NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2026

by | Jun 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom, Penguins forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly, Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher, and Senators blueliner Jordan Spence.

HOW WILL THE DEVILS REPLACE JACOB MARKSTROM IF THEY TRADE HIM?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols looked at how trading Jacob Markstrom would impact the Devils’ goaltending. Earlier this week, it was reported Devils GM Sunny Mehta is gauging the trade market for the 36-year-old netminder.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

Shipping out Markstrom would clear his $6 million AAV through 2027-28 from the Devils’ books, creating more cap space to sign center Nico Hischier to a contract extension. It will also leave them seeking a new starting goaltender.

Mehta could attempt to land Sergei Bobrovsky if the Florida Panthers starter goes to market on July 1. He could pursue a promising youngster such as Sebastian Cossa of the Detroit Red Wings or Devon Levi of the Buffalo Sabres. Perhaps Connor Hellebuyck would be available if the Winnipeg Jets decide to rebuild after missing the playoffs this year.

Possible trade destinations for Markstrom could include the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Utah Mammoth, or the Jets if they peddle Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Markstrom’s age (36), cap hit, and struggles last season could hurt his trade value. Nevertheless, some clubs could take the chance because of the lack of quality goalies in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.

Bobrovsky could be an option for the Devils given Mehta’s recent ties to the Panthers. Cossa and Levi are trade possibilities, but they’ve yet to prove themselves as NHL starting goaltenders. As for Hellebuyck, he’s unlikely to be available unless he asks for a trade, and there’s no indication that’s the case.

PENGUINS WILLING TO MOVE RAKELL AND RUST

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas isn’t itching to move Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. However, like last summer, the two veteran forwards are available.

Yohe claimed there is more interest in Rust than Rakell. The 34-year-old Rust tallied 29 goals and a career-high 65 points in 72 games this season. His age and injury history are concerns, but he’s a well-respected two-way forward.

Rust is also Sidney Crosby’s linemate, which is another reason why Dubas isn’t shopping him. Nevertheless, Yohe believes he’s available for the right price.

Rakell, 33, had a slow start last season and missed time with a broken hand. However, he had a strong second half, finishing the season with 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games. It was expected he would be moved at the March trade deadline, but the Penguins didn’t receive suitable offers.

Rust ($5.25 million average annual value) and Rakell ($5 million AAV) each have two seasons left on their contracts. The former lacks no-trade protection while the latter has an eight-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe indicated that Dubas prefers getting young players in return for Rust or Rakell.

Veteran defenseman Kris Letang is also available, but Yohe stated that no teams have expressed interest in him yet.

NOTHING BREWING YET FOR MORGAN RIELLY

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports there is nothing imminent regarding a trade for Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. There were discussions between Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, and Leafs GM John Chayka, but things haven’t gone beyond that.

Koshan claimed the Maple Leafs haven’t presented the Rielly camp with any trade proposals, nor has Rielly offered up a list of preferred destinations.

Recent speculation suggested the Maple Leafs ship Rielly to the Edmonton Oilers for Darnell Nurse, but that move doesn’t make salary-cap sense for the Leafs. Nurse carries an AAV of $9.25 million while Rielly’s AAV is $7.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Rielly’s performance over the past two seasons could explain why there aren’t any teams calling about him. That might change as this offseason progresses and teams looking for experienced blueline depth can’t find other options through trades and free agency.

THE LATEST CANADIENS CONJECTURE

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma looked at options for the Vancouver Canucks to acquire veteran winger Brendan Gallagher from the Montreal Canadiens.

Gallagher, 34, has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6.5 million. He said he was open to a trade to Vancouver. His agent, Gerry Johansson, was permitted to speak with other teams, and he indicated that the Canucks were interested in his client.

The Canadiens aren’t expected to buy out Gallagher’s final season, preferring to move him in a cost-cutting trade to free up salary-cap space to pursue a second-line center. Kuzma pointed out that Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek wondered if the Canadiens might take a gamble on Canucks center Filip Chytil in return for Gallagher.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chytil, 26, is younger and bigger than Gallagher. The 6’3”, 209-pounder is also more affordable with a $4.437 million cap hit for next season. He would be a good option as a second-line center for the Canadiens if it weren’t for his concussion history, which is why the Habs are unlikely to take that gamble.

Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette was asked if the Canadiens could get winger Jake DeBrusk from the Canucks for Gallagher. However, he believes it would take more than Gallagher to land DeBrusk, and he sees the Canadiens focusing more on landing a center.

TVA SPORTS: Vincent Duquette looked at whether the Canadiens should pursue Mason McTavish. The 23-year-old center became the subject of trade rumors after his production and playing time dropped this season. He was a healthy scratch for two regular-season games and two postseason contests.

The Canadiens are reportedly among the teams to have called the Ducks about McTavish.

Duquette noted that the 6’1”, 219-pound McTavish is capable of scoring 20 goals per season and is only 23 years old. However, he’s coming off the worst offensive season of his young career and was a healthy scratch in the postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McTavish has a terrific shot and was offensively consistent during his first three seasons with the rebuilding Ducks. The decline in his play this season was due in part to missing training camp and preseason play because of contract negotiations.

However, McTavish’s skating has been cited as a concern, and a contributing factor to his poor defensive stats even before this season.

McTavish is the right age to fit within the Canadiens’ young core, and maybe a trade will help him improve his game. The concern here is he’s earning an AAV of $7 million for five more seasons. If he doesn’t improve, the Habs would have an expensive mistake on their roster, eating up valuable cap space.

SENATORS ARE GAUGING JORDAN SPENCE’S TRADE VALUE

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports three league executives claim the Senators are gauging the trade market for Jordan Spence. The 25-year-old right-shot defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after completing a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million.

Garrioch indicated that this doesn’t mean GM Steve Staios is trying to move Spence. However, all options are on the table with all 32 teams trying to improve their rosters. This could also be part of Staios’ negotiations with the Spence camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Staios could be conducting due diligence in case contract extension talks with Spence go sideways. It wouldn’t be surprising if the blueliner is back with the Senators next season.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2026

by | Jun 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2026

What could it cost the Penguins or Flyers to acquire Darnell Nurse? Could Brendan Gallagher land with the Canucks? Will the Panthers shop for a new starting goalie? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST DARNELL NURSE SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted that there is an unverified report claiming the Penguins are among Darnell Nurse’s list of preferred trade destinations.

Nurse submitted a trade request earlier this week. The 31-year-old Edmonton Oilers defenseman has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $9.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (NHL Images).

Kingerski noted that Nurse and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas know each other from their days with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Despite Nurse’s struggles in Edmonton, he could bring speed, puck movement, and physicality to the left side of the Penguins blueline.

However, Kingerski believes the Oilers could ask the Penguins for more than the latter would be willing to give. Nurse’s hefty contract would mean the Oilers would have to sweeten the pot, but they have few expendable assets. The Penguins could also want the Oilers to take little-used defenseman Ryan Graves off their hands.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James looked at whether Nurse would be a fit with the Flyers.

James pointed out that the Flyers already have depth on the left side of their blueline. While they would have the cap space ($37 million) to take on Nurse’s full cap hit, they would probably prefer the Oilers retain up to half of his AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers were also suggested as a possible destination for Nurse. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that he’ll land with them or the Penguins. He’s not really a good fit for either club at this stage, and the Oilers could be unwilling to retain half of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

WILL THE CANUCKS ACQUIRE BRENDAN GALLAGHER?

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre recently weighed in on the speculation suggesting the Vancouver Canucks could acquire winger Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens.

Gallagher, 34, recently told the Montreal media that he’s played his final game for the Canadiens. He mentioned that he’d be open to being traded to the Canucks, and Canadiens management has allowed his agent, Gerry Johansson, to speak with other teams about a trade.

Johansson confirmed he’s spoken with the Canucks, and that they’re interested in Gallagher. Nevertheless, MacIntyre believes it’s not guaranteed that a deal will go through.

MacIntyre believes the Canadiens will likely wait and see if they can get a draft pick for Gallagher, rather than including a pick to entice a team to take him. He also doesn’t see the Canucks trading a positive asset for Gallagher. MacIntyre wondered if the Habs would be interested in acquiring winger Jake DeBrusk and his $5.5 million AAV for the next five seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacIntyre pointed out that Canucks GM Ryan Johnson has bigger priorities to deal with than the option of acquiring Gallagher at a discount for his leadership and experience.

Johnson could take care of some of his more pressing issues first before deciding if he’ll take on a veteran player such as Gallagher.

The Canadiens’ pressing need is a reliable second-line center, but the pickings are slim in the trade market and nonexistent in free agency. They could opt to add another scoring winger, but could prefer a more consistent scorer than the streaky DeBrusk.

WILL THE PANTHER SHOP FOR A STARTING GOALTENDER?

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg recently looked at the starting goalie options for the Panthers if Sergei Bobrovsky departs via free agency on July 1.

Stuart Skinner, Connor Ingram, and Cam Talbot could be the best UFA options, but they’re not what the Panthers will be looking for.

Greenberg claimed that Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck “apparently wants out of Winnipeg”, suggesting the three-time Vezina Trophy winner could be the Panthers’ next starter if GM Bill Zito can swing a blockbuster deal.

Jordan Binnington could be another option. The St. Louis Blues netminder has a year left on his contract, and would be more affordable to obtain than Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck has not stated that he wants a trade. He expressed his unhappiness over the Jets’ direction during his end-of-season press conference, but that seemed to be based on his frustration over his club missing the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

Hellebuyck’s comments had some observers in Winnipeg uneasy, but there’s been nothing more about it for two months now. That doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be traded, but as Greenberg admitted, he would be expensive to acquire in both return and contract, which could put him out of the Panthers’ price range.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2026

by | Jun 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2026

The First and Second All-Star Teams and the All-Rookie Team are revealed, the latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league revealed its First and Second All-Star Teams for 2025-26.

The First Team features Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid won the Ted Lindsay Award and the Art Ross Trophy, Kucherov took home the Hart Memorial Trophy, Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy, and Werenski was the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

The Second Team is comprised of Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Montreal Canadiens left wing Cole Caufield, Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, and Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon won the Maurice Richard Trophy, while Caufield is the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

The All-Rookie team is made up of Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke, Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year, with Demidov and Sennecke the runners-up.

SPORTSNET: Nikolaj Ehlers wasn’t pleased with his performance in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Despite collecting three assists for the Carolina Hurricanes in their 4-2 victory, he also took two uncharacteristic delay-of-game penalties.

Nevertheless, Ehlers has earned praise from Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and teammates Taylor Hall and Frederik Andersen for his performance since joining the club as a free agent last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers has provided a much-needed boost to the Hurricanes’ offense this season. He finished second among Hurricanes scorers with 71 points, and is currently third (17 points) among their postseason scorers.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Ed Graney believes the Golden Knights should replace Carter Hart in goal with Adin Hill for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.

Hart has given up at least four goals in the first five games of this series, becoming the first goalie in Stanley Cup Final history to do so.

Head coach John Tortorella was dismissive of replacing Hart following Game 5, calling the suggestion “the stupidest question” he’s ever heard. However, Hart’s .856 save percentage in this series is concerning, and Tortorella’s stubbornness could cost the Golden Knights the series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hill backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023. However, he struggled this season, which prompted management to sign Hart, who became the full-time starter when Tortorella took over as head coach in late March.

Hart rewarded Tortorella’s faith in him, winning all six of his starts to help the Golden Knights clinch first place in the Pacific Division, and he’s started every game in this postseason. Nevertheless, there’s no question that his level of play has noticeably declined in this series.

Barring injury, Hart will get the start on Sunday, and his performance could determine if the Golden Knights can push this series to Game 7.

THE PROVINCE: On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks named Richard Seeley as their new assistant general manager. He’ll also be the general manager of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2026

by | Jun 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2026

Check out the latest on Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk, and Blues center Robert Thomas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun provided an update on the trade request of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and Pat Brisson (Dylan Larkin’s agent) continue to try to work through this in a respectful manner.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).

Yzerman has asked the Larkin camp to expand their original three-team trade list, and Brisson was receptive “to some degree”. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers were the three teams on Larkin’s list.

Regardless of that trade list, LeBrun claimed other teams are also interested in Larkin. One of them is the Dallas Stars, prompting LeBrun to consider it “food for thought” if the Stars fail to sign winger Jason Robertson to a contract extension.

LeBrun also believes a third team might need to get involved to make the assets work for the Red Wings.

SPORTSNET: During the June 10 episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he’d heard there could be other clubs that Larkin might be willing to join. He believes the Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning could be two options.

Friedman also thinks that teams have already submitted trade offers to the Red Wings, including the Wild and the Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Larkin really wants out of Detroit, he’ll have to expand his list of preferred destinations. Adding two or three more clubs could help Yzerman find an acceptable return for him.

However, the teams on his trade list could lack sufficient trade assets to make the deal work. That’s why LeBrun suggests it could take bringing in a third team to thread the needle here.

If the Stars can’t get Robertson under contract, they could offer him up to the Red Wings for Larkin. The 27-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who’s a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He also lacks no-trade protection.

In that scenario, the Red Wings would need assurances that Robertson would be open to a long-term contract with them. While that move would address their need for a first-line left winger, it would leave them without a first and second-line center.

ZACH WERENSKI DOESN’T WANT OUT OF COLUMBUS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported there was speculation over what effect Dylan Larkin’s trade request would have on Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Werenski and Larkin are close friends and were teammates on Team USA’s gold-medal Olympic men’s hockey team.

LeBrun indicated that the 28-year-old defenseman isn’t following Larkin’s lead and asking the Blue Jackets for a trade. However, LeBrun isn’t ruling out the possibility, based on the fact that, at some point, Werenski and Jackets management will have to discuss the blueliner’s future in Columbus.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Red Wings, the Blue Jackets came close to making the playoffs over the past two years, only to stumble during the final weeks of the regular season.

Unlike Larkin, who has five years left on his contract, Werenski has two years on his. He could see how next season pans out before making any decision about his future.

Werenski is part of the 2028 UFA class that includes Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators. However, if their teams fail to improve in 2026-27, they could all be on the move in next summer’s trade market.

COULD THE SENATORS PURSUE JAKE DEBRUSK?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports “two league sources” believe the Senators are among a group of teams interested in Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks.

The 29-year-old winger has spent the past two seasons with the Canucks. He has five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.

Garrioch believed DeBrusk could be a good fit among the Senators’ top-six forwards. He’s reportedly not thrilled about being on a team undergoing a roster teardown.

The Senators also reportedly have an interest in forward Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and winger Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. However, it’s believed that Kyrou won’t waive his no-trade clause for Ottawa. The Philadelphia Flyers are also believed to be interested in McTavish.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch believes the rebuilding Canucks won’t be seeking much for DeBrusk because they want to move his contract. They will likely seek a return of futures (draft picks, prospects, young NHL players) in any trades this summer involving their roster players.

The sticking point is DeBrusk’s NMC and whether he’d waive it to join the Senators.

BLUES SOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE RETURN FROM THE FLYERS FOR ROBERT THOMAS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, who claimed the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues discussed a trade earlier this season regarding Blues center Robert Thomas.

According to Kurz, the Blues’ asking price was winger Porter Martone, prospect center Jack Nesbitt, and the Flyers’ first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: And now you know why Robert Thomas remains with the Blues and will continue to remain a Blue for the foreseeable future. That asking price was far too much for the Flyers, who know they’ve got a potential superstar in Martone.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2026

by | Jun 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2026

The latest on the Canucks, Penguins, and Avalanche in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma looked at the challenges that Ryan Johnson will face as the new general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Among them is how he will advance the Canucks’ rebuilding process. Kuzma wondered what winger Jake DeBrusk might fetch in this summer’s trade market.

Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).

Kuzma also mused over whether Johnson would be interested in Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher to bring some leadership to his rebuilding roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk, 29, has four years left on his contract with a reasonable average annual value of $5.5 million. He’s a streaky scorer, but he has tallied 20-plus goals five times and 40-plus points seven times in his nine NHL seasons, including in this tumultuous campaign for the Canucks. He could bring back a decent return of futures.

Gallagher has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. He has a six-team no-trade clause, but indicated he’s open to returning to his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Whether a deal can be worked out to send him there remains to be seen.

SKINNER, MANTHA TO TEST THE UFA MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports goaltender Stuart Skinner and winger Anthony Mantha are unlikely to return with the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.

Skinner and Mantha are UFA-eligible on July 1. The Penguins are expected to re-sign goalie Arturs Silovs and pair him with Sergei Murashov next season, which would spell the end of Skinner’s brief tenure in Pittsburgh. They wouldn’t mind signing Mantha to a short-term deal, but he’s seeking a long-term contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner and Mantha were meant to be short-term additions.

They took on Skinner to move out the struggling Tristan Jarry and his burdensome contract, using him to buy time until they were certain that Silovs and Mursahov would be a decent tandem. Mantha was an affordable one-year veteran signing as they continue to transition younger forwards into the lineup.

POSSIBLE GM CANDIDATES FOR THE AVALANCHE

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak listed eight potential candidates to replace Chris MacFarland as general manager of the Colorado Avalanche.

MacFarland departed the Avalanche earlier this week to become president and general manager of the Nashville Predators.

One option is Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who has taken over the GM role for the foreseeable future. He previously filled that position from 2014 to 2022, winning the Jim Gregory GM of the Year award in 2022.

Other internal possibilities are special assistant to the GM Andrew Cogliano, assistant GM Kevin McDonald, and director of analytics Arik Parnass.

External options could include Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Tyler Dellow, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Chris Clark, and former Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche don’t appear to be in a hurry to replace MacFarland, probably because Sakic’s there to hold the fort until they have sufficient time to find a full-time GM. They could have a new guy in place before the start of the regular season in October, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Sakic remains in the role until next offseason.










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.