Recaps of Tuesday’s preseason action, the Wild re-sign GM Bill Guerin, the Ducks have a new captain, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Matthew Schaefer had a goal and two assists, and Matias Macelli scored twice and collected an assist as the New York Islanders nipped the New York Rangers 4-3. Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped all 10 shots he faced in his first NHL game since a knee injury sidelined him in November 2024. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his first preseason goal with the Rangers, who acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in the offseason.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on shootout goals by Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum. Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist but left after the second period for precautionary reasons with a minor injury. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also had a goal and an assist.

Anders Lee tallied twice in his first game with the Utah Mammoth as he led his new club to a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Lee signed with the Mammoth as a free agent this summer after 14 seasons with the Islanders. Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke had a goal and an assist.

Buffalo Sabres forward Noah Ostlund scored two goals and Owen Power had three assists to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1. However, the Sabres lost defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger to injuries. Samuelsson left in the second period after blocking a shot, and Zellweger suffered a concussion after being hit by Blue Jackets defenseman Carson Soucy in the second period. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will provide updates on both blueliners on Wednesday.

The Boston Bruins downed the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1. Michael Eyssimont scored two goals for the Bruins. Flyers starting goaltender Dan Vladar left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no post-game update on Vladar’s condition.

Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard tallied twice, and prospect defenseman Anton Johansson had four assists in a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. John Gibston stopped 22 shots through two periods. Nick Robertson had a shorthanded goal in his debut with the Penguins.

The Nashville Predators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on an overtime goal by prospect Felix Nilsson. Matthew Wood scored twice in regulation for the Predators. Winger Jeffrey Viel tallied both goals for the Lightning.

San Jose Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg had an assist in his preseason debut as his club dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Stenberg also scored in the fourth round of the shootout. Braedon Bowman scored the winning goal, and Carter Hart made 28 saves for the Golden Knights.

Calgary Flames forward Joel Farabee had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Farabee’s teammates Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin each collected two assists.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Viljami Marjala scored in overtime to give his club a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild signed general manager Bill Guerin to a contract extension. Guerin was named GM of the Year last season after re-signing superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and acquiring defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. The Wild went on to win its first playoff series in 11 years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin is positioning the Wild as a Stanley Cup contender. He still has to sign Hughes to an extension and address his club’s need for an experienced first-line center. If he can address those issues, he could be in the running for GM of the Year again.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks named forward Mikael Granlund as their new captain. He replaced departed defenseman Radko Gudas, who held the role from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

TSN: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said progress is being made in his contract negotiations with center Adam Fantilli. However, he couldn’t say if they were close to a deal.

Fantilli, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He had 24 goals and 59 points last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp increase in player salaries this summer is the reason why Fantilli remains unsigned a week into training camp. He’s rumored to be seeking an average annual value between $13 million and $15 million, while the Blue Jackets are reportedly offering between $12 million and $12.5 million.

The Jackets have $11.7 million in cap space for this season. Once Fantilli is signed, they can exceed the $104 million cap by placing sidelined goaltender Elvis Merzlikins ($5.4 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve to start the regular season. However, they must be cap-compliant when Merzlikins is ready to return, which could force Waddell to make a cost-cutting trade.

THE ATHLETIC: Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer said family reasons were behind Brady Tkachuk’s trade to the Florida Panthers.

“Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and brother got in his kitchen,” Andlauer said, referring to soon-to-be Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk and Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk. “Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It’s a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady – even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some fans have accused Tkachuk’s father and brother of tampering. However, discussions among family members aren’t a violation of the league’s anti-tampering rules.

TSN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league’s Board of Governors discussed expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas. However, they are taking a “wait-and-see” attitude to examine the pros and cons.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly met last week with an ownership group led by billionaire Dan Friedkin. Bettman said the league should know by the end of the year which market the group would prefer. “But we still and they still have a lot of work to do.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict the NHL will expand to Houston by 2030. It’ll take that long because a new arena must be constructed to house an expansion franchise.

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is stepping down as chairman of the league’s Board of Governors after 19 seasons. His replacement is Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals forward Andrew Cristall was fined $2,250.86 for cross-checking Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald during a preseason game on Monday.

CBS SPORTS: Seattle Kraken center Jake O’Brien is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.