NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 14, 2026, 11:30 AM ET
NHL Coaching Carousel & Roster Stability
The NHL offseason coaching market saw major upheaval this week, headlined by the stunning dismissal of Kris Knoblauch by the Edmonton Oilers espn.com. Sources confirmed the firing despite Knoblauch guiding the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025, with his contract extension not yet commenced, raising serious questions about General Manager Stan Bowman's roster decisions. In a separate, significant organizational shift, the Toronto Maple Leafs espn.com officially parted ways with coach Craig Berube after just two seasons, signaling a major change following a perceived regression as detailed by CBS Sports. Meanwhile, on the personnel front, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle espn.com on a six-year, $36 million contract, while the Carolina Hurricanes announced a two-year extension espn.com for forward Mark Jankowski, averaging $1.85 million annually.
Western Conference Playoff Drama & Discipline
The Western Conference semifinals delivered high drama, particularly in the Vegas-Anaheim series, which was pushed to a decisive Game 6 following a tight contest. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal in overtime espn.com to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 series lead on Monday. However, Vegas faces disciplinary hurdles heading into Game, as defenseman Brayden McNabb received a one-game suspension espn.com for his interference infraction that injured Ducks forward Ryan Poehling. Separately, the Colorado Avalanche completed a massive comeback espn.com against the Minnesota Wild, storming back from a 3-0 deficit in Game, capped by Brett Kulak's overtime winner to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. The Avs’ increased intensity, doubling their regular-season hit rate espn.com, appears to be a defining characteristic of their run.
Eastern Conference Upsets & Player News
The Eastern Conference semifinal saw the Buffalo Sabres force a pivotal Game 5 espn.com against Montreal after Zach Benson scored the go-ahead goal on his 21st birthday during a third-period power play, giving the Sabres a 3-2 victory on Tuesday as detailed in ESPN coverage espn.com. This performance followed Sabres coach taking Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen back in net for Game 4 espn.com. On the disciplinary front, Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined the maximum allowable $5,000 under the CBA for striking Wild center Michael McCarron espn.com, an action McCarron subsequently labeled the Avs defenseman as "a dirty player" according to reports espn.com. In league-wide honors, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the unanimous winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy, marking the first time in 33 years a rookie secured the award without a single dissenting vote.
Offseason Outlooks & Prospect Watch
While playoff action dominates, teams are to major offseason decisions. The Minnesota Wild expressed feeling 'empty' after collapsing in their series-ending Game 5 loss, setting the stage for key offseason moves and free agency forecasts espn.com. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas stated he would "love" to retain longtime center Evgeni Malkin for a 21st season following recent discussions espn.com. Beyond current players, the focus shifts to the upcoming draft, where prospect Gavin McKenna, whose journey has spanned from Whitehorse to Medicine Hat and Penn State, is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. Furthermore, the Professional Women's Hockey League announced expansion into Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, with a 12th site yet to be determined, noting the upcoming draft class is headlined by five U.S. Olympic gold medalists, including defender Caroline Harvey per league announcements espn.com.
Betting Markets & League Administration
The increased playoff intensity has driven significant promotional activity in the sports betting sector. For Thursday's action, including the Red Sox-Phillies MLB game, bettors could utilize the Bet MGM promo code CBSSPORTS to secure $1,500 in bonus bets if their initial wager loses, while Draft Kings offered $100 in bonus bets instantly after a minimum $5 wager targeting Thursday's NHL slate. Similar promotions were active on Wednesday for games involving the Cavaliers-Pistons matchup as tracked by CBS Sports. In administrative news, the NHL announced the finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award espn.com, with voting open until May 24 for the winners who will be revealed in June. On the international stage, Penguins star Sidney Crosby will represent Team Canada espn.com at the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in that tournament.