NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 14, 2026
Zach Werenski addresses the trade rumors dogging him this summer, some under-the-radar acquisitions who could surprise this season, the latest on Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH/THE ATHLETIC: Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski returned to Columbus from his summer break and addressed the trade rumors that popped up about him two months ago.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)
The rumors began in mid-June amid a report stating that he might request a trade out of Columbus. On June 30, it was reported that he rejected a trade that would’ve sent him to the Dallas Stars.
Werenski and Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell released statements on July 1, emphasizing that he was staying in Columbus and wanted to help the Blue Jackets win. The 29-year-old superstar defenseman’s comments on Thursday were little different from those in his statement last month.
Werenski again stressed how much he loved the city of Columbus, adding that he has no issue staying with the Blue Jackets for a longer period. His current contract expires on July 1, 2028. He said that he wanted to see the Blue Jackets in the playoffs and to make progress.
Regarding his future, Werenski said he wouldn’t answer any questions about it after Thursday, adding that it was important for him to get them out of the way now. He reiterated that he’s committed to the club and his teammates, and excited to return to action with them.
As for those trade rumors, Werenski believed there was miscommunication, claiming that he never requested a trade and never definitively said that he wouldn’t sign an extension, only that he can’t say today what might happen when his current deal expires in two years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m not doubting Werenski’s sincerity, but it seems this situation was badly handled by both sides, which created the impression that his days in Columbus are numbered.
Werenski’s comments should silence the trade rumors for the coming season, especially if the Blue Jackets make the playoffs by April. However, the longer he goes without an extension next summer, the more often his name will appear in the rumor mill.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of Werenski and the Blue Jackets, Ryan Lambert looked at four things they must do to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
Convincing Werenski and others (such as winger Kirill Marchenko) to stay are among those things, along with the 2026 Norris Trophy winner having another big season.
THE ATHLETIC: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey is enjoying life as a new father after his son Hayes was born two months ago. It’s also given him a new perspective on life, and a new appreciation for his mother and his late father.
Morrissey acknowledged the coming season will be pivotal for the Jets, who missed the playoffs last season after winning their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history in 2024-25.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the Jets’ top defenseman, Morrissey will play a crucial role in the club’s performance this season.
SPORTSNET: Forward Mavrik Bourque of the Nashville Predators, winger Jordan Kyrou of the Washington Capitals, and defenseman Mario Ferraro of the Winnipeg Jets are among David Morassutti’s list of 12 under-the-radar NHL offseason acquisitions who could surprise this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link for the full list and feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.
I don’t think Kyrou qualifies as an “under-the-radar” acquisition. His trade from the Blues to the Capitals garnered plenty of attention as the latter bolstered their offense to return to the playoffs next season.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former McGill University men’s hockey coach David Urquhart is joining the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval as an assistant coach.
CALGARY SUN: Former Flames radio play-by-play broadcaster Peter Maher passed away on Thursday at age 79.
Maher called the Flames’ games from 1980-81 to 2013-14, including the club’s Stanley Cup championship in 1989 and their run to the Cup Final in 2004. A native of Campbellton, New Brunswick, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Maher’s family, friends, and the Flames organization.
Is it just me, or is Werenski’s position and statements sounding more and more like those of Brady Tkachuk – constantly swirling rumors that he will request a trade … loves the city … wants to win “here” .. can’t say (yet) what will happen when the current deal expires in 2 years … yadda, yadda, yadda.
It’s like they’re following the same script – both have expressed repeated end-of-season frustration with the team’s lack of playoff progress … the dramas began with both having 2 years left of their deals … Tkachuk eventually and effectively said he wanted to be dealt by notifying the GM he would not re-up in Ottawa … Werenski said he’d examine any trade options … Staios engineered a deal to Tkachuk;s preferred destination … Waddell has listened to offers and, in fact has actively explored trade options … Tkachuk got his wish … Werenski decided Dallas wasn’t on his his list of preferred destinations
Stay tuned!
You beat me to it George. I was going to post the same thing. And Quinn Hughes as well.
I’m not as Brady obsessed as the Ottawa media is here. They just can’t let crap go, makes them seem even smaller and more insignificant of a group than they already are. Unfortunate.
Just move on already to the team that’s on the ice. To make something else out of nothing, they’ll hype the first “return of Brady” game like it’s the second coming Freddy Kruger and lose their minds over a game that really won’t be all that exciting.
I don’t care what his politics are or aren’t. He got bit by the winning/comradery bug in the team USA locker-room. He wanted to recreate that and play with his brother. Fine. Players have moved on before. Let it go. He’s gone to an aging but potent offensive team with wildly suspicious defense and clasp your rosery beads goaltending. Kinda reminds me of the Leafs from a couple years ago. Oh and that aging offensive top 7 have no moves and goofy contracts. Good luck to them.
Dark G, with either no imagination nor willingness to even speculate, the Tkachuk melodrama is the easiest route to column obligations. I agree … he’s outta here … who gives a crap! Move on.
Some seem ready to anoint Florida “King Of The Hill” again … we’ll see.
Ya, agree that folks in Ottawa need to move on. Guessing many have, but obviously not all or folks in media wouldn’t still be talking about it. Media organizations don’t stay on stories nobody cares about or reads/watches.
We’re talking about it again.
Wasn’t there talk from other players that Brady has been saying he wasn’t re-signing in Ottawa for a few years now? Ottawa wanted to try and win now, and when the formal decision time came, they pulled the trigger.
Just down playing the Olympic team thing. Lots of these guys have played internationally together and have known each other for years.
Players have always wanted to win, and most have also felt loyalty to their current team mates, and organizations, and the cities they play in, so that’s basically the decision they have to make.
Dallas seems like an odd place to trade Werenski? They’re well set up on D already. If true, would like to know what went back the other way?
Some fair points Ray.
From Florida.
Niko Mikkola 6 team no trade probably Canada
Anton Lundell
Columbus’ 2nd round pick back in 2027
For Werennski with some cost control for a year or so. He’d wave to join the squad in Fla.
Lundell helps the C position in Columbus.
I don’t think anyone should say “folks in Ottawa need to move on.” The MEDIA need to move on.
The media were also incredibly out of touch with the sentiments of the fans… always claiming the fans were sad, hurt, and will miss him so much.
Were these writers not on social media? Facebook, Instagram, and Threads were absolutely FLUSH with over the top celebrations and very colourful language farenotwells from everyone.
I for one immediately celebrated when I heard the news and moved on to the current roster right away.
TheSaint, the closest thing to SM I go on is this site.
The only app I have is Linked In as it’s mandatory for work from the marketing folks, and that’s annoying enough and I try to avoid it.
So fair comment, I have no clue what folks are saying on SM.
But will say in defense of my comment, if SM is flush with anything regarding sports, sports media will cover it. Because the media has become, and always was to some extent, an attention economy. That much I do know, or think I know.
Ray, the only Dallas name I ever heard as part of the exchange was that of Harley. That was never confirmed by either team, but was mentioned by at least two pundits as “probable.”
“I want to be here until I’m not here”
The people in Ottawa getting slammed for ‘not letting it go’ would like to have a word with Leafs fans over Mitch Marner….
Ps if eklund scores 25 goals, people will no longer care about Brady. As a Sens fan, I was getting tired of his shtick around the time of the Olympics.
Just gives us all an excuse to hate FLA more…
Yep. Agree George O.
Columbus needs one of their brightest stars to fully commit. Their biggest star paints a question mark at best about where he stands (werenski).
Marchenko at best, at least through what we hear is hesitant to re up.
Greaves – much different situation but still only a 1 year deal.
Fantilli – still unsigned as an rfa
This team will not make the playoffs. This just kinda adds to Bowness and his rant about a culture change.
It seems like the best players on the team wants to keep a lifeboat near by rather than fully committing to the city, club and each other.
1Oiler, Greaves’ new contract is for three years.
Dark G, the Jackets have Fantilli, Monahan and Coyle at center. Are you seriously suggesting that Lundell play as a 4th line center getting about 10 minutes a night?
Paul Bowles thanks for the correction…i think I mixed up the term with Elvis.
Don’t forget, the trade rumors started after Pierre LeBrun wondered if Werenski might ask for a trade because his best friend, Dylan Larkin, has done so. LeBrun never so much as hinted that Werenski asked for a trade. Even so, within hours of LeBrun’s wondering, it was all over the Internet that Werenski had asked for a trade.
Yes, Waddell did arrange a trade to Dallas that Werenski killed, but that could be nothing more than Werenski having said that he would consider being traded if it would help make the Jackets better. Similar to what Rick Nash did a decade ago.
Actually Paul, when LeBrun came out with his June 10, 2026 speculation, he wasn’t even close to inadvertently starting the rumors. Those had already become the subject of fan and pundit blogs almost instantly following his close friend’s trade request in Detroit, with many citing similar frustrations voiced by both regarding their team’s endless struggles to make the playoffs.
What LeBrun posted in The Athletic that day was merely addressing that on-line chatter while at the same time stressing that NO trade request had actually been communicated to the team.
You must have seen stuff that I didn’t, George. Anyway, maybe Werenski asked for a trade, then changed his mind. Or maybe he never asked for a trade and the rumors were started by people who still think that the Jackets are merely a finishing school for good to great players. Or any of a thousand possibilities. Accuse me of wishful thinking, but until Werenski or Waddell publicly states that Werenski wants to be traded, I believe that he is serious about wanting to win in Columbus.
I hope you’re right, Paul. I really do. Nothing I’d like better (than Ottawa doing will, that is) than to se Columbus get in and make some serious noise next playoffs, with Werenski leading the way.
The similarity to the Tkachuk sequence of events, however, also includes a lot of people here believing he, too, was serious about wanting to “win in Ottawa.”
Wouldn’t the whole matter have been resolved at the outset of the rumours if Werenski had come out and said: cool it, folks?
Werenski has to wear strum und drang, for taking weeks to speak up, not anyone else.
Oh, you both make good points and I always acknowledge that I could be wrong. We’ll just have to wait and see. The only rumor that makes me laugh is that Werenski wants to play for Toronto.
The old adage “put your money where your mouth is” is all I can think in these situations.
“I want to win her” (within the next two years or I go)
“I love this city” (please don’t hate me when I do leave)
If you love the city and want to win there… sign an extension and zip it kid.
I think the Bruins made a big under the radar signing with Will Borgen.
I’d have taken him in a heartbeat for the Habs and it was for peanuts, a 2nd and a 3rd.
Hope your right HF30, after Mcavoy their RD was a problem. See you guys are looking for a RHD!