NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 6, 2026
The trade deadline is 3 pm ET today. Check out the recaps of Thursday’s game, the latest notable trades, and more as the deadline approaches in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres extended their win streak to five games by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. Josh Norris and Owen Power each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (37-19-6), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 80 points. Bryan Rust replied for the 31-17-13 Penguins, who remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin could receive a suspension after receiving a game misconduct for a slash to the head of Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin. He’s been suspended twice before in his NHL career.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar played his 1,500th NHL regular-season game in a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Kopitar collected an assist, Artemi Panarin scored his first goal as a King, and interim head coach D.J. Smith got his first win behind the bench for Los Angeles (25-22-14), who are three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 64 points. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had two assists for the 35-23-5 Islanders, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points.
The Utah Mammoth got a 16-save shutout performance from Vitek Vanecek to blank the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Michael Carcone scored for the Mammoth (33-25-4), who hold the first Western wild-card spot with 70 points. Dan Vladar stopped 22 of 24 shots for the 28-22-11 Flyers.
Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins. Matthew Wood tallied twice for the 28-26-8 Predators, who are also three points out of the final Western wild-card position. Charlie McAvoy and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (34-22-5), who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild card with 73 points.
The Columbus Blue Jackets (32-21-8) moved to within one point of the Bruins after doubling up the Florida Panthers 4-2. Ivan Provorov had a goal and two assists, and Mathieu Olivier scored twice for the surging Blue Jackets, who picked up their third straight win. Niko Mikkola and Sam Bennett replied for the 30-29-3 Panthers, who have dropped four straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers sat out forward A.J. Greer, signaling the likelihood that he’ll be moved before today’s deadline.
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist as his club upset the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 4-1. Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 26 shots for the 25-26-10 Jets. Brayden Point tallied for the Lightning (38-18-4), who cling to first place in the Atlantic Division with 80 points.
New York Rangers forwards Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 drubbing of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Will Cuylle scored two goals for the 24-29-8 Rangers. Matias Maccelli and Easton Cowan replied for the Maple Leafs (27-25-11).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both teams sat out players for “roster management reasons” in anticipation of potentially trading them before today’s deadline. The Rangers scratched center Vincent Trocheck, while the Leafs sat out forwards Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the second straight game.
The Ottawa Senators kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Calgary Flames 4-1. Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens were among the goal scorers for the Senators (30-22-9), who extended their points streak to five games and sit five points behind the Bruins for that final Eastern wild card. Martin Pospisil tallied his first of the season for the 24-30-7 Flames.
ROUNDUP OF NOTABLE TRADES
NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in 2027.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlson had spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Capitals. It’s the end of an era as he was the linchpin of their blueline for most of his tenure in Washington.
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a second-rounder in 2028.
The Buffalo Sabres acquired defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for prospect forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson, a 2027 second-round pick, and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2026.
The Detroit Red Wings acquire winger David Perron from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
The Ottawa Senators acquire winger Warren Foegele and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 draft.
The Dallas Stars acquired forward Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators for a third-rounder in the 2026 draft.
The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 or 2028 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2026.
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired forward Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Jesper Vikman, a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a second-rounder in 2029.
The Minnesota Wild acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year contract extension. PuckPedia indicates the 27-year-old center will receive an average annual value of $3.75 million on his new deal.
The New Jersey Devils placed forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Luke Glendening, and Maxim Tsyplakov on waivers.
The St. Louis Blues placed forward Mathieu Joseph on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
Caps Ducks Carlson trade is sure a surprise… Ducks aren’t winning a SC this season ..Carlson in his late 30’s going from Washington DC to California to play Hockey at this stage of his career..
Wow. That one was a shocker for sure. Great move by the Ducks.
Joe – why can’t the ducks win this year? The only real knock may be lack of playoff experience for some of their younger players but that has been hedged with the vets they acquired over the last year.
Good for them going for it. They see an opportunity and are looking like they are going for it.
While I’ll stand with the Oilers i dont see it as much of a stretch or shock for the Ducks to come out of the Pacific based on how consistently well they are playing and how poorly both Edm and Vegas have been.
Boston should make a deal today to shake it up. 2-2 coming out of the break when they really could have been 0-4. CBJ made a good trade getting Garland and Ottawa is waiting in the background. Could it be that they can t continue this season where they have overachieved?Desperately need a spark,see if Sweeney/ Neeley react!
Sort of the “perfect storm” for Ottawa last night. They win their game while 1 team they’re trying to catch for a playoff spot (Boston) loses, enabling Ottawa to pull within 4 of the Bruins, while 3 teams they need to pull away from each lose (Philadelphia, Florida, Toronto). Another one in that group (Columbus) also won and are in within 1 of the Bruins and just 3 b/o 3rd place in the Metro and an automatic berth – currently held by the Islanders who, if caught, would slip back into the WC race. And, as of this morning, they sit 6 up on Ottawa – but the Senators have 2 games in hand.
Of course, on another multi-game night the reverse could happen and things go back to Square 1 – lol.
Ottawa did get younger when they acquired 29 y/o Warren Foegele from L.A. and dealt David Perron, who turns 38 in May, to Detroit.
The Senators also free up an additional $500,000 in cap as Foegele has a hit of $3.5 mil per with a year to go, while Perron – who returns to Detroit – costs $4 mil and is a pending UFA.
Perron may have a bit better offensive side than Foegele, but Ottawa has enough scoring and they fortified one of the things they need most – penalty-killing. Now if only the Ullmark-Reimer tandem can stay consistent and strong t the end!
I like the Foegele move. Perron is a beast and he’s great on the boards and in the corners, but he hasn’t been playing in the Sens best stretch so to get younger and save money like you said AND get a potential pick is a very solid move, not too mention potentially helping the pk.
I’m a big fan of Halliday, but I did find it odd he was sat last night for McDermott. We’ll see if Staois has another move.
Four points out with 21 games left, should be an exciting finish if the team can continue their good play.
Stevie Y still dragging his feet. Does he really expect the prices to go down at the last minute? What he is dealing for are players with term that do not have to be traded this TDL, so the other GM’s can wait him out.
Don Waddell (Jackets GM & President of Hockey Operations) was interviewed during the Jackets – Panthers game, last night. FWIW, he did say that some prices are coming down.
I think prices might come down. Gms with high prices might drop them if they realize no biters, but deep down really want to get some pics and prospects to help a rebuild.
This is what the perfect little commissioner wanted George. Fans engaged right to the last day. With the belief that their team is still in it.
Realists know it’s a huge long shot for the Sens to catch anyone. Columbus….mayyybe.
A perfect world for me would be the Sens catching Montreal (6 points back) and shutting Habs up nicely. Sens play Montreal Wednesday I believe.
Yep. And he could also show he has a streak of benevolence by restoring Ottawa’s 1st round pick this spring. Yeah … right.
Before we get to Wednesday, Dark G, things could be reverting to where they were the day before yesterday as early as Sunday morning.
Florida is in Detroit tonight, and Saturday sees Washington @ Boston, NYR & NJ, Philly @ Pitt, Tampa @ Toronto, Utah @ Columbus, NYI @ San Jose and Ottawa @ Seattle.
The Senators then wrap up this 5-game road trip in Vancouver on Monday before the dreaded first-game-back-home flop curse against Montreal next Wednesday. The only POSSIBLE Saving Grace there is that it will be the second of a back-to-back for the Habs. Although, on second thought, that first game in Montreal will be against the Leafs, and with the way they’re unraveling, that could be nothing more than a good warm-up for the Habs.
Agreed.
On all points.
We could potentially be back to behind by 6 games even if they win?
I think the pick might have been restored if Andlauer hadn’t come in like an angry businessman and instead —to use Game of Thrones terms— “bent the knee”.
he didn’t as I recall, he was snotty and spicy
He won’t be getting his pick back.
the irony of irony is Dadinov is on waivers. Pick him up? LOL
I don’t think it’s a huge long shot for the Sens, but CLB becoming a wagon complicates things.
OTT is only 4 back of the 8 seed and 6 back of the 7th with 2 games in hand. So ya, wouldn’t bet the farm on it, but would bet $100 if the odds were 3 or 4 to 1. Vegas has them at a 29% chance.
I would argue, and have on here, that they are a better hockey team than the B’s or the Isles if they get consistent quality tending. They are now, Ullmark was very good against EDM and excellent last night and has been good for a while now. 2 goals or less in his last 5, and the one he didn’t was against the Oil who flippin’ shelled him in the 3rd. He almost stole that one.
He’s had challenges this season, but the guy is a great tender when playing well, Vezina winner after all.
I wouldn’t be spending big assets at the deadline, but they got a real shot if they keep playing well. I got good vibes on the Sens, which I keep repeating on here.
LOL Dark, when I saw the waivers on Dadonov my first thought was to post a suggestion similar to yours, I think this time he’s likely headed back to the KHL. If anyone there wants him.
What’s really nice to see re the Senators is the late-season surge by Dylan Cozens.
Bruins… need a top 3 Dman and a goal scorer who can also play some D … no rentals please … Sweeney’s top two forwards on team want him to make a trade or two but the GM seems to be dragging his feet right now
I don’t think Sweeney wants to give up all the assets it would take to get a top 3 D and a goal scorer that isn’t a rental.
Top 3 D not a rental? Like who and what would that cost? It won’t be the cost of a pending UFA like Carlson which was a 1st and 3rd. A non rental goal scorer?
The B’s are fighting for the last WC spot, we’re a bubble team, not a contender and selling out the future seems short sighted IMO.
We’ll find out today what he does, but my guess is he plugs a couple holes on the cheap unless a guy like Parayko comes available on the cheap because he’s pissed at Blues MGT and asks for trade and the B’s are on his list of 4 or 5 teams.
If so jump on it, but seems unlikely to me.
Keep our 1sts, let Minten & Hagens develop more, and if they continue to improve, take a swing a year or 2 down the road when we have some inexpensive guys contributing and the young assets/picks to do it when it matters.
Preach it, Ray.
Ray Bark the other option they have is to trade roster players instead of draft picks. Guys like Lohrei,Essiymont,Poitras,Peeke,Ardvisson,Zacha,and maybe 1 of the first round picks.After the year that they have had it would be a shame not to make the playoffs!
Fair point Sr.
I’m guessing Sweeney was thinking he may have to sell some of those guys like Arvidsson at the deadline, which may have played a role in acquiring him from the Oil. Now he can’t!
Arvidsson has had a solid bounce back season, he’s played pretty good this year.
Buffalo just got a whole lot tougher to play against.
By acquiring Stanley and Schenn they have depth on D, and with Carrick they’ll have a very competitive energy guy that will keep other teams honest.
Columbus made a tidy trade with VAN for Garland, who cannot be happy with signing a 6 year deal to play in VAN only to be traded prior to it, and the NTC, kicking in. That’s is a ruthless move by the Canucks GM.
The Leafs are awful. Only 2 regulation wins in their last 19 games. Let’s hope Treliving can get some new blood with some heart into this dressing room.
Garland should be happy in Columbus. It’s a great city. The fans are in tune. I’d dare say it’s a blessing for him.
I think Garland will be ok with the trade out of Vancouver. Yes, he signed that deal last summer, but nobody saw the wheels falling off so quickly and so dramatically. Once Quinn Hughes was traded it became a completely different situation, and vets on the team started pondering life on a better team. Garland is from Massachusetts so probably will be somewhat comfortable there with a team that has a relatively bright future.
I saw the Malkin stick slash last night and for a brief second Wayne Maki and Ted Green flashed through my mind. That was the most brutal stick fight I ever saw. Almost killed Green I can still see him laying on his side bleeding and having convulsions. Sometimes it’s hard to believe how much the game has changed.
Yeah, Snold49, I was at that 1969 St. Louis-Boston pre-season game played at the Civic Centre (current home of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s and PWHL Ottawa Charge) in 1969. Sickening scene that led to both being criminally charged (although later acquitted – so much for “justice.”).
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/that-was-then-ottawa-hosts-exhibition-of-nhl-violence