NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2026
Recapping Sunday’s preseason action, plus the latest on the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson, Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, Sabres forward Jiri Kulich, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Brady Tkachuk had a Gordie Howe hat trick in his debut with the Florida Panthers as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 in preseason action on Sunday. Tkachuk scored twice, collected an assist, and received a major penalty for fighting Hurricanes prospect defenseman Charles Alexis Legault.
Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthew Tkachuk had the primary assist on Brady’s first goal. Team captain Aleksander Barkov also assisted on Tkachuk’s goal and scored the Panthers’ second goal. It’s the first time he’s played with his teammates since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s training camp.
Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke tallied a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Ducks defenseman Tristan Luneau had a goal and two assists.
The Boston Bruins nipped the Washington Capitals 3-2 on James Hagens’s shootout goal. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy scored the tying goal late in the third period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McAvoy must make the most of the shortened preseason. He will miss the first six games of the upcoming regular season serving a suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson in Game 6 of their 2026 first-round playoff series.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman logged over 19 minutes of ice time during his club’s 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators. It was Hedman’s first game since taking a personal leave of absence on March 19. Ilya Mikhayev scored and John Carlson collected an assist in their debuts with the Lightning.
The Colorado Avalanche downed the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Brock Nelson scored and Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche.
New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Devils goaltender David Rittich stopped 23 shots for the win.
The Seattle Kraken doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2.
MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings face a challenge getting center Dylan Larkin and defenseman Simon Edvinsson ready for the upcoming season during the shortened four-game preseason.
Larkin, 30, missed the first four days of training camp with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Edvinsson remains an unsigned restricted free agent. He’s skating with his teammates during practice but cannot scrimmage with them or play in preseason games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edvinsson wouldn’t be in this position had the Red Wings resolved their search for a new general manager before training camp opened last week. He might be signed by now if assistant GM Shawn Horcoff had been named interim GM in July or August instead of last week.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Eyebrows were raised when Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm was skating in a third-pairing role during the first two days of training camp. However, head coach Mike Babcock explained that the 36-year-old Ekholm was with Shakir Mukhamadullin to help the latter adjust to a new team and surroundings. The Oilers acquired Mukhamadullin from the San Jose Sharks in July as part of the return in the Darnell Nurse trade.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is thrilled to be scrimmaging with his teammates after being sidelined since Nov. 10 with a blood clot.
“It’s unreal,” Kulich said. “I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s just unreal seeing everyone, being around them, and being with them on the ice is just, yeah, it’s pretty special.
THE ATHLETIC: Egor Chinakhov is looking forward to his first full season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 25-year-old forward was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, and went on to a career-best season with 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games in Pittsburgh after netting just six points in 29 games with the Blue Jackets.
Jim Hagens for the Calder trophy win.
Gonna be Cole Hutson
Alotta good young players coming out this year. Rookies are going to make a big difference.
Yep he will have some competition TSP, including a kid in Toronto.
Happy to hear he put on some muscle in the off season, close to 15 lbs. It was obvious last season that he needed to get stronger to fight through checks and get to where most of the goals are scored, especially in RD 1.
I prefer to limit my expectations for rookies, and expect a young guy like him to struggle for extended stretches and then be pleasantly surprised. As opposed to being disappointed when the normal rookie learning curve happens.
If he can keep getting stronger and improve his play in home plate area, maybe he can move to C in the next couple years?
That’s the hope for the long term.
You know Ray, I like that teams aren’t rushing guys into the NHL at a young age. There are exceptions, but most players are not ready physically or mentally at 18. Let them grow at lower levels and have some fun too.
Remember when the draft age was 20? It would have stayed that way. had the WHA not changed the rules by drafting 18 year olds.
Yep TSP, I always like the idea of bringing guys along slowly with the exceptions of the most elite guys. One step at a time.
I think that contributes to some players playing NCAA after their draft year. Fewer games, more practice time, more gym time.
I think some even make some $.
Gavin will help the Leafs to make a nice comeback this season. I like the kid and some of the other moves they made. Paul is a nice addition.
Reinbacher’s name is being engraved on the Calder as we speak!
And to be efficient they are adding Hage for next year, and renaming the Calder the Habs.
LJ, I think they will get back to their once every 50 years trend.
Been a while before Hutson, and I think that Celibrini should have one it. But that’s just me.
Yeah, Ray, it has been a while for the Habs.
But a rookie year doesn’t define a career. Hutson deserved the Calder but no question Celebrini is a legit “generational player.”
I was very surprised that no Oiler has won the Calder, as McDavid lost out to Panarin. Crazy, given what we know now.
I also had a look at both the Habs and the Bs who have won the Calder. Bs; Borque, Sampsonov and Raycroft. Habs: Dryden and Hutson. So 3-2 in 50 years. Call it even?
Another way to look at it LJ, is 50% more often.
Although I would take Dryden and Hutson (so far) over Samsonov and Raycroft.
Although Raycroft turned into Rask.
That would be counterproductive/self-defeating in the extreme.
Put me in the “Who cares” category. It’s tiresome just seeing his name.
100% BCLeaf Fan.
Larkin made a decision, then Detroit get to make them, and they have. No more complicated than that.
But I do wonder about the other players. They have said the right thing and most try to separate the “business” side of the game. But he has put the Wings in an impossible situation, and by extension, his teammates. Have to think they understand that too, even though they would never say it publicly.
For their sake, I hope it doesn’t impact their performance. Those guys don’t deserve this.
The Wings owe it to those guys to get the best return they can.
Hagens looked dangerous and nhl ready lastnight also great showing by Dipietro.
Looking forward to seeing Locmelis I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by his ability.
If I never heard of Larkin for a year, that would be good news
I would like to hear his name once, followed by “traded for ..”. And I would be fine with high end futures.
Brady redefining the term “fight” there I guess… looked more like a little cuddle session to me. :0)
The new nhl brew haha
I’d hate to be a talented team on a rutter-less franchise. Thinking about those Sabres players watch numerous player go over the wall during the 14 years of darkness. So many of them going on to hoist the Cup in other cities.
I understand players wanting to win, giving 100% on franchises that are clueless.
Would I ask to be traded? Probably not, I’d stick it out. But I’d also understand someone who wants out. And the fans are the ones who get screwed.
Fla.starting off with fights in preseason games against Carolina sending the message that they are back