NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 6, 2025
Alex Ovechkin moves within 10 goals of breaking the league goals record, injuries sideline Devils stars Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, the Utah Hockey Club re-sign three players, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for analysis of Wednesday’s trades.
RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 885th regular-season goal as his club nipped the New York Rangers 3-2. Ovechkin scored the tying goal that set the stage for Tom Wilson’s overtime winner for the Capitals (88 points). Artemi Panarin and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, who sit just outside the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 67 points.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is 10 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals.
Washington is tied with the league-leading Winnipeg Jets but the latter has 42 regulation wins to the Capitals’ 40.
An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Josh Norris had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who moved into the final Eastern Conference wild card with 67 points. Ryan Donato tallied his 23rd goal of the season for the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold that wild card spot with a game in hand over the Rangers. Donato is having a career-best performance (46 points in 60 games) in his contract season. He’s expected to be moved by Friday’s trade deadline.
The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Adin Hill made 29 saves while Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin and Tanner Pearson each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 80 points. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner replied for the Leafs, who remain in second place in the Atlantic Division with 79 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs and Florida Panthers have the same number of points, but the latter holds first place in the division with 32 regulation wins. Before the game, Matthews told reporters that he hopes management provides a boost to the roster at the trade deadline.
A three-goal second period enabled the Vancouver Canucks to hold off the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Jake DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger, and Carson Soucy scored for the Canucks, who sit just outside the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 67 points. Sam Colangelo and Brian Dumoulin scored for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are tied with the Calgary Flames in points but the latter holds that wild card with 29 regulations wins. Ducks goaltender John Gibson left this game following a collision with Canucks forward Drew O’Connor.
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas scored the tying goal and the shootout winner in a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Thomas extended his points streak to 11 games as the Blues sit one point behind the Flames with 66 points. Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore replied for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 71 points.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in Vail, Colorado. He’s expected to be recovered in time for training camp in September.
B/R OPEN ICE: cites TSN’s Darren Dreger reporting Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton could be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
TSN: Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was fined $25,000.00 by the league for unprofessional conduct toward on-ice officials during Sunday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yesterday was a very bad day for the Devils. The loss of Hughes and Hamilton threatens their playoff chances. They’re third in the Metropolitan Division with 72 points but only five points ahead of the Rangers, who are just outside the Eastern wild-card berth.
Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald was expected to be a buyer before Friday’s trade deadline. He’s placed Hughes on long-term injury reserve, giving the Devils $8 million in salary-cap wiggle room to make a significant addition or two. Whether he can pull it off remains to be seen.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: The Utah Hockey Club signed goaltender Karel Vejmelka to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4.75 million.
DAILY FACEOFF: Utah HC also signed defenseman Ian Cole and forward Alex Kerfoot to one-year extensions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah GM Bill Armstrong is signalling that he’s not a seller this year. Vejmelka would’ve drawn plenty of interest from playoff contenders seeking a goaltending upgrade before Friday’s trade deadline. Utah sits four points out of the final Western wild-card spot.
SPORTSNET: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Mathieu Olivier to a six-year extension with an AAV of $3 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are battling for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. GM Don Waddell said he’s under no pressure to move out his pending UFAs like Ivan Provorov, even at the risk of their departure on July 1. If Waddell makes a move or two, it’ll likely be a hockey trade that involves player-for-player swaps that will help the Jackets now and in the future.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed winger Jordan Greenway to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $4 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Greenway would’ve attracted plenty of suitors if he’d become available in the trade market. The Sabres valued his two-way play more.
Dunb Dumb Dumbas
He’s publicly committed to making team younger and Better
Failed again! And failed badly.
Last night’s trades effectively:
Bunting and Deharnais (average age 29.1 years)
For
Schenn and Nosek (average age 31.4)
Gave away a 4th (‘26) to get a 5th (’28)
Saving $?
NOPE!
Commitments out the door $7.5 M
Commitments coming in: $11.8 M
Bunting much better than Novak; Schenn better defensively than Deharnais; but definitely not enough better to make up for the loss (Bunting over Novak)
So, we got older, weaker, slower; spent an extra $4.3 M; AND lost in futures (flipped a 4th [‘26] for a 5th rounder that is THREE drafts away!!!!) !!!!
Literally the only gain was a whopping $250 K in extra Cap space (NOTE: we’re not spending to the cap; space is irrelevant)
Dumb Dumb Dumbass
Now, for those saying Dubas can now flip Schenn for a 3rd
So if so , that net in those trades is:
Deharnais , Bunting, 4th(‘26)
To Get
Novak, 3rd (‘?) ,5th(‘28)
Still a big overall loss in trade
Dumb Dumb Dumbass!!!
I wonder if Dubas would attach a pick, like the Blues did with Hayes, to get EK off the books? EK with no retention and 2nd? Columbus would be wise to look at a deal like that.
Pitt always reminds me of Dazed and Confused, “The rest of the league gets younger and I stay the same age”
Well it’s more like “the rest of the league gets younger, better, faster; while we get older, worse, slower”
It would be more than a pick to get Jackets to take him at $10 M cap.
I also don’t think he’d waive to go to a non top level (cup contending ) team.
Retain 50% more (that’s a Cap hit of $5 M) and take back a sour contract in the $3.5 M – $4.5 M range; and there for sure would be interested parties.
Dumbass can’t even do the simple trades right.
He is literally crippling and imploding this franchise
Wow, pretty dramatic 87. Crippling and imploding?
If you trade Deharnais, for anybody, you did not get slower. If there is a slower player in the NHL than him, I have not seen it, and he played here in EDM, it’s why they didn’t sign him to an extension even though they had a hole at RD.
Good guy, good story of persistence, big, but can’t skate at the NHL level. It’s why he sat in the playoffs last year, he was getting exposed at the higher pace as the playoffs went along.
Here is what Dubas said:
“We looked at the two trades in totality – Desharnais, Bunting and a pick for Novak, Schenn and a pick,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said. “The motivation being that Tommy was younger, under team control for an additional season over (Bunting), carried a lower cap charge and is primarily a center – we felt that carried a large amount of value as we move ahead here with our plans.
“As for Luke, his experience, leadership, toughness, and spirit will be a major benefit to helping the Penguins maintain standards and support our existing core as they help to lead us through this phase in our program’s evolution.”
Seems reasonable to me. Novak is a C and younger than Bunting and an extra year at a lower AAV. Schenn is a better player than Deharnais, by quite a bit. He isn’t a fringe NHL’er.
How dare you use common sense and rational thought versus knee-jerk vitriol and biased distain, Ray Bark?
Hi Ray
Deharnais is actually faster than Schenn
I saw what Dubas put out
This is his twist in things
No matter what; just the facts: we got older and netted additional $’ commitments.
We can argue back and forth re quality
Novak eventually replacing Hayes or Lizotte at 4th C; OK
But we still got older. At Dubas has stated over and over and over that we had to get younger
Deharnais for a 5th , more than 3 years from now. That was a loss in trade for sure
This was not a good move
Now, if he can flip Schenn for a 2nd this year (with no retention) then its
Deharnais, Bunting, 4th (‘26)
For Novak, 2nd (‘25) , 5th (‘28)
Then
We got younger, saved $’s; at the expense of being just a little worse (play-wise)
That might do it
But he’s got to get a 2nd in ‘25!
“On the surface, this is arguably the dumbest hockey trade that’s been executed in the last 25 years. These two teams that are so far out of it shouldn’t even be allowed to call each other when it comes to the trade deadline. I’m not even kidding.”
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff
Agree Johnny Z and Frank
Teams looking for a centre, there’s one available in Montreal.
Christian Dvorak, 200 ft player, strong f/o, strong pk, in essence th prototypical 3rd line centre teams are looking for. UFA at end of year, so a rental or resign if a decent playoff run.
TML might be calling.
I don’t think the Habs will trade Dvorak. He’d bring in a 4th at best and the Habs are better off keeping him rather than filling his spot with a kid who is better off staying in Laval for what will hopefully be a long playoff run. Especially with Dach’s injury taking Owen Beck out of Laval.
Agree. No one to step in to replace him right now (unless they trade for an upgrade at center).
Howard,
Dvorak will bring back much more tan a 4th, look at what’s being tossed about for Laughton.
Dvorak doesn’t fit into long term Hab plans but is a solid 3C on a contender.
i think it would cost a young guy who doesn’t fit in the long term picture not a draft pick.
SR,
Boston wouldn’t trade Zacha or Coyle for what I think is a return on Dvorak…..nor re they UFA at the end of the year.
In other words you mention two guys in a totally different category.
Habfan30 Boston has 2 Zacha and Coyle that are better options than Dvorak!
Not everyone is looking for rentals, guys with term are popular also!
Way to pump those tires, HF30. Guy sounds like a keeper.
On to things in general, as of this morning in the East just 5 pts separate 14th-place Philadelphia from the 2nd WC spot (Ottawa – 67 pts), while in the West the 2nd WC holder (Calgary) is tied in pts with Vancouver, 1 up on St. Louis, 4 on Utah and 6 on Anaheim.
Which means, tomorrow, the only true “sellers” in terms of no chance at all this season are Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Seattle, Nashville, Chicago and San Jose – and even there some may have no intention of doing anything drastic other than peddling pending UFAs they have no intention of re-signing anyway. And for some of those several likely don’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of finding takers.
All the GMs of the rest, still with a playoff spot in sight, owe it to their fans – and owners – to at least try and shore up where they deem necessary for the push, but that may be easier said than done. e could hear crickets all day tomorrow.
Hey George, I think it would be a mistake for some of the teams on the outside to give up assets to try and do more in the playoffs. Depends where they are at in the competitive cycle.
OTT, CLB, DET & Utah, absolutely shouldn’t sell, they need to grow and let their young guys experience the stretch run and give it a go to get in, as it has been a while since they got in. Maybe add around the edges, depth guys. Unless it is a player with term.
Teams like my B’s or NYI, who have been contenders/playoffs teams in the past so lacking youth and assets as they moved them, need to get younger and build young depth. They might get in, but they aren’t winning the cup and have plenty of playoff experience already.
Teams like MTL? I dunno, I don’t think they or their fans think they are a legit contender, but they’re hanging in there. They’ve signed Evans who was probably their best chip, which makes sense IMO. But I would move every pending UFA they don’t plan on signing.
Not sure where Hab fans sit on that one. HF30 is suggesting they move Dvorak, maybe other agree or or don’t. But I would.
Ray, the Habs have 21 draft picks over the next two years. Yes, they can use some of them to swing an off season trade but any more and they become impractical to manage. How does a team track that many prospects, in addition to the ones they have now?
They won’t get a first for Dvorak so the approach is, let them play. In a very modest sense Dvorak is their own rental.
Now as for your Oil, what’s the story with them lately?
Ray, LJ,
I’d move Dvorak for a player not a draft pick, as you mention we have enough of those.
A Nic Robertson, Justin Brazeau,Tyson Jost, Akil Thomas, Oscar Back. just to name a few young guys who don’t fit into their team futures and Dvorak offers veteran experience.
They are young guys who could fit in today for a look at least.
HF30, I don’t know much about the players you give as an example, so my response has its limitations.
That said, do you believe the Habs need any more “prospects” ie those who are not established, either on the wing or on D?
Their one pressing need is a top 2 center. Anything else they do that doesn’t get them one is unhelpful. Demidov arrives next year. Roy may be ready. Beck is ready. You know their young D as well as I do.
I’m highly sceptical about onboarding another young player with seemingly unrealized ceiling from outside the organization, but I’m interested in opinions.
LJ, it’s a weird time in EDM. There is obviously concern amongst the fan base, not panic or anger. Yet.
They lack energy and physicality of late, hence Frederic. A guys who will bring them into the fight by raising the intensity and cause some scrums and animosity. Very workman like of late and hockey played at it’s best is an emotional game.
The defensive structure left the building, my guess is they can bring that back.
They miss the speed up front of McLeod, Foegele and Holloway. Bowman and Jackson own that. Frederic helps a bit, so will Kane if he’s healthy and able to compete after missing a season.
Stu Skinner loses the tending battle most nights. He found it last year, will he this year? What options are available as an upgrade that they can afford? They likely roll with him.
Another move is coming, maybe 2 if they know when Kane comes back and if they have the LTIR available.
LJ,
Regardless of the ceiling or floor of the type of guys I’m suggesting, they are young enough to be a part of it and if not can be moved along.
Dvorak isn’t part of the future so it’s easy to take a chance.
The 2C and RD will probably come from within the organization between Beck and Kapanen, Reinbacher, Mailloux or Carrier type trade.
If Hughes goes after a 2C by trade, surely one of the young guys can be in a package.
Check out the players, they are at a stage that fits the Habs but don’t fit a contender.
HF30: I’ve looked up Brazeau, but all I see are middling#s and a -6. So I don’t know how to evaluate your suggestions. Maybe you are on to something.
But remember, young players that are acquired have to be given development along with the young players the Habs currently have. So the Habs would have to be very confident on a small sample of work to bring in anyone.
Well Ray, I think the Oil have the best chance to bring the Cup home, but I hope their losing streak goes one more game and tonight.
GeorgeO, trust me,Boston is selling!
So 27 or 28 points a season is considered two way play now? Big overpayment on Greenway at $4m. AAV. Very limited offensively and can’t stay healthy. To think that so many observers were worried that Hughes would overpay to keep Evans and yet he managed to lock him up to a far more reasonable deal.
Howard, the Sabres paid a premium to avoid the embarrassment of yet another player not wanting to play for them. And there was interest in him from other teams, so that affected the price.
George. That is Betmans cap at work no doubt
No doubt Mrbruin4 … and this too is coming into play
https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/bettman-nhl-could-take-hit-tariff-battle
The 3 point system (2 for win, and one for loss in OT or SO) also contributes to a tightly packed standings.
A nice piece of work by pens front office. Bought low on a guy who has had .5 ppg generally in his career. Got rid of a guy who required the pp for almost all his goals. And improved the right side of the defense. I wouldn’t expect schenn to be around overly long though. Not the rakel or karlson trade I expected but a nice job nonetheless
Yeah the Schenn Deal has retention and flip written all over it.
We only have 1 retention spot left this year.
Dubas needs to get the most out of that
50% retained on Karllsson , while subsequently taking back a bad contract , $3.5 M – $4 M , will get a good return
Chrisms
Read my post above
True failure once again by Dubas
We got older, worse, spent more, and netted negative in picks
Even if we get a 3rd for Schenn , we still lose in the those deals
Dubas publicly stated he would make team younger and better. He didn’t.
Oh I read it. And once again you are twisting the facts to continue your obsession with trashing a guy for… I’m not even sure what reason. While these trades don’t move the needle much they are objectively good moves.
YET
Come on man, you KNOW you are not making the playoffs this year so maybe Dubas is starting to shift and shuffle to make some moves in the off season.
Unless you want him to start serving up the Dorion special and make a lot of flashy useless moves just for the sake of making them.
Chrisms
There are no facts twisted —we got older and increased our $ commitment
How many times has Dubas said that he is going to make this team younger?
Seravalli ranted that it was the dumbest trade in 25 years
We brought in a Lizotte or Hayes replacement at the expense of a grit player who is 4th in goals for us
This was a bad move
The Saint
Of course we have no chance at playoffs this year
That is irrelevant
We’re now destined to pick top 7 so that’s great
Yesterdays trades made us older; a thing we can ill afford to do.
I’m cringing at the thought that Suter (Blues) is out there and Dubas is possibly making calls on him
5 even strength goals playing top 6.
Everyone knows Dubas’s hands are tied as long as the big three are there. Suppose for a minute that Crosby, Malkin and Letang agreed to move on, then we’d find out if the GM has the right stuff or not.
Right now the franchise is treading water. Three Stanley Cups in the 2000’s might ease the pain for most.
Personally I’d be thrilled with one.
I’m certainly still digesting the thanksgiving dinner that was three cups (5 in my lifetime). Feeling no real pain yet. Maybe ask me again in the 30’s and I’ll change my mind.
You may be right about big moves and potentially having his hands tied
But, there is no way owners said to Dubas: “get older, spend more, get worse at the same time”
Since he got here, he’s lost the high majority of moves/trades
He screwed Leafs over for years and now he’s doing much worse with our team