NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025
Recaps of Wednesday’s games, injury updates, the highlights from the latest Board of Governors’ meeting, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES
NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres snapped their season-opening three-game losing streak with a convincing 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn each tallied twice, and Zach Benson collected four assists in his season debut with the Sabres. Jordan Spence had three assists, and Jake Sanderson scored and set up another for the Senators.
Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (NHL Images
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators played without left wing Brady Tkachuk, who is seeking a second opinion regarding his hand/wrist injury suffered on Monday against the Nashville Predators. If the Senators captain requires surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.
Meanwhile, Sabres forward Justin Danforth left this game with a lower-body injury.
Chicago Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Lukas Reichel each had three points to lead their club over the St. Louis Blues 8-3. Bedard had three assists, and Reichel scored two goals and picked up an assist as the Blackhawks got their second straight win after going 0-2-1. Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist for the Blues as their win streak ended at two games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks announced that team captain Nick Foligno is taking a leave of absence as his daughter undergoes a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. Patrick Kane scored what proved to be the winning goal, and teammate Mason Appleton netted two goals as the Wings picked up their third straight win. Brad Marchand replied for the Panthers, who have dropped two straight after opening the season with three consecutive victories.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Panthers announced defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be sidelined for five months following wrist surgery. As a result, the Panthers claimed blueliner Donovan Sebrango off waivers from the Senators. Kulikov joins Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, left wing Matthew Tkachuk, and winger Tomas Nosek on injured reserve.
The Red Wings played without winger Lucas Raymond, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Utah Mammoth forwards Barrett Hayton, JJ Peterka, and Kevin Stenlund scored to lead their club to a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who have lost four straight following their season-opening win. Devin Cooley stopped 29 shots for Calgary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth also revealed their mascot, “Tusky”.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LATEST NHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING.
SPORTSNET: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is concerned about the progress of the two hockey rinks under construction for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
Bettman made the remarks to reporters following the NHL Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. If the main arena isn’t ready on time, Bettman stated that the International Olympic Committee must deal with it, adding the league has made the IOC aware of its concerns. Bettman also said the NHL Players Association shares those concerns.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.
Bettman said expansion was not discussed during the meeting, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and another in Phoenix. Daly stated that expansion is not an initiative that the league is pursuing before 2030.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reason Daly mentioned 2030 is that is when the current CBA will expire. It’s also rumored that the league would seek an expansion fee of $2 billion for each new franchise.
Bettman indicated that no changes are expected for the projected salary-cap numbers for the next two years. The cap is projected to rise from $95.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27 and $113.5 million for 2027-28.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent media speculation suggests that the cap could be higher than expected due to greater-than-anticipated revenue. If that’s the case, we’ll likely have to wait until later in the season for confirmation.
INJURY UPDATES AND MORE
NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (upper-body injury) was placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss at least the Rangers’ next seven games.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Matt Duchene is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. They have recalled netminder Nico Daws from their AHL affiliate.
DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood is out for at least a week after suffering an eye injury during Monday’s game against the Devils.
THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are day-to-day with injuries.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Derek Forbort on injured reserve.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York is expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. They have activated him from injured reserve.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings have reacquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Copley was claimed off waivers by the Lightning earlier this month.
There may be some interesting consequence if the cap does go to 113 million in the next two years.
One could be rifts in the dressing room as those stars on long term contracts see team mates with contracts far greater than theirs. Montreal is one team that has presently avoided this, but what for example if Demidov pulls a Kaprizov?
Another less consequential one is the possible benefit for AHL players, who would surely have a case for bigger bucks.
Will we see a coach get $10 million per year?
And at the end of the line, how much will it soon cost to see a game? $50 beer, anyone?
As a Group 2 RFA coming off an ELC, Demidov would be in no position to “pull a Kaprizov”. Besides, it’s unlikely he’ll go that route anywhere given the culture the Canadiens have built. Nick Suzuki put it best when asked about Lane Hutson’s contract.
“I like seeing a teammate get a nice salary, one that’s to the level of his talent, but we’ve kind of built a culture here where guys are not trying to break the bank,” Suzuki said. “I think all Lane wants to do is win, and I think he’s definitely set us up for that possibility moving on in the future.”
Rather too literal and narrow an interpretation of my remarks, Lyle, which were clearly not just about Demidov, nor just about the Habs.
You asked, “What if Demidov pulls a Kaprizov”, after noting Montreal had avoided that problem. I was merely pointing out why that seems unlikely in their case, based on Suzuki’s comments.
It could be more of an issue for other clubs who lack the kind of culture they’re building in Montreal right now. We’ll see…
Fair comment.
No comment from GeorgeO O on his Senators.Hope no one has to talk him off the ledge!
Heh. That score didn’t surprise me. The Sabres owned them last season as well.
I posted yesterday – I think it was – that their failure to do anything in the off-season to correct their pathetic goal-scoring 5-on-5 last year (right near the bottom of the 32 teams) would see teams that finished behind them in the WC race, catch them this time around.
And having Merilainen suddenly develop a tight collar isn’t going to help.
They’ll be in the lottery mix somewhere next spring.
Anyone else fed up with all this Habs talk?