These RFAs Will Fetch Surprising Contracts This Summer
The UFA class this summer is looking rather sparse at this point, which will put pressure on teams to lock up their restricted free agents, particularly if they are eligible to sign an offer sheet. While Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson will get much of the chatter among the RFA class, there are a handful of lesser-known players who are on the cusp of signing eye-popping contracts over the next few months. These candidates are largely under the radar for the more casual fan, but they have put in the work to secure a healthy payday this summer. The rising salary cap, coupled with a lack of UFAs, is going to give arbitration-eligible RFAs unprecedented leverage, and it will be on full display this summer.
The Vegas Golden Knights are on a heater in the postseason, thanks to their stars, including Mitch Marner. However, one lesser-known contributor is forward Pavel Dorofeyev, who is finishing a season in which he made just $1.835MM. The 25-year-old just had a career year, posting 37 goals and 27 assists in 82 games, after tallying 52 points in 82 games a year ago. Dorofeyev is a potential offer sheet candidate, given the Golden Knights’ precarious cap position this offseason, his age, and his recent run of success. An offer of $9.5MM per season isn’t out of the question for Dorofeyev, and if Vegas didn’t match, they would receive a first, second, and third-round draft pick.
Would a team be willing to pay that much for Dorofeyev’s services? It’s entirely possible, given the thin free-agent market and the sheer number of teams sitting on absurd amounts of cap space for the first time in years. Couple those factors with GMs in several markets fighting to keep their jobs, and you have a recipe for some wild RFA contracts. But a $9.5MM AAV for Dorofeyev isn’t out of the question, and projections from AFP Analytics have come in around $9MM annually on a long-term deal. Goal scorers almost always get paid (see Brock Boeser), and with Dorofeyev entering his prime, someone somewhere will pay handsomely if Vegas can’t or won’t.
Another forward who is sure to get paid this summer is Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old was a late first-round pick (25th overall) in 2019 and took his time developing, but has become a bona fide middle-six forward over the last two years after establishing himself as a full-time NHLer at 23. McMichael took a step back offensively this season, dropping from 57 points to 46, with much of the decline coming from a nearly five-percentage-point drop in shooting percentage. AFP has McMichael receiving just shy of $6.5MM on a six-year deal if he signs long term, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility given his offensive production over the last two years. McMichael might have more to give as he continues to approach his prime, which could add an additional bit of intrigue to a contract negotiation that could come with some sticker shock when it concludes.
Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti took a major step back this season in offensive production, dropping from 50 points to just 32, although his PPG drop wasn’t as dramatic given the time he missed. Perfetti was an obvious long-term extension candidate a year ago, but after this year’s setback, he could be looking at a bridge deal of one year, in the $4MM to $4.5MM range. However, given his age (24) and talent, it would not be shocking to see him signed long-term if the Jets (or another team) feel they could buy low and get him at a discount before he breaks out. AFP Analytics has him tabbed for a long-term AAV of $6.395MM, a number that would send shockwaves around the NHL. However, that price tag is the cost of buying upside, and teams have done it before and had it work, making it a real possibility.
Next, we head to Florida to examine the case of Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich, who is set to join a long list of Florida players who have cashed in on their success over the last few seasons. Coming off his second full NHL season, the 23-year-old isn’t going to get big money long term, but he will likely receive a bridge deal worth around $3MM per season, which should get some people’s attention. Last summer, Samoskevich took a one-year deal at the league minimum ($775K), but this summer will be a very different story. The Panthers have some business to attend to in the crease, as both their goalies are UFAs, but they do have a decent amount of cap space, so it’s unlikely that Samoskevich is moved out.
One look at Braden Schneider’s offensive stats and the casual observer might not believe he is due for a big payday, but he is. It’s typical for defensive defensemen are often overlooked as they don’t appear on the scoresheet or draw headlines in the media. But NHL teams pay a premium for defenders who can take on tough defensive assignments against their opponents’ top players, and that’s what the New York Rangers rearguard is capable of. Whether Schneider can actually do that is up for healthy debate, as it pits the analytics crew against the eye-test crowd. But debate or not, the 24-year-old is getting paid this summer. AFP Analytics has him at a $4MM AAV on a short-term deal and $6MM if he goes long term, both numbers that will have some folks mouthing the word, “Wow.”
Lastly, we come to Ottawa Senators defenseman Jordan Spence, who is also due a large payday that will surely surprise some people. Spence quietly had a terrific first season in Ottawa and is projected by AFP Analytics to receive either a one-year deal worth just over $3MM or a longer-term deal for nearly $5MM. That number is eye-popping, but given the rising cap, Spence’s untapped potential, and his previous work, $5MM isn’t outrageous, even though it is surprising. Spence’s contract could be one that wakes fans up to the new economic reality in the NHL, where defenders who can play the minutes he can will be receiving north of $5MM fairly regularly. There are some unique circumstances with Spence. He is a right-handed offensive defenseman who can play up and down the defensive unit. He drives play offensively and has sparkling underlying numbers.
This list isn’t exhaustive, as there are a handful of other players who will receive eye-popping extensions as RFAs, including the likes of Jet Greaves and Peyton Krebs. In terms of projecting things out, these seem to be the most obvious candidates to get big raises this offseason, but there are always surprises, and given the plethora of teams with money this offseason, some wild numbers will surely be thrown around.
Oilers Make Multiple Front Office Promotions
The Edmonton Oilers have gotten a head start on sorting out the food chain of their front office next season. According to a team announcement, the Oilers have promoted Michael Parkatti to Vice President of Analytics and Technology, Kirt Hill to assistant General Manager of Player Procurement, Kalle Larsson to assistant General Manager of Player Development and Innovation, Toby Salmelainen to assistant General Manager of European Operations, Andreas Karlsson to Director of Player Development, Justin Mahe to Director of Hockey Operations and Player Experience, Michael Chan to President, General Manager, and WHL Alternate Governor of the Edmonton Oil Kings, and Jamie Jackson to Director of Scouting for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Edmonton is placing greater emphasis on the analytical aspect of the front office through these promotions. Parkatti has been in a similar role with the Oilers since 2023. Parkatti has been relied upon to give date-driven recommendations to the team’s decision-makers. Edmonton shared that Parkatti developed the xGoals metric, which has become a widely used tool for measuring a player’s effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Hill comes to the Oilers from WHL Edmonton. He had been serving as the Oil Kings’ General Manager for the last several years. He will now work closely with Edmonton’s professional and amateur scouts, as well as recruiting undrafted free agents. Before his work with the Oilers organization, Hill served as an amateur scout with the Chicago Blackhawks beginning in the 2017-18 campaign.
In the announcement, the team stated that Larsson will mainly focus on creating development plans for prospects and current players, while Salmelainen will lead the team responsible for scouting and recruiting talent from Europe. Furthermore, similar to Larsson, Karlsson will oversee the development plans for all Oilers’ prospects in the NCAA, AHL, and Europe. Mahe will be in charge of the hockey operations budget and Edmonton’s immigration and regulation compliance.
The final two promotions of Chan and Jackson directly affect the Oil Kings, also owned by OEG Inc. Chan and Jackson have both been with the Oil Kings for the past two years; Chan serving as the team’s Director of Scouting and Jackson as an area scout.
Sabres Sign Jake Richard To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team announcement, the Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Jake Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract. The Sabres did not specify the financial terms of the deal.
Buffalo drafted Richard back in 2022 with the 170th overall selection of that summer’s draft. The 21-year-old was coming off a decent season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 18 goals and 48 points in 56 games with a +10 rating. Having already committed to the University of Connecticut by then, Richard spent one more year in the USHL, this time split between Muskegon and the Tri-City Storm, amassing 31 goals and 62 points in 57 games.
Despite a slow start to his college tenure throughout his rookie campaign, Richard became a key offensive contributor for the Huskies by his sophomore season. During that season, Richard set career-highs in nearly every category, finishing with 15 goals and 43 points in 34 games with a +26 rating. As a result, it was the best year in program history for the University of Connecticut, which reached the National Tournament for the first time; however, they were eliminated in the Regional Final by Penn State University.
Despite remaining a significant part of the team’s offense, Richard’s scoring decreased to 10 goals and 27 points in 38 games. The Huskies qualified for the National Tournament for the second consecutive year but were eliminated in the Regional Semifinal by Michigan State University. This match would be Richard’s final collegiate contest.
Given that he’s already spent three years in the NCAA, it would be reasonable for Richard to make the transition to the American Hockey League next year. Unless he tears it up in training camp, he’ll start the 2026-27 season with the Rochester Americans, who were bounced in the First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs by the Toronto Marlies.
Maple Leafs Notes: First Overall, Carle, Goaltending
As expected, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, John Chayka, is open to all offers on the first overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs aren’t actively looking to move the top selection of this year’s draft, but would agree to move it if the offer blew them away.
Specifically, LeBrun said, “Not that the Maple Leafs are intent on moving the No. 1 pick, but new general manager John Chayka also isn’t hanging up the phone if and when teams call. Why would he? If a team steps up in a meaningful way with the kind of package that helps the Leafs get back in contention, Chayka will at least listen, according to league sources.”
Obviously, the package to acquire said pick would be so substantial that the odds of Toronto eventually moving the selection are near-zero. As David Alter of The Hockey News put it, “unless a team blows Chayka away with an offer that genuinely transforms the Leafs’ competitiveness for next season and beyond, it’s difficult to envision this pick leaving Toronto.”
Additional updates from the Maple Leafs:
- In a new report from Emily Kaplan of ESPN, the Maple Leafs are interested in David Carle, the current head coach at the University of Denver, for their head coaching vacancy. Additionally, Kaplan added that Carle is entertaining the idea, but he will remain as selective as he has in the past. Kaplan believes that if the Colorado Avalanche move on from Jared Bednar in the relatively near future, Carle might wait for that, given his connections to the area.
- There’s no question that the Maple Leafs have a surplus of netminders heading into next season. In a recent article from Andre Leal of The Hockey News, he considers the pros and cons of Toronto moving one of its netminders this offseason. The hardest to move would be Anthony Stolarz, who is coming off an injury-riddled campaign, signed through the next four seasons at a $3.75MM cap hit with a 16-team no-trade clause. However, Toronto may be able to peddle him to a goalie-needy team such as the Edmonton Oilers.
Mammoth Sign Gregor Biber To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team announcement, the Utah Mammoth have signed defenseman Gregor Biber to an entry-level contract. Although they didn’t specify in their announcement, it will presumably be a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.
Biber, 19, was one of the first players to be drafted by the Mammoth since the franchise began ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Utah selected the Krems, Austria native with the 98th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft out of Rögle BK’s under-20 team.
Unfortunately for the Mammoth, there’s very little to get excited about in Biber’s offensive profile. Since being drafted, he has primarily played in the SHL for Rögle BK, where he has scored three goals and recorded five points in a total of 88 games. In the postseason, it hasn’t been any better, going scoreless across 17 games the past two years.
Additionally, he has been a mainstay for Team Austria, playing at varying levels of international competition, including the IIHF World Championships. His offensive struggles have continued, with only three points in 30 international games since the 2023-24 season.
Still, what he lacks in offensive prowess he makes up for on the defensive side of the puck. Standing at 6’3″, 196lbs, Biber is a highly physical defender and has never had a plus/minus below zero throughout his time in the SHL. Especially as a younger player, that’s quality production against veteran competition.
Unless Utah’s management believes he needs more seasoning overseas, Biber will likely suit up for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners next season to test his mettle in North America. However, if he does stay with Rögle BK throughout the 2026-27 SHL regular season, Biber likely won’t make the jump to the North American circuit until the end of next season.
Prospect Notes: Bakke Olsen, Masse, Lacelle
Norwegian forward Eskild Bakke Olsen is catching NHL attention at the 2026 World Championship. He has begun to garner interest from NHL clubs, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis told Norwegian news outlet Nitten. Bakke Olsen is currently tied for second on Team Norway in tournament scoring with five points in seven games. He signed a three-year contract with the SHL’s Linkoping HC ahead of the 2025-26 season. That will mean any NHL move prior to 2028 will require a buyout.
Bakke Olsen, 24, grew up through Norway’s youth hockey ranks and debuted in the country’s top pro league in 2020. He moved to Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan three years later and quickly stood out. He led BIK Karlskoga in scoring with 37 points in 49 games of the 2023-24 season, then held onto his title with 53 points in 48 games of the 2024-25 season. Those performances earned Bakke Olsen a promotion to the SHL last season. He made good work of it, with 32 points in 51 games of his first season with Linkoping – the second-most scoring on the team.
The playmaking center will try to continue his climb up the hockey world with another strong SHL season, or a move to North American pros, on the other side of the World Championship.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- The University of Massachusetts has confirmed the addition of Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Masse. The reigning QMJHL scoring champion will be one of college hockey’s top recruits after notching 51 goals and 102 points in 63 games of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens season. At 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, Masse brings a rare mix of size and scoring ability. He has grown to top prospect status since his third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and should continue to demand a top lineup role with the MinuteMen. But already 20 years old, Masse will also face questions of if he can turn pro before his fast-moving development begins to slow down.
- 2026 NHL Draft goalie prospect William Lacelle has decided to continue his career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha next season. He will help the Mavericks make up for the graduation of captain Simon Latkoczy following his move to the ECHL. Lacelle is garnering mid-round attention after splitting his season between the Rimouski Oceanic and Baliville-Boisbriand Armada. He finished the year with a .917 save percentage and 27-15-2 record between the two squads. Lacelle added a .909 save percentage and 10-5-0 record in 15 playoff games with the Armada. He will compete with Omaha’s 2025-26 backup Dawson Cowan for starting minutes next season. Cowan recorded a .901 save percentage and four wins in 12 starts this season.
Four-Time Cup Winner Claude Lemeiux Passes Away At Age 60
New Jersey Devils cult star and four-time Stanley Cup-winner Claude Lemieux has passed away at the age of 60. Lemieux played through 21 seasons and 1,215 games in the NHL between 1983 and 2009. He was a true pest, filling a unique and impactful lineup role through seven years with the Montreal Canadiens, six with the Devils, five with the Colorado Avalanche, three with the Phoenix Coyotes, and one each with the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.
Lemieux’s hockey career began in the QMJHL. He racked up 66 points and 213 penalty minutes in the 1982-83 QMJHL season, immediately establishing his place as a forward adamant about making the scoresheet in one way or another. Montreal drafted Lemieux in the second-round of the 1983 NHL Draft and returned him to the junior league for the next two seasons. He finished his QMJHL career with a staggering 210 points and 379 PIMs in 103 games before turning pro full-time in 1985.
Lemieux spent his first pro season in the AHL. He finished the year with 53 points and 145 PIMs in 58 games – then stepped up as an X-factor addition to Montreal’s run to the 1986 Stanley Cup. Lemieux recorded three points and 31 PIMs in five games of the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals, helping the Canadiens seal a 4-1 series win over the Calgary Flames. The gritty winger would go on to net 53 points in his NHL rookie season in 1986-87 and would continue to pace for 50-to-60 points on Montreal’s second-line role through the 1989-90 season.
Montreal sought a bit more well-roundedness in the 1990 summer, leading the Canadiens to trading their gritty winger to the Devils in exchange for playmaker Sylvain Turgeon. That move kicked off the heart of Lemieux’s career, as he joined a loaded New Jersey offense already featuring Brendan Shanahan, Peter Stastny, Kirk Muller, and John MacLean. Lemieux scored 47 points in 78 games of his first season in New Jersey.
That dip below 50 points was quickly forgotten when Lemieux led the team in scoring with 68 points of their transformative 1991-92 season. Through major roster turnover, including the emergence of Scott Stevens and Martin Brodeur, it was Lemieux’s all-out energy and work ethic that held the Devils together. He willed the team to the 1992 postseason to extend what was, then, a six-year streak of playoff appearances for the winger. He topped the lineup again with a career-high 81 points in 1992-93, while continuing to pace for 150 PIMs every season.
The 1993-94 season brought some relief to Lemieux’s lineup-leading responsibilities. He scored just 44 points and 84 PIMs in 79 games that season – but seemed to be conserving his energy all year long, and spent that reserve on a tremendous 1994 playoff run. Always a playoff star, Lemieux raced to 18 points and 44 PIMs in 20 games of the ‘94 postseason as New Jersey pushed to the Eastern Conference Finals.
They would lose that series to the New York Rangers – but Lemieux repeated his performance in 1995, with a quiet regular season followed by a loud playoffs. He recorded 13 goals, 16 points, and a tame 20 PIMs in 20 playoff games as New Jersey breezed to the 1995 Stanley Cup. While the lineup was full of superstars – including the legendary defense pairing of Stevens and Scott Niedermayer and starting goaltender Brodeur – it was again Lemieux’s nasty edge that brought the Devils life. His ability to play a chippy, relentless style proved exhausting for opponents and led to multiple goals scored from seemingly inside of the opposing crease. His ability to tie everything together landed Lemieux the 1995 Conn Smythe trophy – the only individual award he would win in his expansive career.
The Devils, surprisingly, traded Lemieux to the Colorado Avalanche ahead of the 1995-96 season. He was again swapped in a one-for-one deal, this time returning Wendel Clark to the Devils. Lemieux was in a familiar situation, joining a strong Avalanche lineup that included Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy. He was the final addition in Colorado’s top-six and reached a lofty 39 goals and 71 points in 79 games of the regular season. Lemieux kept it rolling with 12 points and 55 PIMs in the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs, once again proving to be the X-factor behind a loaded offense en route to his third Stanley Cup win and second consecutive win.
It was in the 1996 postseason that Lemieux delivered one of his most notorious hits. He hit Detroit Red Wings star Kris Draper into the boards, resulting in Draper sustaining a concussion, broken jaw, broken nose, and broken cheekbone. The injuries required reconstructive surgery that forced Draper to have his jaw temporarily wired shut. The hit cemented Lemieux’s status as a cheap-shooting, grinder and would lead to a prolonged rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings.
Lemieux continued to perform at a top level and help ensure runs to the playoffs through Colorado’s next three seasons. He was traded back to the Devils in 2000 in a colossal exchange that sent Brian Rolston back to the Avalanche. Lemieux didn’t miss a beat in one year back in New Jersey, notably notching 10 points and 28 PIMs in 23 games of the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs as he supported a fourth Stanley Cup win.
Lemieux moved to the Phoenix Coyotes after winning another Cup with the Devils. He was an early great in the Coyotes franchise but the move would bring an end to Lemieux’s 15 consecutive postseason berths in 2001. He willed the Coyotes back to the postseason in 2002, all while notching diminishing offense and penalty totals on a roster still trying to find its core. The Coyotes flipped Lemieux to the Dallas Stars in January 2003. After another down year, he opted to step away from the NHL for the 2003-04 season, moving to Switzerland’s National League for one season before announcing his retirement in 2004.
Retirement did not keep Lemieux out of the spotlight. He assumed the president role for the ECHL’s Phoenix RoadRunners from 2005 to 2007 and was frequently featured in TV and media. After stepping down from his front office role in the ECHL, Lemieux built up towards a return in the 2008-09 sason. At the age of 43, Lemieux began the year with the China Sharks of the Asia League, then signed a contract with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks in November. That led into a two-way contract with San Jose in December and a call-up to the NHL in January. Lemieux would score one point in 18 games with San Jose as the Sharks chased the President’s Trophy as the league’s top team.
Lemieux stayed a prominent hockey figure well after his second retirement in 2009. He was most recently a torch bearer in one of Montreal’s pre-game ceremonies during the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. It was his final public appearance. Lemieux will be remembered as one of the greatest NHL players to hate among many fans. He was a tenacious, relentless, and aggressive winger who seemed to constantly deliver devastating blows – whether it was timely goals or injury-inducing hits. Pro Hockey Rumors sends our condolences to Lemieux’s family, friends, and countless fans.
Photo courtesy of RVR Photos-Imagn Images.
Sharks Sign Phillip Sinn To Entry-Level Contract
The San Jose Sharks have looked towards Germany to reinforce their blue line. Defenseman Phillip Sinn has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks set to begin next season. Sinn spent last season with EHC Munchen of Germany’s DEL and played five games with Team Germany at the 2026 World Championships. Reports of NHL interest around Sinn was first reported by German hockey news source Eisblog.
Sinn, 22, is a true shutdown-defenseman. He scored just nine points across all levels of competition in the 2025-26 season, including three points in 35 games of his DEL season. Despite those low marks, Sinn stood out with a long reach and physical style that helped secure an otherwise offensively-leaning defense corps – led by former Carolina Hurricanes defender Ryan Murphy. Sinn was most productive in a seven-game assignment to Germany’s minor-pro league, where he recorded four assists.
The 6-foot-2 defender rose through the ranks of Austrian hockey and made his debut in the country’s top league in 2023. He finished his first pro season with seven points in 30 games with EC Salzburg and captained Team Germany at the 2024 World Junior Championships – where he scored four points in five games. Sinn has since built a tendency for very little scoring in top pro leagues, but near point-per-game scoring in minor-pro leagues, through trips in Austria and Germany. Those tenures include no scoring in 12 games in the Champions Hockey League, but two points in three games of Germany’s Deutschland Cup.
Sinn will bring another big body and shutdown ability to the Sharks defense corps. He could have a hope at one day filling the hard-working, shutdown role filled by Mario Ferraro in his final months in the Sharks lineup. That dream will be far off, though, as Sinn enters his North American career behind prospect Leo Sahlin Wallenius on the depth chart and almost certainly headed for a second-pair role in the AHL.
Latest On Golden Knights, Bruce Cassidy
May 28th: Vegas does not plan to grant teams permission to talk with Cassidy until the end of their run in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. Cassidy is believed to have mutual interest with the Oilers and has also fielded interest from the Kings. Kaplan adds that Edmonton could pivot to John Tortorella should Vegas be willing to part with the coach who has led them to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Golden Knights had originally planned to move on from Tortorella and promote Ryan Craig, head coach of the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, but their recent postseason success has complicated that plan. Edmonton will follow that plan very closely as they look to bring in a veteran head coach to replace Kris Knoblauch.
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.
Belarus Reinstated For IIHF Tournaments
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced that Belarus will be reinstated for competition beginning next season per Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff. The announcement came during the organization’s annual congress held in Zurich, Switzerland this week. Belarus has been barred from international competition since 2021 due to their involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a statement, the IIHF said:
This decision was not taken lightly. The safety and well-being of players, officials, fans, volunteers, and all participants remains our highest priority. Based on the assessments conducted and ongoing consultations with relevant stakeholders, we believe this can be done in a safe, responsible, and controlled manner.
No update was provided on Russia’s eligibility for IIHF tournaments. In a statement, the Russian Hockey Federation acknowledged their partnership with the IIHF to work back towards tournament eligibility while also noting that their ban remains in place.
Belarus’ last participation in an IIHF tournament was at the 2022 World Junior Championship Division-1A tournament. They won the tournament with a 5-0-0 record and 26-to-eight goal differential. Their roster was laden with NHL talent. Top draft pick Artyom Levshunov led a group that also featured forwards Vitali Pinchuk and Yegor Sidorov, defensemen Dmitri Kuzmin and Daniil Karpovich, and goaltender Aleksei Kolosov. Belarus was suspended from IIHF competition following this tournament and Latvia – the Silver Medal winners – were promoted in their place.
Belarus appears set to join the top division of the World U18 Championship, but the second division of the World Championship, ahead of the IIHF’s 2027 tournaments. The country will bring a high-powered roster to the men’s tournament, while also boasting a chance to showcase their top draft-eligible prospects next season.