{"id":654409,"date":"2026-05-20T12:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/654409\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:53:18","slug":"nhl-rumors-hughes-and-wild-tuch-and-sabres-mcdavid-and-berube-the-hockey-writers-nhl-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/654409\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumors: Hughes and Wild, Tuch and Sabres, McDavid and Berube? – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s NHL rumors rundown, the Buffalo Sabres are facing a pivotal decision on Alex Tuch<\/a> after a tough playoff exit, the Edmonton Oilers are dealing with backlash and possible Connor McDavid fallout over their recent coaching search news, and the Minnesota Wild are making Quinn Hughes<\/a> their top offseason priority.<\/p>\n

Sabres Facing Tough Call on Alex Tuch<\/p>\n

The Buffalo Sabres lost Game 7 of their series to the Montreal Canadiens, and it won\u2019t take long for the conversation in Buffalo to switch to a focus on UFAs and RFAs, namely Alex Tuch. The pending unrestricted free agent is coming off a strong regular season, but his playoff performance raised questions at the worst possible time. After posting seven points against Boston in Round 1, Tuch went scoreless and finished minus-10 against Montreal, though there are suggestions he may have been playing through injury.<\/p>\n

\"AlexBuffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen has already indicated a desire to keep Tuch, but the financials could complicate things. A long-term deal in the range of $10 million annually comes with risk, especially given concerns about consistency. Still, with a thin free agent market, Tuch\u2019s value remains high. Teams like the Edmonton Oilers could show interest, leaving Buffalo with a difficult decision on whether to meet his price or risk losing a key leader.<\/p>\n

Oilers Coaching Search Drawing Heat<\/p>\n

Speaking of the Edmonton Oilers, their reported interest<\/a> in Craig Berube has sparked strong reactions from fans and media<\/a>. While the team has received permission to speak with the former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, many are questioning the fit\u2014particularly when it comes to maximizing stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.<\/p>\n

Berube\u2019s struggles in Toronto were well documented. Perhaps more than any other coach in the NHL this past season. The takeaway was that Berube has been a winning coach in the past, but his team\u2019s offensive production and defensive structure fell apart. How would he align with Edmonton\u2019s high-skill roster, and could it frustrate McDavid and potentially impact his long-term future with the franchise?<\/p>\n

Some believe the Oilers are simply doing their due diligence or using the interview as leverage while waiting on other candidates, such as Bruce Cassidy. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the Oilers will get a chance to speak with Cassidy. <\/p>\n

Wild Make Quinn Hughes \u201cPriority One\u201d<\/p>\n

In Minnesota, the focus is clear: keep Quinn Hughes. Wild GM Bill Guerin has made it known<\/a> that re-signing Hughes is the organization\u2019s top priority this offseason. \u201cI love having him here. I mean, the impact that he had on our team was incredible, so yeah, priority one,\u201d Guerin said. <\/p>\n

However, negotiations may not be straightforward. If Hughes seeks a deal comparable to the league\u2019s highest-paid stars\u2014potentially in the $17 million range annually\u2014the Wild could face a difficult cap decision. Quinn Hughes said in his post-season media availability<\/a>: \u201cI really like it here. I think that I would definitely be open to re-signing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the uncertainty, there is optimism that a deal can be reached. If Hughes is open to staying, and the Wild want him to stay, only money stands in the way. So too, his strong relationship between his camp and the organization could play a key role. Meanwhile, there is buzz that the New Jersey Devils haven\u2019t completely put aside the idea that Hughes could be an option, and if he hits the trade market, they would make a significant offer. <\/p>\n

Golden Knights Appeal NHL\u2019s Sanctions<\/p>\n

It is being reported<\/a> that the Vegas Golden Knights have appealed the NHL\u2019s sanctions against them in relation to the team skipping their media availability after Game 6 versus the Ducks. Coach John Tortorella was hit with a $100K fine, and the team was docked a second-round draft pick.<\/p>\n

As it stands, the league has kept the sanctions in place. There is still a chance that Gary Bettman could reduce the penalties. <\/p>\n

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