The Detroit Red Wings faltered when the fans wanted them to succeed the most. As a result, general manager Steve Yzerman must find a way to construct a roster that will take them deep into the postseason. That leaves us wondering who will return for the 2026-26 NHL season. There are multiple unrestricted free agents, and one bottom-six forward has been a clutch player when the team has needed it the most: James Van Riemsdyk . He was signed as a UFA last July, for a $1 ...
about 4 hours ago
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David Carle has done it again. He's led the Denver Pioneers to their third NCAA men's hockey title in the last five years. His coaching resume is as good as it gets for a bench boss without any NHL experience. He turned down a $25 million opportunity a year ago to take the reins of the Chicago Blackhawks, prefering to stay in Denver. Will he get some more NHL teams sniffing around yet again after his third national championship in this dominant run? Insider Elliotte Friedman figures he w...
about 6 hours ago
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It was revealed today that the Vancouver Canucks were voted by agents around the NHL as far and away the worst-run team in the league . Dead-last in the entire NHL with a dreadful 56 points, it's not too surprising. They've started the rebuild process with the blockbuster Quinn Hughes trade and moving out a few other pieces, but there's one huge outstanding issue to deal with this summer. It's the $92.8 million elephant in the room, called Elias Pettersson. The one-time 100-point m...
about 7 hours ago
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The Edmonton Oilers have held their ground over the past month without the services of superstar Leon Draisaitl. The Oil have gone 7-4-1 and secured themselves a spot in the playoffs. But their chances in the 'second season' simply aren't so good without King Leon. On Monday, he provided an update on his status. Draisaitl was ruled out for the rest of the regular season back on March 17. He then raised a few eyebrows and caused some panic about a week later when he went to Germany for so...
about 8 hours ago
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Brad Treliving's days as the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager will likely be remembered for one of the worst trades in recent memory for the team, when he dealt a first-round pick plus top prospect Fraser Minten—who has flourished with the Boston Bruins this season—for Brandon Carlo at last year's deadline. He then bungled the 2025 offseason, to the point where the Leafs have plummeted out of the playoffs this season for the first time in a decade. He was dumped by Toronto with a coup...
about 13 hours ago
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Another Michigan Wolverines senior has found himself an NHL deal, as 24-year-old Minnesota native Josh Eernisse has signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets for next season. #CBJ NEWS (in-game edition): The Blue Jackets have signed former @umichhockey forward Josh Eernisse to a one-year, entry level contract for the 2026-27 season. The 6-3 forward previously signed a PTO earlier today for this season with @monstershockey https://t.co/efIlhK9jz6 — Jeff Svoboda (@Ja...
about 13 hours ago
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Florida is missing the playoffs for the first time after back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, and the offseason ahead is already shaping up to be a busy one. Elliotte Friedman added an interesting wrinkle on the 32 Thoughts podcast this week, musing about what the Panthers might actually do with their 2026 first-round pick. "If it ends up being 1 or 2, I don't know that you're trading it," Friedman said, "but if it ends up in that next little area, I dunno, just watch." That's n...
about 16 hours ago
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Jonathan Quick has had a remarkable second act. After a legendary thirteen-year run with the Kings that produced two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012, and a pair of Vezina Trophy nominations, Quick reinvented himself as a respected backup, first in Vegas, where he won his third Cup in 2023, then across three one-year deals with the New York Rangers . In February 2025, he became the first American-born goaltender in NHL history to win 400 games. A month later, the Rangers ...
about 16 hours ago
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Boone Jenner is one of the Columbus Blue Jackets' top pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) heading into the summer. It would be understandable if they looked to keep him around, as he is their captain and a key part of their group. However, if he ends up hitting the market this summer, several teams should look to sign him. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to sign Jenner this summer if he does not sign an extension with Columbus. Edmonton Oilers The Oilers ne...
about 17 hours ago
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The New York Rangers are in the middle of a retool, so more changes to their roster could be on the way during the offseason. One player who has come up in the rumor mill for multiple seasons now is forward Alexis Lafreniere, so he will be a player to keep an eye on this summer as the Rangers continue to make changes to their group. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to acquire Lafreniere during the offseason. Los Angeles Kings The Kings may have landed Arte...
about 17 hours ago
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With the Toronto Maple Leafs having such a disappointing 2025-26 season, it is clear that they will be making changes to their roster during the summer. Brandon Carlo will be one trade candidate to watch on their roster this offseason, as he has struggled since his arrival in Toronto last season. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to acquire Carlo during the offseason now. San Jose Sharks The Sharks should be looking to add to their blueline during the offse...
about 17 hours ago
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The New York Rangers , once it became apparent that they were not going to re-emerge as playoff contenders this season, had a grand plan of going into the coming offseason and landing a couple of big fish in the free agent pool. But unfortunately for them, and every other team that had plans on taking a big swing in free agency, nearly every top pending UFA has already re-signed on big extensions with their own teams. The only real "big name" left — and that's assuming he als...
The Detroit Red Wings are now the team with the longest playoff drought in the NHL. After the Buffalo Sabres under head coach Lindy Ruff clinched a spot in the postseason, the Atlantic Division's top teams have changed. Once thought to be contenders earlier in the year, the Red Wings were running on all cylinders under head coach Todd McLellan's system, which saw results. Rookies such as Emmitt Finnie and Axel-Sandin Pellikka were having a great start to their NHL careers, a...
There were plenty of hockey fans in La Belle Province extremely disappointed upon hearing the news on Saturday that top prospect Michael Hage has decided to forego signing his entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens . The soon-to-be 20-year-old has chosen to return to the Michigan Wolverines for next season. Some in Habs Nation were even wondering whether the 2024 first-rounder has changed his mind about being a Canadien. I nsider Elliotte Friedman has revealed sever...
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to look like a much different team next season, on and off the ice, and one player who won't be back is veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok. Jarnkrok, 34, is in the final season of his current contract, which pays him $2.1 million AAV. It was quite surprising to see Brad Treliving not move Jarnkrok ahead of the trade deadline, but should we be that surprised considering Treliving is now out of a job. As for Jarnkrok, he's lost a step this season and is often behind...
We're starting to learn more and more about the Toronto Maple Leafs search for a new front office. With the removal of Brendan Shanahan a year ago as president of hockey operations, and the disposal of Brad Treliving as GM two weeks ago, that leaves perhaps two spots open to fill. But does it really? According to insider Elliotte Friedman , speaking on Hockey Night in Canada, it sounds like MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley wants to wrap the hockey operations into one top job: What I can tel...
The Seattle Kraken have once again failed to reach expectations. The Kraken have been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention, and while there's already been major changes in the front office, expect to see some significant roster changes heading into next season. The Kraken haven't been able to put it together like the Vegas Golden Knights have since their expansion draft, and the Kraken desperately need a reset. Here's three Kraken who aren't expected back next season: Bobby McMann Wh...
The Montreal Canadiens are heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs without one of their best defenceman. During the Canadiens matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night, Dobson didn't come out for the third period, and the alarm bells came on across the organization. Dobson took a shot off his hand during the second period against the Blue Jackets and is reportedly going to miss a couple of weeks, which means he won't be available for the first half of the first round of the playof...
The Vancouver Canucks traded multiple players this season to kick off their rebuild. This will likely carry over to the summer, and one specific Canucks forward who could be a trade candidate to watch is Drew O'Connor. The 27-year-old forward will be a pending UFA in 2026-27 and could be a good trade chip for the Canucks to dangle during the summer. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to acquire O'Connor during the offseason. New Jersey Devils The Devils need to ad...
The St. Louis Blues had a very disappointing 2025-26 season and changes to their roster should be on the way this summer because of it. One Blues player who has the potential to be moved during the offseason is forward Pius Suter. The 29-year-old forward will be entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27, so the Blues could very well listen to offers for him as they head toward a rebuild. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could target Suter this summer. Columbus Blue Ja...
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman will certainly be a trade candidate to watch during the summer. With the Flames rebuilding, they could listen to offers for the veteran forward again during the offseason. Because of this, let's look at three teams that could look to acquire Coleman this offseason. Dallas Stars The Stars were heavily linked to Coleman leading up to the deadline, and it would be understandable if they targeted him this summer because of it. With the Stars being c...
It was a scary-looking scene for Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk on Saturday. He left the game near the end of the second period after some sort of mysterious ailment robbed him of his balance. He stumbled off the ice and went to the locker room. Tkachuk in serious discomfort. Left the game. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/uCdFQ2urLN — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 11, 2026 Tkachuk actually tried to come back at the beginning of the third period, but lasted only 10 seconds on the ice bef...
While TJ Hughes has signed his first pro contract, another top prospect from the Michigan Wolverines, Michael Hage, has made the surprising decision to return to the NCAA for his junior season rather than signing his entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens. Hearing that Michael Hage, the talented Canadiens’ prospect, will return to Michigan for his junior season. Wolverines lost in Frozen Four this week, Hage will have another chance in 2026-27. — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) Apri...
After this disastrous season for the Vancouver Canucks, there will be plenty of changes. Both on the ice and off it. In particular, the futures of general manager Patrik Allvin and head coach Adam Foote are in doubt . There is some intrigue around Allvin's situation. He is thought of highly around the organization, but so is assistant GM Ryan Johnson. And coincidentally, it's been reported that the Canucks turned down a request from the Nashville Predators to speak with Johnson ab...
College hockey's top free agent, TJ Hughes, has finally decided on his NHL destination. With several teams vying for the right to sign Michigan's Hobey Baker favorite, the Colorado Avalanche have won the sweepstakes for Hughes. The #GoAvsGo signed NCAA F TJ Hughes to a 1 year ELC $952.5K Cap Hit $1.025M AAV $850K NHL $102.5K Signing Bonus $72.5K GP Bonus $85K Min Starts in 26/27 Rep'd by Daren Hermiston @the_team_hockey https://t.co/Q1pQ66qZjP — PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) April 11, 2026 It's...