With the Conference Finals well underway, most teams are in offseason mode with as many coaching searches going on as there are teams still playing. Understandably, some of the notable news from the past seven days comes from behind the bench.
Offer Sheet Thresholds Set: With more teams having cap flexibility thanks to a big jump to the Upper Limit and a thinned-out UFA market, teams will have to get more creative to try to upgrade their rosters. That makes this summer’s offer sheet thresholds a little more intriguing. While it’s unlikely a team would go to the top tier (around $11.94MM, costing four first-round picks) but notably, a player could cost $4.77MM and only require a second-round pick in compensation if an offer sheet wasn’t matched. Meanwhile, third-round compensation would be between $1.575MM and $2.387MM. We haven’t seen that tactic used much in recent years (though the three latest ones were all successful) but it wouldn’t be shocking if more teams started sniffing around this option, assuming there are players willing to sign them.
Ruff’s Sticking Around: When Lindy Ruff returned behind the Buffalo bench in 2024, he only signed a two-year deal and it was expected that he’d make a decision after that about staying behind the bench, moving into an advisory role, or something else altogether. With how things went this season, it’s not surprising that he’s going to stay as their head coach after he signed a two-year extension. The Sabres ended a 14-year playoff drought after winning the Atlantic Division and fared pretty well in the playoffs, only falling in overtime in Game 7 in the second round. With that decision now done, GM Jarmo Kekalainen gets set for his first summer at the helm of the team.
Surgery For Gustavsson: Heading into the offseason, it looked as if one of Minnesota’s trade chips would come from between the pipes. With veteran Filip Gustavsson and youngster Jesper Wallstedt, one could presumably be moved. Instead, those plans are on hold after an announcement that Gustavsson will be undergoing hip surgery. At this point, it’s unknown if he will be available for training camp with a determination on that front to be made once the extent of the repairs is known after the procedure. Gustavsson is set to begin a new five-year, $34MM contract next season and teams will want definitive proof that he’s fully healthy before considering trading for that deal. Accordingly, the Wild’s tandem might remain intact after all heading into 2026-27.
Canucks Make A Change: With their new front office now in place, the Canucks have quickly made changes behind the bench. The team has fired head coach Adam Foote after just one season in that role, while three assistants were let go as well. Foote was promoted to the role last offseason after the team couldn’t reach a new contract with Rick Tocchet. But things went off the rails with the team finishing dead last and ultimately moving their top player, Quinn Hughes, to Minnesota. Now, GM Ryan Johnson will get to conduct a search if he wants although it wouldn’t be surprising if AHL Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra gets the nod. At least for now, Vancouver joins Toronto, Los Angeles, and Edmonton as teams looking for a new bench boss.
Two For Liljegren: When the Capitals acquired Timothy Liljegren at the trade deadline, it was a bit of a surprise that a non-playoff team would bring in a pending UFA. However, the team liked what it saw in limited action from him down the stretch and they rewarded him with a two-year, $6.5MM extension. The $3.25MM AAV is a small increase on the $3MM he made on his most recent deal. While the 27-year-old hasn’t exactly lived up to his first-round draft billing, he has been a serviceable bottom-pairing defender over the last five years. With Liljegren now signed, it looks more likely that pending UFA rearguard Trevor van Riemsdyk will not return for next season as Washington now has eight blueliners signed for next season.
Photo courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.