NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 29, 2026
The 2026-27 NHL season begins on Tuesday, plus the latest on Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The 2026-27 regular season begins Tuesday with five games on tap.
The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their 2025-26 Stanley Cup banner before hosting the Florida Panthers at 5 PM EDT. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 PM EDT), the New York Rangers face off against the Boston Bruins (8 PM EDT), the Vancouver Canucks meet the Edmonton Oilers (10 PM EDT), and the Chicago Blackhawks square off against the Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 PM EDT).
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is no longer practicing with the team and will remain off the ice until he signs a new contract. Edvinsson, 22, remains a restricted free agent as his representatives continue to negotiate with Red Wings management.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)
Edvinsson skated with his teammates in practice during training camp but couldn’t participate in scrimmages or preseason games. Now that the regular season has begun, he cannot take part in any team activities until he’s signed.
It’s rumored the two sides are working on a long-term deal worth an average annual value of $10 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings had the entire summer to sign Edvinsson. It was assumed a deal would happen quickly once assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff was named interim GM.
Edvinsson has been loyal to the Red Wings, rejecting offers from other clubs and taking part in training camp when he could’ve sat out. So far, he’s got nothing to show for it.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas raised eyebrows during his press conference yesterday when he gave a curt response to a question about the future of Evgeni Malkin, who’s on a one-year contract.
“I’m not gonna do this day-to-day, year-by-year thing with (Malkin) again this year,” Dubas said.
A team spokesman later said Dubas was referencing media questions about Malkin, and not any future years for the veteran center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Dan Kingerski observed, Malkin’s contract status last season became the subject of intense speculation as he publicly needled Dubas for a new deal, and the Penguins GM sidestepped those questions. The two sides eventually agreed to a one-year extension, but Dubas doesn’t want any future talks with Malkin playing out in the press.
TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild placed defenseman Brock Faber (upper body) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (hip surgery) on injured reserve.
TSN: St. Louis Blues defensemen Tyler Tucker (lower body) and Logan Mailloux (surgery, right hand) were placed on IR.
Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen will miss his club’s season opener because he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Mammoth defense prospect Maveric Lamoureux will be sidelined for four to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery.
NHL.COM: The Nashville Predators signed forward Tyson Jost to a one-year, two-way contract. He had attended their training camp on a professional tryout offer.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals. Stevenson, 27, will serve as Stuart Skinner’s backup. He backstopped the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey to the Calder Cup in 2023-24.
CBS SPORTS: The Vancouver Canucks released goalie Chris Driedger from his PTO contract.
DAILY FACEOFF: NHL forward Matt Nieto has announced his retirement. In 12 NHL seasons (2013-14 to 2024-25), he has 87 goals and 119 assists for 206 points in 705 NHL regular-season games with the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, and Pittsburgh Penguins, and 21 points in 62 playoff contests.
NEW YORK POST: The Islanders sold roughly 15 percent of its shares at a $3 billion valuation. The identities of the new investors are not known, and the sale is subject to NHL approval.
CTV NEWS: A report by the Montreal Economic Institute found Canada’s higher tax rates are hurting some of the country’s NHL teams, making it harder to attract and keep top players from Canada and the United States.
The report also mentioned the NHL’s salary cap is based on gross salary rather than net salary, meaning a team from a no-tax state can offer the exact same contract and the player will take home more money.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to “Chris” for the link.
Players on Canadian teams are paid in US dollars, meaning their money goes further in Canada. As of Sept. 29, one American dollar is worth $1.42 Canadian.
It could make it difficult for smaller market Canadian teams, who earn revenue in Canadian dollars, to keep pace with the rising salary cap.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was an issue 25 years ago, when the Canadian dollar was ever lower. Small market teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg relocated to the United States in the mid-1990s, and Edmonton and Ottawa were on the verge of following suit.
Today, all seven Canadian teams have stable ownership, and the league has a robust revenue-sharing program. Winnipeg is the NHL’s smallest market and the only Canadian team facing a genuine problem attracting and retaining players. The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are closer to the salary-cap floor, but that’s because they’re rebuilding their rosters.
Another factor putting Canadian teams on an unequal footing is a handful of US-born players who’ve pushed to leave Canadian markets, especially after the American men’s hockey team winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Quinn Hughes forced the Vancouver Canucks to trade him to the Minnesota Wild, Brady Tkachuk’s trade request sent him from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck requested a trade and remains suspended without pay for not reporting to training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those moves were made for reasons that had nothing to do with higher taxes or playing in Canada.
Hughes’ trade happened two months before the Olympics, and was largely because the Canucks had become a dysfunctional mess, which Hughes (as team captain) seemed powerless to address.
Tkachuk’s trade to the Panthers in June was for family reasons. It was no secret he and his brother, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, wanted to play together. Hellebuyck’s situation is based on his desire to play for a Stanley Cup contender while he’s still in his prime.
TSN’s Gino Reda said Hellebuyck didn’t have any Canadian teams on his list of trade destinations. “That tells you an awful lot. It’s not a trend just yet, but it’s a concern for the Canadian teams to watch their star players going south of the border.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could become a problem given the current economic tensions between Canada and the United States. However, the performance of the teams remains the prime factor. Contenders, even those in Canada, usually have little difficulty attracting and retaining talent.
I hope you are not saying the Detroit Red Wings
are dysfunctional. When exactly was Stevie moved
upstairs and how long has it been since the search
commitee started their search for a new GM?
almost 3 months
Simon should bolt for an offer sheet, if he had any sense!
Detroit certainly is dysfunctional and, in a bit of schadenfreude, I couldn’t be happier. Call it payback for all the insults Red Wings fans visiting Nationwide Arena poured on the Blue Jackets.
I wonder how those on the “search committee” are paid for their efforts. A flat-rate, one-time payment … or a per-deim arrangement?
If the latter, that might help to understand the lengthy process. Then I would pose the question … “how long will it take for Illitch to realize he’s one of those suckers P.T. Barnum said is born every minute?”
Or, all the best candidates were not available in the middle of July when Yzerman was moved upstairs.
Like players, their contracts run until the end of June, and they start their new ones July 1st.
So if you want permission to speak to a quality AGM, he has already committed to his current team.
And his current team would then be in the same position Detroit is now in, all the best replacements are committed and hence unavailable. So they don’t give permission, because of course they wouldn’t.
I keep repeating myself, if Yzerman was fired for team performance reasons, it would have happened in April for the reasons I list above.
He was moved upstairs because of Larkin demanding a trade to only 3 teams, which then became 4 so the only deals available were for assets that help in the future, not the now. Which Illich didn’t want.
So it isn’t Illich’s fault no good GM candidates are available, it is his fault that he didn’t promote Horcoff earlier, or just not turf Yzerman and call Larkin’s bluff.
But Ray, given that would you say is factual – and obvious (I agree) – don’t you think it would also have been just as obvious to members of the Committee? To the point where they would logically get out of the way … and right out of the gate … who among those “best candidates” were declared off-limits by their current employers? That would have taken several phone calls over the first few days.
So, the question then becomes, WHO were the possibilities not in that position who they thought might be a good choice? And why has it taken so long – to the point where they admittedly hadn’t even interviewed them yet as recently as a couple of weeks ago??
George, I have no idea how their deal works with the “search firm”.
We use headhunters for certain positions that are tougher to recruit or you want to keep it quiet vs advertising. I was recruited by one for the job I have now. You don’t pay them unless they find a candidate you want to hire, its a commission for lack of a better term for the first 6 months of the salary. This is more high profile, so guessing they wouldn’t even start without a fee up front.
If someone wants to pay you to try, even if the odds are slim, then you try. I dunno, but if anyone should know that it is Illich since he likely signs GM and AGM contracts.
We’re both guessing, so I will take a stab at it. None of the available candidates were better than Horcoff, so they said F it, and gave him the interim title.
Or, Illich talked to Larkin and straight up asked him if who is the GM is would change anything. And if he said no, than same thing, F it and make Horcoff the GM for the short term. If he does well keep him, if he doesn’t recruit in the spring.
Sometimes kids who inherit their Dad’s business, aren’t as good at it as the guy who built it in the first place. Might be a simple as that.
My only point in this whole thing is none of this “disfunction” happens if Larkin doesn’t do what he did, the way he did it. So Wing fans may want to point their frustration at where it belongs.
We are in complete agreement there, Ray.
One thing we do know for certain is that it took between 3 and 4 weeks from the time MLSE hired Neil Glasberg’s firm to search out Toronto’s new GM, and the hiring of Chayka, from among some 25 potential candidates.
Who did Illich hire – Frick & Frack?
MLSE turfed Treliving March 30, so even a little before the end of the season. So prime hunting season for NHL Mgt types. Then hired Chayka who wasn’t already with a team. Not sure how all the moves he made will turn out but no flies on that guy!
I suppose Tre was available if the Wings wanted him.
So is Dorion … who wasn’t a bad GM despite that one “clerical” gaffe in the Davidov deal. He also made some good choices along the way that were instrumental in Ottawa’s re-build.
“per-diem” …. sheesh.
I was confident Marchenko was going to be dealt as soon as Don found the right trade.
Good call yesterday!
The Leafs must really believe that Marchenko is a significant upgrade over Knies.
Ray not just the Leafs believe that. I just don’t understand how fans can’t see beyond their own bias or low opinion of a team be projected to players. Like I said yesterday, if Marchenko was willing to resign, would they still made this trade? If you say no, then you’ll agree with the Leafs believing that Marchenko is a significant upgrade too.
Ron, I have no idea how good Marchenko is, I don’t think I watched a full Blue Jackets game in years as they haven’t made the playoffs.
I have watched Knies as Leafs vs Bruins is must see TV, and I like his game. Some injury concern I guess, as he’s been hurt and plays the type of game where you seem to get hurt more often.
Marchenko has been described as a play driver, which IMO, are the most valuable offensive guys vs shooters.
If that’s true, then good for the Leafs.
Well it’s good for both teams actually. Kines will also become a fan favorite in Columbus. He’s a great player in his own right but it’s only fair that the guys that run this team feel comfortable to trade a guy like Kines that you’re getting back a player who can help you in ways Kines never could, like being a right shot as an example.
And Kines is above all, a guy who has shown to give it his all even if he wasn’t 100%. I wonder how long before he gets a letter on his sweater.
Thanks Oilerfan! I just didn’t see Waddell waiting around for a better deal. He moved in Kovalchuk as soon as it was clear he wanted to move on.
As Dylan Larkin found out, there is only so much cap space available on “desirable” teams. Star players may want to play in the US but that doesn’t mean they get to.
Fantastic common sense analysis by Lyle on the American players and Canadian teams nonsense. Mainstream media just love the frenzy of stirring up shyt. There’s absolutely nothing to it factually and it’s beyond annoying being treated like a naive easily angered sheep day in and day out by ALL sports media outlets.
Dark G, nothing matters more to athletes than winning. The careers are incredibly short. If a team looks like they could win or be considered a contender, that team won’t have problems attracting high-quality star players and retaining them…. everything else isn’t either here nor there.
Here are over 50 US born players on Canadian teams. To my knowledge, none of these players has asked to be traded down south.
Buckle up I wonder if Fla. is going to send a message to Carolina on opening night!
And maybe the tables are turned and it’s Carolina – the current Cup holders – who will be sending a message to Florida.
Brady might try to fight old guy Staal on the opening draw again. Seems to like doing that.