NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 9, 2025
The latest on Canucks forwards Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis, Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE PROVINCE: After a solid offseason of training, a healthy Elias Pettersson has returned to Vancouver eager to reunite with his Canucks teammates and keen to start the upcoming season.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
The 26-year-old center is coming off the worst season of his NHL career, managing 45 points in 64 games in a tumultuous, injury-shortened 2024-25 campaign. He said he and his teammates have put last season’s woes behind them and are focusing on bouncing back in 2025-26.
Winger Brock Boeser is among the Canucks hoping to rebound from a disappointing performance. The 28-year-old has contract stability after signing a long-term deal in July, and is happy that he won’t have to face trade rumors that dogged him last season.
Boeser seems likely to skate alongside Pettersson on the Canucks’ top line this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks need Pettersson and Boeser to regain their high-scoring ways if they hope to contend for a playoff berth this season.
DAILY FACEOFF: Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis said the offseason rehab for his shoulder injury went well, leaving him confident for the coming season. “I can rip out some pushups right now if you want,” he told reporters.
The 23-year-old decided not to undergo surgery on his right shoulder for the second straight year, saying it wasn’t an injury that inhibited his play.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarvis’ versatile play has moved him up the Hurricanes’ depth chart. A healthy, productive performance this season will be crucial to their Stanley Cup hopes.
SPORTSNET: Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf was passed over for selection to Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp. The 23-year-old Calder Trophy finalist is using the snub as motivation for the upcoming season.
“You want to prove people wrong,” Wolf said. “Myself, our group, are continuing to prove people wrong on a daily basis in Calgary. That’s just another side of it.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Team USA has considerable goaltending depth with Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, Dallas’ Jake Oettinger, Boston’s Jeremy Swayman, and Seattle’s Joey Daccord. However, a strong performance by Wolf in the first half of this season could earn him a nod if Swayman or Daccord struggle.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers announced they have hired former player Blake Wheeler as hockey operations advisor and Ryane Clowe as assistant general manager.
Wheeler, 38, retired in July after 16 NHL seasons, spending his final season (2023-24) with the Rangers. Clowe recently resigned as assistant GM of the San Jose Sharks.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predators signed forward Dylan Gambrell to a professional tryout offer. Gambrell, 29, spent last season on a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, spending the season with their AHL affiliate in Cleveland.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: The Utah Grizzlies will relocate to Trenton, New Jersey, after this season. They are the Colorado Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate.
Hellebuyck and Oettinger are our 1-2 plain and simple
Wolf for sure has a reasonable shot to beat out Swayman as our 3rd goalie; but I don’t see Daccord in the mix.
I hope Hellebuyck gets the call to start every game for “you” 🙂
I wasn’t inferring I was making the decision; just speculating in a positive way
The American’s are funny with their goalies. Craig Anderson never even got a sniff.
Didn’t Dylan Gambrell play with the Sens George? Different guy?
Gonna be some interesting PTO’s around the league.
I know, 8787, just pulling your leg in the sense that, his record in key playoff games suggests his collar might tend to get a bit tight in comparison to Vezina-trophy type regular season starts.
Dark G, yep … he came in an Oct 2021 trade with San Jose for a 7th round pick – which should give you some idea as to what were the expectations – and he didn’t do anything that suggested he was a bargain at that price. In 123gp with Ottawa from 2021 to 2023 he produced all of 7g 10a 17 pts, and was picked up in 2023 by the Leafs as a UFA.
Maybe i am of the minority but I dont see the reasoning on inviting players with little to no real shot at making the team.
They are not kids. The idea that something in the experience will have them better prepared for the next games, I am not buying. Don’t waste people’s time. 3 goalies are going, with only 2 likely to see game action.
You dont need to invite 5 or 6 goalies. Its not a snub, it is simply being fair and the reality of the game.
A snub would be leaving a player off that is deserving of a roster spot. A snub is not omitting someone that may be considered if they play lights out combined with a key injury, cause that is what it will take for Wolf or Hutson to break into the roster…and even then…depending on structure, they may not be ideal candidates
In many cases, 1Oilerfan, P.T.O.s are brought in solely to light a competitive fire under some contract players who seemingly need a prod.
But having said that, over the years there have been a clutch of P.T.O.s whose play in pre-season earned them contracts, however briefly in some cases: Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz with Toronto; Tanner Pearson – Vegas; Jakob Vrana – Washington; Tyler Johnson – Boston; Tyson Barrie – Calgary; Dustin Tokarski – Carolina; Kevin Labanc – Columbus; Austin Watson – Detroit; Travis Dermott – Edmonton; Matt Martin – NYI; Eetu Makiniemi – Philadelphia; Nikita Alexandrov – St. Louis; Kyler Yamamoto – Utah.
George O. I apologize, my post was a little vague as to what I was speaking towards. I was ranting about the Olympics orientation camps, and not PTOs 🙂 sorry for confusing things.
Speaking of which, Florida just signed UFA LW Noah Gregor (26y/o 6’ 190lbs) to a P.T.O.
LOL. No problem 1Oileran.
In one way, perhaps those with no real chance of making the Olympic team are brought in for the same purpose as are some P.T.O.s … to remind some who might have a tendency to take things for granted that nothing is automatic in terms of making the team.
Plus there is always the injury factor … the thinking being that it’s better to have an extra G, D or F (or two) working with the team and ready to replace someone who comes u p lame, rather than send out a last-minute invite to someone who was ignored at the outset.
That way, management and the coaching staff can compile information on performances, including evaluating how each performs in projected line combinations and mesh with linemates, D pairings, pk situations, etc.
Update on Wolf while we’re on the subject. He’s signed a 7 year extension with the Flames, $7.5m. AAV.
Great sign by Flames
Wolf is on the rise
Agree1Oilerfan,why invite people to make it a dog and pony show.The sports world is creating soft individuals who Don t want their feelings hurt. Just like Hutson s father saying the other day after his son s snubbing by saying that his son has dual citizenship and can play for Canada.Come on Man!
Anyone in here ever recall seeing any of these 29 years ago??
I can’t remember if they were even aired anywhere on our cable.
https://www.polygon.com/mighty-ducks-animated-series-1996-first-face-off/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Lyle?
Don’t ask me, George, I was busy with my military career at that time.