NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2026
The top 20 centers for 2026-27, an update on Cale Makar’s contract talks with the Avalanche, three questions facing the Sharks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights are among the NHL Network’s top 20 centers entering 2026-27.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, and Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens also ranked in the top 20, as did Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above to see the full list and where the aforementioned players were ranked. Let us know what you think about the ranking and who you think they excluded in the comments section below.
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said contract extension talks with Cale Makar are ongoing. He provided no details, but said he’s “pretty confident” the two sides will agree to a new deal before the regular season begins.
“I’m not worried about it,” Sakic said. “I don’t think Cale is worried about it. The dialogue has been great. When there’s an agreement, we’ll be glad to announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar, 27, is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. As one of the league’s elite players, he’s due for a substantial raise. Makar could become the first player in NHL history to earn a $20 million AAV.
NHL.COM: Whether Macklin Celebrini can build on his outstanding sophomore performance in 2025-26 is among three notable questions facing the San Jose Sharks this season.
Celebrini, 20, enjoyed an amazing breakout campaign, setting the Sharks’ single-season points record (115) and finishing fourth among league scorers. He led his rebuilding club to within four points of a playoff berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another strong effort by Celebrini could clinch the Sharks’ first postseason berth since 2018-19. Meanwhile, there’s talk that he’s “all but certain” to be named their new captain.
Whether their young core can take another step forward and the impact of offseason additions Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba to the defense corps are the other big questions facing the Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are a better team on paper entering this season than they were a year ago. Celebrini is their foundation player, but they’ll also need improvement from youngsters Will Smith, Michael Misa, Collin Graf, Igor Chernyshov, and Sam Dickinson if they’re to end their seven-year playoff drought.
Nurse and Trouba bring experience, physicality, and leadership to the Sharks’ blueline. Nurse in particular should benefit from playing under a less harsh spotlight than what he experienced in Edmonton over the past three seasons.
DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell listed five players that he believes will thrive with their new teams this season.
They include Oliver Bjorkstrand of the New York Rangers, Andrei Kuzmenko of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Kyrou of the Washington Capitals, JJ Peterka of the Boston Bruins, and Mackie Samoskevich of the Seattle Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peterka and Samoskevich are two young players worth watching closely this season.
Peterka was a bust in his only season with the Utah Mammoth, but he could regain his scoring form playing for Bruins coach Marco Sturm. Samoskevich could shine with more playing time on the struggling Kraken than what he received on a deeper Florida Panthers roster.
BOSTON HERALD: Lukas Reichel hopes to finally establish himself as a full-time NHL forward with the Bruins. The 24-year-old winger was chosen 17th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Reichel struggled to stick with the Blackhawks over four seasons. Traded to the Vancouver Canucks last season, he played only 14 games with them before being shipped to the Bruins at the March trade deadline.
If Robert Thomas wasn’t already motivated because of his running buddy Kyrou being traded, constantly hearing his name in trade rumors, potentially not being named captain this snub of not being a top 20 center should do the trick. As is always the case staying healthy is the key but a full season with Holloway and Snuggerud should see his numbers soar.
I am always puzzled about the comments made
about Nurse. He played lots of minutes in Edmonton
but he is no better than a sixth defenceman. Why would a move to San Jose change that reality?
Alan: Because sometimes a change of teams can do a player good. Nurse was under a harsh spotlight in Edmonton, and while he did struggle at times, he was also undeservedly made the scapegoat for the Oilers’ losses. Maybe the move to a younger team in a quieter hockey market can be just what he needs.
I don’t believe it was undeserved. There are too
many accounts of his screw ups to say that he
was not at fault.
I do agree though a fresh start could do him some good. San Jose was very kind to take on
his 9.25 million without retention or sweetners.
Nurse and Kesselring, 2 Oiler draft picks should be paired in San Jose and it would be poetic jusice for both to have a good year.
Nurse was a scapegoat in Edmonton and when paired with Murphy he played very well and Kesselring’s style should match also.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a change of scenery worked out, hello Rod Langway, John LeClair just to name two of many Habs.
Every team kicks themselves over players they traded away who went on to heights elsewhere.
Michael Kesselring was traded by Holland
because Uncle Kenny did not know what Michael
was capable of. There was no kicking oneself.
Just a bad trade.
Nurse and Kesselring together. Delightful!
Nurse a scapegoat? I am sorry I don’t see it that way.
9.25 million CAP and he did not live up to his salary.