Category: NHL

Darkness crawls across the land / The midnight hour is close at hand.

This Vegas Golden Knights team is practically unrecognizable from the one that lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games last postseason.

It all started over the summer, when they acquired Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and brought in Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon. The roster turnover continued during the regular season— in October, they signed goaltender Carter Hart. In January, they swapped Zach Whitecloud for Rasmus Andersson; they brought in forwards Cole Smith and Nic Dowd at the trade deadline.

Of course, the facelift didn’t stop with roster reconstruction. The Golden Knights took the hockey world by surprise when they announced a coaching change with just eight games remaining in the regular season. Despite being less than three weeks out from the postseason, they relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach and brought in John Tortorella to take his place.

It clearly worked. Now, just 71 days after the coaching change, the Golden Knights have a 2-1 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final… But that’s another story.

Throughout the season, despite the roster turnover and the coaching change, the Golden Knights have been remarkably consistent in one aspect: they simply refuse to die. The score of the game doesn’t matter– they play the same way whether they’re up one or down three. And, even when they’re down three, you can’t count them out. 

The Golden Knights could have starred as extras in the Thriller music video. The second you think they’re dead and buried, they stick their hands up from the earth, claw their way out of their graves, and reel you right back in. 

Ever since John Tortorella took over as head coach, he’s stressed the importance of having the right mindset. But even before he took over, the Golden Knights were a team with exceptional mental toughness. 

“I think [mental toughness] has been our foundation,” said Tortorella following practice on Monday. “And I know, prior to me coming here, it was going on during the regular season too. They just know how to handle themselves.”

You could see it from the first game of the regular season, a 6-5 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings that featured an early two-goal comeback and a late blown two-goal lead. You could see it in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche, when they rallied to overcome a three-goal deficit. 

It’s possible that Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes featured the greatest test for the Golden Knights’ mental toughness yet. They entered the third period with a 4-0 lead, only to watch the Hurricanes strike three times in just 39 seconds, and again with the goalie pulled to force overtime.

“I haven’t been involved in many games, especially playoff games, where a team scores three goals within 40 seconds,” Tortorella admitted. “That can set you back a little bit. 
But it didn’t affect us; there was no panic. I actually thought we were playing really well up to that point, and thought we played really well after that point.”

Blowing a four-goal lead would devastate most teams. The Hurricanes had all the momentum, and they knew it. It would have been very easy for the Golden Knights to fold.

Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Golden Knights have never once taken the easy route.

“
Again, they get it,” continued Tortorella. “The only way I can explain it is that they get it. They’ve been there. A lot of this team has won and gone through the process of going through the playoffs, and they rely on that. 
I think they challenge themselves. 

“And it isn’t a physical skill,” Tortrella finished. “It’s not a physical skill; it’s a mental skill. 
And we have that. I don’t know if we will win the series, but I know we have that in this organization.”

Grisly ghouls from every tomb / Are closing in to seal your doom.

And though you fight to stay alive / Your body starts to shiver.

For no mere mortal can resist / The evil of the thriller.

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By all indications, it appears as though the relationship between Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings could be coming to a close. 

Last week, it was released by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman that Larkin had requested to be moved from the Red Wings, who selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and later made him the 37th captain in team history in 2021. 

Whether or not Larkin's trade request was meant to go public so quickly remains unknown, but once it leaked, there was no way it was staying under wraps. 

Friedman, who initially reported Larkin's trade request on Thursday afternoon, offered his latest speculation on the ongoing saga. 

"I think people hoped that it would stay quiet, but it's too big," Friedman said. "Like, there was no way that was staying quiet. Pierre LeBrun reported the other day that the Red Wings have been given a small list of teams." 

As also reported by longtime beat writer Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press, the alleged three teams that Larkin would accept a trade to include the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights, a short list that would greatly complicate matters for GM Steve Yzerman.

However, Friedman also speculated on the chances of the Dallas Stars or even the Anaheim Ducks potentially entering the fold. 

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"I've heard Minnesota, I've heard Dallas," Friedman said. "I have to believe the two Florida teams, and I've not heard Anaheim, but I've had people say to me, 'Anaheim's a team that could do it." 

"But I think he wants to go into a situation where they're primed to win." 

Top Insider Links Red Wings' Dylan Larkin To Multiple NHL Teams Speculation continues to grow as to where current Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin could be traded to, and a handful of clubs have emerged, according to top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.

Larkin has multiple connections to players on his reported three-team trade list, and they're all teammates from the gold medal-winning Team USA roster from the Milan Winter Olympics: Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy (and GM Bill Guerin) of the Wild, Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights, and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers. 

But if Yzerman feels that he isn't able to get an adequate trade package in return from one of the aforementioned teams, it could lead to an awkward and drawn-out situation with no specific timeline of being resolved. 

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Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour has made his decision on which goalie will start Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 9.

But he's not revealing whether Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi will play against the Vegas Golden Knights.

"It's the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold onto," he told reporters on Monday, June 8. "It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it."

Andersen, who has started every playoff game, didn't take part in practice on Monday. Brind'Amour said it was a maintenance day.

The reason the starting goalie is even a question is because Brind'Amour pulled Andersen for Bussi during the Hurricanes' Game 3 loss.

The Golden Knights had scored four goals against Andersen (plus two disallowed ones) in the second period, including Mitch Marner's hat trick.

Brind'Amour inserted Bussi at the start of the third period. The backup goalie stopped 18 of 19 shots in the third period and two overtime periods, allowing only Shea Theodore's fluke goal.

Making the case for Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen as the Game 4 starter:

The case for Brandon Bussi starting Game 4

He looked great in his first action since mid-April. He quickly had to face red-hot Marner on a penalty shot and stopped him, allowing the Hurricanes to rally.

Brandon Bussi denies Mitch Marner on a penalty shot 👎 pic.twitter.com/Rh4FoAB7yN

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 7, 2026

Bussi can't be blamed for the lone goal against him.

He's rested while Andersen has played a lot and hasn't been as strong as he was in earlier rounds.

The case for Frederik Andersen starting Game 4

Go with what got you here. Andersen was stellar in sweeps in the first two rounds. He rebounded and won after his lone loss in the conference finals, plus his Game 1 loss in the final.

Though Andersen might want the fourth goal back, the second goal was an own goal tipped in by his defenseman. On the third goal, the Hurricanes gave Marner too many chances.

Andersen was clipped in the head by Ivan Barbashev on the second disallowed goal, but Brind'Amour said he's fine. The goalie has two days off between games, and that and the skipped practice should give him enough rest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes won't reveal Game 4 goalie: Should Andersen or Bussi start?

On a rare practice day during the Stanley Cup Final, local fans flocked to City National Arena to show support for their Vegas Golden Knights. They all wore jerseys or other merchandise bearing the gold helmet, and many carried signs.

A well-attended open practice is nothing out of the ordinary– the Golden Knights have opened their doors for fans to attend practices and morning skates all year. Even for a typical practice during the regular season, you can expect the stands at City National Arena to be fairly full. As the playoffs have progressed, so too has the attendance level.

But all other open practices paled in comparison to the scene at City National Arena on Monday.

Inside, there were so many fans that the practice rink the Golden Knights were skating on couldn’t hold them all. All the excess fans who didn’t make the cut formed a long line snaking through the entire lobby. The lucky fans who made it inside the practice rink were packed together in the stands like too many sardines in a small can.

👀 This is wild.

There is a line of fans wrapped around inside the lobby of City National Arena waiting to have a chance at getting a glimpse at the sheet of ice where the Golden Knights are practicing #ForgedInGoldpic.twitter.com/qIhlvWRxQm

— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) June 8, 2026

Outside the rink, fans lined the sidewalks in hopes of interacting with players as they entered and exited the rink. A DJ stood alongside them, bumping music and keeping the good times rolling. Around the practice facility, the parking lots overflowed to the point where they had to open up a third lot.

During practice, the fans reacted as the team skated and ran drills as if they were watching a winner-take-all Game 7. They cheered for every goal, and cheered just as loudly for every save.

“We definitely feel the support of the community,” said defenseman Jeremy Lauzon after practice. “It’s been amazing. It gives us a lot of energy during games. And during practice today, it was fun to have them out there, chanting for us. I love playing here and playing in front of those fans. It’s been great.”

Another day, another major rumor involving the Florida Panthers.

Despite their season ending without any participation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven years, the Panthers have been in the middle of the news quite a bit over the past several weeks.

A big reason why is the top-10 draft pick Florida’s injury-plagued season yielded them.

That ninth overall selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, which is set for later this month at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, gives the Panthers a major asset to shop around with.

To this point, Florida has been mentioned in the same breath as several big-names potentially available via trade, though the biggest have been goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington.

That is likely due to the Panthers not having any goalies under contract for next season, and the reported gap in extension negotiations with longtime netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.

But now, Florida’s name has come up with perhaps the biggest name that could be on the move this summer.

Last week it first was reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that longtime Detroit Red Wings star forward Dylan Larkin had requested a trade, news that sent shockwaves across the NHL.

Larkin, who will be 30 years old on Opening Night, has a full no-trade clause in his contract, which pays him an average annual value (AAV) of $8.7 million through the 2030-31 season.

He’s averaged 32 goals and 70 points over the past five seasons in Detroit, where he’s played his entire 11-year career after growing up 30 miles outside the city in Waterford, Michigan.

Unfortunately for Larkin and the Red Wings, he has not touched the ice for a playoff game since his rookie season back in 2016.

Enduring year after year of regular season failure has seemingly been enough to push Larkin to request a trade out of town, and on Monday we learned that he handed Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman a short list of teams that he would accept a trade to.

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, that list included the Vegas Golden Knights, the Minnesota Wild and the Panthers.

None of those three teams are particularly surprising, as each of them are very much in win-now mode.

Vegas is two wins away from a second Stanley Cup in four seasons, and the Wild are certainly on a short list of teams in the Western Conference that would be considered Cup contenders.

The Panthers are expected to return to the level of play we’ve seen from them in recent seasons, with a deep roster full of players in their primes who have championship experience.

One would have to think that of those three options, a Florida offer would have to be something significant for Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division, but with the player holding the majority of the power, it could make for an interesting back-and-forth between the two teams.

Another major element to consider is that the Panthers already have three high-end centers locked into long-term contracts: Sasha Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell.

Barkov is not going anywhere, and while GMs from across the league have called Florida about Lundell over the past several seasons, he’s another player that Florida has no intention of giving up.

Bennett has shown to be an integral piece of Florida’s lineup, as evidenced by how the team struggles when you remove either of their top two centermen from the roster. His gritty, tenacious nature that combines with the natural offensive skill create a player who personifies the kind of hard-nosed hockey that the Panthers have perfected under Head Coach Paul Maurice.

So where would Larkin fit in if Florida wasn’t willing to part ways with either of the aforementioned centers?

It’s not unheard of for a player who takes faceoffs to play a wing position, as is the case with Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen with the Panthers.

Depending which side of the ice a faceoff is taking place, Maurice will sometimes have a different player take the draw.

The point is, just because the Panthers are already set down the middle with centers, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t make room for Larkin without disrupting their incredible depth.

But the room will have to come from somewhere.

Florida’s ninth overall pick would likely be involved in any Larkin deal, but what else would it take?

The Red Wings will likely want something in return that will also help them win now, as they will potentially be trying to break their 10-season playoff drought without their captain and best player in Larkin.

An interesting potential trade was constructed by The Athletic’s Max Bultman and Corey Pronman.

In that deal, Florida would send their first-round pick along with Luostarinen and prospect Sandis Vilmanis to the Red Wings in exchange for Larkin.

To be honest, my first thought when viewing that deal was, “That’s all it would take?”

Vilmanis has looked like he’s ready to become a solid middle-six forward next season after a strong initial showing with Florida this year, while Florida has been able to hide Luostarinen with their depth, keeping the highly skilled, two-way forward who is a natural centermen as a bit of a secret weapon on their third line.

This deal would be interesting financially for Florida, as it would add $5.7 million to their cap hit for next season (Larkin’s $8.7M hit minus Eetu’s $3M hit), leaving the Panthers with around $9.5 million in cap space to sign two goalies and any depth pieces, as well as their three restricted free agents, forwards Mackie Samoskevich and Cole Schwindt and defenseman Donovan Sebrango, if they so choose.

Still, one would have to think it will take more for a team to pry Larkin away from the Red Wings, especially when dealing with a division rival.

It also will depend on the kind of offers that Vegas and Minnesota would potentially put together, as well as the possibility of Larkin’s list of teams growing between now and next season depending on how things play out with his original three.

Any deal including Florida’s first round pick would need to happen between now and June 26, when that selection will be made in Buffalo.

What do you think it would take for the Panthers to acquire Larkin from Detroit? Is that something you’d be interested in, or should Florida try to update their roster in other places, like in goal?

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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Photo caption: Jan 17, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates away with the puck in front of Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

The Edmonton Oilers are seeking approval from the NHLPA to hire former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock as their next bench boss, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

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.

Berube, Keefe, Babcock: How The Maple Leafs' Last Three NHL Head Coaches Fared In TorontoHow have the previous three head coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs - Craig Berube, Sheldon Keefe, and Mike Babcock - fared in their respective tenures?

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."

Report: Another NHL Coaching Candidate Off The Board As Maple Leafs Lose Peter Laviolette To KingsAfter losing Manny Malhotra last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs have another coaching candidate come off the board, as the Los Angeles Kings hire Peter Laviolette.

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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Where does Dylan Larkin land after his request to be traded from the Detroit Red Wings? His list of desired destinations is short.

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.

Neither side – Larkin’s camp or general manager Steve Yzerman – has commented publicly on the situation. 

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. 

TRENDING: Dylan Larkin's request for a trade fires up Red Wings fans

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. 

[ Don't blame Larkin for not wanting to waste his prime under Yzerman ]

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.

Anaheim Ducks

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.

Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dylan Larkin trade request has 3 places he wants Red Wings to send him

The Oilers are consulting with the NHL Players’ Association to see if they can potentially hire Mike Babcock as head coach without objection, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch in May after being eliminated by Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs.

The rumblings come after the 63-year-old Babcock resigned as bench boss of the Blue Jackets in 2023 before coaching a single game for them due to allegations of invading players’ privacy, asking them to share photos from their mobile devices.

The NHLPA investigated the situation before the Stanley Cup-winning coach resigned.

Then-Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called the hiring of Babcock “a mistake” in a statement following the coach’s resignation. Columbus captain Boone Jenner came forward then, saying the images Babcock asked for were of his family for relationship-building, and he was “happy to share.”

There have been other instances where Babcock was accused of mistreating players and staff. Several of his former players have come forward, sharing their experiences of being embarrassed or otherwise mistreated by Babcock.

One of the more high-profile incidents was in Toronto in the 2016-17 season, when then-rookie Mitch Marner was told to rank his teammates based on work ethic, a list that Babcock then shared with the rest of the team. Marner’s teammates had his back and directed their anger at the “list incident” toward Babcock.

In the past, Babcock was viewed as one of the top coaches in the league. He led the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2003.

He won the Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and did not miss the playoffs in his 10-year run with Detroit. He signed an eight-year deal to be the head coach in Toronto before the 2015-16 season, and was fired in late 2019. He led Team Canada to two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and ’14.

Last month, Babcock shut down rumors about his return to coaching. Dreger asked Babcock directly about the rumors circulating around him and the Oilers, and Babcock said, “Dregs, I’m retired. Loving it.”

It remains to be seen whether the Oilers will be able to move forward with Babcock. Further investigation might be required, according to Dreger, before Babcock can make his return to coaching in the NHL.

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. 

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported on Monday that the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights are the only three teams on Larkin's trade list right now. 

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. 

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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.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 8, 2026

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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. 

Does that mean this is a good idea? 

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