Recaps of Monday’s preseason action, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Defenseman Bowen Byram made an impressive debut with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring in overtime to complete a hat trick and defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3. Byram was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 23, signing a six-year, $75 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value) on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram’s performance in this contest bodes well for what the Blackhawks expect from him as their new No. 1 defenseman.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Lane Hutson had the primary assists on both goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield also scored in overtime during the Canadiens’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in split-squad action on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Bryan Rust scored and collected two assists for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins sophomore forward Ben Kindel left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. He was still being evaluated post-game. Before this game, the Penguins announced forward Blake Lizotte is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes snapped a 2-2 tie for a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Rangers prospect Adam Sykora left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period.

Washington Capitals forward Jonny Brodzinski tallied two goals as his club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Flyers forward Denver Barkey left his contest early in the second period with a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blanked the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Jet Greaves turned in a 16-save shutout, and Conor Garland scored the game’s only goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro left this game with an upper-body injury.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner kicked out 31 shots in his debut with the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Gabriel Vilardi scored and added an assist, and Josh Morrissey collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner joined the Jets as a free agent this summer. He’ll be their starting goaltender, with Connor Hellebuyck likely having played his final game for the Jets. Hellebuyck requested a trade and is currently suspended without pay for not reporting to training camp.

The Dallas Stars nipped the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Casey DeSmith stopped 30 shots, and Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist scored for the Stars. Jonatan Berggren replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker missed this game with an injured knee suffered during practice on Sunday.

HEADLINES

THE SCORE: Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour wouldn’t mind if the NHL abolished preseason play.

“Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real,” Brind’Amour told TSN’s “Overdrive” on Monday. “They don’t like practicing – nobody does.”

Brind’Amour said he’d be fine with the league going to 86 regular-season games and no preseason. He pointed out that players are already well-conditioned and there are few available roster spots compared to previous years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL isn’t likely to take Brind’Amour’s advice, but it would be interesting to see how many players, coaches, and general managers share his view.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Sam Steel signed a four-year contract extension worth $14.8 million ($3.7 million AAV).

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua’s status for the season opener is uncertain after battling an injury through the opening days of training camp.

TSN: Former NHL forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement after playing five games with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan.

Hayes, 35, spent 12 seasons in the NHL from 2014-15 to 2025-26 with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 185 goals and 261 assists for 446 points in 805 regular-season games, and 26 points in 56 playoff contests.

OTTAWA SUN: Former NHL coach Jacques Martin, 73, is considering retirement. Martin was part of the Senators’ front office, but confirmed on Friday that he’s no longer with the organization.

Martin coached 18 seasons as an NHL head coach from 1986-87 to 2023-24 with the St. Louis Blues, Senators, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens. He holds the Senators record for wins (367) and won the Jack Adams Award in 1998-99. Martin won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

RG MEDIA: Marco D’Amico interviewed University of Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato on his plans for the upcoming season with one of the NCAA’s most talented hockey rosters.

Promising youngsters Landon DuPont, Cam Reid, and Henry Mews will join Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff, and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jayden Perron this season.