A former Philadelphia Flyers forward is calling it a career.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has officially retired from professional hockey.
Bellemare kicked off his NHL career with the Flyers during the 2014-15 season. From there, he spent his first three NHL seasons in Philadelphia, where he posted 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points, and 259 hits.
Bellemare's time with the Flyers ended when he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Following his time in Vegas, he also had stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Seattle Kraken.
Bellemare spent each of the last two seasons of his career in Switzerland's National League with Ajoie HC. In 37 games this past season with the NL club, he posted one goal and 11 assists.
In 700 career NHL games over 10 seasons, Bellemare recorded 64 goals, 74 assists, 138 points, and a plus-22 rating.
It feels like we’ve seen this before, but the Montreal Canadiens could certainly use a right-shot defenseman this offseason, and preferably one that could play a top-four role and handle some serious minutes. Those are not easy to find, but the closer we get to July 1, the more likely it becomes that a defenseman who absolutely fits the bill will be available in free agency.
Back in the 2024-25 season, the New York Rangers traded their captain, Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks. The blueliner was on a big contract with an $8 million cap hit, which the Ducks could absorb, and they did. Now, though, the contract is set to expire, and it appears that the negotiations between the two sides are not progressing particularly well.
It’s hard to know why, it could be that he wants too much money or that he wants too much term, or it could even be both. If he does become a free agent, though, that’s a call Kent Hughes has to make, at least to see if there would be any interest from the player to join what the Canadiens are building.
At 32 years old, Trouba has never won the Stanley Cup, and Hughes can at least point to the fact that his team reached the Eastern Conference Final. Of course, the veteran wouldn’t be a long-term hire; he could be the perfect temporary place-holder while David Reinbacher gets some experience to fill that top-four role eventually,
Trouba is not the biggest points producer; he got 35 points in 81 games, but he can hit. He’s got a big body at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, and he plays like it. This past season, he landed 125 bone-crushing hits, and that makes opponents think twice about approaching him. Furthermore, he’s a good shot blocker, blocking 143 hits this past season, and he’s playing a lot of minutes; he spent nearly 23 minutes on the ice for the Ducks. That’s the kind of veteran profile that Martin St-Louis would trust.
Would he entertain the thought of playing in Canada? He did it in Winnipeg for 6 years. There was noise about him not wanting to return to Canada in 2024 when the Rangers traded him, but only fools don’t change their minds, and a lot has changed for the Canadiens since then…
While the Philadelphia Flyers would like to upgrade their defense at some point this offseason, a reunion with an old friend could be out of the preferred price range.
Since leaving the Flyers in 2019, rugged defenseman and NHL public enemy Radko Gudas has enjoyed successful stints with the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Anaheim Ducks.
Gudas, 36, is now the captain of the Ducks, though he could leave in free agency with a reportedly robust market awaiting him.
According to former NHL goalie and NHL insider Kevin Weekes, Gudas is "gaining interest" and the former Flyers defenseman will have suitors, including the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, if he hits the open market.
Gudas, alongside teammates Jacob Trouba and John Carlson and Vegas Golden Knights defender Rasmus Andersson, figures to be one of the top defensemen hitting the free agent market this year.
Aside from those, the Flyers don't have many attractive options to choose from, and especially in Carlson's cases if they want a power play quarterback.
As it most closely relates to the Flyers and their offseason plans, though, Gudas is the most suitable alternative to Rasmus Ristolainen for any contenders out there looking for physical defensemen.
The free agent class as a whole is uninspiring this summer, which will steer more teams, including the Flyers themselves, towards trades.
Conversely, the Ducks may very well be a team to keep an eye on for Ristolainen, given that Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas are all free agents, and Carlson has already decided to move on.
In any case, Gudas's situation is one worth keeping an eye on as we head into the draft and free agency, as the former Flyers tough guy will likely have a domino effect on the broader defenseman market this summer.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“We are two weeks from July 1, at which point players who have one year left on their current contracts can sign extensions. All signs seem to be pointing to that eventually being the case with New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier.” [The Athletic ($)]
Jeremy Colliton is out:
#NEWS: Assistant Coach Jeremy Colliton is leaving the organization to pursue other business opportunities. The search for a replacement will begin immediately.
Could Matthew Knies still be an option? “The Devils need a top-6 forward and have the pieces to meet the rumored ask of the Toronto Maple Leafs.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
It appears Mike Babcock is headed to the Oilers:
NHL investigation on Mike Babcock is wrapping up shortly.
Per ESPN sources, expectation is Babcock will be clear to coach, and the Oilers want to hire him.
Statement from the @NHLPA on Mike Babcock being cleared to return to the NHL by a league investigation into his departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023: pic.twitter.com/HbooZUFtN5
Jonathan Toews is hanging up his skates. The Winnipeg Jets have scheduled an 11am CT press conference for Friday (tomorrow), where Toews will announce his retirement.
3 Cups. 1,149 career games. 912 points. 2010 Conn Smythe winner. 2013 Selke winner. 2015 Messier Awards. Great…
The Bruins are retiring Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37:
To the rafters.
The #NHLBruins are proud to announce that during the upcoming 2026-27 season, the club will bestow its highest honor upon Patrice Bergeron by retiring his No. 37. pic.twitter.com/MxBQ0uylEA
“In today’s NHL, players aren’t just judged on their ability; they’re graded on value and efficiency — how large is their impact relative to their contract? Let’s look at players who didn’t live up to their contracts in 2025-26 and how much longer those deals will be on the books.” [The Athletic ($)]
If the Ducks move on from Mason McTavish, where might he be traded to? [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 22: Justin Brazeau #16 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck in front of Mike Reilly #6 of the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are likely looking at replacing a defenseman from last season. Pierre LeBrun dropped a not unexpected nugget that it looks like Ryan Shea will be headed to the free agency market on July 1 since the Pens aren’t interested in giving a contract with the term (likely 3-4 years) that Shea can command after a breakout season in 2025-26.
One possible name for a Shea replacement could be found via Dom Luszczysyn’s look at free agency in Mike Reilly.
From Mason Marchment to Vincent Desharnais, 10 free agents teams should target this summer based on their expected contracts from @AFPAnalyticshttps://t.co/ReXsFil2P8
No player confounds models on an annual basis more than Reilly. Every year, his on-ice numbers dazzle, and every year, he struggles to get much playing time out of it. C’est la vie.
While I don’t think Rielly is anywhere near as good as last year’s 60 percent xG (!) would indicate — he plays extremely sheltered minutes — I do think he’s capable of third-pair duty. At 6-2, there’s no issue with size either. Reilly is projected to cost about a million bucks and should deliver a bit more value above that with his puck-moving ability.
The description of Reilly sounds similar in some regards to the scouting report on Parker Wotherspoon, before he enjoyed a breakout season in Pittsburgh as a player who did good things with limited opportunities but never fully got established. The salary range of $1 million bucks annually fits the bill too.
Granted, there are some key differences in these two profiles as well. Wotherspoon always carries a better defensive impact. He’s also four years younger than Reilly, who has played NHL games for a decade and bounced around through seven different NHL teams without finding much traction. In Wotherspoon’s case, he was a player that mostly bided his time in the AHL in two organizations and failed to make much headway. Reilly is much different being a journeyman who has been all over the place.
It would be a major reach to project that Reilly could step into top-pair responsibilities like Wotherspoon did and perform that well. The base of his game is too different, Reilly has averaged 40 NHL games over the last five seasons. He has been more a guy to come in and play a part for a period of time, but seldom become a lineup regular. He HAS been able to do it at times (Boston 2022 and 2023, NYI in 2023-24) but often tends to slip back into a depth position, like he did with Carolina this year (42 regular season games, two in the playoffs).
So while it’s a nice thought for a Wotherspoon-esque glow up if given a chance, the fact is that Reilly’s had several chances over the years and never quite latched on, for whatever reason(s) that might be. However, when shifting the focus back for the matter of replacing Ryan Shea, Reilly aligns well style-wise based on that.
Mike Reilly wouldn’t be a hugely glamorous add, but then again neither were the free agent signings of Wotherspoon, or Shea for that matter. Whether or not Reilly, who will have his name etched on the Stanley Cup, gets any additional shine for his free agency prospects remains to be seen, though at this point (and with his 33rd birthday coming up this summer) it seems unlikely the market will heat up an extreme amount.
The Penguins are likely seeking a low-cost, short commitment to players who can join the blueline, Mike Reilly is just the sort of under-the-radar name that would fit the bill and carries some traits to suggest he could provide value to an NHL team next season. It probably wouldn’t end up as much of a success story as the Parker Wotherspoon experiment did, but an NHL team could do a lot worse adding Reilly to the mix, especially since it appears they’ll be watching a defender depart via free agency in Shea.
The San Jose Sharks have acquired forward Andre Gasseau and the 120th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for the 104th and 157th overall picks in this month’s draft.
Gasseau, 22, was selected by the Bruins with the 213th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. A native of Garden Grove, California, Gasseau started his hockey career with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings before moving to the USHL and the USNTDP.
Eventually, he made his way to the NCAA where he spent four seasons at Boston College. He was teammates with current Sharks forward Will Smith during the 2023-24 season. He was also named the captain of the Eagles for his senior season.
Gasseau currently isn’t projected to be a game-changer at the NHL level, but will provide important organizational depth at the AHL and ECHL levels for the time being.
As an unsigned college player, the Sharks are on a deadline to sign Gasseau to his entry-level contract, as he can become an unrestricted free agent if he’s not signed by August 15.
Old Beginnings—Sept 18, 2023 - Vol. 77, Issue 03 - Michael Traikos
BARRY TROTZ IS back in Nashville, a place where he’s spent so much of his hockey career, doing what he’s really never done before.
As a coach, he would have normally taken the summer off. But as a rookie GM, there’s been no time for that. Not with the draft and free agency to take care of, and daily meetings with amateur scouts and pro scouts taking up his time, all while working the phones and figuring out what kind of team he’s going to ice this season. “It’s pretty hectic,” he said. “It’s been a different rhythm than coaching. What I’ve found is that, as a coach, you’re married to the NHL schedule. As a manager, you’re married to the situation.”
Of course, no one envisioned a situation where Trotz, 61, would become GM. Not Trotz. And certainly not David Poile, who, in the final week of February, officially announced he would be stepping down as GM of the Predators in what now looks like a seamless drop pass to his old friend and colleague. “It was a perfect situation,” said Poile, 73. “It was also a long time coming. I had told my owners last summer that it was time to make a change, and we all agreed upon that. It was just a matter of ‘How is it going to work?’ ”
What he meant was he didn’t know who would take over.
Though Trotz had just been fired by the New York Islanders, he wasn’t exactly hurting for work. A year ago, teams were lining up for his services. The Winnipeg Jets offered him the opportunity to return home. A local brewery even sweetened the deal with a promise of free beer for life. But Trotz politely turned it down. The Philadelphia Flyers reportedly offered him a multi-year contract worth $7 million annually to coach. Again, Trotz said no. As the months went by, more and more teams kept calling. They all received the same answer: he wanted to take time off to spend with his family.
And then Poile called and offered something completely different. “We just talked,” Poile said. “I never said, ‘Would you be interested?’ or anything like that. But as we went along and he kept turning down these jobs and the season was moving along, I brought it up to him. Once I planted that seed, it obviously struck a chord with him.”
By then, the two longtime friends had been talking regularly. Mostly, it was about hockey. But they also talked about the future and what Trotz wanted to do with the rest of his career and where his wife and family wanted to live.
Up until then, Trotz still wanted to coach. He probably still does. You don’t become the third-winningest coach in NHL history (914 wins) – only Scotty Bowman (1,244) and Joel Quenneville (969) have won more games – and suddenly stop for no reason. But while Trotz admits that he “was in process of being on the 18th tee” of a long career behind the bench, he also wasn’t ready to put away his clubs just yet. Nor was he angling for a management job.
But the fact that it was Nashville changed everything. “He had lots of coaching opportunities, and it’s pretty public that he was offered quite a few,” Poile said. “But one thing that kept coming back was that, regardless of what happens, he would be moving back to Nashville now and that whatever happened and wherever he went, he would always go back in the off-season to Nashville. That’s what he and his wife decided.”
It was around that time Poile was also making a serious life decision. He had decided the 2022-23 season would be his last. No one really believed him, of course. After all, more than 50 years had passed since Poile got his first job in the NHL with the Atlanta Flames in 1972. Hockey lifers, such as Poile, never really retire. But as Trotz became more and more interested in the position, a succession plan started to take shape.
“I always thought when I finished coaching, I would come back to Nashville and have some kind of role,” Trotz said. “I didn’t necessarily think it was going to be as a GM or anything like that. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I had spent a lot of time in Nashville, and it had become home, and I thought it was a natural fit.”
As Poile echoed, “It was a perfect situation.” Not just for Trotz, but for Poile as well. Part of the reason why he had been so reluctant to move on was he couldn’t picture anyone doing his job. Then again, Trotz wasn’t just anyone. He was Poile’s first hire when Nashville was awarded an NHL franchise in 1997, a position he held until 2014. His fingerprints are all over the franchise. The year before the Predators played their first game, Trotz worked for the team as a scout. He designed the team’s facilities and helped pick the paint colors. He even coined several of the team’s catchphrases, such as “the Nashville Way.”
In many ways, the team belongs as much to Trotz as it does to Poile. “From a management standpoint, if it was another team, I don’t know if I would have gone that route,” Trotz said. “What pulled me in was my love for this franchise and the city. I think I would probably still be coaching if it weren’t for this opportunity. It was a new challenge. I would get to be more at home, and it would be full circle.”
I ALWAYS THOUGHT WHEN I FINISHED COACHING, I WOULD COME BACK TO NASHVILLE AND HAVE SOME KIND OF ROLE– BARRY TROTZ
Indeed, this is going to be a challenge. Trotz is not only transitioning from being a coach to being a GM, but he’s taking over a team that is also undergoing its own transition from perennial contender to middle-of-the-road bubble team. Since reaching the Cup final in 2017, the Predators have won just one playoff round in six years. Last season, they missed the playoffs, which is part of the reason why Poile decided a new voice was needed. “The realization is there that we’re in the middle,” Poile said. “While we’ve made the playoffs every year, we weren’t winning any playoff rounds. It was my opinion, and Barry concurred, that it was time to take a proverbial step backwards in order to take a few steps forward.”
And yet, there is a bit of a disagreement as to what path Nashville is on. Poile’s last moves as GM – trading defenseman Mattias Ekholm and winger Tanner Jeannot – effectively pushed Nashville toward what looks like an inevitable rebuild. But in trading away Ryan Johansen and then signing defenseman Luke Schenn and center Ryan O’Reilly in free agency, Trotz made it clear Nashville is not a place where vets can come to retire. Rather, he said, “I want you to come here to win.”
WE’RE NOT IN A RESET. WE’RE NOT IN A REBUILD, WE’RE IN SOMETHING IN BETWEEN RIGHT NOW– BARRY TROTZ
“I don’t have the correct word for it,” Trotz said. “But we’re not in a reset. We’re not in a rebuild, we’re in something in between right now.”
Indeed, the Predators still have Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi on defense, 40-goal scorer Filip Forsberg up front and Vezina Trophy contender Juuse Saros in net. That’s a pretty good core. They also have a cupboard that is well stocked with prospects – Nashville has seven players who were ranked among the top 100 prospects in last season’s Future Watch magazine.
“We were watching the NHL Network the other night, and they had our prospect pool ranked seventh,” Poile said. “I like that number. I think that’s fair with the draft we had. I believe we’ll be in the top five next year at this time.”
Whether they will be in the playoffs will depend on what Trotz did this summer. Then again, a lot of it will be dependent on how new coach Andrew Brunette handles the roster. Handing over the team to someone else is an entirely new experience for Trotz – and it’s not something that he’s looking forward to.
“I’m going to miss the bench,” he said. “I’m going to miss the locker room. As a coach, you’re looking at it probably from a different angle. In the seat I’m in now, it seems that you’re looking from a long ways away. You’re up in the press box rather than behind the bench. The angles, the speed, the emotions and the chaotic stuff is all behind the bench. Whereas up top, it’s more sterile and generic. But hopefully, the thing I should have learned is the timing of when you ask questions or put a little heat on the coaches or back off and say nothing. I’ll have a better grasp of that than someone who hasn’t been behind the bench.”
And if he runs into a jam, he’ll still have his old boss to lean on. While Poile won’t have an office in Bridgestone Arena, he joked that he’ll still have a phone. And chances are the two friends will be talking just like they always have.
We're officially one week out from the start of the 2026 NHL Draft and excitement continues to build for it.
Yes, it's going to be the second year in a row where it's decentralized, but it's still always awesome to see players' dreams come true. Don't forget about some trades, too.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be on the clock with the 22nd overall pick, and depending on how the board goes, there could be some good players available to them. I've profiled several different players over the last few weeks who make sense for the Penguins, and now it's time to look at another, Marcus Nordmark.
Nordmark played most of the 2025-26 season with Djurgarden’s U20 team in Sweden, finishing with 14 goals and 38 points in 25 games. He even played in eight SHL games, finishing with one assist.
He's a really strong power skater and is a handful for players who try to take the puck off him. There were times when it looked like a player was going to catch up to him, but he'd turn up the afterburners and leave them in the dust.
One of my favorite examples of his skating ability came in a game between Sweden and Germany in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Sweden was winning 6-0 in the third period when Nordmark collected a pass just over the red line, and once he gained the offensive zone, he got going. He went around multiple defenders while cutting to the left side of the offensive zone before delivering a great centering pass for a goal.
There were other times this season when he'd even lead the breakout out of his own zone, taking the pressure away from his defensemen.
One part of his game that's really underrated is his release. He should use it more often because when he loads it up, it's deadly. His shot to tie the game against Finland with only 2:27 left in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is exactly what I'm talking about. He took a pass at the center blue line, skated down a bit, and rifled the puck past the goaltender. The puck came off his stick so fast that the goalie barely had time to react.
Nordmark later won the game in overtime, showcasing his skating and soft hands while cutting to the net for a gorgeous backhand goal. He's not afraid of going to the dirty areas for some goals and can sometimes be hard to move once he gets there.
Defensively, he helps out in all three zones and can force turnovers, which fuels the transition game. One specific play that really stood out this season came in Sweden's game against Canada at the 2025 Junior A World Challenge. A Canadian defenseman was breaking the puck out of his own zone when Nordmark picked his pocket, which immediately started an odd-man rush. The puck found the back of the net just a few seconds later.
Nordmark also has good playmaking skills and can find players even when it looks like there's not much room.
It remains to be seen if the Penguins select him in the first round, which starts next Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
As of writing, the Avalanche have nine draft picks heading into the draft, although they will not select until the second day when they select in the third round. That pick just came over when they traded Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators; the deal also included a third-round pick next year.
Even more than normal, the Philadelphia Flyers and their scouts will have to be on top of their game, owning the 21st overall pick at the back end of the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
If the draft plays out the way this one prospect expert believes, the Flyers won't be able to believe their luck.
It's no secret that the Flyers would like to land the big fish No. 1 center at some point, but picking so late in the first round makes that unlikely.
On Tuesday, Brent Flahr and Danny Briere admitted as much in their pre-draft media availability.
One area they can upgrade on without needing a lottery ticket draft pick is the defense, and more specifically the left side, which Flahr referred to as a "little thin."
Fortunately, The Athletic prospects expert Corey Pronman has the Flyers double-dipping on left-shot defense in his latest NHL mock draft, and the Flyers end up landing quite the steal in the second round.
To start with the first round, though, Pronman has the Flyers going with 6-foot-4 Swedish defenseman William Hakansson, who was teammates with Flyers prospect Jack Berglund at the U20 World Juniors this past year.
"Hakansson reminds a lot of scouts of Stars defender Lian Bichsel at the same age, and this is the range he went in. The Flyers add a big, physical, mobile defenseman to a system which currently lacks that player type," Pronman wrote.
It's true, too, that the Flyers do actually need some size and mobility on defense.
Adam Ginning never panned out in Philadelphia, while Ty Murchison and Hunter McDonald profile as third-pairing defenders at best at this stage.
The 5-foot-9 Emil Andrae was dealt in the Joseph Woll trade, so the depth on the left side of the defense was only depleted further.
Hakansson, 18, has already played some pro hockey, appearing in 4 total games for Lulea HF in the SHL last season, as well as 31 this season, including some playoff action.
That experience alone makes him a safe but projectable bet for the Flyers who have nothing at the position going forward.
After going with the hulking Swede, Pronman goes defense again, this time having the Flyers take the undersized Xavier Villeneuve in the second round at 53rd overall.
In rankings compiled by EliteProspects, Villeneuve has been ranked as high as 10th overall by our own Tony Ferrari, and as low as 65th by Shane Malloy.
For what it's worth, the consolidated rankings have Villeneuve at 18th, EliteProspects have him at 13th, and Cam Robinson has him at 26th.
Basically, more in the public sphere view the 5-foot-10 defenseman as a first-round talent than not.
Villeneuve has drawn comparisons to Lane Hutson and former Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, which also means, by extension, that he should have all the makings of a future power play quarterback.
The 18-year-old is by far the most dynamic defenseman in the draft class in terms of offense, but he isn't a big shooter and, obviously, isn't physical, as we can deduce from his diminutive stature.
If Villeneuve repeats history and indeed becomes the next Lane Hutson, passed on due to his size despite outstanding traits and production, the Flyers will have easily landed the steal of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Prompted by the Oilers' interest, the NHL conducted an investigation into the circumstances that led to Babcock's forced resignation from the Blue Jackets in September 2023 after just 78 days on the job. The league issued a statement June 18 that paves his path back to coaching.
“The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith," the statement reads. "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League.”
Following the NHL's decision, the NHL Players Association released its own statement about the league's decision: “While we found the allegations of Mike Babcock’s conduct as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach very concerning, the League has decided that there is no current basis on which to restrict his employment. Moving forward, we expect that Mr. Babcock will uphold the high standards required of NHL head coaches.”
The NHLPA initially conducted its own investigation in September 2023 into Babcock's conduct with the Blue Jackets, which prompted his resignation before the NHL getting involved. It felt at the time like Babcock's last chance to coach in the NHL, but that clearly wasn't the case.
Babcock, 63, is 12th in career NHL coaching wins, including a Stanley Cup title with the Red Wings, and his international success with Canada is legendary, having won gold medals in the Olympics (2010, 2014), world championships (2004) and world junior championships (1997).
His Columbus exit was prompted by accusations that he violated players' privacy during one-on-one summer meetings. Most of the allegations related to him pressuring players to reveal personal photos from galleries on their cellphones, which he and a few veteran players said was an attempt to learn about his new team, but that's not how all players took it.
Reports also surfaced that Babcock scrolled through the phone of a highly regarded young prospect while holding the phone for a length of time that made the player uncomfortable. Babcock resigned four days before the start of training camp in 2023, prompting former Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson and former general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to hold a joint press conference.
Before announcing that associate coach Pascal Vincent had signed a two-year contract to replace Babcock, they apologized to players who felt uneasy about Babcock's tactics. Davidson also said the team made a mistake with the hiring, which was already considered a second chance following allegations of bullying by Babcock in previous stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Now, if the Oilers still want him, Babcock is cleared to coach again.
Despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane sounded as though he was interested in returning for what would be a third full season with the club.
But based on the latest reports from NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, there is now some doubt on whether or not Kane will continue his career in Detroit.
According to LeBrun, Kane is "mulling things over" on whether to sign another extension with the Red Wings, or potentially seek other opportunities.
“Pending UFA Patrick Kane definitely wants to play another season, his agent Pat Brisson said on Wednesday. That’s all Brisson would share,” LeBrun wrote. “Kane, 37, put up 57 points in 67 games this past season, a solid 0.85 points per game average. My understanding is that the Red Wings do want Kane back and have made that clear. What remains undetermined is whether Kane wants to return. He certainly might, but he’s mulling things over at the moment about whether to stay put or head to market.”
In recent weeks, the Red Wings organization was rocked by the news that captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, which could certainly play a factor in whether or not Kane wants to extend his time in the Motor City.
Kane, who signed with the Red Wings as an unrestricted free-agent in December 2023 and subsequently signed consecutive one-year extensions, expressed an interest in returning to Detroit not long after their season came to a close.
“I think there is mutual interest for me to come back and continue my career here. It’s been a great spot for me, my family, and my son, and I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here," Kane said in April during Detroit's season-ending media availability. "But there’s no rush. I’ll talk things over with my agent and my family, and we’ll see how everything plays out.
“I’d love to be part of the solution that gets this team over the hump. We have a good team here, and we can win. I think this team is better than some teams that are in the playoffs.”
Kane, who has been good friends with teammate Alex DeBrincat dating back to their days with the Chicago Blackhawks, confirmed his interest in continuing to play alongside him in April.
It's also worth noting that Larkin expressed his desire to remain with the Red Wings and be part of the solution to not only return the club to the postseason but vault them back into Stanley Cup contention.
However, changed his tune. Whether or not Kane chooses to do so remains to be seen.
Kane appeared in 67 games during the 2025-26 campaign and was fifth overall in team scoring, tallying 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The New York Islanders will have four selections in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, which begins on Friday, June 26 at 7 PM ET.
General manager Mathieu Darche will have just one pick through the first three rounds, owning the No. 13 pick.
He moved the Colorado Avalanche's first-round pick (No. 29) in a deal with the St. Louis Blues for Brayden Schenn and his third-round pick (No. 77) to the New York Rangers for Carson Soucy.
Former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello moved his 2026 third-round pick (No. 45) to the Chicago Blackhawks to entice them to take on the final season of Josh Bailey's deal.
The Islanders do hold picks in rounds four through seven:
The expectation is that the Islanders will draft a right-handed defenseman with No. 13, unless someone from the top-10 falls out. Then it's about drafting the best player available.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the NHL's biggest surprises this season. After entering the season expected by many to be one of the worst teams in the NHL, they instead finished second in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the playoffs.
Now, the Penguins should look to build off their momentum by putting together a strong off-season. It is clear that the Penguins have some roster needs to address if the hope to have another successful season in 2026-27. One of their top needs is a top-four left-shot defenseman.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL that could make sense for the Penguins, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram stands out in a major way. Byram has been generating trade interest as he enters the final season of his contract, as reported by TSN's Darren Dreger.
If the Penguins traded for Byram, he would instantly become their top left-shot defenseman. Furthermore, at just 25 years old, he could be an excellent fit on the retooling Penguins' roster. This is especially so if the Penguins could convince him to sign a long-term contract extension with them if they acquired him.
Ultimately, with the Penguins' blueline needing a boost, bringing in a star defenseman like Byram would make a lot of sense. In 82 games this season with Buffalo, the left-shot defenseman posted 11 goals, 31 assists, 42 points, and a plus-15 rating.
One of the Chicago Blackhawks' top needs of the off-season is an impactful left-shot defenseman. It is clear that the left side of their blueline is in need of a real boost.
Due to this, the Blackhawks should strongly consider targeting Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. The 25-year-old defenseman has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill as of late as a trade candidate.
Recently, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Byram is generating interest from multiple teams this off-season. Given the Blackhawks' need for a top-four left-shot defenseman, it would make sense if they entered the sweepstakes for the Sabres blueliner.
"Multiple teams exploring a trade with the Buffalo Sabres involving Dman, Bo Byram. Byram has 1 yr left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted Free Agent. Agent, Darren Ferris has some history with marching players to the open market. Motivation for trade consideration," Dreger posted on X.
If the Blackhawks acquired Byram, he could be a strong fit on the their top pairing and would give them a clear option for both their power play and penalty kill because of his strong all-around play. Yet, even if he played second-pairing minutes for the Blackhawks, he would greatly improve their top four if acquired.
In 82 games this past season with the Sabres, Byram scored 11 goals and set new career highs with 42 points and a plus-15 rating. He also had four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games for the Sabres this spring. With numbers like these, he would be a strong pickup for a Blackhawks club looking to take that next step in 2026-27.
