NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2024

by | Jul 30, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2024

The Wild sign Brock Faber to an eight-year contract extension, the Hurricanes ink Martin Necas to a two-year deal, an update on Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STARTRIBUNE.COM: The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Brock Faber on Monday to an eight-year, $68-million contract extension.

Faber, 21, was runner-up last season to Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy. He played all 82 games in 2023-24, sitting sixth in time on ice per game (24 minutes, 58 seconds) among NHL skaters and the most by a rookie since the statistic was first tracked in 1997.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (NHL Images).

His new contract begins in 2025-26 and is the longest extension in franchise history. The $8.5 million average annual value is second to Kirill Kaprizov’s $9.5 million on the Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puckpedia also indicates Faber will get a no-movement clause and a 15-team no-trade clause in the final three years of this deal.

Faber made an impressive debut last season, becoming one of the few highlights in an otherwise dismal season for the Wild. He quickly established himself as the linchpin of their defense corps, collecting 39 assists and 47 points. Faber could become a legitimate contender for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in the coming years.

Signing such a young player to a lucrative long-term contract after just one NHL season can be risky. Nevertheless, this could become a long-term bargain for the Wild if Faber reaches his full potential.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes avoided salary arbitration with Martin Necas, signing the 25-year-old forward to a two-year, $13-million contract. He’ll collect an AAV of $6.5 million.

Necas tallied 24 goals and 53 points in 77 games with the Hurricanes last season. He netted a career-high 71 points in 2022-23.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas was a fixture in the rumor mill following reports that he was unhappy seeing third-line duty with the Hurricanes. However, the departures of forwards Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, and Stefan Noesen prompted speculation the Hurricanes could retain Necas and give him a larger role. I’ll have more about this in today’s Rumors update.

This signing leaves the Hurricanes with $6.44 million in cap space and restricted free agent Seth Jarvis to re-sign. The 22-year-old has entrenched himself as an invaluable top-six forward but he’s coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. That gives Hurricanes’ management the hammer in their negotiations.

Jarvis will still get a significant raise but it could come in around $5 million, leaving Carolina some cap room for other moves during the season.

NEW YORK POST: Ryan Lindgren is the only player remaining with a scheduled arbitration hearing (Aug. 2). Larry Brooks reports the 26-year-old defenseman and the Rangers are in “continued contractual negotiations” hoping to reach an agreement before his hearing on Friday.

Lindgren is believed to be seeking a four or five-year contract with an AAV of $5 million. Rangers management reportedly prefers a two or three-year deal worth between $4 million and $4.25 million annually.

Brooks also indicated the two sides could agree to a one-year deal, allowing both sides to regroup and resume talks on Jan. 1 for a long-term extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindgren logs big minutes in a shutdown role on the Rangers’ top defense pairing with Adam Fox. However, his physical style could take its toll on his body, making management leery of investing too much for too long on a potentially depreciating asset.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Jets head coach Scott Arniel is convening a summer coaching camp for his staff. It includes integrating new assistant coaches Dean Chynoweth and David Payne into the club’s systems and structure. Staff from their AHL affiliate will also be in attendance.

SPORTSNET: Longtime Canadian hockey executive Murray Costello died Saturday at age 90.

A four-season NHL veteran with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings in the 1950s, Costello was president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for two decades. He created its Program of Excellence, helped establish the first women’s world championship in 1990, and spearheaded the CAMA’s merger with Hockey Canada in 1994.

Costello was a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s council from 1998 to 2012, including a five-year stint as vice president, and advocated for the growth of women’s hockey. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2005.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Costello had a tremendous impact on hockey. My condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who worked with him.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2024

by | Jul 18, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2024

A look at some notable trade and free-agent rumors facing several Western Conference clubs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently examined lingering offseason questions facing the NHL’s Western Conference teams. Among them were some notable trade and free-agent speculation.

Dixon wondered if the Anaheim Ducks would trade Trevor Zegras. Trade speculation started last fall during their contentious contract negotiations. The 23-year-old was limited to 31 games by injuries last season. He’s an imperfect player but his offensive skills continue to draw interest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has consistently denied the trade rumors, claiming he hasn’t shopped Zegras nor received any trade offers. He’s under no pressure to move the young winger, who has two seasons remaining on his contract. Zegras will remain with the Ducks this season.

The Calgary Flames are now rebuilding their roster. Dixon wondered if they might take on a bloated contract or two from a cap-strapped club in return for a draft pick or a prospect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With over $20 million in cap space and 22 active roster players under contract, the Flames are well-positioned to make that type of deal. Whether they want to is another matter. The earliest we could see such a move is in September or early October as teams with limited cap space or over the $88 million cap look to shed salary before the start of the season.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Dixon wonders if the two sides will hammer out a contract extension this summer.

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been quiet on the Rantanen front. The Avalanche faces some short and long-term salary cap uncertainty given Gabriel Landeskog’s attempt at a comeback from knee injuries and Valeri Nichushkin’s returning to the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Both are on long-term contracts. The Avs could be waiting for cap clarification before opening extension talks with Rantanen.

Dixon wondered if the Dallas Stars might scour the trade market for a defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keep an eye on this situation. The depth among the Stars’ right-shot defensemen drops sharply behind Miro Heiskanen with free-agent additions Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba signed to fill those gaps.

Arthur Kaliyev’s future with the Los Angeles Kings could be coming to an end. He’s been on the outs with the club and is a restricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaliyev is coming off an entry-level contract and has been the subject of frequent trade speculation. Don’t be surprised if he ends up traded before the start of the season.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson could be a trade candidate after the Minnesota Wild re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury and promising Jesper Wallstedt waiting in the wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson surfaced in the rumor mill during the spring but trade speculation about him dried up weeks ago. The Wild could retain him for another season and send Wallstedt back to the minors. 

Dixon pondered the possibility of the Nashville Predators trading goalie Yaroslav Askarov after they signed Juuse Saros to a contract extension and signed free-agent backup Scott Wedgewood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators GM Barry Trotz will set a high asking price for Askarov, who has potential as an NHL starter. Trotz can afford to be patient as he waits for a club seeking goaltending depth to come calling, which could lead to Askarov starting this season with their AHL affiliate.

The Utah Hockey Club made some significant additions to their blueline by acquiring Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino and Ian Cole. Flush with cap space, draft picks and prospects, they might not be done making additions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah GM Bill Armstrong prioritized improving his defense corps this summer. Having addressed that issue, he could shift his focus to other roster areas. Still, he could also keep his powder dry and see what unfolds during this season.

Dixon also wondered if the Vancouver Canucks will work out an extension with winger Brock Boeser.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser made it clear he wants to play for the Canucks despite being the subject of trade rumors leading up to last season. He’s the only core player due for a new contract by next summer.

The Canucks have over $12 million in projected cap space based on a cap of $88 million, but it’s projected it could rise to $92 million for 2025-26. That will give them plenty of room to re-sign Boeser. However, his injury history could have management adopt a wait-and-see approach to this season.

The Vegas Golden Knights have limited cap space for 2024-25. Nevertheless, Dixon wonders if they might have a crafty move up their sleeve to bolster their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas’ depth chart took a beating this summer with the departures of Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Logan Thompson, Alec Martinez, William Carrier, Michael Amadio and Anthony Mantha. They brought in Victor Olofsson, Alexander Holtz, Ilya Samsonov and Akira Schmid.

The Golden Knights are over the cap by $3.6 million but they’ll get cap relief with Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. They lack room to make a significant addition unless they ship out a salaried player in return.

Recent trade history indicates sleeping on the Golden Knights isn’t wise. However, they will struggle to pull off a major deal this summer.

Dixon concludes by wondering when the Winnipeg Jets intend to trade winger Nikolaj Ehlers and prospect forward Rutger McGroarty. They still have some roster holes to fill and either player could fetch a suitable return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers has a year left on his contract while the Jets still hold McGroarty’s rights. They won’t be in any rush to move either player this summer but one or both could be moved as we get closer to the start of the season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2024

by | Jun 13, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2024

Updates on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, plus the latest on Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, Rangers blueliner Adam Fox, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Aleksander Barkov could play in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

The Florida Panthers captain left Game 2 in the third period after taking an elbow to the head from Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Barkov was on the ice with his teammates for their final skate before flying to Edmonton for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

“He got through the skate today, felt better,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “We will get him on a plane, get him off a plane, get him on the ice and make a decision tomorrow (Thursday). But he looked good today.

Speaking of that plane, its departure was delayed by over three hours due to inclement weather in Miami. It finally took over at 4:25 pm EDT and arrived in Edmonton around 8 pm local time.

The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Barkov’s promising progress, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s in the lineup with his teammates for Game 3. If he’s unable to go, Anton Lundell (AKA “Baby Barkov”) will take his place on the roster.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers must find a way to break through on the power play if they hope to rally back against the Panthers and win this series. They’ve gone 0-for-7 in the first two games and were shut out in eight of the Oilers’ last 11 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The power play played a crucial role for the Oilers during the regular season and playoffs. So far, however, they’ve been thwarted by the Panthers’ solid penalty killing and the goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky.

TSN: Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse and winger Corey Perry are expected to play in Game 3 tonight. Nurse was hampered by an injury in Game 2 that limited him to just over four minutes of ice in that contest. Perry was scratched from the lineup for Game 2.

Winger Evander Kane (sports hernia) remains questionable for Game 3.

THE LATEST ON JACCOB SLAVIN AND ADAM FOX

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Carolina Hurricanes are working on a long-term contract extension for Jaccob Slavin. The 30-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on his seven-year contract with an average annual value of $5.3 million. He’s eligible to sign that extension on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slavvin is the linchpin of the Hurricanes’ defense corps. They’re expected to part ways with Brett Pesce and could also lose Brady Skjei to this summer’s free-agent market. Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov are eligible for UFA status next summer. Retaining Slavvin will be crucial to maintain a level of stability and to give them someone to build around on the blueline.

It’ll be interesting to see how much of a raise Slavvin receives and for how long. He’s among the league’s best all-around defensemen and recently won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the second time. It could be a five or six-year deal worth over $8 million annually.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox suffered a mild MCL strain following a knee-on-knee hit with Washington Capitals blueliner Nick Jensen during their first-round playoff series. The injury affected Fox’s play for the remainder of the Rangers’ postseason run.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox’s injury contributed to the Rangers’ elimination from the Eastern Conference Final by the Florida Panthers. He struggled to play up to his usual performance level as the postseason went on.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is expected to be named Team Canada’s bench boss for next year’s 4 Nations Faceoff and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild shot down a report claiming they were changing their color scheme to the green and yellow of the Minnesota North Stars as part of their 2025-26 rebrand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s too bad, I was looking forward to seeing that. The old North Stars jersey was one of the best.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins named Jay Leach as an assistant coach and promoted Joe Sacco to associate coach. Leach spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken. Before that, he was head coach of the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence from 2017 to 2021.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche will soon have a new director of amateur scouting. Wade Klippenstein is leaving on July 1 to join Notre Dame Hounds Hockey as their director of hockey development. He’d been with the Avalanche since 2016 and was promoted into his current role in 2021.

DAILY FACEOFF: A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of former NHL player Steve Montador will go to trial in March 2025. Paul Montador has been embroiled in a nine-year legal battle with the league. Steve suffered at least 11 documented concussions during his NHL career, including four in 12 weeks in 2012. He passed away in 2015. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2024

by | Jun 2, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2024

The Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Final, the latest on the Stars and Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year, holding off the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final to win the series four games to two.

Sam Bennett opened the scoring in the first period, Vladimir Tarasenko added the insurance goal in the third period, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the win. Artemi Panarin scored for the Rangers to make it interesting late in the third period while Igor Shesterkin stopped 32 shots.

The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Eastern Conference champions (NHL.com).

The Panthers posed with the Prince of Wales Trophy when awarded to them at the end of the game but didn’t touch it like they did last year. “We touched it last year and it didn’t work for us,” said Sam Bennett, referring to their five-game defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. “So, we thought we’d try something different this year.”

Bennett and his teammates will get a six-day break as they await the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. The Oilers hold a 3-2 series lead and can wrap things up with a win on Sunday night in Edmonton.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers might be hoping to change their luck in this year’s Stanley Cup Final but they didn’t need luck to defeat the Rangers. Their experience, disciplined defensive game, and physical style made the difference in Game 6 just as it had in each of their three previous victories in this series.

The Rangers played better in the last two games but couldn’t mount sustained offensive pressure against Florida. The Panthers snuffed out their power play and neutralized scoring forwards like Panarin, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad. They also prevented the Rangers from generating offense from the blueline, though the Blueshirts were hampered in that department with defenseman Adam Fox hobbled by a knee injury.

Shesterkin was outstanding for the Rangers, giving his teammates a chance to win throughout this series whenever they fell behind. However, his teammates couldn’t match the Panthers’ heavy game.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers are on the cusp of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

Their offense has dominated this postseason. Connor McDavid (29 points), Leon Draisaitl (27), and Evan Bouchard (25) hold the top three positions among this year’s playoff points leaders, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied for fourth with New York’s Vincent Trocheck. Meanwhile, Zach Hyman leads all goal scorers with 13, followed by Draisaitl with 10 goals.

Their defense has a league-leading 46 points in this postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers sit second in goals-per-game average (3.59) and power-play percentage (34.7) only because the Colorado Avalanche ran up big numbers during their five-game opening-round elimination of the Winnipeg Jets. It’s also worth noting that their penalty-killing percentage (93.5) is first overall.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars hope their strong road record will help them in Game 6 as they try to force a seventh and deciding game against the Oilers. They tied with Florida for the most road wins during the regular season (26) and have six road wins in this postseason. They also need scoring from a power play that has gone 0-for-11 in this series.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Chris Tanev was sore following Friday’s game against the Oilers but he’s confident the 34-year-old defenseman will be ready to go for Game 6. Meanwhile, Stars blueliner Jani Hakanpaa didn’t make the trip to Edmonton as he recovers from a lower-body injury.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak points out Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen is poised for a big pay raise. He’s eligible next July to become an unrestricted free agent but the Avs can sign him to an extension this July 1. He will enter the final season of his six-year, $55.5 million contract with an annual average value of $9.25 million.

A comparable is Boston Bruins’ right wing David Pastrnak, who’s in the second season of an eight-year deal with an AAV of $11.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Masisak noted that paying Rantanen $11.75 million on his next contract would be a raise of only $2.5 million annually from his current salary.

The Avs’ offer to Rantanen won’t exceed Nathan MacKinnon’s team-leading $12.6 million. As one of the NHL’s top right wings, he will likely get between $11.5 million and $12 million on his next contract.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Daniel Alfredsson is leaning toward returning to the Senators’ coaching staff next season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Steve Warne cited The Athletic’s Mike Russo reporting that the Senators didn’t renew assistant coach Jack Capuano’s contract, which expires on July 1. Russo indicated that Capuano could be a contender to join the Minnesota Wild’s coaching staff.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps ensuring that Alfredsson will be back with the Senators next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2024

by | Jun 1, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2024

The Oilers push the Stars to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Panthers and Rangers on the eve of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers are a win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final after beating the Dallas Stars 3-1 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, taking a 3-2 series lead.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals, Philip Broberg tallied his first career NHL playoff goal, and Evan Bouchard collected two assists for the Oilers. Wyatt Johnston replied for the Stars in the third period.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images).

The series returns to Edmonton for Game 6 on Sunday, June 2 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most complete game by the Oilers in this series. They broke through on the power play after going scoreless with the man advantage in the previous four games, stifled the Stars’ offense, and maintained their poise and discipline throughout this contest.

Meanwhile, the Stars continue to have difficulty at home in this postseason. Their best scorers struggled against the Oilers’ defense and they’re still looking for their first power-play goal in this series. This was the first time in this postseason that Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger failed to bounce back with a win following a loss in his previous game.

Dallas defenseman Chris Tanev returned for this game after leaving Game 4 with an injured foot. However, he appeared to be laboring throughout this contest.

Following this game, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer took exception to a reporter’s question about his club’s “lifeless” performance during the second period.

“Listen, there are always things you can do better,” said DeBoer. “You’re going to sit here and question our character if you want, you haven’t been here all year. I’m not going to do it. You go ahead and write whatever the f**k you want.”

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers are a win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year. However, the players’ focus is on defeating the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

“I don’t think we’ve thought about it at all,” said forward Sam Bennett. “We’ve got business to take care of still. We’ve got Game 6 and our entire focus is on that.”

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and team captain Aleksander Barkov share Bennett’s view. “We don’t think that far,” said Bobrovsky. “Right now, we just need to recover and think about that,” Barkov said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have been in this situation before. That experience should work to their advantage as they prepare to face the Rangers on Saturday evening.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin has been the best goaltender of this postseason, but he needs more support from his teammates to stave off elimination in Game 6, especially from his scorers. They’ve spent too much time in the defensive zone in this series with the Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have dominated the last two games of this series. If the Rangers can’t find a way to break through in Game 6, they’ll be cleaning out their lockers on Monday.

IN OTHER NEWS…

STARTRIBUNE.COM: The Minnesota Wild dismissed long-time assistant coach Darby Hendrickson on Friday. An original member of the Wild as a player, he spent the past 14 seasons as an assistant to six different Wild head coaches.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators parted ways with assistant coach Dan Hinote. He was with the club for the past four seasons and was primarily responsible for their penalty kill.

PUCKPEDIA: This year’s restricted free agent offer sheet compensation list was released on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link for the full breakdown. The top compensation is four first-round picks for an offer sheet of over $11.45 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Burnside is the 2024 winner of the Elmer Ferguson Award for excellence in hockey journalism. Pierre Houde is this year’s recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Burnside and Houde for the well-deserved recognition of their work.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 27, 2024

by | Apr 27, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 27, 2024

Is there a deal that could work for the Flyers and Ducks? Could the Wild trade Filip Gustavsson and Marco Rossi this summer? Who are the potential candidates to become the next head coach of the Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE DUCKS AND FLYERS MAKE ANOTHER BIG TRADE THIS YEAR?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey noted the recent remarks by Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek indicating he’s in the market for a right-shot top-six forward or a right-shot top-four defenseman.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny (NHL Images)

The two clubs made a big move in January when the Ducks sent defenseman Jamie Drysdale to the Flyers in exchange for promising winger Cutter Gauthier. Bailey wondered if the two clubs might swing another move that works for both sides.

Bailey noted the Flyers have plenty of wingers but lack depth at center while it’s the opposite for the Ducks. He suggested Trevor Zegras or Mason McTavish might be available for the Flyers. Meanwhile, Flyers winger Travis Konecny will be due for a big-money extension and is already in his playing prime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bailey is just musing about what each club has that could help the other. Still, the two teams have that recent trade history so we can’t rule out another deal between them this summer.

I doubt the Flyers will part with Konecny unless he prices himself out of their comfort zone in contract talks. If they offered him to the Ducks, they’d likely want McTavish in return. He would adapt better under Flyers coach John Tortorella’s system than the free-wheeling Zegras.

COULD GUSTAVSSON AND ROSSI HIT THE TRADE BLOCK?

THE ATHLETIC: In their recent mailbag segment, Michael Russo and Joe Smith were asked what Filip Gustavsson might fetch for the Minnesota Wild.

The signing of Marc-Andre Fleury to a one-year contract indicated the 25-year-old goaltender could hit the trade block this summer. There’s no guarantee he’ll be moved but the Wild would like to make room for up-and-comer Jesper Wallstedt.

Moving Gustavsson’s $3.75 million cap hit for next season and replacing him with Wallstedt’s $925K would save the cap-strapped Wild $2.825 million. That’s assuming they move him for a high draft pick and/or a prospect.

Gustavsson struggled this season following a fine performance in 2022-23 plus there will be a lot of goaltenders in this summer’s trade market. Still, the volatility of the position around the league suggests a team could bet on unlocking his full potential.

Gustavsson could fetch a second-round pick for the Wild but they could prefer a middle-six winger. They could also use him as a trade chip to move up in the first-round draft order.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson could be pursued by teams that lose out in the bidding for big-name netminders like Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom or Boston’s Linus Ullmark this summer. He could also be a tempting target for clubs in the market for more affordable goaltending.

Russo and Smith also think there’s a good chance the Wild trade Marco Rossi this summer if they can get the same level of high-end prospect who’s bigger and faster. They were interested in Cutter Gauthier before the Philadelphia Flyers traded him to the Anaheim Ducks in January. That’s the type of player they might consider for Rossi.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chosen ninth overall in the 2020 draft, Rossi’s progress was stalled when he contracted COVID-19 in 2020, sidelining him for all but one game with Switzerland’s ZSC Lions the following season. He had one point in 19 games with the Wild in 2022-23 but put up 51 points in 53 games that season with their AHL affiliate in Iowa.

The 22-year-old center finished this season sitting second among NHL rookies with 21 goals and fifth in points with 40. He could draw plenty of interest if the Wild put him on the trade block but they might not get the type of player described by Russo and Smith. Rossi will likely remain with the Wild when next season begins.

LATEST ON THE SENATORS SEARCH FOR A NEW COACH

TSN: recently cited the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reporting Senators GM Steve Staios has already had meetings or plans to meet with three coaching candidates.

They include former Minnesota Wild bench boss Dean Evason and former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube. It’s also believed (but unconfirmed) that Staios has spoken with former Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was speculated that Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden and Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Brad Shaw would also be candidates. However, it appears Staios seeks someone with plenty of NHL head-coaching experience for this job.