NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 22, 2026
Notable questions facing the Penguins, the latest on a potential expansion team, plus updates on Senators center Tim Stutzle, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The play of veterans Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson is among the notable questions facing the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).
Malkin, 40, had 61 points in 56 games last season while the 36-year-old Karlsson had 66 points in 75 contests. Both are entering the final seasons of their contracts, and Malkin may be heading toward retirement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin and Karlsson helped the rebuilding Penguins exceed expectations by qualifying for the playoffs last season for the first time in three years. However, any significant decline in their performances could cripple their postseason hopes.
The Penguins must also determine who will be their starting goaltender. Arturs Silovs is the likely candidate, with Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist to jockey for the backup role.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltending will also be a key factor for the Penguins this season. Consistency was an issue for former starter Tristan Jarry, who was traded to the Edmonton Oilers last season for Stuart Skinner, who also had issues with steadiness between the pipes.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Alter interviewed NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who said a 33rd NHL franchise could begin play as early as 2029-30.
Two Texas cities, Houston and Austin, have emerged as the top two destinations for the next expansion team. Daly said Houston was the priority market, with Austin as an alternative.
According to Daly, the league has agreed to a “framework of a transaction” with a potential ownership group in Houston. “We hope to have definitive agreements in place that would commit the franchise as early as December of this year,” Daly said. “And we expect that they’ll be able to play as early as the 2029-30 season, closing the transaction early 2029.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve been saying for months that a new NHL team would be in place by the end of this decade. Daly didn’t mention Atlanta, which has also been rumored as a destination for another expansion club, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t interest in making it happen, provided suitable deep-pocketed ownership can be found, and a suitable NHL arena is constructed.
Daly also discussed expansion into Canada, noting that the interest in owning and operating a franchise in Canada is “less vibrant” than it is for some markets in the United States. He addressed Quebec City as a destination, saying there wasn’t a potential ownership group willing to buy a franchise and operate there.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Alter, Daly’s comments suggest the depth of potential expansion markets in the United States and the lack of serious Canadian ownership interest explains why an eighth franchise in Canada is unlikely for the foreseeable future.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators center Tim Stutzle believes he and his teammates must turn the page after long-time teammate and captain Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in June.
Stutzle said there was nothing he or his teammates could do about Tkachuk’s decision. He praised his former captain as a great player and teammate, saying they will miss him.
“We’re focused on what we have ahead of us and the team we have right now,” Stutzle said, adding that he wished Tkachuk “all the best.” He’s also confident that there is sufficient leadership on the current roster to fill the role of team captain.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stutzle will play a substantial role in how the Senators adapt to Tkachuk’s departure. The 25-year-old playmaking center has been their leading scorer in three of the past four seasons. They will also be looking to him for leadership.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: In a recent interview with the German magazine Eishockey News, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider said that he was caught off guard by team captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request earlier this summer.
“Everyone certainly has their reasons for making certain decisions. Whether I or we approve of it is not for us to answer,” Seider said. However, he added that he felt the Red Wings were a better club with Larkin on the roster.
Seider also said that he’s had enough of the Red Wings “falling asleep in the home stretch” and missing the Stanley Cup playoffs. “It’s the month of March,” he said. “We always lose some momentum after the trade deadline. When you’re caught in that kind of downward spiral, it’s hard to get out.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seider also said it was important for the Red Wings to put the offseason noise behind them and get off to a strong start to this season. Whether they can pull that off remains to be seen.
The Red Wings must do something to address their trend of late-season collapses. Otherwise, Seider could reach a point when he starts seeking an exit strategy before his contract expires in 2031.
DAILY FACEOFF: Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara recreated his hardest shot record of 108.8 MPH during his farewell event in Slovakia on Friday. The 49-year-old originally hit that mark during the skills competition at the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend.
The farewell event also featured a charity game involving active players such as Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, former NHLers Patrice Bergeron and Raymond Bourque, and fellow Slovaks Jaromir Jagr and Marian Hossa.
THE MERCURY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks re-signed their affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder for the 2026-27 season.
When Larkin was not in the line-up, Detroit usually lost. His absence was felt more than any other Wing.
It will not be a surprise if Larkin is gone that Detroit will be in the bottom of the league.
You’re certainly right there, Johnny Z – here’s the actual figures
All-Time Record (Since 2015–16)
With Larkin: 341–365–102 record across 808 games (.485 points percentage)
Without Larkin: 19–31–7 record across 57 games (.395 points percentage)
2025–26 Season: Detroit went 38–27–9 with Larkin in the lineup, compared to 3–4–1 when he was absent.
2023–24 Season: His multi-game absence due to a lower-body injury exposed a steep drop-off, during a stretch where the Red Wings went just 4–10–0 without him.
Looks like no difference to me, team wise, other than he’s definitely not an anchor pulling the team further down. Just not good enough with him or without him.
The NHL isn’t serious about Canada because if they wanted $3 billion they’d put another team in the Golden Horseshoe. 34 teams is a watered down league to say the least.
Excited about the bruins season although They need more to make the playoffs here’s hoping Sweeney does that. Man I don’t know how the rest you feel but I do not want another team in the nhl. Regardless of What I want or not it’s going to happen but I think teams have to give up too much talent to help out and there’s enough teams already.
John Apple,they are in the toughest division in hockey. If Swayman is lights out they might steal a WC slot in the playoffs. This is the year that they should rebuild,retool with all the young prospects in their system. What good does it make to add aging veterans that are going to take playing time away from the younger players.They are not close to the top teams in the east!
Sr
Who said bruins are adding aging veterans? They have been actually doing the opposite not grabbing any at in the ufa period. At least so far
They currently have too many signed players on nhl contracts Something has to give before season starts
I appreciate your pt of view Sr makes sense but I don’t share your view They still need a #1 centre not every player can just jump in like Bobby Orr or Patrice and be a star Hagens still has learning curve to follow.
Recently there was news out of Columbus that, while Werenski reiterated that he would prefer to remain a BlueJacket, it is contingent upon the team becoming a contender if he is to stay in central Ohio beyond the 2027-28 season. And now the first speculation about the possibility of Seider getting antsy if Detroit doesn’t soon wake up from its long snooze.
In a way it’s not surprising since the spectre of players wanting out of town has been fairly steady going back several years – either through direct demands to be dealt, or implying as much by informing their GM they would not re-sign pending RFA negotiations. Or, by pulling a Lindros and refusing to sign with the drafting team, with one even pulling the same arrogant act twice – and the returns have been decidedly mixed in terms of compensation:
Jonathan Drouin, unhappy with the way he was being deployed by Tampa, asked to be dealt and ultimately he and a 2018 6th round pick wound up with the Habs in exchange for D Mikhail Sergachev and a 2018 conditional 2nd round pick. Tampa used that pick to select F Gabriel Fortier – who has played 11 NHL games over 8 seasons;
Adam Fox was drafted by Calgary but would not sign or report, so the Flames dealt his rights, along with Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland, to Carolina for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. Fox then haughtily informed THEM that he only wanted to play for the NYR, forcing Carolina to deal his rights again, receiving a 2019 2nd round pick and a conditional 2020 3rd round pick which later turned into a 2nd rounder. The 2019 pick was later dealt to Ottawa for another pick which turned out to be C Jamieson Rees, and with the 2020 pick Carolina chose Noel Gunler;
For Matthew Tkachuk and a 4th round pick, Calgary received Florida forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Cole Schwindt. D MacKenzie Weegar and a lottery-protected 1st round pick (32nd) which they used to select C Cullen Potter of Arizona State. Schwindt was later claimed by Vegas off waivers and a year later was back with Florida after being claimed off waivers from Vegas! Weegar, then in his 4th year with Calgary, accepted a trade to Utah in exchange for D Olli Maata, Jonathan Castagna and 3 2nd-rounders in 2026;
For Cutter Gauthier (drafted but would not sign or report), Philadelphia dealt his rights to Anaheim for D Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 2nd round pick, which the Flyers used to select LW Jack Murtagh;
For Quinn Hughes, Vancouver received C Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, D Zeev Buium, and a 2026 1st Round Pick (the 24th) which they used to select winger Adam Novotny;
For Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa received from Florida this year’s 5th and 25th picks, a conditional 1st round pick in 2029 and a 2nd round pick in 2027, turning the 5th into Eklund from San Jose;
For Darnell Nurse, Edmonton received defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp, plus cleared all of Nurse’s $9.5 mil cap hit;
For Nicholas Robertson, Toronto received a 2028 4th Round pick.
For Pierre-Luc Dubois, Winnipeg received from Los Angeles Fs Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a 2nd round pick in 2024. which they used to select D Alfons Freij. Kupari later signed with a Swiss League team, although the Jets still hold his rights;
For Larkin of Detroit and Wright of Seattle, who have both asked to be dealt – stay tuned.
Here’s hoping Larkin expands his list to include Boston.
Hoo boy, I just posted the above and the Rumors thread popped in, where – again – the possibility of McDavid moving on has reared its ugly head. And while he could just wait until he’s a UFA and see where that takes him, he could also inform management – a la Brady Tkachuk – sometime this coming season that he would not be signing a new deal in Edmonton when his current deal expires in 2028.
Again, stay tuned folks.
Wonder how itchy Hossa is today. Lol
Heh. Well, at least he did win a cup along the way.
I’d like to clarify something I said yesterday about globalization of the game and how expansion isn’t diluting the quality.
a) First round picks include more international, meaning not from Canada picks with regularity now.
b) Players are coming from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Latvia, Germany, Austria and the USA of course.
c) Players are bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled which can be explained by coaching, nutrition, equipment but cannot turn a blind eye to the fact these advances are happening globally and increasing the quantity of top talent.
d) As in all organizations there are always a few leaders of the pack, any hockey team we’ve played on had a few who were the stars and the rest kept up. As the level of play increased many of those stars became the guys keeping up, Why?, because there was a larger quantity of really good players so they were relegated.
e) The original six wasn’t a league full of stars, there was a total of 120 players, 20 of hem were scrubs. From the 100 that were left, each team had 4-5 top tier players, meaning 24-30 in total.
With all the expansion and “dilution” there are now around 160 top tier players in a league of 730 players.
In other words there is no shortage of talent and expansion is matching the supply of quality players and emerging markets will keep it going.
f) The large stages of Olympics, World Cup which at a point in time were dominated by Canada, no longer are. We see how the Russians, Swedes, Finns, Czechs, Slovaks, Americans and Swiss are pretty much on an equal footing.
g) It isn’t that Canada isn’t producing excellent hockey players as always, it’s just that many other countries are too and they are on full display in the NHL.
And those other countries soon to be joined by Norway where the sport is advancing by leaps and bounds in recent years.
Says the guy cheering for a team that’s been looking for a 2nd line center and/or top line forward since the rebuilt began.
How about the goalies? Ok with that tandem or 3 goalies you’re carrying? These are directly caused by having a diluted talent pool, you know, the guys you can win with, not guys that look like they can until you find they really can’t be what you needed them to be, like Dach for example.
It’s seems like easy math to me…less teams means the ability to have more skilled players up and down the line up who aren’t as easily replaceable as many are now.
The NHL is getting over their skis by adding a 34th team. There’s a serious lack of top line center and starting goaltenders.
They’d be better off hitting the pause button on expansion and reinvesting in player development. Unfortunately that does not make the league money.
More teams = worse product on the ice.
PajaDa, it’s just 1 team (in Texas) being looked at for now, bringing the total to 33 – not 34.
Re Stutzle, I think this is he season where he could crack the 100 point barrier with the speedier and skilled Eklund on his LW and either Cozens or Batherson on the right side.
For Eklund, playing regularly with a skilled C and equally as fast Stutzle, and a sniper like Cozens or Batherson, should also see an increase in his production which, over 252gp with San Jose, saw 82-game averages of 16g 38a 54 pts. In goals, that’s well below Tkachuk’s 572gp 82-game average of 31, but matches his assist average of 36, for a 13-point overall difference.
I could therefore see his goal production increasing to close to 30, especially if he sees substantial pp time.
I am for no more expansion. I feel like others; too many teams already to follow and conditions on giving those teams players from your roster.
Further complicated by those players on your team having movement protection clauses, meaning the only ones who could be sacrificed without their OK are your non-protected ones.
Every year, it seems, there are players with a NMC that a team would dearly love to see depart … but under expansion rules, they MUST protect them in an expansion draft.