The latest on the Hurricanes and Golden Knights on the eve of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Devils gauge the trade market for Jacob Markstrom, the latest Dylan Larkin speculation, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors.
THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille listed three keys for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.
Whether Mitch Marner can restart his push for the Conn Smythe Trophy and dealing with the absence of two-way center William Karlsson are among the keys for the Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Since his hat trick performance in Game 3, Marner has only one point in five-on-five play. Meanwhile, Karlsson will miss Game 6 (and possibly Game 7 if required) with an upper-body injury.
Meanwhile, Gentille wondered how Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers follows up his “worst game” of the playoffs. He also wondered if their struggling power play can produce as well as it did in Game 5, when they scored twice with the man advantage.
Ehlers had three assists in Game 5, but also took two uncharacteristic delay-of-game penalties, with the first resulting in a Golden Knights goal.
TSN: Hurricanes former starting goaltender Frederik Andersen remained the team’s third-stringer during practice on Saturday. Brandon Bussi will be their starter for the third straight game, while Pyotr Kochetkov will serve as his backup.
Bussi replaced Andersen after the latter gave up four goals in the second period of Game 3.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is doubling down on Carter Hart as his starting goaltender. Despite Hart giving up at least four goals in each of the previous five games in this series, Tortorella believes the netminder has a better game in him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes can become Stanley Cup champions with a win in Game 6 on Sunday in Las Vegas. A win for the Golden Knights will force the seventh and deciding game on Wednesday.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources claim the New Jersey Devils are gauging the trade market for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. He also indicated that a deal isn’t imminent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lack of quality goaltending depth in this summer’s free-agent market could push teams into the trade market for help.
Markstrom’s coming off a difficult season, finishing with a record of 23-19-1, a 3.07 goals-against average, and an .883 save percentage. He’s in the final season of his six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million and a full no-movement clause. He starts a two-year contract extension on July 1 with an average annual value of $6 million and a 20-team no-trade list in 2026-27 and a 5-team NTC in 2027-28.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Detroit Red Wings must land a first-line center for Dylan Larkin. Proposed packages of draft picks, prospects, wingers or goaltenders won’t address their need for a suitable replacement for Larkin.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman recently reported the Florida Panthers have made an offer for Larkin, but he didn’t reveal the details.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely the Red Wings will get a first-line center straight up for Larkin. They’ll either have to swing a three-team deal or use whatever assets they receive and try to make a separate move to address that need.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen speculated that Larkin’s addition in the trade market could delay the New York Rangers’ efforts to trade Vincent Trocheck. He noted that the Red Wings’ interest in the 33-year-old center could intensify if they don’t get a center back in the Larkin trade.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Trocheck, Jack Studley believes he’ll remain on the Boston Bruins radar as they search for a No. 1 center this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin has a three-team trade list, though his camp is reportedly open to expanding it. Teams seeking a first-line center that aren’t among his preferred destinations could continue to pursue Trocheck, but the latter will likely have to wait until the Larkin saga is settled.
SPORTSNET: Michael Amato listed four players who could become contract buyout candidates this summer.
Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes tops that list, followed by winger Ondrej Palat of the New York Islanders, forward Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres, and winger Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kotkaniemi and Palat are the more likely buyout candidates.
Kotkaniemi has four years left on his deal with an AAV of $4.82 million. He’s been a healthy scratch throughout this postseason.
Palat has a year left on his deal with a $6 million cap hit. The Islanders acquired him from the Devils at midseason, but the move did little to improve his performance.
Gallagher has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $65 million. He’s been linked to the Vancouver Canucks in the rumor mill, but the Canadiens might have to retain part of his salary. Greenway (one year, $4 million cap hit) could still have value in the trade market.