NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2025
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is sidelined for the season, Marc-Andre Fleury returns to the Penguins for a special weekend, an update on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov underwent surgery to repair injuries to ligaments in his right knee suffered during practice on Thursday. He is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Barkov’s absence leaves a big hole in their roster. “He is such an important piece in that locker room,” Maurice said. “What we’ll get to know now is some of the other leaders in the room.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were already dealing with winger Matthew Tkachuk recovering from offseason surgeries, but they knew that he would return by January. Barkov’s absence is a much bigger blow to their hopes for a Stanley Cup “three-peat.”
Barkov is one of the key reasons why the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final three straight times, winning the Cup twice in a row since 2024. They will miss his leadership and elite two-way play.
Depending on Barkov’s recovery, it’s unlikely that he will return later in the regular season. The earliest he could be back is for the first round of the 2025 playoffs, and even that’s not a certainty.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Marc-Andre Fleury joined the Penguins’ practice on Friday as part of a special weekend for the 40-year-old goaltender.
Fleury began his NHL career with the Penguins, spending 13 of his 21 seasons in Pittsburgh. He retired at the end of last season, but signed a tryout contract to practice with the Penguins on Friday and play one period of Saturday’s preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It was a special reunion for Fleury with his former teammates Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust. It felt like old times as he good-naturedly chirped his teammates and played some pranks on them, including putting decals of his jersey number (29) on their vehicles.
Fleury also clarified that he wants it to be known that he’s retiring as a member of the Minnesota Wild, with whom he spent his last four NHL seasons. He’s grateful to finish in Pittsburgh, where everything started for the future Hall of Famer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The usually buttoned-down Crosby couldn’t hide his joy over having his old teammate back for a final practice. Wearing his throwback yellow pads, Fleury made several saves that drew cheers from the fans in attendance, including a windmill save on a Crosby one-timer.
Speaking of the Penguins, goalie Joel Blomqvist will be sidelined for four weeks with a lower-body injury.
TSN: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to be ready for their season opener on Oct. 9. Vasilevskiy has been absent since Sept. 19 with an undisclosed injury.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Artemi Panarin returned to practice with his teammates on Friday. He’d spent the past week nursing a lower-body injury.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres winger Alex Tuch will be in the lineup when they face the Detroit Red Wings in preseason play on Saturday. He missed their first three preseason contests with an undisclosed injury.
Sabres starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) could return to play their final two preseason games.
TORONTO STAR: The Maple Leafs signed James Reimer to a professional tryout offer. The 37-year-old goaltender began his NHL career with the Leafs in 2010-11, becoming a fan favorite during his six seasons with the franchise.
The Leafs have brought back Reimer as insurance with Joseph Woll on a leave of absence for personal reasons and Dennis Hildeby an unproven rookie.
TSN: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, defenseman Marshall Rifai requires wrist surgery after suffering an injury during Thursday’s preseason win over the Montreal Canadiens.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander is listed as week-to-week with a sprained ankle.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher suffered a broken bone in his hand and will be sidelined for four weeks.
DAILY FACEOFF: Goaltender Ivan Fedotov, forward Liam Foudy, and defenseman Kevin Connauton are the notable players placed on waivers on Friday.
So much for the speculated “temptation” by certain teams to claim Connor Ingram off waivers. He cleared yesterday. Foudy might be claimed.
Ingram will be even more tradable now that someone can safely stash him in the AHL. As veteran with a good track record, he will gain a bit of attention. His cap hit will be only $800K towards the cap! (while in the AHL)
It shouldn’t take long to find out.
That’s a bummer about barkov, really enjoy watching him play as a hockey fan. Agree with Lyle. Most people think of tkachuk as the man that is everything for Florida but to me it’s barkov as well. Tkachuk is great but barkov is “the man”!
FLA will likely still be one of the top teams in the East, even with their top 2 players out. They’re deep and have the right mentality to win.
They still have enough centers to cover for Barkov’s loss, but they probably have to make a depth move.
That move may have to be able to be traded or demoted when Matty or Barkov return.
I dont have any love for the Panthers, but have all the respect for Barkov. Hopefully when he returns he is able to get back to the same level.
And with Barkov out, it just gives more ice time and offensive role to like Lundell.
In response to Ingram rumors in Edmonton Pickard pitches a shutout..of course one had nothing to do with the other …but it was funny anyway to see even it was against a mainly AHL roster.
Heard the greater Miami gasp from up here
Big loss
Question re new Cap/LTIR rules; and out for the season; then playing in playoffs. Am I correct in understanding then, that Zito can’t gain any LTIR Cap relief for Barkov (having him on LTIR all year and returning for playoffs can’t happen); OR is the LTIR Cap relief just the $3.8 M (League average)?
Oh BTW:
“Flower Flower Flower”
He can say he’s retiring as a Wild; but in our hearts he’s retiring as a Penguin!
The Atlantic Division suddenly appears more competitive top to bottom than it has in years. Fla.TB have injury issues that are game changing.Toronto has to make up Marners 90 points and has usually has goaltending issues.Ottawa and Montreal look closer to the big three.Detroit is close. Just Buffalo and Boston look out of the impending playoff picture.
I wouldn’t be too quick to count Buffalo out if they avoid a repeat of that early-season 14-game winless streak, and reduce their goals against.
On Dec 23, following a 14-game winless streak, they had a 12-19-3 28pts record. with 104gf and 120ga, and a lot of their losses in that streak were by 1 goal.
The rest of the way they went 24 20 3 51pts with 165gf and 169ga, and overall their 269 goals scored was exceeded only by Columbus (273), Washington (288) and Tampa (294) in the East.
For a Swede, Finland is the enemy when it comes to hockey, but an enemy you love to hate. With that being said I really feel for the Finnish team losing Barkov for the Olympics
They finally got off their duffs in Anaheim – McTavish $42,000,000 over 6 years – $7 mil per cap hit.
That drops the Ducks to second in terms of cap reserve, but still with a decent chunk of cash at $13,538,811 and 23 signed, although that includes 3 goalies along with 13F and 7D. Chicago now has the most cap at $16,962,024 with 24 signed (13F 8D and also 3G but with Brossoit out long-term and sure to go on LTIR at some point).
As it’s doubtful the Ducks carry 3 into the season, look for one to be moved somehow – Dostal $6.5 mil per and the acknowledged # 1) – Mrazek $4.25 mil per – Husso ($2.2 mil per).