NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2025
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes could become a Hart Trophy candidate, three Flyers with the most to gain or lose this season, the latest on Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal considered the possibility of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes becoming the first defenseman in 26 years to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Hall-of-Famer Chris Pronger was the last blueliner to win the Hart Trophy (1999-2000). Brent Burns came the closest to winning the award since then, finishing fourth in voting during the 2016-17 season with the San Jose Sharks.
The Canucks failed to make the playoffs last season, but have Hughes to thank for staying in the race until late in the season. Leal believes the 25-year-old blueliner could win the Hart this season if he leads the Canucks to the playoffs while producing at the same rate that he did in 2023-24, when he had a career-high 92 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A strong case could be made for Hughes as a Hart contender if the season unfolds like Leal’s scenario. The Canucks’ roster isn’t as deep as it was two years ago, so leading this current group in the postseason while producing over 90 points would be an MVP-worthy performance.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James looks at three Philadelphia Flyers with the most to gain or lose this season.
Sophomore winger Matvei Michkov has the most to gain. The budding scoring star should flourish under new head coach Rick Tocchet this season, seeing more playing time and with better linemates than he had during his rookie campaign.
Veteran winger Travis Konecny has the most to lose. The 28-year-old is entering the first season of his eight-year contract and will face pressure to live up to it.
Trevor Zegras has the biggest opportunity this season. The 24-year-old forward joins the Flyers after struggling during the past two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. He has the chance to play top-six minutes at the center position with Michkov, Konecny, Tyson Foerster, or Owen Tippett as his potential linemates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are rebuilding, and the performance of those three will determine their potential improvement this season. Michkov’s stock as an offensive star should keep rising, while Konecny should remain a feisty first-line winger and leader. Zegras could face the most pressure as he attempts to get his career back on track.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is rising up a list on the Red Wings that no player wants to sit atop.
Larkin has played 734 regular-season games with the Red Wings, putting him on track to play the most games for the franchise without winning the Stanley Cup. The franchise leader in that category is Norm Ullman (875), followed by Nick Libett (861) and Justin Abdelkader (739).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s only playoff appearance was in 2016, when he played five games. The Red Wings captain has endured nine years of a difficult roster rebuild that seems to have stalled over the past two seasons. Unless the Wings make significant improvement, Larkin will set the franchise record for most games without winning the Cup.
RG.ORG: Former NHL head coach Gerard Gallant is embracing the challenge of coaching in the KHL. He was hired this summer as bench boss of the rebranded Shanghai Dragons, now based in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Gallant intends to run a North American “support-and-forecheck” style. The Dragons’ goal is to win now and build a fanbase for a possible return to China.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A good performance by the Dragons this season could be a springboard for Gallant to rejoin the NHL coaching ranks.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber looked at where promising rookie winger Ryan Leonard will start in the Washington Capitals’ roster this season.
Leonard, 20, saw nine games of regular-season action and eight postseason contests last season. He could begin the season on the Capitals’ third line, though his potential linemates have yet to be determined.
Judging by roster changes since last season, it looks like Yzerman is counting mainly on the continued improvement of his basic core to be the catalyst to get them over the seemingly endless playoff futility which, in terms of appearance, goes back to the Round 1 4-1 series loss to Tampa in 2016. And the last time they won a round was 2013 when they were in the Western Conference and defeated Anaheim 4-3 in Round 1!
Because adding 32 y/o goalie John Gibson, 33 y/o LD Erik Gustafsson and 35 y/o RD Travis Hamonic aren’t really needle-movers. Among the core roster, the re-signed Tarasenko, for example, certainly needs to do a lot better than 11g 22a 33pts gathered over 80gp.
Having said that, they didn’t miss by much the past two seasons, tying Washington at 91 pts for the last WC slot in 2023-24, and with 1 more win, but losing out on a ridiculous tie-breaking formula, and missing by just 5 points this past season, attributable in part to a mediocre road record of 17 – 19 – 5 39 pts – a .476 pts % pace. They also need to see an improvement over their -21 goals differential – 238 goals for, tying them with Philadelphia for 13th best in the Conference and 259 goals against, which ranked them in the middle of the Conference in that category.
Re-signed Tarasenko??? Tank is now a member of the Wild.
But the rest of your points are valid, (ugh).
Y has signed nothing but 3rd pairing and press box fillers for the D in the past 2 years. This is the glaring hole that he has failed to fill. But he sure has a fantastic collection of goalies and goalie prospects!
George,
Some corrections,
Mrazek, Tarasenko, Tyler Motte, Jeff Petry, and Craig Smith were shipped out.
.
Added John Gibson, James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic.
Gustafsson was there last season.
Gibson is an upgrade on Mrazek
Man for man the team seems improved analytics-wise, a bit more GF and less GA.
Those tweaks might be difference makers if they translate to the ice.
Heh, yeah, thanks Habfan30 … again, that old reference I was checking out when I tried to find a compendium of roster changes by the Wings. I should have double-checked.
But I agree … they could be prominent down the stretch in another battle for those WC spots – just close the gap on goals for-goals against (or reverse them) and perform about 25% better on the road and they’ll be there.
Just not a threat to go deep if they do make it.
George,
Look at it this way, corrections means people taking the time to read through your detailed postings because they are informative.
Thanks for the heads up on Tarasenko Johnny Z – was looking at an old reference and forgot he had been dealt to the Wild in late June.
I still think the Red Wings aren’t done. Stevie Y has shown interest in Karlsson and also needs a top six forward Rust is from Detroit.
I am hoping Rust stays and maybe Karlsson goes with retention of course.
we will see if things are going to happen the next two weeks are big for all clubs before training camp starts
The only thing I have heard attributable to Yzerman when it comes to trades in general or specific ones is his aversion to doing anything foolish. Any suggestion of Karlsson to Detroit has not some from him but rather blogs or media outlets citing things like offensive support for the back end and cap space. But unless I missed something (again – lol) it all amounts to nothing more than speculative analyses, much like is done in here.
Can you pinpoint with a link where “Stevie Y has shown interest in Karlsson?”
Well George, Wing fans should be happy that Yzerman is averse to stupid. I think he is patient as well, and as much as wing fans don’t want to hear it, more is required IMO.
Some key young players should continue to improve – Seider is eating big minutes against the toughest competition at 23 yrs old, he needs help in that regard. The guy they expect to eventually do that for them has 1 full season in NHL, fellow 6 OA pick Edvinsson. He’s 6’6″, can skate and move the puck. But he is only 21. He is also getting tough minutes, just less of them than Seider. He made mistakes last year, but they kept throwing him out there in those situations and he was good considering that.
Opens up Seider to get more offensive minutes and hopefully less than 25 a night overall.
Kasper (C) – 8th OA pick, 21 with 1 full year in NHL.
Danielson (C) – 9th OA, 20 with a year in AHL. Could push for a spot, but if he makes it, expect mistakes. My guess is he starts in AHL and proves it down there first.
2 good young D prospects in Buium and Wallinder, but they need more seasoning. Wallinder could make it this year, but again young D will make mistakes.
Yzerman mentored under Holland, and Holland believes in AHL time, so when they get the call up, they’re ready for it.
They might get in this year, better tending and internal growth from young core players, could do it. But I would bet Yzerman doesn’t just want to get in this year, he wants to keep getting in and improving. Hence the patient approach. Don’t block the kids with long term deals for vets that are place holders.
Keep your space and wait for the opportunity for the right guys once you know what you already have will be at the NHL level.
Totally agree, Ray. And if they are right in the thick of it come trade deadline day, that close to $12 mil in cap reserve could bring in a very useful commodity where most needed in the line-up to help down the stretch.
Ray
Re “happy that Yzerman is averse to stupid”
If true, That means Yzerman won’t be trading with Dubas because Dubas is…
LOL
C’mmon Dubas; do something
No more changes means:
Again picking in the 9th-14th spot
Not getting McKenna
Not letting youth play on team
Continued drop in fan confidence
Drop in attendance
Etc etc
That is premised, Ray, on the patience of the Illich family. Yzerman is no doubt much revered in Detroit, but it’s been 9 years and counting for the playoffs in Motown.
George no not really i believe nhl tonight there was some speculation…just basic blogs.
I do know Stevie Y like Brian Rust and that was in pgh hockey now several times..
Pens need to unload Karlsson.
would you do this trade George
to Toronto Karlsson @ $ 7.5
Rackell $ 5.0 million 35 goals
$12.5 to Toronto
to Pittsburgh Riley $7.5 million
Robertson $1.85 million
McMahon $1.35 million
$10.70 Million to Pitt
less than $2 million difference in salary, both Karlsson and Riley must waive NMC, but I think this helps both teams.
Toronto needs a top 6 guy that is Rakell 35 goals affordable contract and Karlsson a terrific puck moving defenseman who can play big on the brightest stage.
Pittsburgh gets Riley who had an off year but better defensively that Karlsson, a young sniper in Robertson who next to Sid could get 30 and McMahon a solid physical third line center..
Thoughts
blackngold, I posted in here a few weeks ago in an exchange with 8787 to the effect that Karlsson will likely be in Pittsburgh to the end of his contract the season after this comine one. For one thing, the reasons repeatedly cited as to why Dubas MUST find a way to relieve the Penguins of at least 50% of that contract, are the very reasons why no contending team wants his defensive shortcomings gumming up their strong defensive structure, while Karlsson’s full NMC will prevent any sort of “sweetener-laden” deal with a rebuilding team.
And really, with the likelihood that their own rebuild will only probably be at about the half-way mark by the time his contract ends after the 2026-27 season, what’s the urgent need to divest themselves of his presence? It’s not like they’re returning to the playoffs this coming season – especially if they peddle Rust and/or Rakell. Crosby, who will turn 39 before the start of 2026-27, doesn’t have a whole lot of time left and is likely not keen on spending his twilight years with a rebuilding team.
Right now Dubas has a $13 mil cap cushion and really nothing to spend it on that will make his team significantly better. Not this year, anyway. But by this time next year he’ll have another $27,354,333 with a bunch of UFAs coming off the books. Some among them might be re-signed for another season or two, but do you believe any will have a season this year that will enable them to command the same as or more than their expiring cap hits?
Malkin ($6,100,000) – Hayes ($3,571,000) – Mantha ($2,500,000) – Heinen ($2,250,000), Acciari ($$2,000,000) – Lizotte ($1,850,000) – Dewar ($1,100,000) – Dumba ($3,750,000) – Clifton ($3,333,333) – Shea ($900,000)
As a number of teams have recently discovered – and are continuing to discover – a rebuild – like Rome – can’t be accomplished in a figurative day. Not in a 32-team league which won’t be made any easier if the NHL expands again within the time-frame of Pittsburgh’s rebuild. Nor does putting all hope in getting McKenna make any difference even if they did get him. Chicago got Bedard in 2023 and San Jose took Celebrini last year and both are still some considerable time away from getting back into contention.
I’m not “picking” on Pittsburgh … you asked for my thoughts. Here they are.
At least something was done today on the otherwise inert RFA-signing front, even if it was of a depth type.
Toronto signed AHL goalie Dennis Hildeby to a 3-year $841,667 per deal, at the end of which he is a RFA again.
Much appreciated know that’s what i was asking. Makes sense mostly for sure
The Hart trophy typically goes to a player who has made a meaningful contribution to his team’s success, provided the team is a contender. There are exceptions – Price in 2015 – but otherwise one asks what was meaningful in the context of a mediocre team season.
Thus the chance of Hughes winning the Hart, as silly as the article is in easy September, is diminished further.
I’ve seen many trade proposals where Karlsson goes to Toronto in exchange for Rielly. What those proposing such a trade seem to ignore is the fact Rielly has a no-trde clause. In what universe do they expect him to waive it to go to a bottom feeder team like the Penguins? His home is Toronto. he’s been there for years, no way he agrees to that trade.