NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 26, 2026
The Wild’s Quinn Hughes reaches a points milestone against the Canucks, the Canadiens down the Jets in the Heritage Classic, Alexander Nikishin returns to the Hurricanes, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist to reach 500 career regular-season points as the Minnesota Wild doubled up the Vancouver Canucks 4-2. Kirill Kaprizov also had a goal and an assist for the Wild (8-3-2), who sit atop the Western Conference with 18 points. Max Sasson and Brock Boeser replied for the Canucks (2-10-1) as they sit last in the overall standings with five points.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The only American-born defenseman to reach the 500-point plateau faster than Hughes (501 points in 520 games) was Hall of Famer Brian Leetch (496 games).
This was Hughes’ first game in Vancouver against his former team since being traded to the Wild last December. He was booed throughout the game, though he received a mix of cheers and boos when the Canucks played a tribute video to their former captain.
Hughes is due to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, sparking considerable speculation about his future in Minnesota. In a weekend interview with The Athletic’s Joe Smith, the 27-year-old blueliner didn’t rule out signing a contract extension.
“I’m where I’ve always been. I’m excited right now. My two feet are planted in Minnesota and you know, something could happen soon.”
Hughes said he’s enjoying playing for the Wild, suggesting they have a chance to win this season. That could go a long way toward ensuring he remains in Minnesota beyond 2026-27.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler made 33 saves to hold off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in front of over 32,000 fans at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium. Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle scored, and Cole Caufield had two assists for the 6-3-2 Canadiens, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Isak Rosen scored, and Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots for the Jets (4-4-2), who are winless in their last five games (0-3-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler became the youngest goaltender to start and win an NHL outdoor game. He’s also among the league leaders with five wins (5-1-1), a 1.79 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and one shutout.
The Nashville Predators upset the Colorado Avalanche 6-2. Ryan O’Reilly (two goals, two assists), Steven Stamkos (two goals, one assist), and Filip Forsberg (one goal, two assists) led the way for the Predators as they improved to 4-3-4. Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored for the 6-5-1 Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have been inconsistent through the first month of this season. After starting with two straight wins, they are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored two goals in a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Wyatt Johnston and Tyler Seguin each had a goal and two assists for the 7-3-1 Stars. Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri, and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders (5-4-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Saturday, the Stars placed forward Oskar Back on long-term injury reserve and moved defenseman Esa Lindell to injured reserve.
The Florida Panthers got a late goal from Lars Eller to nip the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. Sandis Vilmanis and Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers (6-4-2), while Spencer Knight made 30 saves, and Ryan Greene and Roman Kantserov tallied for the 3-8-0 Blackhawks, who’ve lost three straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks are in the fifth season of rebuilding under general manager Kyle Davidson, but they’re showing few signs of improvement despite the promising youngsters on their roster. The longer this drags on this season, the more questions could be raised about the club’s direction under Davidson.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes announced defenseman Alexander Nikishin signed a one-year contract paying him $3 million during this season.
Nikishin requested a trade following the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run in June. The 25-year-old blueliner was a 10.2 (c) restricted free agent, meaning he was ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival team.
With 33 points, Nikishin had a promising debut last season, earning a spot on the NHL’s 2025-26 All-Rookie team. However, his playing time and role were reduced during the 2026 playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes were unable to find suitable trade offers for Nikishin. He’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer and will be eligible to sign an offer sheet. Now that he’s under contract, the Hurricanes could find it easier to move him before the March 1 trade deadline. They could also wait until next summer.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Jared McCann will be sidelined for 10 weeks with a lower-body injury.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract worth $850,000.
Wonder what Vancouver is waiting for as they bottom out. They have 3 valuable assets to trade in Debrusk,Boeser and Pettersson! Is Detroit willing to wait out on Edvisson as Carolina did on Nikishin to get him to sign a 1 year deal?
I don’t think Eddy is signing anything till November 30th with Detroit. Then he could get traded for 4 big assets at the TDL!
Sr, the two situations differ in that, unlike Nikishin, Edvinsson faces a strict December 1 RFA signing deadline in order to be eligible to play this season (at least in the NHL). That places Horcoff in a whole lot different pressure situation since Edvinsson has made it clear he wants term in addition to the big bucks, and is well aware that Horcoff is sitting on some $19 million in cap space – more than enough to meet his $$ demands. Having gone this far, he probably is not interested in a bridge or 1-year deal.
Will he wind up sitting out the entire NHL season? That’s rare in the extreme, but it has happened, most notably Michael Pecca, then Buffalo’s captain, who sat out for the entire 1999-2000 campaign in a bitter contract stand-off. Buffalo resolved that by dealing him the following summer to the NYI, where he wound up signing a long-term deal.
Yashin of Ottawa also sat out an entire season, although that wasn’t an unsigned RFA situation, but rather a straightforward hold-out. Nylander of Toronto did come close to sitting out the entire 2018-19 season as an unsigned RFA, but wound up getting a deal close to his demands literally while the clock was winding down.
Huh? No Larkin? Must be in the Rumor Mill addition!
Johnny Z: Did the Red Wings play on Sunday? No? Did Larkin get traded? No? Then why the hell would I post anything about him in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines?
So yes, there are rumors about Larkin. Care to guess where you’ll find them? 🙄
curious if Nikishin was resigned so he could be traded, maybe for Edvinsson ?
That was my first thought: “okay, now he’s much more easily tradeable”.
No idea if that’s the plan, though.
Many folks here refer to Dawson Mercer as a 3rd liner but this kid can play. The Jets have room for him to play where he belongs and it showed yesterday.
Same with this Rosen kid they picked up from Buffalo who’s described as a soft perimeter player, the puck followed him all game, which means he has great hockey IQ.
Jets are a stronger team without the Hellebuyck saga looming over them.
Appears that way to me as well. I suppose everyone is waiting for the first Jets-Devils confrontation in Winnipeg on November 10. Will Hellebuyck want that start, or will Keefe go with Jake Allen? They do meet again 18 days later in New Jersey (Nov 18).
Brian Boucher stated on last night’s TNT telecast that Fowler is Montreal’s best goalie and he expects him to be the starter by the new year and for the playoffs. Fowler impressed me with his play especially his ability to play the puck much like Joel Hofer. Active goalies that can puck handle and pass the puck certainly help switch momentum and give the dmen a big lift.
What say you Montreal fans is Fowler the answer. If he is then that gives them 3 viable options in net or in a trade possibility.