NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2026

by | Jun 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2026

The Golden Knights take Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in double OT, Andrei Vasilevskiy wins the Vezina Trophy, an update on prospect winger Gavin McKenna, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Shea Theodore scored in double overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

After a scoreless first period, the Golden Knights took a 4-0 lead as Mitch Marner tallied a natural hat trick and collected an assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal after they had two goals overturned on video reviews.

However, the Hurricanes stormed back in the third period on goals by Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal within 39 seconds, setting the stage for Andrei Svechnikov’s tying goal late in the period following a goalmouth scramble.

Game 4 will be in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first three games in this series have been very entertaining, with blown leads and each contest decided by one goal.

Theodore’s goal was a weird one. His point shot missed the net, ricocheting off the end boards and deflecting into the Hurricanes’ net off the skate of goalie Brandon Bussi, who replaced starter Frederic Andersen following the second period.

Marner continues to make the case as the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. His hat trick was the fastest in Stanley Cup Final history (6:10), and he became the first player with four points in a period during the Cup Final. He leads all scorers in his postseason with 28 points.

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb played in this game with a protective cage on his helmet. He left Game 2 with facial injuries that required a trip to a local hospital for repairs.

Hurricanes winger William Carrier left this game late in the first period with an upper-body injury.

NHL.COM: Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Vezina Trophy as this season’s top NHL goaltender. He led the league with 39 wins, and was second among goalies with 45 starts in goals-against average (2.31) and save percentage (.912). It’s the second time Vasilevskiy has won the Vezina, taking home the award in 2018-19.

NHL.COM: Gavin McKenna was among the top performers during fitness testing at the 2026 NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. The 18-year-old Penn State winger ranked among the top-20 in seven events. He’s considered the top player in this year’s prospect class.

North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff finished in the top 10 in three categories. He’s ranked fifth among North American skaters. Brampton Steelheads center Caleb Malhotra was in the top 10 in four categories. He’s ranked sixth among North American skaters.

Top International skater Ivar Stenberg skipped the testing due to an illness. He said he hasn’t felt well since completing play with Sweden in the IIHF World Championship on May 28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fitness testing doesn’t guarantee that McKenna will be chosen first overall, but his results will certainly be taken into consideration by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold the first overall pick in this year’s draft.

Stenberg’s illness isn’t expected to affect his placement among the top prospects. Some scouts believe he could go first overall in this year’s draft, while others have him at second or third overall.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has terminated his KHL contract and hopes to return to the NHL next season.

Georgiev, 30, spent eight seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Avalanche, and San Jose Sharks. He won 40 games with the Avs in 2022-23 and led the league with 38 games the following season. However, Georgiev struggled with consistency during that season and early in the 2024-25 campaign, leading to his trade to the Sharks, where his difficulties continued.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev went to the KHL after failing to land a contract in last summer’s NHL free-agent market. Given the lack of quality goalies in this year’s UFA market, Georgiev might land with an NHL team desperate for experienced goaltending depth.

CBC NEWS: Former NHL enforcer Link Gaetz remains at large after police in British Columbia announced charges against him in an alleged attack on a taxi driver in Metro Vancouver.

Gaetz, 57, faces charges of assault and mischief under $5,000 in an unprovoked attack on the taxi driver last September. Police are urging the public to help them find him.

NHL.COM: Former NHL player Gerry Meehan passed away on Friday at age 79.

Meehan spent 10 seasons in the NHL from 1968-69 to 1978-79 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks, and Atlanta Flames. He also spent a season with the WHA’s Cincinnati Stingers.

In 670 regular-season games, Meehan had 180 goals and 243 assists for 423 points. He was the second captain in Sabres history.

Following his playing career, Meehan earned his law degree and rejoined the Sabres as an assistant general manager. He was general manager from 1986-87 to 1992-93, making a series of blockbuster trades for Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine, and Dominik Hasek, and helped bring Alexander Mogilny to Buffalo following his defection from the Soviet Union in 1989.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Meehan’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Sabres organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 6, 2026

by | Jun 6, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 6, 2026

The reasons behind Dylan Larkin’s trade request, Nick Suzuki wins the Selke Trophy and Cole Caufield takes home the Lady Byng Trophy, the latest on the Hurricanes and Golden Knights, remembering Cliff Fletcher, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff pondered what changed for Dylan Larkin that prompted him to request a trade from the Red Wings.

Duff noted the change in Larkin after playing for Team USA’s gold-medal team at the Winter Olympics in February. Perhaps finally getting a taste of victory was behind it. He also wondered if Larkin’s Team USA Olympic teammates such as Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild influenced his decision to move on to a club with a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reported no one from the Larkin camp or the Red Wings is talking about the reason behind the 29-year-old center’s trade request.

One reason could be Larkin is turning 30 in July and apparently doesn’t believe the Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup while he’s in his prime. His frosty relationship with general manager Steve Yzerman probably hasn’t helped. Khan doubted that this relationship can be repaired.

Larkin has a full no-trade clause, which will complicate the Red Wings’ efforts to find a suitable trade partner. If Yzerman doesn’t get an offer to his liking during the offseason, he could hang onto Larkin, which could lead to an awkward situation if he’s still with the team next season.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Helene St. James reports Larkin’s trade request has fired up Red Wings fans. Most of her readers are pointing the blame at Yzerman’s inability to build the club into a playoff contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Playing for the US Olympic men’s hockey team may have been a factor behind his decision, but not because Tkachuk, Eichel, and Hughes talked him into it.

After spending 11 seasons with a club that has missed the playoffs for the past decade, Larkin represented his country with a team that won the biggest prize in international hockey. That experience may have led to a reevaluation of where he is in his professional career and the Red Wings’ direction under Yzerman’s management.

Larkin’s request continues to raise speculation over where he might be traded. I’ll have the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as this season’s top defensive forward. Teammate Cole Caufield won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of play.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

Suzuki is the third player in Canadiens history to win the Selke, joining Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. He’s the first Hab to win it since Carbonneau in 1992.

Caufield is the third Canadiens to win the Lady Byng, joining Toe Blake (1945-46) and Mats Naslund (1987-88).

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is drawing praise from his head coach and his teammates for his leadership, performance, and timely offense during this postseason.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights forward Brett Howden’s play has put him into the conversation for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He leads all scorers in this postseason with 13 goals, tying the franchise record for most goals in a single postseason.

TWINCITIES.COM: Marcus Johansson’s NHL career is ending after 16 seasons. The 35-year-old Minnesota Wild forward signed a one-year contract with Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League.

Johansson’s departure leaves a hole on the Wild’s second line that will have to be addressed before next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: From 2010-11 to 2025-26, Johansson had 200 goals and 366 assists for 566 points in 1,058 regular-season games with the Wild, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and Boston Bruins. He also had 51 points in 125 playoff games.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators hired former Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake as their new executive vice president of hockey operations. Meanwhile, assistant GM Brian Poile, son of former Predators GM David Poile, is leaving the team after 16 seasons, eight of those in his recent role.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers hired Jay Leach as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Hartford.

TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher passed away on Friday at age 90.

Fletcher began his NHL management career as GM of the expansion Atlanta Flames in 1972. He moved with the club to Calgary in 1980, building them into Stanley Cup champions in 1989.

Hired by the Maple Leafs in 1991, he made one of the biggest trades in franchise history by acquiring Doug Gilmour from the Flames in a blockbuster 10-player trade. Gilmour became the Maple Leafs’ franchise player, leading the Maple Leafs to back-to-back Campbell Conference Finals in 1993 and 1994.

In 1994, Fletcher made another significant trade for the Leafs, shipping Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques for Mats Sundin, who went on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Fletcher stepped down as Leafs GM in 1997. He went on to front-office roles with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Phoenix Coyotes before returning to the Leafs in 2008 as interim GM until Brian Burke was named general manager. He remained with the Leafs in an advisory role until his death.

Fletcher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2004.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to Fletcher’s family, friends, and the Flames’ and Maple Leafs’ organizations.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2026

by | Jun 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2026

The Hurricanes defeat the Golden Knights to tie the Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requests a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Seth Jarvis gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at a game apiece.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (NHL Images).

Brett Howden scored twice to give the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead entering the third period. Howden leads the playoffs with 13 goals, tying Jonathan Marchessault’s franchise record for the most goals in a single postseason.

The Hurricanes rallied to take a 3-2 lead on goals by Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, and Jordan Staal. The latter’s goal was the result of a failed coach’s challenge by the Golden Knights for a disallowed goal by Ivan Barbashev, leading to a power play for the Hurricanes.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone tied the game with 1:21 remaining in the third, but it was Jarvis who was the hero for the Hurricanes on the power play in the extra frame.

The series shifts to Las Vegas for the next two games, with Game 3 on Saturday at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb left this game midway through the first period after the puck struck him in the face. He left the arena to receive treatment at a local hospital. That left the Golden Knights playing the remainder of the game with five defensemen.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman broke the news that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade.

Larkin has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Red Wings. The last time the 29-year-old center skated in the playoffs was during his rookie season in 2015-16.

Friedman stated neither Larkin’s camp nor Red Wings management would comment, but his potential availability in this summer’s trade market would be massive. Several teams are in the market for centers.

Larkin is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He also has a full no-trade clause until the end of the 2027-28 season, giving him complete control over this situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This report was a bombshell that could be a serious setback for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and his rebuilding efforts, dubbed the “Yzerplan.” Larkin is the Wings’ first-line center, and trading him would significantly deplete their already-thin depth at center.

Yzerman doesn’t have to honor Larkin’s trade request, but having an unhappy team captain would be a major distraction for the Wings next season. Stripping him of the captaincy would only add to the hype surrounding this story.

This request by Larkin shouldn’t come as a surprise. It was evident last season that he was growing weary of the Wings’ inability to become a playoff contender when he openly criticized Yzerman for not making any significant additions at the trade deadline.

Larkin got an overdue taste of winning while playing for Team USA’s Olympic men’s gold-medal team in February. It had to have been crushing to go from that emotional high to missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season, and likely prompted him to reevaluate where he is in his career and whether his Stanley Cup hopes will be fulfilled in Detroit.

Yzerman is largely responsible for the Red Wings’ ongoing playoff drought during his seven-year tenure as general manager, especially over the past three years when they’ve faltered down the stretch.

However, Larkin also deserves his fair share. He’s the team captain and is supposed to lead by example, but at times his performance has seemed uninspiring. Injuries certainly haven’t helped, and he can’t be faulted for those, but that doesn’t fully absolve him from his responsibility as captain to motivate his teammates.

So, which clubs could be suitable trade destinations? Find out later this morning in my daily Rumor Mill update.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno is this season’s winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is presented to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community.”

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers are reportedly close to signing goaltender Dan Vladar to a five-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar played a major role in the Flyers exceeding expectations by qualifying for the postseason and eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins from the opening round. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the deal is all but done, but it can’t be formally announced until July 1.

SPORTSNET: Ivan Demidov hopes to sign a long-term contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens this summer. The 20-year-old winger has one year remaining on his entry-level contract. He led all rookies with 62 points, and was runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov reportedly wants to get a deal done as soon as possible. Canadiens management does as well, especially since the deadline for re-signing players to eight-year contracts is Sept. 15. After that, the maximum term for re-signings will be seven years.

It remains to be seen what the AAV for Demidov’s next contract will be. However, the Canadiens tend to re-sign their young core players to affordable deals. Given that Lane Hutson inked an eight-year extension worth an AAV of $8.85 million last fall, Demidov could get a deal of similar term with roughly a similar cap hit.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 4, 2026

by | Jun 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 4, 2026

Lightning coach Jon Cooper wins the Jack Adams Award, the latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, plus updates on Anders Lee, Jonathan Toews, Brendan Gallagher, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is this season’s winner of the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year. The longest-serving active coach, Cooper guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record and a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper (NHL.com)

Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres and Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins were runners-up.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Cooper on this long-overdue recognition of his coaching abilities. He should’ve won this award much earlier in his NHL career.

Personally, I think it should’ve gone to Ruff or Muse. Their respective teams weren’t expected to do much this season, but they exceeded expectations and qualified for the playoffs. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t detract from this belated acknowledgement of Cooper’s accomplishments.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights hold a 1-0 lead in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, but they know their 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 wasn’t their best effort. “We’re going to have to play better,” coach John Tortorella said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights fell behind 2-0 early in Game 1. They rallied to take 3-2 and 4-3 leads, only to have the Hurricanes tie the score. It took a goal by Tomas Hertl late in the third period to give the Golden Knights the win.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Hurricanes need production from their top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis if they want to defeat the Golden Knights and win the Stanley Cup. They’ve had the occasional goal and a few dangerous shifts in this postseason, but nothing of the level of offense expected of them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarvis has eight points in this postseason while Aho and Svechnikov each have seven points. Half of their production came in the Eastern Conference Final against the overmatched Montreal Canadiens. They had no points in Game 1 against the Golden Knights.

The Hurricanes reached this stage partly because the second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake offset the offensive struggles of the Aho line. Nevertheless, winning the Cup will be more difficult if the top line fails to regain its form. If they don’t, and if the Golden Knights successfully contain the Stankoven line, the Hurricanes will be in big trouble.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is preparing to test the open market. The 35-year-old left wing is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

LeBrun claimed both sides remain far apart in negotiations, though they intend to keep trying.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lee has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Islanders. He’s completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million. LeBrun recently reported the Isles want to re-sign Lee, but they need to make some other moves first. That could mean one or two cost-cutting trades. They have over $10.6 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, but would like to add more scoring punch.

LeBrun’s colleague, Darren Dreger, reports Jonathan Toews is leaning toward retirement. The 38-year-old center staged a comeback with the Winnipeg Jets this season after missing the last two seasons recovering from long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was obvious this season that Toews is well past his playing prime. He played all 82 games, but scored 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points, well below his average of 27 goals and 38 assists for 65 points in his 15 NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Toews’ comeback attempt was understandable. It allowed him to settle any nagging doubts in his mind and to go out on his terms.

DAILY FACEOFF: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reported the Montreal Canadiens have given permission to winger Brendan Gallagher’s agent to speak with other teams to facilitate a possible trade.

Gallagher, 34, has one year remaining on his contract, but he acknowledged on Monday that he’d played his final game with the Canadiens. Dhaliwal is based in Vancouver, where Gallagher played his junior hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher no longer fits into the Canadiens’ fast-paced system under head coach Martin St. Louis. He indicated that he’d be open to joining the Canucks, but it remains to be seen if they’re interested in acquiring him.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs have conducted 15 virtual interviews as they continue their search for a new head coach. Among the candidates were former NHL coaches Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy.

Friedman also reported the Los Angeles Kings could be down to two candidates for their head coach position. One of them is interim coach D.J. Smith, and former Edmonton Oilers bench boss Jay Woodcroft.

Sportsnet’s play-by-play broadcaster Chris Cuthbert is the latest recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Swedish hockey writer and US correspondent Gunnar Norstrom received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Cuthbert and Norstrom. They will officially receive these awards during the Hockey Hall of Fame weekend in November.

YAHOO! SPORTS: With Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights reaching the Stanley Cup Final, a former teammate of Jaromir Jagr has now appeared in the Final in 46 straight seasons.

The notable players include Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier (1980 to 1983), Mark Messier (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994), Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992), Brendan Shanahan (2002), Mark Recchi (2006, 2011), and Henrik Lundqvist (2014). It also includes future Hall of Famer Aleksander Barkov (2023 to 2025).










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 3, 2026

by | Jun 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 3, 2026

The Golden Knights take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Zach Werenski wins the Norris Trophy, Chris MacFarland leaves the Avalanche for the Predators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tomas Hertl broke a 4-4 tie late in the third period to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl (NHL Images).

Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb each collected three points, and Brett Howden tallied his playoff-leading 11th goal for the Golden Knights, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit for the win.

Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring with two early goals, and Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere also scored as the Hurricanes battled back from 3-2 and 4-3 deficits.

Game 2 is Thursday evening in Raleigh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Game 1 is any indication, this could be an entertaining series. It was a see-saw tilt between these two clubs as they faced each other for the first time since their two-game season series in October.

The Hurricanes dropped Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, but rallied back to crush the Habs in the next four games with their relentless forechecking and stifling defense. However, the Golden Knights are a more experienced opponent who play a similar style, putting pressure on their opponents and forcing turnovers.

SPORTSNET: Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as this season’s top NHL defenseman. It’s the first time the 28-year-old Werenski has won this award, and he’s the first Blue Jackets rearguard to do so.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski was the favorite to win the Norris for most of this season. It’s a well-deserved honor for the long-time Blue Jackets defenseman, who is the franchise’s all-time assists leader (330) and is second in points with 465.

Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche was second in the voting, with Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres third.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators named Chris MacFarland as their new president of hockey operations and general manager. He spent the past 11 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, working as their GM since 2022-23.

MacFarland is a finalist for this season’s Jim Gregory NHL General Manager of the Year Award. He will replace Barry Trotz, who announced he would step down as the Predators GM once a suitable replacement was found.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here. Rumors emerged two weeks ago claiming MacFarland could be leaving the Avalanche for a larger role with the Predators.

The Avalanche announced team president Joe Sakic will resume the GM duties for the foreseeable future. MacFarland’s departure could mean the Avalanche won’t be replacing head coach Jared Bednar for the time being.

NHL.COM: League commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL continues to experience record revenue growth year-over-year during his annual “State of the League” press conference ahead of the Stanley Cup Final.

Bettman said revenue for this season was between $7.5 billion and $8 billion. That growth is a result of the league having over 75 sponsors, record broadcasting ratings, and gate receipts that were over 96 percent in the regular season and 100 percent in the playoffs.

Other notable points from Bettman’s presser:

The league and the NHL Players Association expressed concern regarding the NCAA’s plans to give athletes five years of eligibility from their high school or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

Hockey is different from other sports because players are often older after first spending time at the junior level or at a prep school. Other hockey organizations across North America joined the NHL in expressing concern, including the three Canadian junior leagues, the USHL, USA Hockey, and the college coaches association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicated that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke with NCAA president Charlie Baker, who has some ideas that might address the issue. It’ll be interesting to see what those ideas will be, and whether they’ll be acceptable to those with concerns.

The 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend will include a round-robin, three-on-three tournament featuring international teams that include Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and a World team of players from other nations, including Russian players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL followed the IIHF’s lead of banning Russian players from previous tournaments since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, the IIHF is reconsidering its stance, and the NHL has yet to decide whether Russia will be part of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

Bettman, 74, also acknowledged recent reports that he’s had discussions regarding succession plans with the league’s executive committee over the past two years. He downplayed the reports, but admitted that his career will wind down eventually.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Dallas Stars have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to build a new arena with the Dallas suburb of Plano. They are awaiting a vote by the Plano City Council. If approved, the new arena would be constructed before the Stars’ lease with American Airlines Arena expires in 2031.

TSN: The St. Louis Blues hired former NHL star Mikko Koivu as their new European development consultant.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Billionaire Melinda French Gates has become a minority investor in the Kraken.

R.ORG: Marco D’Amico profiled Kamloops Blazers winger JP Hurlbert. The Texas native opted to leave the USNTDP to play in the WHL during his draft year, finishing fourth in league scoring with 97 points.

The 18-year-old Hurlbert has committed to the University of Michigan for next season. He could become a sleeper pick in the latter half of the first round in this year’s draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

The latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, the Canucks name their new head coach, the Canadiens head into the offseason, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights begins Tuesday at 8 pm ET in Raleigh.

ESPN.COM: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel believes teammate Mitch Marner was treated unfairly during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“As a teammate and a friend of his, and somebody who cares about him and his family, of course I do,” Eichel said. “I think the world of Mitch. Anybody that has negative or bad things to say about him, obviously I disgree with, because I think highly of him.”

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner leads all postseason scorers with 21 points entering the Stanley Cup Final, with Eichel second with 18 points. That’s in contrast to his playoff performances during his nine seasons with the Maple Leafs, where he was often criticized for failing to produce in crucial games.

Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon believes the Golden Knights have given Marner a chance to thrive.

“I think our team is deeper and a better team than what he had played on in Toronto,” McCrimmon said. “Not that Toronto didn’t have real good teams. But you have to have that depth throughout your roster, because everyone’s going to take their turn.” He added that Marner is playing “with tremendous confidence” and is “savouring the moment.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP heading into this series. That’s led to the inevitable comparison to his postseason play with the Maple Leafs, much to the consternation of Leafs fans, who believe their team and the city of Toronto are getting a bad reputation for putting too much pressure on their players.

Marner faced considerable pressure during his time with the Maple Leafs. As a Toronto native, he probably put a lot of stress on himself to meet expectations. Some players can rise to the occasion playing for their hometown club while others wilt.

Playing in a market where the spotlight isn’t as harsh has been just as important to Marner’s performance in this postseason as playing for a deeper roster.

TORONTO SUN: Marner isn’t the only former Maple Leaf in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen has played a big role in his club’s run to this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner spoke highly of Andersen during Monday’s media availability. He said the netminder was among the first players on the Leafs to make him feel welcome when he joined the club in 2016, calling him “a fun character” and “a joy to be around.”

Andersen returned the compliment, noting how Marner has grown from the young rookie he first met to a family man today.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall could make history by tying the longest gap between being selected first overall in the NHL Draft and winning the Stanley Cup. The record is 16 years, held by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and former NHL defenseman Erik Johnson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skating on the Hurricanes’ second line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Hall sits third among this postseason’s leading scorers with 16 points.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks named Manny Malhotra as their new head coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This hiring doesn’t surprise me, especially when the rebuilding Canucks recently promoted assistant GM Ryan Johnson to general manager. As GM of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, Johnson hired Malhotra as their head coach in 2024, and he led that club to the Calder Cup last season.

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens hope to sign rookie forward Ivan Demidov to a long-term contract extension this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov also hopes to ink a long-term deal with the Canadiens. Both sides will likely try to get this done before Sept. 15, when the maximum term for re-signing players drops from eight years to seven.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: A tearful Brendan Gallagher told reporters that he’s played his final game with the Canadiens. The 34-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract, and could be traded or bought out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher spent 14 seasons with the Canadiens, but the decline in his performance led to a drop in his playing time over the past two years. The gritty veteran winger carries a cap hit of $6.25 million for next season, but will be paid $4 million in actual salary.

Gallagher has a six-team no-trade list. He indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Whether the two clubs can work out a trade remains to be seen.

TSN: Canadiens winger Patrik Laine is looking forward to landing with another NHL club. The 27-year-old winger played only five games this season before being sidelined by core muscle surgery. He was cleared to return to the Canadiens lineup in December and practiced with his teammates, but didn’t draw back into the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens kept Laine on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Management said it was because he fell behind the pace of his teammates, and since they were in a must-win situation, there wasn’t enough time to integrate him into the lineup.

However, the move raised some eyebrows. Being on IR for the remainder of the season makes Laine eligible to receive a bonus-laden UFA contract with a low base salary. Patrick Johnston of The Province believes the Canadiens skirted the rules regarding injured reserve and called on the league and the NHLPA to look into it.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Judd Brackett as their new assistant general manager overseeing player development. Brackett spent the past six years as head of amateur scouting for the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zeev Buium, Charlie Stramel, Liam Ohgren, Danila Yurov, and Jesper Wallstedt were among the notable players chosen by the Wild during Brackett’s tenure.

SPORTSNET: The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2027. The 20-year-old Kitchener Rangers winger helped his club win the 2026 Memorial Cup, leading the tournament with five goals and nine points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks traded Pridham’s rights because he wasn’t expected to sign an entry-level contract with them by the 5 pm deadline on June 1. He’s expected to join the University of Denver for next season, which means the Lightning will have two years to sign him to an ELC.