Word started to leak out a few days ago that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in seeing if they can convince highly sought-after young coach David Carle to leave the University of Denver and take on their head coaching job. Insider Elliotte Friedman has doubled down on that report, telling Donnie & Dhali that the Leafs are definitely interested in the three-time NCAA champion. "I think they're working through that... I think everybody's trying to gauge what the possibility is, real...
It was one of the big questions facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas this off-season: would they be re-signing pending UFA Evgeni Malkin? After 20 years in Pittsburgh, part of three Stanley Cup winners, would it be possible that they'd actually part ways? The answer came today, and it was a resounding no—Malkin would not be taking his talents elsewhere, signing up for one more year with the Penguins at $5.5 million. He's returning for his age-40 season. BREAKING: The P...
The Minnesota Wild are trying to make another splash, and this time it's down the middle of the ice. General manager Bill Guerin has made it loud and clear to other executives around the league that his team will be in the market for a top-line center this summer. They've been linked to some big names already, including Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers' Vincent Trocheck. Guerin isn't shy when it comes to big offers, as t...
The Colorado Avalanche have their backs against the wall, down 3-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights. While general manager Chris MacFarland has done a great job constructed a competitive roster the past few seasons, once again heading into the offseason there's going to be some major decisions to be made. The Avs made splashes the past couple of seasons landing Martin Necas and reuniting with Nazem Kadri, however, there's not a ton of cap space to work with this offseason, and Daily Faceoff's Matt ...
Regardless of how the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs plays out, the Montreal Canadiens have some tough roster decisions coming this summer. General manager Kent Hughes has limited cap space, Lane Hutson's contract extension's kicking in, and there's several players on the roster who could become cap casualties. For starters, goaltender Sam Montembeault mid as well pack his bags. With how well Jakub Dobes is playing and how much potential Jacob Fowler has, Montembeault has quickly become the ...
The Nashville Predators have been taking their sweet time making a decision on a new general manager. Now, rumors have started spreading as to what may be leading to the delay. First, a report emerged on the weekend from a Toronto Star writer, suggesting that there was a rumor spreading that the Preds were planning to poach current Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland and give him a shiny new title of VP of Hockey Operations. If true, won't go over well in Toronto, lots of buzzing out ...
The Edmonton Oilers are in for some massive roster changes. Defenceman Darnell Nurse has been linked as a prime offseason trade candidate, and it has a lot to due with his contract. Nurse is signed through the 2030 season at $9.25 million AAV, and it's expected that the Oilers will approach Nurse in the coming weeks for a list of teams he'd approve a trade to. Nurse holds a full no-movement clause until the 2027-28 season. Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin cites Nurse as a cap casualty and expects t...
Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres' season came to an end last week, but not until he and the team made some inroads towards greater things for the future. The team snapped its 14-year playoff drought, and the Sabres established themselves as a top team in the league again. As for Tuch, he could be the top name in unrestricted free agency this summer. The pending UFA has watched as all of the other top forwards have dropped off the board, signing extensions with their current teams. ...
The Toronto Maple Leafs may be starting next season without forward Max Domi. The Leafs announced on Monday, Domi underwent surgery on an ailment that was bothering him all of last season, and there's been some complications following the procedure. As it stands right now, Domi will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp in September. pic.twitter.com/obMsro9HFA — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 25, 2026 Domi, 31, has two seasons left on his contract with the Leafs, paying him $3.7...
The New Jersey Devils need to go on the offensive to address their offense this summer. They finished 27th in the NHL in goals per game this past season, and they could use a boost up front. To that end, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now has listed four depth trade targets to bolster the Devils' forward corps. Three of them are players whose roles and production dropped this past season, and with a fresh start could realize their potential as top-six hopefuls. The other is an up-and...
Ever since John Chayka and Mats Sundin were named as the new Toronto Maple Leafs management team, everyone has been anxiously awaiting their first meeting with Auston Matthews. Would the captain buy into what Chayka and Sundin were selling? Is his future still in Toronto? According to insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast , the first meeting has finally taken place—but not in person. The meeting took place via Zoom. At some point last week, there was a lengthy Zoom c...
Under the leadership of head coach John Tortorella, the Vegas Golden Knights are 14-8-1 in the postseason. Tortorella took the reins from Bruce Cassidy after being hired on March 30th, 2026 . He concluded the regular season with eight games left, going 7-0-1 and pushing the Golden Knights into playoff contention. With the Colorado Avalanche on the cusp of elimination, it's not difficult to understand the impact he's had on the Golden Knights. Putting his faith in forward Mitch Marn...
It was a shock to many when the Washington Capitals traded their top offensive defenseman of the past 17 years, John Carlson. For the Anaheim Ducks, it was a shrewd addition that helped push them into the second round of the playoffs in their first postseason appearance in eight years. But now comes the hard part: Trying to re-sign Carlson as a highly sought-after pending UFA. Coming off an $8 million AAV, and not showing any signs of decline despite his age (36), he will cost a pretty p...
The Calgary Flames have two picks in the first round of next month's NHL Draft (#6 & #28). But they're not satisfied with that, and are looking at a trade to move up from the No. 6 pick into the top 3, says insider David Pagnotta. The Flames finished the regular season at 34-39-9, the fourth-worst record in the NHL in 2025-26. With that, they were right on the borderline of being able to nab one of the top 5 impact prospects. But their lottery luck didn't hold up, and the ping pong...
The Los Angeles Kings have some glaring needs this offseason. Aside from finding a head coach, they're also in the market for a top-six impact player—preferably a center—to add some desperately-needed offense. They finished 29th in the NHL in goals per game. So there will be some changes as GM Ken Holland assesses the market. Trades will be made, and some players won't be back. But according to Eric Stephens of The Athletic, there are seven players that won't be going anywhere (we'll add...
The New York Rangers could be in store for a draft-day blockbuster trade. According to multiple reports, the Rangers are looking to move up at next month's draft in Buffalo, and want to find a way to get into the top three, from their current fifth position. The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't looking to move off the number one pick, and are likely leaning to Gavin McKenna at the moment. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks hold the #2 and #3 positions, and have been in contra...
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to look much different next season. John Chayka and Mats Sundin have taken over roster management and at the top of their priority list is reshaping the Leafs' blueline. According to sources close to the team, Chayka has connected with defenceman Morgan Rielly over the past couple of weeks, and has asked for a list of teams the longest-tenured Maple Leaf would be open to joining for the next chapter of his career. Rielly, 32, is signed for $7.5 million A...
Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy has made it clear league wide, his team is open for business on anyone but four of their core pieces. While conversations have started, and Conroy's already in advanced stages heading into the NHL Draft next month, keep an eye on Jonathan Huberdeau's name. Conroy's open to retaining half of Huberdeau's contract, as things have never really worked out for the skilled winger with the Flames since being dealt by the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster for...
The Pittsburgh Penguins accomplished two things this past season: Getting Sidney Crosby another run at the Stanley Cup playoffs (though it was a short run), while continuing their search for younger pieces for the future (see: Chinakhov, Egor). GM Kyle Dubas will continue to try to straddle that delicate line again this summer. And to that end, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now has suggested four young players that Dubas can try to acquire over the next couple of months. We'll start...
With the Buffalo Sabres out of playoff contention, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have to reassess the state of his team. Running hot near the end of the season, the Sabres had an aura of invincibility that faded once they met the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. UPL played six-games in the playoffs for the Sabres, and put in his best effort against his competitors but finished the postseason with 3.18 goals-against average, and an ....
The Buffalo Sabres made a terrific Cinderella run this season. Escaping from 14 straight years in the non-playoff wilderness, they broke out big-time with a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division and an exciting playoff run that ended in a Game 7 overtime thriller (albeit, a heartbreaking defeat). Most would agree that one player who did as much for his future with this run as anyone is 21-year-old Zach Benson. The tenacious two-way winger had a breakthrough season—especially down t...
The Columbus Blue Jackets general manager, Don Waddell, thought he did his best to construct a roster that would make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. But the team fell from contention at the end of the season, forfeiting seven of their last ten games (2-7-1). Head coach Rick Bowness' end-of-season criticism for his players' lack of execution reverberated throughout the media. While Charlie Coyle took the critique with humility . “I love working with Rick,” Coyle said. “Would...
Keep an eye on the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues this summer. There's been plenty of speculation the last 12 months over Jordan Kyrou's future in St. Louis, and while trade talks fizzled out before March's deadline, there's a very good chance that the Oilers circle back with a big trade offer around next month's NHL Draft in Buffalo. Kyrou, 28, is signed through the 2031 season at $8.1 million AAV, and holds a no-trade clause on his contract. There's been some reports he denied a move to...
Every insider in hockey has stated this summer is going to be the summer of trades, and don't be surprised to see the Columbus Blue Jackets get into the action at next month's NHL Draft in Buffalo. The Blue Jackets came on strong to finish last season after their coaching change, but unfortunately, fell a little short of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a fresh perspective heading into the offseason, there's been plenty of reports that Columbus is a team to watch at the draft, as they're ...
The Auston Matthews saga continues as there's reports heading in just about every direction regarding his future as Toronto Maple Leafs captain. Most recently, Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco commented on Matthews' future in Toronto, and suggests that if John Chayka and Matthews can't get on the same page, an offseason trade is coming, and there's five teams to keep on everyone's radar. Matthews has two seasons left on his contract, but after a disastrous season this past year, with the GM an...