NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 26, 2025
The Jets clinch a playoff berth, Alex Ovechkin moves closer to the all-time goals record, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff reach notable career milestones, the Capitals re-sign Jakob Chychrun, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth as they defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 on an overtime goal by Nikolaj Ehlers. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots for the Jets (102 points), who sit one point back of the league-leading Capitals. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 889th regular-season goal, putting him six away from breaking the all-time goal record held by Wayne Gretzky.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals signed defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year, $72-million contract extension earlier in the day. The average annual value is $9 million and is a considerable raise over his current AAV of 4.6 million.
Chychrun’s been a terrific addition to the Capitals blueline with 18 goals and a career-best 44-point performance (and counting) this season. The 26-year-old’s new contract reflects the cost of signing top-four defensemen with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the coming years. It will affect comparable blueliners like Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard who are due for new contracts this summer.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists to pass the 100-point milestone in a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Anthony Cirelli tallied twice for the Lightning as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 87 points. Bryan Rust replied for the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov is the 21st player in NHL history to reach the 100-point plateau five times. It’s the most for a Russian-born player, with Washington’s Alex Ovechkin doing it four times and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin three times. Meanwhile, Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak left this game in the first period with an undisclosed injury.
Head coach Lindy Ruff collected his 600th regular-season win with the Buffalo Sabres as his club nipped the Ottawa Senator 3-2. Tage Thompson tallied the tie-breaker early in the third period for the Sabres. Brady Tkachuk and David Perron scored for the Senators, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ruff is the second coach in league history to have 600 wins with one franchise. Al Arbour holds the record (740) with the New York Islanders.
This was the first game between Buffalo and Ottawa since Dylan Cozens was shipped to the Senators for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker at the March 7 trade deadline. Bernard-Docker scored against his former club while Cozens picked up an assist. Norris has missed the Sabres’ last five games with an undisclosed injury.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel had a hat trick to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1. Mark Stone and Noah Hanifin each had two assists for the Golden Knights, who have won four straight games and hold first place in the Pacific Division with 94 points. Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild, who hold the first Western wild-card spot with 85 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore picked up an assist in his first game since Feb. 8. It was the 500th regular-season game of his career.
The St. Louis Blues got their seventh straight win with a 6-1 drubbing of the Montreal Canadiens. Robert Thomas and Philip Broberg each had a goal and three assists as the Blues (83 points) maintained a four-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card berth. Nick Suzuki replied for the Canadiens, who cling to the final Eastern wild card (75 points) but are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues are red hot and could overtake Minnesota for the first Western wild-card berth.
An overtime goal by Nazem Kadri gave the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Kadri finished the night with two goals while Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato each had two assists as the Flames (79 points) remain four points behind the Blues.
Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala tallied two goals to defeat the New York Rangers 3-1, extending their franchise-best home points streak to 15 games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 shots for the Kings, who’ve won four straight and sit second in the Pacific Division with 89 points. J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers (74 points), who remain one point behind the Canadiens.
Toronto Maple Leafs forwards William Nylander and John Tavares each scored twice to crush the Philadelphia Flyers 7-2. Nylander reached the 40-goal plateau for the third consecutive season as the Leafs moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with 89 points. Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier replied for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Florida Panthers also have 89 points, but the Leafs have the edge with 42 regulation plus overtime wins compared to the Panthers’ 38.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his home points streak to 22 games in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Devon Toews had a goal and two assists to sit third in the Central Division with 91 points. J.T. Compher had a goal and an assist for the faltering Red Wings (72 points), who’ve dropped three of their last four to remain three points out of the final Eastern wild card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot sidelined, the Wings recalled goalie Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis to back up starter Alex Lyon.
The Nashville Predators upset the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Luke Evangelista scored twice and Juuse Saros turned aside 34 shots for the Predators. Taylor Hall scored for the Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 90 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty reported Monday that the Predators won’t release any information on sidelined Predators captain Roman Josi until after the season ends. “There is zero chance he plays any games the rest of this season.”
IN OTHER NEWS…
TSN: The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is expected to be held on May 5 or 6, depending on the playoff schedule.
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson will miss the remainder of the regular season with an injured wrist.
Is Chychrun worth that kind of dough?
And for 8 years ?
How old is he ?
Ken,going rate for a no. 1 D Man,18 goals this year,26 yrs old and Carlson comes off the books after next year!
I’m with you Ken. Huge overpayment. Chychrun is a solid D-man but far from a great one. And has a history of injuries.
Sr, your point is valid as well. As the cap goes up, the cost of signing top 4 D-men and top 6 forwards will skyrocket. Cale Makar is already counting his coins for his next extension in two years. That could approach $15m. AAV. And if Lane Hutson has a sophomore season which builds on his rookie year, a long term extension will certainly top $10m. AAV.
@Sr
Yes, Chychrun has come into his own in Washington
Washington’s coach has had a huge influence on that team
He should be awarded the 9 million$$
With Howard on this
His play and minutes may warrant term and dollars if he can continue like this
BUT. he is injury prone
Prior to last year and setting aside rookie season; he maxed out at 63 games
Excellent on attendance last year and this; but an injury waiting to happen
I personally don’t think this contract shes well
Ask any Sens’ fan or Yotes/HC fan; would they have embraced him for that contract?
I struggle with the injury prone tags, although it sure seems like some guys consistently get hurt.
But like a lot of things, we look at certain guys, and we generalize that they are all some how the same. Lots of players get injuries earlier in their career, and then are just as healthy as most players. Some guys are healthy early in their careers, then in their prime’s start getting hurt. So this could simply be random luck with some of these guys.
Chychrun hasn’t missed time for what will now be 2 full seasons, can’t discount that either. That is the player he is today, everything else is just guessing and you can say that about every player in the NHL.
Carlo was injury prone, until he wasn’t. Bergeron and Crosby had concussion issues, until they didn’t.
I dunno, but considering he will be 27 for the start of this contract, all years are UFA years, cap going up significantly over that time, $9M D men will become more common, and he’s a good player. Who is now on a good team which helps every D man.
Fair enough deal IMO.
The other side of the coin Ray, is that Dach is healthy, until he isn’t.
LJ,
The other side is Crosby missed big parts of 3 years and later parts of 2 in a row but is over 1399 to date.
Rocket Richard was injury prone , broken ankle that healed poorly and kept him out of the army but the Habs kept him around and the rest is history.
The Habs administration has taken a turn from the “old days” and has invested heavily in skills, medical, development, analytics etc and there’s a marked drop in games lost to injury. I have confidence that the combination will be used to look into Dach’s play to see what if any adjustments can be made to his game.
Time will tell.
That’s still a bit less than what Zach Werenski is getting and Zach is 2 years older.
Apparently when Chychrun plays on a winning team he can escape injury!!
Chych should be giving a million or two of that to his goaltender. The reason he looks so good.
That deal won’t age well.
Rangers losing last night; not good for Pens (own Rangers first round pick but top 13 protected).
Using winning percentages; Rangers as at now picking 11th
We need Rangers to string together a few wins
Pens lost last night (winning percentages has them picking 7th); GOOD, but we can get lower in standings (better pick)
We can fall below Krakken, Flyers, Sabres
Need to lose to Sabres tomorrow night for sure
Only a couple of weeks ago Pens were looking at possibly picking top 5 AND 14th!!!
Getting only a SINGLE first rounder in the 7th-10th spot; undesirable.
Our next 4 games:
@ Sabres
Sens
@Blues
@Stars
0-4 is attainable!
Ranger’s next 4 games:
@Ducks
@Sharks
Wild
@Devils
3-1 is possible!!
I’d rather an unprotected 1st in 26 honestly. Rangers problems could very possibly follow them into next year and they could be worse. Especially with drury running that show.
Good point IF (big IF) Rangers would fall at/near top 5 next year
I think they improve
So 14th-16th this year is better (worth more) than say any pick after 12th NEXT year; as we would have an NHL player 1 year sooner 2-3 years from now vs 3-4 years from now)
Now of course 1st overall next year (McKenna) is worth more than any pick this year
If Dubas gets his finger out of his…. and rids the team of the slow, the small , the defensively abysmal, and the aging (not named Crosby, Letang, Malkin) and replaces with speedy youth who play s 200’ game and are at least defensively neutral ; and who are over 6’ and over 195; then Pens are in playoffs next year; pick 17th at lowest.
5th – 8th plus 14th-16th this year; with making playoffs next year (so 17th or later next year)
Is better than 5th – 8th this year; AND 2 picks in the 10th – 16th place next year; and of course missing the ‘26 playoffs
Who cares about the Penguins
I think the Penguins are going back to Antarctica where they belong
They will be much happier there
Dubas should join them !
Dubas , Hayes, Gryzylcyck, Nieto, Accairi to Antartica
Sully to Bruins
Karllsson (50%) retained; Rust (50% retained); Rackell; traded separately netting 3 current young up and coming NHLers; AND 3 NHL prospects expected to play in NHL next year
Use a couple of picks; add to Nedjelkovic; for back-up upgrade
Re-up the 5 RFAs
Get a top 6 draft pick
Do an offer sheet
Sign ZERO UFAs that will be 29 or older by this December 31st
Any UFA aquisition must be over 6’, and over 195
That gets them in playoffs in ‘26; and at a $ cash savings to owners
Big uptick in attendance and merch; Revs big time uptick
Smiles all around
8787 be careful dwelling on the size thing! Boston went all in with that philosophy and look were that got them
Hi Sr
I’m certainly not saying we need only add behemoths
What I’m saying is no sub 6’ ers, no sub 195ers
We have many small players and are constantly pushed around
Hayes is very big but slow; plays only a 100’ game
we currently have a very big and strong D-man but he doesn’t use his size effectively
Even with those 2 big slabs of meat we have one of the lightest teams in the league
we have many sub 6’ ers, and
If Dubas added 6 speedy; mid 20’s or younger, players and all were 6’ or 6’ 1” and all 195-205; GREAT
Why the Hell didn’t Dubas ever bring up WBS best player
Katchouk was 2nd in points; tied for 1st in goals; 2nd in +/- (+12 with many on team in the minus)
26 years old; NHL experience; 6’ 2 1/2”. 210
I care! 5 cups in my lifetime and counting… how many for your team?
12, Chrisms. But it’s been way too long. Getting impatient.
Over thirty and counting. That sucks.
13 cups that I can remember, only Stanley Cup banners get hung in Montreal.
Whatever, F the Habs.
87, might want to seek counselling on this whole Grzelycyk obsession you got going on. Getting kinda weird.
The only UFA’s that are good enough to get the Pens into the playoffs and aren’t 29 to start next season are named Marner, Boeser, Provorov. And the Pens might need 2 of them to have a chance. Plus some other guys to upgrade multiple spots.
Good luck with that.
I would steer clear of Boeser, he fills a role isn’t a play driver. Methinks he gets overpaid for what he does, and mostly doesn’t do.
Hi Ray
If you can find it, try and watch last night’s Pens v Lightning tilt; your views on Grzylcyck 100% will completely change
Was on for 4 of 6; and a post and two spectacular saves away from being on for 7 of 9. He was defensively awful
The only thing different from Grzylcyck last night and a bad Jack Johnson game was that Johnson could actually move players from in front of the net (when he actually remembered to cover them)
Too much is being made about Grzylcyck’s offensive numbers and totally forgetting how costly defensively he is
1 nice assist last night but very very close to being on for 7 goals against, directly causing 4 of them
Re UFAs
They don’t have to be top end guys
Middle 6 guys are fine
Would love to see an offer sheet (or 2; like Blues) by Dubas
That certainly would be needle moving
Now, HOW Pens lost last night (Trounced); was BAD!!!!
We started strong then defensive nightmares skyrocketed.
The 6 goals against are not really on the goalies (each of Jarry and Nedjelkovic might want one back, but that’s it)
Pens were not expected to win last night. Outcome re: game points not at issue
What last night’s game MUST tell Dubas: under absolutely no circumstances re-up Grzylcyck.
On the ice for 4(FOUR ) goals-against; and if not for a post and 2 spectacular saves; he’d be on for 7 goals against. Repeatedly had trouble clearing the zone; making and receiving passes; and out of position all night.
3 of the goals he was on for, were on successive shifts and those 3 goals came in less than 3 minutes!!!
Dubas, every time you get a call from his agent; just think of last night’s game. Do NOT re-up him.
We all know Sully only sees smoke flying out of Grzylcyck’s butt and he (Sully) will have zero recollection of any of those brutal defensive blunders and ONLY remember the assist he had on Rust’s goal and that Gryzlcyck got injured (note: after the 3 goals in less than 3 minutes) ; left for medical attention; and came back.
Expect Sully to increase Grzylcyck’s ice-time.
The blind leading the defensively challenged
Well, last night was certainly a bummer for those teams that played and which are in the thick of the WC race in the East – Ottawa, Montreal, Detroit and NY Rangers all lost in regulation.
Out West, the hottest team in the league, St. Louis (8-1-1 in their past 10), suddenly have the first WC spot in sight as the staggering Wild (4-5-1 in their past 10) look vulnerable to the point of missing the playoffs. The Blues are now just 2 pts behind them, while Calgary, with 2 games in Hand, are 6 back.
Regarding the Blues resurgence.
Monty has to be in the conversation for coach of the year. He has taken a rudderless team with no confidence and turned them into a offensive force that plays defense first and is playing as 5 man units all over the ice. He leaves his veterans alone and uses them as assistant coaches on the ice who lead by example and mentor the younger guys. He let’s his younger guys know how he expects them to play and then rewards them with toi. As examples he has rejuvenated Fowler and Faulk while turning Bolduc into a future star. He put Holloway and Kyrou together and they are unstoppable right now. He allows his players to use their skill and creativity to produce offensive all over the ice. A positive energetic coach who communicates as well as any coach in the league. Every win by the Blues is another nail in the coffin of Sweeney who dumped him to save his own behind.
Along the same line Armstrong must be in the gm of the year conversation. His franchise altering acquisition of Broberg and Holloway has put the retool into warp drive. Bringing in Suter and Fowler and not panicking at the trade deadline solidified the d core and corrected his own mistake of abandoning the big mobile dmen for the smurf squad he had with Krug and Perinovich.
Also having the stones to fire Bannister when Montgomery became available and locking him up before another team got him was was a great decision. The retool wasn’t supposed to show results for a year or two but Armstrong has it happening right now. And with the young core currently on the roster and a half a dozen grade A prospects knocking on the door the Blues will be a force for quite a while.
Finally I’ve been seeing a lot of sites mocking the Blues for making this push only to be eliminated in the first round. Be careful ye of little faith. A Blues team well coached, with fire power, a big mobile defense and a proven big game money goalie could go on an extended playoff run. I’ve seen that movie before and loved the ending.
Snold49,the blame arrow is aimed at Sweeney of Boston! He fires Monty and Cassidy and then leaves Sacco in a s**t show with the injuries and the AHL lineup he is left to coach! People forget Monty won 65 games 2 years ago!Cassidy won the cup with Vegas his first year!
Blues spanked the Habs last night in every aspect of the game.
Have to see how quickly the Habs can put it in the pocket or burst their balloon.
Will they be the pre 4 nations team or the post?
It’s crunch time and all of the bubble wild card teams are showing wear and tear (fatigue) making the stretch run even more interesting and less predictable.
That, Habfan30, and with key players taking regular shifts while nursing injuries that reduce their effectiveness and which would have had them sitting out earlier in the season.
We may also see a clutch of games postponed if this weather forecast is accurate
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/weather/topstories/major-freezing-rain-event-this-weekend-for-ontario/vi-AA1BHceh?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=c412da2705984e7fba6a4284106b9ef7&ei=23