It looks like Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has a big summer ahead. He’ll no doubt be monitoring the market for a second-line center and for another right-shot defenseman, but the Habs could use some depth and grit up front. While the Canadiens weren’t as outmatched physically in the last playoffs as they were by the Washington Capitals in the 2024-25 playoffs, it was still obvious that Montreal could use some sandpaper.

Josh Anderson showed he can bring that, but he’ll be entering the last year of his contract when the puck drops on the next season, and he’s already 32. Zach Bolduc could also step up in that department, but that might not be enough. However, there’s one player who will reportedly be a free agent on July 1 that Hughes should consider pursuing: A.J. Greer.

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Could Canadiens’ Hughes Swing Another Big Trade With the Blues?

Of course, the fact that he was born and raised in Joliette doesn’t hurt, but it’s really his style of play that makes him an ideal target for the Canadiens. He’s 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he’s got a big body, and he knows how to use it. In 2025-26, he landed 203 hits, and the season before, 222. He’s not just big, he plays like it as well, and if someone wants to drop the gloves, he’s not opposed to answering the bell. He’s not the best fighter, but he can handle himself.

Arber Xhekaj vs A J Greer Dec 28, 2024Arber Xhekaj vs A.J. Greer from the Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers game on Dec 28, 2024. via https://www.hockeyfights.com

Furthermore, he’s also found a bit of a scoring touch last season, putting up 32 points in 78 games, almost doubling his 2024-25 output, which stood at 17 points in 81 games. The increase in production might have been a one-off, or he could be coming into his own as a player; we won’t know until he skates in the next season.

Greer also has a Stanley Cup ring, acquired in his first season with the Florida Panthers, and that’s the kind of experience that can come in handy on a young team that includes only one Cup champion among its players (Alex Newhook). Last season, Greer only had an $850,000 cap hit, but given his performance, he’ll be looking for a significant raise. Thanks to Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, who just gave Michael McCarron a six-year deal with a $3.3 million cap hit after a 17-point season (and a full no-move clause for the first three years), he could be looking for a lot of cash.

There’s no telling what his demands will be, but Hughes at least must throw his hat into the ring and make him an offer. After the Canadiens’ impressive run in the playoffs, and given the fact that he’s from Montreal, Greer may be willing to listen to join the team he used to come watch as a kid, even emptying his bank account once to attend a game when he only had $200 left…now he could fill it up nicely by actually playing in front of friends and family.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft, and that will be the highlight of the occasion. Along with that No. 1 selection, Toronto also has the 60th pick in the draft, which will come in the second round.

This 60th overall pick comes from Toronto's Scott Laughton trade to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings had the Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick from previous deals. And with the Sabres' elimination in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Maple Leafs fall to the 60th pick.

Looking at the different mock drafts and opinions of draft experts, there are a number of players that are projected to be selected around the 60th selection.

One of those players is left winger Matias Vanhanen, who is ranked 60th in the consolidated rankings by eliteprospects.com.

Vanhanen is coming off an excellent first year in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. The Finnish 18-year-old was a top performer for the Silvertips all season long. 

In the WHL regular season, he led his team in assists (66) and points (87). In addition to that production, he provided 21 goals on the year, too, tied for fourth on the team in that category. He scored more points than teammates Carter Bear, who was selected 13th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2025, and projected No. 1 pick for 2027, defenseman Landon DuPont.

Vanhanen's scoring touch didn't stop in the regular season. In the WHL playoffs, he finished with 24 points in 18 contests, finishing second on the team in scoring for the post-season, and in goals with 12 tallies.

He was a big piece to Everett winning its first-ever Ed Chynoweth Cup as champions of the WHL, along with the franchise's first trip to the Memorial Cup, which was in Kelowna, B.C., this year.

Vanhanen was strong yet again at the Memorial Cup, finishing second in the tournament in scoring with four goals and four assists for eight points in five games for the Silvertips. 

The Silvertips weren't able to lift the holy grail above their heads, but they did advance to the final against the Kitchener Rangers, losing 6-2 in that contest.

Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup ChampionsWith the Toronto Marlies advancing to the Calder Cup final, how does this team compare to the 2018 Calder Cup champions, and what staff members or players are destined for the NHL?

Nonetheless, Vanhanen has proven to be one of the best players on a very successful team this past year, who finished atop the regular-season standings of the WHL, playoff champions, and Memorial Cup finalists. 

With that, he also put up six assists in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship for a Finland team that finished fourth in the competition. 

Before joining the Silvertips last season, Vanhanen played junior hockey in Finland, representing HIFK's U-20 team. In 42 games in the 2024-25 campaign, Vanhanen scored 17 goals and 47 points. He also made five appearances for HIFK in Liiga, but didn't register a point among the pros.

Vanhanen is listed at 5-foot-11 by NHL Central Scouting and has been labelled as an excellent playmaker.

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The St. Louis Blues tried several players in their bottom six last season, especially on their fourth line, but the feeling was that no one truly locked down a role. 

Heading into the 2026 off-season, finding players who can solidify that fourth line is a must, and a new report from The Athletic indicates that the player could come from within the organization.

According to The Athletic’s Jim Rutherford, he was told there is a “strong chance” the Blues will sign Dillon Dube to an NHL deal this off-season to play down the middle of the ice. The 27-year-old was signed to a professional tryout in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he excelled. 

Dube played as the first-line center for the Thunderbirds this season, posting 20 goals and 37 points in 46 games. He then added five goals and eight points in 12 post-season games.

The fourth line was a glaring weakness for the Blues this season, as Oskar Sundqvist, Alexey Toropchenko, Nathan Walker, and Jack Finley never truly emerged as must-play players.

If Dube can join the lineup and bring speed, physicality and chip in offensively when needed, there is a role for him to earn and lock down. 

REPORT: Blues AHL Affiliate Signs Dillon DubeAccording to Frank Seravalli, the St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate are planning to sign winger Dillon Dube.

Although Dube hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season, he was a second-round pick (56th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2016. In his NHL career, Dube has posted 57 goals and 127 points in 325 games across six seasons. 

While no contract has been finalized, and this is the first we are hearing of news involving Dube, this is a move that works for both sides. The Blues shore up their fourth-line center role with a player who plays a responsible game, and Dube receives the opportunity to play in the NHL again for the first time since the Team Canada world juniors sexual assault case.  

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D-man with ‘unbelievable maturity to his game' could be option for Flyers at No. 21 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in a while, the Flyers are coming off a playoff run.

That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.

But that was when the Flyers drafted a foundation piece, grabbing Tyson Foerster at 23rd overall.

So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.

“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”

The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.

“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, with six coming over the first two rounds. Porter Martone was their headliner at sixth overall. Now the Flyers will try to hit on a pick in the 20s.

“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).

“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Juho Piiparinen

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 204
Shoots: Right
Team: Tappara

Scouting report

The 17-year-old is a proficient defender, one you can trust and rely on to keep the puck out of your net.

He stays within himself with calculated reads and execution. He knows the right play can sometimes be better than the outstanding play. And when he’s in his own end, he’ll lock things down.

“He’s heavy, he’s hard, he’s smart, he’s effective and he doesn’t try to be anything but that,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “I’ve watched Juho for a couple of years now and I watch a guy that doesn’t make mistakes.”

Playing against men in Liiga, Finland’s top pro league, Piiparinen didn’t have a goal this season through 29 games. He recorded three assists, 46 shots and a plus-6 rating.

The age and strength of his competition definitely factored into his offensive numbers. But Piiparinen is not a guy that will light up the box score. At the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, he had an assist, four shots and a plus-6 rating in four games for Team Finland.

“Is he going to produce tons of points? No, I don’t think he will,” Button said. “But you cannot be a good offensive team unless you’ve got guys that can make plays under pressure in the defensive zone, get the puck moving the other way, get the puck into the hands of the right players at the right times. I think he has got such unbelievable maturity to his game at a young age.”

Piiparinen is slotted at No. 19 on Button’s May 20 draft list.

“He knows who he is, he knows what he is,” Button said. “In the offensive zone, he’ll play on the power play. But he’s a thinker, he knows, ‘OK, I’ve got to get the puck in these spots.’ He doesn’t try to be a catalyst specifically; he tries to be somebody that’s a cog in the wheel. I love him.”

NHL Central Scouting has Piiparinen as the sixth-best international skater, but he’s ranked No. 33 overall by Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis and No. 40 on EliteProspects.com.

Button likened Piiparinen’s defensive-minded approach to Rasmus Ristolainen. After being drafted eighth overall in 2013 by the Sabres, Ristolainen was given an all-situation role at an early age.

“They asked him to be a big-time point producer, big shot and everything,” Button said. “I think Rick Tocchet, what he did with Rasmus this year, the way that Rasmus played in the regular season and the playoffs, I think it’s almost like Rasmus just said, ‘I can just be myself, I don’t have to be this big offensive guy.’ And he was incredibly effective.”

Fit with Flyers

Players like Piiparinen are valuable pieces to a team’s back end. But at No. 21, it would be understandable if the Flyers wanted a defensemen with more offensive upside.

The Flyers have recently made an effort to replenish their system with some bigger, right-handed blueliners in David Jiricek, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill and Carter Amico. So Piiparinen probably isn’t the ideal fit or need.

But there’s absolutely some intrigue with Piiparinen, who already plays like a pro before the age of 18.

More targets

• Could Lawrence’s early jump to college have him fall to Flyers in draft?

• Will Flyers eye 6-foot-4 forward with ‘goal-scoring hands’ at No. 21?

• Palmieri ‘type of player’ may be available for Flyers at No. 21 in draft

• Russian center with pro build has interesting case for Flyers at No. 21

• Lin has ‘Brandon Montour profile,’ but will he be there for Flyers at No. 21?

It is no secret at this point that the Philadelphia Flyers don't need more wingers, at least on their current NHL roster.

Their prospect pool, however, might be a different story, so long as the value adds up for the Flyers when they go to pick at 21st overall later this month.

In the NHL, because players are so young when they get drafted, it can take non-blue chip prospects anywhere from two to five years to start contributing.

Well, five years from now, Owen Tippett will be 32, Travis Konecny will be 34, and Tyson Foerster will be 29. Their replacement(s), if drafted by the Flyers, will be 23.

We all know that the Flyers badly need a center and a left-shot defenseman, but they have no incentive to force a pick, especially at center, with middle-six potential players like Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, Matthew Gard, Heikki Ruohonen, and Jack Berglund already in the fold.

Instead, the Flyers must remain patient, even after a successful season, and go for the best value, whether that's at winger, goalie, or otherwise.

Some players worth keeping an eye on include power forwards Maddox Dagenais and Oscar Hemming, the dynamic Nikita Klepov, and CHL sniper Liam Ruck (and twin brother Markus Ruck).

Dagenais, a center/winger hybrid, looks set to become a winger full-time at the next level, and his combo of size (6-foot-4), speed, and skill will make him an alluring choice for NHL teams.

The Flyers, especially, have a penchant for targeting these types of players, and Dagenais could one day be a logical successor to Tippett.

Flyers Must Consider Top Goalies in 2026 NHL DraftThe Philadelphia Flyers badly need some new blood in their goalie prospect pool, and the 2026 NHL Draft awaits.

The Ruck brothers fit the vibe the Flyers are building in Philadelphia, and while Liam is probably one or two rounds better than Markus, they may go closer than that.

Those two, paired with a Porter Martone or Matvei Michkov, could be extremely interesting as a trio if their development goes well.

As for Klepov, he's extremely skilled, but his skating is closer to average. The Michigan State commit will come from the same collegiate pipeline as Flyers prospects Martone and Shane Vansaghi, and that will boost his case.

The OHL scoring champion is a workhorse, too, and could be a prolific add to the Flyers when paired with more or similarly-skilled players.

I also wanted to touch on Hemming, a beastly Finn who played in the NCAA for Boston College this past season, scoring a goal, seven assists, and eight points in 19 games.

The 18-year-old is extremely quick going north-south for the 6-foot-4 size at his age, and he uses that size as a weapon at both ends of the ice.

The agility needs work, and some teams will frown upon that more than others, but the Flyers have shown a willingness to tackle such weaknesses in the past.

A No. 1 center is clearly a priority, but these kinds of talents at Pick 21? The Flyers can't get greedy like they did with the Luchanko and Nesbitt picks the last two drafts.

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A deadlocked 2-2 series means everything is on the line tonight at the Lenovo Center. As the Hurricanes look to capitalize on home-ice advantage against Vegas, all eyes are on Brandon Bussi to see if the rookie can repeat his Game 4 magic. 

Look for the Golden Knights to test him early—making Bussi a major focal point in my Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks for Thursday, June 11.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 5 prediction

Who will win Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 5?

Hurricanes: Carolina has won two of the past three games in the series with a 54.9 expected goals percentage, and the Hurricanes turning to Brandon Bussi in net paid off in Game 4.

The Hurricanes have also won the 5-on-5 possession battle with a 57.3 Corsi For percentage, and Vegas starter Carter Hart sports a confidence-shattering .861 save percentage with 3.86 goals allowed below expected.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes best bet: Brandon Bussi Over 21.5 saves (+100)

While the Vegas Golden Knights have been on the losing end of the five-on-five possession battle with a 42.0 Corsi For percentage, they’ve consistently pushed back, and their 47.5% shot share paints a far clearer picture of how the series has played out through four games.

As a result, I’m anticipating the Golden Knights showing up on time and with an emphasis on testing Carolina Hurricanes rookie goalie Brandon Bussi in Game 5.

Bussi has only faced 22.76 shots per 60 minutes since taking over the crease in Game 3, and Vegas has recorded 25.2 shots per 60 this postseason, so a slight uptick from the Golden Knights is all it will take for Bussi to clear this low total.

I recommend this Over down to -110 odds.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 5 same-game parlay

The Hurricanes have flipped this series in their favor the past three games with an overall 54.9 expected goals percentage, in addition to a dominant 57.3 CF% at 5-on-5. Additionally, Golden Knights No. 1 Carter Hart has struggled to the tune of an .861 save percentage with 3.86 goals allowed below expected.

Turning to the go-to duo of Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven, they have combined for 33 points during the playoffs while being on the ice for a dominant 4.88 goals and 5.08 expected goals per 60 minutes. Skating to a 65.5 CF% and 72.5 xGF% at 5-on-5 further reinforces their elite play this postseason.

This SGP is in play down to a +380 price.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes SGP

• Hurricanes -1.5
• Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points
• Logan Stankoven Over 0.5 points

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 5 goal scorer pick

Jack Eichel (+230)

Vegas center Jack Eichel finally got more pucks through to the net in Game 4, but he’s still searching for his first goal against Carolina. He’s also only scored twice with a 4.1 shooting percentage all postseason despite racking up an impressive 6.59 individual expected goals and 19 high-danger scoring chances. 

So, with a go-to offensive role that includes jumping the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit, Eichel is set to snap his scoring slump in Game 5 given the quality opportunities he continues to generate. This prop also shows value all the way down to +200.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes odds for Game 5

• Moneyline: Golden Knights +130 | Hurricanes -150
• Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-190) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes trend

The Hurricanes have covered the puck line in 12 of their last 20 games for +8.00 units and a 31% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes.

How to watch Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 5

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes latest injuries

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Of all the sportscasters I have known over the years, the man who calls the Rangers play-by-play for MSG Networks and splendidly does NHL for TNT, is the one you are most likely to call your best friend if you ever got to know him.

That's a handsome double-dip; being the best in the business and just about the nicest guy in a tough-tough industry.

At the moment you must know that Sir Kenny Albert is busy at work covering one of the most gripping Stanley Cup playoffs of this or any other era dating back to the NHL's birth in 1917.

Play on the ice will dictate how far the rest of this series will go. But play has been so gripping that all certified hockey nuts are rooting for Golden Knights and Hurricanes to push this tourney to a Game Seven.

Not surprisingly Pal Kenny is among those who savor a Game Seven as much as any savant from here to the Aleutian Islands. 

"Game Seven,"  says Albert, "are the greatest two words in sports because everything is on the line. You can feel the tension through the entire arena. Every shift matters." 

Over the years Kenny has had the great, good fortune to have worked 26 NHL Game Sevens either on the tv or radio side -- including seven that required overtime.

Albert: "The most memorable happened to have been the first I ever did, 1994, when the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. That one I did for NHL Radio."

Other Albert favorites: 1. Alex Martinez scoring in overtime to beat Chicago in the 2014 West Final; 2. Derek Stepan in 2015 and Artemi Panarin  2022, Game Seven OT winners at The Garden.

"Then," notes Albert, "there was Pat Maroon sending his hometown Blues to the West Final in double OT in Game Seven against Dallas in 2019 and Game Seven in Winnipeg in 2025. The hometown Jets trailed St.Louis by two goals with under two minutes remaining in regulation.

"The crowd exploded when Adam Lowry deflected the series-winner past Jordan Binnington in double overtime."

Asked to pick one of the most exhilarating days of his career, Albert recalls that time in the Edmonton bubble in 2020 when he had the opportunity to call not one but two Game Sevens in the same day!

"It was Dallas vs. Colorado and Vegas vs. Vancouver. In the Stars-Avs match Joel Kiviranta

completed the Seventh game seven hat trick in NHL history with the overtime game-winning goal!"

Who knows? With the Canes-Vegas Final tied at two games apiece, we just could be heading for a Game Seven finale of all finales!

Matt Larkin released his latest trade board for Daily Faceoff. Six Buffalo Sabres were among the players listed, as Devon Levi, Jordan Greenway, Michael Kesselring, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis all made the cut. 

Levi has been the subject of trade rumors for a while now, and it is easy to understand why. The young netminder has dropped to the fourth spot on the Sabres' goalie depth chart and did not make a single NHL appearance for Buffalo this season. Yet, when noting that he is a former top prospect, there could be some teams out there willing to take a gamble on him.

With the Sabres needing to free up cap space, it makes sense that Greenway is being viewed as a trade candidate. His cap hit is high for what he provides as a bottom-six forward. While this is the case, he could generate some interest from teams with good cap space that are looking for more toughness in their bottom six. 

Kesselring has been a very popular name in the rumor mill since the Sabres' playoff run ended. The fit has not been there between the Sabres and Kesselring, so it would make sense if Buffalo traded the pending restricted free agent. Despite having a tough season, he could get the Sabres a decent return because he is a big right-shot defenseman who has had past success. 

As for Luukkonen, Lyon, and Ellis, they were included in Larkin's "Names to watch based on roster surpluses" tier. With the Sabres having three goalies on their NHL roster, it makes sense that they have each been included. However, when looking at how well this trio performed for them this campaign, the possibility of the Sabres running it back with them again next season is there. 

After news broke that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, hockey insiders had to tweak their NHL Trade Boards, launching him to the top. Ultimately, with a new No. 1, most of the players already on the board slide down a spot, or saw their values increase and decrease based on potential landing spots for Larkin.

In The Athletic's latest NHL Trade Board (subscription required), released on June 8, 2026, Blake Coleman remains the only Calgary Flames skater to make the list, ranking 14th.

The 34-year-old Coleman is entering the final year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2021, with a cap hit of $4.9 million per season. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Coleman is entering his sixth season with Calgary and is coming off a 20-goal, 35-point performance in 2025-26.

Interestingly, Coleman's best season has come with the Flames, when he tallied 30 goals and 54 points in 2023-24, to rank second in goals behind Yegor Sharangovich and third in points behind Nazem Kadri and Sharangovich. 

Since taking over as General Manager, Craig Conroy hasn't been afraid to deal big names, including Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Tyler Toffoli, to name a few. 

As the only player in the Flames dressing room with multiple Stanley Cup wins on his resume, Coleman brings invaluable experience, especially to the next generation of Calgary stars like Dustin Wolf, Zayne Parekh, Connor Zary, and Matt Coronato.

Already an alternate captain, any deal involving Coleman would give the Flames a decent return, whether it's prospects, draft picks, or a young player looking for a new opportunity.

The return for Coleman won't be anything like what the Red Wings could get for Larkin, or what the Vancouver Canucks got for Quinn Hughes. Still, if Conroy is moving out veterans and looking for young talent hungry for a future battling for the Stanley Cup in the new Scotia Place, then he'll pull the trigger on a deal at the 2026 NHL Draft, or at some point during the season.

Coleman's next goal will be his 100th in a Flames sweater. Since joining the club in 2021, his stat line reads 99 goals, 100 assists, and 199 points in 392 games with a plus-54 rating. Through 10 NHL seasons, Coleman has scored 170 goals with 155 assists and 325 points in 693 games. In 65 playoff games, he's bagged 12 goals and 31 points with a plus-17 rating.

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The Buffalo Sabres and winger Alex Tuch have been negotiating off and on since the 30-year-old become eligible to sign a contract extension last summer, but there was no progress throughout the regular season, to the point that the veteran winger and his representatives paused negotiations. 

“We had talks with Kevyn Adams and his management staff that didn't progress to where we wanted it to, so we decided to kind of hold off and go through the season a little more," Tuch said at locker cleanout earlier this week. "When Jarmo stepped in, we initially had some good talks, and then they kind of stalled out a little bit. They continued to talk (throughout) the course of the season, and at a point when we were starting with the playoff push, I decided that it was my best interest, and the best interest for the team to put anything like that on hold until after the season was over."

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, the chatter coming out of last week’s NHL Scouting Combine was that there was “still a gap” between the two sides, and there has not been a lot of movement with just over three weeks to go before Tuch hits the open market. 

Tuch posted his third 30+ goal season in four years, and had seven points in the first round series against Boston, but went pointless in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens. In spite of that, he is expected to draw the most attention on July 1, if the Sabres do not trade his negotiating rights before then or do a sign-and-trade at or around the NHL Draft later this month.   

Other Sabres Stories

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Rasmus Dahlin was one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy after leading his club to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but last week it was revealed that he finished third behind Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and Cale Makar. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres team captain learned that he finished second behind countryman and Team Sweden teammate Gabriel Landeskog in voting for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

The Masterton is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey” and is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Landeskog returned to full time NHL duty after nearly three years after undergoing a series of serious surgeries to repair knee issues, playing 60 games for the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche this season. The 33-year-old received 69 first-place votes and 509 points. Dahlin received 53 first-place votes and finished 110 points behind Landeskog. Jonathan Toews of the Winnipeg Jets finished third. 

Award season was a disappointment for members of the Sabres organization, with Dahlin’s second and third place finishes, and Lindy Ruff finishing just behind Tampa’s Jon Cooper for the Jack Adams for coach of the year.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Kale Clague is taking his talents to the KHL. 

Avtomobilist Yekaterin of the KHL have signed Clague to a two-year contract. 

Clague heading to the KHL comes after he spent all of this in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose. In 67 games this campaign with the Winnipeg Jets' AHL affiliate, the former Sabres defenseman posted nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points. 

Before the 2025-26 season, Clague spent the three previous seasons with the Sabres organization. He spent the majority of his time with the Sabres down in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. This included him spending all of the 2024-25 season with Rochester, where he recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games. 

In 36 games as a member of the Sabres, Clague posted zero goals, five assists, 25 hits, and a minus-3 rating. 

It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Clague can make in the KHL from here. If he performs well overseas during his two-year deal, perhaps it could open the door for him to get another opportunity in North America.

The Edmonton Oilers are going to need to make a decision. With reports surfacing on Tuesday that the NHL is moving forward on an investigation that will look into the incidents that occurred in 2023 when Babcock resigned as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, there are subsequent reports that the NHLPA has “significant” additional claims about his behavior beyond just looking at players' cell phones.

As reported by several sources, including Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, "The NHL will conduct an investigation into Mike Babcock’s short stint coaching the Columbus Blue Jackets after the NHL Players’ Association on Tuesday informed the Edmonton Oilers that the union wants one before signing off on the team hiring him as head coach."

In other words, they aren't letting this go. 

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Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast:

“I don’t think the Players Association has a choice here if they want to show that they have any teeth and that they are mindful of the players. They have to step in and say, “Hold on.” I was told—and I didn’t realize this—but I was told that at issue, and the reason the Players Association is adamant about this, is that when Babcock resigned in Columbus, the NHL was about to do an investigation into everything that happened there. Babcock just resigned. He said, “Look, it’s not worth it,” whatever his rationale was—he resigned.”

That's not good enough for the NHLPA. They want the truth. That will beg the question: can the Oilers can handle the truth?

Friedman added:

 "So the league just said there’s no point in having an investigation. I think everybody felt at that time Babcock was going to retire and we weren’t going to see him in a head coaching role again. Well, now that this has come up, the Players Association has said, 'Hold on a second. There was supposed to be an investigation that never happened because Babcock resigned. Now we want it to happen. He shouldn’t be able to come back without that investigation.'

Can Mike Babcock Finally Get Out Of His Own Way?For most of the last two decades, Mike Babcock's résumé has spoken louder than almost anyone else's.

Perhaps the Oilers knew this was an inevitability. What that might not be aware of is what else the NHLPA has on Babcock.

Frank Seravalli reports, " If Oilers elect to continue down the path with Mike Babcock, sources say the NHLPA is in receipt of “significant” additional claims from their own investigation with players that were not publicly reported in 2023. Those claims were presented to NHL prior to his resignation. " He adds, "Furthermore, sources indicate that asking players to see photos is NOT what ultimately resulted in Babcock’s resignation. It was the subsequent (unknown) allegation reported below that cost Babcock his job in Columbus."

So now what?

Edmonton could still hire Babcock and then wait to see what the investigation uncovers. Alternatively, they could back away. Knowing that this story isn't going to disappear quietly into the night, it might not be worth the hassle. 

Friedman said, “I just can’t see the Oilers moving forward with the hiring if they know this is coming.” 

Will the Oilers stick to their guns and move forward, hoping that whatver is unearthed is not as bad as it sounds? Or, will Edmonton back away with the belief that the NHL is likely to learn is much worse than imagined? Perhaps there's a reason Babcock resigned and decided not to pop his head out for six years. 

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