5 Bold Predictions For The 2026 NHL Offseason

While the Stanley Cup Final is still underway and we haven't crowned a champion yet, the NHL offseason is right around the corner.

With a few days between games, I've been thinking about some of the storylines that could become reality very soon for this summer.

Some of these predictions might seem reasonable. Others might sound completely crazy. But every offseason, things happen that nobody sees coming, and these are a few gut feelings I have based on the tea leaves around the league right now.

1. Connor Hellebuyck Will Request A Trade Out of Winnipeg

Listen, I don't know if Connor Hellebuyck actually gets traded.

In fact, moving the best goalie in the world is incredibly difficult because it's nearly impossible to get fair value in return. But I do think he's going to formally ask out of Winnipeg this summer.

We've already seen the first domino fall from Team USA's gold medal winning team with Dylan Larkin requesting a trade. When discussing Larkin's situation, Elliott Friedman, the best insider in the game, suggested he didn't think it would be the last major trade request we see this offseason.

Hellebuyck's year-end press conference also stood out to me. He looked and sounded very frustrated with the Jets.

The Jets went from winning the Presidents' Trophy to crashing out and missing the playoffs all together, and Hellebuyck has made it clear throughout his career that winning a Stanley Cup matters to him. He doesn't want to be remembered as one of the greatest goalies to never win it all.

Add in the recent trend of American stars wanting to play closer to home, and I just have a feeling Hellebuyck becomes the biggest name to request a trade this summer.

Whether Winnipeg grants that request is another story entirely.

2. John Tortorella Won't Be Coaching Vegas Next Season

Win or lose this Stanley Cup Final, I don't think John Tortorella will be behind the Vegas Golden Knights bench next year.

Vegas brought Tortorella in during the final weeks of the regular season after firing Bruce Cassidy. There was never any long-term commitment attached to the move, and I believe the organization already had another coach in mind when they made the change.

Tortorella was the perfect short-term solution.

He came in, lit a fire under the team, and completely rejuvenated a group that looked stale under Cassidy.

That's exactly what Tortorella does.

However, we've also seen his track record. Eventually, that message starts to wear thin, and usually pretty quickly.

Vegas is the most ruthless organization in the NHL. They aren't afraid to make unpopular decisions if they believe it gives them the best chance to win.

Honestly, what's more Vegas than hiring a coach for two months, watching him potentially win the Stanley Cup, and then thanking him for his service before moving on?

It sounds harsh, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's exactly what happens.

3. Bruce Cassidy Won't Coach In The NHL Next Season

This prediction goes hand-in-hand with the previous one.

Bruce Cassidy remains under contract with Vegas, and the Golden Knights have already denied multiple teams permission to interview him.

If Vegas wanted Cassidy coaching elsewhere next season, I think we'd already know it by now.

The most interesting situation involves the Edmonton Oilers. It's no secret Edmonton has asked to interview Cassidy, and Vegas said no. The Golden Knights reasoning was that they want to focus on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will re-visit when their season is over, but I just don't see why that would matter.

It comes down to one thing for me... Why would the Golden Knights help a division rival?

More importantly, why would they help a team that could potentially keep Connor McDavid happy long-term?

If Edmonton struggles next season, there will be legitimate questions about McDavid's future. Vegas knows that. They're not going to do anything that could improve the Oilers in either the short term or the long term.

Cassidy may not like it, but he signed the contract.

I think Vegas is perfectly comfortable paying him not to coach another NHL team for a year.

4. The Maple Leafs Will Trade For Shane Wright

The Toronto Maple Leafs need young talent.

Not just prospects. Players who can contribute right now while still being on affordable contracts.

That's why I think Shane Wright becomes a realistic target.

Things simply haven't worked out in Seattle.

I don't put all of that on Wright, either.

The Kraken have struggled to develop some of their young players. Matty Beniers looked like a future superstar during his rookie season and hasn't taken the next step many expected. Wright has shown flashes, but he hasn't been able to establish himself the way many thought he would after being selected fourth overall in 2022.

Sometimes players just need a fresh start.

Toronto feels like a logical landing spot.

Wright would be closer to home. He'd have the opportunity to learn from players like Auston Matthews and John Tavares. The pressure would be high, but the opportunity would be great for him.

I also don't think acquiring him would cost an outrageous amount.

The Leafs should be looking for low-risk, high-reward moves this offseason, and Wright fits that description perfectly.

I don't know what a trade package would look like. I don't know whether Seattle wants future assets or NHL-ready pieces.

What I do know is that Toronto needs young talent on cost-controlled deals, and that's why I think he's wearing blue and white by the time next season starts.

5. The Vancouver Canucks Will End Up With Gavin McKenna

This is probably my boldest prediction.

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the first overall pick. The San Jose Sharks pick second. The Vancouver Canucks pick third.

For most of the year, Gavin McKenna has been viewed as the obvious number-one pick.

But we've seen "obvious" first-overall picks fall before.

I keep thinking back to 2022 when the Montreal Canadiens shocked everyone by selecting Juraj Slafkovský over Shane Wright. At the time, it felt impossible that Wright wouldn't go first overall.

Then Montreal trusted its evaluation and took the player it believed would become the better NHLer.

History has been pretty kind to that decision.

I can see something similar happening this year.

Maybe Toronto decides Ivar Stenberg is more NHL-ready and wants a player who can contribute sooner rather than later while trying to maximize Auston Matthews' championship window.

Maybe San Jose decides Chase Reid is the defenseman they desperately need.

And suddenly, Gavin McKenna is sitting there at number three for the Canucks.

I don't know why, but I just have a feeling that's how this draft unfolds.

If it does, Vancouver would become the biggest winner of the draft by a mile.