NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2026
The regular-season schedule resumed on Feb. 25. Check out the latest on Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mikko Rantanen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
TRIBLIVE.COM: It remains to be seen if Sidney Crosby will be in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup when they resume their post-Olympic schedule on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Crosby remains hobbled by a right-leg injury that he suffered playing for Canada in the Olympic Men’s hockey tournament. He was sidelined from the final two games of the tournament, which the United States won with a 2-1 victory over Canada in the gold-medal game.
The Penguins recalled winger Avery Hayes from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During Monday’s practice, Hayes skated at left wing alongside right winger Rickard Rakell, who was filling in for Crosby at center. Head coach Dan Muse said this was largely a contingency plan in case the Penguins’ captain can’t play.
Muse offered no update on Crosby’s status. The long-time Penguins superstar was still trekking back from Italy with several of his Team Canada teammates on Monday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby was considered day-to-day during those final days of the Olympic tournament. He was close to playing in the gold-medal game, but took himself out of the lineup because he felt he wasn’t sufficiently recovered to help his team.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid isn’t expected to rejoin his teammates right away when they resume their regular-season schedule.
The Oilers return to action on Wednesday against the Ducks in Anaheim, followed by a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch felt that playing 23-24 minutes in back-to-back games after travelling back from Europe wouldn’t put McDavid in the right position to help the team.
McDavid was named the most valuable player of the Olympic Men’s hockey tournament, setting a single-tournament record with 13 points. He also took over the captaincy of Team Canada with Sidney Crosby sidelined for its final two games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knoblauch didn’t say if McDavid would miss the first game of the back-to-back series or both. We’ll learn more about his status by Wednesday.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Star winger Mikko Rantanen was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury suffered playing for Finland in the Olympics. That opens up a roster spot to activate defenseman Lian Bichsel (lower-body) from IR. Bichsel had been sidelined since Nov. 30.
Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger won’t play in Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken due to travel logistics. Forward Radek Faksa’s status remains uncertain after he was injured playing for Czechia in the Olympics.
DAILY FACEOFF: Stars center Roope Hintz is a game-day decision as he recovers from an illness.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey will reportedly miss “a good chunk of time” with an upper-body injury suffered playing for Canada in the Olympics.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Critics of NHLers skating in the Olympics will point to these injuries and travel delays as reasons why the players shouldn’t participate in these tournaments.
However, the players want to take part in the Olympics, and most NHL fans want to see them in international best-on-best tournaments. This will not prevent their participation in the 2030 Olympics or the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Philip Broberg’s performance for Sweden in the 2026 Winter Olympics demonstrated why he’s the St. Louis Blues’ top defenseman.
Skating alongside veteran blueliner Erik Karlsson. The 24-year-old Broberg played big minutes for Sweden in key matches. He played on the second pairing, but wound up seeing more playing time as the tournament went on, including 24:57 of ice time in their 2-1 loss to the United States.
Broberg finished the tournament with a plus/minus of plus-2 and wasn’t on the ice for any 5-on-5 goals against.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Veteran defenseman Nick Leddy was recalled from the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate, but it remains to be seen when he’ll see NHL action.
Leddy, 34, was claimed off waivers by the Sharks from the Blues last July. He began the season among their top-four defenseman, but was sidelined for several weeks by an upper-body injury, and struggled to regain his place in the lineup. Leddy was placed on waivers on Jan. 18 but went unclaimed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leddy’s been the subject of some trade speculation. He could end up being moved by the March 6 trade deadline.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Las Vegas Motor Speedway would like to host an outdoor NHL game. The Speedway’s vice president of sales, Aaron Crowley, said the track hosts a large number of events each year, including music festivals and large corporate events.
While I can understand the players wanting to participate in international events like the Olympics, the World Cup Of Hockey and contrived mid-season tournaments like the 4 Nations, I also understand the frustration and gripes among the various NHL fan-bases who fork over large chunks of cash to support their team when they see some of their star players rendered hors de combat in those events.
Dallas fans have been hit hard that way with Rantanen and Faksa both unavailable for unknown stretches of games to go along with Oettinger doubtful for at least 1 game due to travel problems and Hintz because of illness.
Any hope to which Winnipeg fans may have been clinging for a strong finish to get them into a playoff spot is reduced substantially with the loss of perhaps their best D due to an Olympic injury, while Oilers fans, with their team in a tight race just 4 points up on 9th-place L.A. – who have 2 games in hand – may see their top scorer unavailable for the first of a back-to-back.
Those players could’ve also been injured in NHL games. It doesn’t matter where you play. Injuries happen. Most fans don’t grumble and complain when their players get hurt in NHL games. They acknowledge it hurts their team, but they shrug it off because it’s part of the game.
That’s exactly the point Lyle. Players are paid by their teams. The fans pay to watch their teams which is what pays the salaries. It’s to be expected that fans will grumble if top players are unavailable because of injuries suffered in a tournament. As the late Punch Imlach wrote, injuries will happen but it should be in games played for our team and our fans.
Howard, it’s what the players wanted. And those fans grumbling about injuries in these international tournaments, or those who are against such tournaments, are in a distinct minority to those who support these tournaments, who want to see best-on-best.
The big difference, however, between injuries suffered during league games, and events like the Olympics, is that when they occur in the latter, it always involves a star, often virtually irreplaceable player.
George, the point remains the same. Great players are not immune from injuries during the season.
It’s not just injuries in a tournament which is nothing more than exhibition games mid-season. The compressed schedule has led to increased, mostly minor, injuries and a lower quality of play due to a lack of practice time.
It’s what the players wanted, Paul. They all wanted to have the opportunity to play in international competitions. It was among the few leverage points they had in CBA negotiations with the league. They all knew it would lead to compressed schedules and everything that came with it.
Then you have to wonder if players give a rat’s behind about what those who essentially and ultimately pay their frikken bloated salaries through ever-increasing ticket prices and souvenir-refreshment costs think?
Wonder no more, George. It’s the owners. They charge what their respective markets will bear, not the players, who are employees, albeit well-paid ones.
It is what the players want, and to be honest, as a fan, so do I. These tournaments is what I remember most growing up. Watching Gretzski and Lemieux playing together was an absolute joy just like this year and last with Nate, McDavid, Makar and Crosby. It does suck when players get injured, but didn’t Jack Hughes miss a bunch of time for cutting his hand? Injuries happen.
Gotta disagree with the nothing more than exhibition games comment Paul.
Were you living in a cave for the last 2 weeks? Last I checked bars weren’t open at 6:00 AM Alberta time for fans to come and watch during the preseason. In fact nobody even goes to a bar to watch a preseason game in the evening.
There was massive fan interest in these knockout games. And for those fans who believe in the growing the game we luv, this was and is the pinnacle event to do that. Globally. Minor hockey just got bigger in the US.
I thought it was great and said the same thing about the 4 Nations, and my Bruins lost their best player in that tourney.
NHL ownership doesn’t have a leg to stand on with the injury talk as there other moves/decisions contradict that claim. The players know it, and the fans know it. HF30’s post below points out another reason why that is BS.
Majority of fans want it, players want it. It was disappointing result but a great event.
Get used to it, enjoy it for what it is – the best hockey you will ever see – or keep complaining about it and find reasons to do so. Up to you guys.
So, basically, those of us disagree are fundamentally wrong, while those of you who like it (and blame everything on the owners – who are the reason we HAVE a frikken, growing pro league in the first place) are fundamentally right. End of debate. Is that it?
Two divergent viewpoints – only one of which can be the “right one.” JAY-zus!
George, the team owners are billionaires. They’re the ones driving the bus here. Blaming the players because the owners tossed them a bone by allowing them to participate in international hockey seems akin to kicking an alleycat because a panther ate your dog. Besides, the game doesn’t exist without the players. Surely it’s worthwhile for labor peace to let them play in best-on-best tournaments every couple of years. Better that then the bad old days when lockouts and labor strife were the norm.
Ray, simple question requiring a yes or no answer. Did the Olympics games effect any league’s standings? We both know the answer is no. Therefore, they were exhibition games.
Lyle, I know it’s what the players want, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. No other sport in the world allows a three week pause in their season so that a minority of their players can play in an exhibition tournament.
Mark my words, if Pittsburgh or LA fall out of playoff contention, their fans and management will point to the Fiala and Crosby injuries in a meaningless tournament as a major factor.
Other than the players wanting it, there is no reasonable reason for NHLers to play in the Olympics.
Paul, the other reason is that best-on-best tournaments grow the game. It drives TV ratings, and attracts new fans to the game. The NHL doesn’t get any revenue from the Olympics, but they definitely get it from the World Cup of Hockey, which is their baby. Same with the 4 Nations tournament. For every fan who doesn’t like international play, there are many more who enjoy it. If the fans didn’t like it, the league wouldn’t bother with it.
Right on Ray Bark.
We got to see the best players compete against the best in games that I dare to say most of us enjoyed it. Even when it was best on not so good the Canada vs Czechia was dramatic, as I am sure fans of the US felt in their nail biter against Sweden.
Paul Bowles; your characterization of the games as exhibition is irrelevant. The issue is: did hockey fans enjoy it? In Canada at least the Olympic hockey games were a big deal. So there is a reasonable reason for NHL players to go to the Olympics, you’re just dismissive of an alternate point of view.
George: seriously, chum: what debate doesn’t have opposing views, which means one party thinks the other is wrong? What would this site be if there were no disagreements?
Further, Hab fans were pretty pleased Suzuki got some long overdue recognition by being named to Team Canada, and I expect other teams’ fans could point examples for their players.
Exhibition games…that’s funny. By that same token, aren’t all games exhibition games? NHL and Olympics exist for our entertainment, and what could be more entertaining than watching an undiluted game of hockey against the greats where every player is completely invested. Sign me up for that “exhibition game”.
Ray, believe me when I say that I agree there are always two sides to a debate.
But the difference creeping into THIS debate is that, while those of us opposed to risking serious injury to star players who are being paid (handsomely) to play for a pro team simply state our reasons for thinking that way, some who take the opposing viewpoint do so with suggestions that we may be two sandwiches shy of a picnic for stating the way we see it (comments like “have you been living in a cave” for example), or that we’re a part of a very small minority. Has there been a recent survey alluding to that of which I’m unaware?
Neither Paul, Howard nor I have suggested that those who favour the participation of NHLers in mid-season tournaments are out to lunch, or are swimming against the tide. We just state our reasons for thinking so.
Sure it’s great hockey. How could it not be? And of course injuries can happen to “stars” in league games. But in the end, whether the players want it or not, those injuries can and often do go a long way to unnecessarily derailing a team’s league success simply because, when they do occur, it’s ALWAYS to a star player.
And I’m not about to change my view because I might be regarded as being among a minority.
Lyle, believe me I am not opposed to best on best tournaments. I enjoyed the Four Nations. I enjoyed the Olympics. I’ll enjoy the 2028 World Cup. It’s what most fans want. It’s what the players want. And as you said, the owners get a trade off in the form of the 2028 World Cup in which each of them will get more money than most of us get in 10 years.
My point is that the reactions of some fans, coaches and owners can’t just be written off as “grumbling”. It’s a legitimate concern. You can’t blame the fans if a team who pay good money to watch their team play and then see a top player miss time due to an injury suffered in a game other than one played for their team. You can’t blame a coach a GM or an owner for being upset at having to play without a top player because of an injury in a tournament. And as great as these tournaments are, having one every other year may be too taxing for the players.
As George points out, players who suffer injuries in a best on best tournament are normally top players who are hard to replace. And the players get paid during their IR stints. But when a team slumps because of it, it’s the coach, who has zero control on the issue, who loses his job.
Howard, the bottom line is the players want it, the league is allowing it, and the majority of fans enjoy it. Everyone knows the risks involved when it comes to injuries, but again, players are as likely to be injured in an NHL game.
Look at the buzz generated by the Olympics. Heck, look at the buzz generated by last year’s 4 Nations, which I initially wrote off as a gimmick.
As long as the fans keep enjoying these international tournaments (which have brought us great memories going back to the 1972 Summit Series), the NHL will continue to allow their players to go to the Olympics, and they will continue staging their own.
I decided to try and find the answer to my own question as to whether there has ever been a survey to determine whether fans generally approve or disapprove of Olympic participation, and came up with this Google AI response (long … but interesting):
“Yes, there have been several surveys, polls, and studies conducted over the years to determine NHL fan sentiment regarding Olympic participation, with results often highlighting a divide between Canadian and American fanbases.
Key findings from various surveys and polls include:
Canadian Fan Sentiment (High Approval/Disapproval of Non-participation): Canadians consistently show high disapproval for the NHL skipping the Olympics. In 2017, a Mainstreet Poll found that 62% of Canadians disapproved of the NHL’s decision to not participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
American Fan Sentiment (Ambivalence): The same 2017 survey found that American fans often have no strong opinion, with 62% saying they were “not sure” or did not know, while opinions were split among those who did (18% good decision, 20% bad).
Long-term Support: A 1999 The Hockey News survey showed 67.5% of readers favored NHL participation in the 2002 Olympics, driven by the desire to see the best players on the ice.
Recent Trends: A 2025 CivicScience/SBJ Sports Consumer Insights survey found that NHL fans generally favor Olympic participation and the resulting rebalanced schedule, considering it a highlight of the season.
Key Survey Findings & Data Points:
Avid Fan Views (2017): In a 2017 poll, 53% f Canadian avid fans and 73% of American fans were against a 17-day break for the 2018 Olympics, likely due to concerns about the schedule and injury risk.
Why They Want Them There: The primary reason for approval is the “best-on-best” showcase, which fans feel is necessary to maintain the integrity of the tournament.
Why They Disapprove: Arguments against participation often center on the risk of player injuries (like those suffered by John Tavares in 2014) and the disruption to the NHL season, as highlighted in 2017 by the NHL Board of Governors.
The issue remains highly sensitive to timing and which specific Olympics are being discussed. Fans tend to favor participation when it happens in North America or at a time that does not severely disrupt the season.”
Interesting results which continue to show support for Olympic/international tournaments since the late 1990s.
Paul, thanks for pointing out the Fiala season-ending injury which puts a severe dent in L.A.’s hopes of making the playoffs for their loyal fans. I certainly should have included him in mu opening post,
It seems we established both sides of this argument clearly. And now we are repeating ourselves.
I think the benefits outweigh the injury risks by a a fair amount. Not that the risks aren’t real, they are. I just think the benefits are significant and outweigh them.
And yes George – I used the term living in a cave, because it’s obvious it was a big deal and not an exhibition. Didn’t mean to offend but that is a thought process I simply don’t get. That the Olympics are an exhibition, kind of a wow IMO.
At the risk of being insensitive again, Paul, no the Olympics did not impact the NHL standings. Just like the NHL standings did not impact the Olympic results. I don’t even get the point of the question.
I believe Zetterberg was lost to Detroit fans forever after reinjuring his back in the Olympics. Chara even carried his bags off the plane!
Johnny, getting back to the aforementioned Punch Imlach, while he was Sabres GM, one of his top players, Danny Gare, suffered a back injury in a Canada Cup game and missed much of the following season. And even though he was still a top player, the injury continued to bother him. Imlach wrote in his book that who knows, maybe Gare not being at 100% eventually helped cost him his job.
Totally agree…no other professional sport takes time off during the regular season to allow star players to participate in other events. It stinks for teams trying to make the playoffs now in an already inconveniently condensed schedule to be without some of their best players. Not a fan of pros in the Olympics.
I’m sure there’s plenty of amateur athletes who also would love to play in the Olympics. Most will probably end up playing professionally. Pausing the season and risking injuries doesn’t seem worth it. If I’m a Florida fan, losing Tkachuk in the 4 nations (did come back and helped win Cup) putting off surgery for most of summer and then sitting out most of season while seemingly prioritizing coming back for Olympics? I’d be upset. Seems pretty selfish
Slick: we all know the Olympics are supposed to be for amateur athletes, but that got thrown out the window when they allowed pro basketball players to compete over 30 years ago. And of course, the Soviets exploited that rule for years beforehand with their hockey players, who were pros in all but name.
As I said, most fans have no problem with the breaks for the Olympics or the World Cup. As for the players, they want to play best-on-best tournaments, and the league is willing to allow it for the sake of labor peace.
Lyle, that’s why the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” was special. I don’t like the NBA players participating either. With the best players from around the world all playing in NHL now, maybe it’s time to switch back to
From a fan and player perspective we’d be better off
going back to a 78 game season than the 82 or upcoming 84 game schedule.
Less b2b games, less travel, more recovery time, more practise time, more ability to have 4 nations, Olympic and World Cup with less disruption and of course more ownership refusal.
👍👍👍
I also think the bigger ice surface would mean less injuries and more quick, skillful players in the game.
Exactly, Johnny. It won’t eliminate injuries, but it could reduce the instances.
Never happen but how bout 62 game season? Home and home vs each team.
Guys, I’d love to see shortened schedules too, but we all know that’s not feasible, and hasn’t been since the league began expanding nearly 60 years ago. The owners won’t do it because it’ll significantly reduce revenue, and the players won’t go for it because it’ll significantly reduce their salaries.
No doubt. But it would so drastically increase the entitlement value of the game. Hockey is a better sport but football games (regular season) are more entertaining. Why? They each mean so much more meaning.
Playoff hockey though is still the hold standard.
Wow. Typing this response during red light stops led to some interesting grammatical errors.
I agree. You could accomplish a meaningful reg season in 78-80. Less or no back to backs would be nice for players and the game itself.
LOL! To hear some arguments regarding highly paid players participating in the Olympics puts jeopardy a fan base’s hopes if said participating player gets injured and fans already pay top dollar at the gates and concessions, merch, you name it, and fails to make the playoffs or costs them the cup…now hearing less regular season games sounds good? Oh man! I wish I can think like that…I don’t know how much higher costs will be but owners aren’t going to lose money for our pleasure. To even gripe about players who, as I said before, are special talents and everyone that is better than the average, gets paid more. Not only that, but people that spend their life perfecting a skill and eventually become a phenomenon is more special than you or I. No one is wrong but man, there’s a lot more in this than we are aware.
I look at the other sports, and the trade-offs in hockey, and as a season ticket holder i’m thankful for the balance of Olympics v/ salary cap. Absent this Toronto would be the Dodgers and Id be watching TV, not at the games.
I imagine a feasibility study is out there or can be had with historical information in hand regarding the 78 game schedule with regard to increased player downtime, increased travel cost and other associated costs compared to revenue.
All economic models have the calculation for marginal cost to marginal revenue for optimal profit and it’s a pretty black and white calculation that laid out properly accounts for all the elements we’re talking about.
The players are treated like they’re machines with on/off buttons that just giddy up and go which is impossible the way the season is structured.
From a straight business perspective it’s a dumb way to utilize assets.
Even machines need to follow proper maintenance that costs money rather than deal with downtime and/or replacement.
You have to wonder if these teams were the primary source of revenue for all the owners would they treat it the same way.
Come on guys: I would love a shorter season that ended in April and not into June, games decided in full overtime, and free NHL broadcasts instead of NHL Center Ice. I also like to go back to a world before climate change. Both are equally possible.
HF30: isn’t it plain that the feasibility study is the one the owners have faithfully been following for what, 2 decades? From the owners’ perspective – as we all know – it has been nothing but increased revenue and obscene increases in franchise value.
From the players’ perspective it is dramatically more money while playing and fabulous pension plan.
If either side were unsatisfied with the arrangement why has there been labour peace since 1992? And HF30, as a long time fan you likely remember better than most how Doug Harvey and Ted Lindsay were treated by owners, and why. Is today not better?
LJ
To be fair, I know all about Harvey and Lindsay but they started working on unionizing a bit before my time.
While it has been 82 games since the mid 90’s, when we look at the glory days of hockey and the amazing run of teams it was when the schedule was at 78-80 games.
I think the league is at a point of diminishing returns and fans are squawking.
I am likely more sympathetic to your views on this than you might think HF30. Were we to ever have a beer together the hockey talk would surely be very enjoyable.
Correct, the days of a dynasty are different now than in the past: the Cup wins of Chicago, LA and most recently Tampa now qualify as modern dynasties and it doesn’t feel the same, does it?
But what you and I think of as the glory days is nostalgia, and nostalgia flows from where we are in life.
Diminishing returns? Not sure exactly what you have in mind, but there is certain to be one, if not two new expansion teams in this decade.
It never is what it used to be, because it can’t.
LJ,
I’m not one to look over my shoulder in personal life or sports, nostalgia is an illusion, after all our present is tomorrow’s nostalgia.
The players are bigger, faster, stronger, better shape than ever, train all year round and for all intents and purpose are ready to play right out of the gate. Pre-season is needed for practise and evaluation not getting into shape.
There is no reason the actual number of games and hard miles being put on the players has to reach levels of “breakdowns” that are happening.
It isn’t just this year, the number of man-games lost has been over the top for years.
Diminishing returns?
In the 70’s 15-20% played every game.
in the 2010’s only 8-12% played every game.
Despite the advances in sports medicine, equipment weight, helmets, rule changes to protect players from head shots, boarding.
I think you agree with what I’m saying, it’s the owners who don’t like it.
LJ, have you forgotten:
The aborted schedule of games in 2004–05 set records that the fans would rather not see: the first professional sports league to lose an entire season, the most games lost (1,230) due to a work stoppage, and the longest-lasting shutdown (310 days) in sports history.
Lindsay’s “reward” for years of service to the Red Wings was to be dealt to the woeful Chicago Blackhawks (at the time) for daring to broach the subject of a player’s union.
Same thing with Doug Harvey who went from the Habs to the NYR for Lou Fontinato.
Montreal management, specifically Frank Selke, tried to gloss it over by claiming the deal was motivated by the fact Harvey was 36 and that his “skills were declining” but everyone knew that Selke – joined in his opposition by Conn Smythe, was furious over his leadership in unionization efforts.
Harvey scoffed at th e insinuation his skills were eroding, pointing out that he had only recently been named a First Team All-Star and had just won the Norris Trophy, saying “you don’t give away a player like that!”.
To prove his point, he won the 1961-62 season Norris again while instrumental in the Rangers returning to the playoffs for the first time in 4 years.
Lindsay, meanwhile, scored 15g 24a 39pts in 68gp for Chicago in 1957-58, and followed that up with a 22g 36a 58 pts record the following year in leading Chicago back to the playoffs.
HF30: Ok, interesting stats; … sure the players aren’t machines, but they voted for the current situation and I haven’t hard any one of them say they would take a pay cut to pay less games.
Owners clearly don’t care about increased injuries: more games = more revenue and the # of bums in seats aren’t affected by regular season injuries. the attendance at the Bell Center may go down when the Habs are out of the playoffs, but the games are sold out at the beginning of the season. From their point of view, the downside is … ?
And while athletes are bigger, stronger, and fitter, they also hit and shoot harder. This from A-I:
While wood sticks average around 75–80 mph on slapshots, modern composite sticks enable players to regularly hit 90–100 mph.
Blocking shots are now routine and that has to have an effect. So I don’t think # of games played is the only factor, much as I would like a shorter season.
Dunno HF30, not sure where we go with this.
Johnny Z, thanks for the correction.
George, good contribution. Thanks.
Is it possible to have the World Cup or a 4 nations tournament before the season begins. Have it during the start of training camp. Most of these players play very little or at all in exhibition games.