NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 30, 2026

by | Jun 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 30, 2026

The Canucks acquire Brendan Gallagher and trade Nils Hoglander, Radko Gudas returns to the Panthers, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE/THE PROVINCE: The Montreal Canadiens traded Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations. The Canadiens also retained 50 percent of the 34-year-old winger’s $6.5 million cap hit for 2026-27.

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After 14 seasons, Gallagher no longer fit into the Canadiens’ system. The club did right by him by trading him to a team he wanted to join. He’ll bring grit, experience, and leadership to the rebuilding Canucks. Gallagher also has a connection with Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, as the two were teammates with the Canadiens during the latter’s final season as a player in 2014-15.

THE PROVINCE/THE TENNESSEAN: Speaking of the Canucks, they traded winger Nils Hoglander to the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick in 2029.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoglander, 25, tallied a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24, but he struggled to regain that form in 2024-25 and missed most of last season with a lower-body injury. The winger has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $3 million.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Florida Panthers acquired Radko Gudas from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the contract rights of pending free-agent forward A.J. Greer.

Gudas played three seasons with the Panthers from 2020-21 to 2022-23 before departing for the Ducks as a free agent in 2023. Over the past two seasons, he served as the Ducks’ captain.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers appear to be adding more grit and snarl to a lineup that already has plenty of it. However, the 36-year-old Gudas’ performance isn’t at the same level it was during his previous tenure in Florida. His knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews ended the latter’s season, earning him a five-game suspension and condemnation from NHL fans.

Greer could replace some of Gudas’ physicality if the Ducks can sign him before the free-agent market opens on Wednesday. He’s completing a two-year contract with an AAV of $850,000.

TSN/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Panthers also acquired goaltender Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the Panthers are bringing in Schmid to replace pending UFA backup goalie Daniil Tarasov. They are still believed to be in contract talks with starter Sergei Bobrovsky.

Schmid was third on the Golden Knights’ depth chart, behind Carter Hart and Adin Hill. Some pundits had suggested that Hill might become a trade candidate, but his struggles last season, his 10-team trade list, and his $6.25 million AAV through 2030-31 make him difficult to move.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t expected to sign forwards Corey Perry and Oliver Bjorkstrand to new contracts, making them eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

TORONTO SUN/TSN: The Maple Leafs opted not to qualify the rights of winger Matias Maccelli, making him UFA-eligible on July 1. They signed defenseman Troy Stecher to a two-year, $2.7 million contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs acquired Maccelli last summer to fill the gap at right wing following the departure of Mitch Marner. He had a disappointing performance this season, with 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 71 games. Qualifying the 25-year-old’s rights would’ve cost $4.11 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS/DAILY FACEOFF/PUCKPEDIA: The Utah Mammoth signed winger Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year, $1.75 million contract extension and inked defenseman Nick DeSimone to a two-year, $2 million deal. 

Meanwhile, Barrett Hayton becomes the first player this summer to file for salary arbitration. By doing so, the 25-year-old center is ineligible to receive an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia has corrected this. It’s the Mammoth taking Hayton to arbitration, not the other way around. Because it’s a club-elected arbitration, he’s still eligible to receive an offer sheet. 

THE WINNIPEG SUN/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Winnipeg Jets traded forward David Gustafsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Jack St. Ivany.

THE ATHLETIC: The Minnesota Wild did not qualify the rights of Bobby Brink. However, they’re working to re-sign the 24-year-old winger before his UFA eligibility on July 1. He’s coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild acquired Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers at the March trade deadline. He had arbitration rights, which the Wild want to avoid.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators have not qualified the rights of winger Arthur Kaliyev, making him UFA-eligible on July 1.

DAILY FACEOFF: Other notable players whose rights weren’t qualified include Samuel Ersson of the Ottawa Senators, Joe Veleno of the Montreal Canadiens, Paul Cotter of the New Jersey Devils, Jordan Harris of the Boston Bruins, Philip Tomasino of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philipp Kurashev of the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are believed to be negotiating a new contract with Ersson.

MAYOR’S MANOR: The Los Angeles Kings added Phil Housley, Chris Hajt, and Ray Whitney to their coaching staff.










NHL Rumor Roundup – June 29, 2026

by | Jun 29, 2026

NHL Rumor Roundup – June 29, 2026

Check out the latest on Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Islanders blueliner Alexander Romanov, Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN’s Chris Johnston reports there is some frustration among NHL general managers who haven’t been able to get the Columbus Blue Jackets to engage in trade talks for defenseman Zach Werenski.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 28-year-old Norris Trophy winner reportedly doesn’t intend to extend his contract next summer. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2028.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

According to Johnston, there doesn’t seem to be any urgency from the Blue Jackets to move the Werenski situation along.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: To be fair to the Blue Jackets, they reportedly recently learned about Werenski’s intentions and were said to be gauging the trade market last week to determine his value.

Given the two years remaining on Werenski’s contract, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell is in no rush to move him. The Jackets GM is also likely trying to plot a path forward for his club after learning of Werenski’s intentions. He’s also probably still dealing with learning on Friday that winger Kirill Marchenko doesn’t intend to sign an extension this summer. The 25-year-old winger is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights.

The best scenario for the Jackets would be to move those two players this summer for the best possible returns, thus avoiding speculation over their futures becoming an unnecessary distraction. However, doing so will also be a major setback for this club’s hopes of getting over the playoff hump after narrowly missing the last two postseasons.

THE HOCKEY NEWS’ Stefen Rosner observed there were some trade rumors regarding New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov.

Rosner considers the Romanov speculation to be similar to the chatter swirling around Islanders forward Mathew Barzal. Teams are calling, but that doesn’t mean the Isles are selling.

Romanov’s no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until next July. Rosner’s believes the blueliner’s injury-shortened season has some general managers looking to buy low on a quality defenseman under a long-term contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Romanov, 26, completed the first season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. It’s doubtful that the Isles will move him at this stage of his career.

HOCKEY 24/7’s Frank Seravalli reports he’s not expecting the Carolina Hurricanes to buy out the remainder of Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s contract, even though this would be their last chance to do so at 1/3 the remaining value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players who are 25 or younger can be bought out at one-third the remaining value of their contract over twice the remaining term. For those 26 and older, it’s two-thirds at twice the remaining term.

According to Seravalli, the Hurricanes are actively seeking to trade Kotkaniemi. With the salary cap rising, his $4.8 million AAV will be considered the norm for a third-line center. He’s seen as a player with trade value given how few centers there are in the market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A once-promising Montreal Canadiens forward, Kotkaniemi signed a one-year offer sheet with the Hurricanes in the summer of 2021. He signed an eight-year extension the following season.

Kotkaniemi seemed poised for a breakout season after tallying 18 goals and 43 points in 82 games during the 2022-23 campaign. However, he struggled over the next two seasons. His inconsistency this season made him a frequent healthy scratch, and he never played a single game during the Hurricanes’ recent Stanley Cup run.

The limited number of quality centers in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets could make Kotkaniemi a reclamation project, depending on the Hurricanes’ asking price.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Danny Webster recently reported that the Golden Knights are expected to have over $13 million in salary-cap space once sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is placed on season-ending long-term injury reserve on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was some talk that Pietrangelo might attempt to return to action in 2026-27 after missing all of this season recovering from hip surgeries. It appears that’s not in the cards for the 36-year-old blueliner, who has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.8 million.

Webster expects that between $8 million and $9 million of that cap space will be put toward signing defenseman Rasmus Andersson to a new contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights acquired Andersson from the Calgary Flames in January. Some observers wondered what was taking them so long to sign the 28-year-old blueliner to an extension. In March, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the Golden Knights had to wait until July 1 to do so, as that’s when they would be cap-compliant.

Teams are allowed to exceed the salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason. However, they can only do that starting on July 1, when the new season officially begins. They must be cap-compliant when their regular-season schedule begins in October.










NHL Trade Tracker – June 26, 2026

by | Jun 26, 2026

NHL Trade Tracker – June 26, 2026

The Utah Mammoth traded the 23rd overall pick to the Detroit Red Wings for goaltender Sebastian Cossa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth needed a backup for Karel Vejmelka, who could one day become a starter. Cossa will have an opportunity to take over that role in Utah. 

The Anaheim Ducks trade Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the No. 15 and 29 picks in this draft (as per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet).

Anaheim Ducks trade center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McTavish was a fixture in the rumor mill for months. He’ll likely slot into their second-line center position with promising Dalibor Dvorsky centering their third line. He can also skate on the left wing. McTavish, 23, is a cost-controlled young player with an AAV of $7 million through 2030-31.

The New York Rangers acquire winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in this draft, a third-rounder in this draft, and a conditional 2028 first-round pick (top-10 protected). 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent, meaning the cap-strapped Golden Knights might not have been able to match an offer sheet for him. The 25-year-old winger is a two-time 30-plus goal scorer who should be a solid fit among the Rangers’ top-six forwards. It’s also a significant loss for the Golden Knights’ offense. 

**UPDATE**  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Rangers will sign Dorofeyev to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $11 million. 

The Boston Bruins have acquired winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and the 2028 first-round pick (originally from the Florida Panthers, top-10 protected).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A year ago, the Mammoth acquired Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring, signing him to a five-year deal worth an average annual value of $7.7 million. After tallying 68 points with the Sabres in 2024-25, he had 47 points in 82 games with the Mammoth, and no points in six playoff games.

The Chicago Blackhawks trade winger Andre Burakovsky to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 sixth-round pick (as per Frank Seravalli).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Straightforward salary dump by the Blackhawks. Burakovsky has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.5 million. His best season was in 2021-22 with the Avalanche, netting 61 points. He hasn’t come close to those numbers since.

The Anaheim Ducks trade defenseman Olen Zellweger to the Buffalo Sabres for prospect center Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick (45th overall) in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s your replacement for Bowen Byram, Sabres fans.

Ottawa Senators acquire goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs acquired Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers in a multiplayer trade on June 16.

The Montreal Canadiens acquire forward Brett Berard from the New York Rangers for defenseman William Trudeau.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2026

by | Jun 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2026

The Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as head coach, the latest Golden Knights news, two coaches receive contract extensions, Rangers center Vincent Trocheck changes agents, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

MAPLE LEAFS END COACHING SEARCH, NAME HILLER AS THEIR NEW BENCH BOSS.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced the hiring of Jim Hiller as their new head coach.

Hiller had been head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, hired midway through the 2023-24 season, and fired 59 games into this season. Before that, he spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs (2015-16 to 2018-19), New York Islanders, and the Kings.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hiller was not among the candidates mentioned by NHL insiders covering the Leafs, earning that group considerable scorn on social media.

Eric Stephens of The Athletic covered Hiller’s tenure with the Kings, pointing out that they had success with him as head coach until pivotal moments.

Stephens cited Hiller’s interpersonal communication, adaptability, and willingness to shake up his lines when things weren’t working to be among his strengths. Nevertheless, his botched coach’s challenge during Game 3 of the Kings’ opening-round series against the Edmonton Oilers last year changed the course of that series, as did his player deployment as that series went on.

Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star noted that one reason the Leafs hired Hiller was that he’s considered a player’s coach and an early adopter of analytics. He also had a good relationship with Auston Matthews and William Nylander during his previous tenure with the Leafs.

Hiller’s hiring isn’t going down well in some part of Leafs Nation, with Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun calling Hiller an underwhelming hire whose limited resume leaves something to be desired.

Time will tell whether Hiller can silence his critics and get the Maple Leafs back on track. If he succeeds, he’ll be heralded as a coaching genius. If he fails, it’ll only deepen the dread and anxiety among Leafs supporters.

THE LATEST GOLDEN KNIGHTS NEWS

NHL.COM: As expected, the Vegas Golden Knights named Ryan Craig as their new head coach. It’s a promotion for Craig, who spent the past three seasons coaching their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said his club permitted one NHL team to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy midway through the postseason. However, it did not come to fruition. He added that permission to speak to Cassidy will be handed on a case-by-case basis.

McCrimmon also provided updates on several injured players.

William Karlsson will require surgery for a broken wrist suffered during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Defenseman Noah Hanifin played with an upper-body injury that would’ve sidelined him for six to eight weeks during the regular season. Blueliner Brayden McNabb received 30 stitches to his nose after being struck by a puck, and he played through two other injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: SinBin.vegas reported team captain Mark Stone had a torn adductor muscle.

OTHER NOTABLE NHL NEWS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Washington Capitals have agreed to a multiyear extension for head coach Spencer Carbery, and Utah Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny got a one-year extension.

TSN: Darren Dreger said sources claim that New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has hired Pat Brisson and CAA Sports to represent him. The move comes amid rumors claiming the Rangers intend to trade the 33-year-old Trocheck this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and the Maple Leafs are believed to be among the suitors for Trocheck, who wants to remain in the Eastern Conference.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT/THE MERCURY NEWS: The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall pick that originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres acquired Kesselring last June from the Utah Mammoth in a blockbuster move that also saw Josh Doan head to Buffalo in exchange for winger JJ Peterka. He was projected to play top-four minutes alongside Owen Power, but he suffered early-season injuries and eventually lost his spot in the roster, playing only 34 games.

Kesselring will get a chance to reset in San Jose as GM Mike Grier attempts to bolster his blueline. The 26-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a two-year, $2.8 million contract, so he should be an affordable signing for the Sharks.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators hired Jamie Langenbrunner as special assistant to general manager Chris MacFarland. Langenbrunner had been with the Boston Bruins in various front-office roles since 2015.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche depth forward Zakhar Bardakov is reportedly returning to the KHL to play for SKA St. Petersburg. He had 10 points in 60 games with the Avalanche this season.

TSN: The NHL’s first contract buyout window opened yesterday and will close at 5 pm ET on June 30.

Arbitration hearings are scheduled from July 20 through August 1. The deadline for players to file for arbitration is 5 pm ET on July 5.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 17, 2026

by | Jun 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 17, 2026

The latest on the Golden Knights, John Carlson won’t re-sign with the Ducks, the latest trades, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights announced Tuesday that head coach John Tortorella will not be returning next season.

Tortorella was hired on an interim basis when the Golden Knights fired bench boss Bruce Cassidy on March 29. They went 7-0-1 over the remainder of the regular season to clinch first place in the Pacific Division and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, falling in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Former Vegas Golden Knights coach John Tortorella (NHL.com).

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone credited Tortorella with giving the club “a shot of adrenaline” when they were struggling down the stretch. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for his professionalism and everything he did in his short time here.”

Center Jack Eichel said it was “an honor to play for (Tortorella) every day and I think all the guys in the room would agree.” Goaltender Carter Hart spoke of the respect he and his teammates had for Tortorella.

Danny Webster believes all signs point to the Golden Knights promoting Ryan Craig as their next head coach. Craig is currently the coach of their farm team, the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.

NHL.COM: Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner credited the move to the Golden Knights last summer and his work improving his mental health with helping relieve the stress and pressure he’d felt during his final seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marner, 29, led all scorers in the 2026 postseason with 29 points in 22 games.

DAILY FACEOFF: Rasmus Andersson said he’d love to return with the Golden Knights. The 28-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Calgary Flames in January and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.55 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that the Golden Knights are waiting until July 1 to re-sign Andersson, as that’s when they’ll be cap-compliant to do so.

However, Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes his inconsistent play could make Andersson a risky signing. She noted that his current market value is $6.8 million annually.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported John Carlson will not be returning with the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old defenseman’s agent informed the Ducks that his client will be testing the UFA market on July 1. Carlson prefers to return to the Eastern Conference to be close to his family.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite his age, the puck-moving Carlson had 60 points in 71 games split between the Washington Capitals and the Ducks. He’s completing an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8 million.

TORONTO SUN/PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Maple Leafs traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Flyers on Tuesday for goalie Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick in 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move indicates Dennis Hildeby will back up Leafs starter Anthony Stolarz. The rise of promising netminder Artur Akhtyamov made it possible to part ways with Woll to free up some cap space. Ersson could end up with their AHL affiliate if they re-sign the restricted free agent, who has arbitration rights this summer.

Andrae’s puck-moving skills will be seen as an improvement over Benoit for the Leafs. Like Ersson, he’s an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. Both players should be affordable re-signings.

Woll has an injury history, but he should be a more reliable backup for Flyers starter Dan Vladar. Benoit currently slots in as a seventh defenseman, but his physical play could earn him more playing time.

THE TENNESSEAN/THE DENVER POST: The Nashville Predators acquired center Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026, a third-rounder in 2027 that originally belonged to the Avalanche, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Chris MacFarland’s first trade since leaving the Avalanche to become team president and general manager of the Predators.

Colton was the obvious prize here for the Predators. The versatile forward is under contract for two more seasons and should provide experienced depth to their checking lines. This move frees up Colton’s $4 million AAV from the cap-strapped Avalanche’s books, which could be put toward re-signing center Jack Drury and defenseman Brett Kulak.

Speaking of the Predators, MacFarland said head coach Andrew Brunette and his staff will be back next season.

CBC.CA: The CBC will no longer broadcast NHL games after it and national rights-holder Sportsnet were unable to agree to a new sub-licensing deal that would’ve allowed the public broadcaster to continue airing games on its Saturday night program Hockey Night in Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the end of a 74-year era on CBC-TV. Hockey Night in Canada began in 1952 and for seven decades was a cultural institution for millions of Canadians, covering all aspects of the game. Heck, they even mentioned me back in 2007 on an intermission segment about the rise of hockey bloggers, which provided a welcome boost of traffic and new readers to this site.

This day was coming ever since Sportsnet won the bidding for the NHL’s Canadian national broadcast rights in 2014. It seems they no longer want to provide those Saturday night games for free through the public broadcaster.

CBC owns the Hockey Night in Canada brand, but it will no longer be used to televise NHL games. They could use it to broadcast PWHL games or perhaps junior or senior men’s hockey.

NHL.COM: Former NHL forward Kyle Calder passed away on Monday at age 47 following a brief illness.

Calder spent 10 seasons in the NHL from 1999-2000 to 2009-10 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. In 590 regular-season games, he tallied 114 goals and 180 assists for 294 points, and three points in 18 playoff games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Calder’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 15, 2026

by | Jun 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 15, 2026

What’s next for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights? Could Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck request a trade? What’s the latest on the Flyers? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE 2026 STANLEY CUP FINALISTS?

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark examined the keys to the offseason for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.

Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. They have Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov under contract for next season, so unless the Canes are comfortable carrying three goalies, Andersen could be the odd man out.

The Hurricanes must also negotiate with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but after that, they’ll likely fill in around the edges rather than make a big move as they did last summer when they signed Nikolaj Ehlers. They could extend defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield or look for third-pairing help elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Justin Pelletier of The News & Observer pointed out that the Hurricanes’ championship window remains wide open.

The Hurricanes have $11.9 million in cap space for 2026-27 to re-sign or replace their UFAs and to re-sign Nikishin. Thirteen of their 14 roster forwards, five of their seven defensemen, and two of their three goalies are under contract next season.

Pelletier pointed out the Hurricanes have 20 players signed through next season, and 15 signed beyond that. They won’t have any need to rebuild anytime soon.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights have salary-cap issues to address. They must decide if they’ll re-sign pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and they have to re-sign restricted free-agent winger Pavel Dorofeyev.

Goaltender Adin Hill backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup three years ago, but didn’t play in this postseason. He’s got five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million, and is a trade candidate this summer. They could also look at moving other players to free up salary cap room.

Alex Pietrangelo’s status is another factor. He missed this season recovering from hip surgery, but indicated he’ll try to come back next season. Pietrangelo has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $8.8 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have $4.625 million in cap space for 2026-27. They’ll get $8.8 million in cap relief if Pietrangelo remains on long-term injury reserve next season. They can exceed the $104 million cap by 10 percent starting on July 1, but must be cap-compliant when their regular season begins in October.

If Pietrangelo stays on LTIR and they take the 10 percent offseason overage, the Golden Knights could still lack sufficient cap room to re-sign Andersson and Dorofeyev. That means losing the former to free agency and potentially the latter to an offer sheet unless they make one or two cost-cutting moves.

COULD JETS GOALIE CONNOR HELLEBUYCK REQUEST A TRADE?

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: A reader asked Ken Wiebe if goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would follow the example of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin by requesting a trade.

Wiebe noted that Hellebuyck expressed displeasure with the Jets’ direction during his end-of-season media availability in April. However, there hasn’t been any real fallout yet.

Hellebuyck could be waiting to see what general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff does during the offseason to improve the roster during the upcoming draft weekend, free agency, and the summer trade market.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested the New Jersey Devils could chase Hellebuyck if they manage to trade away starter Jacob Markstrom. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes recently reported the Devils are gauging Markstrom’s value in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers have taken Hellebuyck’s comments to suggest that he wants out. However, what he actually said was the Jets had to improve to win the Stanley Cup. However, he could seek a trade in a year or two if they fail to make any meaningful improvement this summer.

THE LATEST FLYERS SPECULATION

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER’s Jackie Spiegel recently reported hearing there is mutual interest between the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who requested a trade last week.

Spiegel indicated that Nurse is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. She wondered what he might cost to acquire, whether the Oilers would retain part of his $9.25 million AAV, and if there was another move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers could have a bigger need for a right-shot defenseman with Rasmus Ristolainen having a year left on his contract. Nurse is also in his early thirties and earns the salary of a first-pairing defenseman, but his play is that of a second-pairing blueliner.

Unless the Oilers will retain a hefty chunk of Nurse’s salary, he might not be a fit for the Flyers.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources claimed the Flyers are close to a contract extension with goaltender Dan Vladar. According to Weekes, it’s a five-year extension with an AAV that could be in the mid-$5 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar’s goaltending played a significant role in the Flyers exceeding expectations this season by qualifying for the playoffs and advancing to the second round. The 28-year-old is completing the first season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.35 million.