NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 27, 2025
The Jets extend their win streak to 11 games, Nathan MacKinnon regains the lead in the scoring race, and updates on Roman Josi, Miro Heiskanen, Adam Fox and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets extended their franchise-record win streak to 11 games by defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist, Mark Scheifele tallied his team-leading 33rd of the season, and Connor Hellebucyk made 24 saves for his league-leading 36th win. The Jets opened a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals in the overall standings with 87 points. Thomas Chabot scored and Linus Ullmark made 36 saves for the Senators as their losing skid reached five games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 62 points, the Senators remain two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. They’re feeling the absence of forwards Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Shane Pinto, who remain sidelined by injuries.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in the third period in a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. MacKinnon also collected an assist to finish with three points, regaining the lead in the NHL scoring race with 90 points. Martin Necas had three assists and Cale Makar collected two as the Avalanche snapped a two-game losing skid. They hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 70 points. Jack Hughes replied for the Devils as they remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon holds a three-point lead over Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. Necas has quickly developed a strong offensive chemistry with MacKinnon since being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24, collecting 12 points in 11 games since the trade. The Avs also welcomed back Valeri Nichushkin. He’d been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Dec. 31.
The Vancouver Canucks nipped the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Forward Conor Garland tallied twice, including the winner in overtime. Nils Hoglander also scored, Filip Chytil had two assists and Quinn Hughes picked up an assist in his return to the Canucks lineup after missing six games with an undisclosed injury. Adrian Kempe and Warren Foegele scored as the Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit to force the extra period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win vaulted the Canucks over the Calgary Flames into the final Western wild-card spot with 65 points, while the Kings are third in the Pacific Division with 70 points. Meanwhile, Vancouver winger Brock Boeser is frustrated over the lack of progress in contract extension talks with management, prompting speculation that he could be traded if the Canucks stumble in the playoff race.
HEADLINES
THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is listed as day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
TSN: The Predators made a minor trade on Wednesday, acquiring forward Jesse Ylonen from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Anthony Angello. Both are playing in the American Hockey League (AHL).
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars general manager Jim Nill said his club will probably get a clearer timeline on defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s recovery from knee surgery by mid-to-late March. Heiskanen underwent surgery on Feb. 4 and was listed as month-to-month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed the Stars could place Heiskanen on long-term injury reserve, freeing up his $8.45 million cap hit to put toward adding players before the March 7 trade deadline. However, that only works if they know for certain that he’ll be sidelined for the rest of the regular season. Otherwise, they would have to free up space to be cap-compliant when he returned to action.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (upper body) was placed on injured reserve. He’ll be out for at least seven days but is expected to return before the end of the regular season.
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson will return to action on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. He’s been out since Jan. 20 with a lower-body injury.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He will remain with the team but isn’t expected to suit up for Friday’s game against the Rangers.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers reclaimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Minnesota Wild, who claimed him from the Oilers on Dec. 13.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Wild acquired forward Tyler Madden from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Joseph Cecconi. Both players will report to their new teams’ respective AHL affiliates.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed forward Matt Nieto on waivers.
Eastern conference watch produces a big 4 pt. Game between Detroit and CBJ tonight! NYR,Ottawa and Boston 2 pts. Back! Injuries have put a damper on all 3 teams with Fox,Pinto,Mcavoy and Lindholm all being out injured!
I am curious to see what Yzerman might do (or not do) before the deadline. I know Copp is overpaid and gets much grief from fans, but he is a good defensive center. Detroit has needed a #2 center, and Copp’s absence only adds more focus on that issue.
Charlie Coyle is perfect for that role!
considering the drop is stats/play of Rantanen, and increase in points by Necas, maybe it as McKinnon/Makar who made the players better, maybe Rantanen isn’t as good as the $13M AAV that he is asking
i mean, Rantanen wasn’t even the best player on the Finland team during the 4NF tournament
He certainly doesn’t seem to be a 13m player. He looks like a pouting invisible Fin at this point. And I think most of the people who post at this website would have “instant chemistry” with Nathan McKinnon.
Buyer beware on Raantonen. Can he drive play on his own? Or is he reliant on near flawless playmakers around him. The comparison is Drysatle or even Malkin. The difference is when those players have to be “the man” they stepped up.
Habs should beef up Canucks to ensure beating out Calgary..
Spitballing, Evans and Armia for a 1st and Suter
All are UFA at the end of the year. Evans and Armia replace the goals and ensure a strong bottom 6.
Habs add another 1st plus improve their Calgary 1st
I can’t see Vancouver doing that trade. Suter is having as good or better year than either Armia or Evans, so it would be Suter for Evans and then a 1st for Armia ? No thanks.
HabFan, I was talking about the Habs options with my brother last night. He also thinks the Habs should try to sign Armia and Evans if reasonable deals can be worked out and that Savard and Dvorak should not be brought back.
But he’s against trading them. The return likely won’t be great. He figures a 2nd for Evans, a 3rd for Armia and later picks for Savard and Dvorak. And that would weaken Laval. Players like Beck and Mailloux would be with the Habs for the rest of the season when they should finish out the year in Laval and hopefully experience a long playoff run. He thinks that trading players for later picks and/or mid level prospects, both of which have less than a 20% chance of becoming NHLers and both of which the Habs have in abundance, wouldn’t be worth the damage that may be done to Laval’s season.
Pretty fair point.
Rantanen is an example of a guy going to a system that doesn’t work for him.
Colorado likes to run and gun off the rush and freewheeling works for Rantanen.
In Carolina it’s dump and chase with a hard forecheck, 2 and 3 at a time. Hardan on man in the defensive zone.
His forte is a totally different system and it’s no surprise that he apparently doesn’t want to sign there.
There are plenty of teams that play off the rush where he would fit like the Rantanen we know.
Good point HabFan. In response to other posts, playing with MacKinnon and Makar certainly made Rantanen a better player but he’s a great player even without them. His play so far with the Canes is not the real him as a player.
One observer of the Habs hockey scene posted during Tuesday nights game that he’s playing like a guy who wants to be traded out of Carolina by March 7.
LJ, Howard,
That’s why I suggested Armia and Evans for Suter and a 1st.
All are UFA, Evans and Armia are shut down and playoff tested ad score as often as Suter.
The trade gives Canucks playoff ground and depth, the Habs get a mid 1st round pick.
That’s an interesting observation, HF30. But we’ve seen other stars who have switched teams struggle – just ask Nashville. Surely Rantanen has the skill to adapt to different styles of play.
That the ‘Canes have offered Rantanen big money says they believe he will come around; a team official said his underlying #s are good (whatever they are).
Howard: I am with your brother. The Habs have 20 draft picks in the next two years and don’t need any more middling to late round picks. Unless they come up with a package that gets them a first rounder, let the young guys learn playoff hockey by keeping them in Laval.
Every now and then I can be right, I did say Colorado made off like bandits in the trade.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Rantanen signed at more reasonable level as a UFA in Colorado.
Anyone who believes/ or doubts that Rantanen isn’t a great player has not watched hockey or at least dosen’t watch Avalanche hockey over the last several years? The one issue with Mikko is between his ears when he is struggling. As a season ticket holder in 2018-19 and who has watched numerous Avalanche games, there are few guys in the league that can handle him: big strong, great shot, great playmaker, he gets annihilated out there and still manages to produce. I wouldn’t be so quick to pass judgement on his struggles in Carolina? Probably more to do with mental adjustment in being traded from Colorado!!
It sounds like Seguin, Heiskenen, and Lunqvuist are done for the season…So now the Stars have over $20 million in LTIR if they choose to use it… We need to pull a “Vegas”… we could have an entirely different looking team by March 7th…c’mon Jim Nill, we’ve got a deep prospect pipeline…..ALL IN!!!
“The former 100-point scorer with the Colorado Avalanche has posted one goal and two assists through his first eight games with Carolina averaging 20:10 of ice time per game. His shooting percentage has dropped to 4.0% which is exceptionally low considering his career track record. Rantanan simply hasn’t looked fully engaged as a Hurricane and the team has suffered for it, posting a 2-5-1 record with him in the lineup.”
They need to trade Miko now, or they may lose him for nothing. He does not appear to be able to produce for the Canes. This is a failed experiment.
The only trade I see that does not give up on the Canes Cup hopes is a Miko for NYR’s Laff. But that is a long shot.
Terrible first period by Ullmark. The Sens did pepper Hellebuyck and outshot the Jets barely in the first period.
Then the roles reversed and suddenly the Jets were firing away and Sens dried up, but Linus was damn solid and kept this from being 7-1 or 8-1.
That 4 minute power play for Winnipeg didn’t help of course…half of which was 2-man advantage.
Down Brady, Norris, and Pinto is a damn challenge, but overall they did not look bad vs the number one team in the league.
@TheSaint
Ya.
I was there. Ullmark was fighting it in the first but weird and inconsistent D pairs didn’t help. Coach is being a putz. Hamonic needs to sit. Never does.
Stutzle needs to slow down his feet. He skates right out of his boots sometimes. Additionally the refs gave preferential treatment to the best team in the NHL. Klevin probably shouldn’t have gotten on that Winnipeg Disney Ride – Lowry Train.
All in all they hung in there but even with those three guys they were missing….they would have been in tough to get a point against that team.
yep you are very right.
The score does not reflect the play from the Sens at all.
The coach needs to bench Hamonic… he’s tragic