Daily Bean: Canadiens Sabres Game 6 Tonight, Golden Knights Docked, Luke Hughes and Minnesota?

May 16, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

The Boston Bruins have a need that is not speed or skill.

There’s a glaring hole in the lineup, especially when you look at the projected lineup going into next season. If you have been with BHN, at least since February, you will know that the right side of the blue line is nearly empty. Now, it’s the offseason, it’s time for the Bruins to address the need.

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Two Bruins, both former Maple Leafs, had a great start to the IIHF World Championships.

Elsewhere around the league, the Canadiens are looking to move on to Round 3 tonight, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, and so is Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes. Moritz Seider of Team Germany made a highlight-reel save in the World Championships, and the Maine Mariners can win their second-round series tonight.

Also, the Vegas Golden Knights were hit with a steep punishment after not making HC John Tortorella available to the media on Thursday.

Happy Saturday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

Boston Bruins

THE OTHER NEED: The Bruins front office has talked about speed and skill, but it goes beyond that. The Bruins need a right-handed defenseman. Whether it is by virtue of trade, free agency (both restricted and unrestricted), or the draft, or all, it is a need.

Three of the seven right-handed defensemen are under contract for next season. Billy Sweezey is the only minor-league defenseman under contract for the 2026-27 season.

IIHF WORLDS: The Bruins have eight players in Switzerland playing in the IIHF World Championships, which get underway this morning. In the US, coverage will be on the NHL Network, and in Canada, it will be on TSN.

Check out who’s playing, their schedules, and how to watch.

Yesterday, Fraser Minten had two assists and was named the player of the game.

fraser minten player of the game !!!!! pic.twitter.com/s6kUDcKczO
— z – ilene ❀ (@genomeep) May 15, 2026

Alex Steeves scored the USA’s lone goal.

Alex Steeves goal. He had 9 in 43 games this season #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/5lLKW0uCJZ
— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) May 15, 2026

Prospects Update

MAINE: The Maine Mariners can win and close out the Wheeling Nailers (PIT) tonight. If they do, they are through to the third round and will take on the

Game 1: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-3 (OT)
Game 2: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-1
Game 3: at Maine – MNE wins 6-3
Game 4: at Maine – MNE wins 2-1 (2OT)
Game 5: at Maine – MNE wins 5-3
Game 6: at Wheeling – Saturday, May 16, 7:10 PM
Game 7*: at Wheeling – Monday, May 18, 7:10 PM

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Montreal Hockey Now: There’s one playoff game tonight, and the Montreal Canadiens can end the Buffalo Sabres’ season with a win. At first, Thursday’s game looked to be a challenge for Jakub Dobes, who allowed three goals on his first four shots, but he steadied the Canadiens to a Game 5 win. Marc Dumont writes that the Canadiens are a team that needs to face adversity, as it primes them for success.

PLAYOFFS:

A1 – Sabres (2) vs. A3 – Canadiens (3)
M1 – Hurricanes (4) vs. M3 – Flyers (0)
C1 – Avalanche (4) vs. C3 – Wild (1)
P1 – Golden Knights (4) vs. P3 – Ducks (2)

Sportsnet: The Vegas Golden Knights were docked a second-round pick, and John Tortorella was fined $100,000 for “flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.”

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Golden Knights were upset with Brayden McNabb’s one-game suspension. The league has warned the Golden Knights about media availability before.

NHL (video via YouTube): Here are the seven minutes of media availability that Mitchell Marner and Brett Howden gave to the media on Thursday night. John Tortorella was not available to speak.

San Jose Hockey Now: Macklin Celebrini is already setting San Jose Sharks franchise records. He notched 115 points this season, and he is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1. Sheng Peng has more on Celebrini; read the full article here.

ESPN: Quinn Hughes was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota in December, and he now has one year left on his contract. Yesterday, at Wild breakup day, Hughes said he “would definitely be open to re-signing. We’ll see what Billy [Guerin] wants to do.”

He can extend on July 1.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Staying on the topic, the Minnesota Wild wanted Luke Hughes, too. According to a report from The Athletic, the Wild tried to pick the youngest brother and unite him with the oldest, leaving Jack all alone in Newark. Daniel Amioa has more for NJHN.

Detroit Hockey Now: Moritz Seider made a sensational stop at the IIHF World Championships yesterday, denying Finland’s Walterri Merela point-blank.

Steven Ellis (video via 𝕏): Here is the save.