NHL Rumor Mill – April 15, 2026

by | Apr 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 15, 2026

The latest on the Canucks and the Kraken, plus updates on Islanders captain Anders Lee and Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently looked at which players will stay with the Vancouver Canucks and which ones could be gone.

Drance believes the rebuilding Canucks are at least open to moving center Elias Pettersson and wingers Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk. The trio is under long-term contracts with full no-movement clauses.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Pending free agents Evander Kane and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are not expected to be re-signed.

THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who recently said that he expected the Canucks would have a lengthy meeting with Pettersson about where the team is going and what the options are. That would include moving him to teams he’d want to go to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Even if Pettersson provides a list of preferred destinations, there’s no certainty that those clubs will be interested. His expensive contract and the concerning decline in his performance over the past two years will hurt his trade value.

Teams that might be willing to take that chance could insist on Vancouver retaining part of his $11.6 million annual salary-cap hit. Even then, the Canucks aren’t going to get a significant return.

KRAKEN COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY ATTRACTING PLAYERS

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports the Seattle Kraken face two issues that will make it difficult to improve their roster. One is the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. The other is convincing players to join them.

Kraken general manager Jason Botterill was interested in St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas at the March trade deadline. However, he couldn’t get them to waive their no-trade clauses.

The Kraken also had permission from the New York Rangers to make a contract extension offer to Artemi Panarin with an average annual value higher than $14 million. However, he wasn’t interested in going to Seattle and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

A league executive claimed the Kraken thought they had a deal with the Nashville Predators for Erik Haula by giving up a second and a third-round pick. However, there was no trade call, and no indication of why the deal didn’t happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of depth in this summer’s UFA market will make it tough for the Kraken to draw talent to Seattle. Botterill will have to get creative and target players lacking no-trade clauses in the trade market, which is easier said than done when he’s trying to add an offensive star.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ANDERS LEE AND MARIO FERRARO?

NEW YORK POST/THE MERCURY NEWS: Ethan Sears of the Post and Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News looked at the uncertain futures facing New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.

Both players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents this summer. They’d like to remain with the only NHL teams they’ve ever played for, but it remains to be seen if they’ll receive contract offers that will convince them to stay.

The Islanders’ late-season collapse could force GM Mathieu Darche to reexamine his roster. The Isles also have limited cap space this summer, meaning the 35-year-old Lee would have to accept a discount.

Sharks GM Mike Grier said teams expressed an interest in Ferraro before the March trade deadline. However, Grier opted to retain the 27-year-old defenseman, adding that he’s open to re-signing some of his UFA players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro’s youth and the Sharks’ $42.5 million in projected cap space for next season make him more likely to stay with his current club.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 14, 2026

by | Apr 14, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 14, 2026

Check out the latest on the Red Wings, Islanders, and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan looked at what led to the latest collapse by the Detroit Red Wings, and how they can remedy it.

Topping the list is the Red Wings’ need for an elite scoring forward. Khan believes they should be aggressive in this summer’s trade market. He suggested pursuing a center such as Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues or Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks.

Should the Detroit Red Wings pursue St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas? (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have over $30 million in projected salary-cap space for 2026-27 with 18 active roster players under contract. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson is their only core player in need of a contract. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

The Wings have sufficient cap space to re-sign Edvinsson, add a scoring forward, and still have enough to fill out the roster.

Thomas and Pettersson were linked to the Red Wings in the rumor mill before last month’s trade deadline. Of the two, Thomas would be the more desirable. He’s been a more reliable point producer over the past three seasons and carries a more affordable contract than Pettersson. However, Pettersson might be more willing to accept a trade given his struggles in Vancouver.

Khan believes they must upgrade their bottom-six forwards. He also recommends finding a reliable second-line center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring a first-line center such as Thomas could resolve that need for a second-line center. They could drop team captain Dylan Larkin into that role.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff believes the Red Wings must move away from signing free agent veterans as they’ve done in recent years. He feels they should give more playing time to their promising youngsters.

Duff believes goaltender Sebastian Cossa, defenseman William Wallinder, and forward Amadeus Lombardi are locks to start next season with the Red Wings because they are no longer exempt from waivers after this season. He would also like to see youngsters such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Nate Danielson, and Curtis Mazur given more opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those decisions rest with Red Wings management. Whether it’ll be Steve Yzerman or someone else remains to be seen. 

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau offered up his post-mortem of the New York Islanders following their recent elimination from playoff contention.

Proteau singled out their popgun offense as the main factor that prevented them from clinching a postseason berth. They have the eighth-fewest goals-per-game average (2.81), with only three players (Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer) having more than 42 points.

The Islanders have $14.3 million in projected cap space for next season. If GM Mathieu Darche re-signs captain Anders Lee, they won’t have enough to be major players in the free-agent market. Proteau believes Darche will have to make trades to improve their scoring punch for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Proteau pointed out that the Islanders have promising young talent in their system, and they have their own first-round picks in each of the next three drafts. While that bodes well for their long-term future, Darche might have to use some of those picks and prospects as trade chips to address his club’s more immediate needs.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Matt Calkins believes the Kraken have little choice but to stage a rebuild. Five years after their inaugural season, they reached the playoffs in their second season, but have struggled to return to the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Kraken are being overshadowed by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the improving Seattle Mariners, and the possibility of a returning NBA franchise. The Kraken lack a star player, and they’re among the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams, which forces them to play a less-exciting defensive style.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calkins noted that Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke has called for an organization-wide audit while Ron Francis recently stepped down as team president.

General manager Jason Botterill has only been in his job for a year, but he was Francis’ right-hand man from 2021 until last year. He was also the Buffalo Sabres GM from 2017 to 2020, so he has plenty of experience. It remains to be seen if Leiweke will entrust Botterill with a rebuild.

The Kraken aren’t a horrible team. In fact, their defensive style kept them in the playoff hunt for most of this season before fading down the stretch. Like the Islanders, their lack of scoring punch is their Achilles heel.

With over $28.7 million in projected cap space for 2026-27 and 21 active roster players signed, the Kraken have the room to add to their roster. They could re-sign recently-acquired winger Bobby McMann to a new contract, but they’ll still need to shop around to find more scoring.

The lack of depth in the free-agent market could see them turn to the trade market for an offensive star. They have the trade capital to get it done, with two first-round picks in the next two drafts and a prospect pipeline ranked seventh overall by The Athletic. There’s enough there to use some for trade chips without sacrificing most of their future.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2026

by | Apr 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some big-name players who could be the focus of offseason trade chatter, the latest on the Capitals, and Andre Burakovsky’s uncertain future with the Blackhawks.

AUSTON MATTHEWS, BRADY TKACHUK COULD BE AMONG THE BIG NAMES IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET

DAILY FACEOFF: In a recent mailbag segment, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco was asked about which big-name players fans could expect to see in trade rumors during the coming off-season.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Di Marco believes Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will be the biggest names in this summer’s rumor mill. He thinks Tkachuk is more likely to be moved, given the off-ice drama this season and his brother’s decision to depart the Calgary Flames four years ago. Matthews’ situation seems more uncertain and could depend on who becomes the next general manager of the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews and Tkachuk will definitely be part of this summer’s rumor buzz, but I don’t see either guy moving this summer. Both have full no-movement clauses and have not indicated that they want to be moved.

Next summer seems more likely for one or both to get traded, and that will depend on how well the Maple Leafs and Senators perform in 2026-27. If they miss the playoffs or become first-round roadkill, Matthews and Tkachuk could inform their respective GMs that they’re going to market in 2028, which would force their teams to trade them.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas could resurface in the rumor mill after being the focus of media chatter before last month’s trade deadline. Di Marco speculated that the groundwork may have been set for a summer trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was linked to several teams, including the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Islanders. However, the Blues set a high asking price of at least three pieces that are comparable to first-round draft picks.

Thomas said that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, nor did he want to be traded. Trading the 26-year-old playmaking center would adversely affect the production of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.

Di Marco felt that Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram might want a new long-term destination in the long run despite the Sabres’ surge this season. He signed a two-year extension last summer and was rumored to want an opportunity to be a No. 1 defenseman. The Sabres are also overloaded with top-four, left-shot defensemen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer. However, he signed that contract under the previous management, and had a career-best season with 11 goals and 42 points in 2025-26. With the Sabres having finally turned the corner, he might prefer sticking around.

CAPITALS COULD BE BUSY AGAIN IN THE TRADE MARKET.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last Thursday that the Washington Capitals could turn to the trade market this summer to address their more immediate roster needs.

The Capitals have been retooling on the fly under general manager Chris Patrick. Finding a scoring winger has been a priority for nearly a year. They attempted to sign Nikolaj Ehlers last summer, but lost out to the Carolina Hurricanes. They also attempted to get Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Patrick acknowledged the asking prices for top talent in this summer’s trade market could be high. However, he believes he’s put his club in a position where they have the pieces to make a competitive bid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The limited depth in this summer’s free-agent market could push the Capitals into the trade market, but they won’t be the only team going that route. Having depth in tradeable assets could give them the edge.

If the Anaheim Ducks make the playoffs this year, the Capitals will own the Ducks’ first-round pick. That will likely be bundled into a trade package to bring in that scoring winger.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BLACKHAWKS WINGER ANDRE BURAKOVSKY?

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers looked at what the future could hold for struggling Chicago Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky.

The Blackhawks acquired Burakovsky last year from the Seattle Kraken partly because they hoped he might regain his form, but also to use his $5.5 million average annual value to reach the salary-cap floor.

With Connor Bedard due to be an expensive re-signing, the addition of Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit, and the possible re-signing of Ilya Mikheyev, they might not need Burakovsky’s contract as much as they thought.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 31-year-old Burakovsky has 11 goals and 32 points in 73 games this season. He has a year remaining on his contract. Trading him won’t be easy, but the Blackhawks have the cap space to buy out that final season. It would count as $3 million against their cap next season, dropping to $1.25 million in 2027-28.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

by | Apr 12, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

Check out the latest on the Rangers and Red Wings, plus updates on the Predators’ and Devils’ search for new general managers in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE RANGERS IN THE OFFSEASON?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers general manager Chris Drury will continue to retool his roster during the offseason.

Walker estimated the Rangers would have over $33.3 million in cap space if they trade center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Braden Schneider this summer. That would leave enough to add a backup goaltender, a top-four defenseman, a top-six winger, and a fourth-line center.

Current backup Jonathan Quick hasn’t revealed his plans, but a source close to the 40-year-old netminder believes this season will be his last.

It’s hoped that at least one NHL player will be part of a trade return for Trocheck. If Drury can’t find the return he wants for Schneider, exploring a Will Borgen trade could become another route.

Adam Crane reported Schneider remains proud of being a Ranger, and he hopes something will work out to keep him with the team long-term.

Schneider, 24, is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He saw what happened to former teammate K’Andre Miller last year when he was in the same boat. Miller was tendered a qualifying offer and then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing an eight-year deal.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (NHL Images).

Crane also reported last week that there are lingering concerns about the future of Adam Fox with the Rangers. They are a better team with the 26-year-old defenseman in the lineup, but his cryptic comments in February about whether he wants to remain through the next stage of the rebuild raise questions about what happens if he decides he wants out.

At the time, Fox said he felt a little helpless about the club’s public commitment toward a retool. When asked about staying with the Rangers, he felt that it was a discussion for after the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck has three more years on his contract with an affordable average annual value of $5.625 million. He has a 12-team no-trade list until July 1, when it drops to a 10-team list. He’s also indicated his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

There was interest in Trocheck and Schneider before last month’s trade deadline, but Drury declined to lower his asking prices. As I’ve mentioned before, clubs that were reluctant to meet Drury’s prices in March could be more willing to do so in June or July, especially with the salary cap rising to $104 million for 2026-27.

Fox is under contract through 2028-29 with an AAV of $9.5 million and a full no-movement clause through next season. Despite his struggles and injuries this season, the 28-year-old right-shot defenseman (and 2021 Norris Trophy winner) would draw plenty of attention if he becomes available this summer.

However, Fox’s desire to discuss his future with Drury may be little more than determining the club’s direction and his role within it. Drury is under no pressure to move Fox unless he wants out. For now, there’s no indication that’s the case.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RED WINGS AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON?

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman commented on the Detroit Red Wings extending their playoff drought to a 10th consecutive season. He believes this year’s miss hurts the most because the team now feels stuck after several seasons of promising progress.

Bultman indicates that the Red Wings remain a flawed team, particularly at five-on-five scoring, which will be one of the areas the club attempts to address during the offseason. He also wondered how the Wings can continue to bank on their promising young players as their main driver for improvement.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff also cited the Red Wings’ struggles to score at even strength. He also believes their lack of a winning culture contributed to their inability to close out a win. Duff suggested they must also reconstruct their bottom-six forward group.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been speculation and suggestions (including from yours truly) that general manager Steve Yzerman could be fired or will be on the hot seat after this season. However, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported last week that Yzerman remains aligned with team owner Chris Illich. If there’s a management change, it would be because Yzerman feels his time is up, but Dreger said that’s unlikely.

Yzerman’s critics believe he is reluctant to draw on his prospect pool to bring in more immediate help. However, he might not have much choice now. The fans are restless, his players are frustrated, and there’s a growing sense that the Red Wings are spinning their wheels.

That doesn’t mean he must make quick-fix deals. If an opportunity arises to land an impact player in his prime with term remaining on his contract, Yzerman must act. Otherwise, he risks extending the Wings’ postseason drought to 11 seasons, which could cost him his job.

LATEST ON THE PREDATORS AND DEVILS AS THEY HUNT FOR A NEW GM

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Nashville Predators prefer someone who has recently served as an NHL general manager or assistant GM to replace outgoing general manager Barry Trotz.

Former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been added to that list. Fitzgerald has a history with the Predators as he was their first team captain from 1998-99 to 2001-02. It’s believed he’s either already been interviewed for the job or will be soon.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports the Devils are interested in Jamie Langenbrunner as a candidate to replace the departed Fitzgerald. Langenbrunner is currently an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2026

by | Apr 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2026

Will the Blues trade Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou this summer? Are big changes coming this summer for the Canucks? What’s the latest Canadiens speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE BLUES PEDDLE ROBERT THOMAS AND JORDAN KYROU THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, St. Louis Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford was asked if the club’s improvement of late might affect Robert Thomas’ willingness to stay or management’s desire to trade him.

Rutherford noted Thomas has improved since returning from an injury, scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate. He also pointed out that moving Thomas could adversely affect the play of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).

When the Blues were engaged in trade talks, Thomas expressed his desire to stay in St. Louis. That could change if the club revisits those discussions, but the 26-year-old center sees the young talent joining the club and wants to be a part of it.

Rutherford was also asked if Jordan Kyrou will be moved this summer. He believes he will, pointing out that the 27-year-old winger’s production has dried up in recent weeks.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has been reluctant to move players for less than their value in his eyes. Rutherford acknowledged Kyrou’s skill and scoring ability, but believes the Blues must move him for the best available offer if they don’t see him as part of their plans moving forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was the focus of considerable speculation before last month’s trade deadline. Afterward, he expressed his desire to stay put, adding that he wasn’t approached by management about waiving his no-trade clause. He’s signed through 2030-31 with a reasonable average annual value of $8.125 million.

Kyrou also surfaced in the rumor mill before the deadline. However, there wasn’t as much buzz about him, partly because Thomas is a center (and those players are more highly prized), and partly because of his offensive inconsistency. His contract is identical to Thomas’. Both players have full control over their situations.

Thomas would fetch the best return, but it would take a significant offer to pry him away from the Blues. The asking price was reportedly at least three pieces comparable to high first-round draft picks. It was too expensive at the trade deadline and could be the same this summer, and that’s before they get around to asking Thomas if he’ll agree to move.

Kyrou seems the more likely of the two to move this summer, provided he’s open to the possibility. He won’t fetch as high a return, but it should still be decent enough for the Blues to put toward retooling their roster. The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly interested in him last summer, but wound up settling for Zachary Bolduc.

LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Vancouver Canucks are considering changes in their front office and behind the bench after this dismal season.

According to Dreger, there is a “50/50 chance” that the Canucks might consider replacing Patrik Allvin as general manager. It was also rumored that the Nashville Predators sought permission to speak with Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, but were rebuffed. However, Dreger said the Predators never made that request.

There’s speculation the Canucks could move on from head coach Adam Foote, who was hired last year to replace the departed Rick Tocchet.

Dreger stressed no decisions have been made yet as the Canucks brass continues to evaluate their options.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reported a league source claiming Allvin could end up working for the Minnesota Wild as their top scout if he’s fired by the Canucks. His departure would open the door for Johnson to step into the GM role.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently reported speculation that the Canucks sign promising youngsters Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren to eight-year contract extensions this summer before the term limits on contracts are reduced by one year on Sept. 15.

However, the Canucks won’t be pushing with any urgency to make those sorts of deals this summer.

The Canucks could consider using their various second and third-round draft picks as trade bait this summer for young NHL-ready players. They’ll also be willing to consider reclamation projects of young players similar to Justin Sourdif with the Washington Capitals, Trevor Zegras with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Egor Chinakhov with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what decisions the Canucks make regarding their management and coaching positions. This club is definitely rebuilding, but they’re going to try to hasten the process by bringing in as much young NHL talent as possible.

The Canucks have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Those will be off-limits, especially if they win the draft lottery with their own pick. They have two second-round picks and three sixth-rounders this year, two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders next year, and in 2028. That gives them some good trade capital to work with this summer and over the next two years.

THE SICK PODCAST WITH TONY MARINARO: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes shed a little more light on the speculation that he was working on a blockbuster move before last month’s trade deadline.

Following the deadline, Hughes hinted that he had been working on a big deal that he could revisit during the offseason. That prompted speculation that Toronto Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies was his target, while other reports claimed Hughes was pursuing different players.

Hughes revealed he was working on two deals before the deadline, but they decided the asking prices were too high, or they didn’t necessarily want to go after players on expiring contracts. He stressed that his club is looking to “get better today and get better in the future at the same time.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens didn’t suffer from Hughes’ inability to swing a major deal at the deadline. Nevertheless, his recent comments will keep Habs fans buzzing during the offseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2026

by | Apr 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2026

Check out the latest on the Maple Leafs, plus a list of coaches on the hot seat in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST MAPLE LEAFS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Joshua Kloke reports Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has no intention of finding an exit after this season ends.

“My desire to stay in Toronto is always going to be there,” Rielly said. “There’s a number of (reasons), but a big one is loyalty. Loyalty to the team that drafted you, I think that’s a powerful thing.”

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (NHL Images).

Rielly has four seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. He’s a productive puck-mover, but has struggled defensively this season. That’s raised questions about his future in Toronto as the Maple Leafs make changes in the front office.

Asked if he’d consider waiving his no-movement clause if approached to do so by management, Rielly admitted it’s a possibility, saying it’s something as a player that you have to be prepared for. He also said he was not approached about waiving his clause before last month’s trade deadline.

Rielly told Kloke that he still believes in the team. He also wants to play a leadership role if management decides the Leafs must get younger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly could waive his clause if asked to do so, but it doesn’t mean that he will. Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues used his no-trade to spike a deal to the Buffalo Sabres last month. Rielly could do the same if asked to waive it for a destination that he’s not comfortable with.

It seems unlikely that Rielly or any of the Leafs core players will be moved this summer unless they ask to be traded. In his case, he definitely doesn’t want to go.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils received permission from the Florida Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta about their vacant GM positions.

On March 30, the Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving. Earlier this week, the Devils did the same with Tom Fitzgerald.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons noted the Maple Leafs’ interest in Mehta and in Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky (who isn’t available). He believes the Leafs should pursue more established management candidates rather than analytics experts. Simmons suggested going after someone comparable to Mehta’s boss, Bill Zito, who built the Panthers into a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The flaw with Simmons’ argument (apart from his disdain for analytics) is that there is no one like Bill Zito available right now.

Some Toronto pundits have been pining for Doug Armstrong, but he’s staying with the St. Louis Blues as team president. Marc Bergevin and Dean Lombardi have had varying degrees of success as NHL general managers. However, Bergevin’s record was a mixed bag in Montreal, and it’s been nearly a decade since Lombardi was a general manager.

We know that the Maple Leafs want a “data-driven” GM. What matters now is whether they can find the right one. Pining for a more established, old-school guy isn’t going to change that fact.

Could Mehta be the type of general manager to reverse the Leafs fortunes quickly? Maybe. Maybe not. But the pickings are slim right now, and Mehta has considerable analytics experience and two recent Stanley Cup titles on his resume. If you’re seeking a new general manager, you must go after the best available talent.

COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The recent coaching changes involving the New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights have Adam Proteau looking at which bench bosses could be on the hot seat as the regular season winds down.

Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers tops the list. He could be a goner if the Oilers fail to win the Stanley Cup this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs decline this season means Craig Berube’s days behind their bench could be over once the regular season is finished. Whoever replaces former GM Brad Treliving could want their own head coach.

Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators could also be replaced once they find a suitable substitute for outgoing GM Barry Trotz. Sheldon Keefe of the New Jersey Devils could suffer the same fate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Berube is the most likely of this group to be relieved of their coaching duties. His defensive system doesn’t suit the way the Maple Leafs are built, and the pressure is on to find someone who can quickly help to reverse their fortunes.