NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2026

by | Sep 17, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2026

Check out the latest on Nikita Kucherov, Connor Hellebuyck, and Pavel Zacha in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois reiterated his intention to sign Nikita Kucherov to a contract extension. The 33-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s in the final season of an eight-year contract with a cap hit of $9.5 million.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

BriseBois didn’t put a deadline on the negotiations, but he’ll keep working on it. “The sooner the better, obviously. If we want to get technical, I guess he won’t be a free agent until July 1 of next year. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that point,” BriseBois said.

The Lightning GM believes both sides would’ve preferred getting a deal done by now. He said he’ll keep the lines of communication open with Kucherov’s agent. He also acknowledged the effect the rising salary cap has on player contracts, and how each one is different depending on the player and the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Surprisingly, Kucherov hasn’t signed an extension yet. There’s plenty of time for the two sides to reach an agreement, but the longer he goes without a new deal, the more speculation grows about his future in Tampa Bay.

Kucherov is among the league’s elite stars. He’s a three-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy and a two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner who also helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Coming off 130 points last season, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He could be the top player in next summer’s UFA market if he’s still unsigned by then.

Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News recently examined reasons why the Lightning should be concerned about Kucherov’s UFA status, citing his age and the limited competitive years remaining for the current roster. He also noted why they shouldn’t worry, suggesting they can pay him whatever he wants and that he might not want to leave.

It would be interesting to learn what the sticking points are in these negotiations. The Kucherov camp could be seeking a longer term or more money than the Lightning are willing to give. Given his age, those are reasonable concerns.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe reports Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen declined to comment about his rumored interest in Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Kekalainen said he never told anyone in the media about his discussions with other general managers, so he doesn’t know where they’re coming from. He also expressed confidence in his goalie trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres were reportedly close to acquiring Hellebuyck in late June, but the deal fell through after a swap of draft picks before the 2026 NHL Draft.

Kekalainen won’t publicly admit any interest in Hellebuyck because it would violate the league’s anti-tampering rules. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if the Sabres remain linked to the Jets goaltender in the rumor mill.

BOSTON HERALD: Earlier this week, Steve Conroy reported uncertainty remained about Pavel Zacha’s future with the Bruins.

The 29-year-old center is UFA-eligible next July. Bruins GM Don Sweeney said earlier this summer that signing Zacha was a priority, but a deal hasn’t materialized.

Zacha is due for an expensive raise from his current $4.75 million AAV. However, Conroy speculated the cost to re-sign the two-way center might not fit in the Bruins’ youth movement expected to take place over the next two years.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley reports Sweeney provided an update on Zacha’s contract situation. He stressed the center’s importance to the Bruins, adding that discussions are ongoing with his agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sweeney could take a wait-and-see approach with Zacha, who had a career-best 30 goals and 65 points last season. If he doesn’t meet or exceed those numbers, it could justify offering him a lesser deal. However, the asking price could be higher if he has another career year.

Zacha’s situation will be worth monitoring this season. He could become available by the March 1 trade deadline if the Bruins are out of playoff contention and he’s still unsigned. Contenders seeking depth at center will be very interested in Zacha.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 23, 2026

by | Aug 23, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 23, 2026

Why hasn’t Connor Hellebuyck been traded yet? Will we see more eight-year contract signings before the Sept. 15 deadline? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: The status of trade talks for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck topped Emily Sadler’s recent list of lingering offseason questions.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Sadler pointed out that a Hellebuyck trade seemed imminent two months ago. Since then, the chatter regarding the 33-year-old netminder has grown quiet. However, she noted that her colleague, Elliotte Friedman, recently suggested that it could pick up around training camp next month.

Hellebuyck’s teammate, defenseman Josh Morrissey, hopes that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner will stay put. “You can’t believe everything you might see or hear out there,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets captain Adam Lowry also hopes Hellebuyck stays. “Until something happens, he’s a Jet, he’s a good friend, and we’re excited to get him back”, Lowry said.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently discussed why Hellebuyck hasn’t been traded yet.

Hutton doubted that there’s any “buyer beware” attached to Hellebuyck. He thinks the Jets should move him at some point because of his age, pointing out that he won’t have much value left if they wait two or three years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets were reportedly working on a trade before the draft in late June that would’ve sent Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres, but the deal fell through. There’s been no indication that the two sides have revisited those discussions, and nary a peep from the vacationing insiders (such as Friedman) that they’re having any trade talks with other clubs.

That doesn’t mean a trade won’t happen once the calendar flips to September when training camps approach. It seems like the Jets prefer to hang onto Hellebucyk, hoping he’ll backstop them to a bounce-back performance following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, but that could change if a rival club steps up with an acceptable offer, whatever that might be.

TSN: With the maximum term for re-signing players to eight-year contracts dropping to seven years for deals signed after Sept. 15, some observers wonder if we’ll see any further eight-year deals signed before then.

The last eight-year contract signed was Ville Koivunen’s recent deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for an average annual value of $4 million. It could be the last one ever signed. 

Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Ducks is the top player still unsigned among this summer’s restricted free agents. Others include Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings, and Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gauthier and Fantilli could be considered the most worthy of inking eight-year contracts, but they could follow the recent trend of short-term deals for higher average annual salaries.

Next summer’s unrestricted free-agent class includes defensemen Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild. Both are in their late-twenties and prime candidates for eight-year contract extensions before Sept 15. While Makar may be open to that deal, Hughes reportedly prefers a three-year extension.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the top forward in that UFA class, but at 33, he’s unlikely to get an eight-year extension offer.

Others include Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson, Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha, and Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrincat’s status remains in limbo until the Wings find a new general manager, who might not be hired until sometime in September. Batherson reportedly wants an eight-year deal, but the Senators seem cool to that possibility. The Bruins are believed to be interested in re-signing Zacha, but nothing suggests the two sides are close.

Robertson recently signed a one-year contract. Given how contentious those negotiations were, which included his rejection of a trade to the Seattle Kraken because he wouldn’t sign an eight-year deal with them, it’s unlikely he’ll be inking an eight-year contract with the Stars before Sept. 15.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2026

by | Aug 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2026

The Lightning could face difficult extension talks with Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitil weighs in on new Oilers coach Mike Babcock, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato recently suggested that Nikita Kucherov’s contract extension talks with the Tampa Bay Lightning could get complicated.

Kucherov is coming off a 130-point performance in 2025-26, including a remarkable stretch in which he netted 107 points in a 53-game stretch. That effort earned the 33-year-old winger his second Hart Memorial Trophy.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July, Kucherov can now sign an extension with the Lightning. He’s in the final season of an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.5 million.

Amato doesn’t think it’s unreasonable for Kucherov to seek an $18 million AAV on his next contract. However, his age suggests he’s unlikely to accept a modest raise over his current salary. He suggested something comparable to the $14 million AAV that Leon Draisaitl is currently earning with the Edmonton Oilers.

Given Kucherov’s age, he’ll likely try to get as much term as possible, while the Lightning could prefer a shorter term. However, Amato speculated that the Bolts could entertain a league-maximum seven-year deal if signed before the maximum is shortened by a year after Sept. 15 or a six-year deal if signed after Sept. 15 if it’ll reduce the AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Lightning have $30.675 million in projected cap space for 2027-28, with 14 active roster players (including all core players except Kucherov) under contract.

A new contract for Kucherov could take up half that cap space, but it should leave enough for the Lightning to fill out their roster and ice a competitive team.

Being in a no-tax state could also work in the Lightning’s favor as in the past. Nevertheless, Kucherov will get a lucrative new deal, either with Tampa Bay or another club if he goes to market next summer.

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl is looking forward to playing under Mike Babcock, the controversial new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

“I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable, and I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability, you know?” Draisaitl said. “Like, we’re looking to be coached. We’re looking to get better, and I sometimes deserve (to be yelled at) too, just like anyone else does. I don’t think Babs is going to care overly much who we are in terms of that. I think sometimes that’s needed.”

Draisaitl also said that he believes Babcock will bring a different attitude and mentality to the Oilers. He claimed that everyone on the team is excited about the coming season and is looking forward to playing for their new coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is gambling that Babcock can help the Oilers return to Stanley Cup contention. If it pays off, he’ll look like a genius for taking that risk. But if this gambit fails, it could have far-reaching consequences for the Oilers, especially the future of superstar Connor McDavid, who is in the first season of a two-year contract.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Traikos dismissed recent speculation suggesting Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper might leave at the end of this season to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Traikos pointed out that Cooper won the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach for the first time last season. He also noted that Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois intends to keep him around for a long time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Traikos also noted that the Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller this spring as their new bench boss. Unless the Maple Leafs repeat last season’s disappointing performance, they’re unlikely to seek a replacement next summer.

Anything’s possible, of course, and maybe Cooper decides he needs a change and a new challenge, or maybe he and the Bolts won’t agree to a new contract. Ending the Maple Leafs six-decades-and-counting Cup drought would be the ultimate test of his coaching abilities. Nevertheless, it seems more likely that he stays in Tampa Bay.

BOSTON HERALD: Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said conversations are ongoing with management and the front office about selecting a suitable player as the club’s next captain. They were without one last season, spreading the duties between alternate captains David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm.

Sturm also believes that Michael DiPietro will do a good job as the Bruins’ new backup goaltender. He pointed out that DiPietro was outstanding for their AHL affiliate in Providence over the last two seasons.

The Bruins coach also hasn’t decided yet which of his centers will skate alongside Pastrnak, but feels he has some good options. He noted that Pavel Zacha had a solid season in that role, and believes Elias Lindholm has proven he can play with Pastrnak.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin listed five NHL teams that he believes improved during the offseason.

The Florida Panthers are on Larkin’s list as he cited what should be a healthier roster this season and the addition of winger Brady Tkachuk. Larkin also included the Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth, and Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe the Capitals’ addition of Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner will make them the most improved on Larkin’s list.

Do you agree with this list? Is there another team that you think should be here? Let us know in the comments section below.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2026

by | Aug 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2026

The top-20 wingers for 2026-27, Senators coach Travis Green was surprised Brady Tkachuk wanted a trade, the latest front-office changes by the Islanders, Wild, and Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins, and Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild are among the NHL Network’s ranking of the league’s top-20 wingers.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the complete ranking and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators head coach Travis Green admitted he was surprised that Brady Tkachuk wanted out of Ottawa. The Senators traded the 26-year-old left winger to the Florida Panthers in June.

Green said he went through a range of emotions when he learned that Tkachuk wanted a trade, including some anger. However, he said that he spoke with the winger following the trade, had a good conversation, wished him luck, and has moved on. Green was a teammate of Brady’s father, Keith, and said he will maintain a good relationship with the Tkachuk family.

As for the coming season, Green believes the Senators still have plenty of upside, citing the ongoing improvement of young players such as Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle, and Ridly Greig.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk’s departure has some Senators fans believing the club will be better without the distraction over the status of their former captain. It will be interesting to see how they adjust this season and who fills the leadership role.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders officially announced the hiring of Evan Gold as their assistant general manager. Gold has also taken over as general manager of their AHL affiliate in Hamilton.

Gold has previously spent 11 seasons with the Boston Bruins in various front-office roles.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This hiring was not unexpected as Gold was rumored to be joining the Isles once his contract with the Bruins expired on Aug. 1.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired Andy O’Brien as their new head of sports performance. O’Brien is the long-time personal trainer of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, whose clientele also includes Maple Leafs center John Tavares.

A native of Charlottetown, PEI, the 49-year-old O’Brien is founder and president of O’Brien Sports, with 25 years of experience in various athletic performance roles. He’s also been the high- performance consultant for the Florida Panthers since 2021.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL defenseman Alex Goligoski has been moved from player development advisor to player development coach. He was initially hired by the Wild last year after retiring as an NHL player in 2024 following 17 seasons, including three with the Wild.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell recently listed the five most mediocre NHL teams of the past 10 years.

The Detroit Red Wings topped the list, followed by the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What do you think, folks? Do those clubs belong on this list? Would you re-rank them? Is there another club that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments section.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2026

by | Jul 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2026

Reaction to Macklin Celebrini’s record-setting contract extension with the Sharks and its ramifications in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SHARKS SIGN MACKLIN CELEBRINI TO NHL-RECORD CONTRACT.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed center Macklin Celebrini to a five-year, $94 million contract extension.

Celebrini, 20, will earn an NHL record average annual value of $18.8 million, breaking the previous record of $18 million signed by Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson earlier this month. The contract begins in 2027-28, and he will be an unrestricted free agent upon its completion in 2031-32.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

PuckPedia indicates that Celebrini will earn a base salary of $950,000 with a $19.85 million signing bonus for 2027-28 and 2028-29. He’ll earn a $1 million base salary with a $19.8 million signing bonus in 2029-30, $1 million with a $16.1 million signing bonus in 2030-31, and $1 million with a $13.5 million signing bonus and a full no-movement clause in 2031-32.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini has only played two NHL seasons, but he earned that whopping pay raise after finishing fourth among NHL scorers last season with a franchise-best 115 points. He is truly a generational talent who established himself among the NHL’s superstars last season, and the undisputed foundation player for the rebuilding Sharks.

Celebrini is another high-salaried player earning the bulk of his money in annual signing bonuses. It’ll be interesting to see if the league allows that practice to continue in the next CBA once the current one expires in September 2030.

Signing bonuses aren’t a salary-cap loophole because the total value of the bonus counts against the average annual value. What it does is guarantee players more money upfront, even if there’s a lockout or an unforeseen event (like a pandemic) that could shorten or shut down a season.

What could make signing bonuses a contentious issue is that wealthy teams can afford them more easily than small-market or cap-strapped teams. That could give deep-pocketed clubs an edge in re-signing talent, especially those eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

It also creates the situation we saw with Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. Earlier this month, he signed an expensive offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, who gambled that the Ducks couldn’t afford to match it because of the hefty signing bonuses. The Ducks matched, but it created an expensive headache for them later.

Speaking of Carlsson’s offer sheet…

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Jordan Hall believes that Flyers GM Daniel Briere’s bold signing of Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet led to Celebrini’s expensive new contract with the Sharks.

Briere’s offer sheet to Carlsson, which the Ducks matched, set the market for young talent such as Celebrini, and for Connor Bedard, who inked a five-year, $75 million contract ($15 million) with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 18.

With the salary cap rising to $113.5 million in 2027-28, and projected to reach $123 million in 2028-29, contracts for the league’s top stars will become more expensive.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The ripples from the Flyers’ bid to land Carlsson will be felt for years. It couldn’t have happened without the substantial increases in the salary cap.

It could also create a situation in which the NHL once again finds itself with “have” and “have-not” franchises, something the salary cap was supposed to address over 20 years ago. Teams in smaller markets could find it difficult simply to reach the annual salary cap minimum, losing players through free agency or cost-cutting trades to wealthier markets flush with cap space.

The NHL has a better revenue-sharing system in place to help small-market or struggling franchises than it did over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, it might not be enough to help some of them remain competitive against richer, well-managed teams.

TSN: It remains to be seen how Celebrini’s new deal affects the Columbus Blue Jackets’ efforts to re-sign Adam Fantilli and the Ducks’ efforts to re-sign Cutter Gauthier. Both are currently restricted free agents.

Meanwhile, the Celebrini and Carlsson contracts will also affect how much veteran superstars such as Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. McDavid is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028, while Makar and Kucherov are UFA-eligible next July.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson and Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes will also be in line for substantial raises. Like Makar and Kucherov, they are slated to become UFAs next summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of those veterans will become the NHL’s first $20 million man. McDavid and Makar seem the most likely candidates. We can also add Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who is slated to join McDavid in the 2028 UFA class.

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: Sheng Peng reports Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he didn’t think team owner Hasso Plattner would’ve hesitated to pay Celebrini the league maximum of $20.8 million annually if that’s what he wanted. He commended the young center for accepting less than market value as one of the best players in the league.

Peng believes Grier is now on the clock to build a playoff team around Celebrini, and eventually, a true Stanley Cup contender.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: With Celebrini re-signed, GM Mike Grier is shifting his focus to re-signing some other young Sharks.

Grier indicated that negotiations continue with Collin Graf’s camp, adding that the two sides are getting closer to a new contract. It’s projected the restricted free-agent forward could receive a two-year, $7.8 million deal or $45.5 million on a seven-year contract.

Like Celebrini, Will Smith can sign an extension this summer. Grier indicated that he’d like to get the 21-year-old forward under a long-term contract as soon as possible. It’s projected that Smith could get a five-year, $50 million deal ($10 million AAV).

NHL.COM: Sharks sophomore forward Michael Misa believes his rebuilding young team will take another step forward this season. The young club was in contention for a playoff berth throughout last season, finishing four points shy of a Western Conference wild-card berth.

Misa is excited to see what Celebrini will do for an encore this season after his 115-point sophomore campaign. The Sharks added veteran defensemen Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba, winger Mason Marchment, and goaltender Eric Comrie. They also signed top prospect Ivar Stenberg after selecting him with the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks had little choice but to sign Celebrini to his expensive new contract. It will also cost a lot to re-sign Smith, something Grier understandably wants to do now before his value climbs again. Misa could also be another high-priced re-signing next summer if he blossoms as expected in his sophomore campaign.

Misa is justified in his excitement about his promising team’s future. However, building the Sharks into a contender got more expensive.

PuckPedia indicates that the Sharks currently have $34.7 million cap space for 2027-28, the first season under Celebrini’s new contract. Assuming Smith gets $10 million annually and Graf $6.5 million on long-term deals, they’ll have around $18.2 million left. That will give them more than enough to re-sign promising goalie Yaroslav Askarov, who is an RFA with arbitration rights next summer, and sufficient space to fill out the remainder of the roster.

However, it could become more costly over the following two years. That’s when Misa, Sam Dickinson, Igor Chernyshov, and Stenberg will be due for new contracts. They’ll also face finding suitable replacements for aging core players Tyler Toffoli and Dmitry Orlov, and for backup goalies Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie.

The rising cap should help Grier in his efforts to re-sign or replace those players. However, the cost of doing so could reach a point where they run out of sufficient salary-cap space to add the necessary depth to become a Stanley Cup contender.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 28, 2026

by | Jul 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 28, 2026

A look ahead to next summer’s UFA class, and an updated look at who’s left in this summer’s UFA market in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau recently reported that winger Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars joined eight prominent players in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent class.

Robertson, 26, avoided salary arbitration by signing a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars. He’ll be eligible for UFA status next July.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

The UFA Class of 2027 also includes Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, and Colorado Avalanche blueliner Cale Makar.

Other notables are goaltender Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, winger Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings, netminder Carter Hart of the Vegas Golden Knights, and goalie Scott Wedgewood of the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby, Hughes, Kucherov, and Makar could all sign extensions with their current clubs before next July. Robertson could also be re-signed, but the fact the Stars were prepared to trade him to the Seattle Kraken suggests his future in the Lone Star State remains uncertain.

Binnington will likely be moved by the March 1 trade deadline. Hart could be cut loose by the Golden Knights if he remains inconsistent. DeBrincat could move on if the Red Wings continue to be on a treadmill to nowhere. The cost of re-signing Makar could leave the Avalanche with insufficient cap space for Wedgewood.

DAILY FACEOFF: The already thin NHL unrestricted free-agent market got thinner last week when Patrick Kane returned to the Chicago Blackhawks, signing a two-year, $16 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane returning to the team where he had his best seasons is a nice feel-good, full-circle story, but the Blackhawks overpaid for the privilege.

Winger Patrik Laine, defenseman Logan Stanley, wingers Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting and Eeli Tolvanen, and goaltender Cam Talbot are the top-five players still available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine, 28, has been mentioned as a possible reclamation project on an affordable one-year, “prove-it” contract. Stanley was reportedly seeking a four or five-year deal worth $25 million, but he’ll likely end up on a much shorter deal for less money.

Tarasenko has been linked to the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators. Still, there’s no indication he’s getting closer to a deal. Bunting has value as a cost-effective depth forward, but clubs aren’t in much of a rush to sign him.

It’s still surprising that the 27-year-old Tolvanen hasn’t been signed yet. It’s believed his asking price and the drop in his production last season are the reasons why.

Other notables include goaltender Cam Talbot, defenseman John Klingberg, winger James van Riemsdyk, goaltender Connor Ingram, forward David Perron, and center Adam Henrique.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Time has caught up with most of those players. Some of them could end up on professional tryout offers when training camp opens in September.