Kings’ Quinton Byfield Suffered Two Oblique Tears
As occurs each year, after teams are eliminated from the postseason, players start to disclose the injuries they were managing during the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs. According to Zach Dooley of the Los Angeles Kings, Kings forward Quinton Byfield tore his right oblique just after the Olympic break, and tore his left oblique after the other healed.
Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that Byfield will need surgery to repair either muscle. He’ll take the first few weeks of the offseason to rest and recover before beginning his summer training.
Although it should never be a formal expectation that a player should perform through injuries, it is typically how most hockey players operate, especially at this time of year. Typically, you can tell if a player is playing through something, as they typically aren’t as good as they usually are. However, in Byfield’s case, you’d never know he was dealing with anything.
The former second overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft was arguably playing the best hockey of his NHL career after the league returned from the Olympics. Finishing out the regular season, Byfield scored 13 goals and 19 points in 24 games with a +4 rating, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Additionally, he performed well in the faceoff dot, winning 53.3% of draws over that stretch.
Byfield will want to build on that success entering next season. Unless Los Angeles makes a significant splash, Byfield should assume the center role on the Kings’ first line, replacing Anze Kopitar after his retirement. Over the last three years, Byfield has averaged between 50 and 55 points a season, though the Kings will need much more offense than that. If he can continue the same pace he had after the Olympic break, Los Angeles would be far more comfortable having a 65-70 point center leading the pack.
Marcus Hogberg Signs With SHL’s Linköping HC
Netminder Marcus Högberg is leaving professional hockey in North America for the second time in his career. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Högberg has signed a three-year deal with the SHL’s Linköping HC.
His first stint in North America began in the mid-2010s. Högberg was selected by the Ottawa Senators with the 78th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. It took him several years to make the jump, waiting until the 2017-18 season to join the AHL’s Belleville Senators on a full-time basis.
He played relatively well, topping out in the 2018-19 campaign when he earned a 21-11-10 record in 39 games with a .917 SV% and 2.32 GAA. That performance afforded him an extended look in the NHL as Ottawa’s backup goalie during the 2019-20 season, registering a 5-8-8 record in 21 starts with a .904 SV% and 3.12 GAA.
Unfortunately, that was essentially the end of his tenure with the Senators. After a disastrous year in the 2020-21 season, Högberg left Ottawa as a free agent, joining Linköping HC.
After spending three years in Sweden, Högberg activated his NHL opt-out clause and signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders. Due to Semyon Varlamov‘s injury last season, Högberg earned an extended look with the Islanders, backing up Ilya Sorokin, finishing with a 2-6-3 record in 15 games with a .878 SV% and 3.38 GAA.
New York pursued superior options last summer, landing David Rittich on a one-year deal, which pushed Högberg to the third-string role. He almost exclusively played for the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, managing a 12-13-10 record in 31 games with a .890 SV% and 2.92 GAA.
Being that this will be his third stint with Linköping HC, Högberg is clearly comfortable with the SHL organization. Throughout his professional career in Sweden, Högberg has a 110-102-0 record in 219 games with a .915 SV% and 2.40 GAA, including 20 shutouts.
Latest On Maple Leafs GM Search
April 29th: According to Nick Alberga of Leafs Morning Take, a third candidate has made it to the final stages of the Maple Leafs GM search. Michael Futa, currently serving as a special assistant to the General Manager with the Carolina Hurricanes, has joined White and Chayka as a finalist for the role. Futa spent many years with the Los Angeles Kings organization as the team’s Director of Amateur Scouting, Vice President of Hockey Operations, and Assistant General Manager.
April 24th: In a new update from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely down to their final two candidates for their open General Manager position. Still, Friedman doesn’t expect anything to be announced soon as the Maple Leafs continue to do their due diligence on each candidate, who couldn’t be more different.
One of the candidates is Scott White, Assistant General Manager of the Dallas Stars, as reported a few days ago. White was hired by the Stars organization after the 2005 lockout, working his way up from their AHL affiliate to the AGM position in 2016. In his developmental philosophy, White typically values players of high character, often providing prospects and draft options with numerous character assessments.
That’s not to say he doesn’t value talent, but he is keenly aware of what a bad locker room can create, even with the necessary talent to win. Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs are interested in allowing that philosophy to dictate the future of the organization. Toronto has undeniable talent, but the team has struggled to mesh well in recent years. White would be an interesting candidate to come in and make some blunt changes to reshuffle the team’s chemistry.
Meanwhile, Friedman shared that John Chayka, former General Manager of the Arizona Coyotes, is the other finalist, and likely the favorite. Chayka has not worked in the NHL since he left the Coyotes organization in 2020, as he’s largely focused on his company, Compass Restaurant Group, along with his wife.
Additionally, it was unlikely he would find another General Manager role before that due to some controversy surrounding him toward the end of his time in Arizona. Chayka was suspended from the NHL by Commissioner Gary Bettman for pursuing opportunities with other clubs while under contract with the Coyotes. Additionally, the Coyotes were forced to forfeit a second-round pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021 for hosting a private scouting combine for draft-eligible prospects under Chayka.
Still, Chayka has what the Maple Leafs want. He has a shrewd analytical mind, similar to Eric Tulsky of the Carolina Hurricanes and Sunny Mehta of the New Jersey Devils. Like White, Chayka would likely implement changes to enhance the team’s talent; however, concerns about the locker room atmosphere may persist.
Friedman pointed out that although the team has narrowed its choices down to two finalists, neither White nor Chayka has advanced to the second round of negotiations, which involves meeting with the Maple Leafs’ ownership group. The first candidate to reach this stage is likely to be named the team’s next General Manager in a few weeks.
Linus Omark Announces Retirement
The NHL Alumni Association has announced that Linus Omark has officially retired from professional hockey. Omark last played in the NHL during the 2013-14 season with the Buffalo Sabres.
Omark, 39, began his professional career in 2007 when he was selected with the 97th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers. Despite being a fourth-round selection, Omark’s prospect status began to rise after a pair of quality seasons with the Elitserien’s (SHL) Luleå HF.
Playing on loan with the KHL’s Dynamo Moskva in 2009-10, Omark scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. The next season, the Oilers felt Omark was ready for North American hockey. He played in 28 games for the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, scoring 17 goals and 31 points with a +7 rating. That was enough for Omark to earn his NHL debut with Edmonton, finishing the season with five goals and 27 points in 51 games.
It was at this point that Omark was viewed as a true diamond in the rough as the Oilers continued to build an up-and-coming team. This era of hockey in Edmonton coincided with the team adding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Nail Yakupov with first overall picks, and adding other youngsters such as Magnus Paajarvi and Jordan Eberle.
Unfortunately, that was the last quality season Omark had in North America. Although he had a strong introduction during his rookie season, he struggled to establish himself with the Oilers, frequently being shuffled between the NHL and AHL for several years.
During the shortened 2012-13 season, Omark enjoyed a successful year with the NLA’s EV Zug, scoring 17 and 69 points in 48 games. It was after this successful campaign overseas and continued lack of opportunity in Edmonton that Omark was traded to the Sabres for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Since then, it’s been all overseas for Omark. He finishes his career with eight goals and 32 points in 79 career NHL games, 95 goals and 257 points in 365 games in the SHL, and 106 and 353 points in 401 KHL contests. We at PHR congratulate Omark on his career, particularly in Europe, and wish him the best in his next chapter.
Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid Named Ted Lindsay Award Finalists
The NHL kicked off award season today, announcing that Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers have been named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Although the Hart Memorial Trophy has more name recognition, there’s a concrete argument that the Ted Lindsay Award carries more weight for the players. It’s awarded annually to the most outstanding player of the regular season as voted on by members of the NHL Players Association. Instead of being judged by writers, the winning player receives the award as judged by their peers.
Even if he doesn’t win, Celebrini’s finish as a finalist is a testament to the year he had. The 19-year-old had an outstanding season, scoring 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games, almost single-handedly leading the Sharks to the postseason. It wasn’t enough to crack the top-three in scoring leaders for the NHL, but he led the under-25 group by a long shot. The next closest was Wyatt Johnston (22) of the Dallas Stars, who scored 45 goals and 86 points in 82 games.
It would be a disservice to write about Celebrini’s regular season with the Sharks without also mentioning his performance with Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite falling to the United States in the Gold Medal game, Celebrini was unstoppable, scoring five goals and 10 points in six contests throughout the international tournament.
Meanwhile, Kucherov’s spot as a finalist for the award is par for the course. The high-scoring Russian is the defending winner of the award, also winning it in the 2018-19 season after leading the league in scoring. Unfortunately, unlike the past two seasons, Kucherov didn’t lead the league in scoring or the assist category, which has become a common occurrence for him. Regardless, with the amount of injuries the Lightning sustained this season, it’s hard to argue that Kucherov’s play provided the stability the team needed to remain competitive.
Then there’s McDavid. If he hasn’t done so already, the 29-year-old may want to invest in another trophy closet relatively soon. He’s already claimed the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, something he has already done five additional times. Furthermore, regarding the Ted Lindsay Award, McDavid has already had that honor on four occasions.
Given their seasons, it’s hard to argue against any of the finalists. Still, although it’s difficult to remove any of the finalists, it’s surprising that Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche didn’t finish in the top three of votes. MacKinnon was the most dominant player on the most dominant team, scoring 53 goals and 127 points in 80 games with a +57 rating.
East Notes: Sabres, Heineman, Holmstrom, Schaefer
The Buffalo Sabres will look to eliminate the Boston Bruins tonight with a mostly healthy roster. According to Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report, the Sabres will have Joshua Norris, Jason Zucker, and Tyson Kozak available to play tonight.
Zucker, 34, is the only one of the group who hasn’t missed any games in Round One against Boston. Still, he was banged up in Game 4 and didn’t return. There was concern that he might be unavailable for Game 5. However, Buffalo justified keeping him out due to the game’s lopsided score, which reduced the urgency to rush him back for the contest.
Norris and Kozak have replaced each other in the lineup halfway through the series. Norris hasn’t played since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury. Like Zucker, Kozak was banged up in Game 4 after replacing Norris in the lineup, though he likely won’t play tonight unless the Sabres make an additional lineup change.
Additional notes from the Eastern Conference:
- According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, the New York Islanders will send Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom to Team Sweden for the 2026 IIHF World Championships. It’ll be the first appearance in the international tournament for Holmstrom. Heineman, on the other hand, played for Team Sweden last summer, scoring one goal and three points in 10 games with a +2 rating.
- Unfortunately, Team Canada will not get the same boost as Team Sweden from the Islanders. In a separate report from Rosner, he shared that rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer won’t be participating in the international competition. Still, after finishing his rookie season, it’s more important for Schaefer to rest, recover, and build up for next season to avoid a dreaded sophomore slump.
John Garrett Passes Away At 74
In an unfortunate announcement, Sportsnet shared that John Garrett, 74, has passed away. Garrett enjoyed a six-year career in the NHL as a netminder, though most will know him as a color commentator with Sportsnet Pacific.
His professional career began in 1971, when he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Draft. Instead of making his way through the Blues’ affiliates to NHL playing time, Garrett signed with the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints ahead of the 1973-74 season. He spent two and a half years with Minnesota, managing a 77-63-6 record in 150 games with a 3.38 GAA. Unfortunately, the franchise folded toward the end of the 1975-76 season, and Garrett finished the season with the Toronto Toros.
The Toros didn’t stay much longer. Garrett remained with the organization even after they relocated to Birmingham despite the team having several difficult seasons. In an act of mercy, Birmingham traded Garrett to the New England Whalers and remained with the team through the 1979 WHA/NHL merger.
Finally, in the NHL, nearly a decade after being drafted by the Blues, Garrett hopped around a few times, playing for the Whalers, Quebec City Nordiques, and Vancouver Canucks. Throughout his six-year NHL career, Garrett earned a 68-91-37 record in 207 games with a .866 SV% and 4.28 GAA. Although he didn’t receive credit for years, largely because the NHL didn’t track netminder assists for many decades, Garrett was given an assist to Gordie Howe‘s last goal in his illustrious career.
Garrett retired after the 1984-85 season and was immediately offered the role of Assistant General Manager with the Canucks. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen management changes, the offer was withdrawn relatively quickly. Needing to pivot, Garrett began his broadcasting career with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
During that time, he covered many games for the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames before joining Sportsnet in 1998. Beginning in the 2002-03 season, Garrett became the lead commentator for the Canucks organization, a role he held until his retirement in 2023.
We at PHR offer our condolences to the teammates, colleagues, organizations, and fans who have grown close to Garrett throughout his playing and broadcasting career.
Vladislav Kolyachonok Connected To KHL’s Dinamo Minsk
According to a report from Belarus, defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, currently of the AHL’s Texas Stars, is considering a return to the KHL next season. The KHL’s Dinamo Minsk currently holds his contractual rights, and he must rejoin them unless his rights are traded.
That’s something the Minsk attempted to do at this year’s trade deadline. Dinamo reportedly attempted to bring Kolyachonok back last summer and began assessing interest around the league after a contract did not materialize. CSKA Moscow and Traktor Chelyabinsk were known to have interest, though no trade took place.
It wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Kolyachonok headed back to the KHL this summer. The 24-year-old blueliner has played for four different teams over the past two years, jumping from the then Utah Hockey Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars, mostly changing hands on the waiver wire.
Despite being a second-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2019, Kolyachonok has never quite lived up to his draft billing. He has never been known as an offensive threat, usually earning his value as a mean-spirited defender who played with intense physicality.
He’s been a quality performer in the AHL, scoring 14 goals and 57 points in 184 games with a +14 rating and 90 PIMs. Still, despite having multiple opportunities, he hasn’t made such an impact in the NHL. Since debuting in the 2021-22 season with the Coyotes, Kolyachonok has scored five goals and 17 points in 84 career games with a -5 rating, averaging just below 14 minutes of ice time per night.
Additionally, he hasn’t demonstrated sufficient physicality to maintain his position for long. Over his 84 career NHL contests, he’s blocked 88 shots and delivered 77 hits. Additionally, his career 47.0% CorsiFor at even strength, and -6.5 Expected +/- show he’s typically been a net negative when on the ice.
It’s been a while since he played in the KHL, but Dinamo wouldn’t be an unfamiliar environment. He spent the 2020-21 season there on loan from Arizona, scoring one goal and six points in 46 games with a -3 rating.
Nashville Predators Sign Vitali Pinchuk
Earlier today, agent Dan Milstein shared that his client, Vitali Pinchuk, had agreed to a one-year, entry-level contract with a mystery team. A few hours later, Milstein announced that the Nashville Predators had won the sweepstakes. The Predators confirmed the signing, though they didn’t release any financial details of the one-year pact. According to PuckPedia, the entry-level contract carries a $922,500 base salary, $102,500 signing bonus, $85K AHL salary, and $1MM in potential performance bonuses.
Pinchuk, 24, has been the topic of much speculation over the last two years. Despite going undrafted through his years of eligibility, the Belarusian has made quite a name for himself with the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk. Last month, reports indicated that nearly every team, 29 in fact, had contacted Pinchuk’s representation about bringing him to North America.
His production speaks for itself. Over the last two years, Pinchuk has scored 56 goals and 109 points in 131 games, with an additional seven goals and 18 points in 19 postseason contests. It wasn’t enough to lead the league in scoring, but Pinchuk was the only under-25 player to finish top-10 in KHL scoring this past season.
Pinchuk stands at 6’3″, 203 lbs. He is overtly physical, but uses his larger frame to protect the puck. Still, he largely utilizes his offensive skill, which he has plenty of, to make the most impact.
Unless something unexpected happens, Pinchuk should begin the 2026-27 season on the Predators’ opening night roster. Still, depending on training camp and preseason play, he could use a month of seasoning with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, though the expectation is that he spends most of the year in Nashville.
Given his frame, he won’t be out of place starting on the third line. He has the offensive firepower to offer Nashville tertiary scoring immediately, and the team could easily move him up the lineup if he performs well. Still, the Predators will want to make some room for him, as they already have 14 forwards signed for next season (including Pinchuk) with others looking to crack the roster.
East Notes: Muller, Zadorov, Arvidsson
According to a team announcement, assistant coach Kirk Muller is moving on from the Washington Capitals this summer. Muller’s contract expires in a few months, and he will be pursuing other opportunities this summer.
In the announcement, General Manager of the Capitals, Chris Patrick, said, “Kirk has expressed his desire to explore other opportunities within the National Hockey League, and we respect and support his decision. We thank Kirk for his dedication, professionalism, and the many contributions he made during his three years with our organization. He is an experienced and highly respected coach whose work ethic, leadership, and commitment to player development had a meaningful impact on our team both on and off the ice. We wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
Muller began his professional coaching career ahead of the 2006-07 season as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. He remained in that post until the 2011-12 season, when he took on the role as the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes until 2013-14. Since then, he has been in a supporting role, serving in assistant or associate capacities with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Montreal, and Washington.
Additional notes from the Eastern Conference:
- The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov has been fined $5K, the maximum allowable, for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in Game 4. It was an expected, albeit underwhelming outcome. In yesterday’s contest, well after the whistle, Zadorov calmly skated up to Dahlin and delivered a cross-check to Dahlin’s back, which caused Zadorov’s stick to break. It’s hard to argue that there wasn’t intent to injure based on the video, making the NHL’s decision not to suspend him a bit perplexing.
- Regardless, it appears that Zadorov may be out for Game 5 anyway. According to Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald, Zadorov and winger Viktor Arvidsson are questionable for tomorrow’s contest. Zadorov has been playing through injury to start the postseason, and it seems that it has caught up with him. Additionally, Arvidsson suffered an upper-body injury in yesterday’s blowout loss after being hit by Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.