NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025
Recapping the opening night of the regular season, Kyle Connor and the Jets are getting closer to a contract extension, an update on Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THE OPENING NIGHT GAMES
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists and Martin Necas scored twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Cale Makar also had two assists, and Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Kevin Fiala replied for the Kings.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon moved past Joe Sakic to become the Avalanche’s franchise points leader (1,017) since the club relocated to Colorado from Quebec City in 1995. Sakic remains the all-time leader in points (1,641), goals (625), assists (1,016), and games played (1,378).
Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mackie Samoskevich collected two assists for the Panthers, who raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner in a pregame ceremony. Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight made 34 saves against his former team, while teammates Frank Nazar, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen each collected two points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers also signed forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Pittsburgh Penguins got a 25-save shutout from goaltender Arturs Silovs to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Justin Brazeau scored two goals, and Evgeni Malkin had two assists for the Penguins. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal on 27 shots before being pulled for an extra attacker.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Silovs’ first NHL regular-season shutout. He had one in the 2024 playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks. This was Mike Sullivan’s first game as head coach of the Rangers, and his first against his former team.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Winnipeg Jets and winger Kyle Connor are moving closer to a contract extension. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. It’s believed the new deal will be a long-term one with an average annual value in the $12 million range.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a substantial raise over Connor’s current AAV of $7.142 million. He’s earned it, sitting eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout performance in 2017-18.
Friedman also reported that the Vegas Golden Knights have announced that Alex Pietrangelo will not play during the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs. The 35-year-old defenseman is taking time away to deal with a nagging hip injury. The Golden Knights will be eligible for full salary-cap relief on his $8.8 million cap hit for this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo had suggested last month that he wasn’t ruling out a possible return to the lineup this season. This news puts that possibility to rest.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they signed restricted free agent forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year contract with an AAV of $837,500.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Dallas Stars placed captain Jamie Benn on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). He suffered a collapsed lung last month and is expected to miss the first month of the season. They also recalled defenseman Lian Bichsel and signed free-agent forward Adam Erne to a one-year, two-way contract.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers placed winger Zach Hyman on injured reserve (IR) to start the season. He is still recovering from a dislocated wrist suffered during the 2025 playoffs.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Minnesota Wild placed winger Mats Zuccarello on IR with a lower-body injury. He could be sidelined until well into November.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. They also announced that forward Milan Lucic will remain in St. Louis to rehab an injury. The Blues haven’t ruled out signing the 37-year-old winger to another professional tryout offer (PTO).
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (groin injury) on IR and recalled defenseman Victor Mancini.
DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Anaheim Ducks goalie Ville Husso, and Utah Mammoth forward Kevin Rooney are among the five players placed on waivers on Tuesday.
In addition to P.T.O. Gregor getting a 2-way deal with Florida, Luke Glendening signed a similar deal with New Jersey and will start the season in the AHL.
I know it was only opening night but Boston who is dying for scoring traded Justin Brazeau last year.And yes he had 2 goals opening night in his Pittsburgh debut. Maybe Tanner Jeannot,Sean Kuraly or Mikey Essymont will score 2 tonight for Boston against Washington!
yeah right, and I will eat my shoe;) Sorry couldnt help myself
Silovs is an interesting pickup and the kind of guy who could make life interesting in Pittsburgh.
His game has been impressive at all levels, stepping up in pressure situations.
He has to prove he can do it in the NHL and I have a feeling he will.
After whatching Silovs a lot in Vancouver he has one problem. He has to play, he is no 1B or backup, he has to be the guy. If he is that I think he will do Pittsburgh a lot of good
If he does get to be the # 1, that makes Jarry one helluva expensive back-up!
I know we are but 3 total games into the season; but the below statements are factually true; and I can’t believe anybody , anywhere, EVER would have ever considered uttering all five in the 25/26 season
“Penguins are outright first in their Division; tied for first place in the Eastern conference; tied for first overall in the entire League”
“Penguins have the best save percentage in the entire league”
“Justin Brazeau is tied for first place in the entire league for goals”
“Justin Brazeau is tied for first place in the entire league for points”
“Not a single Penguin is a minus player”