NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 10, 2026
Canadian goalies hope to silence critics in the men’s Olympic hockey tournament, Leon Draisaitl is named captain of Team Germany, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper defended his goaltenders against criticism that they are the team’s Achilles heel in the upcoming Men’s Olympic hockey tournament.
Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper (NHL.com)
“We have all the faith in the world in them,” Cooper said. “To me, it’s not a story. I don’t know where it comes from.”
Cooper pointed out that Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings are Stanley Cup winners. He also noted Logan Thompson’s rise as a starting goalie with the Washington Capitals.
Meanwhile, the three netminders said they’re looking forward to silencing the doubters. “Excited to go out there and prove everyone wrong,” Thompson said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington was considered Canada’s weakest link in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, but rose to the occasion in the gold-medal game against the United States with an MVP-worthy performance in a 3-2 overtime victory.
Kuemper is no stranger to winning international gold, backstopping Canada to victory in the 2021 World Championship.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (VIA THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS): Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins give Team USA one of the best goaltending trios in the upcoming men’s hockey tournament.
USA head coach Mike Sullivan has full confidence in his netminders. “Regardless of which guy we put in, we have three elite goaltenders, all of which will give us an opportunity to win,” Sullivan said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck backstopped Team USA to the gold-medal game in last year’s 4 Nations tournament. Swayman was the starting goalie for their gold-medal team in last year’s World Championships, sporting a 7-0 record.
SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl was officially named captain of Team Germany. The alternate captains are Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle. Draisaitl was also Germany’s flag bearer during last Friday’s opening ceremonies.
TSN: Former NHL forward Tomas Tatar was named captain of Team Slovakia. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak and Washington Capitals blueliner Martin Fehervary are the alternate captains.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tatar spent 14 seasons in the NHL from 2010-11 to 2024-25 with the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken.
TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky was on the same line as Tatar and former NHL center Adam Ruzicka during Slovakia’s practice on Monday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky was tournament MVP in the 2022 Winter Olympics, leading all players with seven goals as Slovakia won its first medal in men’s hockey.
Ruzicka spent four seasons in the NHL from 2020-21 to 2023-24 with the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes. Since 2024-25, he’s played for KHL club Moscow Spartak.
NCAA: The Boston College Eagles defeated the Boston University Terriers 6-2 to win the Beanpot tournament for the first time since 2016.
Boston Bruins prospect center James Hagens had two goals and three assists and was named tournament MVP. The Bruins chose Hagens with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
TSN: The preliminary hearing for top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna in an alleged assault case in Pennsylvania has been postponed until March 11.
McKenna, 18, faces charges of misdemeanor simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct following an alleged incident on Jan. 31 in State College, PA.
Canada is so good they won t need a goalie to win a game until they play the USA. Don t see any other team challenging them enough to need world class goaltending!
You might want to wait for some games to be played. After-all, pride cometh before the fall.
As I posted yesterday, Thompson’s stats this year are better than any of the US goalies, none of whom are having standout years. Kuemper’s stats are similar to those of the US goalies, let’s hope Binnington doesn’t have to play.
This Canadian is a lot less confident Sr.
IMO the US vs Canada, if they meet, is a coin toss.
Canada has the edge up front, US has the edge on D and in net. On paper.
Canada usually steps up in that game hence our record in the in the best on best against the US of late. But there really haven’t been that many opportunities either. And the 4 Nations final could have gone either way. Our/my biggest fear this year, Binnington, stood on his head in OT.
If he doesn’t do that, McDavid never gets the chance to win it.
It’s a short tourney, neither the US or Canada is a lock to even get to the final. Both the Swedes and the Finns can defend and have some weapons. Add in a hot tender and a couple bounces, and you’re out and playing for the Bronze.
Can’t wait for it to start. Pumped.
ahhhhhh Sweden !!
The 6 goaltenders playing for Canada and the U.S. have had stellar seasons in their careers to date, and while the records for some this season might not exactly be considered top-drawer, you have to consider the overall structure and shaky performances of the Fs and D in front of them. They certainly can’t carry their teams on their own. Now, however, they have the best collection of 2-way Fs and D either nation could possibly assemble.
Jordan Binnington’s marks of 3.05 gaa and 0.867 save % have to come with an asterisk, because that is a woefully under-performing group in front of him in St. Louis. And while both the L.A. Kings and Washington Capitals are currently among a host of teams fighting to get into playoff positions. Both Darcy Kuemper (2.59gaa 0.900 save %) and Logan Thompson (2.45gaa 0.912 save %) are keeping them close.
For the U.S., considering his past Vezina performances, Connor Hellebuyck’s 3.08gaa and 0.866 save % has to be looked at as an aberration brought about by a team in front of him that can’t seem to get out their own way on most nights so far this season. Oettinger and Swayman, meanwhile, are primary reasons why their teams are performing so well 3/4 into the season.
Forget that Achilles Heel crapola, dreamed up by reporters looking for some sort of “I told you so …”
Agree there is something to that George, but even the data/stats that track the quantity and quality of the chances tenders face show that Binnington is literally the worst starting goalie in the NHL this year. I went with a minimum of 1500 minutes played, so 33 tenders.
I sorted by Goals Saved above Expected, or what an average NHL tender would accomplish. Not a perfect stat by any means but better than what else is available.
He followed by Bob, Lankinen and Markstrom.
At the top – Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Thompson and Shesterkin.
So Canada has a guy who is playing great right now, so I would simply like Canada to start with him.
Binnington has struggled this year, I not sure how he flips that switch overnight. Not like he hasn’t been trying. At least I would hope so.
Helley hasn’t been bad when the lack of defense in front of him is considered. He has let fewer goals in than expected on the season and had a slow start.
The great thing about the Olympics is that Bruin fans like RB and Hab fans can raise a brew and cheer together for the Canadian lads.
I’m annoyed they’re not playing on Olympic sized ice. I feel the rules should probably keep the Tkachuk’s from acting like donkeys. (and Wilson as well)
Goaltending is such a weird thing. In a small mini-tournament like this—who knows.
Oh yeah. Who can forget the 2014 Sochi quarterfinals when Latvia’s Kristers Gudlevskis gave Canada a monumental scare when he stopped 55 of 57 shots against a stacked Canadian team. Canada won 2-1 before going on to win Gold.
Or Andrei Mezin of Belarus in 2002 at Salt Lake City who stopped 44 of 47 in a 4-3 win over heady favourite Sweden.
And, of course, the U.S.’s Jim Craig in 1980 at Lake Placid in the “miracle on ice” against the Soviets, stopping 36 of 39 shots in that 4-3 win.
Mezin was never drafted, nor played in an NHL game, while Gudlevskis, drafted by Tampa in the 5th Round, 124th overall, in 2013, played in 3 NHL games for Tampa – and that spread over 3 seasons.
Jim Craig fared a bit better after being taken by Atlanta in Round 4 – 72nd overall – in 1977, eventually playing in 30 NHL games – 4 with Atlanta, 23 with Boston and 3 with the Minnesota North Stars.
Hey, I see where a certain high-ranking politician in the U.S. thinks China will not only “eat Canada alive” – economically speaking – but also cancel “ice hockey” and the Stanley Cup! Hoo boy.
I hope we can win one more Olympic Gold before that horrible fate befalls us.