Offseason Checklist: Detroit Red Wings
The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus those who have already been eliminated. Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months. Next up is a look at Detroit.
Patience has run out for the Detroit Red Wings. The team’s playoff drought has run into a decade, and there are still more questions than answers. Despite not only being in a playoff position for much of the season but leading the hotly contested Atlantic Division, a third consecutive collapse in March had the Red Wings on the outside looking in for this year’s postseason. The silver lining is that Detroit has oodles of money to spend and one of the deeper prospect pools in the league. Ultimately, it will require Steve Yzerman to bite the bullet, change his typically conservative approach, and make the changes necessary to get this Original Six franchise back into the playoffs.
Acquire Top-Six Center
This has been an issue plaguing the Red Wings and most of the league for some time. They’ve taken shots at it, mostly by signing Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher in back-to-back offseasons. This season, the hope was that Marco Kasper could assume that role after a solid rookie campaign. Unfortunately, Kasper was flat out of the gates and finished with nine goals and 19 points in 81 contests. His poor play since the start of the campaign vaulted Copp back into the top six.
Despite being one of the best faceoff takers in the league, Copp doesn’t have the offensive punch to warrant a spot in the top six. Yes, he finished with the second-highest scoring output of his career, but it mostly came by the way of assists with the benefit of playing on a line with Alex DeBrincat, who finished with 41 goals.
Detroit was heavily linked to Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues leading up to the deadline, but ultimately didn’t have the appetite to pay the heavy price to address their need. That’s generally a respectable position, given that the General Manager is tasked with managing the team’s assets as well as putting the best team out on the ice. Still, it was a noticeable hole from the jump, and the lack of aggressiveness left many fans, and likely the team, disappointed.
Given the Rangers’ direction, it’s safe to say that Trocheck will again be available for the right price this summer. For Thomas, there’s no indication what direction new General Manager Alex Steen will want to take the team, so it’s no longer a guarantee that he’ll be shopped. As for other options, the Red Wings could take an expensive flyer on Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, go on the cheaper side and target Morgan Frost of the Calgary Flames, or go bold and try to pry Nico Hischier away from the New Jersey Devils, especially if his extension talks stall.
Re-Work Defensive Corps
One of the most peculiar themes from Detroit over the past several years has been the organization’s infatuation with Ben Chiarot. Yes, he’s physical and blocks shots, but he doesn’t have the on-ice awareness to have a meaningful role in the top four of the defensive corps. He hasn’t had an on-ice goals percentage greater than 50.0% since his time with the Winnipeg Jets, and he’s continued to get worse since then. Despite his decline in play, the Red Wings signed Chiarot to an extension, keeping him in HockeyTown through the 2028-29 campaign.
Although they started strong, Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard-Docker both declined significantly towards the end of the season. Detroit attempted to give its defensive corps a jolt by acquiring Justin Faulk at the deadline, but he wasn’t enough to get them over the finish line. By the end of the season, the Red Wings could really only rely on their top unit of Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson.
Youngster Axel Sandin Pellikka still has a high ceiling, but has some maturing to do, which isn’t atypical for younger defensemen. Throughout the season, it was evident that the Red Wings’ coaching staff lacked trust in him during challenging situations, leading to his demotion to AHL Grand Rapids before the campaign ended.
Detroit hopes that a full season with Faulk next to Sandin Pellikka will be beneficial, especially if it moves Chiarot to a bottom-pairing role. However, if injuries occur, Detroit lacks sufficient reserves. The Red Wings should target a defenseman who will primarily play in the bottom pairing, but wouldn’t look out of place in the top four if needed. They should be able to recruit this on the free agent market this summer, such as Mario Ferraro, Logan Stanley, or Ryan Shea.
Lock Up Edvinsson
One key factor in solidifying the defensive corps is locking down Edvinsson this summer. He’s set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st without arbitration rights, giving Detroit plenty of time to work something out long-term.
Although he hasn’t taken off as immediately as Seider, it’s clear that the two play well together. Now a full-time player, Edvinsson has scored 16 goals and 56 points in 150 games over the past two years, averaging 21:43 of ice time per game. Additionally, he plays into his frame, blocking 292 shots and delivering 180 hits in that time. The pairing of Edvinsson and Seider played the third-most totals of any defensive pairing this year, and they finished with a 54.8% xGoals% in all situations, according to MoneyPuck.
At the very least, the Red Wings should target a five-year contract if not longer. Should they agree to a five-year deal, that would line Edvinsson up with Seider for their contract expirations. As of now, AFP Analytics projects Edvinsson to sign a seven-year, $61.4MM ($8.77MM AAV) on a long-term deal. It’s unlikely that Detroit would be willing to go above Seider’s $8.55MM salary on any new deal, so they would likely play hardball in getting Edvinsson down to an $8MM to $8.5MM range.
Add Depth Scoring
Connected to their need for a second-line center, the Red Wings must add additional scoring, particularly to their bottom-six. In what has become another theme for this team over the last few years, Detroit struggles to produce at even strength, costing them several games. This season, the team finished in 30th place in even-strength goals.
Of those that finished the season in Detroit, the combination of James van Riemsdyk, Michael Rasmussen, Mason Appleton, Compher, and Kasper finished with 47 goals on the season. As mentioned previously, DeBrincat finished with 41 himself.
Fortunately, the Red Wings don’t need to go big-game hunting in this regard. In fact, most of it could come from within. If Detroit can move Rasmussen and Appleton this summer, as well as let van Riemsdyk walk in free agency, the Red Wings could begin adding in some of their prospects to the NHL roster and let their youthful energy take over.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire of Imagn Images.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Aku Raty
The Edmonton Oilers have already gotten involved in the overseas market. According to a team announcement, the Oilers have signed Aku Raty to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season worth $850K.
Raty, 24, began his professional career in 2019 when he was selected with the 151st overall pick of that summer’s draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He spent his post-draft season playing for the Finnish Liiga’s Kärpät, scoring two goals and seven points in 32 games with a +2 rating.
After posting a nearly identical scoring line for the 2020-21 campaign, Raty’s offensive presence began to grow in Finland’s professional circuit. Combining the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Raty registered 29 goals and 64 points in 109 games for Kärpät with a +30 rating. That output rightfully gave the Coyotes the confidence to bring him to North America to test his mettle in the AHL.
At first, he didn’t look out of place. Playing for the Tucson Roadrunners, Raty finished his first season with 15 goals and 44 points in 55 games with a +9 rating. It wasn’t enough to win any awards, but he didn’t finish second on the team in scoring behind Josh Doan.
Unfortunately, Raty took a significant step back during the 2024-25 campaign. He got off to a tough start with the Roadrunners, scoring four goals and 19 points in 50 games, leading to a mid-season trade to the Chicago Blackhawks organization, causing him to finish the year with the Rockford IceHogs.
After that difficult season, Raty took the opportunity to rejoin Kärpät last year, and it turned out to be a worthwhile endeavor. He enjoyed the best season of his professional career, scoring 20 goals and 57 points in 51 games with a +8 rating. Again, his strong offensive output wasn’t enough to lead the league in scoring, but he finished first on the team and seventh overall.
The Oilers frequently adjust their bottom six due to injuries or poor performance, which should create opportunities for Raty at the NHL level, assuming that trend continues. Should Raty get off to a hot start with AHL Bakersfield, if he doesn’t start the season on the NHL roster, the signing could give Edmonton more offensive firepower and energy at the bottom of their forward corps.
Could The Penguins Weaponize Their Cap Space Once Again?
When Kyle Dubas took over the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, the team had very little in the way of prospects or draft pick capital. They also had an aging, expensive core that had just missed the playoffs and were about the least appealing general manager job in the entire NHL. That first summer, Dubas attempted to retool the team, adding veterans such as defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves, as well as forwards Lars Eller and Noel Acciari. The strategy failed as the Penguins struggled throughout the season, and by the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, they were sellers, trading star forward Jake Guentzel, which kicked off what many thought would be a rebuild. But Dubas used a different strategy and began weaponizing his cap space to retool the team by taking on aging veterans with bad contracts, as well as underperforming vets who were looking to rebuild their stock. Now, with the Penguins coming off a postseason appearance, is Dubas done taking on these contracts, or will he once again try to acquire bad contracts and draft picks with an eye towards the future?
To understand the strategy being discussed, one must look back to July 1st, 2024, when the Penguins acquired Kevin Hayes from the St. Louis Blues. Initially, it was a head-scratcher, as the Penguins didn’t look like a team that would add veterans to their lineup. Once the full trade details were released, Dubas’ thinking became clear: the Penguins walked away with a second-round pick. Dubas deployed the same tactic when he acquired Cody Glass from the Nashville Predators, netting two draft picks. He then used it again in 2025, acquiring Matt Dumba and a second-round pick from the Dallas Stars, as well as Connor Clifton and, you guessed it, a second-round pick from the Buffalo Sabres. These trades were all big wins for Pittsburgh in terms of paying out a bloated contract and collecting picks, but they did nothing for their current NHL roster, with the exception of Glass, who was shipped to the Devils for more draft picks at the trade deadline in 2025.
At the time of those moves, Dubas didn’t have a ton of cap space, but he had enough to get creative. This summer, he is holding north of $40MM in available cap space and could use the same tactic again, but will he? The free agent market is thin, with very few available impact players and quite a few teams with cap space. This could make Dubas’ play a bit of a tough sell, as other teams might pivot to his strategy to scoop up extra picks and prospects if they don’t plan to spend their cap space anyway. But there are a number of teams in cap trouble (Vegas, Dallas, Colorado, and Edmonton) that would probably love to shed a bad contract or two if the price is right.
Edmonton would surely love to dump the two years left on goaltender Tristan Jarry’s contract, but the likelihood of Pittsburgh taking him back is slim to say the least, even if it would be poetic. The same could be said for Dallas, which would probably like to dump Tyler Seguin and Ilya Lyubushkin’s contracts. There are always teams desperate to open up space, and for the last two years they’ve called Dubas and the Penguins.
With all of that being said, there is one other big factor that could influence Dubas’ decision on how to allocate cap space, and that is what if he wants to make some big acquisitions to improve the team for this upcoming season? There might not be a lot of UFAs on the market, but there are a pile of big names who could be on the move, including Jason Robertson, who is an RFA, as well as Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson and more. All of those aforementioned players make north of $10MM annually, or, in the case of Robertson, will make north of $10MM, and that is a number the Penguins could easily absorb.
But there are a few major reasons that Pittsburgh could pursue a blend of acquiring big names and taking on veterans on bad contracts. They simply have so much cap space, and Dubas has already said he doesn’t want to blow it all on long-term, win-now moves that will box him in financially a few years from now. Dubas is keenly aware that the Penguins aren’t likely to be a Stanley Cup contender next season, and the prospects in the Penguins system aren’t all arriving at once, meaning they will come in waves (or at least that’s what Dubas hopes). There is a very real possibility that Dubas takes on short-term vets who can still play but are overpaid, and also lets his prospects develop in key roles.
It’s a strategy that has paid off handsomely for the Penguins thus far, and one that other teams might start to use as well if they are in a position to do so. A good indication of that is the Chicago Blackhawks taking on Andrew Mangiapane’s contract for this upcoming season as part of the Jason Dickinson move at the deadline. This could drive down the price Dubas receives for taking on bad contracts in the future, but there is no shortage of bad NHL contracts, and Dubas could continue to acquire them as he tries to build the Penguins into a long-term Stanley Cup contender.
Predators May Seek Permission To Interview Chris MacFarland For GM Vacancy
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, the Nashville Predators are being patient in their general manager search and could be waiting to ask to converse with a top-tier candidate.
One target that Friedman said was logical for Nashville, based on the length of their search, is the current Colorado Avalanche GM, Chris MacFarland. Before this development, Friedman had joined Nashville’s radio show DMase, Vingan & Daunic on 102.5 The Game and said that the Predators are standing pat for someone who they’re waiting to speak with, whether it be a member of a front office under contract or someone who is running a team that remains in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Avalanche are now down three games to none in the Western Conference Finals to the Vegas Golden Knights, having lost 5-3 in a pivotal game three after leading 3-0 in the first period. According to Friedman, he said that MacFarland wouldn’t likely depart from Colorado unless it was a ‘huge step up’, adding that Nashville might not offer that. Although there isn’t an agreement near, he believes that the Predators would ask permission to talk to MacFarland in the event they’re eliminated.
MacFarland is one of three finalists voted in contention for the Jim Gregory award as the league’s best general manager. He has been with the Avalanche since the 2015-16 season, being promoted to general manager in Colorado after Joe Sakic was promoted to president of hockey operations shortly after the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory. The 56-year-old had previously been with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a director of hockey operations and assistant general manager from 2000 up until the 2014-15 season. He spent the final two years in Columbus as the GM of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate at the time.
Earlier this season, Nashville had asked to speak with Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky, but was turned down. If a request was made while the Avalanche are in season, that request wouldn’t likely be accepted. Colorado’s current GM, to Friedman’s understanding, doesn’t have an expiring contract at season’s end as well and believes the organization values him highly.
Toronto and Vancouver have already hired their general managers this offseason, leaving Nashville as the lone team without a man at the wheel to guide hockey operations. The Predators have been looking for their next general manager after it was announced mid-season that Barry Trotz was stepping down. Before that, Nashville had David Poile, who served as the team’s GM from 1997 to 2023.
Nashville finished sixth in the Central Division, missing the playoffs by four points this season. The person who steps in will begin their tenure with 12 draft picks in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft, starting with 10th overall and $28MM in cap space to work with this upcoming offseason. Free agents the Predators will need to assess include the likes of forwards Erik Haula, Tyson Jost, and defenseman Kevin Gravel, rounded out by restricted free agent Justin Barron.
Despite missing the postseason for the past two campaigns, whoever inherits this team has a mix of youth talent among veteran stars in Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros that can be supported in their quest back into the dance while still under contract. The salary cap rising to $104MM benefits everyone, but after the Predators inked Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Brady Skjei to major contracts, they need to capitalize on the window they have with these notable names.
Max Domi Out Indefinitely After Offseason Surgery
According to a team announcement, Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed injury he suffered this past season. He will be re-evaluated at the start of Toronto’s training camp.
The statement also said that complications arose from the procedure on Domi and that he’ll continue to work with the club’s medical staff for the time being. The last time Domi was out for an extended period of time was late in 2024, when he was placed on injured reserve for a lower-body injury, per Puckpedia.
Domi finished the 2025-26 season sixth in scoring on Toronto, scoring 12 goals for 36 points in 80 games played with the Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old forward was also eighth in the NHL among forwards keeping the penalty box warm, logging 95 penalties in minutes. He averaged 14:53 of time on ice and was a -29 rating, second to linemate Matthew Knies.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native is halfway through a four-year, $15MM ($3.75MM AAV) contract signed back in 2024-25, fifth-highest in cap hit among Leafs forwards heading into next season. He’s tallied back-to-back 30+ point campagins since inking that deal at age 29.
Since being selected 12th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, Domi has worn many uniforms in his NHL career, with the Leafs being his seventh. His first contract saw him spend his entry-level years under the Arizona Coyotes, dominating with the OHL’s London Knights before officially dressing for the team in the 2015-16 campaign. The Montreal Canadiens dealt for Domi in 2018, then signed him to a two-year, $6.3MM ($3.15MM AAV) contract, before ending his restricted free agent years with the Columbus Blue Jackets after they traded for him in 2020 and inked him on another two-year contract at $10.6MM ($5.3MM AAV), his largest cap hit to date.
Columbus then sent Domi to Carolina as part of a three-team deal, having the Panthers retain $1.325MM of his cap hit at the 2022 deadline. At age 27, he signed a one-year, $3MM deal with Chicago that ended with the Stars, where he provided 13 points in 19 playoff games during Dallas’s Western Conference Final run in 2023. He signed an identical contract for a season with Toronto in 2023-24 before he committed to the Leafs for the longest term he’s seen on a contract in his 11 year NHL career.
Domi’s injury comes at a time of transition for the Maple Leafs organizationally. Toronto finished eighth in the Atlantic division for the first time in ten years since the 2015-16 season. A new front office, hiring John Chayka as general manager and Mats Sundin as senior advisor, has already seen its share of big developments for the team. Toronto has already parted ways with head coach Craig Berube and also won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. In late June, selecting first overall, the Leafs have a chance to pick notable top prospect forwards in either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.
Along with a top draft selection that will surely be implemented into the lineup this fall, the Leafs have a little over $22MM in cap space entering this summer to help address their needs to get back into playoff contention in a competitive division. In terms of 2026 Free Agents, Toronto will need to address the expirations on forward Calle Jarnkrok and defenseman Troy Stecher, who are unrestricted free agents. Among the restricted free agents, forwards Matias Maccelli, Nicholas Robertson, Jacob Quillan, Ryan Tverberg, and defenseman William Villeneuve all require handling on their next deals.
Five Key Stories: 5/18/26 – 5/24/26
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.
Offseason Checklist: New York Islanders
The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus those who have already been eliminated. Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months. Next up is a look at the Islanders.
It has been a busy first year for GM Mathieu Darche. He traded away his top defenseman at the time on draft day and added a new franchise defender that same night. He made some in-season trades to try to help his team make a second-half push for the playoffs. Then, he made a big late-season coaching change in a last-ditch effort to help them get in with Peter DeBoer taking over for Patrick Roy. The start to his second year shouldn’t be as busy but he has some work to do roster-wise over the offseason.
Add Goaltending Insurance
While the Islanders were hoping that Semyon Varlamov would be able to return at some point during the season after undergoing a pair of replacement knee surgeries, they knew they’d need some insurance. With that in mind, they brought in David Rittich who wound up as a full-timer on New York’s roster. Varlamov, meanwhile, was able to return after the season, getting into two games on an LTIR conditioning loan with AHL Bridgeport.
At this point, the hope is that Varlamov will be ready to be Ilya Sorokin’s backup next season. Now healthy, he should be able to get a full offseason of training in and, while he’ll certainly be rusty, he should be available at the start of training camp.
But hope alone isn’t a viable or prudent strategy. Varlamov has played a total of 12 games combined over the past two seasons and hasn’t played in an NHL game since November 2024. They can hope that Varlamov returns to form and gives them 25 or so starts but there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to do so. Meanwhile, they don’t have a trusted third goalie in their system at the moment. The only other goalie signed for next season is recent college free agent signing Josh Kotai, and he’s not NHL-ready by any stretch.
At a minimum, adding another Rittich-like goaltender who could be a third-string option in a perfect world but a capable backup if called upon. If they’re worried about waivers, they may have to carry three netminders for a while. Depending on what happens there, they may need a veteran starter for AHL Hamilton as well, one who could be called up in a pinch. Sorokin gives them a great foundation between the pipes but the supporting cast needs to be added to in the coming weeks.
Determine Lee’s Future
Back in 2019, captain Anders Lee was slated to hit the open market. It looked like he was ultimately going to go to free agency but former GM Lou Lamoriello signed him on the opening day of free agency to a seven-year, $49MM deal. While his role now is certainly different compared to back then, the winger now finds himself a little more than a month away from being eligible to test free agency once again.
The 35-year-old has never been a high-end point producer, with his personal best being 62, set back in the 2017-18 campaign. However, he has been a steady scorer, notching at least 20 goals in eight of the last ten seasons. This season was one of the exceptions but he still managed 19, suggesting the big falloff in production hasn’t happened yet.
Although Lee is more of a middle-six forward than a top liner at this stage of his career, he’s set to benefit from a thin UFA class. While he certainly won’t come close to another seven-year deal at this stage of his career, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking if his AAV came in fairly close to this now-expiring contract. For example, AFP Analytics projects that a three-year deal for Lee would check in at a little over $6.6MM per season. That would certainly carry some risk for a player coming off a 42-point campaign but there’s also a wide expectation of some sticker shock on UFA contracts this summer. Alternatively, Lee could sign a one-year deal that makes him eligible for performance bonuses, giving the signing team a bit more cap flexibility.
Will the Islanders be that signing team? Darche would likely prefer to keep his captain around but he also needs to make some changes to a group that missed the playoffs and also try to get a bit more speed up front. But if he can keep Lee in the fold and shake the team up elsewhere, that might be his Plan A. We’ll see in the next five weeks or so if that plan works out.
Open Up Cap Space
To try to give his team some boosts, Darche added a pair of pricey contracts up front. First, they brought in Ondrej Palat from the Devils to help try to backfill Kyle Palmieri’s season-ending injury. Then, at the trade deadline, they paid a high price to add Brayden Schenn from St. Louis. In doing so, they took on an extra $12.5MM in spending for next season. They also went deep into LTIR to do so, meaning that the $3.5MM in bonuses Matthew Schaefer earned will all count against the books in 2026-27.
As a result, the Isles enter the summer with around $12.5MM in cap room, per PuckPedia. If they want to re-sign Lee, bring in goalie insurance, and likely a depth defender or two with Carson Soucy and Adam Boqvist set to hit the open market, they’ll basically be out of money at that point. While Pierre Engvall could wind up staying on LTIR, that’s not enough to move the needle in terms of giving them flexibility. And if he is cleared to return, waiving and sending him to the minors would only create $1.225MM in room.
There are some potential change-of-scenery candidates, especially up front. Anthony Duclair simply hasn’t fit in over his first two seasons but now that there are only two years left on his deal (at a $3.5MM price tag), they might be able to offload that contract for cap flexibility. With Palat not faring particularly well following the swap, moving the final year of his deal would require paying down part (if not the maximum of 50%) of it, he’s a potentially viable candidate. Max Shabanov, a pending RFA, could potentially be flipped with an eye on replacing his back-end roster spot with someone making closer to the minimum salary.
Simply making one of these moves wouldn’t be enough to bring in anyone of consequence, assuming that Lee ultimately re-signs. But if they can move out a couple of their higher-paid surplus depth pieces, they might be able to try to make an addition of consequence.
Add More Scoring
That addition of consequence, if they’re able to afford one, needs to come up front. This is a team that has had trouble scoring for a while now. The last time they were above-average in the goals scored department was back in 2017-18, when they finished seventh overall. Five players from that team are still with the Isles, one of them being Lee (a pending UFA) and three more being defensemen. Since then, they have been outside the top 20 in the goals scored department.
They upped their 2024-25 total by seven goals this season, bringing them to 229, or 2.79 per game, good for 25th in the league. Another incremental gain would certainly help but if they want to become more than just a bubble Wild Card team, they’re going to need to aim higher.
New York had two forwards surpass the 50-point mark this season, Mathew Barzal (the other 2017-18 holdover) and Bo Horvat. Lee was next at 42 and he may or may not be back. It’s fair to say that there’s a definitive need for a top-six forward (or two, or three, potentially). Of course, they’re probably not going to be able to afford to add multiple top-six forwards but even one would be a big addition.
In terms of trying to shore up their depth scoring, they could look internally. Victor Eklund made his NHL debut at the end of the season and might not be too far away from being ready for an extended audition. If he could be even a secondary contributor while Darche finds a way to add another decent scoring threat, that could go a long way toward getting them back into the top 20 in the goals department, bolstering their playoff hopes in the process.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner-Imagn Images.
Kings GM Ken Holland Updates Coaching Search
Beyond being one of the teams believed to want to speak to former Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy, things have been relatively quiet for the Kings on the coaching front. In a recent interview with Zach Dooley for LA Kings Insider, GM Ken Holland suggested that a hiring isn’t exactly imminent and he is now off scouting at the Memorial Cup.
D.J. Smith took over on an interim basis from former head coach Jim Hiller and Holland noted that he is still in consideration for the position. He noted that player feedback from the exit interviews was positive and the team did indeed play well enough to at least sneak into the playoffs although the GM was quite to note that their struggles against top-tier teams continued; they were swept by the Avs in the first round.
While Holland didn’t go as far as saying how many coaches were specifically under consideration, he mentioned four to eight multiple times to Dooley so it stands to reason that the true number is somewhere in there. At this point, it doesn’t appear as if they’re intent to wait on any other teams to be eliminated, taking possible options from Colorado, Vegas, Carolina, and Montreal off the table.
Holland noted that he’s in the middle of the interview process which suggests that a hire isn’t likely to be announced in the near future, especially with him off scouting for the next week. It may not come too long after that, however, as he noted that he’d like to have the hiring in place a couple of weeks before the draft, which begins on June 26th. He also indicated that improving special teams and production from the back end are two particular points of emphasis for whoever gets the position.
While Dooley’s interview didn’t name any other specific candidates beyond Smith, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal suggested that former Edmonton bench boss Jay Woodcroft would be a plausible front-runner for the position. He mentioned that while Holland was the one to fire him with the Oilers, the decision ultimately wasn’t his to make and came from higher up the food chain. Accordingly, if Holland still feels that way about Woodcroft (currently an assistant with Anaheim), it would make sense that he’d at least be under serious consideration.
At this point, Holland can afford to wait another week or so to see if the Golden Knights ultimately elect to make Cassidy available to interview for other jobs but after that, he will need to move fairly quickly. Whether it’s Smith, Woodcroft, or someone else, we’ll see a final decision made next month.
Contract Talks For Alex Tuch To Resume In Next Couple Of Weeks
Heading into the playoffs, all talks of a new contract for Sabres winger Alex Tuch were put on hold, something that is fairly commonplace to not serve as a distraction in the midst of a postseason run. Now that Buffalo has been eliminated, those conversations can resume.
But it doesn’t appear as if they’re going to pick up in the immediate future. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta recently suggested on a recent DFO Rundown (video link) that substantive negotiations between the two sides could still be two or three weeks away from really picking back up.
The 30-year-old is coming off another solid season, one that saw him surpass the 30-goal mark for the third time in four years. He ultimately picked up 33 tallies along with 33 assists in 79 games before putting up a bit of a mixed bag in the playoffs. Tuch averaged a point per game against Boston in the first round but was held off the scoresheet entirely in a seven-game loss to Montreal.
Still, that shouldn’t affect his market too much as he enters as the top forward available, should he make it to July 1st unsigned. The long-term consistency offensively will outweigh the rough couple of weeks to end his first playoff run. It stands to reason that his camp would be eyeing Adrian Kempe’s deal with Los Angeles – eight years, $85MM – as a comparable, one that was just signed earlier this season. As Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News noted, their overall offensive numbers are reasonably close with Kempe a bit better offensively and Tuch the better defensive player. Accordingly, that should put Tuch’s next price tag in that range.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, that represents the bulk of their cap space this summer as they hit the offseason with just under $13MM in cap room, per PuckPedia, with a $6.444MM buyout charge to Jeff Skinner really affecting them. Additionally, winger Zach Benson is a pending restricted free agent and is someone who GM Jarmo Kekalainen has said he’d like to sign to a long-term agreement as well. Barring further roster moves, they can’t do that and re-sign Tuch.
That could very well be why discussions with Tuch aren’t restarting right away. Knowing that he can’t sign Tuch and Benson long-term at this point, he might be focusing his energy on trying to open up some extra cap flexibility. That would then allow them to come back to the table with Tuch with something closer to a market-value offer that wouldn’t materially hinder their chances of locking up Benson as well. While trades are rare at this time of year, this is a time when teams start picking up discussions on that front to be ready for a busy period after the Stanley Cup Final concludes.
But there is certainly a risk to this approach as well. The longer Buffalo waits to rekindle discussions with Tuch, the easier it becomes for him to just wait a little longer to see what other options might be available on the open market. There is definitely a case for him to stay with his local team, one that’s on an upward trajectory. But being the best forward available also certainly will have its appeal in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For now, at least, he’ll have to wait a little while longer before the Sabres put their best foot forward in terms of an offer to keep him around.
Lineup Notes: Stone, Makar, Wedgewood
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone returns to action in Game 3 tonight on home ice, reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. He had been dealing with a lower-body injury, missing five straight games.
Unable to come away with a win before heading out to Vegas, it only makes things more difficult for Colorado, as they’ll desperately try to get back on track tonight. Without their captain, the Golden Knights have gotten massive performances from Brett Howden, the 28-year-old netting nine goals this postseason, needing three more to match his entire output in the regular season. Pavel Dorofeyev, no longer such an underrated sniper, has also stood out with 10 goals, and finally, one can’t skip over Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel who are playing at an elite level.
The efforts have helped Vegas go 4-1 without Stone, tied 2-2 with Anaheim after his first absence which caused concern, but quickly sending them home afterward. Now, up 2-0 over the Presidents’ Trophy winners, a top forward is back in the mix, having posted seven points in nine playoff games thus far. Brandon Saad is likely to be the odd man out; the 33-year-old two-time Stanley Cup Champion added two helpers in five games while Stone was injured as a key veteran presence.
More lineup news from tonight’s Game 3:
- Stone’s opponents will also likely have a big boost tonight, as “all signs point to” Cale Makar returning, according to Kaplan. Missing the first two games of the series with an upper-body injury, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was cryptic on his status earlier today, but if there was ever a time he was needed, even if not back to full health, it’s tonight with their backs close to the wall. Skating 24:59 in his playoff action to this point, Makar’s usage may indicate his overall health for what lies ahead in Colorado’s hopes to turn the tide and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
- While there was some speculation that the Avalanche could make a goalie change after losing the first two games, that’s not the case. Instead, Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette was among those to note that Scott Wedgewood will indeed get the nod once again. The 33-year-old posted the best GAA (2.02) and SV% (.921) league-wide during the regular season but has lost three of his last four starts, allowing eight goals on 70 shots in that span.