NHL Rumor Mill – June 22, 2024

by | Jun 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – June 22, 2024

The Senators continue shopping for a goalie, Jake DeBrusk remains linked to the Leafs, the Golden Knights are getting inquiries about their goalies, and the latest on the Lightning in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SENATORS GOALIE SEARCH CONTINUES

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators revisited discussions with the Boston Bruins to find a way to bring goaltender Linus Ullmark to Ottawa.

The Senators attempted to acquire Ullmark before the March trade deadline. They offered netminder Joonas Korpisalo but the Bruins refused as they couldn’t afford to take on his $4 million average annual value over the next four seasons.

Garrioch reports the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils were among the clubs also trying to acquire Ullmark at that time. He refused to waive his 16-team no-trade list, meaning a possible deal was scuttled, but that wasn’t with the Senators.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).

The Bruins have set a high price for Ullmark. They’re believed to be scouring the trade market for a center. They could be interested in Shane Pinto but the Senators have told clubs they’re not parting with him.

SPORTSNET: Wayne Scanlan noted the Senators’ rumored interest in Ullmark. He also pointed out a report claiming they have the framework of a possible deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Scanlan suggests Jakob Chychrun could be an asset the Senators would give up to make a move that would alter their roster. The 26-year-old defenseman is approaching his prime and entering the final year of his contract. He’d be easier to move than Thomas Chabot, who plays a similar game and carries an $8 million average annual value through 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun could be part of the Senators’ efforts to land Ullmark if he’s willing to come to Ottawa. He could also be part of this mysterious deal they have with the Flyers that could take place by the NHL Draft next weekend.

JAKE DEBRUSK HAS “MUTUAL INTEREST” IN JOINING THE MAPLE LEAFS

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio cited Toronto Star columnist Nick Kypreos claiming the Toronto Maple Leafs could be interested in Jake DeBrusk. The 27-year-old Boston Bruins winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Nick Alberga, host of Leafs Morning Take, reported DeBrusk has some “mutual interest” in joining the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs are reportedly attempting to re-sign pending UFA forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. They have over $19 million in cap space for 2024-25 with 15 active roster players under contract. The Leafs could turn to DeBrusk if Bertuzzi or Domi move on.

TEAMS INQUIRING ABOUT GOLDEN KNIGHTS GOALIES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting multiple teams are inquiring about Vegas Golden Knights goaltenders Adin Hill and Logan Thompson. Both are on contracts that expire at the end of next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are facing a cap crunch with just $1.19 million in cap space and 20 active players under contract. They’ll get an additional $5 million in relief with Robin Lehner on long-term injury reserve for next season. However, they must free up space to re-sign pending UFA winger Jonathan Marchessault.

Hill would be the logical one to move if the Golden Knights are trying to shed salary. He carries an AAV of $4.9 million while Thompson’s is over $766K.

LATEST ON THE LIGHTNING

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina expects the Lightning to make a cost-cutting trade in the coming days. They have just $5.335 million in cap space, which won’t be enough to re-sign pending UFA captain Steven Stamkos. The Bolts have 18 active roster players under contract for 2024-25.

Encina believes they must move an existing contract to make room for Stamkos. It’s a matter of whether it’s one like Tanner Jeannot ($2.665 million) or Erik Cernak ($5.2 million) that provides enough space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cernak would clear the most cap room but Jeannot has been mentioned more frequently as a trade candidate.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 20, 2024

by | Jun 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – June 20, 2024

A look at the offseason goalie market after Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kuemper were traded yesterday plus updates on Leon Draisaitl, Jake Guentzel, Jake DeBrusk and Patrik Laine in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT DOES THE GOALIE MARKET LOOK LIKE WITHOUT MARKSTROM AND KUEMPER?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio believes all eyes are on Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark with Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kuemper off the trade market. Markstrom was traded to the New Jersey Devils while Kuemper was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings.

Finding a market for Ullmark could become difficult with the Devils and Kings no longer interested. The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators remain, with the Hurricanes listening to offers for winger Martin Necas. The Senators are said to be willing to move their 2024 first-round pick and defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade list that becomes a 15-team list on July 1. He has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5 million.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving must get moving to find a suitable starting netminder now that Markstrom is no longer available.

This year’s free-agent market is a weak one for goaltenders. The Leafs can’t take chances on career backups like Anthony Stolarz or Laurent Brossoit.

Ullmark and Jusse Saros of the Nashville Predators are among the goalies drawing interest in the trade market. Both have a year left on their contracts with cap hits of $5 million.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan doesn’t see the Bruins trading Ullmark to a playoff rival like the Leafs. Instead, he believes they could send him to the Senators.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

Koshan also doesn’t buy into the scenario of the Leafs trading Mitch Marner to Nashville for Saros. He pointed out that Marner intends to play the final year of his contract with Toronto. New Leafs head coach Craig Berube welcomes the opportunity to work with the 27-year-old winger.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports league sources claim the Senators have circled back to Ullmark after failing to land Markstrom. Those sources also said the talks between the two clubs have intensified.

The Senators were interested in Ullmark before the March trade deadline. However, they couldn’t get a deal in place with the Bruins at that time. The Bruins aren’t interested in taking on Joonas Korpisalo in return because they can’t afford the remaining four years of his contract. However, they might be willing to take Anton Forsberg and his $2.75 million cap hit for 2024-25.

A league executive suggested to Garrioch that it could cost the Senators their 2024 first-round pick and defenseman Jakob Chychrun to get Ullmark from the Bruins. That depends on whether the Senators are on his no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are better positioned to bid for Ullmark than the Maple Leafs. Treliving might have to shift his attention to Saros, but Predators GM Barry Trotz is reportedly discussing a contract extension with the 29-year-old netminder.

Speaking of the Senators, The Hockey News’ Steve Warne cited TSN’s Travis Yost reporting the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers have the framework of a trade in place. He thinks it might not be finalized until closer to the draft, scheduled for June 28-29 in Las Vegas.

Yost provided no specifics regarding the deal and how big it might be. Chychrun could be part of that if Ottawa is shopping him. It won’t involve a goaltender as the Flyers have none to spare that would interest the Senators. Maybe the Senators are trying to flog Korpisalo to the Flyers to make room for Ullmark. Stay tuned…

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said he has no intention of trading or buying out Elvis Merzlikins.

Merzlikins raised headlines in January when he said he requested a trade only to have his agent claim his client misspoke. By the end of the season, it was assumed he’d played his final game with the Blue Jackets.

Waddell took over as Blue Jackets GM last month. He wants to give Merlizkins another chance to establish himself as their starting goaltender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins’ unhappiness stemmed from being relegated to third-stringer for several weeks in December and early January. Waddell’s firing of head coach Pascal Vincent could provide Merzlikins with additional motivation.

UPDATES ON LEON DRAISAITL, JAKE GUENTZEL AND JAKE DEBRUSK

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reports hearing no meaningful contract talks have taken place and no numbers have been exchanged between the Edmonton Oilers and Leon Draisaitl. Those negotiations could begin following the Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Any earlier discussions between the two camps were preliminary, likely gauging both sides’ willingness to talk about an extension. That should be expected considering the Oilers are still in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Chicago Blackhawks could attempt to sign Jake Guentzel as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. They want to alleviate the pressure off Connor Bedard and appear the most willing to meet Guentzel’s anticipated asking price of $63 million. They can also offer him an opportunity to play closer to his home in Minnesota.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That anticipated asking price breaks down to $9 million annually on a seven-year deal. Playing alongside the promising Bedard could also be tempting for Guentzel.

Kypreos claims there’s word the Maple Leafs could be interested in Jake DeBrusk.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said he’s been told by a few people that the Seattle Kraken could have Patrik Laine on their radar.

Laine’s camp recently met with Blue Jackets management where they mutually agreed to look into a trade. Friedman cited the Kraken’s need to add more scoring and believes they can afford to take on the winger’s contract.

Laine has two years left on his deal with an annual average value of $8.7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken have a projected cap space of $22.5 million. They’ve got 16 active roster players under contract with restricted free agents Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen to re-sign. There’s room to add Laine depending on the cost of Beniers and Tolvanen.

They could garner more cap space if they bought out goaltender Philipp Grubauer. However, Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times indicated Kraken GM Ron Francis isn’t planning any buyouts at this point.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 23, 2024

by | May 23, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 23, 2024

The latest on the Bruins, an update on Hurricanes forward Martin Necas and recent speculation about Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE BRUINS INTEND TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN THE OFFSEASON

BOSTON HERALD: Steve Conroy reports Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters his club intends to be aggressive this summer as they search to address their need for help among their forward lines.

Conroy noted Sweeney sounds like he’ll focus on adding depth among his wingers. “I have to be able to find some players that can come in and provide secondary scoring for us,” he said.

Bruins president Cam Neely said the Bruins weren’t as fast as they’d like to be and must win more 50-50 puck battles.

Conroy noted some very good wingers could be available in this summer’s free-agent market. They include Carolina’s Jake Guentzel, Florida’s Sam Reinhart, Detroit’s Patrick Kane, Winnipeg’s Tyler Toffoli and Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have more wiggle room this summer, carrying a projected cap space of $23.5 million for next season with 15 active roster players under contract. They have room to make a splash in the free-agent market.

Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, contract talks between Sweeney and Jake DeBrusk’s agent have stalled. The Bruins GM said he sees a path for the 27-year-old winger’s return but added that negotiations “are a two-way street.” He also pointed out that DeBrusk has the right as a pending unrestricted free agent to explore the market on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy contacted DeBrusk’s agent, Rick Valette, but he hadn’t heard back regarding the winger’s intentions. He’s coming off a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.4 million and will seek a more lucrative long-term contract.

Whether DeBrusk gets it from the Bruins remains to be seen. He won’t have to wait for long to sign with a new club. The Utah franchise could be among the suitors if he’s available on July 1.

Sweeney also indicated that he’s hopeful of making the math work in re-signing Jeremy Swayman whereby the Bruins can also retain Linus Ullmark for next season. “If we can’t, we’re going to explore,” he said, noting that he expects to receive inquiries about Ullmark, who has a year left on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. He’s coming off a one-year, arbiter-award contract worth $3.475 million. Swayman could cost the Bruins over $6 million annually on a seven or eight-year deal.

That would leave the Bruins with over $11 million tied up in two goaltenders. They could clear $5 million from their books by trading Ullmark. He’s a year away from UFA eligibility and has a 16-team no-trade list until July 1, when it drops to 15 teams.  If the Bruins get a satisfactory trade offer, Ullmark will be moved this summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently pondered whether the Bruins should pursue Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl this summer if he becomes available or wait until he becomes a UFA next summer.

Draisaitl, 28, has a year remaining on his contract. He’ll command a big raise on his next deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl’s contract status will make him a hot topic of speculation this summer if he and the Oilers fail to agree to a contract extension.

Recent conjecture suggested the Bruins could be interested in Draisaitl to address their need for an elite center. The latest rumor claims the 28-year-old Oilers forward would be interested in joining the Bruins next summer to center his buddy David Pastrnak.

The Bruins’ limited trade capital makes them unlikely to win any bidding war for Draisaitl if the Oilers decide to trade him this summer.

Signing Draisaitl as a UFA will likely cost over $15 million annually. The Bruins have a projected $47 million in cap room for 2025-26 with seven active players under contract. However, that will shrink considerably once they make their necessary signings and additions this summer. They might not have enough by next summer to outbid other clubs for Draisaitl’s services.

UPDATE ON MARTIN NECAS

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander wondered if Martin Necas will return with the Carolina Hurricanes next season. The 25-year-old forward is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, making him the subject of media trade chatter.

Necas departed Carolina soon after the Hurricanes’ elimination from the playoffs to play for Czechia in the ongoing IIHF World Championships. His father said his son wants to play on a team where he’ll play on the top line and top power-play unit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed the Hurricanes will attempt to trade Necas, probably in the days leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft (June 28-29) in Las Vegas. The Montreal Canadiens reportedly inquired about his availability. The Utah franchise is another club that might have an interest in Necas.

WILL THE PENGUINS TRADE OR RE-SIGN MARCUS PETTERSSON

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel recently pondered whether the Penguins will re-sign Marcus Pettersson or use the 28-year-old defenseman. He’s entering the final season of his five-year contract ($4.025 million AAV) and carries an eight-team no-trade list.

Pettersson put up a career-high 30 points in 82 games this season and led the Penguins with a plus/minus of plus-28. Noting management’s shift toward moving veterans for younger assets, Vensel wondered if Pettersson could suffer the same fate as Jake Guentzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson would be a player the Penguins would prefer to retain if they were still a serious contender. However, they could shop him this summer while his value is high or peddle him before next season’s trade deadline.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2024

by | May 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2024

Check out the latest on the Bruins and Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE BRUINS

NHL.COM: Amalie Benjamin reports goaltender Linus Ullmark faces an uncertain future in Boston after being supplanted by Swayman as the Bruins’ starter during the playoffs.

Ullmark has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He’d like to spend it with the Bruins but they could go in a different direction, something they reportedly look into before the March trade deadline.

“I have my (no-trade) list and my list is there. We’ve worked very hard for it,” Ullmark said. He indicated there’s a reason why certain teams are on it, including what he called “personal things”.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa reports Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark had reservations about being moved at the March trade deadline as it would’ve meant uprooting his family. Whether he feels the same now is another matter.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

If Ullmark is willing to work with Bruins management on an offseason trade it would help both parties. He’d be a better option for clubs seeking a starting goalie than those available in this summer’s free-agent market. It would allow the Bruins to clear the way for Jeremy Swayman to take over as their full-time starter with promising Brandon Bussi as his backup.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy reported the Bruins had a deal in place for Ullmark by the deadline but the 30-year-old goalie rejected it. While speculation suggested it was the Los Angeles Kings, Murphy is standing by his report that it was the Colorado Avalanche. He believes it might take a lot for Ullmark to accept a trade to a club on his no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom could be peddled this summer. Juuse Saros is another possibility but less of a certainty. Ullmark will draw lots of attention from clubs that lose out on Markstrom or Saros.

The Bruins have a projected $20.9 million of cap space for 2024-25 with 17 active roster players under contract. They’ll have the dollars to make a splash or two in this summer’s free-agent market. Moving Ullmark would give them even more wiggle room.

Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade list, which drops to 15 clubs on July 1. Some speculated that his list was made up entirely of Western Conference clubs. Regardless of which teams are on it, his NTC will hamper efforts to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Winger Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk top Shinzawa’s list of players who won’t return with the Boston Bruins next season. Both are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

DeBrusk wants to remain with the Bruins. However, general manager Don Sweeney has a number in mind and won’t exceed it. Unless the two sides compromise, the 27-year-old winger will hit the open market.

Shinzawa considers the chance of Grzelcyk returning to be very low. The same goes for defensemen Derek Forbort, Kevin Shattenkirk and forward James van Riemsdyk. However, he’s not ruling out Patrick Maroon and Danton Heinen returning with the Bruins.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently updated us on everything on the offseason plate of Senators GM Steve Staios.

League sources told Garrioch that Staios attempted to deal Joonas Korpisalo before the March trade deadline. However, he doesn’t expect much of a market for the 30-year-old goaltender unless the Senators retain some of his $5 million AAV and include a sweetener. They could instead attempt to ship out backup Anton Forsberg and his more affordable $2.75 million cap hit.

Garrioch claimed the Senators “kicked tires” on Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark before the deadline. They could revisit that interest this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators could be on Ullmark’s no-trade list, which might explain why they didn’t get past the “tire-kicking” phase.

Staios took calls on Jakob Chychrun before the trade deadline. Garrioch believes that the talk could become action this summer, likely before the NHL Draft on Jun 28-29.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios indicated after the trade deadline that he’d held discussions with some teams that could continue in the offseason. Chychrun has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.6 million and will be eligible for UFA status next summer. He could be moved for a right-shot defenseman or to clear cap space to add one via free agency.

Artem Zub could draw attention in this summer’s trade market. Moving the 28-year-old defenseman could be an option for Staios if he wants to shake up the blueline. The Senators could attempt to trade rearguard Erik Brannstrom or pass on tendering him a qualifying offer.

Garrioch suggested the Senators could use a veteran forward like Tyler Toffoli to help take some pressure off Claude Giroux. He also indicated Staios had been in contract talks with Shane Pinto’s representatives. The 23-year-old center seeks a five or six-year contract with an annual cap hit of around $5 million.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 18, 2024

by | May 18, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 18, 2024

What could the offseason hold for the Avalanche and Bruins? What’s the latest on the Hurricanes? Who could become candidates for the Blue Jackets’ GM position? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE AVALANCHE AND BRUINS?

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looked at what the offseason might hold for the Colorado Avalanche following their elimination from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Supplementing their roster core is once again a priority. They must re-sign restricted free-agent center Casey Mittelstadt. The Avs must also re-sign or replace pending unrestricted free agents like Jonathan Drouin, Jack Johnson, Sean Walker and Andrew Cogliano. They must also replace retiring winger Zach Parise.

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

Core winger Mikko Rantanen has one year remaining on his contract. His continued presence is important if the Avalanche intend to remain among the Western Conference’s top contenders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have $15.9 million in projected cap space next season with 12 active roster players under contract. They get an additional $7 million in wiggle room if sidelined captain Gabriel Landeskog remains on long-term injury reserve. He hasn’t given up attempting to resume his career after being sidelined by knee surgeries for the past two years.

Rantanen carries a cap hit of $9.25 million on his current contract. Given his consecutive 100-plus point seasons, he’ll likely seek over $12 million annually.

The Avalanche will also have to decide what to do with Valeri Nichushkin once he exits Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in November.

Kristen Shilton looked at what could be in store for the Boston Bruins this summer.

They face some significant personnel decisions. Several notable players, including Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen, are slated to become UFAs on July 1. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman is an RFA coming off a one-year contract and the Bruins must ensure they have sufficient cap space to pay him his worth as a starter.

Shilton expects the Bruins will be active in the free-agent market if they hope to keep their playoff window open, especially on the defensive side.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss observed the Bruins have around $21 million in projected cap space for next season to put toward offseason roster upgrades.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins were frequently linked to Elias Lindholm this season before and after his trade to the Vancouver Canucks. They could revisit that rumored interest or consider other options to add a center for one of their scoring lines.

Rumors also tied the Bruins to Noah Hanifin before his trade and contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. Free-agent options could include Carolina’s Brett Pesce or Brady Skjei or Florida’s Brandon Montour, regardless of his recent interaction with Bruins captain Brad Marchand. Money talks and time heals all wounds.

LATEST HURRICANES SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he didn’t expect Brett Pesce to return with the Carolina Hurricanes. He indicated the Hurricanes’ offer to the Pesce camp last summer was a five-year deal worth $5 million annually.

Friedman believes Martin Necas could be traded this summer. The 25-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. He thinks the Hurricanes will prioritize re-signing Jake Guentzel.

Winger Seth Jarvis has surpassed Necas on the Hurricanes’ depth chart, making him more of a priority contract-wise. Jarvis is coming off his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce was the subject of trade speculation last summer, which was an early indication of how poorly those contract negotiations were going. The Hurricanes retained him for this season. His absence due to injury contributed to their elimination from the second round by the New York Rangers. He missed 12 games in the regular season but the decline in his stats likely won’t hurt his free-agent value.

Necas could draw plenty of interest from teams seeking additional scoring depth. He’s been mentioned as a possible trade option for the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens. Necas is completing a two-year, $6 million contract and will likely attempt to more than double his money on his next deal.

HOLLAND, BERGEVIN AMONG RUMORED CANDIDATES FOR BLUE JACKETS’ JOB

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland’s report of rumors linking Oilers general manager Ken Holland to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Holland is in the final season of his contract with the Oilers. The Blue Jackets are in the market for a new general manager after firing Jarmo Kekalainen in February.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont reports speculation the Blue Jackets could consider former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin to fill their vacant GM position. Bergevin is currently working in the Los Angeles Kings’ front office.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2024

by | Apr 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2024

The Bruins downed the Leafs and the Hurricanes beat the Islanders in the opening games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Get the details plus the latest on other postseason clubs in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk scored twice and collected an assist as his club rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their best-of-seven opening-round series. Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots as David Kampf was the only Leaf to score in this contest. Game 2 of this series goes Monday night in Boston.

Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs’ efforts to establish a physical presence against the Bruins backfired. They were undisciplined, took too many bad penalties and were sloppy defensively against savvy opponents who emerged victorious by sticking to their game plan.

Leafs forwards William Nylander and Bobby McMann missed this game due to injuries. We have no more details because the Leafs won’t have daily injury updates during the playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes drew first blood against the New York Islanders by beating them 3-1 to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round series. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 33 shots while Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist. Kyle MacLean replied for the Islanders. Game 2 is Monday in Carolina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders dominated large stretches of this game defensively, especially in the second period. However, they were unable to capitalize offensively. Andersen played a big part in that but the Isles best scorers didn’t get more quality scoring chances against him.

PLAYOFF NOTES

NHL.COM: Four other first-round series begin on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Lightning face off against the Florida Panthers (12:30 ET), the Washington Capitals meet the New York Rangers (3 PM ET), the Colorado Avalanche square off against the Winnipeg Jets (7 pm ET) and the Nashville Predators face the Vancouver Canucks (10 pm ET).

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche announced on Saturday that winger Jonathan Drouin will miss the series against the Jets with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A tough break for Drouin and the Avalanche. The 29-year-old winger enjoyed a career-best 56-point performance this season.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone (lacerated spleen) and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (appendectomy) are good to go for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon sought to address critics for his club placing Stone on long-term injury reserve for the second straight year. They used the salary cap savings to bring in Anthony Mantha, Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl before the trade deadline.

It was originally reported that Stone wouldn’t be ready to return until later in the playoffs if the Golden Knights advanced past the first round. His clearance for Game 1 of their opening-round series drew accusations of salary-cap circumvention from their critics.

McCrimmon said the NHL is “100 percent involved in any of these LTIR situations”, pointing out the league had access to all medical information on Stone’s condition.

The Golden Knights did nothing wrong. Per the collective bargaining agreement, every NHL team can use LTIR for salary-cap relief whenever their players are sidelined for at least 10 games and 24 days of the regular season. Every club has at some point since LTIR was implemented in 2005.

Nevertheless, these instances have drawn grumbling in some corners that could lead to changes in LTIR rules, perhaps by making the salary cap count during the playoffs. Those changes, however, won’t occur until the next round of collective bargaining between the NHL and NHL Players Association in 2026.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks captain Logan Couture hopes that next season is better for him than the current one. The 35-year-old center missed all but six games due to a deep groin injury revealed to be Osteitis pubis.

Couture plans to resume skating in July. He said he’s drawn encouragement from other players around the league who suffered a similar condition. The Sharks medical staff are optimistic he’ll be ready for training camp in September.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Chicago Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard will suit up for Canada at next month’s IIHF World Championships in Czechia.