NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2026

by | May 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2026

The Hurricanes defeat the Canadiens to tie the Eastern Conference Final, the latest on the Avalanche and Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, squaring the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.

Eric Robinson opened the scoring for the Hurricanes while Jalen Chatfield and Mark Jankowski each collected two assists.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images)

Josh Anderson scored both goals for the Canadiens. Linemate Phillip Danault had two assists, and Jakub Dobes stopped 23 shots.

The series moves to Montreal for the next two games, with Game 3 on Monday at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After getting humbled in Game 1, the real Hurricanes showed up for Game 2. They were more positionally sound and did a terrific job disrupting Montreal’s puck-moving ability, especially through the neutral zone. Meanwhile, they generated plenty of sustained pressure in the Canadiens’ zone, keeping them hemmed in for long periods.

The Canadiens did a good job defensively for the most part, but they were frustrated offensively for much of this game. Anderson’s goals resulted from generating opportunities by driving to the net to create traffic and rebounds. The Habs must do more of that, rather than wait for the perfect scoring opportunities, because the Hurricanes are taking away their time and space to create those plays.

Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson was shaken up from a hit by Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall during overtime and limped to the bench. Head coach Martin St. Louis was not asked about Hutson’s condition, so perhaps he’s not that badly hurt. The Habs cannot afford to lose their top defenseman, who has also been their most reliable offensive player in this postseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said it will be up to Cale Makar to determine whether he’ll return to the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, who hold a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Avs’ superstar defenseman missed the first two games with an undisclosed injury suffered during their second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Bednar said Makar is “doing all the work” attempting to get back into this series, but the final decision rests with the blueliner.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak believes the Avalanche needs more production from its stars, with or without Makar. The usually high-scoring Avs managed only three goals in the first two games against the Golden Knights.

Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Brock Nelson combined for one assist in those two games. They have no points at even strength.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights are 17-4-1 since John Tortorella took over as head coach on March 29.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have done a fine job neutralizing the Avalanche’s offense. They’re getting solid goaltending from Carter Hart, they’re winning the puck battles, they’re blocking shots relentlessly, and they’re counter-attacking quickly.

If the Golden Knights win Game 3 on Sunday, the Avalanche will end up in a hole in this series that’s so deep they’re unable to climb out of it.

TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Scott Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2026

by | May 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2026

The Golden Knights go up 2-0 over the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, plus the latest on Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2. Carter Hart stopped 29 shots, Jack Eichel tied the game, and Ivan Barbashev tallied the winning and insurance goals for the Golden Knights. Ross Colton scored, and Scott Wedgwood made 22 saves for the Avalanche.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev (NHL Images).

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

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Colorado pressed to expand on their 1-0 lead, but Hart shut the door while his teammates frustrated the Avalanche by blocking shots and taking away the shooting lanes. This was the first loss in 46 games this season when the Avs took a lead into the third period.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Golden Knights winger Mark Stone remained sidelined with injuries. While both clubs have felt their absences in this series, the Avalanche are truly suffering without Makar on their blueline.

The Avalanche’s top-five scorers (Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Devon Toews, and Nazem Kadri) have combined for one goal and three assists in this series. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights’ top scorers (Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, Ivan Barbashev, and Brett Howden) combined for five goals and six assists.

THE ATHLETIC: Barry Svrluga looked at why Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin might return for one more season, and why he might not.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is no longer the dominant force he once was, but he put up a respectable 32 goals and 64 points in 82 games this season, averaging a team-leading 4:29 of power-play time per game. However, his total time on ice per game dropped to a career-low 17:27. He could end up becoming more of a power-play specialist next season as his even-strength ice time continues to decline.

Ovechkin must be honest with himself this offseason. While trying to chase the Stanley Cup one more time may be suitable motivation to return, the physical demands of that long, difficult road will be tough on a player who will be 41 next season.

Time inevitably catches up with all players. It could finally overtake the greatest goal scorer in NHL history next season.

THE ATHLETIC: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said he believes the contract talks between Penguins management and teammate Evgeni Malkin are in a good place.

“I’ve just always expected to be playing with him,” Crosby said. “I don’t know. After talking with everyone at the end of the year, it felt like it was in a good place in terms of getting something done.”

Crosby is optimistic, but he stressed that he’s not making assumptions or forecasting what could happen. “I’ve found out many times that doing that can be a bad idea.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby obviously wants his friend and long-time teammate back for one more year. Ultimately, it comes down to what Malkin and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas are comfortable with for a contract and his role with the club next season. We’ll find out by July 1.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon, who admitted there were problems in the club’s dressing room this season.

Appearing on the “Donnie and Dhali Show”, Dillon said there were “a lot of those elephants in the room this year.”

Nichols believes one of those issues involved former GM Tom Fitzgerald’s publicly asking Ondrej Palat and Dougie Hamilton to waive their no-trade clauses amid his failed attempt to acquire Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Young defenseman Simon Nemec and center Dawson Mercer also surfaced in trade rumors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichols believes new GM Sunny Mehta has a big job ahead of him as he attempts to resolve these issues. His efforts will determine whether the Devils can bounce back as a playoff contender next season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL head coach Bob Hartley announced his retirement.

Hartley, 65, spent parts of 13 seasons coaching the Colorado Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames from 1998-99 to 2015-16. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001 and took home the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 2015 as the Flames ended a six-year playoff drought.

Since 2016, Hartley has coached in the KHL and in Switzerland.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In 944 regular-season NHL games, Hartley has a record of 463 wins, 361 losses, 61 ties, and 59 overtime losses. He’s 35th all-time in wins. In 95 playoff games, his record is 54 wins and 41 losses.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

by | May 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

The Golden Knights take Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Canadiens and Hurricanes, Sidney Crosby sheds light on his future, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF NEWS

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights took the first game of the Western Conference Final by holding off the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Carter Hart made 36 saves, Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his 10th goal of this postseason, Jack Eichel got his 15th assist, and Mitch Marner got his 19th point for the Golden Knights as they lead all playoff scorers in those categories. Brett Howden also scored to extend his road game goal streak to six games.

Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog rallied the Avalanche to cut the Golden Knights’ lead to 3-2 before Nic Dowd iced the victory for Vegas with an empty-net goal.

Game 2 is Friday in Denver, starting at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Avalanche have trailed in this postseason, having swept the Los Angeles Kings and eliminated the Minnesota Wild in five games.

The absence of superstar defenseman Cale Makar was a factor in the Avs’ loss to the Golden Knights. He’s been nursing a suspected shoulder injury throughout this postseason. Makar is listed as day-to-day and could return for Game 2.

Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup after missing the last two games of the second round with an upper-body injury.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone missed this game as he’s been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Game 3 of their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. However, he skated with the scratches during the optional skate on Wednesday, suggesting he could return to action at some point in this series.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens must shoot more often if they hope to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, which begins on Thursday in Raleigh at 8 pm ET. The Habs have mustered the second-lowest shots-per-game (25.1) among the 16 postseason clubs, while the Hurricanes are the leaders with 33.9.

TVA SPORTS: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis missed practice yesterday for family reasons, but he will be behind their bench for the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Henkel listed five ways the Hurricanes can defeat the Canadiens and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Getting more production from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis is the most crucial. The trio has yet to combine for an even-strength goal in this postseason thus far and had only six high-danger scoring chances through the first two rounds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake has carried the offensive load thus far for the Hurricanes. They’ve provided this club with the secondary scoring punch that they lacked in their recent postseason appearances. If the Aho line gets going, the Hurricanes will be a more formidable opponent.

IN OTHER HEADLINES…

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put to rest any thought of retirement once his contract expires at the end of next season.

“Not at all,” Crosby said when asked if next season would be his last. “I said year to year because of where the team is at.” He explained that it made sense for salary-cap flexibility. It didn’t mean that he would consider retirement at the end of each season.

The 38-year-old Penguins captain laughed when asked if he could play another five years. “That would be nice,” he replied. He added that he wants to keep playing for as many years as possible.

Crosby is currently playing for Canada in the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

NHL.COM: The National Hockey League was named the League of the Year by Sports Business Journal. It is being honored during a year when it has expanded its global footprint, with record attendance, soaring revenue, a collective bargaining agreement through 2030, and an $11 billion media rights deal with Rogers Communications in Canada.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed head coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year contract extension. Ruff guided the Sabres to their first playoff berth since 2010-11, and their first postseason victory since 2006-07.

WKBW’s Matthew Bove reports Sabres forward Tage Thompson said he was dealing with some lower-body injuries during the postseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.25 million.

NEW YORK POST: The Sabres’ elimination from the second round of the playoffs has secured the Rangers the 26th overall pick in the first round of this year’s draft. The pick originally belonged to the Dallas Stars and was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade last summer. The Rangers also hold the fifth-overall pick in this draft.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders reached an affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Trenton Ironhawks.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Former Blue Jackets radio and TV color analyst Bill Davidge passed away at age 72. He began his career with the Blue Jackets as a scout in 1999 and transitioned to broadcasting in 2000 until his retirement in 2019.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Davidge’s family, his former broadcasting partners, and the Blue Jackets organization.










2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

by | May 20, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prediction: Avalanche in 6.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2026

by | May 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2026

Check out the latest on the Sabres, Flyers, and Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn believes the Buffalo Sabres have a big summer ahead if they want to build on this season’s success.

Re-signing Alex Tuch will be the biggest roster issue facing the Sabres. Meeting his asking price could require making some moves to free up some salary-cap space.

Forward Beck Malenstyn is also an unrestricted free agent, while Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs are restricted free agents.

Defenseman Bowen Byram is a year away from UFA status and eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Fairburn noted that Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen showed his willingness to attempt to make big moves with his pursuit of St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas.

Kekalainen could pursue a goaltending upgrade if an opportunity arises this summer. He could also try to bring in another center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I noted yesterday, it’s rumored that Tuch’s camp seeks a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract ($10.625 million annual average value) that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall.

Fairburn noted that the Sabres enter the offseason with $12.9 million in salary cap space for 2026-27. A new contract for Tuch will eat up most of that and would result in a couple of cost-cutting moves.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey noted that Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek recently claimed that the Sabres could part ways with young goaltender Devon Levi. Bailey suggested the Philadelphia Flyers should look into acquiring the 24-year-old netminder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi was a college star who made a promising debut with the Sabres in 2022-23, but struggled to crack their roster full-time. Maybe Kekalainen would include him in a trade package for a center.

UPDATE ON THE FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at who could stay or go for the Philadelphia Flyers during the offseason.

Sophomore winger Matvei Michkov and winger Owen Tippett are among the players Kurz believes won’t be moved unless it’s in a blockbuster trade. Others in the category include Jamie Drysdale, Noah Cates, and Tyson Foerster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov and Tippett surfaced in trade rumors this season. I expect they (and the others on that list) will be back in the Flyers’ lineup this fall.

Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Garnet Hathaway are among those who could be pushed out if the Flyers make additions via trades or free agency this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen was a fixture in the rumor mill for the past three seasons, but the Flyers held onto him. Barring a significant addition that would an upgrade on the blueline, it’s doubtful he’ll be moved this summer.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco looked at what it could cost the Flyers to sign goaltender Dan Vladar to a contract extension.

Team sources claim the club is comfortable with a five-year deal worth slightly south of $6 million annually. If Vladar seeks closer to $7 million annually, a three-year deal might make sense for both sides.

Di Marco also claimed that the Flyers remain uncertain about what direction they’ll go with backup Samuel Ersson. If they decide to move on, Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a goalie they like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar finally got the chance to be a full-time starting goalie when the Flyers signed him to his current two-year contract. He played a major role in the club exceeding expectations and reaching the playoffs. Both sides will get something done to their mutual satisfaction that ensures he sticks around for at least another three years after next season.

COULD GOLDEN KNIGHTS WINGER PAVEL DOROFEYEV RECEIVE AN OFFER SHEET?

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman and Jesse Granger suggested that Pavel Dorofeyev’s scoring exploits in this postseason could make him the target for an offer sheet this summer.

The 25-year-old winger is completing a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.835 million. He has arbitration rights this summer. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights’ limited salary cap space could make Dorofeyev an enticing offer-sheet target for clubs seeking scoring depth.

A two-time 35-plus goal scorer, Dorofeyev could get a two-year deal with an AAV of $6.75 million. A six-year extension could reach $8.99 million annually, and an eight-year deal around $9.14.

The Golden Knights have about $11.7 million in projected salary-cap space. They must also re-sign pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames in January. It could cost a combined $16 million to retain Dorofeyev and Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goldman and Granger are taking into account the $8.8 million that will be available with Alex Pietrangelo on LTIR. The Golden Knights could find themselves having to shed salary to re-sign Dorofeyev and Andersson or risk losing the former to an offer sheet and the latter to free agency.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

by | May 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

The latest on the Avalanche and Golden Knights before Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, reaction to the Canucks firing head coach Adam Foote, the Devils to retain coach Sheldon Keefe, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights begins on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 pm ET in Denver.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

The Avalanche enter this series with superstar defenseman Cale Makar’s status for Game 1 uncertain. He missed his third consecutive practice on Tuesday, sparking speculation that he’s dealing with an injury. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he’s not concerned yet about Makar’s status for the series-opening contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar’s absence, even for one game, would be a challenging adjustment for the Avalanche. Even if he plays, his performance could be hampered by this possible injury.

TSN: The NHL Coaches’ Association is closely monitoring the situation involving former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy late in the regular season, replacing him with John Tortorella on an interim basis. The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings recently asked the Golden Knights for permission to speak with Cassidy, but they’ve yet to do so.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that teams have asked for permission to speak with Cassidy.

“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands it, as well.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, who are within their rights to grant or deny permission to clubs that are interested in hiring him.

However, McCrimmon’s excuse doesn’t hold water. The Golden Knights have had almost a week off between playoff series, giving him plenty of time to consider whether he’ll grant permission to those clubs to speak with Cassidy.

SPORTSNET: The Golden Knights lost their appeal for breaking the league’s media access rules following Game 6 of their second-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000, and the Golden Knights will lose their second-round draft pick in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league has had enough of Tortorella’s battles with the media and with the Golden Knights for ignoring previous warnings about violating the media access rules.

These shenanigans have robbed the Golden Knights of positive coverage for their upcoming series with the Avalanche.

THE SCORE: The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Adam Foote on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Foote was promoted from assistant coach to bench boss last year when Rick Tocchet departed for the Philadelphia Flyers. He faced huge obstacles this season that would’ve challenged even the most experienced head coach.

Manny Malholtra could be the favorite to take over from Foote. He’s currently the head coach of their farm team in Abbotsford. He also has NHL experience as an assistant coach with the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

TSN: Former Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to pursue a new coaching job for the time being. He was recently fired after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knoblauch can afford to take his time and consider his future. He’s under contract with the Oilers for the next three seasons.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Sheldon Keefe will return as the Devils’ head coach, but he will need a couple of new assistants. Goaltending coach Dave Rogalski was relieved of his duties, while Sergei Brylin will be taking on a new role within the organization.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will resume his playing career next season after undergoing a procedure two months ago to remove a blood clot. The 22-year-old missed all but 12 games this season because of the clot.