What a gem Joe Sakic, President of the Colorado Avalanche, found in Artturi Lehkonen. Since being traded to the Avalanche from the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, he has fit right in with this team. Lehkonen provides the secondary scoring the Avalanche missed, especially in the playoffs. Before the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, there were questions about their depth scoring. When Sakic was the General Manager at the time, he addressed those needs. He took a gamble on Valeri Nichushkin, which is paying off in spades and traded for Lehkonen. Both players were essential to the Avalanche ..read more

Detroit Red Wings Have Too Many Free Agents Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey NOW: When it comes to the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman knows there may be too many free agents when the dealing is done. Yzerman and Detroit carry $28.8 million in cap space. Expect that to dwindle fast. Now, the Red Wings have nine or ten slots to fill with 13 players committed for next season. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider commanding most of that money. This becomes especially true if they receive longer extensions. That feels like the lean anyway. With several players not waiver exempt, that only complicates the ..read more

Detroit Red Wings Have Too Many Free Agents Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey NOW: When it comes to the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman knows there may be too many free agents when the dealing is done. Yzerman and Detroit carry $28.8 million in cap space. Expect that to dwindle fast. Now, the Red Wings have nine or ten slots to fill with 13 players committed for next season. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider commanding most of that money. This becomes especially true if they receive longer extensions. That feels like the lean anyway. With several players not waiver exempt, that only complicates the ..read more

TSN: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes when asked about the upcoming NHL draft and what their priorities are. ** NHLRumors.com transcription Bryan Mudryk: “Montreal Canadiens fans very excited for the draft. Two first round picks this year, two next year and obviously moves like getting (Kirby) Dach and (Alex) Newhook. A lot of excitement for your team. What are some of the priorities for you for the upcoming draft and going forward here? Hughes: “Well, you know, we’ve talked and we had our end of the year media availability and we talked about, we can continue to do things to advance the rebu ..read more

TSN: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes when asked about the upcoming NHL draft and what their priorities are. ** NHLRumors.com transcription Bryan Mudryk: “Montreal Canadiens fans very excited for the draft. Two first round picks this year, two next year and obviously moves like getting (Kirby) Dach and (Alex) Newhook. A lot of excitement for your team. What are some of the priorities for you for the upcoming draft and going forward here? Hughes: “Well, you know, we’ve talked and we had our end of the year media availability and we talked about, we can continue to do things to advance the rebu ..read more

Daniel Alfredsson won’t be the Ottawa Senators next head coach Bruce Garrioch: Daniel Alfredsson won’t be a head coaching candidate for the Ottawa Senators. If he wants to remain as an assistant coach, it’s up to him. Will the Edmonton Oilers be able to afford Warren Foegele? Jim Matheson: 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers pending UFA forward Warren Foegele is going to get a raise from his current $2.75 million. He’s likely going to get a four-year deal from someone. Will the Oilers have enough money available to re-sign the top-nine forward? Could the Oilers fit in/would he take four years at $3.5 ..read more

Daniel Alfredsson won’t be the Ottawa Senators next head coach Bruce Garrioch: Daniel Alfredsson won’t be a head coaching candidate for the Ottawa Senators. If he wants to remain as an assistant coach, it’s up to him. Will the Edmonton Oilers be able to afford Warren Foegele? Jim Matheson: 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers pending UFA forward Warren Foegele is going to get a raise from his current $2.75 million. He’s likely going to get a four-year deal from someone. Will the Oilers have enough money available to re-sign the top-nine forward? Could the Oilers fit in/would he take four years at $3.5 ..read more

Would the Toronto Maple Leafs bring Matt Murray back next season? Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray is in the AHL on a conditioning loan as he works back from the bilateral hip surgery he had in October. Murray is a pending UFA and it’s possible that Maple Leafs could bring him back next but it would be as a No. 3 or a No. 4 goaltender on the depth chart. It would allow Murray to try and work his way back to the NHL from there. NHL Rumors: Stanley Cup Playoff Format, and Patrick Kane Marc-Andre Fleury says he’s only playing one more season Minnesota Wild ..read more

Would the Toronto Maple Leafs bring Matt Murray back next season? Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray is in the AHL on a conditioning loan as he works back from the bilateral hip surgery he had in October. Murray is a pending UFA and it’s possible that Maple Leafs could bring him back next but it would be as a No. 3 or a No. 4 goaltender on the depth chart. It would allow Murray to try and work his way back to the NHL from there. NHL Rumors: Stanley Cup Playoff Format, and Patrick Kane Marc-Andre Fleury says he’s only playing one more season Minnesota Wild ..read more

On College players Macklin Celebrini, Rutger McGroarty, and Luke Tuch Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on Macklin Celebrini, Rutger McGroarty (Jets), and Luke Tuch (Canadiens). Ron MacLean: “And the US college front?” Friedman: “Yes, three names we should mention. Number one, Macklin Celebrini. The Hobey Baker winner, the upcoming number one pick. He is on Team Canada’s radar for the World Championships they would like to have him. Number two, Winnipeg Jets great 48 hours they beat Colorado and Dallas by a combined 10-0. Rutger McGroarty their number one pick from 2022 is weighing both options, go ..read more