Multiple Teams Showing Interest In Jake DeBrusk
Jake DeBrusk’s time with Vancouver hasn’t quite gone as planned. He hasn’t been quite as impactful as they were hoping for and the Canucks haven’t been as competitive as he was hoping for. With that in mind, he has been a speculative trade candidate going back to before the trade deadline in March.
It appears that there is some interest in him if Vancouver looks to pursue a trade this summer. Two league sources told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that there are a group of teams believed to be interested in DeBrusk, with the Senators believed to be among them.
DeBrusk is just two years into a seven-year, $38.5MM contract, so interested teams must have confidence that he will be able to bounce back after a tough year. This season, he had 23 goals and 19 assists in 81 games. Notably, 19 of his tallies came on the man advantage. While it’s nice to have a strong power play producer, four even-strength goals from a forward making $5.5MM could raise some red flags.
That said, it’s not as if this has been a pattern in DeBrusk’s career. In his time with Boston, he never had more than eight power play markers in a single season with nearly 77% of his goals coming at even strength. In two years with Vancouver, it’s just 35%. That should provide some cause for optimism that he can get back to being a reasonable producer at five-on-five with a new team and a fresh start.
If the Sens were to provide that opportunity, he’d already be joining a power play that was above league average this season, checking in at eighth overall with a success rate just under 24%. That’s also where they finished in overall goals scored, meaning he’d be in an environment where he might not be counted on quite as much as he has been with the Canucks. They also have ample cap flexibility to add him as they enter the summer with more than $16MM in cap room, per PuckPedia.
With things going sideways this season in the standings, it appears as if Vancouver is set to undergo at least a partial rebuild, if not a full one. The 29-year-old probably wasn’t expecting to be in this spot given that when he signed with them, they were coming off a Pacific Division title and a second-round playoff appearance despite being down to their third-string goalie. He was hoping to join a contender and they’re not going to be that for a while.
It’s worth noting that DeBrusk has a full no-move clause through next season so he holds a lot of the cards. But if he feels that a change of scenery would be beneficial, this might be the summer to try to pursue it in a trade market that feels like it is going to be more robust than it has been in recent years. Accordingly, he’s a player to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Pending UFA Nathan Clurman Signs In Swedish League
Last summer, defenseman Nathan Clurman signed with Montreal, hoping that he might have a better pathway to NHL playing time. However, that didn’t materialize and instead of testing his luck in July, he has opted to take a different path, as SHL Rogle announced that they’ve signed him to a one-year deal for next season.
The 28-year-old was originally a sixth-round pick by Colorado back in 2016, going 161st overall. He spent four years in their minor league system, splitting time between the ECHL and AHL but never getting a chance with the Avs.
In 2024, he joined the Penguins on a one-year deal through Group Six free agency and was at least able to make his NHL debut, getting into one game with Pittsburgh. Injuries limited him to just 31 games in the minors, however, where he had 11 points so it was one-and-done before he signed with the Canadiens last July.
Clurman was able to stay healthier during the regular season compared to recent years as his 60 games played with AHL Laval was a career high. He managed one goal and ten assists in those outings but then was injured at playoff time, not seeing any action in their second-round loss to Toronto.
While Clurman still qualifies as a developmental player by AHL standards (meaning he wouldn’t count against a team’s veteran limit despite his age), it’s not entirely surprising that he has opted to try his hand overseas. He had a $140K guaranteed salary in his deal with Montreal but given that he has settled in as more of a depth player in the AHL, his best shot at taking a step forward might be by going to another league. Then, if things go well, Clurman could have a case to return to North America next season with a higher spot on a depth chart.
Golden Knights’ William Karlsson Unlikely To Return To Finals
The Vegas Golden Knights will once again have to fill in for a middle-six center. William Karlsson is unlikely to return to the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals due to an injury sustained in Game 5, head coach John Tortorella told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Karlsson missed the first six games of Vegas’ postseason run with a lower-body injury that required surgery at the turn of the year.
Even if he doesn’t return, Karlsson’s 2025-26 season will carry the rare feature of more playoff games than regular-season games. His prior injury knocked him out of the lineup in late-November, after the 33 year old scored seven points through the first 14 games of the season. He continued that hot scoring under the lights of the playoffs with 10 points in 15 games so far.
A return to production coincided with a return to key lineup minutes. Karlsson has been the third piece of one of the strongest lines in the postseason, next to leading scorer Mitch Marner and breakout performer Brett Howden. The trio have outscored opponents 11-to-3 in the postseason despite getting outshot 65-to-77.
It will be that role that Vegas now has to find somewhere else. Tomas Hertl holds the likeliest chances to earn a promotion. The veteran center has redeemed a down year with 14 points in 21 playoff games. He has been an X-factor down the lineup for much of the postseason and now could give Vegas a heavy-hitting top-six. But his promotion may cause a full shakeup in the lineup, with the likeliest healthy scratch to step up being winger Brandon Saad, who filled-in for Mark Stone earlier in the playoffs. Vegas is also carrying Braeden Bowman, Trevor Connelly, and Raphael Lavoie in their reserve of black aces.
Tortorella will face a difficult decision in deciding how to replace Karlsson’s hinge role in the top-six. The balance between spreading out talent could be a deciding factor as the Golden Knights face elimination in Game 6 on Sunday.
Free Agent Focus: Ottawa Senators
Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Senators.
Key Restricted Free Agents
D Jordan Spence – Spence will be one of Ottawa’s key free agents this season. The Senators gambled on the puck-mover by trading one third-round and one sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Kings last year. Spence paid off the test, reaching a new career-high in scoring with 31 points in 73 games. More than that, he often filled the moment, stepping up as Ottawa’s driver amid injuries to Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson. But what Spence brought on offense wasn’t backed by shutdown defense. He was reliable in stints but may not have filled shoes big enough to stay ahead of top prospect Carter Yakemchuk. A new deal could give Ottawa a versatile, third-pair option – though it could also block Ottawa from a potential free-agent addition or re-signing one of their right-shot unrestricted free agents.
F Arthur Kaliyev – The Senators will have another head-scratcher as they considered Kaliyev’s free agency. He failed to break camp with the team and, despite a two-game call-up in October, couldn’t earn footing with the Senators through the year. That left Kaliyev in a full-time, AHL role for the first time since the 2020-21 season. He dominated the minors, scoring a league-leading 40 goals and finishing ranked third with 68 points through 70 games. But the hot scoring couldn’t distract from a bumpy season on and off the ice. If Ottawa still feels Kaliyev can’t earn an NHL role, this summer could be the chance for a timely change of scenery.
G Leevi Merilainen – Existing in the space between the majors and minors was Merilainen, who had a near perfect split between NHL and AHL lineups. He had ups-and-downs in both leagues – notching eight wins in each to go with a .860 Sv% in the NHL and .909 Sv% in the minors. Merilainen failed to back up what seemed to be a breakout performance in the 2024-25 season – when he recorded a .925 Sv% in 12 NHL games and a .913 Sv% in 37 AHL games. While he is prone to letting up big games, Merilainen has never quite seemed out of place at the top level. At only 23 years old, he seems to be a worthwhile project with the backup role open.
Other RFAs: F Xavier Bourgault, F Riley Kidney, F Tyler Boucher, D Djibril Toure
Key Unrestricted Free Agents
F Claude Giroux – Giroux has confirmed his willingness to return for a 20th NHL season per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. His chances of returning to the Senators seem high, even despite posting his lowest per-game scoring rate since the 2009-10 season. Giroux rotated between the middle-six center and wing positions – offering the flexibility to support Dylan Cozens and Ridly Greig as they gathered their footing in the lineup. But Giroux’s talents as a puck-moving center weren’t fully appreciated in that role. He has posted a 59.9 faceoff percentage in 327 games with Ottawa and could earn a final payday by seeking to fill a second-line center role elsewhere in the league. With nearly $17MM in cap space, Ottawa should have enough money to keep that from happening – but potentially not enough short-term upside.
F Nick Cousins – In a year of lineup decisions, Cousins’ return seems like the strongest certainty. Ottawa is working on deals for both he and Giroux per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen. Cousin’s deal should be considerably cheaper, after he filled an important-but-minimal lineup role. He finished the season with 23 points and a career-high 92 penalty minutes – while also playing through more than 80 games for just the second time in his 12-year carer. His hard-working, physical presence was integral to Ottawa’s bottom lines this season and should remain a key card in the Senators’ deck. At 32, Cousins is likely to earn a few more years, and a raise back to a seven-figure salary, to stick around.
Other UFAs: F Lars Eller, D Nick Jensen, D Lassi Thomson, D Dennis Gilbert, G James Reimer, F Garrett Pilon, F Olle Lycksell, F Graeme Clarke, D Samuel Bolduc, G Mads Sogaard
Projected Cap Space
Ottawa wields $16.98MM in projected cap space per PuckPedia. They intend to push that figure as far as they can in the name of building a playoff roster. Ottawa has shown interest in adding a top-six forward and an impactful defender, even showing explicit interest in Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. They will face interesting lineup questions as they entertain the open market, namely how to fit emerging prospects Yakemchuk, Greig, and Stephen Halliday – but shouldn’t be held back from aiming for big fish.
Blue Jackets Sign James Malatesta To One-Year Extension
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed AHL forward James Malatesta to a one-year, two-way extension. The deal will carry an $850K salary in the NHL and $95K salary in the minors per PuckPedia.
Once a highly acclaimed prospect, Malatesta has struggled to adapt his flashy offense to the pro flight. He scored just 10 goals and 18 points in 57 games with the Cleveland Monsters this season. It was Malatesta’s first pro season without a taste of NHL minutes. He played in 13 games with the Blue Jackets over the prior two seasons and scored four points.
Instead of his scoring, it has been Malatesta’s grit that has shined at the pro level. He led the Monsters with 87 penalty minutes this season. In fact, he confidently holds the lead for most PIMs with Cleveland over the last three seasons, racking up 215 in 154 games with the club – more than 50 minutes ahead of Roman Ahcan in second-place.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound winger could still offer upside with his puck skills. He scored 142 points in 155 games with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts from 2020 to 2023. That mark remains third-most among any Rempart since 2020, behind Malatesta’s usual batterymates Theo Rochette and Zachary Bolduc. A new, one-year deal will offer Malatesta another chance to find his spark while operating from a bruising role in Cleveland’s middle-six.
Canucks Sign Jack Thompson To One-Year Contract
The Vancouver Canucks are retaining some of their defensive depth for next season. According to a team announcement, the Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Jack Thompson to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season.
Thompson, 24, was originally drafted with the 93rd overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. After finishing his three-year tenure in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves and Soo Greyhounds, Thompson made the jump to the professional ranks in 2022-23 with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
The Courtice, ON native made a good first impression with the Lightning organization, scoring five goals and 23 points in 71 games during the 2022-23 AHL campaign. Still, it wouldn’t hold a candle to the production he had the following season, when he scored five goals and 32 points in 46 games to start the 2023-24 season.
Additionally, Thompson made his NHL debut that year, appearing in one game for the Lightning. His tenure with the club would end there, as Tampa Bay dealt him to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline in the Anthony Duclair trade. He finished the year with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, scoring one goal and nine points in 16 games.
In San Jose, Thompson had a much clearer path to NHL ice time than the narrow one he faced in Tampa Bay. It’s the lengthiest run he’s had in the NHL to date, scoring four goals and 10 points in 31 games for the Sharks with a -9 rating, averaging 15:47 of ice time per game.
However, due to the Sharks making several veteran additions to their defensive corps last summer, Thompson lost his spot on the roster. He spent the entire 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, scoring three goals and 12 points in 43 games with the Barracuda, before an in-season trade sent him to Vancouver. Thompson finished off this past season, registering three goals and 13 points in 14 games for the Abbotsford Canucks.
NHL Announces 2026 First & Second All-Star Teams
And with that, the NHL Award season is over. On the heels of announcing the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team, the NHL has also revealed the First & Second All-Star Teams from this past season. Now, the only two awards left to hand out are the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy. The two All-Star Teams are as follows:
First All-Star Team
LW Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
C Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
RW Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Second All-Star Team
LW Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
C Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
RW David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
D Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
D Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
G Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals
There are no real surprises among the forwards and defensemen. It’s difficult to argue that anyone should be excluded from this list, as many of the names included were finalists for major awards during the 2025-26 campaign.
There is one big surprise for the goaltenders. Vasilevskiy makes plenty of sense, given that he won the Vezina Trophy this season. However, Thompson finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting behind Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins.
Arguably, Thompson should have been a finalist for the Vezina. He finished the season with a 31-21-6 record in 58 games with a .912 SV%, 2.44 GAA, and 29.3 GSAx according to MoneyPuck. His GSAx wasn’t the best per 60 minutes, but he finished ahead of Vasilevskiy in both metrics, demonstrating how strong he played this year. The difference is in who votes for each; the Vezina is voted on by the league’s General Managers, while the All-Star Teams are chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
NHL Announces 2026 All-Rookie Team
Earlier today, the NHL announced the All-Rookie Team from the 2025-26 season, with no surprises. The team is as follows:
F Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens
F Beckett Sennecke, Anaheim Ducks
F Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues
D Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
D Alexander Nikishin, Carolina Hurricanes
G Jakub Dobes, Montreal Canadiens
The group is highlighted by the three Calder Trophy finalists: Demidov, Sennecke, and Schaefer. In a runaway performance, Schaefer ultimately took home Rookie of the Year honors, but Demidov and Sennecke each had exceptional seasons in their own right.
The final forward spot came down to the wire between Snuggerud and Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals. Snuggerud barely surpassed Leonard in scoring, finishing with 21 goals and 51 points in 70 games to Leonard’s 20 goals and 45 points in 75 games. The higher point totals in fewer games likely pushed Snuggerud over the edge.
Unlike the voting at forward, Nikishin made it fairly easy to round out the defense. He finished well short of Schaefer’s totals with 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, but he plays a much different game. Nikishin’s +18 rating was only three behind Fraser Minten‘s rating with the Boston Bruins for the highest in the league among rookies.
The goaltending vote could have gone either way, and maybe should have. Not to knock Dobes, who had a quality year, but Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild was fairly dominant this season. The former first-round pick finished with an 18-9-6 record in 35 games with a .916 SV% and 2.61 GAA.
Not only did Wallstedt’s save percentage finish as the top among rookie netminders, but he also finished second in the league among qualified goaltenders, only slightly behind Scott Wedgewood of the Colorado Avalanche.
Still, Dobe’s entry onto the All-Rookie Team was well deserved. He had a heavier workload than Wallstedt, finishing with a 29-10-4 record in 43 games with a .901 SV% and 2.78 GAA.
NHL Coaching Staff Directory
Below is Pro Hockey Rumors’ directory of NHL bench coaching staffs, pieced together from team websites and credible reports. Active vacancies compared to clubs’ 2024-25 staffing numbers are noted.
Updated 6/12/26
Anaheim Ducks
Head coach: Joel Quenneville
Assistant coaches: Ryan McGill, Jay Woodcroft, Tim Army, Andrew Brewer
Goalie coach: Peter Budaj
Boston Bruins
Head coach: Marco Sturm
Assistant coaches: Steve Spott, Chris Kelly, Matt McIlvane
Goalie coach: Bob Essensa
Buffalo Sabres
Head coach: Lindy Ruff
Assistant coaches: Marty Wilford, Seth Appert, Matt Ellis
Goalie coach: Mike Bales
Calgary Flames
Head coach: Ryan Huska
Assistant coaches: Dave Lowry, Cail MacLean, Trent Cull
Goalie coach: Jason LaBarbera
Carolina Hurricanes
Head coach: Rod Brind’Amour
Assistant coaches: Jeff Daniels, Tim Gleason
Goalie coach: Paul Schonfelder
Chicago Blackhawks
Head coach: Jeff Blashill
Assistant coaches: Mike Vellucci, Anders Sorensen, Michael Peca
Goalie coach: Jimmy Waite
Colorado Avalanche
Head coach: Jared Bednar
Assistant coaches: Nolan Pratt, Dave Hakstol
Goalie coach: Jussi Parkkila
Columbus Blue Jackets
Head coach: Rick Bowness
Assistant coaches: Jared Boll
Goalie coach: Niklas Bäckström
Dallas Stars
Head coach: Glen Gulutzan
Assistant coaches: Alain Nasreddine, Neil Graham, David Pelletier
Goalie coach: Jeff Reese
Detroit Red Wings
Head coach: Todd McLellan
Assistant coaches: Trent Yawney, Alex Tanguay
Goalie coach: Michael Leighton
Edmonton Oilers
Head coach: (Vacant)
Assistant coaches: Paul Coffey
Goalie coach: Peter Aubry
Florida Panthers
Head coach: Paul Maurice
Assistant coaches: Jamie Kompon, Sylvain Lefebvre, Tuomo Ruutu
Goalie coach: Robb Tallas
Los Angeles Kings
Head coach: Peter Laviolette
Assistant coaches: Derik Johnson, D.J. Smith, Newell Brown, Matt Greene
Goalie coach: Mike Buckley
Minnesota Wild
Head coach: John Hynes
Assistant coaches: Jack Capuano, Patrick Dwyer, Jason King
Goalie coach: Frederic Chabot
Montreal Canadiens
Head coach: Martin St. Louis
Assistant coaches: Trevor Letowski, Stéphane Robidas
Goalie coach: Marco Marciano (interim)
Nashville Predators
Head coach: Andrew Brunette
Assistant coaches: Darby Hendrickson, Luke Richardson, Derek MacKenzie, Lawrence Feloney
Goalie coach: Ben Vanderklok
New Jersey Devils
Head coach: Sheldon Keefe
Assistant coaches: Jeremy Colliton, Brad Shaw
Goalie coach: (Vacant)
New York Islanders
Head coach: Peter DeBoer
Assistant coaches: Bob Boughner, Rocky Thompson
Goalie coach: Sergei Naumov
New York Rangers
Head coach: Mike Sullivan
Assistant coaches: Joe Sacco, David Quinn, Ty Hennes
Goalie coach: Jeff Malcolm
Ottawa Senators
Head coach: Travis Green
Assistant coaches: Mike Yeo, Nolan Baumgartner, Ben Sexton, Daniel Alfredsson
Goalie coach: Justin Peters
Philadelphia Flyers
Head coach: Rick Tocchet
Assistant coaches: Todd Reirden, Yogi Svejkovský, Jay Varady
Goalie coach: Kim Dillabaugh
Pittsburgh Penguins
Head coach: Dan Muse
Assistant coaches: Todd Nelson, Mike Stothers, Rich Clune, Nick Bonino
Goalie coach: Andy Chiodo
San Jose Sharks
Head coach: Ryan Warsofsky
Assistant coaches: Doug Houda, Brian Wiseman, Jeff Ulmer
Goalie coach: Thomas Speer
Seattle Kraken
Head coach: Lane Lambert
Assistant coaches: Chris Taylor, Aaron Schneekloth, Pascal Vincent
Goalie coach: Colin Zulianello
St. Louis Blues
Head coach: Jim Montgomery
Assistant coaches: Ryan Stacey
Goalie coach: David Alexander
Tampa Bay Lightning
Head coach: Jon Cooper
Assistant coaches: Rob Zettler, Jeff Halpern, Dan Hinote
Goalie coach: Frantz Jean
Toronto Maple Leafs
Head coach: (Vacant)
Assistant coaches: Derek Lalonde, Steve Sullivan
Goalie coach: Curtis Sanford
Utah Mammoth
Head coach: André Tourigny
Assistant coaches: Blaine Forsythe, John Madden, Mario Duhamel
Goalie coach: Corey Schwab
Vancouver Canucks
Head coach: Manny Malhotra
Assistant coaches: (Vacant)
Goalie coach: Marko Torenius
Vegas Golden Knights
Head coach: John Tortorella
Assistant coaches: Dominique Ducharme, John Stevens, Joel Ward
Goalie coach: Sean Burke
Washington Capitals
Head coach: Spencer Carbery
Assistant coaches: Ray Bennett, Patrick Wellar, Scott Allen, Brett Leonhardt, Kenny McCudden
Goalie coach: Scott Murray
Winnipeg Jets
Head coach: Scott Arniel
Assistant coaches: Davis Payne, Dean Chynoweth, Marty Johnston
Goalie coach: Wade Flaherty
List Of 2026 Unrestricted Free Agents
This summer’s free agency period is on the horizon. Below is a complete list of the upcoming class of unrestricted free agents, with their 2026 ages listed in parentheses. Undoubtedly, several players will have signed extensions, departed for opportunities overseas, or retire, and this list will be amended to reflect those changes. The complete list of upcoming UFAs is as follows:
Centers
Rodrigo Abols (30)
Noel Acciari (34)
Teddy Blueger (31)
Jonny Brodzinski (32)
Nick Cousins (32)
Jason Dickinson (30)
Joshua Dunne (27)
Lars Eller (37)
Brendan Gaunce (32)
Claude Giroux (38)
Luke Glendening (37)
Jansen Harkins (29)
Kevin Hayes (34)
Adam Henrique (36)
Boone Jenner (32)
Ben Jones (27)
Tyson Jost (28)
David Kampf (31)
Alexander Kerfoot (31)
Justin Kirkland (29)
Luke Kunin (28)
Trevor Kuntar (24)
Joseph LaBate (33)
Tanner Laczynski (29)
Sam Lafferty (31)
Scott Laughton (32)
Curtis Lazar (31)
Zack MacEwen (29)
Marc McLaughlin (26)
Lane Pederson (28)
Noah Philp (27)
Kevin Rooney (33)
Jack Roslovic (29)
Colton Sissons (32)
Kevin Stenlund (29)
Jack Studnicka (27)
Oskar Sundqvist (32)
Jonathan Toews (38)
T.J. Tynan (34)