Devils Announce Coaching Changes, Sheldon Keefe To Stay
The New Jersey Devils announced today that Goaltending Coach Dave Rogalski has been relieved of his duties, and Assistant Coach Sergei Brylin will assume a new role within the organization.
With Sunny Mehta getting to work on transforming the team, along with his new assistant Braden Birch who was hired earlier this month, it’s the first step in what will be more changes after a disappointing campaign.
Rogalski, 45, got started at St. Cloud State in 2010, eventually mentoring current Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren. Jumping to the NHL in 2018 with the Blues as a development coach, his organization took home the Stanley Cup the next year. Moving along to goaltending coach with the Devils for the 2020-21 season, he held the role ever since. Somewhat synonymous with the team as a whole, New Jersey has declined in that department, most visibly with Jacob Markström‘s 3.07 goals-against-average and his .883 save percentage, both his worst marks in a decade. Jake Allen, with ties to Rogalski since St. Louis, performed better but also experienced slight statistical declines year-over-year.
On the other hand, Brylin is much deeper connected within the team, playing 765 games as a Devil from 1994-2008. The Russian center helped New Jersey take home three Stanley Cups as a relentless two-way player who epitomized the Devils in that era. Upon retiring from the KHL, he promptly returned to the franchise, starting out with the AHL’s Albany Devils in 2012 and being promoted to assistant coach for the big club a decade later as part of Lindy Ruff‘s staff. Surviving the split and transition to Sheldon Keefe‘s tenure, Brylin was more involved with player development, not directly heading either of their special teams units.
A legend of the team, Mehta is showing loyalty and acknowledgement of his presence in the organization, keeping Brylin around in a new role which is not known at this point. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now confirmed that the former player won’t retain any sort of coaching capacity.
With the departures aside, today’s news confirms that Keefe will stick around with two years remaining on his contract. Eager to assemble his own staff, it’s unfair to judge the 45-year-old for his shortcomings after a season so lost to injury, however, it’ll be interesting to see what sort of leash he has if things don’t turn around quickly next fall.
Latest On Golden Knights, Bruce Cassidy
May 19th: The NHL Coaches’ Association (NHLCA) is posturing to involve itself in the repeated instances of the Golden Knights blocking Cassidy from interviewing with the Kings and Oilers. According to a public announcement, the NHLCA said:
“The NHLCA has been closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy. While we respect the League’s rules and processes, it is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their Club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities. It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.“
Although their frustration is understandable, it’s unclear what the NHLCA would do to assist Cassidy. As was previously noted, coaches are often “relieved of duties” rather than “fired”, making them still subject to the obligations outlined in their contract.
May 18th: Despite firing him with eight games remaining in the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights are playing hardball with Bruce Cassidy‘s future. Earlier today, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Golden Knights haven’t given any team permission to interview Cassidy for head coaching vacancies.
Additionally, Andy Strickland of FanDuel Sports Network went a step further, indicating that the Golden Knights blocked the Los Angeles Kings from interviewing the former Jack Adams Award winner. However, that hasn’t been confirmed elsewhere. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if they did, if they haven’t already, given that Vegas blocked the Edmonton Oilers from interviewing their former head coach just a few days ago.
Unless another head coach is fired in the next few weeks, that leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs as the only option left for Cassidy. However, on Friday’s rendition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said, “I do think they’ll reach out to talk to Cassidy, but I’d say it’s extremely unlikely he’s gonna end up being the guy in Toronto, and I do think they are prepared to go fresh. Someone new, someone different.”
As unfair as it seems to Cassidy, those are the rules of the coach’s contractual obligations. Although it’s essentially a firing, coaches are often “relieved of duties”, rather than outright fired. This means they are still bound by the contract they signed and continue to receive payment from the team that released them. So, until Cassidy’s contract with the Golden Knights formally ends, any team wishing to interview him will have to put in a formal request.
There remains plenty of speculation regarding the Kings and Maple Leafs, but it does seem the Oilers have moved on from their pursuit of Cassidy. Earlier today, it was confirmed that Edmonton received permission from Toronto to interview Craig Berube, and he appears to be the early favorite for the role.
Ultimately, if Vegas is going to continue to block their intradivisional rivals from hiring Cassidy, he’ll have to wait for another shoe to drop for his next landing spot. Although it’s hardly appropriate to speculate on someone losing their job, Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators and Sheldon Keefe of the New Jersey Devils may be looking for new roles this summer, given that each team will be under new management in the front office.
Sabres Likely To Explore Moving Devon Levi
For the last little while, there has been growing speculation that the Buffalo Sabres will move on from netminder Devon Levi relatively soon. Those rumors aren’t going away anytime soon. Speaking on Coming In Hot, Jeff Marek of the Daily Faceoff shared that the relationship between the Sabres and Levi is “over”.
Specifically, Marek mentioned that the Ottawa Senators had recently reached out to the Sabres regarding Levi in the hopes that he could play in the backup role behind Linus Ullmark. Marek opined that the Senators could reach out to Buffalo again this summer about the netminder’s availability.
While it’s rare for intradivisional rivals to engage in trading, the Senators and Sabres collaborated on a deal that sent Joshua Norris to Buffalo and Dylan Cozens to Ottawa last year. However, that trade was made when Kevyn Adams was the General Manager of the Sabres, and it’s unknown if Jarmo Kekäläinen will have the same appetite to make intradivisional swaps.
Regardless, it would make sense for Buffalo to make Levi available in trade talks this summer. The Sabres already have the tandem of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon signed through next season, and will presumably retain Colten Ellis as the third-string option unless they decide to expose him to the waiver wire in September.
For the past two years, Levi has almost exclusively played for the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Overall, he has maintained solid production, but can be relatively streaky at times. Throughout the past three years, he has managed a 64-39-22 record in 120 AHL contests with a .914 SV% and 2.52 GAA, including 10 shutouts. Additionally, he has a 17-17-2 record in 39 NHL games with a .894 SV% and 3.29 GAA.
In the podcast, Marek suggested that the relationship between Buffalo and Levi has declined, given the initial excitement the team expressed when signing him and the lack of extended NHL opportunities since then. Since he’s signed through next season at an $813K salary, Levi doesn’t have much say in the matter, but would likely welcome any change of scenery that comes with more NHL playing time.
Obviously, the Edmonton Oilers immediately come to mind as a team that should inquire about Levi should the Sabres make him available. Although the Oilers are desperate, it’s unlikely that Buffalo will force them to part with significant capital, given that not many teams are looking for goaltending improvements this summer. Yes, the Oilers desperately need goaltending help, but the Sabres don’t have much flexibility to start a bidding war with other teams.
Vancouver Canucks Fire Adam Foote
The changes coming to the Vancouver Canucks won’t end at the front office. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Canucks are parting ways with head coach Adam Foote and are expected to make additional changes to the coaching staff.
Shortly after Dreger’s report, the Canucks confirmed Foote’s dismissal in a team announcement. Additionally, the team has let go of assistant coaches Scott Young, Kevin Dean, and Brett McLean, starting fresh for the 2026-27 campaign.
It’s not a huge surprise to see Foote let go, even after one season. Foote was hired by Vancouver as an assistant coach partway through the 2022-23 season as a part of Rick Tocchet‘s staff. He remained in that role for three seasons and was promoted to the head coaching role when Tocchet departed for the Philadelphia Flyers last summer.
Factoring in the subpar roster and the fact that the Canucks made major changes to the front office, Foote wasn’t given a chance to succeed in Vancouver. As anticipated, the team had a disappointing season in 2025-26, finishing with a record of 25-49-8, which was the worst in the regular season.
Furthermore, there was no area in which the Canucks played particularly well. Vancouver finished 31st in goals for, 32nd in goals against, 32nd in penalty kill percentage, 29th in shooting percentage, 32nd in save percentage, 29th in CorsiFor, 30th in High-Danger Scoring Chances, and 31st in High-Danger Scoring Changes Against. The only category where the team excelled was power play percentage, finishing in 14th place.
Unlike most head coaches, it’s unlikely that Foote will find another head coaching position this summer. While he may ultimately secure a coaching position, his track record does not compare to that of Craig Berube, Bruce Cassidy, or Kris Knoblauch, who are all coaches seeking new opportunities.
On the flip side, all three of those coaches will immediately become candidates for the Canucks. Cassidy is unlikely to take the job, simply because the Vegas Golden Knights have already blocked other intradivisional rivals, namely the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, from interviewing their former coach. However, the Golden Knights may believe that the Canucks are so far out of contention that Cassidy’s landing in Vancouver wouldn’t come back to bite them anytime soon.
Still, it’s difficult to say what direction the Canucks will go. There are expected to be significant changes to the roster this offseason, so the team may opt for a younger coach to grow alongside the team.
In that same vein, Vancouver could look to an internal candidate. Former bottom-six center Manny Malhotra has been the head coach of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks for the last two years, and presumably worked closely with General Manager Ryan Johnson when he was serving as the General Manager in Abbotsford.
Lightning Sign Nick Abruzzese To One-Year, Two-Way Deal
The Tampa Bay Lightning have added some proven scoring depth to the organization, announcing the signing of forward Nick Abruzzese to a one-year, two-way contract. General Manager Julien BriseBois continues to bolster his depth pieces ahead of the summer, bringing back a familiar face who provided significant offensive punch at the minor-league level last year.
Abruzzese, 27, is coming off a highly productive campaign with the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. In 56 regular-season games with the Crunch, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound forward racked up 15 goals and 51 points. His performance placed him fifth on the team in both goals and total points, while his 36 assists ranked third on the roster. Abruzzese maintained that scoring touch into the postseason, registering a goal and four points in four Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, the Slate Hill, New York native has carved out a stellar AHL career. Across 267 career minor-league contests split between Syracuse and the Toronto Marlies, Abruzzese has totaled 62 goals and 194 points. He also brings 11 games of NHL experience to the table—all with Toronto—where he recorded one goal and two assists, alongside an international stint representing Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
For a Lightning team that is frequently navigating tight salary cap constraints, Abruzzese provides a bit of a depth, insurance policy. The veteran forward gives Syracuse a top-six offensive weapon while offering Tampa Bay a reliable, skilled call-up option who can step into the NHL lineup at a moment’s notice.
Kraken Sign Defenseman Alexis Bernier To Entry-Level Contract
The Seattle Kraken have locked up one of their promising young blue-line prospects, signing defenseman Alexis Bernier to a three-year, entry-level contract. According to the team, the deal will carry an average annual value of $1,033,333 at the NHL level and will officially kick off next season.
Bernier, 19, was selected by Seattle in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound right-shot defenseman is fresh off a championship run in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he helped the Chicoutimi Saguenéens capture the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. Despite a torn ACL limiting him to just 21 regular-season games this year following a trade from Baie-Comeau, Bernier bounced back strong for the postseason, skating in 20 playoff games and adding four goals and seven points to anchor Chicoutimi’s defense.
Prior to his injury-shortened campaign, the St-Hyacinthe, Quebec native enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He racked up 14 goals and 46 points in 59 games, leading all Drakkar defensemen in scoring and earning a spot on the QMJHL First All-Star Team. Known for his high-end poise, physical edge, and sharp breakout passing, Bernier projects as a versatile, puck-moving shutdown defenseman at the professional level.
With the June 1 signing deadline looming for 2024 draft picks, General Manager Jason Botterill wasted no time securing Bernier’s rights before he could potentially re-enter the draft. Bernier and the Saguenéens will now turn their focus to the upcoming Memorial Cup tournament before he officially makes the jump to the professional ranks in the fall.
Golden Knights Forfeit Draft Pick, John Tortorella Fined
May 19th: The Vegas Golden Knights met with NHL league officials at 10:00 AM today to appeal the severe discipline handed down following their Game 6 media blackout against the Anaheim Ducks. Ultimately, the face-to-face meeting did not result in a reprieve for the club, as the original penalties will remain strictly as assessed.
Consequently, head coach John Tortorella is still on the hook for a $100K fine, and the Golden Knights will officially forfeit their second-round draft pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The league’s firm stance stems from what it characterized as “flagrant violations” of playoff media regulations, compounded by multiple previous warnings issued to the organization regarding compliance.
While the door appears completely closed on the draft penalty being revoked or reinstated, there is a small glimmer of hope for the franchise down the line. Reports indicate that if Vegas remains fully compliant with all league rules and media policies moving forward, there could be an opportunity for the NHL to address or revisit aspects of the situation in the future. For now, however, the reigning Western Conference finalists must absorb the heavy loss of draft capital and a hefty financial hit as they prepare for their third-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.
May 15th: The National Hockey League didn’t let the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their Western Conference Final berth for too long. According to an announcement from the league office, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit their 2026 second-round pick, and head coach John Tortorella will be fined $100K for “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.
Although the punishment was unknown, this was an expected outcome for many. In the announcement, the league shared, “The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.” After last night’s series-clinching win, Vegas closed the locker room doors to the media, and Tortorella refused to meet with them.
According to the league, the Golden Knights will have the ability to appeal the punishment, though they likely won’t have much leverage, given that they’ve been warned multiple times. Still, instead of arguing for a complete erasure of the punishment, Vegas may argue themselves into a slap on the wrist with an understanding that a harsher punishment will be had if something like this happens again.
Regardless, the loss of a second-round pick puts Vegas in a deep hole. Although they normally trade away their draft capital or trade away the prospects, they now lose one for nothing. After today’s news, the Golden Knights don’t have another second-round pick at their disposal until the 2030 NHL Draft.
The Golden Knights offered a press release of their own, saying, “The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim. The organization will have no further comment.“
Lightning Re-Sign Groshev To Two-Year Extension
The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up some organizational blue-line depth, announcing a two-year, two-way contract extension for defenseman Max Groshev. The 24-year-old was slated to become a restricted free agent this summer. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $875K at the NHL level.
In the first year of the deal, Groshev will earn $850K at the NHL level and $200K in the minors, backed by a $300K overall guarantee. The second year sees a substantial raise in his minor-league compensation, jumping to a $900K NHL salary and a $750K minors salary.
The significant bump in his minor-league salary and the first-year guarantee shows that Tampa Bay highly values his role in the organization, protecting him against salary dips while keeping his cap hit remarkably team-friendly if he makes the NHL roster full-time.
The 2025-26 campaign was a memorable one for the Russian defenseman. Groshev earned his first taste of NHL action, making his league debut on December 28 against the Montreal Canadiens. He maximized his opportunity in that brief two-game stint, logging 23 minutes of ice time, registering a plus-1 rating, and picking up his first career NHL assist.
When he wasn’t with the big club, Groshev was a steady, reliable presence on the Syracuse blue line. In 58 AHL games with the Crunch last season, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound skater tallied three goals and 21 points. His 18 assists, 21 points, and impressive plus-16 rating all ranked third among Syracuse defensemen. He also chipped in one assist in four Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
Originally selected by Tampa Bay in the third round (85th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Groshev has taken a patient development path. He has accumulated 181 games of AHL experience, all with Syracuse, notching 20 goals and 65 points over that span.
With General Manager Julien BriseBois consistently navigating tight salary cap constraints, having dependable, cost-controlled depth options like Groshev who can seamlessly slide into the bottom pair during injuries is crucial. Because his $875K cap hit can be completely buried in the minors if necessary, this deal offers the Lightning zero-risk roster flexibility. While he will likely compete for a depth spot out of training camp, expect him to start the season logging heavy minutes in Syracuse, sitting at the very top of the Lightning’s recall list.
Latest On Alex Tuch
Following a heartbreaking Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres face a monumental question mark regarding one of their core leaders. According to a report from The Hockey News, pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch may have played his final game in a Sabres uniform.
Tuch, a Syracuse, N.Y. native, has spent the last five seasons in Buffalo after arriving from Vegas in the 2021 Jack Eichel blockbuster. While Tuch may want to remain with his childhood team, the upcoming free agent class lacks superstar talent, positioning the power forward to potentially strike it rich on the open market.
Back in December, newly appointed Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen emphasized the team’s desire to lock Tuch down. “Now we just have to agree on a number that works for both sides,” Kekalainen stated at the time. However, with July 1 rapidly approaching, that number has become a major mystery, largely due to a polarizing postseason performance.
While Tuch performed well with seven points in a first-round victory over Boston, he was completely held off the scoresheet and went a glaring minus-10 during the seven-game defeat against Montreal. While speculation suggests Tuch was playing through a significant injury that hampered his speed, the rough series could impact his ultimate leverage.
Despite the playoff struggles, Tuch’s teammates remain firmly in his corner. “He’s the ultimate teammate. He’s a leader on this team. He drives the bus for us,” star forward Tage Thompson said. “I would love to see him come back, but obviously there’s a business side to it. I don’t know where his head’s at.”
With Tuch hitting the 30-goal mark in three of the past four seasons, his rare combination of size and offensive production will make him a hot commodity if Kekalainen cannot bridge the financial gap before the summer market opens.
Sharks Primed to Target Free-Agent Defensemen to Insulate Youth Core
With the 2026 NHL offseason rapidly approaching, General Manager Mike Grier has positioned the San Jose Sharks as major players in the summer market. The team is loaded with the second-most projected cap flexibility in the entire league ($41.5M), and the Sharks have a remarkably clear runway to shape its roster. As it stands, the Sharks have 17 of 23 active roster spots filled and a wide-open contract bank with just 25 of 50 standard player contracts utilized. Up front, the heavy lifting is already largely completed. Aside from deciding on veteran depth options like 39-year-old unrestricted free agent Ryan Reaves and 26-year-old Pavol Regenda, who is coming off a Group 6 UFA status, the primary forward focus centers on finalizing extensions for key restricted free agents Philipp Kurashev, Collin Graf, and Zack Ostapchuk. Because this forward group is young and cost-controlled, the true intrigue of the summer shifts entirely to the blue line.
The bigger part of the puzzle, however, San Jose’s defensive corps for next season looks incredibly sparse, requires immediate attention. The only locked-in pieces under contract are veteran Dmitry Orlov, who will anchor the top four at 34 years old, alongside highly touted prospects Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, who appear ready for everyday NHL minutes at 19 and 21 respectively. Apart from that trio, Grier has a complete blank slate. Four major unrestricted free agents are seeking clarity about their future with the Sharks, and the decisions made here will determine whether San Jose utilizes its substantial cap space for internal extensions or pursues high-end talent through trades and the sparse open market.
The primary focus of those internal conversations will undoubtedly revolve around Mario Ferraro. At 27 years old, Ferraro perfectly fits the leadership timeline for a transitioning franchise, and extending him to a term contract should be a priority if Grier wants to insulate his rookie class with proven stability on the back end. On the depth front, 29-year-old Vincent Desharnais is another logical target for retention, offering the exact kind of size and physical snarl that the Pacific Division demands on a short-term, reasonable deal.
The Sharks are expected to move on from their older free-agent blueliners. Nick Leddy, now 35, will likely be allowed to test the open market as the organization transitions to younger blueliners. Similarly, 33-year-old John Klingberg is a significant wildcard after an injury-plagued campaign. While he could theoretically serve as a cheap, short-term option to provide power-play utility, the roster spots are simply too valuable to commit to aging health risks when younger assets need room to develop.
Because the Sharks have tens of millions in space and are well away from any sort of cap crunch, Grier is under no obligation to bring these veterans back out of necessity. Instead, he can shift his gaze toward a highly lucrative unrestricted free agent class to completely accelerate the rebuild.
On the right side, 29-year-old Rasmus Andersson is among the top of the free agent class, offering a pristine mix of top-pairing minutes and transition play that would perfectly complement a rookie like Dickinson. If Grier wants an injection of pure championship pedigree and elite power-play leadership, 36-year-old John Carlson could be on the radar as a premium short-term bridge option, while 32-year-old Jacob Trouba provides a rugged, veteran alternative to entirely reshape the identity of San Jose’s zone.
If the Sharks pivot toward adding sheer size and shutdown stability to insulate their creative rookies, the market offers intriguing depth targets as well. The 33-year-old Jamie Oleksiak brings massive frame and extensive defensive coverage that can lighten the load for a developing blue line, while fellow 33-year-old veteran Connor Murphy offers a reliable, defensive-minded presence capable of eating tough minutes on the penalty-kill.
With elite future assets already in the cupboard and the financial firepower to easily outbid the field or absorb heavy contracts, expect Grier to be incredibly aggressive. The Sharks are fully expected to use their financial leverage to secure at least one of these premier targets, ensuring the next generation of talent has a world-class safety net on the back end.