After the Oilers explained their decision to fire Kris Knoblauch, Cassidy emerged as the top candidate to coach McDavid and Edmonton during the 2026-27 NHL season. In reality, though, Cassidy had already been considered a heavy favorite even before the organization formally relieved Knoblauch of his duties.

Although he has yet to receive permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview for other jobs, Cassidy recently broke his silence during a media appearance in which he laid out a clear blueprint for what he needs to see from his next team.

“[What’s appealing to me] is always an opportunity to win. I think where I’m at in my career, I got my name on the Cup and it’s one of the best experiences in hockey. That would appeal to me. That’s what I would want,” Cassidy admitted on First Shift. “And obviously, have to consider ownership. You want to work for good people. If you can find a spot like that, that’d be ideal. Hopefully, there is [such an] opportunity.”

Message to Edmonton

The Oilers had reportedly gotten Cassidy’s approval amid the Golden Knights’ blockade. Now, it’s put into words. His message was heard loud and clear in the Gateway to the North. The Oilers may be coming off a first-round exit in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but fatigue and injuries were bound to catch up to them after consecutive trips to the Final in 2024 and 2025.

There are several concerns surrounding both the lineup and the front office in Edmonton, but as long as McDavid and Draisaitl remain under contract, nobody in the NHL can count the Oilers out. For the time being, the star duo is signed through 2028. That is not a lot of time. Edmonton faces a two-year championship window, but for Cassidy, it could also become a two-year proving ground.

If he shows the team it is on the right track, McDavid may choose to give him the benefit of the doubt and re-sign in the City of Champions—a nickname that has started to feel more like a burden than a compliment for the organization.

Early exit may turn positive

For Cassidy, the early elimination in Oil Country might actually be a good thing. If he signs with the Oilers, he would get McDavid, Draisaitl, and company fully rested when they pick up where they left off in training camp and preseason. It’s clear there were some serious fatigue problems, and players had been dragging the luggage from long postseason runs that ended with heartbreak.

A new head coach could help change the tune, especially one who has won the Stanley Cup before, and every player on the roster saw it happen. It helps when there is no need to dust off a VHS machine to show one’s capabilities.

While both sides seem interested, nothing can materialize until they set up an interview. And such interview won’t be allowed until the Golden Knights grant the Oilers’ permission to reach Cassidy. Some fans across the NHL have gone as far as to call a hostage situation surrounding Vegas and its former head coach, whom it fired with eight games left in the 2025-26 campaign. However, Cassidy is staying patient.

Cassidy’s message to Vegas

“[The Golden Knights] are in the middle of a playoff series. I’m going to respect that they have other things on their plate,” Cassidy added. “I know some teams have reached out. Hopefully at some point they’ll allow me to [interview] with them.”

For the time being, Cassidy will be understanding of where the Golden Knights are in their postseason run, but that may not last much longer. Especially as reports around the league continue to hint that Vegas’ decision is purely driven by pettiness.

After all, the Golden Knights fired Cassidy without cause and with one year left on his contract. They believed he wasn’t the right coach to lead them, so why are they suddenly scared he might be the answer for Edmonton, Los Angeles, Toronto, or any other organization in the coaching market? For a franchise based in Sin City, it sure looks like the Golden Knights are playing it safe, scared to lose their chips.

McDavid set for new coaching retool

Needless to say, this isn’t where McDavid expected—nor hoped—to find himself in Year 11 of his NHL career. As if falling at the gates of the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal weren’t challenging enough, he’s now standing alone in an empty room in Edmonton. No team trophies to show for, and not even a head coach to look toward.

Whether it’s Cassidy or someone else, McDavid is set to welcome the sixth different head coach of his Oilers tenure. The coaching instability isn’t exclusive to McDavid’s era, either, as Edmonton is searching for its 10th head coach in the past 15 years. Without a shadow of a doubt, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Only arguably the most talented player of all time could drag such a train wreck on deep postseason runs, yet even that hasn’t been enough for the Oilers to snap their 36-year Stanley Cup drought. Maybe Cassidy is the missing piece to the puzzle. Until the Golden Knights step aside and stop blocking—at the very least, ignoring—teams from reaching him, however, McDavid and company can do little more than daydream about the future.

Oilers brace for franchise-defining offseason

Then again, the future is also filled with uncertainties and scenarios Oilers fans can scarcely fathom—and would rather never imagine. Cassidy may seem like Edmonton’s knight in shining armor, but for now, he’s trapped in a castle under the watch of the Golden Knights. It sounds like the premise of a box-office hit coming to theaters this summer, but Stan Bowman and the front office in Alberta know all too well that it could instead turn into a tearjerker.

“Macklin Celebrini will remain as captain for Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, with Sidney Crosby wearing an ‘A’. That was decided after a player-led discussion,” Chris Johnston reported on his X account. “The players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.“

Although Crosby will always be considered Captain Canada, he will not lace up the skates forever. Moreover, this might be the sacrifice Canada needs to exorcise the ghosts of its past. The last time Crosby played for his national team without a ‘C’ on his sweater, good things happened. In fact, those were the golden days.

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were the last major tournament in which Crosby played for his country in a non-captain role. Everybody knows how that story ended—especially Crosby, who scored the golden goal in overtime to lift Canada past Team USA and secure the national men’s team’s eighth gold medal in Winter Olympics history.

More than a decade and a half later—16 years, to be precise—Crosby will serve as an alternate captain while another player wears the ‘C’. Perhaps that is exactly what the Great White North needs to snap its championship drought—if it can even be called one. Canada’s last major title came at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Or the 4 Nations Face-Off, depending on who you ask.

Passing of the torch in Canada

Everybody knew the day would arrive sooner or later. Perhaps Canadians did not expect it to happen in such a confusing—or possibly dramatic—fashion, but there may never be a perfect way to make it happen. One way or another, there has been a passing of the torch regardless.

Either way, for the first time since 2010, there will be a new captain on a Hockey Canada squad featuring Crosby, and it will be none other than Macklin Celebrini. Connor McDavid did captain the team in this year’s gold medal game against Team USA, but even he admitted he was simply keeping the ‘C’ warm for Crosby, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Thus, it is the 19-year-old from North Vancouver who has been handed the torch—not McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon.

Celebrini earned it

Coming off a 115-point season in just his sophomore NHL campaign and after establishing himself as one of the best players at the Olympics, Celebrini has proven he belongs at this level. Now, he will be tasked with leading a roster filled with veterans despite being the second-youngest player on the team. In fact, if not for Porter Martone’s late decision to join the squad, Celebrini would have been the youngest player on the roster.

The veterans will have to listen to the kid. It should not be too hard, especially considering they have been listening to “Sid the Kid” for the past decade and a half. Now, there is a new high-pitched voice in charge—one that already has 178 career points in just 152 NHL games.

Something to keep an eye on

“We’ll figure it out. No, [it doesn’t matter to me]. Obviously, it’s an honor anytime you get to wear the ‘C’, but we’ve got so many great leaders. It’ll be a quick discussion,” Crosby had said prior to the report in dialogue with TSN. “[Celebrini] has had an unbelievable year. He looks amazing out there. I can see why he got selected.”

As for Celebrini, his message signaled he didn’t wish to give up the ‘C’ so easily. “Everybody knows [Crosby] is Captain Canada. He’s been the captain for so many years and the face of Canada and hockey in general. Just got to talk about it,“ he commented.

Quoting Johnston’s report, “the players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.” However, that begs the question, what did Crosby say behind closed doors? Will this turn out to be a source of conflict inside the locker room? It seems unlikely considering Crosby has always been selfless and very supportive of Celebrini in the national team. All that matters for Crosby and company is walking away of Switzerland as the 2026 IIHF World Championship winners.

“[McKenna] and his agent decided it would be better for the top prospect to stay home and work on his goal of adding strength and mass over the offseason,” as reported by Tom Hunter on his X account. “Committing to playing in the World Championship is more than a month long process.“

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, and it seems like a given that they will select the 18-year-old out of Penn State. According to reports, the Maple Leafs have no worries about McKenna. The winger’s abilities and playmaking leave little room for doubt around the league.

McKenna’s size is reason for concern

If there is one asterisk—and perhaps the main reason behind the speculation surrounding his draft stock—it is his size. McKenna is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, according to NHL.com. Barring an unprecedented growth spurt between now and June 26, McKenna will not be any taller by the time the Maple Leafs announce their pick at KeyBank Center. However, he can still get bigger and stronger.

That appears to be the goal, and one major reason why McKenna has not flown across the Atlantic to join Team Canada in Switzerland for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. If there is a silver lining for McKenna that should keep him confident about being selected first overall, it is the fact that his biggest competition, Ivar Stenberg, is not much bigger than he is. According to Elite Prospects, Stenberg is listed at 6-foot-0 and 181 pounds.

The two best prospects in this year’s class are undersized wingers, which leaves room for speculation. A 6-foot-2 center like Caleb Malhotra could give them a run for their money for the No. 1 spot, but for now, McKenna still appears to have the upper hand.

No McKenna vs Stenberg showdown

While stepping down from Team Canada’s roster for the World Championship may be the right decision for McKenna, fans across the globe would have loved to see him play alongside the likes of Crosby and Celebrini on a major international stage. Moreover, when Canada makes its debut against Sweden in Group B, everybody will wonder what could have been, as Stenberg will be on the ice while McKenna will not.

The top two prospects in the 2026 draft class could have headlined a showdown that likely would have been the first of many. Instead, Sweden’s top forward line—featuring Viggo Björck at center with Ivar Stenberg and Lucas Raymond on the wings—will have an average age of 20 years old. Meanwhile, it will go up against Canada’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, and Mark Scheifele, whose average age is 30 and which combines for 2,846 NHL points.

It does not sound like a fair matchup, but it might be the perfect setting for Stenberg and Björck to send a message. Who knows? Maybe it shakes up draft projections.

Regardless, fans aren’t as concerned about the top-five pick their team owns as they are about the direction of the organization. Namely, plenty of skepticism still surrounds J.T. Miller, the Rangers’ captain. According to a fan survey conducted by The Athletic, New York’s decision to hand the ‘C’ to Miller doesn’t look any better after his first full season back at Madison Square Garden.

Miller left a bad impression in his first year as team captain. Over 2,000 fans participated in the survey, yet virtually none approved of his debut season wearing the ‘C’. According to the results, only 3.1% gave him a grade of A or B. Meanwhile, 43% of fans gave him a D for his first year as captain, while 28.2% remained in the middle, and the remaining 25.8% handed him the worst grade possible: an F.

Heavy scrutiny on Miller

The numbers reflect a common sentiment in New York throughout the season. Reading fans’ takes on social media painted a similar picture. Miller failed to meet expectations in his first season as skipper.

There was no shortage of letdowns for fans in New York throughout the 2025-26 NHL campaign, but most would agree there was none bigger—or harder to comprehend—than Miller’s production and overall impact.

Miller named biggest letdown

In fact, another question in the survey asked which player was the most disappointing, and Miller won by a landslide. A whopping 77.3% of the votes went to the captain, who finished the year with 53 points (17 goals and 36 assists) in 68 games played.

Moreover, he posted the team’s worst plus/minus rating at minus-30. Needless to say, plus/minus can be a deceiving stat and isn’t always the most accurate way to evaluate a player. However, for someone who is supposed to represent the team’s culture, it certainly raises eyebrows around the Big Apple.

Miller vs New York

In the captain’s defense, Miller has been battling narratives ever since the Rangers traded for him in January 2025. Fans have often kicked him while he was down, and his mistakes tend to be exaggerated while his strengths are minimized.

When it comes to their opinion of him, Rangers fans are rarely rational. His 2025-26 campaign was indeed a rough one, but New York had already turned him into a scapegoat long before things went south.

“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed. We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward,” said Stan Bowman, the Oilers’ Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.

That also discards Mark Stuart from being the next HC. It’s been reported that Connor McDavid’s Oilers reportedly get Bruce Cassidy’s approval though the Golden Knights resist. So, if Cassidy ends up giving the green light, the head coach hunt could be short-lived for the Oilers.

Who else could replace Kris Knoblauch besides Bruce Cassidy?

Knoblauch had a 135-77-21 with the Oilers in the regular season, but that wasn’t the problem during Knoblauch’s tenure. He got to two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, he had a first-round exit. Knoblauch couldn’t reach the final goal.

David Carle made a name by winning his third NCAA championship with the University of Denver. It’s been a long time coming for Carle to step up into the NHL and what better way than to coach Connor McDavid.

The Oilers expectations are very high

A team that has been so close to win the Stanley Cup but hasn’t has just one goal in mind: finally get over the finish line. The coach that replaces Knoblauch will have Connor McDavid, yes, but he will have to overhaul the defense and goaltending.

With that, the Oilers can once again dream about winning the Stanley Cup, something that has evaded them since 1990. It’s a big task, but also one that could propel the new head coach into new heights.

However, the good news may not stop there, as the Maple Leafs could also explore a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to come away with another top-five pick. Obviously, though, such a move would come at a price. And it’s one the recently formed front office led by John Chayka and Mats Sundin may never be able to live down.

“[The Blackhawks] have had interest in Matthew Knies. I wouldn’t be shocked if they call up John Chayka and say, we want to give you the 4th overall pick and this and this for Knies,” David Pagnotta said during an appearance on Leafs Morning Take.

As it stands, the Maple Leafs own seven picks in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. By making such a deal with the Blackhawks, they could bolster their draft capital without missing out on McKenna, whose name is already plastered across jerseys throughout the city.

‘Knies’ things aren’t cheap

On paper, a trade could make a lot of sense. The Chicago Blackhawks urgently need someone who can play alongside Connor Bedard on the top line and not look completely out of place. The Hawks have forced square pegs into round holes for far too long. They owe it to their future captain to finally surround him with top, proven weapons. Considering this year’s free-agent class is expected to be historically weak, the trade route appears to be the best option.

On top of that, Bedard has yet to sign an extension. There is little to no concern about losing him to restricted free agency, but a move like this ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft could encourage the 20-year-old to put pen to paper even sooner. Obviously, such a move would also come at a price for Chicago.

Blackhawks have troubled history with Draft

The Blackhawks dropped two spots after the Draft Lottery and reportedly have no clear preference regarding whom to select with the fourth overall pick. There are also growing concerns about some of the organization’s recent top draft selections.

Look no further than the selection of Artyom Levshunov in 2024, when Chicago passed on Beckett Sennecke and Ivan Demidov. The blueliner may still pan out in the Windy City, but his minus-41 rating last season can hardly be deemed a good omen.

Thus, even if it stings, trading the fourth overall pick and additional assets for a proven top-six winger like Knies may not be bad business on Kyle Davidson’s part. Davidson did say, “We’re going to get a really good player,” following the Draft Lottery. If he trades the pick for Knies, he may very well stay true to his word.

Maple Leafs’ perspective

As for the Maple Leafs’ say in the matter, that is where the trouble begins. Toronto may want nothing to do with losing Knies, its second-round pick from 2021. The Arizona native finished third in scoring for the Buds during the 2025-26 season with 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points in 79 games.

What is more, he has become a fan favorite, and trading him could make Chayka and Sundin no friends in a market that embraces you quickly, but is even quicker to cast you aside.

Why trading Knies could work out for Toronto

From a contract and business standpoint, though, the move could make sense. Knies is the main trade chip the Leafs possess. As Chris Johnston reported, teams may be even more willing to break the piggy bank for Knies than they would for Auston Matthews.

More importantly, Knies is signed through 2031 under a contract that doesn’t include any form of protection. No other star in The Six is signed to a deal like that. It makes things easier both for Toronto to explore the market and for potential suitors to go out of their way to make a trade happen. Beginning next season, Knies will have five years remaining on his $46.5 million contract ($7.75 million AAV).

Potential win-win scenario for Chicago, Toronto

If the Hawks can put together the right offer, who is to say the Leafs will be able to resist? Chicago loses nothing by knocking on Toronto’s door. As for the Buds, they may have more on the line, but they also face the possibility of coming away with Gavin McKenna and one of Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra, Chase Reid, or Carson Carels, so that is not too shabby either.

There are far worse situations to be in around the NHL. The Draft Lottery has already set the Maple Leafs up for success, and the Blackhawks may toss them yet another lifeline—for a considerable asset in return, of course.

According to an article published by Göteborgs-Posten, a Swedish newspaper, Frölunda HC netminder Tobias Normann is in negotiations to sign with the Rangers. However, a source close to the NHL club in Manhattan has denied the claim.

“Hearing this report is false,” Mollie Walker of New York Post stated on her X account. Although the Blueshirts are often considered among the teams in the goaltending market, Normann may not be on Chris Drury, Mike Sullivan, and New York’s radar.

More about Normann

Born in August 2001 in Fredrikstad, Norway, the 24-year-old netminder signed with Frölunda HC ahead of the 2024-25 season. So far, the 6-foot-1 goaltender has appeared in 46 games for the club in the SHL. Through two seasons in the league, he has posted a .917 save percentage (SV%), 1.93 goals-against average (GAA), and three shutouts.

Normann is coming off an impressive 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded a .923 SV%, 1.68 GAA, and a 14-10-0 record, according to Elite Prospects. In the playoffs, he appeared in five games while posting a .933 SV% and 1.33 GAA. Despite his strong numbers, Frölunda was eliminated in six games during the quarterfinals.

Normann has international experience under his belt

Norway’s national team has also taken notice of his production in the Swedish Hockey League, as Normann was named to the preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Normann played for Norway in the 2025 Worlds, but allowed seven goals and finished with a .663 SV% in his latest national team outing.

Perhaps a strong showing at the international tournament is all he needs to wipe the slate clean and convince the Rangers’ front office that he may be a solution to the backup goaltender dilemma in the Big Apple.

NY Rangers’ options in net

With Shesterkin leaving no doubt about his abilities, the Blueshirts can rest assured knowing they only need goaltending depth to man the crease for roughly 30 games during the NHL season. Dylan Garand is expected to contend for the backup role following his promising rookie campaign, but New York will still explore its options.

Most likely, that search will take place in free agency, where the market is expected to be filled with potential backup netminders. If the Rangers believe the answer lies within the organization, they already have four non-roster goalies waiting for their opportunity: Callum Tung, Spencer Martin, Hugo Ollas, and Talyn Boyko, according to PuckPedia.

As Elliotte Friedman noted during an appearance on Sportsnet’s The FAN Hockey Show, Cassidy is open to interviewing with any team that requests permission to speak with him. However, he would rank teams differently, with Edmonton—viewed as the suitor closest to winning—expected to lead the race for his services. “If Bruce Cassidy has the choice, I would say it’s probably Edmonton,” Friedman said.

Still, until the Golden Knights grant the Oilers and the rest of the NHL permission to speak with him, the 60-year-old head coach will remain, so to speak, quarantined under Sin City’s wraps. Thus, reports all but confirm Edmonton are the favorites to hire Cassidy—though it has yet to fire Kris Knoblauch. Until Vegas says so, though, the Oilers can’t do much. Well, actually they can. And they should.

Oilers must formally fire Knoblauch

Word getting out that Edmonton sought permission to speak with Cassidy has put the organization in the Gateway to the North on the spot. The Oilers are left with virtually no choice but to have a face-to-face conversation with Knoblauch and part ways with him.

After all, they owe him at least that much, considering the head coach learned the front office went behind his back in its quest to find his replacement. Keep in mind the Oilers signed Knoblauch to a three-year extension beginning with the 2026-27 NHL season and running through 2028-29.

Edmonton may try to act as if nothing happened and stick with its current head coach, but that seems unlikely. If that occurs, though, there’s a slim chance Knoblauch works past his differences with the team in Oil Country. After all, money talks, and the 47-year-old is up for a big contract. The upcoming three-year deal would skyrocket Knoblauch’s net worth.

Oilers face more drama

All things considered, the Oilers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Even if reports suggest Cassidy would favor them over other potential suitors such as the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton could still find itself in trouble. What happens if the organization moves on from Knoblauch but fails to land Cassidy?

It would certainly make for yet another dramatic offseason in Alberta, and it could prove to be the last straw for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Both stars expressed frustration following the team’s first-round exit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Such chaos would be far from the response they expected after publicly stating the Oilers had taken a step backward last season.

The writing is on the wall for Knoblauch. His time in Edmonton appears to be running out. Whether Stan Bowman and company care to admit they were caught red-handed is a different question altogether. Edmonton should have learned its lesson by now: nothing is messier than an oil spill.

As reported by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet, Toronto is expected to reach out to Cassidy. Such a hiring would make much sense after the Maple Leafs explained the firing of Berube following the 2025-26 NHL season. Still, the Buds would first need to be granted permission by the Golden Knights.

That crucial step is one neither the Oilers nor Kings have been able to get past yet. As a result, the two Pacific Division rivals of Vegas remain in the dark regarding their head coaching searches. Moreover, both Edmonton and Los Angeles technically do not have openings at the head coach position. Kris Knoblauch is still under contract in Alberta, while interim coach DJ Smith—who replaced Jim Hiller—remains with the organization in California.

Maple Leafs do have a head coach vacancy

Right from the start, Toronto holds an advantage in that regard, as it actually has a vacancy. The Maple Leafs first fired Berube, and only afterward will they begin talks with available coaches. For all the controversy surrounding the hiring of GM John Chayka in Hogtown, the former Arizona Coyotes executive has operated by the book so far.

Moreover, the Maple Leafs as an organization may also have better luck dealing with the Golden Knights. First and foremost, Toronto is far away in the Atlantic Division, posing little threat to Vegas outside of a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup. Considering how the past season unfolded for Toronto, one could argue the odds of the Buds competing for the Cup anytime soon remain slim.

Toronto gets along better with Vegas than LA and Edmonton

That said, the Maple Leafs did come away with the No. 1 pick in 2026 and reportedly have no concerns about drafting Gavin McKenna, who could make an immediate impact. Secondly, it was less than a year ago that Toronto and Vegas negotiated in good faith to complete the Mitch Marner–Nicolas Roy trade. Indeed, it was Brad Treliving who served as GM and pulled the strings in Ontario, but the Knights may still feel as though they owe something to the Leafs.

Not that such sentiment is common in the NHL—especially not in Sin City, where the Golden Knights have built a reputation as a disruptive organization. Regardless, the Maple Leafs’ front office may look quite different than it did back in July 2025, but it is still the same hockey club.

Plus, the Golden Knights know they cannot block off Cassidy forever. Doing so for too long may cross certain moral boundaries. At some point, they will have to allow teams to interview him, and right now Toronto appears to be the most logical landing spot from Vegas’ perspective. Perhaps giving the Maple Leafs more time to sell its pitch to Cassidy is the perfect way for the Golden Knights to send a message to the Oilers and Kings.

Cassidy has a say in the matter

At the end of the day, though, Cassidy isn’t Vegas’ property. Granted, he has one year remaining on his contract that some team will have to pay, but the Golden Knights can’t keep him under wraps forever. At some point, sooner or later, the NHL will intervene if the blockade persists. When it’s all said and done, it will be Cassidy who chooses where to sign next, and that’s where the Golden Knights’ influence comes to an end.

The longer Vegas keeps Cassidy quarantined from the rest of the league, the greater the odds he seeks revenge by signing with a divisional rival. It’s a risky game the Golden Knights are playing, and for the first time in the city’s history, the house might come away a loser in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

General manager John Chayka addressed the organization’s decision in an official statement released by the team. “Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person,” Chayka said, via NHL.com.

He also added, “This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward.”

The announcement comes after Toronto failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016, a major setback for a franchise that entered the season with expectations of remaining among the Eastern Conference contenders.

Maple Leafs searching for new direction after disappointing season

Berube’s dismissal reflects growing pressure within the organization after the team struggled to build momentum following last year’s playoff run. In his first season with Toronto, Berube guided the Maple Leafs to the second round of the playoffs. However, Toronto was unable to carry that postseason momentum into the following year.

The Leafs’ failure to reach the playoffs marked one of the organization’s most disappointing seasons in recent memory, especially considering the expectations surrounding the roster and coaching staff entering the campaign.

Toronto now faces major offseason decisions

With Berube no longer leading the bench, the Maple Leafs now enter a critical offseason that could reshape multiple areas of the organization. The team also confirmed that the next head coach will determine the makeup of the remainder of Toronto’s coaching staff, signaling the possibility of broader structural changes behind the scenes.

Attention will now shift toward who the Maple Leafs select as their next head coach as the franchise attempts to reestablish itself as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender after an unexpected step backward this season.

Just because the Blueshirts recently got their hearts broken doesn’t mean they have lost all hope. When it comes to a potential trade up with the San Jose Sharks (No. 2 selection), the Rangers are holding on to a sliver of faith. However, league history indicates they may only be setting themselves up for disappointment.

As reported by Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, the last time a top-two pick was traded in the NHL was nearly 23 years ago. Back then, the Florida Panthers (No. 1) swapped places with the Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 3). Pittsburgh selected Marc-Andre Fleury first overall, while Florida took Nathan Horton third. Needless to say, the team that moved up clearly won that trade.

Trade with Sharks is complicated

Such a precedent not only underlines how improbable a trade between the Rangers and Sharks may be, but also adds another layer of hesitation for San Jose when looking at how things turned out for the last team to move down from a top-two selection.

As a result, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury will have to come up with a very appealing offer for his close friend Mike Grier (Sharks GM) in the Capital of Silicon Valley. It’s either that or praying for Gavin McKenna to slide down from No. 1 and somehow land in New York. The odds of that aren’t looking very promising.

All things considered, the Blueshirts may have no choice but to stay put at No. 5 and take the best player available. According to a report, the Rangers view defenseman Carson Carels as their lone option in the 2026 NHL Draft.

NY Rangers’ picks in 2026 Draft

As things stand, the Blueshirts own 11 picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. Anything can happen, as New York has been transparent about its desire to move up, and such a move would almost certainly require parting ways with additional selections, as well as a roster player or prospect.

Regardless, New York currently owns the second-most picks in this year’s draft of any team, though there is a three-way tie at the top. The Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues each hold 12 selections. As for the Blueshirts, they own two first-round picks. Here’s the complete list of their selections:

• No. 5 overall
• First-round pick (via Dallas)
• Second-round pick (via Carolina)
• Third-round pick
• Third-round pick (via New York)
• Third-round pick (via Los Angeles)
• Third-round pick (via Buffalo)
• Fifth-round pick
• Sixth-round pick
• Sixth-round pick (via Chicago)
• Seventh-round pick (via Vancouver)