The Bruins announced a one‑year, $950,000 deal for Lukas Reichel — and, predictably, social media immediately lit up with confusion and outrage. It’s the same cycle every offseason. Providence currently has just seven players under contract for next year, which means at least a half‑dozen more depth signings are still coming. This is routine business for the organization. Settle in; you’re going to see plenty more of these deals.
Charlie McAvoy was hit with a six‑game suspension to start next season for his slash on Zach Benson. There’s no debating the legitimacy of the suspension itself, and this isn’t about spinning conspiracy theories, but it’s fair to wonder whether his pointed tweet after the Sandis Vilmanis elbow — and the lack of supplemental discipline that followed — factored into the tone of the ruling. And you can bet McAvoy’s camp made sure to highlight that his slash came in direct response to what the Department of Player Safety had already labeled a dangerous play by Benson.
I am surprised there has been no appeal and get it in front of Gary Bettman and voice your concerns with DOPS. Even if the suspension isn’t reduced, make your position known.
The Bruins also announced they’ve given Jamie Langenbrunner the green light to pursue opportunities elsewhere in the NHL. Langenbrunner has worn multiple hats in Boston — from player development to assistant general manager overseeing player personnel — but the organization still has Evan Gold, who reportedly came close to landing the Canucks’ GM job, and Scott Bradley in his long‑standing role as senior advisor to the GM.
Whether Boston chooses to replace Langenbrunner internally, look outside the organization, or leave the role unfilled remains an open question. One intriguing up‑and‑coming name worth keeping on the radar: Mike McKenzie, the highly regarded general manager of the Kitchener Rangers. McKenzie was an assistant coach to Steve Spott in 2012-13 with the Rangers.
The NHL has handed down a $100,000 fine to John Tortorella and stripped the Vegas Golden Knights of their 2026 second‑round pick for failing to comply with league‑mandated media availability rules. Vegas does have the right to appeal the ruling, but this didn’t come out of nowhere — the league had reportedly issued prior warnings to the Golden Knights about similar issues.
Dave Pagnotta on Daily Faceoff Live: Every indication at the end of last week was that Evan Gold was getting this gig [in Vancouver]. I don’t have this fully confirmed why this went in a different direction. I know some of it’s tied to money.
Frank Seravalli on Halford and Brough: In the end Evan Gold wasn’t the winning candidate. Seen lots of speculation about dollars. There’s been a tug of war. A whole camp of Canucks people that have been trying to champion Ryan Johnson that ultimately just won.
Elliotte Friedman on Vingan and Daunic: I heard that maybe the Golden Knights wanted to wait until their series with Anaheim was over. I think they are playing some head games with some people too. I think ultimately, they’ll get permission [to talk to Bruce Cassidy].
Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: Everything I heard it just screams Bruce Cassidy, Could they [Edmonton] talk to Peter Laviolette, yes, I think they could. Craig Berube, I think they could, they want people like that.
Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: They’ve [Nashville] interviewed a lot of really good people, but no one has forced them yet to say we absolutely have to hire this person right now, so that’s why they’re continuing.
Dave Pagnotta on DFO Rundown: They’re [Edmonton] gonna look for a 3C, whether that’s Jason Dickinson or someone else, maybe they go a little younger.
Frank Seravalli on Frankly Hockey: They’re [Columbus] gonna need to retain a little bit in order to make it happen. I think he’s [Elvis Merzlikins] ready for a change.
Darren Dreger on OverDrive: I don’t think there’s any chance that Auston Matthews isn’t playing in Toronto unless they come to him and say we are going full rebuild. He’s still committed, it’s just, little bit of pressure to try and make the team better.
Rick Dhaliwal on Donnie & Dhali: The Bruins I heard were preparing themselves to lose up to three guys to Vancouver
Chris Johnston on OverDrive: I actually had someone who works for an NHL team, he said if we were trading right now, we would actually give up more for Matthew Knies than we would for Auston Matthews. The value of, you’ve got 5 or 6 more years of Knies in his prime.
Darren Dreger on OverDrive: We know that New York’s trying to get off the contract of Vincent Trocheck, Toronto’s among the teams that have some interest.
Darren Dreger on First Up: I know that John Chayka is already gauging the market on certain players. He’s poking around, veteran centers as an example.
Elliotte Friedman on Vingan & Daunic: I think Jason Robertson is gonna be an interesting one, I think the Stars will have a line and I’m not convinced they’ll be willing to go past that line, around Mikko Rantanen‘s number.
Darren Dreger on OverDrive: I do think that [Steve] Staios has something bigger planned, whether it’s adding a top pairing or at least a top 4 defenseman, adding a top 6 forward. He worked pretty hard to add a top defenseman at the trade deadline.
Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: They [Brady Tkachuk and Ottawa Senators] met Monday. This was kind of his exit meeting. The one thing I did hear was that there was nothing said in that meeting that induced mass panic, or should give the Ottawa fans a reason to worry.
David Pagnotta on The Sheet: I would presume that they’re going in a younger type of route. Whether it’s a Manny Malhotra or Jay Leach or whomever.
Jeff Marek on Sekeres and Price: I think we all think that there’s going to be a new coach in Vancouver, and Manny Malhotra makes the most sense.
Chris Johnston on the Chris Johnston Show: A couple unique dynamics, Canucks with the 3rd draft pick might be looking at drafting his [Manny Malhotra] son Caleb too which could be a factor one way or another if the want Malhotra as their head coach if that happened.
Anthony Di Marco on Daily Faceoff: By all accounts, Matvei Michkov is not held in high regard by plenty of team personnel members across the league at this point. That being said, the Flyers are in no hurry to run Michkov out of town.
Elliotte Friedman on The FAN Hockey Show: They’re [New Jersey Devils] not trading Jack Hughes, they’re probably not trading Luke Hughes either, but I would bet [Bill Guerin] tried with one or both. You don’t think he would call New Jersey and say is there a way.
Dave Pagnotta on Leafs Morning Skate: If they [Vegas Golden Knights] end up trading Tomas Hertl, for example, no one’s gonna be surprised, he has a 3-team trade list, so good luck.
Darren Dreger on The Nielson Show: Do we think that Darren Raddysh is leaving Tampa Bay? I don’t.
Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: They’ve [Philadelphia Flyers] got to get a deal done with Trevor Zegras. I expect they’ll really get going on Zegras in the near term here.
Anthony Di Marco on Daily Faceoff: On the back end, there shouldn’t be major moves expected. A team [Nashville Predators] source did say to expect the addition of a depth, right-shot defenseman.
Elliotte Friedman on the Fan Hockey Show: They’ve [Anaheim Ducks] been negotiating with Jacob Trouba on and off, and to this point they haven’t been able to close it.
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