NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2026

by | Jun 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2026

The fallout from the Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk, the Kraken re-signed Bobby McMann, the Oilers inked Jason Dickinson to an extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators decided to trade Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers after the 26-year-old winger informed them that he wouldn’t re-sign with them. They received three first-round picks and a second-rounder from the Panthers on Sunday.

Tkachuk is under contract through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $8.2 million and a full no-movement clause. The earliest the Senators could’ve signed him to an extension was July 1, 2027. However, he told general manager Steve Staios that he had no plans to sign an extension when the two met last month. Tkachuk publicly denied the trade speculation that swirled around him this year, but privately, he told teammates he wouldn’t be returning after his contract expired.

Ottawa Senators trade Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. (NHL Images).

Staios had been adamant that he wasn’t trading Tkachuk, but his hand was now forced. The winger was willing to waive his NMC for the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Panthers. However, it was apparent when they explored the market that the Panthers would be the only acceptable destination for the Tkachuk camp, reuniting him with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.

The Wild reportedly made a hard push, but Zito ultimately made the better offer, sending the Senators assets that could be used as trade chips. Garrioch claimed the Senators tried to get Carter Verhaeghe or Anton Lundell as part of the return, but the Panthers wouldn’t budge.

Staios was seeking a top-six winger, a top-four right-side defenseman and a backup goaltender. Now, he needs to add a suitable replacement for Tkachuk to the mix.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold three first-round picks (No. 9, 25, and 32) in the upcoming NHL Draft. He could retain one or more of them, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he uses them to address one or two of his current roster needs, preferably with established players who are in the mid-to-late twenties.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus believes the Tkachuk trade is the latest in a trend of players with term remaining on their contracts forcing trades to preferred destinations. That list includes Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, while Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers recently made trade requests.

Lazerus also pointed out that it’s not about going to no-tax states. First and foremost, the players want to join teams where they believe they have a chance to win. Going to cities where the spotlight isn’t as glaring is another attraction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lazerus believes the rising salary cap and lack of depth in the free-agent market could lead to more notable stars becoming available in the trade market by leveraging moves to landing spots of their choosing, especially if they have no-trade protection. Most of those moves could involve players on teams struggling to build or maintain a contender.

The addition of Tkachuk gives the Panthers one of the best groups of top-nine forwards in the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers’ top nine features Aleksander Barkov centering wingers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett as the second-line center between the Tkachuk brothers, with Anton Lundell between Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen.

Panthers GM Bill Zito probably isn’t done making moves over the next couple of weeks. He must replace or re-sign goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov. They have over $7 million in cap space, with 19 roster players signed for next season.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: On the same day the Kraken acquired winger Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers, they announced that winger Bobby McMann has signed a six-year contract with an AAV of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken re-signed the 30-year-old McMann because they’re desperate for offense. The late-blooming winger scored 20 goals last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and had a career-high 29 goals in 79 games this season with the Leafs and Kraken, including 10 goals in 18 games with the latter.

Samoskevich was shipped to the Kraken yesterday in exchange for the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2027. The Panthers used that first-rounder as part of the return to Ottawa for Tkachuk.

The 23-year-old Samoskevich saw checking-line duty with the Panthers, but he could see a larger role with the Kraken. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and should be an affordable re-signing. Samoskevich is also a former teammate of Kraken center Matty Beniers at the University of Michigan. 

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed center Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4 million. Dickinson, 30, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Oilers acquired him before the March trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jim Matheson of the Journal explained that the Oilers were pleased with Dickinson’s defensive play and how well he fit into their dressing room following his acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks.

It’s an affordable re-signing by the Oilers for a reliable third-line center. However, Matheson pointed out that they now have $10.6 million remaining with 18 players under contract. It won’t leave much room to re-sign pending UFA blueliner Connor Murphy, find a replacement or a backup for starting goalie Tristan Jarry, and fit in whatever player they get whenever they take action on Darnell Nurse’s trade request.

DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Rangers signed goalie Dylan Garand to a two-year contract worth $875K per season at the NHL level. The first year of the deal is two-way, while the second is one-way.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The ECHL’s New Mexico Goatheads have hired Zack Stortini as their head coach. Stortini, a former NHL player, spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners.

The Goatheads are the ECHL affiliate of the Avalanche.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 31, 2026

by | May 31, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 31, 2026

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on this summer’s notable UFA-eligible players, and some suggested cost-cutting trade candidates.

UPDATE ON SEVERAL OF THIS SUMMER’S NOTABLE UFA PLAYERS

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently listed the latest rumors and reports on this summer’s notable players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

Fox speculates that Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch could get a significant pay raise if he tests the open market on July 1. As the top forward available, the 30-year-old Tuch could fetch more than the $10.625 million average annual value that Adrian Kempe received from the Los Angeles Kings last fall.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Tuch and the Sabres are expected to begin contract talks in early June. Fox believes those negotiations could go either way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Tuch wants to stay with the Sabres, he’ll probably have to accept much less than Kempe’s AAV to do it. Otherwise, he’ll have to test the market, where there will be interest in his services, but his woeful production during the Sabres’ second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens could hurt his value.

It’s believed the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Rasmus Andersson intend to sign an extension, but they’ll first have to do some roster surgery. Hanging over this situation is the fate of sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who spent this season on long-term injury reserve.

If Andersson goes to market, Fox speculated the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights only have $4.625 million in cap space for 2026-27. They can exceed next season’s $104 million salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must be cap-compliant when their season begins in October.

Pietrangelo comes off LTIR at the end of this season. The Golden Knights can place him on LTIR again for next season if his chronic hip injuries prove to be career-ending, freeing up his $8.8 million cap hit to re-sign Andersson.

It was reported that Pietrangelo hasn’t ruled out returning to action in 2026-27. If he does, the Golden Knights must trade someone to free up cap room for Andersson or risk losing him to free agency.

Another complicating factor is that scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent this summer. If he doesn’t go to arbitration, he could become a tempting offer-sheet candidate given the Golden Knights’ cap constraints, especially if Pietrangelo doesn’t return to LTIR.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh could seek a deal nearing that of defense partner JJ Moser’s $6.75 million on a four-year contract. That could price him out of Tampa Bay. If he goes to market, Fox speculated the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and his hometown Maple Leafs could be some of the teams interested in him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh had two solid 30-plus point campaigns before this season’s career-best 70-point performance. The risk is whether he can match that number again or if he’ll regress to a 30-point blueliner.

Fox indicated that fans of the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets would like to see their respective teams pursue Bobby McMann if the Seattle Kraken forward becomes available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann fit in well with the Kraken after joining them from Toronto at the trade deadline. It wouldn’t surprise me if he inks an extension with them.

Boone Jenner’s long tenure with the Blue Jackets could be ending. They already signed Charlie Coyle to a $36 million contract. The Jackets must also re-sign restricted free agents Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves.

It’s expected that Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner could get a term deal in free agency worth an AAV of $4 million.

POTENTIAL COST-CUTTING TRADE CANDIDATES

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin recently listed 10 players who could become salary cap-casualty trade fodder this offseason.

Larkin’s list (in alphabetical order) includes Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens, Ross Colton of the Colorado Avalanche, Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils, and Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson remains a solid power forward for the Canadiens, especially in the playoffs. He also carries a reasonable $5.5 million AAV through next season. The Habs will more likely trade or buy out winger Brendan Gallagher ($6.25 million) and goalie Samuel Montembeault ($3.15 million).

Colton, Greenway, and Hartman have frequently come up as cost-cutting candidates this summer. So has Hamilton, who first surfaced in the rumor mill last summer. He reportedly rejected a trade to the San Jose Sharks. He has a 10-team trade list, but reportedly would be open to expanding it for the right destination.

Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights, Ilya Lyubushkin of the Dallas Stars, Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers round out Larkin’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hill’s Stanley Cup run in 2023 could make him enticing for teams seeking goaltending help. Merzlikins has one year left on his deal, which could make him a more palatable trade option.

Kotkaniemi’s decline this season could make him a buyout candidate if the Hurricanes can’t find any suitors. Lyubushkin will be moved to enable the Stars to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Jason Robertson.

As for Nurse, plenty of Oilers fans hope their club can find a suitor in this summer’s trade market. His performance has declined, and his $9.25 million AAV through 2029-30 takes up a big chunk of their cap payroll. However, those factors could also ensure he remains an Oilers. His full no-movement clause further complicates things.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 26, 2026

by | Apr 26, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 26, 2026

Check out the latest speculation about the Jets and the Kraken in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates examined the decline of the Winnipeg Jets into a “mushy middle” team (too good to tank, too flawed to win), and suggested how they can get out of it.

One way could be trading one of their core players, such as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, winger Kyle Connor, defenseman Josh Morrissey, or center Mark Scheifele.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Hellebuyck could fetch a top-four defenseman or a second-line center. Connor might be able to fetch a return comparable to what the Calgary Flames received when they traded Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in 2022. The return for Morrissey or Scheifele would include a young player who might develop into a top defenseman or a top center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ates doubted that the Jets would take a proactive approach to that kind of deal. Nevertheless, he thinks such deals are worth discussing.

Ates also looked at some trade options to address their need for a second-line center.

The top one would be Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues if he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause to come to Winnipeg. However, Ates admits that Thomas serves the purpose of an unattainable star talent.

Targeting a restricted free agent center stuck in a third-line role on another club is another option. Ates suggested someone such as Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars or Peyton Krebs of the Buffalo Sabres.

They could also pursue a young center lacking no-trade protection, such as Connor Zary of the Calgary Flames, Ridly Greig of the Ottawa Senators, or Emmitt Finnie of the Detroit Red Wings. However, there’s no certainty that those clubs will part with them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ates also looked at veterans past their prime or those on bad contracts, but he doesn’t see the Jets going those routes. Pursuing someone like Bourque or Krebs might be an easier route, but that doesn’t mean they’re available. If they are, the Jets will have competition to get them. It seems most clubs are in the market for skilled centers.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Tim Booth and Kate Shefte looked at which players on the Kraken could be on the move this summer.

Shefte noted that Kraken general manager Jason Botterill wants to upgrade his forward lines. She believes Matty Beniers is safe, and she doesn’t see the Kraken parting with promising forward Berkly Catton. She also thinks Chandler Stephenson’s contract would be difficult to move.

Everyone else should at least be on the table. Shefte believes pending UFA Bobby McMann is worth keeping and acknowledged they’ll have to “throw a wad of cash at him” to get him to stay, but she doesn’t want them to overpay too much.

Booth believes goaltender Philipp Grubauer’s improvement this season could improve his value in the trade market. He would let defenseman Jamie Oleksiak depart via free agency, and also wondered whether moving one of Ryker Evans, Vince Dunn, or Adam Larsson would be unreasonable. He thinks they’ll have to part with one of them if they hope to bring in help for their forward lines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken were among the league’s lowest-scoring teams. That popgun offense was largely responsible for their inability to remain in the playoff race this season. It must be addressed, which could force Botterill to make a bold move or two this summer.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 29, 2026

by | Mar 29, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 29, 2026

What could new contracts for some of this summer’s top restricted free agents look like? Could the Kraken re-sign Bobby McMann? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

NEW CONTRACTS FOR YOUNG PENDING RFA STARS COULD AFFECT THE MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston recently said that Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets could reset the market when they sign their new contracts later this year.

Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli are restricted free agents coming off their entry-level contracts and lack arbitration rights. They’re also the top-line centers on their respective teams.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

Johnston believes the reason Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli remain unsigned is that they’re holding off due to shifting market dynamics. He also thinks those three wouldn’t mind if a younger player, such as Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, signed an extension beforehand to establish the market.

Those players could get eight-year contracts before the maximum limit is reduced to seven years on Sept. 26.

DAILY FACEOFF: Felix Sicard of the Crash the Pond Podcast projected that Carlsson and teammate Cutter Gauthier could each land contracts of eight years with average annual values between $9 million and $10 million.

Sicard anticipates that Carlsson’s AAV will be over $10 million, given his role as the Ducks’ first-line center. Gauthier could get close to $10 million as he’s poised to reach 40 goals this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp rise in the salary cap is the main reason behind what Johnston called shifting market dynamics. We saw it earlier this season when all the biggest stars eligible to unrestricted free agency this July were signed to expensive long-term extensions.

Celebrini has established himself as a superstar during his sophomore season, sitting fourth overall in league scoring with 98 points. Barring injury or a late-season slump, he’ll likely finish with at least 105 points, more than the single-season best numbers of Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, and Gauthier.

The Sharks will be keen to lock up their franchise player for as long as possible, preferably the current maximum of eight years. Celebrini could earn an average annual value of around $15 million.

Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli probably won’t get as much as that, but they would be assured of long-term deals worth over $10 million annually. Gauthier will get around $10 million, especially if he exceeds 40 goals this season.

The Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, and Ducks have the cap space to re-sign those players. However, it could cost the Ducks over $20 million to ink Carlsson and Gauthier, which could limit their efforts to re-sign or replace pending UFAs Jacob Trouba, John Carlsson, Radko Gudas, and to re-sign RFAs Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is a tough negotiator with players coming off entry-level contracts, as current Ducks center Mason McTavish and former Ducks forward Trevor Zegras can attest. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles this summer’s contract talks with Carlsson and Gauthier.

KRAKEN HOPE TO RE-SIGN BOBBY MCMANN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Seattle Kraken have shown an interest in retaining Bobby McMann, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

The 29-year-old McMann has seven goals and four assists in eight games since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the March 6 trade deadline. Friedman said the two sides haven’t gone too far down the road with this yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that one reason why the Maple Leafs parted with McMann was that his camp sought a multi-year extension worth around $5 million per season. Maybe the goal-starved Kraken would be willing to meet that price.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 23, 2026

by | Mar 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 23, 2026

Check out the latest on notable pending unrestricted free agents such as the Sabres Alex Tuch, the Golden Knights’ Rasmus Andersson, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently examined the rumors involving some of the notable players in this year’s thin unrestricted free-agent market.

Topping the list is Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch. The 29-year-old Tuch earned an average annual value of $4.75 million on his current deal, and could reportedly seek a deal comparable to Adrian Kempe’s new eight-year contract ($10.625 million AAV) with the Los Angeles Kings. The Sabres’ opening bid was reportedly $8 million annually.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Talks between the two sides have cooled, but Fox indicated they remain in contact and there’s mutual interest in getting a deal done. Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen remains hopeful of getting an extension in place before July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has been an invaluable part of the Sabres’ rise this season. They have over $13 million in cap space for 2026-27 with 21 active roster players under contract, so there’s room to sign him to a big raise. Perhaps a compromise between $9.5 million and $10.2 million might be found before July 1.

The Vegas Golden Knights want to re-sign defenseman Rasmus Andersson, whom they acquired from the Calgary Flames in January. He carries an AAV of $4.55 million on his current deal.

Fox pointed out that the Golden Knights only have $3.78 million in projected cap space for next season with 17 active roster players under contract. They’ll have to perform some “roster surgery” to free up the cap space. Hanging over this situation is the status of sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. He’s on long-term injury reserve this season, but has one more season left on his contract with an AAV of $8.8 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo could end up on permanent LTIR if he’s unable to return from his season-ending injuries. Even then, as Fox noted, they still might have to move another player to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Andersson and fill out the rest of their roster.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh’s career year will put him in line for a big raise over his current cap hit of $970,000. Fox speculates the 30-year-old blueliner could seek something comparable to defense partner JJ Moser’s eight-year deal with an AAV of $6.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have $15.23 million in projected cap space for next season and 21 active roster players under contract. They could afford that raise for Raddysh, but Fox also observed they’ll need as much cap space as possible kept free to sign superstar Nikita Kucherov to a new deal before his UFA eligibility next summer.

Fox also weighed in on several aging superstars, such as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and John Carlson of the Anaheim Ducks.

The greatest goal scorer of all time, Ovechkin could retire from the NHL after this season and return to Moscow to finish his playing career. However, if the 40-year-old winger wants to return for another season, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis will make it happen.

Malkin has met multiple times with Penguins management. The 39-year-old center has improved this season, and he’s indicated a willingness to return for another season or two. Both sides have agreed to wait until the offseason to continue talks. A one-year contract would take Malkin through the final season of long-time teammate Sidney Crosby’s contract.

The Ducks acquired Carlson from the Capitals at the trade deadline. Fox wondered if a two-year contract, perhaps with performance bonuses, might keep the 36-year-old defenseman in Anaheim.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wasn’t that long ago when having Ovechkin, Malkin, and Carlson in the same UFA class would’ve generated considerable excitement about where they might land and how expensive their new contracts might be. However, they’re all past their playing prime with retirement on the horizon. Their days of landing lucrative long-term deals are over.

Ovechkin and Malkin are more likely to return with their current clubs next season. It’s not a certainty, but at this stage of their careers, playing for other NHL teams isn’t the ending they (or their fans) want to see. Carlson could test the UFA market, but that will depend on how the remainder of this season with the Ducks plays out.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping to re-sign forwards Charlie Coyle and Mason Marchment. They must also make decisions on team captain Boone Jenner and defenseman Erik Gudbranson. Cap space isn’t an issue, and Coyle has fit in well with the Blue Jackets, but it remains to be seen if he’ll stick with them or test his luck in free agency.

Jacob Trouba has been a good fit with the Anaheim Ducks. His performance, and that of his teammates, will determine if he has a future in Anaheim beyond this season.

Stuart Skinner of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the best option for goalies 30-and-under in this year’s UFA market. His inconsistencies have been well-documented, but his career save percentage above the league average and back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals will ensure he won’t have difficulty landing elsewhere if he goes to market on July 1.

Others worth watching include Penguins winger Anthony Mantha, and Seattle Kraken forwards Bobby McMann and Jaden Schwartz.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Fox indicated, this summer’s UFA pool is very shallow. That’s why there’s an expectation that teams will put more focus on the trade market to address their roster needs. Still, some of the players on this list could end up cashing in, though Tuch and maybe Andersson are the only ones who’ll get anything close to expensive long-term deals.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2026

by | Mar 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2026

The Canadiens nip the Senators, the Flyers defeat the Capitals, the Mammoth re-sign Nick Schmaltz, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist, and Jacob Fowler made 32 saves for a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators, ending the latter’s seven-game points streak. Demidov snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period for the Canadiens (36-18-10), who’ve won three straight and sit third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points. Drake Batherson tallied twice for the 32-23-9 Senators (73 points), who remain five points out of the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Juraj Slafkovsky also scored for the Canadiens, setting a franchise record for the most points by a player before the age of 22 (164 points), passing Hall of Famer Henri Richard.

Recalling Fowler from the farm team in Laval and naming him the starter for this game was a surprising move by the Canadiens. It’s a clear sign that the Habs have run out of patience with struggling Samuel Montembeault, who lost his role as starting goalie to Jakub Dobes

Canadiens winger Cole Caufield missed this game with the flu, ending his consecutive games streak at 227.

The Philadelphia Flyers tallied four unanswered goals to defeat the Washington Capitals 4-1. Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist for the 30-23-11 Flyers. Ryan Leonard replied for the 32-27-7 Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers winger Travis Konecny celebrated his 29th birthday with a goal, marking the second time that he’s done so in his NHL career. He joined Eric Lindros, Ross Lonsberry, Daniel Briere, Rick Tocchet, and Bill Clement among the Flyers to score multiple times on their birthdays.

HEADLINES

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: The Utah Mammoth signed forward Nick Schmaltz to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scratch another notable name from this summer’s depleted list of unrestricted free agents.

Schmaltz, 30, is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $5.85 million. PuckPedia indicates he’ll earn an AAV of $8 million on his new contract, with full no-movement protection during the first two years, a full no-trade clause for the next two years, a 16-team NTC for two years after that, followed by an eight-team NTC for the final two years.

Schmaltz has consistently been among the Mammoth’s leading scorers. As their first-line center, he’s played a crucial role in turning this rising young team into a playoff contender this season.

Given Schmaltz’s role, the annual average value of his new contract isn’t unreasonable, especially with the projected significant increases of the NHL salary cap in the coming years. However, this deal won’t age well as his performance inevitably declines in the final four years.

Nevertheless, the Mammoth are willing to bank on Schmaltz being productive enough in the first half of this new contract to make it worthwhile if it elevates them into Stanley Cup contenders.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Jaden Schwartz is on the road to recovery after being accidentally struck in the face by the skate of Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins on Saturday.

Schwartz is sidelined indefinitely and could miss the Kraken’s remaining 19 games of the regular season.

THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of the Kraken, recently-acquired winger Bobby McMann said Toronto can be a difficult market to play in, especially when the Maple Leafs are struggling as they have this season.

The Kraken acquired the 29-year-old winger from the Maple Leafs before last Friday’s NHL trade deadline.

“Yeah, it can be (difficult). When things aren’t going well, it’s that much harder to play there, I think,” McMann said. “We’re all human, and I think that all NHL players at times get put on a pedestal. Everybody lets things get to them to a certain extent, some more than others.”

McMann said players are already self-critical when things aren’t going well, but it becomes amplified when it comes from the media and fans, especially in a big hockey market like Toronto.