This report comes after Babcock messaged Dreger on May 20 about potentially coaching again in the NHL, and he said, "Dregs, I'm retired. Loving it."
However, contrary to what he told Dreger, it seems that Babcock is open to joining the fifth team of his NHL coaching career.
There is some controversy attached to Babcock in a couple of different situations from his past.
Babcock coached the Maple Leafs for five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20. After his tenure in Toronto, there were reports that he asked Mitch Marner, a rookie at the time, to provide a list of players ranked from hardest-working to least hardest-working. With that list, Babcock then shared the results with the rest of the team, putting Marner in an awkward and embarrassing spot.
In his last stint in the NHL, with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he didn't get to coach his team for one game. He was hired on July 1, 2023, but resigned two months later on Sept. 17 after allegations of him invading the privacy of his players.
Nonetheless, the Oilers are doing their due diligence and consulted with the NHLPA regarding any objections from the committee to potentially naming him as head coach.
Furthermore, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Babcock has spoken directly to the Oilers' owner, Daryl Katz. And while the final decision is up to Katz, because of Babcock's history, Edmonton's players would need to be on board.
Well, it turns out that Babcock also met with several members of the team's leadership group, per Friedman's sources, and that apparently "was enough to eliminate any potential objection."
With these reports, TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Monday noted that Babcock could be joined by D.J. Smith, who is another former member of the Maple Leafs coaching staff. Babcock and Smith stood behind the bench together in Toronto for four years.
With the Maple Leafs, Babcock led Toronto to three third-place finishes in the Atlantic Division, falling in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of those campaigns.
In total, Babcock coached the Leafs for 351 regular-season games, earning a 173-133-45 record, as well as 20 playoff games and an 8-12 post-season record.
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Larkin’s wish to leave the Red Wings after 11 years – and 10 consecutive years without a playoff berth – sent shockwaves through the NHL when the news emerged Thursday, June 4.
Larkin, who turns 30 on July 30, is signed through 2030-31 and currently has a full no-trade clause. The latter means Larkin is in control of where he goes. In such cases, it’s the players’ onus to submit a list of teams that fit where he wants to land.
The Free Press has learned from a person within the NHL – granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly – that these are the three teams on Larkin's list, in no particular order:
1. Florida Panthers
Larkin in February won the gold medal for the USA at the 2026 Milano Olympics with Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk. Florida does not have a state income tax, and there’s little media scrutiny. The Panthers missed the playoffs this season, but are poised to return to contender status in 2026-27 with the return of captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed all of the season with an injury. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025.
The return would have to be phenomenal, though, for Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Since entering the NHL in 2017-18 on the strength of an incredible expansion draft, the Knights are in their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons and partied with the Cup in 2023. This is a franchise that does whatever it takes to stay competitive; just this season, it fired highly respected coach Bruce Cassidy – the guy behind the bench in 2023 – with eight games to go and brought in John Tortorella.
Last summer, the Knights pulled off a blockbuster by acquiring 100-point Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who wanted out of Toronto. Vegas is two wins from a second Stanley Cup, leading Carolina, 2-1, ahead of Tuesday's Game 4 in Vegas.
3. Minnesota Wild
Here, Larkin would be reunited with fellow U.S. gold medalists Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber. Wild GM Bill Guerin has shown he’s all-in on guiding the team to its first Stanley Cup championship since entering the league as an expansion team in 2000-01, pulling off the Hughes trade in December 2025. Hughes had made it clear he wouldn’t re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks, and since he was in the fifth season of a six-year deal, the Canucks decided to get value while they could.
Yzerman pursued Hughes as well, but pulled out when Hughes, who played at Michigan, would not commit to re-signing.
Larkin may be asked to expand his list if there's not a favorable deal to be worked out with one of his preferred teams. In that case, these three other teams make sense.
Other teams that make sense
New York Islanders
A star who just made history by becoming the first defenseman ever to win the Calder Trophy unanimously in Matthew Schaefer. A star goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. A star forward group that includes Mathew Barzal, a high-end playmaker and top scorer. Another star forward in Bo Horvat, a top goal-scorer and excellent on face-offs. A veteran captain in Anders Lee. This is a team on a meteoric rise after winning the draft lottery in 2025 and adding Schaefer.
The Islanders finished with 91 points (43-34-5) in 2025-26.
The Ducks (92 points) are another team on the rise, emerging from a rebuild on the guiding hands of GM Pat Verbeek, who was Yzerman's right-hand man for years in both Detroit and with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Ducks have a tremendous young core headlined by Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in 2023, along with Cutter Gauthier (fifth overall, 2022), and Mason McTavish (third overall, 2021). They're guided by veteran coach Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.
A proven veteran center is just what this team needs after the Ducks upset the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs this year, before falling to Vegas in the second round.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The team isn't dominating like five years ago, but there's a strong, if aging, core in superstar defenseman Victor Hedman and superstar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and one of the NHL's most elite forwards in Nikita Kucherov. Under the guidance of longtime coach Jon Cooper, the Bolts pushed the Montreal Canadiens to a seven-game series in the first round before bowing out this spring.
With the Montreal Canadiens being in desperate need of another top-six center, they have naturally been viewed as one of the potential suitors for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. The star center notably has requested a trade from the Red Wings and is expected to be moved.
However, Larkin's trade list has now been revealed, and the Canadiens are not on it. With Larkin having a full no-trade clause, this is undoubtedly a tough blow for the Habs.
With the Canadiens needing an upgrade at their second-line center spot, Larkin would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to their roster. This is because he is not only a proven top-six center but is also locked up until the end of the 2030-31 season. With this, he would have provided the Canadiens with a long-term answer for their top six.
However, as it stands now, the likelihood of the Canadiens landing Larkin this off-season is incredibly low.
Amidst the ongoing controversial saga that could lead to the end of the relationship between Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings, a notable former member of the organization is back in the news.
Former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, who was behind their bench from 2005 to 2015 and won the 2008 Stanley Cup, is reportedly being considered for the head coaching position of the Edmonton Oilers, per multiple reports.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Oilers, who fired coach Kris Knoblauch last month, are consulting with the NHLPA regarding any potential objections stemming from Babcock's alleged past actions.
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.
Additionally, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that Edmonton's interest in Babcock is real, and that he's spoken with team owner Darryl Katz.
"It’s real. They are considering it," Friedman reported. "According to several sources, Babcock has spoken directly with owner Daryl Katz. "
Friedman continued by saying that several Oilers players are on board with a potential hiring of Babcock.
"According to those same sources, Babcock has met with or spoken to several members of the team’s leadership group. Whatever happened in those meeting(s) was enough to get the players on board with the idea."
Babcock, who led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to a shocking first-round sweep of the Red Wings in 2003, came within a single victory of winning the Stanley Cup that spring, losing in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.
He would be hired by the Red Wings before the start of the 2005-06 NHL season, and led the club to four consecutive 50+ win seasons, along with the 2008 Stanley Cup. He then departed the franchise in 2015 to sign a record-breaking contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Under Babcock, the Maple Leafs made the postseason three times, but never made it out of the first round. He was then let go in November 2019 after an inconsistent start to the season.
Hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as head coach in 2023, Babcock resigned without ever coaching a game after reports of invading players privacy surfaced.
Babcock has also led Team Canada to Olympic gold medal victories in 2010 and 2014.
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In a recent article for ESPN, Greg Wyshynski took a look at some of the top NHL trade candidates to watch this off-season. A Buffalo Sabres defenseman was among the players discussed, as Michael Kesselring made the cut.
Wyshynski had Kesselring in the "Change in scenery needed" section of his trade board, and it is not difficult to understand why. The 26-year-old defenseman struggled this season with the Sabres, posting zero goals and just two assists in 34 games. This was after he had a strong year for Utah in 2024-25, setting career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games. He also had five goals and 21 points in 65 games for the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24.
Kesselring also became the odd man for the Sabres during the playoffs, as he played in just one post-season game for Buffalo. With this, there is no question that he would benefit from a fresh start.
While Kesselring had a down year for the Sabres, it is likely that he would generate interest if they make him available for trade. NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-5 Kesselring fits that description. Furthermore, Kesselring is only 26 years old, so he is entering his prime. This only adds to his appeal.
Ultimately, if the Sabres do not view Kesselring as a long-term part of their plans, they should strongly consider flipping him to improve their roster elsewhere. It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do with the pending restricted free agent from here.
According to Swiss media outlet Contropiede, San Jose Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev could be returning home to Switzerland if he's unable to find a contract in the NHL.
Contropiede, an outlet that focuses heavily on HC Lugano, reports that Kurashev has reached an agreement with Lugano that will have him return to the team if he's unable to find a way to extend his NHL career. Kurashev previously played for Lugano during the COVID-19 pandemic, recording nine points, all of which were assists, in 13 games in the Swiss National League.
The Sharks acquired Kurashev through free agency last summer after the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to offer him a qualifying offer to retain his rights. They were hoping to revive his career, as he had previously shown signs of being a useful player at the NHL level, but things didn't go as planned. Kurashev had seven goals and 20 points in 43 games, but was often out of the lineup.
If the Sharks want to retain Kurashev's rights, they do have that opportunity, as he is scheduled to be a restricted free agent if Mike Grier opts to submit a qualifying offer. With that being said, it would be somewhat surprising to see the Sharks go that route, especially if they draft another high-end forward at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Kurashev's future is currently up in the air, but if nothing comes to fruition in North America, it seems he'll at least land on his feet back in his native Switzerland.
The Los Angeles Kings have hired Peter Laviolette to be their head coach, according to multiple reports.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Laviolette has agreed to a three-year deal with the Kings, but the finances of the contract remain unknown.
This news comes just over a year after Laviolette was relieved of his duties as the New York Rangers’ head coach.
Laviolette coached the Rangers for two seasons from 2023 to 2025.
In Laviolette’s first season with the Blueshirts during the 2023-24 campaign, the team won the Presidents’ Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference Final.
However, the Rangers missed the playoffs the next season, finishing the year with a 39-36-7 record and 85 points, which ultimately cost Laviolette his job.
Laviolette spent the 2025-26 season without a coaching job, but he reportedly had preliminary discussions with a couple of teams over the past couple of weeks about their respective head coaching vacancies, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Now, the 61-year-old coach reunites with Artemi Panarin, who was traded from the Rangers to the Kings in February.
On top of his tenure with the Rangers, Laviolette has also served as head coach of the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and Washington Capitals.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, "Sources: The Edmonton Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock."
He adds, "Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required."
In other words, the Oilers want to know if they can hire Babcock without issue, potentially to avoid any complications should they go down that road. Dreger notes, "If it’s determined an investigation is required to move forward, sources say the NHL would manage it. At this stage, the NHLPA has declined to comment."
And the drama never stops in Edmonton...
Babcock, 63, hasn’t coached in the NHL since resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 2023 season, following allegations that he improperly looked through players’ phones during meetings. One reported incident involved several minutes spent reviewing a player’s phone away from team facilities, raising significant concerns.
This wasn't the only questionable tactic Babcock employed in the latter years of his coaching career.
During Mitch Marner's rookie season in 2016-17, Babcock asked him to create a list of his teammates ranked by work ethic, from hardest-working to least hard-working. Marner reluctantly obliged, thinking he had no choice and that all responses would remain private. Babcock then told all the players who Marner had ranked at the bottom of the list. This left Marner devastated and in tears, and his teammates furious — Tyler Bozak reportedly stormed into Babcock's office and confronted him about it.
Many believe this is not a good person. Some wonder if he's even still a good coach.
That said, Babcock is experienced. He's won at the highest level, and coached 1,301 NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Red Wings, and Ducks, winning a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. But he's not been in the NHL for years, and he's one of the most polarizing figures in hockey today.
The fact the Oilers are even looking into this won't be met with universal praise.
The Oilers are searching for a new head coach after firing Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit, and were reportedly denied permission to speak with Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy. Peter Laviolette was just hired by the Los Angeles Kings, and other options appear to be limited.
Laviolette, 61, is replacing D.J. Smith, the interim coach after Jim Hiller was fired last season. The Kings are in transition next season after the retirement of captain Anze Kopitar.
Laviolette has coached nearly 1,600 regular-season games with six NHL teams, most recently the New York Rangers from 2023-25. He led the Rangers to the Presidents' Trophy and the Eastern Conference finals in his first season there but was fired in 2025 after they finished out of the playoffs.
He will be reunited with star forward Artemi Panarin, who was traded from the Rangers to the Kings last season. Panarin had a career-best 120 points in his first season under Laviolette.
Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and has also coached the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals. He took the Flyers (2010) and Predators (2017) to the Stanley Cup Final.
He has a career .589 points percentage in the regular season and is 88-82 in the playoffs.
Laviolette is the first coach hired by Kings general manager Ken Holland, who had kept on Hiller after taking the job in May 2025. The Kings made the playoffs after the switch to Smith but were swept in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.
Only two teams in the NHL remain without a head coach going into the 2026-27 season. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are alone in that category, as the Los Angeles Kings have reportedly hired Peter Laviolette, signing a three-year deal.
For the Maple Leafs, that's the second name that has come off the board in terms of available head coaches.
On June 1, the Vancouver Canucks hired Manny Malhotra, who was linked to the Maple Leafs' gig for some time.
Laviolette was expected to be a finalist for the Leafs, as well as the Oilers, in their respective hiring processes. Toronto's list continues to shrink as the off-season strums along.
In the midst of Laviolette being hired by Los Angeles, TSN's Pierre LeBrun did provide an update on Toronto's search for a new head coach.
According to LeBrun, in-person interviews are beginning this week for the Leafs, marking the second phase of the search. The NHL insider believes that this second phase of the coaching search includes "about five candidates."
The latest name to emerge in Toronto's quest for a new head coach was Joe Pavelski, a retired star center for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. On top of Elliotte Friedman's reporting on Pavelski, other reports have indicated that Leafs GM John Chayka and his staff may be looking into a hire of a candidate with slightly more experience.
"I still get the sense they're going to lean for someone with a little more experience than Pavelski has as an NHL head coach," Chris Johnston reported on The Chris Johnston Show.
"Doesn't mean he won't get the job, but I still view someone like Peter Laviolette as a prime candidate for this position with the Leafs," he added.
So, with clear reports that the Maple Leafs were interested in Laviolette becoming the 42nd head coach in franchise history, they'll have to pivot as they enter the second phase of their search.
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The Kings have been looking for coaches since their season ended, and it seems they have made their decision. During their hiring process, the Kings have spoken with various coaches to potentially fill the role; among them were Jay Woodcroft and Bruce Cassidy. There were also discussions about keeping D.J. Smith as their head coach, after he was named interim coach following the Kings' firing of Jim Hiller in March.
Peter Laviolette is bringing coaching experience to the LA Kings organization. Laviolette's playoff coaching experience can also benefit the Kings, who have recently struggled in the postseason, as he has won 1 Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Peter Laviolette With The Kings
While Laviolette did not coach last year, he remained one of the top options for teams seeking a new head coach. Laviolette was also receiving interest from the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Laviolette also reunites with former Ranger Artemi Panarin, whom he coached from 2023 to 2025.
Laviolette's coaching style differs from what the Kings have had over recent seasons, as he is more aggressive in his offensive approach while maintaining a strong, locked-down defensive structure.
Another aspect Laviolette brings that can positively impact the Kings is his special teams: in the 2023-24 NHL season, the Rangers ranked in the top 3 in both penalty kill and power play. With the Kings having one of the worst special teams in the 2025-26 season, this could be the exact system change they need heading into next season.
Overall, Peter Laviolette is a good option for the Kings new head coach, as the changes he brings to the Kings organization. His coaching style can help transform the negative areas the Kings need to work on next season while also helping reunite with former players.
Overall, Peter Laviolette brings a new style to the Kings organization that could fix many of the issues they had last season, and with a new offensive and special teams system, the Kings could look very different come the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.
We’ve named numerous players the St. Louis Blues could target at pick No. 11, but today we are going to look at a player who could be available at 11 and possibly at pick No. 15.
That is no other than 6-foot-5, 228-pound left winger Ethan Belchetz.
The Oakville, Ont., native has been blessed with a massive frame and a skill set that should thrive in the NHL. Although his numbers in the OHL this season with the Windsor Spitfires weren’t setting the league on fire, he still posted a very respectable 34 goals and 59 points in 57 games.
Belchetz finished second on the team in goals and fourth in points.
Additionally, Belchetz has had strong showings on the international stage with Team Canada, posting four goals and five points in five games at the U-17s, and scoring four goals and seven points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Belchetz is an interesting case. Drafting him is based on projection rather than what he’s shown so far. As we mentioned, his numbers aren’t poor by any means, but scouts were hoping for a stronger second season in the OHL.
His draft is based on projections due to his size, but he offers more than that. Belchetz, despite being a massive figure, makes nifty passes in small spaces. His playmaking goes a bit under the radar because he scores more goals than he sets up.
But with players like Belchetz, when things finally click for them, they become dominant players. Unfortunately, for some, they don’t always click.
With his size, Belchetz dominates the front of the net and scores many of his goals like that. He drives the puck to the net, looking to score in and around the crease. Another strength of his is his ability to take the puck off the boards. Using his body to win puck battles is one thing, but the ability to control the puck and make a play afterwards is another.
Eliteprospects.com polled their NHL draft scouts and ranked Belchetz as the best power forward. If Belchetz can become a physically dominant, goal-scoring power forward in the NHL, he fits the mold of a successful post-season player. The Blues’ prospect pool, outside of Adam Jecho, doesn’t feature many tall prospects like Belchetz, so he could add an element that they desperately need.
The 18-year-old would require patience, as there are still plenty of facets of his game that need developing, but Belchetz can be a home run swing in the right situation.
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While it will be tough for Game 4 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final to live up to the record-breaking showcase Game 3 provided, I’m expecting another classic between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 9.
My top Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks are calling for Vegas star Jack Eichel to shine the brightest in Game 4.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 4 prediction
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights best bet: Jack Eichel Over 2.5 shots (-120)
Add the American converting 55.2% of his attempts into shots during the regular season to Eichel beginning 78.8% of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone against Carolina, and I’m happy to play this prop to -125.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 4 same-game parlay
Pairing the game total Under with a pair of Overs in the shots market skyrockets the odds for this same-game parlay, and after three consecutive high-scoring contests, I’m anticipating the pendulum swinging in the defensive direction in Game 4. This SGP is in play down to +800 for me, too.
Carolina and Vegas respectively allowed just 1.23 and 2.19 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 through the first three rounds of the playoffs, so allowing 3.02 and 3.7 is set to prove unsustainable. Of course, I’m also expecting better goaltending with the two teams scoring 25 times despite generating just 20.15 expected goals.
Turning to Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov, he left his mark on Game 3 with his first goal of the series and three shots on eight attempts. The Russian also sports a high-end 59.4 CF% at 5-on-5 this series, and he paces the Hurricanes in shots and attempts with the man advantage for the entire postseason.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights SGP
Under 5.5
Jack Eichel Over 2.5 shots
Andrei Svechnikov Over 2.5 shots
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights odds for Game 4
Moneyline: Hurricanes -115 | Golden Knights -105
Puck Line: Hurricanes +1.5 (-275) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+220)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights trend
The Carolina Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 25 games (+13.75 Units / 33% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 4
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
CBC, ABC
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
As the calendar flips from May to June, and the NHL Stanley Cup final has begun, the majority of significant transactions between now and the start of the 2026-27 season will likely take place over the course of the next four to six weeks.
The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in unfamiliar waters after what could be seen as their first successful season in nearly a decade. They enter the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, two core RFAs (Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier) to sign to big extensions, two secondary RFAs (Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger) on whom tough decisions will have to be made, and one to three areas on the roster potentially in need of upgrades.
Anaheim could now be seen as a desirable destination for players on the move. Even after RFAs are inked to new deals, the Ducks will still have considerable cap space to add quality players to their roster who could help them now and moving into a bright future.
After feasibly identifying three areas in need of an upgrade on the Ducks’ depth chart (right shot defense, second-line center, top-nine winger), now seems like a good time to identify paths in which general manager Pat Verbeek could go about adding to his group and numerous organizations’ situations they could target around the league.
I’ve decided to break this up by division, so we’ll take a look at some teams in the Pacific Division, the Ducks’ own, and the one some would claim to be the NHL’s “pillow fight” division.
Disclaimer: This exercise is purely speculative. Some players mentioned have been previously reported to be in trade discussions, while others haven’t. This is intended to provide ideas on the type of players the Ducks could target this offseason.
(Alphabetical Order)
Calgary Flames
From the outside, the Flames appear to be one of the few NHL teams who are actually rebuilding and acquiring talent in the form of picks and prospects. Since the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026, the Flames have parted ways with veterans Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri, and they could be in the business of parting with more to reset their window and build a contending core.
The Flames enter the 2026 offseason with $22.7 million in cap space, eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2026 draft (including two first-round picks), and a whopping 18 picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts (six first-round picks).
The three names that jump off the depth chart page who could fetch quality returns for Calgary and fit Anaheim’s roster are tenacious two-way forwards Blake Coleman (34) and Joel Farabee (26), as well as do-it-all offensive middle-six center Morgan Frost (27).
Coleman is a two-time cup winner who, even in his later years, can still find the back of the net, is one of the more difficult players to play against in the NHL, and has one year remaining on his contract ($4.9 million AAV, 10-team NTC). Farabee provides a similar skillset to Coleman, just eight years younger, and has two years remaining on his contract ($5 million AAV).
Frost has established himself as a 40-45 point center and can, in theory, provide secondary scoring as a stopgap second-line until a younger player like Mason McTavish or Roger McQueen seizes the role, and after which, Frost could thrive as a third-line center. Frost has one year remaining on his contract ($4.375 million, 8-team NTC).
Verbeek made his first deal with Calgary at the 2026 trade deadline, sending Ryan Strome to the Flames in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Could the Ducks’ GM revisit that relationship this summer?
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks were the NHL’s worst team in the NHL in 2025-26 by a country mile, finishing with just 58 points in the standings (14 points behind the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks). They’ll have a completely new hockey operations department and coaching staff heading into the 2026-27 season, with new co-presidents of hockey operations Henrik and Daniel Sedin, general manager Ryan Johnson, and head coach Manny Malhotra.
The front office has made virtually the entire roster available on the trade market, and they enter the offseason with a projected $22 million in cap space to complement two first-round picks in the upcoming entry draft.
With five years left on his deal ($5.5 million, full NMC), Jake DeBrusk (29) seems like the most obvious forward to potentially find a new home for the 2026-27 season. Elias Pettersson (27) and Brock Boeser (29) are another pair of contracts the Canucks would likely be looking to move on from, but pose a much more difficult hurdle.
In desperate need of a change of scenery, Pettersson still has six years remaining on his sizable contract ($11.6 million AAV, full NMC). Even with retention, of which one doubts Vancouver’s willingness to retain close to the 50% maximum, the uncertainty around his ability to regain his potency will likely leave many teams (especially ones projected to flirt with the cap ceiling at some point, like Anaheim) extremely wary.
Boeser has a more manageable cap hit ($7.25 million, full NMC) with his remaining six years, but his high-watermark, 40-goal season in 2023-24 seems too distant a memory.
The prize on the Canucks roster, should he be made available, is right-shot defenseman Filip Hronek (28). Hronek is an all-situations defender who could potentially become the coveted long-term, top-pair partner alongside Jackson Lacombe and in front of fellow Czech netminder, Lukas Dostal, should the Ducks look to pursue him. He’s under contract for six more seasons at a cap hit that projects to become more reasonable by the day ($7.25 million, full NMC).
With Vancouver’s recent shift in front office and coaching leadership, they’ll likely want to start building their vision as soon as possible. In that scenario, Anaheim presents as good a potential trade partner as any.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is in the midst of their third Stanley Cup Final series in the brief, nine-year history of the franchise and are currently up 2-1 on the Carolina Hurricanes. Like with most “win-now” teams, they’ll have some decisions to make come the offseason on who within the depth chart to retain and who to move on from.
Traditionally, Vegas has had no hesitation when it comes to moving on from top players if they feel it’s what’s right for the club in order to win in the immediate future. They enter the 2026 offseason with a projected $4.6 million in cap space, and that will likely increase by $8.8 million if/when Alex Pietrangelo is placed on LTIR.
Vegas only has nine forwards and five defensemen on their roster for 2026-27, with top four defenseman Rasmus Andersson set to become a UFA on July 1 and breakout forward Pavel Dorofeyev to become an RFA.
Should either hit a market, Anaheim may be interested in adding one, but if Vegas intends to keep one or both, the Knights may need to move off a contract or two on their current roster.
Three players who look to be obvious options that Vegas may be inclined to move are centers William Karlsson (33) and Tomas Hertl (32), along with goaltender Adin Hill (30). Hill makes little to no sense for Anaheim, but the centers could garner some interest and slot in well in the Ducks’ middle six.
Karlsson has become the exact player Anaheim has needed since the Ducks traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015, and though he’ll be 34 by the end of next season, he can still provide an extremely positive 200-foot, middle-six presence at the center position. He has one year remaining on his contract ($5.9 million, 10-team NTC).
Hertl had his struggles this season for the Knights, but has increasingly found his footing as Vegas has advanced further into the playoffs. He hasn’t been tasked with killing penalties as he had with the San Jose Sharks franchise, but he still possesses that skillset. He has four years remaining on his contract ($6.75 milion, three-team trade list).
By many accounts, Vegas has become one of the NHL’s true villain organizations, and they seem perfectly happy with that narrative. Is there a trade to be made between second-round opponents in the Pacific Division as one (Vegas) attempts to remain at the top for as long as possible and one (Anaheim) looks to reach that pinnacle in the next handful of years?
Nikita Tolopilo has developed into an intriguing goaltending option for the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old played 21 games in 2025-26 and posted a 6-11-2 record. Tolopilo is in the final year of his contract with Vancouver and will need waivers this year to play in the AHL.
While speaking on the Раскатка and Betera podcast, Tolopilo discussed a potential move to the KHL after the 2023-24 season. He had initially played in the KHL during the 2020-21 season before moving to the HockeyAllsvenskan in 2021-22. Using a Russian-to-English translation service, here is what Tolopilo said about his decision to stay in North America.
"In my first year, when I just played in the AHL, how long was that, two years ago? They threw out the bait," said Tolopilo in his interview. "But I immediately said no. Although at that time, compared to the salary in the AHL, they offered me several times more. But then what's the point of all the work I did to sign a contract with Vancouver, and then a year later, give it all up and leave?"
Tolopilo then answered how much the KHL offered him by saying, "35-40 (million Russian Rubles) at that time. But I still don't think about that. The goal and objective is to play in the NHL full-time." 35-40 million Russian Rubles is approximately $669,408.25-$765,038.00 CDN.
The Canucks have some significant decisions to make with their goaltenders next year. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are signed to multi-year deals, while, as mentioned, Tolopilo would need to be sent down via waivers to the Abbotsford Canucks. NHL teams can carry three goaltenders on their roster, but that usually means one rarely sees game action and is used mostly as a practice goalie.
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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