NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2026

by | Apr 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2026

Check out the latest on Flyers winger Owen Tippett, plus updates on the Canucks and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey noted that Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett was the subject of trade speculation since last summer. However, he believes his performance through 2025-26, including in Game 2 of their current first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, should silence those rumors once and for all.

Bailey admitted the 27-year-old Tippett’s offensive production never quite aligns with his overall skills and athleticism. Nevertheless, his two-way play has established him as a core player for the Flyers as he enters his playing prime.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett has tallied 20-plus goals and 43-or-more points in each of the last four seasons, including two seasons with 28 goals and 50-plus points. His offensive stats could improve as his younger teammates improve, but his all-around play has made him more valuable to the Flyers.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk is at a place in his career where it’s about winning and chasing the Stanley Cup.

Kuzma speculated that the 29-year-old could find a rebuild difficult to embrace and might welcome a change of scenery. He has five years remaining on his contract with an affordable average annual value of $5.5 million, which might attract several suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk frequently surfaced in the rumor mill before last month’s trade deadline, and as the Canucks approached the end of this season. Whether he returns with the Canucks or is traded elsewhere depends on who is their general manager. Speaking of which…

The Canucks will interview former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams as they seek a new GM. They’ve also sought permission to speak with Toronto Maple Leafs advisor Shane Doan.

Kuzma believes further changes to the front office could be coming if Jim Rutherford steps down as president of hockey operations. That explains why they’re casting a wide net for candidates, including Adams and Doan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams’ name on the Canucks list of GM candidates raised eyebrows around the league because of the Sabres’ years of futility during his tenure in Buffalo. However, Kuzma pointed out that Adams’ fingerprints are all over the current Sabres roster.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline believes a culture change is coming for the Blue Jackets with head coach Rick Bowness returning next season.

Portzline wondered if Boone Jenner would return as the Blue Jackets’ captain. The first hurdle is his contract situation. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and played fourth-line minutes under Bowness this season. At 33, he’s not the same player that he was a few years ago.

Forwards Charlie Coyle and Mason Marchment and defenseman Erik Gudbranson join Jenner among the Blue Jackets’ prominent UFAs. Portzline considers it unlikely that all of them will be re-signed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Portzline considers Coyle to be the most valuable of the Blue Jackets’ pending UFAs, followed by Marchment, Jenner, and Gudbranson. Management likely shares that opinion and could make re-signing him a priority over the others.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

by | Apr 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

The Avalanche take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, the Lightning, Bruins, and Mammoth tie their respective series, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Nicolas Roy lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal while Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Los Angeles center Quinton Byfield. Artemi Panarin opened the scoring for the Kings, who got a 34-save effort from goaltender Anton Forsberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The game was delayed following Wedgewood’s save on Byfield to replace a pane of glass behind the Kings’ bench that shattered from the force of excited Avalanche fans pounding on it.

This series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Thursday at 10 pm ET. If those games are anything like the first two, we can expect them to be physical, close-checking, low-scoring affairs. The Kings must find a way to generate more offense without sacrificing their defensive play in Game 3, or they’ll be facing elimination this weekend.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-1 deficit to nip the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on an overtime goal by JJ Moser, tying their first-round series at a game apiece. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, while Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson tallied for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first half of this game was a greasy physical affair with numerous scrums, including a fight that saw Hagel drop Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Once the shenanigans were over, the game settled into a close-checking contest in which the Lightning’s experience made the difference, with Kucherov’s tying goal the result of a blueline turnover by Slafkovsky. The Canadiens were tentative in overtime, failing to generate a shot while the Lightning peppered Habs goalie Jakub Dobes with nine shots.

Speaking of the Lightning, they announced that team captain Victor Hedman is doubtful to play in this series, which moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. The third game will be on Friday at 7 pm ET.

Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice as his club doubled up the Buffalo Sabres 4-2, tying their series at one game apiece. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves while David Pastrnak collected two assists for the Bruins. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs replied for the Sabres. This series shifts to Boston for the next two games, with Game 3 on Thursday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres fell too far behind to stage another rally as they did in the first game. It was a disastrous outing for Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, giving up four goals on 19 shots, including a backhander from center ice by Bruins winger Morgan Geekie that bounced past him. Alex Lyon replaced Luukkonen after Arvidsson made it 4-0, and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff hinted that Lyon might get the start in Game 3.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (NHL Images).

The Utah Mammoth got their first playoff win since relocating from Arizona by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, squaring their first-round series at a game apiece. Logan Cooley snapped a 2-2 tie while Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbshev scored for the Golden Knights. This series moves to Utah for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Friday at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The speedy Mammoth out-played and out-shot the Golden Knights as this game went along. Led by young stars such as Cooley and Guenther, they’re proving to be a handful for the veteran-laden Golden Knights.

HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league has no plans to change its regular-season points system.

The issue arose as the Los Angeles Kings made the playoffs despite tying for the second-fewest regulation wins this season, playing in a record 33 overtime games. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division despite winning 10 fewer regulation games than the Washington Capitals, while the New York Islanders won 43 games but missed the playoffs with five overtime/shootout points.

Bettman also said that future league expansion fees could exceed $1 billion. He based it on the growth of league revenue and other factors. Atlanta and Houston have been rumored as potential destinations for future expansion franchises.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said sidelined center Roope Hintz didn’t travel with the team to Minnesota for the next two games of their first-round series. A lower-body injury has sidelined Hintz since March 6.

Gulutzan was unfazed over comments by Minnesota forward Marcus Foligno that the Stars “couldn’t hang” with the Wild in even-strength situations. Two of the goals the Stars scored in their 4-2 victory over the Wild in Game 2 came on the power play.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Wild, winger Mats Zuccarello is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique will miss Game 2 of their series with the Anaheim Ducks after suffering a lower-body injury in the first game.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will miss Game 3 of his club’s series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

THE ATHLETIC: The Vancouver Canucks have requested permission to speak with former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams about their vacant GM position.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: New Devils GM Sunny Mehta said everything is under evaluation from the coaching staff to new contracts for Nico Hischier and Simon Nemec. He also indicated that the Devils will be spending to the salary cap.

Mehta spent three seasons as an assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers before taking over as Devils GM last week.

TSN: Former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was named president of KHL club Shanghai Dragons.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2026

by | Apr 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2026

On the eve of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, check out the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Thatcher Demko, Dylan Larkin, and more from players that didn’t make the postseason in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

WINNIPEG SUN: Gordon Anderson reports Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck expressed his unhappiness over his club’s tumble from winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season to missing the 2026 postseason.

Hellebuyck owned up to his share of blame for the Jets’ demise this season and didn’t put himself above criticism for his performance. He still believes they have “a very good team,” but he believes things have to change if they’re going to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Hellebuyck said he’s made Winnipeg his home, and he likes it there, but his ultimate goal remains winning the Stanley Cup. He acknowledged the difficulty that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff faces bringing in talent through trades and free agency because of the club’s location and its reputation as a city that players don’t want to go to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson noted that Hellebuyck is in a re-evaluating frame of mind, but he believes that doesn’t mean the three-time Vezina Trophy winner could be eyeing the exit. However, not everyone shares that opinion. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill.

Jonathan Toews appears to be at a crossroads after this season. The 37-year-old Jet center staged a comeback after three years away recovering from health issues, but admitted that he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews was on a one-year contract with the Jets. It remains to be seen if they’ll bring him back for another season, which could leave him facing retirement.

Mark Scheifele has been selected to play for Team Canada in next month’s IIHF World Championship. The 33-year-old Jets center enjoyed a career-high 103-point performance, setting the franchise single-season points record. Teammate Dylan DeMelo has also accepted an invitation to play for Canada.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares will also be playing for Canada in the World Championship.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger reported St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas and Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly will join Tavares and Scheifele on Team Canada at the Worlds.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, the club is interviewing former captain and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin for a position in their hockey department.

TSN: Aleksander Barkov will play for Finland in the IIHF World Championship. The Florida Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 regular season and the 2026 Winter Olympics recovering from knee surgery.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck revealed his 14-game absence at the start of this season was due to a bacterial infection in one of his lungs. He underwent surgery and spent a week in a hospital, hooked up to chest tubes.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

“It was very scary,” Trocheck said. “I thought I was dying.”

Trocheck recovered and played the remainder of this season. The 32-year-old center was the subject of frequent trade speculation as management continues to retool its roster. He said he’s not sure what’s going to happen in the offseason.

THE ATHLETIC: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox raised some eyebrows earlier this season when he appeared noncommittal about his future with the club. However, he’s now encouraged by the “encouraging signs” that he saw from the club during the season’s final weeks, including his own improved performance during that stretch.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko believes his season-ending hip surgery will improve his performance going forward. He was upbeat during his exit interview with the press, expressing his belief that the club has addressed the issues that derailed its season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demko’s new three-year contract (with an average annual value of $8.5 million) begins on July 1. His performance over that period will be crucial to the Canucks’ rebuilding plans.

DAILY FACEOFF: Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said he knew last year that Quinn Hughes wouldn’t sign a contract extension. That is what pushed him to trade the 26-year-old superstar defenseman to the Minnesota Wild last December.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford first dropped that hint at his end-of-season media availability last year. That’s what prompted the trade rumors that dogged Hughes and the Canucks until he was shipped to the Wild in December.

MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin remains committed to getting the club into the playoffs despite missing its decade-long postseason drought.

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Red Wings, they and Patrick Kane have a mutual interest in bringing him back next season. The 37-year-old winger and future Hall of Famer is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Jared McCann underwent a medical procedure on Thursday related to the lower-body injury that hampered him during the second half of last season and throughout this season. He anticipated that it would take 8-10 weeks to recover.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Golden Knights center William Karlsson continues to rehab a lower-body injury and will miss the club’s upcoming first-round series against the Utah Mammoth. Karlsson has been sidelined since Nov. 8.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed defenseman Nils Lundkvist to a two-year contract extension worth an AAV of $1.75 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues announced assistant coaches Claude Julien and Mike Weber will not be brought back. Their contract will expire at the end of June.

NHL.COM: The league announced it has set a total attendance record for the fourth straight year. The new record is 23,158,522, which is 97.3 percent capacity. The per-game average was 17,651.

DAILY FACEOFF: Eight NHL teams will have salary-cap overages for 2026-27. Those expenditures are mostly related to performance bonuses.

The New York Islanders have the largest bonus overage carryover ($3.5 million), all from rookie Matthew Schaefer reaching the maximum possible bonuses for a player on an entry-level contract.

NHL.COM: Winger Ivar Stenberg of Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda sits at No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of the top International skaters. Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is ranked as the top North American skater.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 17, 2026

by | Apr 17, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 17, 2026

Check out the latest on Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly, Canucks center Elias Pettersson, and Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KNIES AND RIELLY HOPE TO REMAIN MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Sonny Sachdeva reports Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly reiterated their desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rielly has a full no-movement clause in his contract. When asked about waiving it, the 32-year-old defenseman acknowledged that it’s something he must be prepared for, but said he loves being a Maple Leaf and wants to stay.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, Knies admitted he’s not pleased that his name surfaced in trade rumors this season, and could continue to pop up in offseason trade speculation. However, he said that those things are out of his control, that he’s not bothered by the rumors, and maintained he wants to stick around.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly and Knies said that any decision to move them rests with whoever becomes the next Leafs general manager. However, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley recently said the club was not rebuilding. Moving Rielly and Knies would be considered part of a rebuilding process.

Ultimately, the futures of Rielly and Knies in Toronto will depend on how much autonomy Pelley is willing to give the Maple Leafs new general manager.

CANUCKS CENTER ELIAS PETTERSSON

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes the future of Elias Pettersson is the first order of business facing the Vancouver Canucks as they chart the direction the franchise will take with the expensive center.

Pettersson’s offensive production remains down, netting 51 points this season. However, his defensive play has improved as he led all NHL forwards this season with 108 blocked shots. He has six more seasons remaining on his contract with an expensive average annual value of $11.6 million.

The 27-year-old Pettersson told Kuzma that he remains committed to the Canucks and is invested in their future. However, trade rumors have swirled, with some suggesting the club might be willing to retain salary.

If the Canucks were to trade Pettersson, Kuzma suggested the Detroit Red Wings might be a good fit. However, he has a full no-movement clause and didn’t sound to Kuzma like he wanted a change of scenery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s contract gives him full control over his situation. If he doesn’t want to go, the Canucks will have to find a way to get more out of him offensively if they want this rebuild to succeed with him as part of it.

THE LATEST ON DOUGIE HAMILTON

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nicholls observed that Dougie Hamilton politely declined to speak with the media during the Devils’ locker cleanout day earlier this week. He believes the 32-year-old defenseman’s silence speaks volumes about his future with the club.

Hamilton frequently surfaced in trade rumors going back to last summer, with one report claiming he used his no-trade clause to block a move to the San Jose Sharks. Following last month’s trade deadline, now-former GM Tom Fitzgerald claimed he wasn’t shopping the puck-moving blueliner.

New general manager Sunny Mehta might be able to mend fences with Hamilton, but Nicholls considers it unlikely. He believes the veteran blueliner’s tenure in New Jersey could be drawing to a close.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton has a 10-team trade list, but Nicholls pointed out that he might be willing to expand that list to facilitate a deal. We can expect the Hamilton trade rumors to continue following the postseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 15, 2026

by | Apr 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 15, 2026

The latest on the Canucks and the Kraken, plus updates on Islanders captain Anders Lee and Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently looked at which players will stay with the Vancouver Canucks and which ones could be gone.

Drance believes the rebuilding Canucks are at least open to moving center Elias Pettersson and wingers Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk. The trio is under long-term contracts with full no-movement clauses.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Pending free agents Evander Kane and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are not expected to be re-signed.

THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who recently said that he expected the Canucks would have a lengthy meeting with Pettersson about where the team is going and what the options are. That would include moving him to teams he’d want to go to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Even if Pettersson provides a list of preferred destinations, there’s no certainty that those clubs will be interested. His expensive contract and the concerning decline in his performance over the past two years will hurt his trade value.

Teams that might be willing to take that chance could insist on Vancouver retaining part of his $11.6 million annual salary-cap hit. Even then, the Canucks aren’t going to get a significant return.

KRAKEN COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY ATTRACTING PLAYERS

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports the Seattle Kraken face two issues that will make it difficult to improve their roster. One is the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. The other is convincing players to join them.

Kraken general manager Jason Botterill was interested in St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas at the March trade deadline. However, he couldn’t get them to waive their no-trade clauses.

The Kraken also had permission from the New York Rangers to make a contract extension offer to Artemi Panarin with an average annual value higher than $14 million. However, he wasn’t interested in going to Seattle and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

A league executive claimed the Kraken thought they had a deal with the Nashville Predators for Erik Haula by giving up a second and a third-round pick. However, there was no trade call, and no indication of why the deal didn’t happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of depth in this summer’s UFA market will make it tough for the Kraken to draw talent to Seattle. Botterill will have to get creative and target players lacking no-trade clauses in the trade market, which is easier said than done when he’s trying to add an offensive star.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ANDERS LEE AND MARIO FERRARO?

NEW YORK POST/THE MERCURY NEWS: Ethan Sears of the Post and Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News looked at the uncertain futures facing New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.

Both players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents this summer. They’d like to remain with the only NHL teams they’ve ever played for, but it remains to be seen if they’ll receive contract offers that will convince them to stay.

The Islanders’ late-season collapse could force GM Mathieu Darche to reexamine his roster. The Isles also have limited cap space this summer, meaning the 35-year-old Lee would have to accept a discount.

Sharks GM Mike Grier said teams expressed an interest in Ferraro before the March trade deadline. However, Grier opted to retain the 27-year-old defenseman, adding that he’s open to re-signing some of his UFA players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro’s youth and the Sharks’ $42.5 million in projected cap space for next season make him more likely to stay with his current club.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2026

by | Apr 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2026

The remaining Eastern Conference opening-round series are set, the Mammoth clinch the first Western Conference wild card, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: David Pastrnak collected an assist for his 100th point of the season as the Boston Bruins blanked the New Jersey Devils 4-0 to clinch the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Jeremy Swayman turned in a 21-save shutout while Mark Kastelic scored twice for the 45-27-10 Bruins, who finished the season with 100 points and will face the Buffalo Sabres in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nico Daws made 22 saves for the Devils.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth consecutive season that Pastrnak has reached the 100-point plateau. Bruins center Pavel Zacha left the game to attend to a family matter.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 28 shots in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes (53-22-7), who finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference (113 points) and will face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the upcoming playoffs. Bo Horvat replied for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The idle Senators clinched the final Eastern wild card with 97 points. They play their final game of the regular season on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will miss that game with an undisclosed injury, but he’ll be ready for Game 1 against the Hurricanes this weekend.

For the first time in NHL history, the Devils, Islanders, and New York Rangers have missed the playoffs in the same year.

The Utah Mammoth (43-32-6) clinched the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 92 points after defeating the Winnipeg Jets 5-3. Nick Schmaltz scored twice, Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist, and Clayton Keller picked up an assist to extend his points streak to a franchise-record nine games. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had two points for the Jets.

Philadelphia Flyers rookie Oliver Bonk had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut as his club doubled up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists for the Flyers, who will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs. The Canadiens finished third in the Atlantic Division and will start their first-round playoff series in Tampa Bay against the Lightning on Sunday.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 53rd goal of the season in a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Martin Necas collected an assist to reach 100 points for the first time in his career, and Cale Makar collected three assists for the first-overall Avalanche. Blake Coleman scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon will win the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s leading goal scorer for the first time. Makar was returning from an upper-body injury that had sidelined him for seven games.

Minnesota Wild rookie Hunter Haight scored his first NHL goal, and Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 35 shots to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Mason McTavish scored both goals for the 42-33-6 Ducks, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild will face the Dallas Stars in the opening round. The Ducks are still waiting to find out who their first-round opponent will be.

An overtime goal by Jake DeBrusk gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. DeBrusk finished the game with two goals for the Canucks. Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist for the Kings (35-26-20), who hold the final Western wild card with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings and Ducks each still have a game remaining. If the Kings win or collect an overtime point and the Ducks lose in regulation, the Kings will finish third in the Pacific Division while the Ducks will drop into that final wild-card spot.

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished their season with a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Jimmy Snuggerud had two goals and two assists, and Dylan Holloway had two goals and an assist for the Blues. Rookie Avery Hayes tallied twice for the Penguins, who finished second in the Metropolitan Division and will meet the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin collected an assist in what might be his final NHL game in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Anthony Beauvillier and Jakob Chychrun scored for the Capitals. Boone Jenner tallied for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is still undecided about his future, but he said he hopes this game was not his last in the NHL. He’s an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he could retire from the NHL and return to Russia to finish his playing career.

Meanwhile, Blue Jackets interim coach Rick Bowness ripped into his players after this game, citing the club’s lack of a winning culture.

“All you’ve got to do is look at the stat sheet,” Bowness said. “Three hits. Twenty-three giveaways. Like, I don’t know if I’m back (next season), but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture. These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important to them. It doesn’t bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that?”

The Blue Jackets hired Bowness as interim coach in mid-January. Their players responded well at first, surging from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into second place in the Metropolitan Division by March 25. However, the Jackets went 2-8-1 in their last 11 games, missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz will not be in the opening two games of his club’s first-round series against the Wild. He’s been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 6.

THE SCORE: Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and Pittsburgh Penguins executive Jason Spezza will lead Canada’s management group at the 2026 IIHF World Championships.

THE ATHLETIC: The Tampa Bay Lightning is considered the NHL’s best-run franchise, and the Vancouver Canucks are considered the worst-run among a poll of NHL player agents.

The Minnesota Wild is ranked as the easiest franchise to deal with, while the Anaheim Ducks are considered to be the most difficult.