Daily Faceoff

PWHL San Jose signs Maddi Wheeler to two-year contract

Hunter Crowther — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:30:25 GMT

PWHL San Jose announced Monday that they signed forward Maddi Wheeler to a two-year contract through the 2027-28 season.

Badger to the Bay 🦡

Two-time NCAA Champion Maddi Wheeler joins PWHL San Jose on a two-year Standard Player Agreement.

📰 https://t.co/mnKZ2GIP1W pic.twitter.com/pRjVRXopy7

— PWHL San Jose (@PWHL_SanJose) June 9, 2026

The Erinsville, Ont., native scored three goals and added seven assists for 10 points in 29 games with the New York Sirens in her rookie campaign in 2025-26. She finished fifth in both assists and points.

She ranked fourth in the PWHL in hits with 51 and was just one of three forwards to recordf 50 hits in a single season.

In her first PWHL game, Wheeler recorded three assists, becoming the first player in league history to achieve the feat in their debut.

A 2025 fourth-round pick, she spent five seasons playing college hockey with Ohio State and Wisconsin. In five NCAA seasons, Wheeler had 40 goals and 63 assists for 103 points in 176 career games. She scored a career-high 12 goals in 2021-22 and a career-high 28 points in 2022-23.

Wheeler, 23, will join former Sirens teammates Anne Cherkowski and Kristin O’Neill in San Jose. Rory Guilday and Corinne Schroeder also signed deals with the California expansion team.

The signing completes the list of five players PWHL San Jose would add during Phase 2 of the league’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.

Earlier in the day, PWHL Vegas signed Erin Ambrose and Hayley Scamurra to new deals. Vegas is also reportedly planning to sign Hilary Knight to a deal, then trade her to PWHL Detroit for a first-round pick.

In other PWHL news, PWHL Detroit signed Jesse Compher to a three-year deal, joining Daryl Watts, Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes and Britta Curl-Salemme.

Read more PWHL stories at DFO

PWHL Las Vegas signs Erin Ambrose, Hayley Scamurra

Tyler Kuehl — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:07:17 GMT

A couple of recent champions are heading to the desert.

On Monday, PWHL Las Vegas announced that the team has signed defender Erin Ambrose and forward Hayley Scamurra, formerly of the Montreal Victoire. They are the team’s final two signings of Phase 2 of the PWHL Expansion Player Distribution Process.

They join a solid core in Las Vegas, which includes former Minnesota Frost defenders Mae Batherson and Kendall Cooper. Team USA star Hilary Knight is expected to sign with the team, but will be traded to Detroit ahead of the 2026 PWHL Draft.

The signings check a lot of boxes for multiple reasons. Both are coming off incredible runs to the Victoire’s first Walter Cup and are experienced veterans who will add depth and experience to the new team in Sin City. It also helps that Scamurra was a client of Las Vegas general manager Dominique DiDia while she was an agent at CAA Hockey.

Ambrose, who signed a two-year contract, has an extensive resume, and she’s one of the premier defenders in the game, despite potentially being a couple of years past her prime. Ambrose has proven that she can still be one of the more reliable pieces on the roster. She has been one of the top defenders for the Victoire since year one and has been a key part in helping Nicole Gosling develop in her first year in the PWHL.

Ambrose didn’t score a goal this past season, but posted six assists in 21 regular-season games before adding a couple of helpers in the postseason. In 73 career games, she has posted four goals and 37 points, with five assists in 16 playoff contests.

Scamurra, not the most touted goal scorer, has proven to be an exceptional two-way player for all three teams she has played for. She added some strength in the bottom six for the Victoire, with the ability to step up in the lineup if she had to. She scored some clutch goals down the stretch, really helping the Victoire keep their status as one of the best teams in the PWHL. She posted eight goals and 16 points, both career-highs, during the regular season, before scoring two goals and four points in the playoffs.

The Buffalo native signed a three-year contract with Las Vegas.

In 79 regular-season games in the PWHL, the 31-year-old has notched 14 goals and 29 points, with another five points in 13 postseason games.

Both have extensive international careers as well. Ambrose won gold with Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, as well as the 2021, 2022 and 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships. Scamurra was an unsung hero on the United States team that won gold at the 2026 Winter Games, also winning gold at the Women’s Worlds three times (2019, 2023, 2025).

The next time Las Vegas will be able to sign players officially will not be until phase three begins on Wednesday

Read more PWHL stories on DFO

Babcock a polarizing potential coaching choice for Oilers in crucial offseason

Kyle Morton — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Stanley Cup Final is in full swing, but on Monday, the biggest headlines came from one of the teams that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Edmonton Oilers are checking in with the NHL Players Association as to whether there would be any outstanding objections to be resolved to hire Mike Babcock as their next head coach.

Babcock, who was hired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in July of 2023 before allegations of misconduct surrounding his treatment of players surfaced and were investigated, resulting in the team deciding to dismiss him that September, before he coached a single game with the club.

Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 8, 2026

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and Nation Network personality Irfaan Gaffar discussed the growing possibility that Babcock really could be returning to an NHL bench with Edmonton next season.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Darren Dreger reporting today that there could be a Mike Babcock connection to the Edmonton Oilers. Obviously he had that very short and controversy-filled stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and there’s the NHLPA thing and all of that. Do you really think there’s a chance the Edmonton Oilers go the Mike Babcock direction here?

Irfaan Gaffar: Yeah, absolutely. Well, they’re not getting Bruce Cassidy, unless the Vegas Golden Knights magically say that, yeah, you have permission to speak with him. And I think that this has probably been happening behind the scenes for a little while. There’s obviously been some conversations that have had very early on with Mike Babcock and the Oilers organization. The reason why things get out like this is because it’s moved. It’s progressed in a way where it could happen. And I think the Oilers fans and the organization, and people that watch and follow the team, need to be prepared that this is a very true reality that we’re living in, that Mike Babcock could be the next head coach of this hockey team. Obviously, there’s going to be an investigation, and things like that go through the NHLPA. I think Darren Dreger reported a decline to comment on the situation. So we’ll see where it goes. But here’s the thing. I don’t think the Edmonton Oilers went to Mike Babcock without either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl or members of that leadership group being involved. Whether it was Mike Babcock having a meeting with them, or it having their input, there’s no chance that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman, there’s no way that those guys weren’t involved at some point in this.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Well, and it’s such a big off season for the Oilers. Obviously, you might only have one more year with Connor McDavid. Like if this next season goes poorly, if whatever coach you hire doesn’t work out and doesn’t get along with McDavid, there is a very real chance that 12 months from now, much like we’re doing with Dylan Larkin right now, we’re talking about a Connor McDavid trade list… That’s a very real possibility.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…

John Tortorella is showing trust in veteran Golden Knights

Ryan Cuneo — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

A lot has been made of the impact John Tortorella has had on the Vegas Golden Knights since taking over as their head coach in late March, but it also has to be a luxury for Tortorella to coach such a veteran-laden, championship-experienced team. After having most recently coached a young, raw Philadelphia Flyers team, having the likes of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner at his disposal must make it feel as though he’s coaching on easy mode.

Tortorella’s trust of his veteran squad was on full display late in Saturday’s Game 3. After the Carolina Hurricanes tied the game at 4-4 with under two minutes left in the third period, Tortorella opted not to take a timeout and instead trusted his team to maintain their composure after blowing a 4-0 lead. His team rewarded him, as the Golden Knights kept their poise and ultimately won with Shea Theodore’s goal in double overtime.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Steve Peters discussed the faith Tortorella is able to place in the Golden Knights’ veteran roster.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I thought it was interesting that (Tortorella) just kind of trusted that his vets could get it back, and to their credit, once it got to 4-4 Vegas played pretty well. They found their game pretty quick.

Steve Peters: You look at how they defended in overtime, they were exceptional. I thought they had the better of scoring chances in the first overtime. I had the opportunity to talk to Tortorella, a former member of the Arizona Coyotes’ staff when I first started in the league, and he has just got this calm confidence right now in this group. This is not a group that he is going to yell at or he needs to motivate. It’s just give them confidence and let them play. The marriage between players and coach right now on the Vegas Golden Knights is something I haven’t seen in the playoffs in a long time. He’s just letting them play. I was surprised that they didn’t call a timeout, but when you talk about his calm demeanor after the fact, you go “I get it. It’s up to you guys, just go do it.”

You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Monday’s episode here…

Do the Hurricanes start Bussi in Game 4 if Andersen is healthy?

Kyle Morton — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The Carolina Hurricanes have a difficult choice to make ahead of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.

Backup goaltender Brandon Bussi was phenomenal in relief of Frederik Andersen in a 5-4 double overtime loss in Game 3, as Bussi came in facing a 4-0 deficit and stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced to allow the Hurricanes to rally to tie the game.

Now, head coach Rod Brind’Amour will have to choose between sticking with Andersen, who was excellent in getting Carolina to the Final, or making the switch to Bussi, who is certainly fresher and showed no signs of rust when forced into action on Saturday.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL video coach Steve Peters discussed the dilemma facing Brind’Amour as the Hurricanes prepare for a Game 4 that could go a long way toward determining the winner of this series.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Last thing I want to touch on with you is goaltending, and the big news… [Frederik Andersen is not on the ice at Hurricanes practice]. I had a former NHL goalie reach out to me mid-game, and they went, ‘Freddie Andersen’s concussed.’ He got hit pretty hard on that goal that was waved off. The fact that he’s not on the ice today after a day off yesterday, too, that’s pretty concerning for Carolina. It could be Bussi’s net.

Steve Peters: It’s interesting, when you see the guy’s carried the load for the entire playoffs, and he had an under-2 goals against average for the playoffs… but in the regular season they split time. Bussi actually played more. His numbers were better than Andersen, and look how well he played in Game 3, stopped 18 of 19. He was elite, and we’re talking breakaways, Grade-A chances… So I don’t know if this is as big of a concern as it could be. I think Bussi’s going to be fine. You do worry about Andersen and his health. It’s a guy that’s had injury issues in the past with Carolina, that has missed extended periods of time over the last few seasons. I’m not surprised to see Bussi go just on his performance in Game 3, but if injuries are a part of it, clearly, Bussi might be the guy going the rest of the way.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s live in a hypothetical world where Andersen is healthy and good to go tomorrow. Do you start Bussi no matter what?

Steve Peters: I don’t, probably. I think I go Andersen to start, just because he has been the guy and he has played so well, and he had such good numbers and he’s been winning games… I do think the leash is incredibly short. You can’t go down 3-1, so if you see a 2-0 lead again by Vegas, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bussi.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…

Panthers sign Cooper Black to two-year contract extension

Mike Gould — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:52:29 GMT

The Florida Panthers have agreed to terms on a two-year, two-way contract extension with goaltender Cooper Black, the club announced Monday afternoon.

Black, 24, posted a 25-13-4 record, one shutout, and a .903 save percentage in 42 games with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers during the 2025-26 regular season. Additionally, the 6’8″ goaltender went 1-2 with an .892 save percentage in three playoff contests with the club.

An undrafted player, Black originally signed with the Panthers organization as a free agent in 2024. According to PuckPedia, his new contract with the club carries an $875,000 NHL cap hit through 2028; he’ll earn an average of $275,000 while in the AHL over the next two seasons.

We have agreed to terms with goaltender Cooper Black on a two-year, two-way contract.

📝 » https://t.co/ujaV7yEG4H pic.twitter.com/jdiuJ7XQV7
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 8, 2026

A product of Alpena High School in his hometown of Alpena, Mich., Black played for four different junior clubs in the NAHL, USHL, and BCHL before heading to Dartmouth College for the 2022-23 season.

After being named to the ECAC’s All-Rookie Team while at Dartmouth in 2022-23, Black took a step forward the following year and posted a 13-8-8 record with a .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 30 games. He was named a finalist for the Ken Dryden ECAC Goaltender of the Year Award and earned a spot on the conference’s Second All-Star Team.

Black signed his first NHL contract with Florida in April 2024, off the strength of his 18-31-9 record, .904 save percentage, and five shutouts in 60 games over two seasons at Dartmouth. He made his AHL debut with Charlotte that spring and split the following season between the Checkers and the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates, appearing in 17 games with the former and seven with the latter.

In 60 career AHL games over parts of three seasons with Charlotte, Black has compiled a 36-18-6 record, four shutouts, and a .903 save percentage. The Panthers now have three goaltenders under contract for the 2026-27 season in Black, Kirill Gerasimyuk, and Tyler Muszelik, none of whom have played in an NHL game; Sergei Bobrovsky, Daniil Tarasov, and Louis Domingue are all pending unrestricted free agents.

What do the Hurricanes need to do to get back in this series?

Ryan Cuneo — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:00:00 GMT

For the first time this postseason, the Carolina Hurricanes are out of their comfort zone. Down 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final after Saturday’s 5-4 double overtime Game 3 loss, it’s clear Carolina won’t be able to suffocate and overwhelm Vegas as they were able to against their three previous playoff opponents.

While the Hurricanes are certainly in tough against the Golden Knights, they’re still firmly in the fight. Each game of the Stanley Cup Final so far has been decided by just one goal, and two have required overtime. If Carolina can take Tuesday’s Game 4 in Vegas, they’ll even the series at 2-2 and reclaim home ice advantage heading back to Raleigh for Game 5.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Steve Peters discussed what the Hurricanes need to do to win Game 4 and get back to level with the Golden Knights.

Tyler Yaremchuk: For Carolina, you can’t go down 3-1 in this Cup final, so what do you need to see from them to kind of get this back on track?

Steve Peters: Their starts have been really good. They play 20 minutes of really good hockey, but they’ve got to find a way to put 60 minutes together. More importantly, they can’t turn the puck over. When you look at Vegas’ success, even when they came from their own end and travelled 200 feet, it’s often off of a Carolina turnover. They’ve got to manage the puck better, and they can’t let Vegas start their transition game. So look for them to manage the puck better, keep the puck out of the middle of the ice. We saw on one the goals in Game 3, it was fired right up the middle of the ice on of (Mitch) Marner’s great goals. I think they need to manage the puck better, keep it off the glass, live another day, and keep it 0-0 as long as they can. That’s an advantage for Carolina, because we’ve seen they can score when they need to, so keep it 0-0.

You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Monday’s episode here…

What are the Vegas Golden Knights doing well?

Kyle Morton — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:26:47 GMT

The Vegas Golden Knights hold a 2-1 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes through the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final.

It hasn’t come easily, as the Knights erased a 2-0 deficit in their Game 1 victory before coughing up a 4-0 lead in the third period before surviving with a 5-4 double overtime win in Game 3, but there has been a lot to like out of Vegas in its third appearance in the Final in nine years.

Absolute dominance from Conn Smythe frontrunner Mitch Marner combined with solid team defense, physicality and timely depth scoring have been major factors in the Golden Knights’ ability to jump out to a lead in what has been the most thrilling Cup Final in recent memory.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host Steve Peters discussed what has gone right for Vegas so far as they look to take full control of the Stanley Cup Final with a win in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s start with what Vegas has done well. They have a 2-1 lead, they’re going to have an opportunity tomorrow here on home ice, where they’ve been so good since John Tortorella took over, but there’s been moments in this series where they look like by far the better team. You don’t get a 4-0 lead by a fluke, Petey, so when Vegas is at their best, what are they doing that’s making life so difficult on Carolina?

Steve Peters: Yeah, and it’s funny because you go back to Games 2 and 3, they did not start well. The first periods in Games 2 and 3 were not good for the Vegas Golden Knights. It took them a while to get their legs. They need to do better on their start in Game 4, but when they are playing well, they’re getting in behind the defense of the Carolina Hurricanes. We know how well Carolina defends. We know how good they are through the neutral zone and how tight those gaps can be. When Vegas is generating, they’re getting in behind that. Whether it’s blocking shots and going the other way before Carolina gets into their structure, or we saw a lot of stretch passes in Game 3 where they were able to put the puck off the glass and get in behind for some of those foot races. That’s when Vegas is at their best, when they can get through the neutral zone and transport the puck quickly to get past that stifling Carolina Hurricane defending.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…

Report: PWHL Las Vegas to sign Knight, trade to Detroit for first-round pick

Tyler Kuehl — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:13:41 GMT

One of the biggest names in sports is coming to the Motor City.

According to The Associated Press, PWHL Las Vegas is finalizing a deal to sign forward Hilary Knight to a foundational player offer before trading her to Detroit. Per the story, Las Vegas will be receiving Detroit’s first-round pick of the 2026 PWHL Draft.

The report states that the deal won’t become official until June 16, the day before the draft, and when draft picks are permitted to be traded.

While unofficial, Knight becomes the sixth player to join Detroit. She joins a stacked core that includes Daryl Watts, Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes, Jesse Compher and Britta Curl-Salemme.

This is the second year in a row that Knight will play for an expansion team. She signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Torrent, bringing some legitimacy to one of the PWHL’s two teams in the Pacific Northwest. Yet, things didn’t work out for the Idaho native and her new team. The Torrent couldn’t find any consistency, and their lack of offense led to them struggling to keep up with the top squads in the league. On top of that, Knight tore her MCL while representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which kept her out for over a month from Seattle’s return from break.

While the Torrent finished with the worst record in the young history of the PWHL, the 36-year-old posted five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 22 games. It was a far cry from her performance with the Boston Fleet during the 2024-25 season, when she tied the New York Sirens rookie for the most points in the league with 29.

Knight wasn’t one of the three that Torrent general manager Meghan Turner protected, a decision that came to be mutually agreed upon. Seattle protected forward Alex Carpenter, defender Anna Wilgren and goaltender Hannah Murphy.

In 76 regular-season games in the PWHL, Knight has scored 26 goals and 28 assists for 54 points.

Knight’s Olympic career went out with a bang in Milan. Despite playing through injury, she was able to break the U.S. women’s Olympic goal and points record, helping her team win the gold medal for the third time in the country’s history, and second of her career.

With the signing, Detroit has used up all five permitted spots of its roster to fill during Phase 2, which ends on Monday. Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose still have a couple of more days to sign players from the 20-player negotiating lists.

Read more PWHL stories at DFO

Report: Oilers consulting with NHLPA before potential hire of Mike Babcock

Scott Maxwell — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:17:53 GMT

Just when you thought you’d seen the last of Mike Babcock in the NHL, he continues to creep back into the picture.

As first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Edmonton Oilers are currently consulting with the NHL Players’ Association to see if there are objections that need resolving before potentially hiring Babcock.

Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 8, 2026

The consulting is required after Babcock’s tenure as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets was ended extremely prematurely due to allegations about invading the privacy of his players, most notably asking to look through pictures on their phone. These allegations surfaced ahead of training camp for the 2023-24 season, and with Babcock’s hiring already considered a controversial one, he elected to resign from the position, with associate coach Pascal Vincent taking over the role for the season.

This came after his previous head coaching position with the Toronto Maple Leafs also had allegations surface after he was fired from the team in 2019 of manipulative and mentally abusive tactics towards his players. The most notable story from his tenure was telling then-rookie Mitch Marner during the 2016-17 season to rank his teammates by their competitiveness, with Babcock then taking that list and telling the teammates he had ranked towards the bottom. While Babcock had been fired due to poor team performance during the 2019-20 season, these reports tarnished his image and left few teams wanting to work with him until the Blue Jackets hired him in 2023.

While Babcock’s reputation has been rocky for the past seven years, he does come with plenty of success and pedigree at both the NHL and international level. During his ten-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings, he won a Stanley Cup in 2008, and in two turns as head coach of Canada’s Olympic team in 2010 and 2014, he captured gold medals on both occasions.

The Oilers are in need of a new head coach after firing Kris Knoblauch last month. They had reportedly been looking for replacements before even moving on from Knoblauch, as they had inquired with the Vegas Golden Knights about Bruce Cassidy before Vegas infamously declined teams from interviewing with their former head coach. However, they still opted to fire Knoblauch, and while they are still looking into adding Cassidy, are exploring other options like Babcock.

If Mike Babcock does end up as coach in Edmonton, wouldn’t surprise me if DJ Smith joined up with him again. But we’ll see where all this goes. https://t.co/xIKSwUj8lJ
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 8, 2026

TSN and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun later reported that, should Babcock be hired by the Oilers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see D.J. Smith join Babcock on the Oilers’ bench. Smith is currently without a job after being let go of his role as interim head coach with the Los Angeles Kings, and has previously worked under Babcock as an assistant coach with the Leafs from 2015 to 2019.

Report: Kings hire Pete Laviolette as next head coach

Tyler Kuehl — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:38:47 GMT

A familiar name is heading to Hollywood.

According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Kings are finalizing a deal to hire Peter Laviolette as the 32nd head coach in franchise history.

Sources say #LAKings are negotiating a deal that would make Peter Laviolette their next head coach.

There has been competition – #Oilers and #Leafs both interviewed Laviolette and he was expected to be a finalist for both positions.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 8, 2026

Laviolette was reportedly receiving interest from the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, both of whom are seeking new coaches this offseason. The Oilers are also looking to interview former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, while the Maple Leafs have recently received permission to chat with former New York Islanders bench boss Patrick Roy.

Laviolette has been out of work since he was let go by the New York Rangers following the 2024-25 season. That year saw the Rangers plummet from a Presidents’ Trophy-winning team toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference, seemingly sending the Original Six franchise into a rebuild. In just two seasons with the Blueshirts, Laviolette guided the team to a record of 94-59-11 record and a berth in the Eastern Conference Final in 2024.

While Laviolette might be one of the seasoned coaches in the NHL, re-entering the league at age 61, he brings immense experience. In 23 years as a head coach, he has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup Final – the Carolina Hurricanes (2006) and Nashville Predators (2017) – the former of which saw Laviolette lead his team to Lord Stanley. He ranks seventh all-time in wins (846) by a head coach, just three back of Ken Hitchcock for sixth, making him the winningest American coach in NHL history.

Laviolette is taking over for D.J Smith, who took over the head coaching duties in L.A. following Jim Hiller’s dismissal in early March. Smith was able to help the Kings reach the playoffs for the fifth year in a row, though the team was ultimately swept in the first round, again, this time at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.

PWHL Detroit signs Jesse Compher to three-year contract

Tyler Kuehl — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:21:01 GMT

An exceptional, two-way player is heading to Hockeytown.

On Monday, PWHL Detroit announced that the team has signed forward Jesse Compher to a three-year contract. The deal, which begins next season, will carry through the 2028-29 campaign.

Compher is the fifth and final signing Detroit can make during Phase 2 of the Expansion Roster Distribution Process, which saw the deadline pass at 1 p.m. ET on Monday. Compher joins an exceptional core, which includes former Toronto Sceptres teammate Daryl Watts, Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes and Britta Curl-Salemme. Bilka is the only one of the five who isn’t signed to at least a three-year contract.

Compher heads to Detroit, where she’ll be reunited with brother J.T., a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Northbrook, Ill. native had been with the Sceptres since the league’s inception over two years ago, as she was taken by the team in the fifth round of the 2023 PWHL Draft. Compher, who still had one more year on her latest contract with Toronto, has been one of the team’s top secondary scorers over its first three seasons. After a bumpy rookie season, she notched a career-high nine goals and 18 points during the 2024-25 campaign. However, on a Sceptres team that finished with a league-low 51 goals this past year, Compher’s numbers dipped, posting just six goals and 12 points in 30 regular-season games, as Toronto missed the Walter Cup Playoffs for the first time.

Compher brings versatility and depth to the Motor City. While she might not produce at the same level as Watts or Bilka, she’ll be a reliable piece for head coach Josh Sciba.

In 84 career regular-season games with Toronto, the 26-year-old has scored 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points, with another four points in nine postseason games. She’s also represented the United States on numerous occasions, winning the gold medal at the IIHF Women’s World Championship twice and taking home silver at the 2021 Women’s Worlds and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Detroit joins Hamilton as the only teams to sign five players during Phase 2. They won’t be able to make any more signings until the next signing period begins on Wednesday.

Read more PWHL stories on DFO

Top 15 wingers for the 2026 NHL Draft

Steven Ellis — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:41:00 GMT

Need a winger? It’s a good year to be in the market.

The top two prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft happened to be left wingers – Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. Both appear ready to challenge for full-time NHL gigs in 2026-27, with both coming off strong seasons in their respective leagues.

It’s not crazy to think 11 players from this list will go in the first round of the draft. While the top 10 might be very defenseman-heavy, we’re still talking about a ton of quality wingers to choose from this year.

We looked at the top 15 centers earlier this week, so let’s take a look at their linemate brethren:

1. Gavin McKenna, LW (Penn State University, NCAA)

Even though Ivar Stenberg has been busy at the World Championship, McKenna is still my No. 1. McKenna finished his freshman season with 15 goals and 51 points in just 35 games. His second-half play was as dominant as we’ve seen from just about any NCAA player. So the early concerns about his production were absolutely demolished down the stretch. Sure, an eight-point game against Ohio State inflated his numbers, but he was downright unstoppable at times with Penn State after the World Juniors. McKenna is the most exciting player in this draft class, bar none. He’s skilled, he thinks the game at a true difference-making level, and he plays with a lot of confidence. Give him a reliable two-way center to work with, and he’ll be a star.

2. Ivar Stenberg, LW (Frolunda, SHL)

Stenberg’s floor is very, very high, and he has proven that at the World Championship. Stenberg has virtually no holes in his game. He’s dynamic in possession, wields a lethal shot and flashes high-end hockey sense. Even though his point production tapered off slightly down the stretch, he still authored one of the most impressive U-19 seasons in recent SHL history and was excellent at the World Championship. Add a stellar gold-medal run with Sweden at the World Juniors to his resume, and his complete profile becomes undeniable. While his ultimate offensive ceiling may not reach McKenna’s pure scoring output, any team hunting for a dominant, 200-foot cornerstone needs to look no further. Realistically, he shouldn’t slip past No. 2 overall, but… hey, maybe someone else will get a steal.

3. Wyatt Cullen, LW (USNTDP)

Some scouts think there’s legit potential for Cullen to go in the top five. He was USA’s top player throughout the U-18 World Championship thanks to his high-end hockey sense and the ability to get the whole American attack moving. His puck-handling – both as a shooter and a passer – is remarkable. Cullen is a high-end skater who seemingly found a whole other gear once he got up to speed this season. Cullen is a constant scoring threat because he’s always scanning lanes for passes, but he has the quick footwork and lateral mobility to blow by most opponents and put himself into dangerous areas. Few players have risen as high as Cullen in recent months, and you should get on the hype train if you like someone who you can rely on.

4. Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Belchetz’s season ended back in March after breaking his left clavicle. He had really started to push himself up draft boards to the point where it felt like he was going to be a top-10 pick. Belchetz has never lacked confidence – and you have to have loads of it when you’re the Tasmanian Devil on skates. He plays with so much power, which allows him to carve through the middle of the ice with little regard for human life. An injury wasn’t the only reason he slipped, though – some scouts worry that he doesn’t have any high-end traits beyond his size.

5. Liam Ruck, RW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)

Medicine Hat lost a lot of offense with the departures of Gavin McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom, among others, but Ruck made up for it. He loves to shoot from anywhere and does an excellent job of getting the puck where it needs to be. He led all draft eligibles with 45 goals, and that’s good for seventh in the country. Ruck is extremely dangerous around the net with a variety of quality shot choices at his disposal. His chemistry with his twin, Markus, was obvious from the get-go. It feels like it’s going to be difficult to select both together without some funky trade magic – that’s the downside of their incredible second-half play.

6. Oscar Hemming, LW (Boston College, NCAA)

After missing the first half of the season due to a contract dispute with his Finnish club, Hemming came out swinging with Boston College. He had a pair of assists in just his second game and even had a nice four-point run during a three-game stretch. But after finishing with just two points in his final 11 games, it was a difficult end for a guy many scouts still really like. At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential.

7. Adam Novotný, LW (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

Novotný is a rugged, heavy-playing forward equipped with a solid shot release. While his lack of raw production at the World Juniors was initially surprising, the underlying process was stellar; he consistently navigated into high-danger areas and generated quality chances. Any concerns about his transition to North American ice were quickly erased during a 30-goal rookie campaign, where he easily paced the Peterborough offense. Combine that offensive drive with a highly committed, responsible two-way game, and he projects strongly as a high-impact, top-six power forward at the NHL level – someone in more of the 40-50-point range.

8. Nikita Klepov, RW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

Teams love productive wingers, and Klepov meets every requirement. The projected first-round pick is a tremendous playmaker and maybe one of the best in the CHL. But he’s also a stout shooter and wasn’t far off from reaching the 40-point barrier. It was surprising, given he only put up 31 points in the USHL the year prior. The Michigan State University commit plays with a ton of finesse, but he’s physically strong, too. He’s just an OK skater, but Klepov should still go high because magic tends to happen when he’s in control of the puck on the attack.

9. Elton Hermansson, RW (Modo, Sweden U-20)

Hermansson loves generating offense. He put up solid numbers in the second-tier Swedish league this year and scored at a goal-per-game pace with the U-18 national team. From an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot to love, especially on the power play. His game away from the puck has improved over the past few months. However, it still feels like he isn’t as impactful as he needs to be when he’s not piling shots on net. I want to see more urgency when attacking opponents to regain possession. The good news: he’s best at the hardest thing to do in hockey, which is scoring goals.

10. J.P. Hurlbert, LW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)

No CHL rookie was as lethal as Hurlbert, who recorded 42 goals and 97 points with Kamloops. He’s an exceptionally skilled forward who, at one point, was so far ahead in the WHL scoring race that nobody was in the same area code. The University of Michigan commit has a great one-touch shot that he routinely unleashes on the power play. He’s also an exceptionally smart puck-mover who has very little difficulty getting it where it needs to be against players his own age. My two pre-season concerns – his play away from the puck and his lack of high-end speed – remain issues. But overall, he’s a safe bet for the first round.

11. Mathis Preston, RW (Vancouver Giants, WHL)

Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Preston left scouts wanting more during the season. They fell in love again at the U-18s, where he was one of Canada’s top players every single game. He’s an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing in the back of the net from the slot. It’s NHL-ready right now – something very few 17/18-year-olds can claim. Preston consistently finds open space, but he can also create those opportunities with his skating. He’s fast, can start and stop on a dime and can often skate himself out of dangerous situations.

12. Ryan Roobroeck, LW (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)

Roobroeck is one of the more fascinating prospects this year. Roobroeck’s combination of size (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) and goal-scoring prowess (99 goals in 176 regular season games over three years) makes him incredibly intriguing. And at one point, he felt like a safe bet to go in the top 10. You don’t find many forwards who can command a play like he can at his absolute best, especially after producing at a high level throughout most of his career. But for a guy his size, he often lacks the intensity required to be a true difference-maker. Few players with Roobroeck’s level of talent fall asleep as frequently on plays, and it’s a shame. At the very least, Roobroeck should be able to excel on the power play, and he’s good as a net-front presence. But scouts are worried about his work ethic on the ice, which is why he fell to this spot. Regardless, I think there’s still some significant upside here.

13. Casey Mutryn, RW (USNTDP)

Mutryn was one of my favorite American-born prospects this season. I like his physicality and work ethic and think that could allow him to be a decent third-liner. He’s smart, battles hard and has the ability to find chemistry with just about everyone. Although I don’t think his ceiling is that high, I feel confident Mutryn will be an NHLer. Most likely as a third- or fourth-liner who can grind it out and win most of his battles, but he’ll be a good one at that. He’s the type of guy every team wants come playoff time. Even if the upside isn’t too high, I have full belief he’ll become a solid NHLer.

14. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)

Aaram-Olsen always shines internationally, typically playing a big role for Norway across all age groups. He’s a pure goal-scorer, and he often can be found dominating his own age group. I love him on the power play, where it feels like he does a good job of cycling the puck and then firing quick one-timers. Against men, though. Aaram-Olsen has left a lot to be desired, and scouts have knocked him for having a lack of high-end tools outside of his shot. If he can play with more pace and learn to dominate play through the middle, he could be a good snag. I like the upside, even if some scouts aren’t as convinced.

15. Simas Ignatavicius, RW (Geneve-Servette, NL)

We don’t typically see many prospects coming out of the top league in Switzerland. But the Lithuanian-born winger has drawn a ton of attention from scouts this year. He’s a 6-foot-3 forward having a solid season in Switzerland’s top league and has been downright dominant internationally. Ignatavicius is so versatile, finding so many different ways to impact the play both with and without the puck. He’s good defensively, has a great shot release, has obvious muscle and is incredibly skilled, too. Is Ignatavicius notable because he’s a big dude playing pro hockey? Or is there something truly here? That’s the question.

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Dylan Larkin likes three trade destinations. But which others would make sense?

Matt Larkin — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMT

What a doozie. Approaching an NHL offseason in which the unrestricted free agent market looks positively arid, a big-name player requesting a trade is incredibly welcome news. Enter Dylan Larkin. The Detroit Red Wings captain has 11 NHL seasons under his belt, with only his rookie year of 2015-16 yielding a playoff berth. Evidently, 10 consecutive playoff misses, the NHL’s longest active drought, have worn on Larkin to the point he wants a change.

At 29, he’s still in his late prime and one of the fastest skaters in league history. He has scored at least 30 goals five seasons in a row. He’s a first-line center who can play 20 minutes a game and is strong on faceoffs. In other words: the lineup to acquire him will snake out the door and around the block.

That said, the trade won’t necessarily be easy to execute. It’s not as if the Wings are holding a fire sale looking for futures. They’re desperate to contend in the present, so GM Steve Yzerman may have interest in a hockey trade rather than a package of picks and prospects. Then again, teams in the market for Larkin are more likely to be contenders who won’t want to pluck core players from their active rosters, so the Wings may have no choice but to take a step backward to go forward later.

Making the situation more challenging? Larkin has a full no-trade clause and, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Larkin’s list of teams to which he’d accept a trade is only three deep.

It’s not necessarily a slam dunk that those teams can figure out the perfect trade package for Larkin, so don’t be surprised if the list expands in the coming weeks. Which teams are the best fits?

Let’s start by sorting through the places Larkin reportedly wants to go, then look at some alternative options.

TIER 1: Teams reportedly on Larkin’s list

Florida Panthers

The Panthers are poised for a major bounceback season in 2026-27 after injuries robbed them of their chance to three-peat as Stanley Cup champs this year. They have more than $15 million in cap space, and most of their pending UFA skaters play lower in the lineup. Adding Larkin’s AAV might mean saying goodbye to UFA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and searching for a more cost-effective replacement, but Larkin might be worth it. Then again: the Panthers don’t look asset-rich enough to make a compelling offer for Larkin unless they’re willing to, gulp, surrender Anton Lundell.

Minnesota Wild

The flashing-neon-sign-while-screaming-into-a-megaphone-pick is Minnesota. Larkin already has a relationship with Wild GM Bill Guerin, who named him to Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic squads, with Larkin playing a big part on both teams and helping the Americans win their first gold in men’s hockey since 1980. The Wild also check the box of being a Midwestern destination for the Michigan-born Larkin while also not being a Wings division rival – and Larkin is good friends with Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes to boot. Even after paying up for Hughes earlier this season, the Wild have enough assets to build a decent Larkin offer. Would something involving, say, prospect Charlie Stramel plus Ryan Hartman to balance the money and give Detroit veteran help get it done?

Vegas Golden Knights

The thought of the Evil Empire landing yet another shiny toy is somewhat nauseating for 31 other fan bases. It’s difficult to understand how Larkin’s money would fit in a payroll so maxed out that Vegas already faces the possibility of choosing between RFA Pavel Dorofeyev and UFA Rasmus Andersson. But we can never count this franchise out. They’ve pulled plenty of shocking salary-cap feats before. If they could send Tomas Hertl the other way, for instance…maybe? Still, the difficulty on paper of a Vegas transaction highlights why Larkin should expand his list. So let’s move on to some more possible fits…

TIER 2: Theoretical fits that aren’t on Larkin’s list

Boston Bruins

The Bruins corrected course after a playoff miss and remain in somewhat of a win-now window given core players such as right winger David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goaltender Jeremy Swayman are signed long term and in their primes. The Bruins also have a few center options they could attach with futures to help Detroit paper over its hole at center, from Pavel Zacha to Elias Lindholm to Casey Mittelstadt. None is as good as Larkin, but any of those three would at least work as a stopgap in conjunction with whatever picks or prospects Boston could attach to an offer.

Los Angeles Kings

Anze Kopitar has retired, the Kings badly need a new No. 1 center to take some pressure off Quinton Byfield, and Larkin’s $8.7-million cap hit is highly affordable in a $104-million cap universe, which matters for an L.A. team with a modest $18.3 million to work with and RFA blueliner Brandt Clarke to re-sign. The problem: the Kings parted with their top prospect, Liam Greentree, in their winter trade for Artemi Panarin already. Do they have sufficient assets to make a serious Larkin offer? And if you’re Yzerman, wouldn’t you just ask for Byfield back in a trade? That would defeat the purpose of L.A. upgrading at center, though.

Montreal Canadiens

The Habs enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 playoff run and continue trending toward top-tier contender status, but their lack of a true No. 2 center was glaring in their Eastern Conference Final loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the one position they needed to fill at the Trade Deadline, but they couldn’t with Patrik Laine’s $8.7-million cap hit hamstringing them. Is Montreal ready enough to go all-in that it would part with top center prospect Michael Hage, who is playing another year at Michigan? On the other hand, as is the case with Boston, would Yzerman want to deal his longtime captain to an Atlantic Division rival?

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are an intriguing suitor because they have several players they could dangle who are established NHLers but also young enough to possess upside. A Matvei Michkov or Owen Tippett might pique Yzerman’s interest, though Detroit ideally needs a center rather than a winger coming back their way. Still, if Detroit wants to take a big swing, it could kick the tires on a potential Michkov change of scenery and seek another avenue to improve at center. The Flyers aren’t shopping Michkov, but they pretty clearly don’t consider him untouchable based on conversations DFO’s Anthony Di Marco has had with team sources.

San Jose Sharks

Are the Sharks feeling anxious to accelerate their rebuild? They could try several different ideas to land Larkin, including dangling the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, constructing a deal around Michael Misa or something else. San Jose is a strong trade partner if Detroit is willing to take a futures-heavy deal but not as good of a fit should Yzerman demand win-now assets.

Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth already have two excellent centers in Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley. But championship teams tend to roll three great lines nowadays, and the Mammoth have more than enough young assets that they could make an aggressive play to take over the Central Division. From Caleb Desnoyers to Tij Iginla to Cole Beaudoin, Utah has plenty of high-end prospects to tempt the Red Wings in a deal should they accept the idea that the best offer for Larkin will skew more towards youth. Would Larkin vault Utah into Colorado territory as the division’s top contender?

Winnipeg Jets

An aging Jonathan Toews coming off a multi-year layoff from a serious health problem was obviously not the answer to Winnipeg’s No. 2 center problem. Larkin would be an absolute dream fit, however. It remains to be seen if he’d be willing to waive his NTC to join a market not known to attract many players, but the Jets do have some of Larkin’s Team USA brethren in goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and left winger Kyle Connor, the latter of whom was Larkin’s teammate at Michigan and even before that in AAA hockey. Could Connor convince his good buddy to join up and help Winnipeg try to recapture its 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy form? Doing so would likely require a pricey sacrifice such as Cole Perfetti. But given the Jets’ core, including Hellebuyck, Connor, Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey, is comprised of players 30 and older, the time to push is now.

Honorable mentions

Dallas Stars – Mentioned by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman as a team to watch. The desperation to break through is there, but it only makes sense if they’re at a true contract impasse with RFA Jason Robertson. Dallas is already deep enough at center, though, and moving out ‘Robo’ would create a hole on the wing. I don’t quite buy this one.

Tampa Bay Lightning – The desire would be there, but do the Bolts actually have the assets to make this work? They would likely have to send Brayden Point the other way. He has a full-NMC; I can’t see him waiving to join a team with a 10-year playoff drought.

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Recently by Matt Larkin

Report: Red Wings’ Larkin prefers three trade destinations

Hunter Crowther — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:27:58 GMT

It looks like Dylan Larkin has an idea of where he would like to be traded.

According to Detroit Free Press reporter Helene St. James, the Detroit Red Wings’ captain has provided the team with a list of three destinations he would accept a trade too.

Dylan Larkin has submitted a list of where he would like the Detroit Red Wings to trade him. It's only three teams long, and may need to expand. Details here:https://t.co/uUfMOXMyOe

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) June 8, 2026

The three teams are:

The Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup Final in the previous three seasons, winning in 2024 and 2025. The Golden Knights, who are currently in the Final, have appeared in it three times in their nine seasons of existence. As for the Wild, they are managed by Bill Guerin, who was the brains behind the U.S. men’s national team’s gold-medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a team Larkin was a part of.

Read more: Trading Dylan Larkin while improving is a near impossible situation for Red Wings
Read more: Steve Yzerman is the only one to blame for Larkin wanting out

St. James, who has covered the Red Wings for more than a decade, also mentioned several other teams that could be added to Larkin’s list if Detroit is unable to work out a favorable deal with the above-mentioned options. Those teams include:

The report comes less than a week after several NHL insiders reported Larkin had requested a trade out of Detroit. The 29-year-old forward scored 34 goals and added 33 assists for 67 points with the Red Wings in 2025-26, with the the team missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season.

Larkin is under contract with Detroit through the 2030-31 season with a cap hit of $8.7 million. He has served as the franchise captain since 2020-21. His full no-trade clause runs through the 2027-28 season, then expands to a 10-team list.

2026 NHL Draft Hub: Scouting reports, rankings, interviews and so much more

Steven Ellis — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:29:26 GMT

The 2026 NHL Draft is closing in – and the fun is set to truly begin soon.

The draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26–27, 2026. It’ll be the second straight year for the decentralized draft format, meaning teams will handle the draft from the comforts of their own offices. Despite that, around 100 players are expected to attend the draft in person.

Daily Faceoff draft analyst Steven Ellis has been following the process all year. Here’s a collection of the top draft stories from the season, with everything you need to know:

Draft Rankings

Mock Drafts

Player Features

Misc. Features

Lists

2026 NHL Draft Key Dates

NHL Draft Combine: May 31 – June 6, 2026 (LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y.)
NHL Draft: June 26 – June 27, 2026 (KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.)

2026 NHL Draft First-Round Order

Pick	Team	Notes
1	Toronto Maple Leafs
2	San Jose Sharks
3	Vancouver Canucks
4	Chicago Blackhawks
5	New York Rangers
6	Calgary Flames
7	Seattle Kraken
8	Winnipeg Jets
9	Florida Panthers
10	Nashville Predators
11	St. Louis Blues
12	New Jersey Devils
13	New York Islanders
14	Columbus Blue Jackets
15	St. Louis Blues	From Detroit Red Wings
16	Washington Capitals
17	Los Angeles Kings
18	Washington Capitals	From Anaheim Ducks
19	Utah Mammoth
20	San Jose Sharks	From Edmonton Oilers
21	Philadelphia Flyers
22	Pittsburgh Penguins
23	Boston Bruins
24	Vancouver Canucks	From Minnesota Wild
25	Seattle Kraken	From Tampa Bay Lightning
26	New York Rangers	From Dallas Stars via Carolina Hurricanes
27	Buffalo Sabres
28	Montreal Canadiens
29	St. Louis Blues	From Colorado Avalanche
30	Stanley Cup Final losing team
31	Stanley Cup champion
32	Ottawa Senators

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Canadiens will explore trade market with Gallagher before buyout

Ben Steiner — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:30:00 GMT

The Montreal Canadiens saw just what a Stanley Cup run can do to the city this season, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a non-pandemic year since 2014, but much of it was done without a veteran in the lineup — Brendan Gallagher.

The 34-year-old forward has played 911 career regular-season games with the Canadiens since joining the team from the 2010 NHL Draft, but was largely sidelined throughout the most recent Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined co-hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton to break down the outlook for Brendan Gallagher and if the Canadiens may explore the trade market, before looking at a contract buyout.

Carter Hutton: We heard Brendan Gallagher talk the other day and get emotional about being done with the Habs. What’s his tank like? Is it a buyout retention? What happens, or a cap dump during the summer?

David Pagnotta: I think they’re going to explore moving him first, and if that’s an avenue that they can pursue and go in that direction, I think they’d rather do that than go the buyout route.

It’s an option, but I don’t think they want to execute it. I think they’d rather go the trade avenue and go from there. We know we mentioned Vancouver, and that would be a good spot for him. We’ll see if the Canucks reciprocate in terms of interest. We know what they’re doing, we know they’re going through a rebuild, and Jake DeBrusk is, as far as I know, still wanting to go to a contender and doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild.

This is me just trying to see if there is a way for that to work out between the two. The Canadiens obviously would have to add more to that mix, and he’s a big physical guy that I think the Canadiens would certainly have interest in. Does that move the needle at all for Vancouver, though? To move a guy out, money-wise, long-term, you’re going to save dollars because Gallagher is entering the final year of his deal, but he’s got six and a half million next season, so the Habs eat some of that? All this to say, again, that I think the Canadiens are going to explore trading him first, and if they can find a suitor, they’ll go in that direction.

If they can’t, they’ll have to weigh buyout options, but the Habs are going to have a bit of a busy off-season. I believe they’re obviously going to revisit what they discussed ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline…So, we’ll see about them getting on that now that they’re done, and whether they get a No. 2 center? I think, in a perfect world, they’d like to bring in a center, and then another physical, big body winger that can keep up with some of their top six guys.

You can catch the full conversation and the rest of the show here…

PWHL Las Vegas signs Cooper, Batherson to two-year contracts

Tyler Kuehl — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:14:12 GMT

A couple of talented blueliners are moving to the desert.

On Saturday night, the expansion PWHL Las Vegas announced the franchise’s first two signings, bringing in defenders Kendall Cooper and Mae Batherson on two-year contracts, which will carry through the 2027-28 season.

Both players come to Sin City after serving as teammates with the Minnesota Frost last season. Batherson had been with the organization since she was picked in the sixth round, 33rd overall, of the 2024 PWHL Draft. Cooper was selected in the first round, sixth overall, at last year’s draft.

With the signings, the Frost can’t lose any more players during the second phase of the Expansion Player Distribution Process. The team lost Britta Curl-Salemme to Detroit earlier in the weekend.

Cooper might not have been considered by some to be the best first-year player this season, but she quietly had an exceptional rookie campaign with Minnesota. Appearing in all 30 games, the former Quinnipiac star scored 2 goals and 17 assists for 19 points, finishing sixth on the team in scoring and helping the Frost set a record with 91 goals during the regular season. She was also tied for second in points by a rookie with Boston Fleet defender Haley Winn and Montreal Victoire rearguard Nicole Gosling. Along with a plus/minus of +9, Cooper logged an average of 21:29 of ice time, second on the Frost behind Lee Stecklein.

Cooper didn’t score a point in Minnesota’s semifinal series against the Victoire, which saw the Frost lose to the eventual Walter Cup champions in five games.

Batherson also had an exceptional performance this past year. After registering just three assists during her rookie season, the Nova Scotian potted three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, posting a +10 rating while averaging 18:45 of ice time. She picked up two helpers against the Victoire in the playoffs as well.

The former St. Lawrence Saint has scored 18 points in 55 regular-season games in her PWHL career, with just two points in eight playoff games.

Las Vegas has two of the five roster spots filled for Phase 2 of the expansion process. The second phase ends on June 8 at 1 p.m. ET.

Read more PWHL stories at DFO

PWHL Hamilton signs Emily Clark to two-year contract

Tyler Kuehl — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:14:13 GMT

The highest-paid player in the PWHL is moving a little south.

On Sunday, PWHL Hamilton announced that the team has signed forward Emily Clark to a two-year contract, which will carry to the 2027-28 season.

Clark marks the fifth and final signing Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan can make during Phase 2 of the Expansion Roster Distribution Process. The 30-year-old joins defender Nicole Gosling, goaltender Kayle Osborne, and forwards Brianne Jenner and Alina Muller. Clark is reunited with Jenner, as the two were part of the three foundational players signed by the Ottawa Charge prior to the inaugural season.

Clark’s contract is a standard player agreement. It’s going to be interesting to see what she’ll be paid in her new deal. She was on a three-year contract with the Charge, set to end in 2027-28, with her salary last season coming to a PWHL-record $126,090. Unfortunately, the Saskatoon native failed to meet the expectations after an impressive 2024-25 campaign. Scoring just three goals and nine points during the regular season, far from the 19 points she registered a year ago. In fact, she did not even score a point in eight postseason games, though Ottawa still made it back to the Walter Cup Final, where it fell to the Montreal Victoire in four games.

With that, Clark was left exposed during the expansion process, as the team elected to protect Gwyneth Philips, Ronja Savolainen and Rebecca Leslie.

With the chance to play on a new team that already features an exceptional core filled with youth and experience, Clark has a great opportunity to find her scoring touch that made her one of women’s hockey’s premier players.

Clark had appeared in every game in Charge history over the franchise’s first three seasons. In 84 regular-season appearances, she scored 16 goals and 27 assists for 43 points, with five points in 16 postseason games.

On top of her pro career, Clark has an illustrious international career, having won the gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, as well as three golds at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. She has also taken by the silver at the 2018 and 2026 Olympics, as well as the Women’s Worlds five times.

Read more PWHL stories on DFO

Expect a retool to begin MacFarland’s tenure in Nashville

Ben Steiner — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The Nashville Predators are in a new era under president and general manager Chris MacFarland, and while they won’t be entering a full rebuild, there are fixes to be made around the current roster.

After a season that saw the Predators finish sixth in the Central Division and miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season, McFarland will likely make some moves to improve the team to take a run with many of the current core.

On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined co-hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton to break down the outlook for the start of the MacFarland era in Nashville.

Carter Hutton: The NHL just keeps moving everywhere. We look at Nashville, obviously getting Chris, MacFarland, what’s the plan there? Like, is it a sell-off, or is it like: ‘hey, we’re still kind of knocking on the door?’ What happens in Nashville?

David Pagnotta: I think it’s a little bit of restructuring. I don’t know if I want to categorize it as a retool, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a rebuild. This is a ‘get us back on track,’ and ‘start to veer us back in the right direction.’

I think they’re going to restructure some of the roster. They’ve got some good young kids in the system; they’ve got some good pieces. We know some pieces that haven’t worked, like Jonathan Marchessault, for example. Maybe his mindset changed because I think he’s willing and open to accept the trade to the right environment, but does MacFarland come in and have a conversation, and does he explain what the direction of this team is? I think the mission is to get back into contention and back into the playoffs. Their captain has two years left on his contract, and I think everybody wants to kind of go in the right direction in terms of competing, and they’ve got a decent balance anyway with some of the young kids coming up.

I’m not anticipating a rebuild, I’d be a little surprised, and I’m not expecting a full-on retool. This is more of a fine-tuning that needs to be done for this club. When opportunity arises, he’s going to pounce, but he’s got the keys to that team now, and he’s going to dictate what they look like on and off the ice.

You can catch the full conversation and the rest of the show here…

Report: Former NHLer Joe Pavelski emerges as Leafs head coach candidate

Tyler Kuehl — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:53:38 GMT

A former star on the ice might be a candidate for a big job behind the bench.

On Sunday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that former NHLer Joe Pavelski is on the radar of the Toronto Maple Leafs to potentially take over as the team’s next head coach. According to Friedman, the Leafs view the longtime captain similarly to how the Montreal Canadiens approached Martin St Louis, a person with significant experience on the ice, despite a lack of coaching experience at high levels of the game.

The move clearly paid off for the Habs, as St. Louis has guided the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Final this season. Pavelski has been coaching his son, Nate, at the youth level back home in Madison, Wis.

Pavelski has only been out of the NHL for a couple of years, having announced his retirement from playing in the summer following the 2023-24 campaign. It ended an outstanding, Hall-of-Fame-worthy 18-year career in the NHL. The 41-year-old spent the first 13 seasons with the San Jose Sharks before signing with the Dallas Stars in the summer of 2019.

In 1,332 regular-season games, Pavelski scored 476 goals and 592 assists for 1,068 points. He added 143 points in 201 playoff appearances, reaching the Stanley Cup Final with the Sharks in 2016 and the Stars in 2020. He also made it to the Western Conference Final seven times, four with San Jose and three in Dallas.

The head coaching position in Toronto became open after new Leafs general manager John Chayka announced the firing of Craig Berube after just two seasons last month. It came after the Leafs endured a rough 2025-26 season, during which the team failed to make the postseason for the first time in 10 years.

Oilers’ Connor McDavid ties NHL record with fifth career Ted Lindsay Award

Tyler Kuehl — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:38:07 GMT

Another historical mark for the best player in the world.

On Sunday, the NHL announced that Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has won the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award.

Connor McDavid is a five-time Ted Lindsay Award winner! 🤩 #NHLAwards

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding player as voted by the players. pic.twitter.com/R7rt9TnjUs
— NHL (@NHL) June 7, 2026

The award is given to the player who is viewed by his peers to be the league’s most valuable player, as it’s voted on by members of the NHL Players’ Association. This is the fifth time that McDavid has taken home the honor formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, tying him with Oilers legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky. This is the first time McDavid has won the Ted Lindsay since 2022-23, which was the year he took home the Hart, Art Ross and Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophies.

McDavid beat out San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov for this year’s award.

The Richmond Hill, Ont. native had another outstanding season. In his first full 82-game campaign in three years, he won the Art Ross Trophy for the sixth time in his career, and the first since the 2022-23 season, tying him with Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux for second all-time behind Gretzky. McDavid scored 48 goals and 90 assists for 138 points. It marks the sixth year in a row that he has hit the century mark in points, and the third time he has posted 130 points. The 29-year-old has only missed the 100-point mark twice in his career – his rookie season, where he missed 37 games due to injury, and the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign.

In the first 11 years of his NHL career, McDavid has scored 409 goals and 807 assists for 1,216 points. He’s won the Hart three times, the Ted Lindsay four times, as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy in the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024.

Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic announces retirement

Scott Maxwell — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:14:26 GMT

Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic announced his retirement from hockey on Sunday.

Milan Lucic is officially announcing his retirement following 1,177 career NHL games played – wishing all the best to the 2010-11 #StanleyCup champ👏 pic.twitter.com/X4QF1dWqt3
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 7, 2026

Lucic hasn’t played in the NHL since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, and in fact missed most of that and the 2024-25 season, but did make a brief return to hockey in 2025-26. He had attempted to come back to North American pro hockey with the St. Louis Blues, but after getting injured while on a PTO, he briefly played for their AHL team, the Springfield Thunderbirds on an AHL PTO before it was terminated. He finished out his season in the EIHL in Scotland, playing for the Fife Flyers.

Lucic had one assists in five games in the AHL with the Thunderbirds, and five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 26 games in the EIHL with the Flyers.

Lucic retires after 17 seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. A second-round pick of the Bruins in the 2006 NHL Draft, he finishes his career with 233 goals and 353 assists for 586 points in 1,177 regular season games, along with 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points in 136 games.

While Lucic did not win any individual awards during his NHL career, he retires having won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011. He did receive votes for the Calder Trophy, the Selke Trophy and the year-end All-Star Team.

However, Lucic had his NHL career end three years ago when he was arrested for a domestic incident involving his wife. He pled not guilty to assault and battery, and the charges were eventually dropped after his wife refused to testify.

Top 15 centers for the 2026 NHL Draft

Steven Ellis — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:23:39 GMT

Centers are always a premium at the NHL Draft.

And that’s definitely true again this year. It’s unlikely we’ll see a middleman taken at the top, but it’s not crazy to think we’ll see one – most likely, Caleb Malhotra – land as high as third. From talking to scouts, Malhotra is the clear top center around thanks to his heightened offense, reliable two-way play and high-end hockey sense.

Teams often prefer players who play center because it’s much easier to have one transition into a winger if needed, rather than vice versa. Anton Frondell, for example, has already played both center and wing during his short NHL career. That type of flexibility is why a team will often draft a center whenever the race is tight between two different prospects.

Today, we’re looking at the top 15 centers for the 2025 NHL Draft. Position designations are based on NHL Central Scouting’s final draft list:

1. Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)

The best prospects are the smartest ones, and that’s where Malhotra shines through. He reads plays exceptionally well – scouts say it’s like he’s always playing a step ahead of the competition. He finds open lanes with ease, and he’s very difficult to contain in transition. Malhotra knows when to carry the puck up himself and when to look for an open lane and regroup. Might seem simple on the surface, but it’s pretty common for young players to panic under pressure. There’s no such thing as panic in Malhotra’s game. There isn’t a single team that couldn’t use more center depth. And for most scouts, Malhotra is the best available. Regardless, it’s been incredible watching him rise up draft boards this year. And, who knows? Maybe he still has another gear in his game to unlock.

2. Viggo Björck (Djurgardens, SHL)

Björck definitely lacks the size teams crave in a center. But that hasn’t slowed him down – he’s absolutely fearless. He didn’t find a player he wasn’t afraid to go up against at the World Championship. We’ve seen him win battles against guys like Stanley Cup champion Ryan O’Reilly (6-foot-1, 216 pounds), David Tomasek (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and even 6-foot-8 monster Malte Setkov. It’s like watching a younger Zach Benson. Björck’s shot is incredibly deceptive, especially on the power play. He doesn’t give you much to work with if you’re a goalie – and it’s because he doesn’t need to. Sure, he’s small at 5-foot-9, but that shouldn’t be an issue for him.

3. Tynan Lawrence (Boston University, NCAA)

Lawrence is one of the smartest forwards in the draft class. He reads open ice exceptionally well and consistently makes the right passes through traffic. Lawrence isn’t massive at six feet and 185 pounds, but he plays with a ton of power. He plays a solid two-way game, and he boasts a boatload of energy, too. If you’re not moving quickly enough, Lawrence will swarm you instantly and make you pay. Nobody will mistake him for a burner. But Lawrence is a highly competent skater who should have no issue adjusting to the big leagues in that regard. All the missed time and the mid-season league change didn’t help Lawrence’s ranking. We’ll see if he can find his game again at BU next year.

4. Alexander Command (Orebro, Sweden U-20)

Command has all the makings of a reliable, all-situations center in the NHL. His floor is very high – he fits an archetype that succeeds quite frequently. He’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. Command can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I’ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he’s more of a second/third-liner in the NHL (more likely in a No. 2 role), but one who shouldn’t have many issues being effective.

5. Ilia Morozov (Miami University, NCAA)

Despite being the youngest player in college hockey, Morozov played with a maturity that made him very valuable to Miami this season. Standing tall at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, he is an imposing pivot who commands the center of the ice. He managed to post highly respectable numbers while operating on a roster lacking high-end offensive firepower. He frequently threads confident passes through heavy traffic. While his ultimate offensive ceiling may not get you out of your seat, Morozov’s off-puck habits and projectable power-center profile make him a compelling prospect. He’s already quite refined, even if the upside isn’t massive.

6. Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)

Markus’ twin, Liam, is getting most of the love from scouts for his play-driving and goal-scoring abilities. But Markus is a special playmaker – he works as hard as anyone you’ll find in junior hockey. He loves to do the dirty work to make plays happen, no matter who he’s looking for on the ice. Ruck has obvious chemistry with his brother but can also dazzle on his own. My biggest concern was how unimpactful he looked during the playoffs – he kept getting pushed around far too much for my liking, and he doesn’t have the top-end skating to burn guys. I would like to see both brothers apart, but the raw talent is definitely there – and his playmaking is among the best you’ll find from a center.

7. Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)

Shilov was one of the QMJHL’s most proficient offensive generators this year. The Tigres finished second last in the West and were ultimately bounced in four games in the playoffs. But Shilov finished the season with 32 goals and 82 points while showing instant chemistry with fellow Russian draft prospect Alexei Vlasov (80 points). Nobody else came close to even reaching 50, so Shilov was exceptionally important. He dominates the puck game, and he’s as skilled as you’ll find in the CHL. There’s no lack of talent here – but he can get caught watching the puck far too often and simply lacks the pace to thrive at the next level. I think he’ll be a fine pro player, though.

8. Jack Hextall (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL)

Hextall had multi-point efforts in nearly all my viewings this year, both internationally and domestically, with Youngstown. He was no stranger to dominant performances, showcasing a dynamic skill set with an endless motor. That’s what I love about his game – he won’t be a high-end producer in the NHL, but he can play a variety of roles while being effective. He has a good shot, but he’s even better as a setup guy. On the power play, he doesn’t waste much time blasting shots past goalies. I also think he got better physically as the season wore on. I think he’ll be a solid support player at the next level.

9. Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals, OHL)

Is Rogowski good because he’s good, or good because he’s big? I’m still not 100% sure, but I’ve enjoyed many of my viewings. Primarily, I thought he was great at the U-18s in a fourth-line role – I feel like he was enough of a pain in the rear end doing that. At 6-foot-7, he’s obviously got size. But I also appreciated how well he hustled at both ends, chasing pucks and breaking up plays. He’s a smart forward who uses his big frame to win battles, but he also has a good shot and isn’t afraid to launch it from anywhere in an attempt to surprise the goaltender. Rogowski won’t be a big-time offensive threat. But as a supporting player, he has a ton of tools at his disposal to make himself useful.

10. Maddox Dagenais (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL)

Dagenais has had a strong playoff run with Quebec, which will definitely help his draft stock. The son of former NHLer Pierre Dagenais managed to register a point per game in 62 outings with Quebec, often leading the team’s offensive push. He has an NHL caliber-frame at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds, and he’s extremely reliable at both ends of the ice. Dagenais isn’t flashy, but he’s smart, toolsy and plays with a ton of power. At times, he’s able to dominate the puck better than most other big forwards in this draft class. Dagenais’ hockey IQ is impressive, and he’s a good skater for his size. I think he could be a good middle-six guy.

11. Oliver Suvanto (Tappara, Finland U-20)

Suvanto spent most of the season playing against men in Tappara, where he has shown he can play a reliable two-way game. I was hoping to see more offense from him against junior competition, especially at the U-18s. I really like his play away from the puck, and I thought he looked solid at the World Juniors in a variety of roles. While there are times where he’s easily the best player on the ice, it wasn’t frequently enough, and he doesn’t have the offensive talent to suggest he’s anything more than a bottom-six player at this point. I think he’ll be good in a role like that, though.

12. Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion, OHL)

I liked Cali in Jr. A last year – putting up more than 50 points as a 16-year-old in the OJHL is no small feat. But I was hoping to see more from him offensively in North Bay this year. Cali is built like a tank, though, and he puts a ton of power into every shift, with and without the puck. His whole game is about making sure you can’t enter the zone with the puck – and if you do, you’d better make a lightning-fast move. I can see him becoming a solid bottom-six forward if he can improve his playmaking. I considered ranking him lower, but I know some scouts really like him as a long-term project. With an NHL frame and solid hockey sense, there’s actually quite a bit to like.

13. Adam Valentini (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Valentini is so energetic that he can chase the whole game without losing much pace. He can be a bit of a pain in the ass around the net because you can almost never keep up with his footwork. I like how his game has progressed in college, but he needs to add more muscle. With the puck, though, Valentini brings so much to the table. I’m not worried about his ability to create damage with the puck on his stick. But is he versatile enough? Is he too small? Maybe, but it didn’t slow him down at the college level because he plays with some decent muscle.

14. Oscar Holmertz (Linköping HC, Sweden U-20)

Holmetz has played at just about every level possible in Sweden this year, including the SHL. He didn’t get much ice time with the big club, but it felt like spending time playing against pros forced him to add another level of urgency to his game whenever he got sent back to junior. He put up good numbers with Linköping’s U-20 squad and has been a reliable two-way threat internationally. I think he’s most impactful as a support guy you can rely on to kill plays in the D-zone, but I’m not sure he’s skilled enough to have a profound role at the next level. There’s third-line center potential here, though.

15. Adam Andersson (Leksands, Sweden U-20)

Andersson really grew on me during the U-18s – even in a bottom-six role. Between killing penalties and some overall solid two-way play, Andersson looked on his game at that event. He’s a tough dude who plays a refined two-way game with his big 6-foot-4 frame. Scouts like him – some see him as a potential second-rounder thanks to his no-nonsense, yet high-reliability playstyle. He’s not going to put up a ton of points, but he’ll be difficult to play against while capable of killing plays.

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2026 NHL Draft Combine Notebook: What we learned

Steven Ellis — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:37:15 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Just under 100 prospects spent the past week in Buffalo to give one lasting impression ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Players were split into 12 groups containing between 6-8 players, taking turns doing various drills in 30-minute increments. It came after days of players talking and meeting with teams, agents, and future opponents.

Daily Faceoff was in person on Friday and Saturday, and it’s time to empty the notebook:

* Montreal is always known for its… funky draft combine moments. This year, they gave prospects a puck in a room, had them pick a location, and then saw where they’d throw it from. Was it a way of seeing how they’d handle the pressure? I guess so.

* Casey Mutryn said the Canadiens, as expected, had the best question: “If I’m the captain of a destroyer in the Navy during World War II, and your job is to destroy submarines, and there’s a submarine that you can destroy, but 10 of your crew members are overboard. So if you destroy the submarine, you’re killing your crew members. So they’re like, ‘Do you destroy the submarine, kill your crew members, or do you let the submarine go and save your man?’ I just said, ‘You gotta destroy the sub. That’s your job.'”

* This quote from Tobias Trejbal, though, is the best: “I remember Montreal asked me some weird questions. Like, “If you were in the Sahara and there were two guys, one had a bottle of water and the other had a baseball bat. What would you do? So, their guy told me,” I have a wife at home. I have kids at homes like, are you gonna really kill me?’ I said, “Yeah, your family is at home. They’re safe, and I have my whole life in front of me, and I want to play in NHL, so I will smack you with the baseball bat.”

* The VO2 Max drill – typically a favorite of social media users – was held privately away from the media on Friday. I guess the NHL didn’t want tons of footage of players puking all over the floor anymore.

* Ivar Stenberg and Carson Carels were among the most notable prospects to sit out the fitness tests. Stenberg just finished the World Championship (a physical affair, at that), while Carels was injured during the WHL playoffs.

* Carels said he’s excited to join the University of North Dakota and play alongside Keaton Verhoeff. He said their opposite-handedness, as well as their play styles, should complement each other quite well.

* Gavin McKenna was listed as 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds prior to the Combine – he measured exactly the same today. BUT… he looks to have added some significant muscle over the past few months. Scouts don’t seem worried about his size.

* Viggo Bjorck was listed as 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds – about three pounds heavier than he was at the start of the year. It’s noteworthy because he’s the best “small” forward in the draft.

* Vladimir Dravecky, Casey Mutryn and Rudolfs Berzkalns received extra love for how their team interviews went.

* Every Swedish player wanted to talk about Malte Gustafsson, with phrases like “Beast”, “Monster,” and “Most underrated defenseman in the draft” getting repeated multiple times.

* Another guy scouts really love: Daxon Rudolph, who some scouts liken to Zach Werenski. He’s definitely someone I’m high on. Don’t be surprised if a team in the 5-8 range takes a chance on him.

* Niklas Aaram-Olsen said he was one of the last cuts from Norway’s World Championship team that won bronze for the first time ever. He had one of the biggest smiles of the day as he talked about the team’s performance.

* A few players I talked to mentioned that they watched the decentralized draft the year prior and felt like the luster and the excitement that made it feel so special were lost compared to the last centralized draft at The Sphere in Vegas.

* A few teams, most notably Pittsburgh, spent significant time showing prospects plays they made mistakes on. Every player I talked to about that said they appreciated the team’s honesty, which forced them to explain their thought process.

* Aleksander Barkov was the most common forward that the prospects tried to emulate, somewhere in the double digits. We’ve seen his name mentioned much more in the past few years as the Florida Panthers have become a powerhouse. Josh Anderson got a lot of love, too. On defense: Devon Toews. I believe seven blueliners cited him specifically.

* Lithuania’s Simas Ignatavicius said he learned about the sport through watching the game at a mall when he was three years old. He was eating pizza, if you care. His father was a basketball player, but wanted his son to try a different spot. So, with very few rinks to choose from, Ignatavicius learned to play the game at a mall. Ignatavicius has the opportunity to become the third Lithuanian player drafted to the NHL this year.

* Daxon Rudolph said the Seattle Kraken took a group of prospects to dinner. While the dinner beat is definitely overblown, it sounds like they took more defenders than forwards – Keaton Verhoeff being one of the blueliners who went there. Will they… actually draft a defenseman in the first round?

* Zac Olsen’s name was mentioned quite a bit as one of the toughest players to play against in this draft class. Olsen is projected to go somewhere in the 62-90 range this year – he’s absolutely fearless, and had a good showing at the U-18s.

* Ryder Cali credits spending his Draft-1 year with the OJHL’s Milton Menace in helping him build confidence and hockey IQ. With more players passing on Canadian Jr. A, Cali – who is from the Cayman Islands – used it as an opportunity to keep his development at a steady pace, especially since he didn’t make AAA hockey until he was 14 years old. Olsen said Cali was the most underrated player in the draft, as well.

* Speaking of the Cayman Islands, it’s wild that such a small nation has two players – Cali and Jaxon Cover – with the potential to go in the top 64 this year. There has never been a player from the CI drafted to the NHL.

* Markus Ruck fell during the vertical jump and didn’t finish all the fitness testing.

* Adam Valentini was the only player I could find who talked to all 32 teams. But Tommy Bleyl and Jack Hextall both talked to 30.

* Giorgos Pantelas said if he could make a rule change in the NHL, he’d become more lenient on goalie fights. His Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender, Filip Ruzicka, dropped the gloves with Taylor Tabashniuk back in February. In Pantelas’ words, the NHL would have “much fewer penalties” if he were in charge.

* Ryan Lin is a big Tyus Sparks fan – says he loves his energy and confidence. Sparks’ dad, Nate, played with the B.C. Lions in the CFL. Sparks said he was better at hockey and decided that was the better route for him. Tyus is a huge Lin fan, too.

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Top 15 wingers for the 2026 NHL Draft

1. Gavin McKenna, LW (Penn State University, NCAA)

2. Ivar Stenberg, LW (Frolunda, SHL)

3. Wyatt Cullen, LW (USNTDP)

4. Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

5. Liam Ruck, RW (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)

6. Oscar Hemming, LW (Boston College, NCAA)

7. Adam Novotný, LW (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

8. Nikita Klepov, RW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

9. Elton Hermansson, RW (Modo, Sweden U-20)

10. J.P. Hurlbert, LW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)

11. Mathis Preston, RW (Vancouver Giants, WHL)

12. Ryan Roobroeck, LW (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)

13. Casey Mutryn, RW (USNTDP)

14. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, LW (Orebro, Sweden U-20)

15. Simas Ignatavicius, RW (Geneve-Servette, NL)

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Top 15 centers for the 2026 NHL Draft

1. Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)

2. Viggo Björck (Djurgardens, SHL)

3. Tynan Lawrence (Boston University, NCAA)

4. Alexander Command (Orebro, Sweden U-20)

5. Ilia Morozov (Miami University, NCAA)

6. Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)

7. Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)

8. Jack Hextall (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL)

9. Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals, OHL)

10. Maddox Dagenais (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL)

11. Oliver Suvanto (Tappara, Finland U-20)

12. Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion, OHL)

13. Adam Valentini (University of Michigan, NCAA)

14. Oscar Holmertz (Linköping HC, Sweden U-20)

15. Adam Andersson (Leksands, Sweden U-20)

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2026 NHL Draft Combine Notebook: What we learned