agent market and how vital the trade market has become to build a contending team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players with no-trade and no-move protection have started using them to their advantage by requesting trades to only a limited number of destinations.

Since the Tkachuk trade, some fans suggested the NHL abolish no-trade or no-movement clauses, or change the rules to void those clauses if the player requests a trade.

Such changes can only occur in collective bargaining with the NHL Players’ Association, and good luck convincing them to buy into it. The CBA already limits eligibility to players with seven full NHL seasons or those 27 and older.

Tkachuk’s contract history is a good example. His first full NHL season was in 2018-19 when he was 18-years-old. Under the CBA, players on entry-level contracts don’t get no-trade protection. Following the completion of his ELC, Tkachuk signed an eight-year contract with the Senators. His no-movement clause (which was negotiated into his contract; they’re not automatic) didn’t begin until this season, after he had played seven full NHL seasons.

If this topic comes up during the next CBA talks in 2030, the PA might be willing to tweak the eligibility period by a year or two, but they’ll want something in return. It’s doubtful they’ll agree to eliminating those clauses or putting further limitations on them.

TORONTO SUN: Darren Raddysh met with the Toronto media via Zoom on Monday for the first time since his acquisition by the Maple Leafs. Having grown up in the Greater Toronto Area, the 30-year-old defenseman said it meant a lot to him to join his hometown team, and it would’ve meant a lot to his father, who passed away in March following a battle with cancer.

“It means the world,” Raddysh said. “To be able to play in front of the home fans, it’s awesome. A lot of friends and family have already texted me and are excited.”

Raddysh was acquired last week from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signed an eight-year contract extension with the Leafs worth an average annual value of $8.5 million.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers re-signed defenseman Connor Murphy to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $4.1 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Vladimir Tarasenko could be preparing to depart the Minnesota Wild. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the veteran winger has changed agents ahead of his UFA eligibility on July 1.