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 Rumor Mill – April 24, 2026

by | Apr 24, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2026

The Red Wings could go shopping for help this summer, plus the latest on the Blues in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RED WINGS TO ATTEMPT MAJOR OFFSEASON ROSTER MOVES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff reports Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was asked what his club needed to get over the hump and end their decade-long postseason drought.

“Well, the most obvious answer would be we need better players,” Yzerman said. He added that it was “incumbent upon me and my staff to improve the team.”

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL.com).

Yzerman made those remarks during his first end-of-season media availability since his club was eliminated from postseason contention last week. Head coach Todd McLellan was seated alongside Yzerman during the presser.

The Red Wings GM indicated that no one on his roster was untouchable, be it a player or a prospect, when it came to trade talks. However, he stressed that he’s not going to get rid of everyone.

Yzerman said the club’s ownership is disappointed with the outcome of this season. However, he said he intends to do his job to the best of his ability and to see this thing through.

Improving the Wings won’t be easy. Duff pointed out that this summer’s free-agent market is thin on the type of talent they need. He speculated that Yzerman could revisit trade talks with the New York Rangers for center Vincent Trocheck, and wondered if the Wings GM would roll the dice on Vancouver Canucks mercurial center Elias Pettersson.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan also noted that Yzerman is prepared to make a major move to improve his club in the offseason, but he wondered if such a move is available.

Khan noted that players such as Trocheck and Pettersson, as well as Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, were the subject of trade rumors this season. He speculated that Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs could become the biggest name in this summer’s rumor mill.

Goalscoring is the Red Wings’ biggest need, especially at even strength. Khan believes Yzerman will seek a top-six forward, preferably a center. They must also improve their bottom-six forwards.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yzerman and McLellan won’t be replaced, but they will be feeling the pressure to bring the Red Wings’ long playoff drought to an end next season.

Most of that pressure will fall on Yzerman, as the past seven years of that 10-year drought occurred on his watch. He could be in real danger of losing his job if the Red Wings fall short next season.

As Duff and Khan observed, finding suitable players to address their roster weaknesses won’t be easy this summer. There’s little available in free agency, and a lot of teams flush with salary-cap space will turn to the trade market, and perhaps even try the offer-sheet route.

Still, Yzerman does have a couple of factors that could work in his favor. The Red Wings have over $32 million in cap space for 2026-27, with 15 active roster players under contract.

Simon Edvinsson is completing his entry-level contract and will get a significant raise. Patrick Kane is the only one of their unrestricted free agents expected to be re-signed. They’ll have plenty of space to add a scorer or two.

Yzerman can also draw on a deep pool of prospects for trade bait. He was reluctant in the past to dangle those players, but his comments on Thursday suggest he understands he must consider that option to address his roster’s pressing needs.

UPDATE ON THE BLUES.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford believes the St. Louis Blues would be open to moving forwards Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Jonathan Drouin this summer.

Buchnevich is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8 million. He thinks they’re likely regretting that contract because of the 31-year-old winger’s declining production. As a result, it’s hard to imagine there will be much trade interest in him around the league.

Kyrou’s name wasn’t mentioned as much in trade rumors as other Blues, such as Robert Thomas, Colton Parayko, and Jordan Binnington. However, that doesn’t mean they weren’t shopping the 27-year-old winger. There could be more trade talks involving Kyrou this summer. He’s also signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $8.125 million.

Drouin was acquired as part of the return in the Brayden Schenn deal with the New York Islanders. He has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4 million and was a healthy scratch in eight of the last 13 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou’s recent minor knee procedure explained why his production was down this season. There could be clubs seeking offense willing to bet that he’ll bounce back.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2026

by | Apr 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2026

On the eve of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, check out the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Thatcher Demko, Dylan Larkin, and more from players that didn’t make the postseason in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

WINNIPEG SUN: Gordon Anderson reports Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck expressed his unhappiness over his club’s tumble from winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season to missing the 2026 postseason.

Hellebuyck owned up to his share of blame for the Jets’ demise this season and didn’t put himself above criticism for his performance. He still believes they have “a very good team,” but he believes things have to change if they’re going to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Hellebuyck said he’s made Winnipeg his home, and he likes it there, but his ultimate goal remains winning the Stanley Cup. He acknowledged the difficulty that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff faces bringing in talent through trades and free agency because of the club’s location and its reputation as a city that players don’t want to go to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson noted that Hellebuyck is in a re-evaluating frame of mind, but he believes that doesn’t mean the three-time Vezina Trophy winner could be eyeing the exit. However, not everyone shares that opinion. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill.

Jonathan Toews appears to be at a crossroads after this season. The 37-year-old Jet center staged a comeback after three years away recovering from health issues, but admitted that he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews was on a one-year contract with the Jets. It remains to be seen if they’ll bring him back for another season, which could leave him facing retirement.

Mark Scheifele has been selected to play for Team Canada in next month’s IIHF World Championship. The 33-year-old Jets center enjoyed a career-high 103-point performance, setting the franchise single-season points record. Teammate Dylan DeMelo has also accepted an invitation to play for Canada.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares will also be playing for Canada in the World Championship.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger reported St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas and Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly will join Tavares and Scheifele on Team Canada at the Worlds.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, the club is interviewing former captain and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin for a position in their hockey department.

TSN: Aleksander Barkov will play for Finland in the IIHF World Championship. The Florida Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 regular season and the 2026 Winter Olympics recovering from knee surgery.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck revealed his 14-game absence at the start of this season was due to a bacterial infection in one of his lungs. He underwent surgery and spent a week in a hospital, hooked up to chest tubes.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

“It was very scary,” Trocheck said. “I thought I was dying.”

Trocheck recovered and played the remainder of this season. The 32-year-old center was the subject of frequent trade speculation as management continues to retool its roster. He said he’s not sure what’s going to happen in the offseason.

THE ATHLETIC: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox raised some eyebrows earlier this season when he appeared noncommittal about his future with the club. However, he’s now encouraged by the “encouraging signs” that he saw from the club during the season’s final weeks, including his own improved performance during that stretch.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko believes his season-ending hip surgery will improve his performance going forward. He was upbeat during his exit interview with the press, expressing his belief that the club has addressed the issues that derailed its season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demko’s new three-year contract (with an average annual value of $8.5 million) begins on July 1. His performance over that period will be crucial to the Canucks’ rebuilding plans.

DAILY FACEOFF: Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said he knew last year that Quinn Hughes wouldn’t sign a contract extension. That is what pushed him to trade the 26-year-old superstar defenseman to the Minnesota Wild last December.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford first dropped that hint at his end-of-season media availability last year. That’s what prompted the trade rumors that dogged Hughes and the Canucks until he was shipped to the Wild in December.

MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin remains committed to getting the club into the playoffs despite missing its decade-long postseason drought.

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Red Wings, they and Patrick Kane have a mutual interest in bringing him back next season. The 37-year-old winger and future Hall of Famer is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Jared McCann underwent a medical procedure on Thursday related to the lower-body injury that hampered him during the second half of last season and throughout this season. He anticipated that it would take 8-10 weeks to recover.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Golden Knights center William Karlsson continues to rehab a lower-body injury and will miss the club’s upcoming first-round series against the Utah Mammoth. Karlsson has been sidelined since Nov. 8.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed defenseman Nils Lundkvist to a two-year contract extension worth an AAV of $1.75 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues announced assistant coaches Claude Julien and Mike Weber will not be brought back. Their contract will expire at the end of June.

NHL.COM: The league announced it has set a total attendance record for the fourth straight year. The new record is 23,158,522, which is 97.3 percent capacity. The per-game average was 17,651.

DAILY FACEOFF: Eight NHL teams will have salary-cap overages for 2026-27. Those expenditures are mostly related to performance bonuses.

The New York Islanders have the largest bonus overage carryover ($3.5 million), all from rookie Matthew Schaefer reaching the maximum possible bonuses for a player on an entry-level contract.

NHL.COM: Winger Ivar Stenberg of Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda sits at No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of the top International skaters. Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is ranked as the top North American skater.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

by | Apr 12, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

Check out the latest on the Rangers and Red Wings, plus updates on the Predators’ and Devils’ search for new general managers in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE RANGERS IN THE OFFSEASON?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers general manager Chris Drury will continue to retool his roster during the offseason.

Walker estimated the Rangers would have over $33.3 million in cap space if they trade center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Braden Schneider this summer. That would leave enough to add a backup goaltender, a top-four defenseman, a top-six winger, and a fourth-line center.

Current backup Jonathan Quick hasn’t revealed his plans, but a source close to the 40-year-old netminder believes this season will be his last.

It’s hoped that at least one NHL player will be part of a trade return for Trocheck. If Drury can’t find the return he wants for Schneider, exploring a Will Borgen trade could become another route.

Adam Crane reported Schneider remains proud of being a Ranger, and he hopes something will work out to keep him with the team long-term.

Schneider, 24, is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He saw what happened to former teammate K’Andre Miller last year when he was in the same boat. Miller was tendered a qualifying offer and then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing an eight-year deal.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (NHL Images).

Crane also reported last week that there are lingering concerns about the future of Adam Fox with the Rangers. They are a better team with the 26-year-old defenseman in the lineup, but his cryptic comments in February about whether he wants to remain through the next stage of the rebuild raise questions about what happens if he decides he wants out.

At the time, Fox said he felt a little helpless about the club’s public commitment toward a retool. When asked about staying with the Rangers, he felt that it was a discussion for after the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck has three more years on his contract with an affordable average annual value of $5.625 million. He has a 12-team no-trade list until July 1, when it drops to a 10-team list. He’s also indicated his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

There was interest in Trocheck and Schneider before last month’s trade deadline, but Drury declined to lower his asking prices. As I’ve mentioned before, clubs that were reluctant to meet Drury’s prices in March could be more willing to do so in June or July, especially with the salary cap rising to $104 million for 2026-27.

Fox is under contract through 2028-29 with an AAV of $9.5 million and a full no-movement clause through next season. Despite his struggles and injuries this season, the 28-year-old right-shot defenseman (and 2021 Norris Trophy winner) would draw plenty of attention if he becomes available this summer.

However, Fox’s desire to discuss his future with Drury may be little more than determining the club’s direction and his role within it. Drury is under no pressure to move Fox unless he wants out. For now, there’s no indication that’s the case.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RED WINGS AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON?

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman commented on the Detroit Red Wings extending their playoff drought to a 10th consecutive season. He believes this year’s miss hurts the most because the team now feels stuck after several seasons of promising progress.

Bultman indicates that the Red Wings remain a flawed team, particularly at five-on-five scoring, which will be one of the areas the club attempts to address during the offseason. He also wondered how the Wings can continue to bank on their promising young players as their main driver for improvement.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff also cited the Red Wings’ struggles to score at even strength. He also believes their lack of a winning culture contributed to their inability to close out a win. Duff suggested they must also reconstruct their bottom-six forward group.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been speculation and suggestions (including from yours truly) that general manager Steve Yzerman could be fired or will be on the hot seat after this season. However, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported last week that Yzerman remains aligned with team owner Chris Illich. If there’s a management change, it would be because Yzerman feels his time is up, but Dreger said that’s unlikely.

Yzerman’s critics believe he is reluctant to draw on his prospect pool to bring in more immediate help. However, he might not have much choice now. The fans are restless, his players are frustrated, and there’s a growing sense that the Red Wings are spinning their wheels.

That doesn’t mean he must make quick-fix deals. If an opportunity arises to land an impact player in his prime with term remaining on his contract, Yzerman must act. Otherwise, he risks extending the Wings’ postseason drought to 11 seasons, which could cost him his job.

LATEST ON THE PREDATORS AND DEVILS AS THEY HUNT FOR A NEW GM

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Nashville Predators prefer someone who has recently served as an NHL general manager or assistant GM to replace outgoing general manager Barry Trotz.

Former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been added to that list. Fitzgerald has a history with the Predators as he was their first team captain from 1998-99 to 2001-02. It’s believed he’s either already been interviewed for the job or will be soon.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports the Devils are interested in Jamie Langenbrunner as a candidate to replace the departed Fitzgerald. Langenbrunner is currently an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2026

by | Apr 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2026

What does Rangers GM Chris Drury have in store for the offseason? Which player could the Penguins target this summer? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano wondered which path New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury will take during the offseason. Will he preach patience and focus on rebuilding for the future, or aim for a quicker turnaround by trying to add to his roster?

Mercogliano stated that two league sources claimed Drury prefers to acquire young, NHL-ready players in any trade involving Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, defenseman Braden Schneider, or others.

The Rangers had planned to use their cap space this summer to pursue a premium unrestricted free agent, but the depth in that talent pool has drained. They could instead turn to this summer’s trade market if any big-name players hit the block.

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

Mercogliano said it’s no secret the Rangers have long coveted Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and Auston Matthews’ situation with the Toronto Maple Leafs has grown murkier. However, he’s doubtful they have sufficient trade capital to pull off a trade of that magnitude.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of Drury’s actions have been to stage a quick turnaround rather than a full-fledged roster rebuild.

Drury is following the example of Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, whose trades usually involve a return of promising NHL-ready players. Dubas has also found some bargain signings via free agency (Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau, Parker Wotherspoon) that have worked out well for the Penguins.

The Rangers GM held firm on his asking prices for Trocheck and Schneider at the trade deadline. With this summer’s UFA market depleted, teams will be turning to the trade market to address their needs. By then, some of those clubs could be more willing to meet Drury’s price than they were in March.

NEW YORK POST: Andrew Crane recalled the trade rumors that swirled around Rangers center Mika Zibanejad at this time last season.

The Rangers were in the middle of dismantling their roster. Meanwhile, Zibanejad was coming off a disappointing performance. Nevertheless, he reminded everyone that he had a full no-movement clause and that he still believed in this team.

A year later, Zibanejad has had a bounce-back performance with 33 goals and 75 points. He’s played a significant role in the blossoming of rookie Gabe Perreault and winger Alexis Lafreniere. No longer considered a trade candidate, he’s become a bridge to the future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers’ plummet to the bottom of this season’s Eastern Conference standings prompted some observers to wonder if Zibanejad might reconsider staying in New York. Based on Crane’s report, don’t hold your breath waiting for him to waive his no-movement clause.

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Josh Yohe was asked which star players the Pittsburgh Penguins might target in this summer’s trade market.

He believes Penguins GM Kyle Dubas could take a swing at Jason Robertson if the Dallas Stars put him on the trade block. The Penguins have the trade capital and the salary cap space necessary to acquire him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson is a restricted free agent on July 1 with arbitration rights who will also be UFA eligible next summer if he and the Stars agree to a one-year deal. Dubas may love Robertson’s game, but he will want assurances that the 26-year-old winger will sign a long-term contract before agreeing to acquire him.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2026

by | Mar 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2026

Check out the latest on Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market could generate more activity in this summer’s trade market. That’s one of the reasons the New York Rangers didn’t move Vincent Trocheck at the March 6 trade deadline. Teams reluctant to meet the Rangers’ asking price at the deadline could be more open to doing so in the offseason.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (including me) questioned the Rangers’ decision not to move Trocheck at the deadline when his trade value was perceived to be at its peak. A more active summer trade market would give them a good chance of finding a trade partner willing to meet their asking price. 

Friedman reports the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth showed serious interest in Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies before the recent trade deadline.

Everyone has denied that the Canadiens “went far down the road” pursuing Knies, but Friedman seems skeptical, saying “we’ll see”. There were rumors linking the Habs to a defenseman, or something else they could revisit this summer. He also noted that they “definitely explored moving money.” There were talks of shipping Patrik Laine to the Philadelphia Flyers or Toronto Maple Leafs, but nothing came of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens and Mammoth were also believed to have been interested in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. The Habs also had an interest in Blues winger Jordan Kyrou last summer.

As for the Canadiens attempting to move money, Laine was likely the player they were trying to move. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he no longer fits into their plans.

It’s believed Sergei Bobrovsky’s camp at one point sought a contract comparable to what Brad Marchand signed with the Florida Panthers (six years, $5.25 million AAV). Bobrovsky is 37, the same age Marchand was when he inked that deal last year. However, the Panthers weren’t willing to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky is finishing a seven-year deal with an AAV of $10 million. He’s obviously not getting anything similar to that again. The Panthers are probably objecting to the length of the deal, but they could find the $5.25 million AAV acceptable. Maybe they get something done on a two or three-year contract.

A big playoff performance by Alex Tuch could force the Buffalo Sabres’ hand in contract negotiations with the 28-year-old power forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has put up good numbers during the last four seasons. The last time he was in the postseason was in 2020-21 with the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s rumored that he’s seeking a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall ($10.625 million AAV). Helping the Sabres stage a deep playoff run would probably go a long way toward convincing management that he’s worthy of a similar deal.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said he’ll discuss Rick Bowness’ future with the coach after this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets hired Bowness on an interim basis in mid-January, and the players have responded well. When the hiring was made on Jan. 12, they were last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-19-7 for 45 points. They’ve surged up the standings since then, moving into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 36-21-11 for 83 points.

If Bowness wants the job full-time, it’s his for the taking.

It wasn’t a certainty that the Minnesota Wild would include prospect forward Charlie Stramel in a package deal. That’s not to say they wouldn’t have done so, but the return would have to be significant. The same goes for the Carolina Hurricanes with young defenseman Alexander Nikishin.