Five storylines already dominating the 2026 NHL of...

playAlex Ovechkin: 'I'm pretty sure it's not my last game' (0:42) The Carolina Hurricanes have put their tarps back on after lifting the Stanley Cup. The NHL draft is days away. And the offseason scramble to improve for next season is instantly a chaotic one, thanks to the Ottawa Senators' shocking trade of Brady Tkachuk to join his brother Matthew with the Florida Panthers. Here are five storylines that are already defining the NHL offseason, from trade demands to free agent drama to big changes in front offices. The NHL is in an age of player empowerment. That's manifested in star players having input on coach hirings (see: Edmonton), spiking trades with their non-movement clauses (see: Mitch Marner) and taking anything but a hometown discount ahead of free agency (see: Kirill Kaprizov). But mostly it's manifested in the way players are using pressure points to force trades to desired destinations. Jack Eichel might have started the trend in 2021, when the Buffalo Sabres granted a long-gestating trade request so he could get the surgery he wanted with the Vegas Golden Knights (and win the Stanley Cup). Matthew Tkachuk informed the Calgary Flames he wouldn't be committing long-term, leading to his trade to the Panthers (to win two Stanley Cups). Tkachuk was a restricted free agent in July 2022. When Quinn Hughes followed that blueprint last season in Vancouver, he had another year on his contract before unrestricted free agency. The Canucks maximized his value and sent their captain to the Minnesota Wild. Brady Tkachuk added his name to that list on Sunday, as the Ottawa Senators shipped their captain to the Panthers, who we imagine are building an elaborate podcasting studio as we speak for the Brothers Tkachuk. The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions! Here's a look back at how we celebrated every Stanley Cup champion going back to the 2018 season: • Panthers 2025 | Panthers 2024 • Knights in 2023 | Avalanche in 2022 • Lightning in 2021 | Lightning in 2020 • Blues in 2019 | Capitals in 2018 Some reports claim the Senators wanted him gone after he had the temerity to win an Olympic gold medal, but there have been rumblings about Tkachuk seeking an exit from Ottawa for a while. Pierre LeBrun notes that Tkachuk, with a full no-movement clause, had a limited number of teams to which he would accept a trade, and the Senators spoke with Vegas and Carolina. But seeing as how those clubs have 100% fewer of his brothers than Florida, the outcome for Brady was predictable. Please note that the last three examples provided here featured American-born players leaving Canadian markets to play in the U.S. It's officially a trend. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has so far bucked the trend, despite some noise about his discontentment earlier in the offseason. U.S. Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck has been rumored to want a change in scenery from Winnipeg, however Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson seem pretty happy in Montreal. But that Team USA group chat must be an interesting read. Dylan Larkin, another U.S. Olympian, was already playing for an American team -- the Detroit Red Wings, an Original Six franchise no less -- when he shocked the NHL with a trade demand. What makes this scenario different is that he's already locked into a long-term contract, signed through 2030-31. But sometimes, a player just needs a fresh start after years of service to one organization -- such as Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who also requested a trade this offseason. One assumes these won't be the last trade demands made this year ... From players leaving to players sticking around: This summer is also going to see some blockbuster contract extensions, many of them on or around July 1. One of the most highly anticipated is Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar. The Avalanche have been setting themselves up for this windfall for years, going back as far as their decision not to extend Mikko Rantanen. GM Joe Sakic said he expects Makar will sign a deal this summer despite having one more year left on his current deal ($9 million AAV). "Cale is going to finish his career here," Sakic said. The highest paid defenseman in terms of the NHL salary cap remains Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson at $11.5 million next season. The highest paid player in the NHL next season is Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov at $17 million AAV. His total salary in Year 1 of his megadeal is $19.1 million, with $1 million in base salary and $18.1 million in signing bonus. Also up for an early extension is Quinn Hughes. GM Bill Guerin said that signing Hughes is "priority one" for Minnesota this offseason. If he does extend with the Wild, the question is for how long: A three-year extension would bring Quinn and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils to free agency together in 2030. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, fresh off his second Hart Trophy win for NHL MVP, is eligible for an extension on July 1. Next season

Five storylines already dominating the 2026 NHL of...

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