NHL Rumor Mill – May 9, 2026

by | May 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 9, 2026

What options do the Sharks, Jets, Panthers, Devils, and Penguins have with their first-round picks in this year’s draft? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus wondered what the San Jose Sharks might do with the second-overall pick in this year’s draft.

The lack of quality depth in this summer’s unrestricted free agent market could create more activity in the trade market.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

Lazerus mused over whether the Dallas Stars might be willing to part with Jason Robertson for the Sharks’ first-rounder. The 26-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. If unable to re-sign Robertson, swapping him for the second-overall pick would give the Stars the chance to replenish their prospect pool.

If Robertson isn’t available, Lazerus suggested looking into the availability of St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas or Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. He also wondered if Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse might be available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman would be thrilled to get the second-overall pick in this year’s draft for Nurse. However, the latter has a full no-movement clause, and his declining performance won’t make him enticing for the Sharks.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon believes Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff must consider all his options with his first-round pick (eighth overall) in this year’s draft.

It’s rare for a top-10 draft pick to be moved ahead of the draft. However, the Jets have a long-running need for a reliable second-line center. Given their high aspirations to become a Stanley Cup contender, it would make sense to see what their pick might fetch in this summer’s trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon expects Cheveldayoff to retain that pick and use it to select a promising young player who could help the Jets down the road. Still, one has to believe that he would be intrigued if he got a solid offer for that pick.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards pondered the possibility of the Panthers using their first-round pick (ninth overall) to bolster their current roster.

Richards reports there’s speculation that Panthers GM Bill Zito could use that pick as trade capital. He pointed out that Zito has traded every first-round pick since selecting Mackie Samoskevich in 2021. The Panthers won’t have another first-rounder again until 2029.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers remain in “win-now” mode and could move that pick for an established player who would provide an immediate, significant boost to their roster. However, Richards would not be surprised if Zito retains that pick. He envisioned a scenario in which the Panthers GM bundles his first-rounder with a couple of second-rounders to move up in the draft order.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the Devils should use their 2026 first-rounder (12th overall) to pursue a scoring forward. Their 2.76 goals-per-game average ranked 27th overall this season.

Nicholls’ suggested trade targets include Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, and Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou might be the only player on this list who might be available in this summer’s trade market. However, that depends on whether he’ll waive his full no-trade clause.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Kelsey Surmacz wondered if this would be the summer when the Pittsburgh Penguins would trade their first-round pick. They hold the 22nd-overall pick, which they could use as a trade chip to add a young NHL-ready player.

Surmacz noted that there are some opportunities in this summer’s trade market. She believes the Dallas Stars will find a way to re-sign RFA winger Jason Robertson, but that could expose other high-upside players such as defenseman Thomas Harley or center Mavrik Bourque.

There’s uncertainty about Auston Matthews’ future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even if he’s unavailable, Matthew Knies or Nick Robertson might be trade possibilities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bourque and Nick Robertson seem more likely to be available than Harley or Knies. Regardless, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas could be open to moving his first-rounder if a suitable young player becomes obtainable in this summer’s trade market.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 5, 2026

by | May 5, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 5, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Stars winger Jason Robertson, and some suggested targets for the Jets.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with team captain Auston Matthews. The 28-year-old superstar center has two years left on his contract, but league sources say he still isn’t sure if he’ll be back in the fall.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Matthews has reasonable concerns over the Maple Leafs’ direction under new general manager John Chayka. The two are expected to meet within the next two weeks. Chayka said he’s not putting a deadline on the Leafs captain regarding his own intentions.

Johnston believes Matthews wants to see a roster meaningfully upgraded by trades and free-agent signings. Keeping the high-scoring center in the fold will be critical to the club’s plans to retool the roster rather than a full-fledged rebuild.

As great a player as Matthews is, the Maple Leafs won’t get full value for him in a trade. Johnston believes the best-case scenario would be a return comparable to the package of future assets the Vancouver Canucks received from the Minnesota Wild for Quinn Hughes last December.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka faces a daunting task attempting to retool the Leafs this summer. Selling Matthews on his plans could be his biggest challenge.

If Chayka fails, he’ll have to peddle Matthews for the best return he can find, which won’t be easy given the latter’s no-movement clause.

Matthews will waive his clause if he wants out, but he will likely only have a handful of preferred destinations. The fewer he has, the harder it would be for Chayka to land a quality return.

Convincing Matthews to stay will be a far better option for Chayka than trying to move him for a return that won’t come close to being fair market value.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos reports Jason Robertson left a bit of uncertainty about his future with the Stars during his end-of-season media availability on Monday.

The 26-year-old left winger is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. He’s also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility unless he signs a long-term deal.

Robertson acknowledged that it’s a business on both sides, but he’s optimistic. “It’s a business,” Robertson said. “I learned that four years ago. It’s not my first time.”

Assimakopoulos believes Robertson is due for a significant pay raise. She speculated he could seek an extension similar to teammate Mikko Rantanen’s eight-year deal worth $12 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson lacked arbitration rights after completing his entry-level contract four years ago, giving Stars management the leverage in those negotiations. It’s a different story this time.

A lack of salary cap space further complicates things for the Stars, prompting speculation that they’ll shed salary to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Robertson.

The Stars could peddle Robertson rather than making a cost-cutting trade or two that might weaken their roster depth. However, they would have difficulty replacing the offense he brings to their lineup.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently looked at several types of players the Winnipeg Jets could target to upgrade their defense this summer.

One option could be free agency if they want to add a big, physical defenseman. Ates suggested e Carson Soucy, Andrew Peeke, and Connor Murphy as possible targets.

Another could be targeting a young RFA-eligible defenseman capable of more, such as Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils or Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 28, 2026

by | Apr 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 28, 2026

Senators GM Steve Staios shoots down Brady Tkachuk trade speculation, and what’s next for the Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Steve Staios dismissed speculation suggesting team captain Brady Tkachuk should be traded.

Despite the Senators getting swept from the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Staios has no intention of sitting down with Tkachuk to discuss his future.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

“This comes up very often. There’s nothing that we have talked about or thought about where that conversation should happen,” Staios said. He praised Tkachuk’s performance as he persevered through a thumb injury earlier this season and a compressed schedule because of the Winter Olympics. Staios believes the 27-year-old winger’s game continues to improve, on and off the ice.

Tkachuk has two more years left on his contract with a full no-movement clause. Garrioch believes there is no reason to trade him and expects the power forward to be back next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The trade speculation about Tkachuk began almost immediately after the Senators’ elimination. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin was among the pundits suggesting Tkachuk’s relationship with Ottawa as a market was fraying, raising questions about whether he’ll commit to a contract extension next summer.

I’ve said before that I don’t believe Tkachuk will be going anywhere this summer, and I still believe that. However, Staios could be forced to consider moving his captain next summer if he’s reluctant to sign an extension. I think he knows that and will do what he can to improve the Senators, in hopes of convincing Tkachuk to stay beyond 2028.

Garrioch reports Staios and head coach Travis Green are already studying ways to improve the Senators’ roster for next season.

The Senators have been searching for a top-six scorer since last season. Getting a high-end free agent to sign with Ottawa is tough, and the asking prices are high in the trade market. Staios might have to move one of his core players or a top prospect to get a high-end player.

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie reports Staios will keep his options open for a backup goaltender to starter Linus Ullmark, including adding a goalie who can play in the NHL or AHL.

Staios could also add to his defense corps. Rookie Carter Yakemchuk was given opportunities to play regular-season and playoff minutes, but there’s no certainty he’ll get a roster spot next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding a suitable backup goalie and adding to the defense could be easier for Staios than landing a top-six scorer. Addressing the latter will likely have to be done in the trade market, and it will likely mean parting with a core player other than Tkachuk, Ullmark, leading scorer Tim Stutzle, defenseman Jake Sanderson, or winger Drake Batherson. It could mean peddling Dylan Cozens or Shane Pinto.

What say you, Senators fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KINGS?

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes it’s time for the Los Angeles Kings to change what they’ve been doing after they were swept from the opening round of the playoffs for the fifth straight year, especially with long-time captain Anze Kopitar having played his final NHL game.

Stephens believes a new head coach is coming, despite interim coach D.J. Smith doing an admirable job to get them into the playoffs. They have only three forwards (Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin, and Kevin Fiala) capable of producing consistently.

The Kings could attempt to trade to make another big splash for a scorer, as they did with Panarin. They could kick tires on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, or Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews if he is determined to move on after a disastrous season in Toronto.

However, Stephens believes the best course of action is to embrace a rebuild. He recommends they jettison expensive veterans and follow the model of the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens isn’t wrong; the Kings should rebuild now that Kopitar is retired and long-time defenseman Drew Doughty will soon follow him. However, it’s unlikely that general manager Ken Holland will go that route.

Holland wasn’t brought in to rebuild the Kings; he was brought in to turn them into a Cup contender, and he’s going to hunt high and low for veteran players to get them over the hump, even if that goal seems less attainable than it was a year ago.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2026

by | Apr 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2026

Check out the latest on possible changes for the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White are reportedly emerging as the finalists for the job of Maple Leafs general manager.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports White and Chayka are subject to further diligence, with Chayka holding an edge.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hornby acknowledged Chayka’s messy departure from the Coyotes, but pointed out that he’s done ground-breaking analytics work, which would suit the Maple Leafs’ search for a data-driven general manager.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Terry Koshan believes the first order of business for whoever becomes the next Maple Leafs general manager is speaking with team captain Austin Matthews about the club’s plans going forward and what his role would be.

If Matthews balks at those plans, Koshan believes the Maple Leafs must trade him. The 28-year-old superstar center could fetch a return of top draft picks, top prospects, or players who are either stars or on the cusp of becoming ones.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We already know that Leafs ownership wants to retool the roster rather than stage a rebuild. How that retooling will be done will be of interest to Matthews because it will determine the outcome of next season and of his decision whether to sign a contract extension next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel recently examined which Maple Leafs will go and which ones will stay this summer.

Among the notables most likely to move are forwards Max Domi and Nick Robertson, and defensemen Brandon Carlo and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

WHICH RANGERS COULD BE MOVED THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano looked at some of the biggest questions facing the New York Rangers during the offseason.

What happens to Vincent Trocheck topped the list. Rangers GM Chris Drury attempted to move the 32-year-old center at last month’s trade deadline, but found the offers were restricted by limited buyers and limited salary-cap space. Drury believes the market for Trocheck will improve in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be surprising if Trocheck isn’t moved this summer. There was genuine interest in him at the trade deadline, especially from Eastern Conference teams that were not on his no-trade list.

Braden Schneider could also be moved. The 24-year-old defenseman is valued within the organization for his defensive skills, but the need for right-shot blueliners around the league could make him a valuable trade piece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schneider recently said he’d love to remain a Ranger, but he seems resigned to his fate. Mercogliano stated that Drury is seeking a scoring forward and could target a team like the San Jose Sharks, who have plenty of young forwards but need blueline depth.

Alexis Lafreniere’s strong finish to this season should ensure he remains with the Rangers. Moving him wouldn’t make sense for a club that’s looking for forward depth. Mercogliano doesn’t rule out Lafreniere being moved as part of a trade package if a top trade target becomes available, but he thinks the young winger will be staying put.

WHAT CHANGES COULD BE IN STORE FOR THE DEVILS?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently looked at what might be in store for the New Jersey Devils under new GM Sunny Mehta.

It remains to be seen if head coach Sheldon Keefe will be back, but the fact that he was in attendance at Mehta’s introductory press conference suggests he could return behind the Devils’ bench next season.

Mehta must decide what happens with defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who has been the subject of frequent trade speculation since last summer. He could decide to move Hamilton and his $9 million cap hit, or see his 28 points in his last 37 games of this season and decide he’s worth retaining.

Whatever happens to Hamilton could determine Simon Nemec’s fate. The young blueliner is coming off his entry-level contract. He’s earned praise for his offense, but his defense game needs improvement.

Nichols also wondered whether Mehta will retain or trade the Devils’ 2026 first-round pick. He also mused about how aggressive the new GM will be to improve the roster, such as pursuing a big-name player like Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators or Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars if they were to become available.

Mehta must also open contract extension talks with team captain Nico Hischier, who is UFA eligible next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mehta’s coming into his new job with a lot on his plate. It will be interesting to see what he’s got in store for the Devils this summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2026

by | Apr 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2026

The final two Western Conference first-round series are set, Connor McDavid wins the Art Ross Trophy, Nathan MacKinnon takes home the Richard Trophy, Macklin Celebrini sets a Sharks record, the Canucks reportedly fire GM Patrik Allvin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THE LAST NIGHT OF THE NHL REGULAR SEASON

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers rookie Matt Savoie tallied his first NHL hat trick as his club romped to a 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Connor McDavid collected four assists for the 41-30-11 Oilers, who clinched second place in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Canucks rookie Ty Mueller scored his first NHL goal.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers will face off against the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. Meanwhile, McDavid finished with a league-leading 138 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer for the sixth time. He joins Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Gordie Howe as the only players to win that award at least six times.

Speaking of the Ducks, they nipped the Nashville Predators 5-4 on a tie-breaking goal by Troy Terry. Mikael Granlund had three assists for the Ducks, who finished one point behind the Oilers to sit third in the Pacific Division. Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg each scored twice for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos and Forsberg both finished this season having reached the 40-goal plateau. For Stamkos (42 goals), it’s the eighth time he’s done it.

The Colorado Avalanche blanked the Seattle Kraken 2-0. Scott Wedgewood turned in a 22-save shutout while Nick Blankenburg and Parker Kelly scored for the league-leading Avalanche (121 points), who will meet the Los Angeles Kings. Rookie goalie Victor Ostman stopped 33 of 35 shots for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche rested several players, including Nathan MacKinnon. Nevertheless, MacKinnon won the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s leading goal scorer, finishing with 53. It’s the first time he’s won the Richard Trophy. He and Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens were the only players to reach the vaunted 50-goal plateau this season.

Wedgewood and fellow Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood won the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is awarded annually to the goaltender(s) who play a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar returned behind the bench after missing the club’s last two games with facial injuries after being struck by a puck during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights last weekend.

As for the Kings, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Calgary Flames. Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev stopped 27 shots for the win in his first NHL game, while Joel Farabee reached the 20-goal plateau for the third time. Quinton Byfield scored for the Kings.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists in a 6-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. William Eklund and John Klingberg each had three points for the Sharks. Cole Koepke replied for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini finished the season with 115 points, breaking the franchise record of 114 set by Joe Thornton in 2006-07. The 19-year-old Sharks center finished fourth overall among NHL scorers this season.

The St. Louis Blues closed out their season with a 5-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Robert Thomas tallied a hat trick for the Blues. Clayton Keller and MacKenzie Weegar each had two assists for the Mammoth, who will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The complete schedule for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been released. It begins Saturday with Game 1 of the Ottawa Senators-Carolina Hurricanes series at 3 pm ET.

THE PROVINCE: cited a report in the Swedish paper Aftonbladet, which claimed that general manager Patrik Allvin is set to be dismissed by the Vancouver Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As of this writing, there has been no official confirmation yet by the Canucks. It’s been speculated for weeks that Allvin could be replaced as general manager following one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils have hired former Florida Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta as their new general manager. He’s returning to the club where he pioneered the NHL’s first full-time analytics department from 2014 to 2018.

Mehta joined the Panthers in 2020. Promoted to assistant GM in 2023, he contributed to the Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Among Mehta’s first duties will be deciding the future of head coach Sheldon Keefe, opening contract extension talks on July 1 with team captain Nico Hischier, and perhaps gauging the trade value of veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed head coach Rick Bowness to a one-year contract extension.

Bowness took over on an interim basis in mid-January. Under his guidance, the Blue Jackets rose from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings to second place in the Metropolitan Division by March 25.

However, the Blue Jackets went 3-9-1 over their remaining games to fall out of the playoff picture. That sparked a public season-ending tirade from Bowness, accusing the players of being too comfortable with losing. He subsequently walked back those comments, but his claim that he would change the culture if he returned as head coach has resonated with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bowness claimed he loved the Blue Jackets players, who said they loved playing for him. It remains to be seen if that mutual love translates into a culture change that leads to a winning team next season.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews appeared noncommittal about his future when speaking to the media during the club’s locker cleanout on Thursday. The 28-year-old superstar center expects to be physically ready for next season, but he’s uncertain about where things go from here.

Matthews said he can’t predict the future, pointing out that the Maple Leafs are in the process of hiring new management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like Matthews will wait to see who becomes the new GM and what their plans are for the offseason and for 2026-27. He has two years remaining on his contract, which explains the curiosity about his plans among the denizens of Leafs Nation.

TSN: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, Craig Berube said he expects to return as their head coach next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will depend on the next general manager and how much autonomy he’ll have from ownership when it comes to making decisions about the coaching staff.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin offered up more clarity about his future. Despite speculation that this season could be his last, the 40-year-old Capitals captain remains hopeful that he hasn’t played his final NHL game. He intends to decide at some point in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed defenseman Matt Dumba on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. It will allow him to finish this season without having to participate in the AHL playoffs.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers will have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after all. They had traded that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of last year’s Seth Jones trade. However, the pick was top-10 protected. The Panthers currently sit eighth in the draft order and can fall no lower than two spots in the draft lottery.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2026

by | Apr 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some big-name players who could be the focus of offseason trade chatter, the latest on the Capitals, and Andre Burakovsky’s uncertain future with the Blackhawks.

AUSTON MATTHEWS, BRADY TKACHUK COULD BE AMONG THE BIG NAMES IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET

DAILY FACEOFF: In a recent mailbag segment, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco was asked about which big-name players fans could expect to see in trade rumors during the coming off-season.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Di Marco believes Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will be the biggest names in this summer’s rumor mill. He thinks Tkachuk is more likely to be moved, given the off-ice drama this season and his brother’s decision to depart the Calgary Flames four years ago. Matthews’ situation seems more uncertain and could depend on who becomes the next general manager of the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews and Tkachuk will definitely be part of this summer’s rumor buzz, but I don’t see either guy moving this summer. Both have full no-movement clauses and have not indicated that they want to be moved.

Next summer seems more likely for one or both to get traded, and that will depend on how well the Maple Leafs and Senators perform in 2026-27. If they miss the playoffs or become first-round roadkill, Matthews and Tkachuk could inform their respective GMs that they’re going to market in 2028, which would force their teams to trade them.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas could resurface in the rumor mill after being the focus of media chatter before last month’s trade deadline. Di Marco speculated that the groundwork may have been set for a summer trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was linked to several teams, including the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Islanders. However, the Blues set a high asking price of at least three pieces that are comparable to first-round draft picks.

Thomas said that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, nor did he want to be traded. Trading the 26-year-old playmaking center would adversely affect the production of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.

Di Marco felt that Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram might want a new long-term destination in the long run despite the Sabres’ surge this season. He signed a two-year extension last summer and was rumored to want an opportunity to be a No. 1 defenseman. The Sabres are also overloaded with top-four, left-shot defensemen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer. However, he signed that contract under the previous management, and had a career-best season with 11 goals and 42 points in 2025-26. With the Sabres having finally turned the corner, he might prefer sticking around.

CAPITALS COULD BE BUSY AGAIN IN THE TRADE MARKET.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last Thursday that the Washington Capitals could turn to the trade market this summer to address their more immediate roster needs.

The Capitals have been retooling on the fly under general manager Chris Patrick. Finding a scoring winger has been a priority for nearly a year. They attempted to sign Nikolaj Ehlers last summer, but lost out to the Carolina Hurricanes. They also attempted to get Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Patrick acknowledged the asking prices for top talent in this summer’s trade market could be high. However, he believes he’s put his club in a position where they have the pieces to make a competitive bid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The limited depth in this summer’s free-agent market could push the Capitals into the trade market, but they won’t be the only team going that route. Having depth in tradeable assets could give them the edge.

If the Anaheim Ducks make the playoffs this year, the Capitals will own the Ducks’ first-round pick. That will likely be bundled into a trade package to bring in that scoring winger.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BLACKHAWKS WINGER ANDRE BURAKOVSKY?

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers looked at what the future could hold for struggling Chicago Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky.

The Blackhawks acquired Burakovsky last year from the Seattle Kraken partly because they hoped he might regain his form, but also to use his $5.5 million average annual value to reach the salary-cap floor.

With Connor Bedard due to be an expensive re-signing, the addition of Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit, and the possible re-signing of Ilya Mikheyev, they might not need Burakovsky’s contract as much as they thought.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 31-year-old Burakovsky has 11 goals and 32 points in 73 games this season. He has a year remaining on his contract. Trading him won’t be easy, but the Blackhawks have the cap space to buy out that final season. It would count as $3 million against their cap next season, dropping to $1.25 million in 2027-28.