Steve Yzerman Out as Red Wings General Manger

by | Jul 15, 2026

Steve Yzerman Out as Red Wings General Manger

The Detroit Red Wings announced that Steve Yzerman is moving out of his role as general manager to become a senior advisor to team governor and CEO Chris Illich.

According to the press release, Illich is leading the search for a new general manager.

Yzerman had been the Red Wings’ GM since 2019. During that tenure, the club failed to make the playoffs, a drought that has now lasted a decade.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This might look like a promotion for Yzerman, but it isn’t. The only reason he’s staying with the organization is his legendary status as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

As a player, Yzerman became a Red Wings legend, the captain who led them to three Stanley Cup championships. However, he was unable to replicate that success as their general manager.

When Yzerman took over as the Wings’ GM, he was coming off a successful tenure building up the Tampa Bay Lightning into a Stanley Cup contender. He had drafted cornerstone players such as Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, as well as centers Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, all of whom remain with the Lightning today. He was named General Manager of the Year in 2015.

It was expected that Yzerman would have the same front-office success when he returned to the Red Wings in 2019.

For a while, it appeared the Red Wings were heading in the right direction. He drafted defensemen Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson and winger Lucas Raymond, traded for Alex DeBrincat, and signed free agent Patrick Kane. In recent years, their prospect pipeline has been considered among the league’s best.

The Red Wings’ record gradually improved. In each of the last three seasons, they were holding playoff berths entering March, only to collapse down the stretch. A lack of reliable goaltending, blueline depth, and scoring punch remained issues that Yzerman struggled to address.

However, Wings fans were growing impatient over the club’s inability to get over the playoff hump. They booed the club off the ice during their final home game last season.

Team captain Dylan Larkin publicly criticized Yzerman’s inability to acquire help during the March 2025 trade deadline. Last month, it was reported that he requested a trade, which has been fodder for the rumor mill ever since.

The ongoing Larkin situation may have been the last straw for Illich. Whatever prompted this move, the fact remains that Yzerman’s tenure as general manager will be considered a failure.

He leaves the role with a team captain wanting a trade, a roster riddled with questions, and a fan base that has lost faith in the club’s direction.










Notable NHL Free Agent Signings and Trades – July 1, 2026

by | Jul 1, 2026

Notable NHL Free Agent Signings and Trades – July 1, 2026

The Edmonton Oilers sign goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract with a $1 million base salary and $1.8 million performance bonus.

The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Mario Ferraro to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $4 million

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the New Jersey Devils have signed Utah Mammoth restricted free agent forward Barrett Hayton to a one-year offer sheet worth $4.775 million. The Mammoth will receive the Devils’ 2027 second-round pick as compensation if they don’t match the offer within seven days.

The Utah Mammoth signs winger Anders Lee to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $5.4 million.

The Edmonton Oilers sign defenseman Ryan Shea to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $4 million.

The New York Rangers trade defenseman Will Borgen to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2028.

The New York Rangers acquire defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2030 first-round pick (top-10 protected).

The Edmonton Oilers trade defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect blueliner Zack Sharp. The Oilers did not retain salary in this deal.

The New York Rangers trade center Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Sean Durzi, prospect center Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round draft pick.

The Washington Capitals sign Boone Jenner to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5.75 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs trade goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Nick Paul.

The Boston Bruins trade goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers for a fourth-round pick in 2028.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed winger Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year, $5 million contract.

The New York Rangers signed forward Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs sign center Colton Sissons to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $4.25 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs sign goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $7 million.

The San Jose Sharks sign defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $8.25 million.

Toronto Maple Leafs sign goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

The Winnipeg Jets sign goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $3.75 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs sign forward Jack Roslovic to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4 million.

The Colorado Avalanche sign forward Jaden Schwartz to a three-year contract worth an AAV of $3.25 million

The Florida Panthers re-sign forward Eetu Luostarinen to an eight-year contract worth an AAV of $5 million.

The Vegas Golden Knights re-sign defenseman Rasmus Andersson to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

The San Jose Sharks signed winger Mason Marchment to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7 million.

The Detroit Red Wings sign winger Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year contract worth an AAV of $5 million.

The Los Angeles Kings sign winger Mats Zuccarello to a one-year contract worth $1 million in base salary, along with a $5.5 million performance bonus. 

The Montreal Canadiens sign winger Ivan Demidov to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $9.125 million.

The Chicago Blackhawks sign defenseman Bowen Byram to a six-year, $75 million contract extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million.

The New Jersey Devils sign center Nico Hischier to a five-year, $58.5 million contract extension with an average annual value of $11.7 million.

The Dallas Stars trade forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round pick in 2027 and a third-round pick in 2028.

The Florida Panthers sign Radko Gudas to a six-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs trade winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth-round draft pick (year TBD).

Buffalo Sabres re-sign defenseman Olen Zellweger to a three-year, $9 million contract with an AAV of $3 million.

The Los Angeles Kings sign forward Erik Haula to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.6 million.










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 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.










2026 Stanley Cup Final Prediction

by | Jun 2, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Final Prediction

​And then, there were two.

My colleagues and I at Bleacher Report recently made our predictions for the Stanley Cup Final. The following is my selection as this year’s champion. You can see the full staff list by following this link, and feel free to make your prediction in the comments section below.

The Hurricanes finished first in the Eastern Conference. Under head coach Rod Brind’Amour, their vigorous forechecking and suffocating defensive play have them entering this series with just one loss in 13 playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights were in danger of missing the playoffs until they hired John Tortorella as coach on March 30. His aggressive, physical, defense-first style carried them to a stunning sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.

The Hurricanes’ second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake gives them much-needed scoring punch that they were missing in previous years. They’ve also received solid goaltending from Frederik Andersen, who has a postseason-leading GAA of 1.41.

What the Golden Knights have that the Hurricanes lack is Stanley Cup experience, with most of their roster having been part of their 2023 Cup run. Mitch Marner leads the postseason with 21 points, Jack Eichel leads in assists (16), and Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden each have 10 goals.

Those factors could give the Golden Knights the edge. They’ve proven they can pull off an upset, while the Hurricanes have not yet faced a team as experienced and deep as Vegas.

Prediction: Vegas in 6










2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

by | May 20, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

My colleagues and I at Bleacher Report recently made our predictions for the Conference Finals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The following are my selections. You can see the full staff list by following this link, and feel free to make your predictions in the comments section below.

The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers to reach the Eastern Conference Final. The Montréal Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in seven games each.

Led by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson, Montréal has a slight offensive advantage, with a 3.07 goals-per-game average compared to Carolina’s 3.00. However, the Hurricanes’ second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake gives them the additional firepower they’ve lacked in previous postseasons.

Frederik Andersen has gone the distance thus far for the Hurricanes, leading all goaltenders with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. Jakub Dobeš has started every game for the Canadiens, with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SP.

Carolina’s deep defense corps has allowed the second-fewest shots against per game (25.1), while Montréal is seventh in that category with 28.7. The Canadiens’ blue line is led by the game-changing puck-mover Hutson, but the Hurricanes have the experience advantage, led by defensive stalwart Jaccob Slavin.

The Canadiens have the edge on the power play with a 25.0 percent success rate compared to the Hurricanes’ 13.5 percent. However, the latter has the second-best penalty-killing percentage (95.0) in this postseason, with the Canadiens a distant 74.1.

While the young Canadiens have taken their fans on a wonderful postseason run thus far, the Hurricanes’ experience, their solid defense, and Andersen’s goaltending will make the difference in this one.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

The Colorado Avalanche reached this stage by sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games. The Golden Knights dispatched the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks each in six games.

Colorado possesses a deep roster with superstar Nathan MacKinnon and winger Martin Necas leading their offensive attack. They lead all postseason clubs with a 4.11 goals per game average.

All-Star defenseman Cale Makar anchors the Avs’ blue line, but an upper-body injury hampered him during the Wild series. That could become a factor if he hasn’t fully recovered for this series.

Goaltending became a concern as Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood had some difficulty against the Wild. Nevertheless, the Avalanche’s 2.56 goals-against per game ranked fifth among postseason clubs.

Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner has silenced critics of his postseason play, leading all playoff performers with 18 points. Young winger Pavel Dorofeyev has a playoff-leading nine goals, and Jack Eichel leads with 14 assists.

Center William Karlsson returned from a long absence due to injury, but captain Mark Stone missed the final three games of the Ducks series. Goaltender Carter Hart has been solid between the pipes thus far, with the Golden Knights sitting just behind the Avalanche with a 2.58 goals-against per game.

Both clubs are pretty much even with the man advantage, with Vegas’ power-play percentage of 25.7 just ahead of Colorado’s 25 percent. However, the Golden Knights have been better at killing penalties, with a kill percentage of 86.8 compared to the Avalanche’s 79.3.

What could tilt this series against the Golden Knights is that they faced inexperienced competition from the Mammoth and Ducks, who were making their first postseason appearances in years. The Avs had short series with the Kings and Wild, but both were experienced playoff clubs.

The Golden Knights have the talent to pull off an upset, but the Avalanche’s depth should make the difference here.

Prediction: Avalanche in 6.