NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2026
The Bruins have a new captain, plusthe latest on Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, Islanders winger Mathew Barzal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins named David Pastrnak as the 28th captain in the franchise’s history.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).
Pastrnak, 29, replaced Brad Marchand, who filled that role from 2023-24 until traded in March 2025.
“Yeah, obviously very grateful and humble. (It’s) an honor to be the captain and recognize all the responsibility that comes with it,” Pastrnak said. “I can’t wait, and my biggest goal is to be the best version (of myself) for the team and the Bruins organization.”
Pastrnak ranks sixth all-time among Bruins scorers with 933 points in 833 games. He also has 94 points in 96 playoff games. He’s tied for second in franchise history with five 40-goal seasons, is only the second Bruin to score 60 goals in a season, and is the third player in team history to have four 100-point seasons.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak is among the league’s elite forwards. He took on a larger leadership role with the Bruins last season, so it’s not surprising they made him captain.
What do you think about Pastrnak becoming Bruins captain? Let us know in the comments section below.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is selling his home. The move comes as the 32-year-old netminder recovers from offseason shoulder surgery and is sidelined indefinitely
Merzlikins struggled over the past four seasons, losing the starter’s job last season to Jet Greaves. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins’ future with the Blue Jackets was in question before this report that he’s selling his home. This comes amid rumors that he might not return before the end of this season.
NHL.COM: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is travelling with his teammates to Toronto and hasn’t been ruled out for his club’s season-opener against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Barzal missed training camp after aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation.
Meanwhile, the Islanders signed free-agent defenseman Logan Stanley to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
TSN: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was fined $5,000 for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Grieg during Saturday’s preseason game in Montreal.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed four players on injured reserve. They include forwards Blake Lizotte, Justin Brazeau, and Ben Kindel, and defenseman Ryan Graves.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. He’d attended training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).
DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers signed forward Nathan Bastian to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.
CBS SPORTS: The Bruins placed forward Matthew Poitras (upper body) on injured reserve.
TSN: The St. Louis Blues claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils plucked goaltender Remi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars.
DAILY FACEOFF: 71 players hit the waiver wire on Sunday as the 32 NHL clubs finalized their rosters for the upcoming regular season.
Goaltenders include David Rittich of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Garand of the New York Rangers, Laurent Brossoit of the Anaheim Ducks, and Vitek Vanecek of the New York Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Placing the 24-year-old Garand on waivers could be a risky move by the Rangers. A rival club seeking a promising young netminder or goaltending depth could snap him up today.
Notable defensemen include Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, Henri Jokiharju of the Boston Bruins, and Donovan Sebrango of the Florida Panthers.
Forwards include Sam Lafferty of the Panthers, Vinnie Hinostroza of the Colorado Avalanche, Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars, Taylor Raddysh of the Rangers, and Alexander Holtz of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pasta a practical choice as Bruins captain. Wonder if they go out and get talent to surround him or do they remain in a retool with younger players.
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to add that comment.
Don’t Be Cruel
Thanks. I think you just made me spit coffee out my nose
I’m sure a lot of teams will put in a claim for Garland, the Devils should be one of them in case Daws doesn’t prove to be an NHL goalie
As a Ranger’s fan, I am happy the Devils didn’t put in a claim for him. They grabbed the Dallas goalie instead. Hopefully no other team picks him up. Putting him on waivers was a bonehead move by Drury.
Garland ..Jets what could be more obvious
Which goalie is Winnipeg going to claim on waivers, Brossoit? The NYR backup goalie?
It is one way to work a Hellebuyck after all, trading him for a package not including a goalie.
NJD-Dawson Mercer and Silaev or Casey.
Sabres-Ryan McLeod, and Ostland or Quinn
Carolina-Nikishin, Felix Unger-Sorum
Rangers were better off putting Korpisalo on waivers. Garand played in front of terrible AHL team for 2 years and played in his 3 NHL games
Drury never should have traded for Korpisalo, Garand proved he was ready to step up as a full-time backup with his call up last year. Really hoping he clears waivers today and stays in the Ranger system. He should get the nod to move up to the big club next season if he doesn’t do it this year.
Pretty shocking move. The options they left to possibly be exposed were all bad.
Robertson, Morrow, Kartye and Garand.
With the season set to open, here’s how the 32 teams stack up in terms of cap space (most to least). Several could/will be placing players on LTIR immediately (as indicated), two still have a key RFA to finalize (as indicated), and several have yet to decide on players who came to camp on PTOs (as indicated).
Detroit – $18,612,918 (Edvinsson still to re-sign)
Seattle – $16,807,203
Vancouver – $15,925,053 (Chris Dreidger PTO)
Calgary – $13,908,334
Philadelphia – $13,406,138
Winnipeg – $12,406,138
Nashville – $11,991,278 (Tyson Jost P.T.O.)
Carolina – $8,426,849 (Nikishin still to re-sign)
Pittsburgh – $7,127,640
Boston $6,046 427
Utah – $4,837,143
St. Louis – $2,831,668
NY Islanders – $2,748,750
San Jose – $2,706,007
Ottawa – $2,458,333 (Scott Harrington, Ben Hutton, Vadim Zherenko – P.T.O.s)
Tampa – $1,903,334
Montreal – $1,841,433
Los Angeles – $1,800,000
Buffalo – $1,583,236
Chicago – $1,462,093
Minnesota – $1,152,504
NY Rangers – $467,768
Dallas – $302,558
Edmonton – $228,334
Anaheim – $185,061
Colorado – $149,576
Washington – $125,417
New Jersey – $52,018
Columbus – $34,687 OVER (Carson Soucy P,T.O. – Isaac Lundestrom $1.3 m & Dante Fabbro $4,124,000 possible LTIR)
Florida – $870,714 OVER (Brad Marchand $5,250,000 possible LTIR)
Toronto – $3,808,241 OVER (Max Domi $3,750,000 & Dakota Joshua $3,250,000 possible LTIR)
Vegas – $8,823,955 OVER ($8,823,955 OVER (Alex Pietrangelo $8,800,000 LTIR)