Around the NHL: Sabres Cap Crunch, Oilers Coaching Hunt and More League News

Sabres Cap Crunch:

On Monday night, the Buffalo Sabres suffered a devastating Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens, as Alex Newhook buried the series-winning goal to end Buffalo’s season. Despite the heartbreaking exit, the Sabres exceeded expectations this year and will look to build on the momentum from an impressive campaign.

However, Buffalo now enters the offseason facing a difficult financial situation, with several key restricted free agents (RFAs) and unrestricted free agents (UFAs) requiring new contracts while the club works with limited cap space.

The Sabres currently enter the offseason with an estimated $12.9 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season. Zach Benson, Peyton Krebs and Michael Kesselring are among the club’s notable RFAs, while Alex Tuch headlines a list of pending unrestricted free agents.

Buffalo will almost certainly prioritize extending Benson following his strong postseason performance, but Tuch’s future with the organization remains uncertain. The veteran winger is expected to command a contract worth roughly $10 million annually, a figure the Sabres may struggle to accommodate in their current cap situation. Additionally, his performance in the second round has raised questions about whether he deserves a deal in that price range.

Should Tuch reach free agency, there will be no shortage of interest across the league. The Seattle Kraken are reportedly among the teams expected to pursue him aggressively, with reports suggesting they could offer upwards of $11 million per season.

Oilers Coaching Search

Last week, the Edmonton Oilers relieved Kris Knoblauch of his coaching duties after the team’s disappointing first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks. Knoblauch had previously guided Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, making the decision a surprising one around the league.

The Oilers reportedly attempted to speak with Bruce Cassidy about their vacancy, but the Vegas Golden Knights denied Edmonton permission to interview him because Cassidy was still under contract. Despite that, there is growing speculation that Edmonton could be a destination of interest for Cassidy should he eventually become available.

More recently, reports surfaced that Craig Berube is expected to interview for the position after parting ways with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this month, following a disappointing season.

One rumour that was quickly shut down involved former NHL head coach Mike Babcock. Speaking with TSN’s Darren Dreger, Babcock stated that he is retired and has no plans to return behind an NHL bench.

A few other names worth monitoring in Edmonton’s coaching search include Peter Laviolette, Dan Evason and Gerard Gallant.

Sharks Linked to Veteran, Big-Money Defencemen

Over the past several weeks, the San Jose Sharks have been linked to multiple veteran defencemen carrying sizable contracts that their current teams may be looking to move.

Jeff Marek, through Edmonton Oilers blueliner Darnell Nurse, who carries a $9.25 million cap hit through the next four seasons, is in the mix of names that could land in San Jose this summer. Additionally, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly, who has four years remaining at $7.5 million annually, and New Jersey Devils veteran Dougie Hamilton, who has two years left on a contract worth $9 million per season, are two names that have reportedly been discussed.

As per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Hamilton’s name, in particular, has frequently surfaced in connection with the Sharks. Rumours intensified earlier this season after Hamilton was scratched by New Jersey, though reports indicated he declined a potential trade to San Jose at the time. However, with the Sharks showing promising progress led by superstar rookie Macklin Celebrini, there is speculation that Hamilton could reconsider a move this offseason.

Any of these veteran defencemen would help San Jose reach the salary cap floor while likely costing very little in terms of trade return.

Other News

Elsewhere around the NHL, Lindy Ruff signed a two-year extension to remain head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, while defenceman Timothy Liljegren agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $3.25 million with the Washington Capitals.

Another storyline to monitor is the status of Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar. It was announced earlier today that Makar would miss time with an injury and is currently listed as day-to-day.

Meanwhile, Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone also remains sidelined as he continues to deal with an injury.