NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 6, 2026
Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, injury updates, contract signings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING MONDAY’S ACTION
NHL.COM: The Utah Mammoth’s 3-2 win over the New York Rangers was overshadowed by a lower-body injury suffered by Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin with seven minutes remaining in the first period. Following the game, head coach Mike Sullivan said the former Vezina Trophy winner was undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).
Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi scored in overtime for the 20-20-3 Mammoth, who got regulation goals from Dylan Guenther and Michael Carcone. Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck tallied for the 20-18-6 Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing Shesterkin for a significant period of time could be devastating for the Rangers’ efforts to secure a playoff berth. Following the game, the Mammoth traded defenseman Juuso Valimaki to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations.
The Los Angeles Kings doubled up the Minnesota Wild 4-2. Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves while Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who improved to 18-14-9. Jared Spurgeon had a goal and an assist for the 25-11-8 Wild, as their six-game points streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Kings as captain Anze Kopitar left the game with a lower-body injury and winger Joel Armia departed with an upper-body injury. After the game, it was reported that Kopitar left the dressing room without any apparent limp. There was no update on Armia’s status.
Washington Capitals rookie winger Justin Sourdif tallied his first NHL hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Sourdif also collected two assists to finish the night with five points, while Alex Ovechkin scored twice and Connor McMichael picked up four assists for the 22-15-6 Capitals. Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, Jacob Trouba, and Beckett Sennecke replied for the Ducks (21-18-3) as their winless skid reached six games (0-5-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals winger Tom Wilson missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, the Ducks have two wins in their last dozen games. They’ve tumbled from first place to fifth in the Pacific Division, leaving them clinging to the final Western Conference wildcard berth.
The Seattle Kraken got a 41-save performance from goaltender Philipp Grubauer to defeat the Calgary Flames by a score of 5-1. Vince Dunn and Matty Beniers each had a goal and an assist for the 19-14-7 Kraken, who extended their points streak to eight games (7-0-1). Adam Klapka scored for the Flames (18-20-4).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jordan Eberle played in his 1,100th career NHL regular-season game. Speaking of the Flames, prospect defenseman Zayne Parekh set a record for most points by a Canadian blueliner in a World Junior Championship tournament, finishing with 13 as Canada took home the bronze medal in the 2026 WJC.
A three-goal first period powered the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. John Gibson made 35 saves while James van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists for the 25-15-4 Red Wings, who regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 54 points. Tim Stutzle collected two assists to extend his point streak to 13 games for the Senators (20-16-5).
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews were the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 4, 2026.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars captain Jamie Benn will miss the start of the club’s six-game road trip due to facial injuries suffered during the third period of Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
SPORTSNET/TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander was placed on injured reserve. Defenseman Jake McCabe will be sidelined for a week with a lower-body injury.
TSN: Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Panthers hope he’ll return to action before the Olympic break in February.
BOSTON.COM: Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will miss some time due to an undisclosed injury.
DAILY FACEOFF: The San Jose Sharks placed defenseman John Klingberg on injured reserve.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed Christian Dvorak to a five-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $5.15 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dvorak has played a key role in the rebuilding Flyers improvement this season. The 29-year-old two-way center has nine goals and 25 points in 39 games, putting him on track for a career-best 18 goals and 50 points.
Dvorak might not be able to maintain that level of production throughout this new contract. Nevertheless, the Flyers see him as a key part of their future. He’s currently on a one-year, $5.4 million contract. With the salary cap rising significantly over the next two seasons, his new cap hit won’t take a significant chunk out of the Flyers’ cap payroll.
TSN: The St. Louis Blues signed forward Alexey Toropchenko to a two-year contract worth an AAV of $2.5 million.
THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators signed goaltender Justus Annunen to a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed defenseman Egor Zamula on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zamula could sign with another NHL club once his contract is officially terminated on Tuesday.
TSN: Defenseman Jack Johnson officially retired as an NHL player, joining the Vancouver Canucks as a pro scout.
In 19 NHL seasons (2006-07 to 2024-25), Johnson had 342 points in 1,128 regular-season games with the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks. He also had 21 points in 57 playoff games and won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
NHL.COM: Former player, coach, and general manager Bob Pulford died on Monday at age 89.
Pulford spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings from 1956-57 to 1971-72. He spent 14 of those seasons with the Leafs, winning four Stanley Cups. He had 281 goals and 643 points in 1,079 regular-season games, and 51 points in 89 playoff games. In 1991, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Following his playing career, Pulford went on to spend five seasons coaching the Kings, winning the Jack Adams Award in 1974-75. He went on to spend five years coaching the Chicago Blackhawks and served as their general manager during four different periods between 1977 and 2005.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Pulford’s family, friends, former teammates, and colleagues.
Yesterday I posted, in response to a Slick62 tongue-in-cheek trade proposal and last night’s pending game against Detroit that, “if Merilainen has an off-night and the (secret) news on Ullmark’s return isn’t encouraging …. the move to make changes could be set in motion.”
Well, he did have an off-night and his backup was no better. The Senators held a decided edge in play and fired 38 shots on Gibson, scoring 3, while the Red Wings chased Merilainen with 3 on 12 shots and added 2 more on Shepard with 12 shots.
Something obviously ain’t right in Mudville so, rather than continue to hope that Merilainen can regain his form of last season or Ullmark’s issues are resolved — until it’s too late — Staios has to do something on the trade front to solidify the net with a veteran presence.
Forget a RD or F – their D is playing just fine as a unit, and they score more than enough to win more often than not …. it’s that pathetic save % that is the glaring deficiency. It takes the heart out of a team to play well enough to win comfortably on most nights only to see soft goals stymie them.
Having said all that, finding that goalie will be problematic in the extreme. If Ullmark is away long-term, they are essentially screwed.
And now Shesterkin could miss time, putting Rangers in same boat. Even worse. If he misses significant time, NY will become sellers. IMO, watching game, it looked like a groin injury.
Same position as the Oilers now too with Jarry on the shelf.
woof … that and a hammy are a goalie’s … and a team fan’s … worst nightmare.
Can never forget the prolonged absence of Hasek the year the Senators went to the finals against Anaheim. That was a groin issue.
james reimer for me George – league min – 2 year deal one way contract
he can still play…
pry Varlamov out of Long Island? His numbers aren’t great but neither are the Sens current minders
I agree George. I remember early in the year when Staois signed Levi to the back up position my brother didn’t like the move. Too young, inexperienced and not enough competition, especially considering Ullmark’s history of injury and games played. I was a bit more willing to give Staois and Levi the benefit of that doubt, but this situation has proved me wrong.
The Sens need to make a move for a goalie to save their season iMO. Levi needs more help or they risk destroying his confidence. The problem is that Staois might have waited too long. Not much out there right now especially in a tight eastern conference where no gm will do each other a favor. Staois has painted himself into a corner, but he has shown to be crafty before. Let’s hope he can pull a rabbit out of a hat because Levi, Shepard, and Soogard does not inspire much hope specially after watching Levi last night.
Whatever move (or moves) he might make at bringing in a veteran G (Dark G’s suggestion of Reimer isn’t a bad one if he’s been keeping sharp on his own somehow after attending the Leafs camp as a P.T.O.
But although Staios could still option Merilainen to Belleville to see if he can get back on an even keel there, he has instead sent Shepard back and has brought up Mads Sogaard. Great. Two head cases now with their next two games being back-to-backs in Utah and Colorado! Good night Irene.
But Georg, Sheppard is just not an NHLer. Too small. I think I’d take my chances with Soogard against the Avs than Sheppard.
Can’t argue that Owen …. but that likely means Merilainen gets the start in Utah. I’d rather they had sent him down as well to get his act together in the AHL and had elevated Jackson Parsons instead as back-up for now to Sogaard.
At least he has some notable credentials. Last year he was named to the OHL’s 1st Team All Stars and was the recipient of the OHL’s Goalie of the Year and their Overage Player of the Year awards playing for the Kitchener Rangers..
Not sure we want to throw Parsons to the wolves. soogard has some nhl experience and I think is around 500 in wins. He knows it’s probably his last crack. It feels like Staois is breaking the stick and asking the goalies, “who wants it?”
For the record the second paragraph above in my post should have read “the Red Wings chased Merilainen with 3 on 9 shots and added 2 more on Shepard with 12 shots, for 21 in total and 5 goals!”
I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Pulford years ago while he was the Hawks GM. The league meetings were taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. I was there for an unrelated event. Afterwards, I happen to pass by a lounge where a lot of league personnel were mingling. I had a long talk with Pulford about hockey. A true gentleman. May he rest in peace.
Back when I was a Habs fan(atic), and decidedly NOT a Leafs fan, I couldn’t help but admire the way Bob Pulford played the game. Relentless fore-checker, effective offensively in the tough areas, and always a solid two-way game.
Those qualities also made him a pretty good coach and GM later in life as well.
R.I.P.
And the thing with Pulford was that he always shone in big games. A great Leaf.
He was the epitome of “clutch” in his day, that’s for sure.
That is a huge commitment to Dvorak, a player that has yet to take it to another level for any period of time. The deal may not age well, regardless of how much the cap goes up.
JVR has been such a nice addition for Detroit this season. I honestly thought it was.going to be another old guy being non-productive. He will be even more valuable should Detroit make the playoffs.
I saw something on Twitter yesterday suggesting that Tuch is seeking 7/8 years around $10M+ and Buffalo might shop him around. In the same report, it was noted that he’s the type of player Drury is looking to add for Rangers to make a run this year.
I had commented that the term and $ were too much and NYR trading any picks or prospects to chase Tuch would set them back a decade. NYR are not 1 piece away right now, and they need to get younger and faster.
With the Igor injury diagnosis looming, I’m truly hoping that it’s a wakeup call to Drury that he’s not a buyer this year.
NYR should push to see if/how they can move Panarin. Give him a chance to end the year chasing a playoff spot before becoming a FA.
Might have to consider Trocheck too. A Center like him should bring bring back the best return.
Tuch and Power for Panarin and Laffy and a 2nd
Tuch agrees on $10M x6 contract
Make it a first and maybe Buffalo takes it
All you teams struggling for goaltending Korpisalo is there for practically nothing. Most of his contract is picked up by Boston and Ottawa!
If it’s not Mcavoy,it’s Lindholm. Boston can not get through a season without one of their two top defensemen getting hurt.
Yes the condensed schedule is causing lots of injuries league wide
Speaking of injuries, don’t go to ESPN for any information on that subject … they continually list names that that have returned and, conversely, leave out obvious one – like Barkov in Florida.
Use NHL.com