Pittsburgh Penguins general manager/president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas met with the media on Tuesday for his end-of-season press conference, and he discussed a wide range of significant topics.

At the top of the list: Evgeni Malkin’s future with the Penguins, where the Penguins currently stand in the NHL with the progress they made this season, and what they need to do next in order to get where they want to be.

Also, speaking of Dubas, the finalists for the NHL’s general manager of the year award were announced on Tuesday and Dubas was not among the top-three vote-getters. There are a lot of people in hockey that simply do not like him. This seems to be pretty significant confirmation of that, because that result just seems weird.

But that is another discussion for another day.

Let’s get into the big topics as it relates to the Penguins.

On the Evgeni Malkin situation

Dubas gave the best possible answer that he could have possibly given here.

He praised Malkin, understands his place in the history of the franchise and the league, said all of the right things about him, acknowledged that he is not blocking anybody if he returns, and flat out said “we would love to have him back.”

Also said he had a great exit interview with him and that he is still talking to Malkin’s agent to make the contract work.

My takeaway on this: He is either doing really good PR for himself in the event that Malkin leaves, or a new contract is inevitable.

I feel like the latter is probably the most likely.

But you can’t really rule out the former. Dubas isn’t dumb. He knows how to deal with the media and how to play the game publicly. By shifting the onus onto Malkin he positioned himself to say, “hey, we wanted him back, it just didn’t work.” He might still very well want to move on, but he also knows in doing so that would always be attached to his tenure here, and if it did not work out …. well … that is the kind of thing that can linger.

Now, having said that, I will repeat, Dubas isn’t dumb. He also has to know that playing that sort of PR game with a franchise icon probably won’t go over well with anybody.

So I am still leaning toward the “Malkin will be back next season” side of this.

On where the Penguins are right now

Dubas’ assessment of the 2025-26 Penguins is that they were a good team, and at times flirted with being a “very good” team. But he also acknowledged that while they did make some progress, they were not good enough, and are not anywhere close to being a contender. He even mentioned that while watching the second-round of the playoffs he has openly wondered if they would be able to compete with the top teams in the league.

He has repeatedly said that his goal here is not just about making the playoffs, but building a contender-worthy team that can compete for championships.

In his view, they are clearly not at that level.

That is also not an unfair take. They were good this season. But even as they won more games and got into the playoffs everybody still knew they were at least a step below the likes of Colorado and Carolina.

Dubas specifically referenced the Hurricanes being the class of the division and said at the present time the Penguins are not even close to them.

On what they need to do to get there

Dubas seemed most bothered by how much the Penguins give up defensively, and that has to be a focus before they can get back to the level they want to play at.

That was clearly the Achilles heel of the Penguins all season.

While they finished near the top of the league in pretty much every major offensive category, from goals scored, to power play, to scoring chances to expected goals, they were significantly worse when it came to what they allowed going back the other way.

During 5-on-5 play they were 22nd in goals against, 20th in expected goals against, 23rd in scoring chances against and 22nd in high-danger scoring chances against.

Clearly that is not good enough.

Dubas talks about Penguins as “destination” team for players “with some control over their situation.”

To me, this is the most significant thing that Dubas said on Tuesday, and might indicate the type of players he is going to be looking at this offseason.

He specifically referenced “players in their mid-to-late 20s.”

It does not take a lot of imagination to try and figure out the type of players he might be referencing here when he talks about that age range, and players with “some control” over their situation.

No-trade clauses.

Restricted free agents.

Players that might want out of their current situation.

It also seems to indicate he has little interest in the unrestricted free agent market.

Dubas has been extremely aggressive in roster movement since taking over the Penguins, and it does not require much overthinking to guess that we might be in for a hectic offseason.

The Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs for 5 straight seasons, and over the last 2 years, the Kings have made major roster changes that, at the time, were made to help the team not only make the playoffs but also to help get them further both within the playoffs and in future seasons to come. But during the time those trades and signings were made, the players, fans, and Kings organization couldn't see just how impactful they were, so looking back 2 years to see the most recent acquisitions and who has changed the Kings the most.

2025-26 Season Acquisitions

During the 2025-26 season, the Kings made multiple trades, bringing in some players and sending others to other teams. The Kings' trades this season both showcased the team's future building while also providing star and depth talent for the short term. 

The biggest trade the Kings made this season was for the biggest player on the trade market. The trade was the Kings trading for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 3rd round pick. While the Kings lost one of their top prospects, they gained a player who has been a point per game over the last 9 consecutive seasons. 

Artemi Panarin, after being traded to the Kings, signed a 2-year, $11 million AAV deal with the team. Panarin, since joining the Kings, has played in 26 games, scoring 9 goals, tallying 18 assists for 27 points. In the 4 playoff games he played, he had 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points. 

During the 2026 trade deadline, the Kings traded players to different contenders around the NHL, but they also acquired 2 players. The first was signing forward Mathieu Joseph to a 1 year $900K contract. Joseph played in 12 games for the Kings and did not register any points. 

The second acquisition at the deadline for the Kings was Scott Laughton, who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional 2026 3rd-round pick. Laughton with the Kings played in 21 games, scoring 5 goals and recording 3 assists for 8 points. The Kings were able to use Laughton as a depth piece and have interest in signing Laughton during the offseason. 

2024-25 Players Acquired 

The Kings during the 2024-25 season made a few moves, and at the trade deadline, they acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2027 3rd-round pick. In the 2024-25 season, Kuzmenko played in 22 games, registering 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points, and was playing some of his best hockey.

But the 2025-26 season was a setback, as Kuzmenko played only 52 games due to injuries and scratches. In those 52 games, he registered 13 goals, 12 assists for 25 points. While Kuzmenko's points improved, he often found himself a healthy scratch and lacked a set spot in the lineup. Currently, Kuzmenko is set to become a free agent in this upcoming offseason.

The offseason after the 2024-25 season was a busy one for the Kings, as they signed 4 players when free agency opened on July 1st. Those players are Anton Forsberg, Joel Armia, Brian Dumoulin, and Cody Ceci. 

Anton Forsberg signed a 2-year, $2.2 million AAV deal with the Kings and was set to be the Kings' backup goaltender. But fast-forward to the end of the 2025-26 season, and Forsberg was the Kings' starting goalie in the playoffs and has proved to be a strong option in goal heading into next season. 

Joel Armia signed a 2-year, $2.5 million AAV deal, and in his first season with the Kings, he played in 67 games, registering 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. Armia also represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he led the team with 8 points. While being a depth player for the Kings, Armia made a strong impact this season and looks to do the same heading into the next. 

The last 2 players to sign with the Kings were Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, who, throughout the 2025-26 season, would form the 3rd defensive pairing for the Kings. Brian Dumoulin signed a 3-year $4 million AAV deal and played in all 82 games, scoring 2 goals, tallying 15 assists for 17 points. Ceci would sign a 4-year, $4.5 million deal and also play in all 82 games, scoring 1 goal and tallying 8 assists for 9 points. 

2023-24 Players Acquired 

The 2023-24 season for the Kings, in terms of trades and signings, featured players who have solidified themselves as Kings starting players today. The first player the Kings acquired in the 203-24 offseason was goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who was traded to the Kings from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kuemper would have a Vezina-nominated season the following year, and while in the 2025-26 season, he would take a step back. The Kings now have him and Forsberg to be a strong tandem heading into next season. 

Not long after the Kuemper trade, the Kings traded Carl Grundstrom to the San Jose Sharks for Kyle Burroughs. Burroughs would not play in the 2025-26 season, due to injuries and being the 7th defenseman on the roster. The Kings made 2 signings on July 1st, 2024, signing Jeff Malott and Joel Edmundson. 

Jeff Malott signed a 2-year $775K deal with the Kings. In the 60 combined games Malott has played with the Kings over the last 2 seasons, he has scored 3 goals and has tallied 10 points. Malott is set to become a free agent during the 2026 offseason. 

The last signing for the Kings was Joel Edmundson, who signed a 4-year, $3.8 million AAV deal with the Kings. In the past 2 seasons, Edmundson has proven himself a reliable defenseman for the Kings, playing in 155 games, scoring 8 goals, and recording 43 points. 

Impact on the Kings 

The Kings' recent acquisitions have had a significant impact on their roster. The biggest impacts for the Kings are Kuemper, Panarin, and Edmundson. Darcy Kuemper has proven himself a starter for the Kings, and with the addition of Forsberg, the Kings have a reliable tandem moving forward. The addition of Joel Edmundson to the Kings has given them a reliable defenseman who can play anywhere in the lineup. 

Lastly, while Panarin joined the Kings during March of the 2025-26 season his offensive presence was impactful for the Kings to clinch a playoff birth and heading into next season Panarin will be looked upon to help the Kings offense and with the Kings possibly adding more players during the upcoming offseason the Kings could be a new team come time for the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. 

It was a tough season for the Detroit Red Wings as they aimed to finally snap their playoff drought, but by the time the postseason arrived, they were left watching from home once again. 

After briefly leading the Atlantic Division earlier in the year, Detroit’s season unraveled slowly and painfully, with inconsistency, defensive struggles and a lack of finishing ability ultimately costing them a playoff spot in heartbreaking fashion.

For frustrated Red Wings fans searching for answers, NHL EDGE data provides a clearer picture of what went right and what went disastrously wrong over the course of the regular season.

Offensively, Detroit actually produced at a level that should have translated into far more success. The Red Wings generated 2,316 shots on goal, ranking 11th in the NHL, while their 685 high-danger scoring chances also placed them 11th league-wide. Their underlying possession metrics were respectable as well, posting a plus-0.5 shot-attempt differential that ranked 14th and a plus-0.1 shots-on-goal differential that ranked seventh overall.

Those numbers suggest Detroit frequently controlled play at even strength and created quality opportunities on a nightly basis. The problem was turning those opportunities into goals.

Despite generating offense consistently, the Red Wings scored just 239 goals this season, ranking 22nd in the NHL. Their shooting percentage of 10.3 percent ranked 26th, revealing a team that simply struggled to finish chances when it mattered most. Too often, Detroit outplayed opponents for stretches only to fail to capitalize offensively.

The deeper puck-possession numbers tell an even more concerning story with Detroit spending 42.5 percent of its total ice time in the defensive zone, meanwhile, they spent only 40 percent of their time in the offensive zone, ranking 26th, while their neutral-zone possession time of 17.4 percent ranked 29th.

For a club attempting to establish a controlled, possession-driven identity under its current core, those numbers expose a major weakness. Detroit frequently found itself hemmed into its own zone and struggled to sustain pressure offensively for long stretches.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Red Wings Lose Out On Charlie Coyle As Center Re-Signs With Blue JacketsColumbus secures a reliable two-way veteran with a long-term extension, forcing Detroit to pivot their offseason strategy after missing out on a premier middle-six depth solution.

The Red Wings also weren't the slowest team in the league by any means by lacked top end speed as they recorded a maximum skating speed of just 22.84 MPH this season, ranking dead last among all 32 teams.

Their total number of 22+ MPH speed bursts, just 45, ranked third-worst in the league. In an NHL increasingly dominated by transition offense and explosive skating, Detroit lacked the high-end pace necessary to keep up with other teams. 

Detroit ranked 32nd in total miles skated on the penalty kill at 159.32 miles, while their average of 7.15 miles skated per 60 minutes while shorthanded ranked second-worst in the NHL. Their total movement during penalty-kill situations in individual periods also ranked last league-wide.

Combined with Detroit’s bottom-10 penalty kill ranking this season, the data reinforces what fans often saw with the eye test, a passive unit that struggled to pressure puck carriers or disrupt offensive setups.

On the bright side, Detroit’s power play emerged as one of the team’s strengths, finishing seventh in the NHL in most miles skated during a game on the power play and second in most miles skated during a single period with the man advantage. This was largely because they tied with the Dallas Stars for the seventh-most power play opportunities in the NHL with 248 this season. 

At even strength, the Red Wings also posted respectable skating numbers, ranking ninth in total miles skated and 10th in average miles skated per 60 minutes. While their top-end explosiveness lagged behind the league’s elite teams, their overall work rate remained competitive.

The Red Wings showed they can generate chances, compete territorially at times and create an active power play. But their inability to finish scoring opportunities, sustain offensive-zone possession and match the league’s speed ultimately doomed them when the playoff race tightened.

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With the announcement that the Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed Charlie Coyle to a six-year contract, what does than mean for a Jackets team desperate to make Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Well, for one, they're bringing back a 14-year NHL vet with 1032 NHL games under his belt. Coyle, who spent was brought to the Cannon City via a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2025, put up 58 points last season, and played some of the best hockey of his career. The guy oozed leadership from the minute he got here. 

He's also never missed the NHL playoffs in his career until this past season, and if he was clearly upset with that during his exit interview with the media. Coyle also made it perfectly clear he wanted to come back to Columbus, and guide them to their first playoff berth since 2020. 

So, Coyle has his long term, and possibly last contract of his career, so what now?

Coyle needs to keep up the pace in which he played last season. When Coyle, Mathieu Olivier, and Cole Sillinger scored, or were making plays, this team won. If those three players can play like they did in 2025-26, watch out. 

But what else does Coyle coming mean to the CBJ?

It also means that the long-time Captain Boone Jenner might be on the move. 

Jenner has played every game of his NHL career in Columbus, and is the definition of the city itself. He works hard, and does what he needs to do. It's often said that a plyers best attribute is his availability. In this case, as sad as it may be, that may be Jenner's downfall.  

Boone Jenner has only played 82 games in his career once, back in 2016-17. The closest he's come to that since was 18-19 when he played 77. Since that season, he's played 70 once, 68, and then 67 this past season. Out of 1028 games he could've played, Jenner has only played in 808. 

If Boone Jenner isn't brought back, might they give Charlie Coyle the C? If I had to make a guess, I'd say yes. As I said above, Charlie has leader written all over him. From what he brings on the ice, to what he brings off of it, Coyle is what you want in a professional hockey player. He's also from Massachusetts, so you know he has no issue's with speaking his mind. 

This is a huge deal for Columbus going forward. Young guys love him, and the older players respect him, and value his experience.

Many will point to the term and get scared, but in my opinion, this deal is perfect for this franchise right now. 

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.  

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After defeating a Stanley Cup favorite in the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens have now taken a 2-1 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres, and former St. Louis Blues first-round pick Zachary Bolduc has done his fair share of heavy lifting to do so.

Bolduc’s first season in Montreal was a bit of a letdown. Coming off a 19-goal, 36-point rookie season with the Blues, St. Louis decided to trade the 23-year-old to the Habs in exchange for right-handed defenseman Logan Mailloux.

Bolduc started the season on fire, finding minutes on the top line and top power play unit, but he then hit a cold streak that extended for far too long.

He finished the regular season with just 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games, averaging 13:38 of ice time. But the playoffs have changed things for the former 17th overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft. 

In 10 games, Bolduc has notched two goals and six points despite his minutes shrinking to 11:30. He’s also fired 12 shots on goal, thrown 24 hits, and is a plus-6 in 10 post-season games. The Habs have outscored their opponents 8-2 at 5-on-5 with Bolduc on the ice, and he’s finding ways to be impactful, while also producing as a third liner.

On Sunday, with the Canadiens leading 2-1 in the second period, Bolduc came through with a crucial goal, which proved to be the game-winning goal as the Canadiens defeated the Sabres 6-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. Later in the game, Bolduc was assessed a 10-minute misconduct after receiving a double minor for roughing in the first period and a minor for roughing in the second. 

Revisiting The Logan Mailloux For Zachary Bolduc TradeOne of the surprise off-season trades saw the St. Louis Blues acquire Logan Mailloux from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Zachary Bolduc. Nearing the 50-game mark of the season, we revisit the trade to see who the real winner of the deal was.

There’s been plenty of debate about the Bolduc and Mailloux swap, but as of now, it appears both sides are pleased with the results. Bolduc’s production comes in waves, but he’s carving out a third-line role.

As for Mailloux, he stepped up late in the season, looking far more comfortable at the NHL level. He could be in store for a true breakout season in 2026-27. 

The Canadiens are back in action tonight as they host the Sabres for a critical Game 4. 

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After Game 2 of the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kirby Dach was the talk of the town, and not for the right reason. It was his icing that led to the defensive-zone faceoff on which the Bolts scored the game-winning goal in that second duel. Fans and media alike, including THN, were clamoring for him to be scratched in Game 3, but Martin St-Louis stuck to his guns and not only kept him in, but moved him to center. The message to Dach couldn’t be clearer: the coach had his back, and he was not going to give up on him.

At that stage, the big Albertan had no points and had a minus-one rating. The following game was one of the best Dach had ever played wearing the Sainte-Flanelle. He registered a goal and an assist and was everywhere on the ice alongside Zach Bolduc and Alexandre Texier. That line ended up being the Habs’ best in the first round. The Frenchman is no longer on their line these days against the Buffalo Sabres; it’s Joe Veleno who completes it, but the unit is still effective.

Xhekaj And Malenstyn Fined, Expect More Bad Blood
Canadiens’ Bolduc Is A Pain For Sabres
Canadiens Must Brace For Pushback In Game 4

Dach might not have been dominant offensively in all the games so far, but the truth of the matter is that right now, he has five points, four goals, and an assist, exactly like Juraj Slafkovsky. However, the centerman has a plus-six rating while the power forward sports a minus-six rating. Of course, Dach’s line, which gets fourth-line minutes, is not on the ice as often and doesn’t get the toughest match-up. Still, their contribution has been essential, and their ability to contribute offensively despite limited ice time has been key to the Canadiens’ success.

KIRBY DACH PULLED THE PUCK OUT FROM BETWEEN LYON'S LEGS AND BURIED IT 😭🚨 pic.twitter.com/svULlIg0QH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 11, 2026

With his contract being up this summer, Dach’s bounce-back performance will put Kent Hughes in a tricky position. The big center is often injured and has been largely inconsistent during his four-year tenure with the Canadiens. The GM will have to weigh the risks and rewards of keeping the big forward around. If the Habs opt to keep him, they will have to make him a qualifying offer of $4 million. That’s a much more digestible number if the playoff version of Dach starts showing up in the regular season, but that’s not a guarantee.

Needless to say, the longer the Canadiens’ spring goes on and the more consistent the big center becomes, the better his chances of getting a qualifying offer from the team. This summer will be the last time he is an RFA. At the end of his next contract, he will be a UFA and free to go wherever he pleases.

It seems highly unlikely that Hughes will want to sign him to a long-term contract as things stand; he’s still too much of a gamble, but he may be willing to give him another bridge deal, another chance to show the Canadiens what he can do. Something that seemed inconceivable to many, including this writer, after Game 2 of the first-round series. Dach has flipped the script and can be proud of what he has accomplished so far in these playoffs, but he can hopefully keep building on it.

Kirby Dach with the double headlock 😂 pic.twitter.com/YsWxBzpVL4

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 10, 2026

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