Eyes will be on the Toronto Maple Leafs fallout Ryan Clark and Kristen Shilton of ESPN: Keys to the offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Projected 2024-25 cap space: $19,205,333 2024 draft picks: 1st, 4th, 5th, 5th (CGY), 5th (VAN), 7th, 7th (OTT) The Maple Leafs became a more physical team after adding Ryan Reaves, Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin, but the end results were the same. A decision will have to be made regarding their core, and feels like a shift is needed this offseason. Sheldon Keefe got a contract extension but that may not save his job after the first-round loss ..read more

Utah is looking for two top-six forwards and a top-four defenseman The Fourth Period: Utah has $43.26 million in projected salary cap space heading into next season. They have pending RFAs in Sean Durzi, Juuso Valimaki and J.J. Moser and Barrett Hayton. Utah will have a chance this offseason to add to their roster. They’ll be looking at the trade and free agent market. Unlike past seasons, GM Bill Armstrong won’t be looking to acquire high-priced contracts with an asset attached to help out other teams. They’ll be looking to upgrade their roster. Multiple sources have said they’ll be looking t ..read more

Jared Bednar should be back no matter what the outcome is Adrian Dater: If the Colorado Avalanche were to lose in the first round for the second consecutive season, coach Jared Bednar would still be back with the team next season. There’s not a chance that they would fire him. Quick hits on the Blues, Red Wings, Penguins, Wild, Flyers, Kraken, Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Panthers Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Drew Bannister will be a candidate for the full-time St. Louis Blues head coach. It’s believed GM Doug Armstrong wants to talk to David Carle of the University of Denver. The Blues are int ..read more

Jared Bednar should be back no matter what the outcome is Adrian Dater: If the Colorado Avalanche were to lose in the first round for the second consecutive season, coach Jared Bednar would still be back with the team next season. There’s not a chance that they would fire him. Quick hits on the Blues, Red Wings, Penguins, Wild, Flyers, Kraken, Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Panthers Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Drew Bannister will be a candidate for the full-time St. Louis Blues head coach. It’s believed GM Doug Armstrong wants to talk to David Carle of the University of Denver. The Blues are int ..read more

Shane Wright will get a good opportunity before the Seattle Kraken return him to the AHL TSN: Pierre LeBrun notes Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright is back with the team for the time being and skated with Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle earlier this week. He’ll play some bigger minutes with the Kraken and then return for the AHL playoffs to gain more experience. He’s put up 20 goals in the 56 AHL games. Would the Chicago Blackhawks be interested in Trevor Zegras? Nate Brown of Chicago Hockey Now: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be made available this offseason according to some re ..read more

Shane Wright will get a good opportunity before the Seattle Kraken return him to the AHL TSN: Pierre LeBrun notes Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright is back with the team for the time being and skated with Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle earlier this week. He’ll play some bigger minutes with the Kraken and then return for the AHL playoffs to gain more experience. He’s put up 20 goals in the 56 AHL games. Would the Chicago Blackhawks be interested in Trevor Zegras? Nate Brown of Chicago Hockey Now: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be made available this offseason according to some re ..read more

Will the Chicago Blackhawks go bridge or long-term with Alex Vlasic? Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Blackhawks pending RFA defenseman Alex Vlasic said that extension talks haven’t gone “too deep.” The sides will have to decide if they want to go with a bridge deal or something long-term term. “But definitely thinking about it,” he said. “It’s in the back of my head right now. Hopefully at the end of the year, I’ll be able to work something out.” NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks – Hronek, Myers, Blueger, Joshua and Zadorov Was trading Elias Pettersson ever really an option? The Canucks ..read more

Will the Chicago Blackhawks go bridge or long-term with Alex Vlasic? Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Blackhawks pending RFA defenseman Alex Vlasic said that extension talks haven’t gone “too deep.” The sides will have to decide if they want to go with a bridge deal or something long-term term. “But definitely thinking about it,” he said. “It’s in the back of my head right now. Hopefully at the end of the year, I’ll be able to work something out.” NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks – Hronek, Myers, Blueger, Joshua and Zadorov Was trading Elias Pettersson ever really an option? The Canucks ..read more

The Chicago Blackhawks wanted to keep their salary retention slots open Mario Tirabassi: Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said teams did contact them about being a third-party broker but he wanted to keep their slots open. “Yeah, you get, you get feelers on that. I just, the ones that, that came to us just didn’t, I don’t think it made sense given we only have two retain salary spots left for a late round pick. Is just something I didn’t want to potentially limit ourselves, whether it be today or down the road or whatever, I just wanted to keep those spots open.” NHL Rumors: The Advantage o ..read more

On the Buffalo Sabres Lance Lysowski: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams: “I’m not trading Alex Tuch. That was not something we have any interest in doing. … Not a guy in any way, shape or form that we’re looking to do anything with.” Lance Lysowski: The Sabres tired to find forward Victor Olofsson a new home for a free start but they weren’t able too. He’ll get more of an opportunity with the Sabres after Casey Mittelstadt and Kyle Okposo were traded. Mike Harrington: Sabres owner Terry Pegula loves Zemgus Girgensons and has for a long time and it’s clearly a factor on him not being traded. “And h ..read more