NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2026
Recapping Monday’s games, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will retire after this season, the three stars of the week are revealed, the NHLPA responds to league commissioner Gary Bettman’s comments about no-trade and no-movement clauses, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S ACTION
NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle scored two goals and added an assist to lead his club to a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Michael Amadio had a goal and an assist, and Drake Batherson scored on a breakaway for the 2-0-0 Senators. James Hagens replied for the Bruins (2-2-0) as they dropped their second straight game.
Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark left this game after the second period for precautionary reasons after suffering what appears to be an undisclosed minor injury. Ullmark will be reevaluated on Tuesday.
Before the game, the Senators announced that defenseman Jake Sanderson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger made 13 saves to shut out the San Jose Sharks 5-0. Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen scored their first goals of the season, and team captain Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist as the Stars picked up their first win of the season (1-2-0). Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini missed this game after suffering a lower-body injury during warmups and will be reevaluated on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks (2-1-0) are a very different team without Celebrini. They cannot afford to have their two-way superstar sidelined for long.
The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1, leaving the latter winless in their first four games (0-2-2). Ilya Mikheyev and Pontus Holmberg each had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Kucherov collected two assists for the 2-1-0 Lightning. Tyson Foerster replied for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov has 1,128 career regular-season points, leaving him 10 away from breaking Steven Stamkos’ franchise record of 1,137.
Third-period goals by Alex Iafallo, Adam Lowry, and Cole Perfetti powered the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Backup goaltender Clay Stevenson made 30 saves for the 2-0-1 Jets. Declan Carlile and Ben Kindel each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (2-1-0).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are off to a better-than-expected start without starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who remains suspended without pay by the club for not reporting to training camp last month. If they keep exceeding expectations, it’ll make it easier for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to remain patient in his search for a suitable trade offer for Hellebuyck.
HEADLINES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Long-time Washington Capitals superstar winger Alex Ovechkin announced that he intends to retire at the end of this season.
In a statement, the 41-year-old Capitals captain said he and his family decided this summer that this season would be his last in the NHL. “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said.
Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929. He is 11 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most combined goals (regular season and playoffs) in league history.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer in NHL history and the greatest player in Capitals history, taking that franchise to its greatest heights and turning it into one of the league’s most popular teams. However, critics believe his legacy has been tainted by his affiliation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
NHL.COM: New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, and Vancouver Canucks center Paul Cotter are the league’s three stars for the week ending Oct. 4.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports NHL Players’ Association assistant executive director Ron Hainsey blasted NHL commissioner Gary Bettman over his recent remarks regarding no-trade and no-movement clauses.
In a recent interview, Bettman said that some players were using no-trade and no-movement clauses to force trades to specific teams, suggesting that the league might discuss changes to those clauses with the PA if it became a trend.
Hainsey said the PA believes the no-trade, no-movement clauses are being used as originally intended. “It’s a player’s right to negotiate salary, salary structure, term, as well as a no-move or no-trade with their club if they’re able to do so and bargain in good faith,” Hainsey said. “It’s pretty simple if you’ve negotiated a no-trade. Whether it’s 10 teams or 15 or 32, the club isn’t able to trade you to those teams without your consent.”
“The beginning of this conversation about no-move and no-trade clauses, we do take as an attack on players’ CBA-negotiated rights,” Hainsey said. “And we will treat it as such.”
Player agent J.P. Barry was among several player agents LeBrun spoke with who rejected Bettman’s suggestion about possible changes to those clauses.
“Players give up significant compensation demands to obtain a no-trade clause,” Barry said. “They are ‘purchased’ by the player. If they’re going to try to eliminate no-trade clauses, then we should also discuss elimination of the buyout and the hard cap at the same time.”
Barry pointed out how much the players have given up in previous collective bargaining. “We have no performance bonuses outside of rookie contracts, no player or club options, no renegotiation clauses, and the maximum length of contracts has been ratcheted down to six or seven years.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I knew there would be pushback from the PA but I wasn’t expecting it this quickly.
This topic began this summer because Brady Tkachuk forced a trade from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin requested a trade, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is staging a holdout to try and force the Winnipeg Jets to trade him.
To be fair to Bettman, he said that one summer of such activity doesn’t constitute a trend. He also said that if it became a trend, the league might have to discuss it with the PA in the next round of collective bargaining.
Nevertheless, Bettman’s comments were considered a shot across the bow to the NHLPA, prompting it to return fire.
This could be a tempest in a teapot if other players do not emulate Tkachuk, Larkin and Hellebuyck. Considering the blowback that Larkin’s trade request has generated from Detroit fans and media, and Hellebuyck’s ongoing suspension without pay for not reporting to training camp, it could discourage other players from considering that tactic.
NHL general managers don’t have to wait for the next round of CBA talks to address this issue. In any current or future contract negotiations with players who want no-trade/no-movement clauses, they can simply negotiate what those clauses will look like. It’s what they currently do, as a quick look at the terms of Larkin’s no-trade clause and Hellebuyck’s no-movement clause on PuckPedia can attest.
If a GM doesn’t want a player on a full NTC or NMC to request a trade, he can negotiate that the NTC/NMC be voided or that the player must submit an agreed-upon number of preferred trade destinations.
As I’ve said before, this isn’t a hill the NHL wants to die on in the next round of collective bargaining. I can’t see doing anything that would jeopardize the stunning growth of hockey-related revenue over something that can already be addressed within the current CBA.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice downplayed speculation that team captain Aleksander Barkov could be sidelined 10-to-12 weeks with a left-knee injury. “Do not bet your hard-earned money on that,” Maurice said, indicating that they’ll have “a more solid answer” on Tuesday.
TSN: The Calgary Flames placed forward Connor Zary and defenseman Brayden Pachal on waivers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zary’s appearance on the waiver wire raised eyebrows given his status as a first-round draft pick by the Flames. Injuries have hampered his once-promising career, but some observers wonder if another club (like the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks) might be tempted to claim the 25-year-old forward.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram has returned to the club after returning to Chicago over the weekend to be with his wife as she gave birth to twin girls.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Blackhawks, forward Andrew Mangiapane is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (shoulder) is expected to make his season debut on Friday.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg is expected to miss a week with an undisclosed injury.
Connor Zary being a 1st round draft pick of the flubs
has caused a massive onslaught of jealousy by the Oilers. We don’t have 1st round draft picks. Either
they go to ST.LOUIS or get traded to Tampa Bay
or leave as future considerations.
Connor and Drai remain but should be leaving soon.
They just have to reclaim their PHONES from Babs.
I really don’t get what you are saying. The Oilers are jealous because a Flames 2020 1st round pick is put on waivers? That makes zero cense. One of the Flames issues is their drafting in the first round.
Nobody is attacking players’ ability to negotiate a ntc or nmc. Hainsey sidestepped the issue. The real issue is players with the clause demanding a trade. Should the teams start demanding a no trade demand clause?
Ed: The teams can do what they’ve always been able to do: negotiate the terms of the NTC and NMC. If they have concerns about a player requesting a trade, they can either negotiate for his NTC/NMC to be voided if he does, or for him to submit a mutually-agreed upon list of trade destinations.
how about this: if a player has a NTC trade clause, it works both ways. Not only the team can’t trade him, but he can’t request a trade. same with NMC clauses
it really will make the player consider options in their next contract
mikeP: Sure, the team can seek to include that stipulation in the terms of the NTC or NMC during contract negotiations. Some players might not have an issue with it, others might refuse.
Holding the Bruins to 19 shots on goal without the presence of their top D pairing of Sanderson and Zub is an indication that the overall team solid D of last season hasn’t diminished – yet – despite those two being out.
Rookie Carter Yakemchuk (14:56 of ice time) and veteran AHLer Cameron Crotty (10.56) put in solid nights, while Spence (24.49), Chabot (24:13), Kleven (23.21) and Matinpalo (20.15) carried the load.
I was born in the Civic so I have some knowledge
of Ottawa. When will the Kanata Senators move
into their new digs in Tunneys Pasture? Kanata
was too far away for most silly servants to find.
Now the new arena will be in the center of town.
Ottawans will be able to find it. Take that wonderful
LRT you have to the game. OC transpo will promise
the train won’t fall off the rails.Ah my memories
of OC transpo being stuck on the#1 or #7 down
Bank.
Re Ullmark, after tweaking something in that late 2nd-period collision with Peterka, and the team up 4-0, it was decided to replace him with Ersson for the 3rd period …but he was on the bench for the entire 3rd and could have returned had something gone wrong with Ersson.
The news on Sanderson is also encouraging as Green confirmed the “lower-body “ issue is not as bad as it first seemed. Sanderson had pulled himself from the Toronto game simply because he didn’t want to irritate something he had been dealing with since the opening of camp. He won’t play tonight in the back-to-back in Detroit.
He could be back as early as Thursday’s home opener against the Flyers.
Unless the flames and the rest of the league know something we dont about Zary, he will be claimed by someone.
Ovie has it right, it is time for him. While still potting goals unlike Sid, albeit a different style of player, ovie’s overall game has been eroding noticeably to me. (Darn you father time).
The Jets were one season removed from a great regular season. I am not surprised by the start. I definately see them staying in the mix as a playoff contender.
I dont think Bettman thought his comment was going to rile the PA, I thought it was just to appease the fans that if the nhl feels it is a problem they will have a discussion. While this summer it was all the talk, it really has been 3 different situations and I dont forsee it being a new trend. Also with decreasing max contract length that too helps negate the impacts somewhat.
Love Ovey as a player the guy has got the gift.
His association with Putin I just don’t get. I’m hoping the bs power play improves.when Chuck comes back. But it’s obvious they need more. How bout Edvinsson from Detroit.
Who’s going to be the first GM to say, “I won’t give out a full NMC or NTC”?….I mean, this will take care of itself…. right now the GM’s are to blame…Doug Armstrong gave out No Trades like they are candy. Unless your name is McDavid, Kutcherov, McKinnon, Makar, Hughes (or a few others)…Sorry, you dont a full no trade.
Starsfan: That’s fine, they don’t have to. However, the trade-off if they’re trying to re-sign a key player is paying them a higher salary. General manager (like Doug Armstrong) sometimes handed out no-trade protection in order to get the player to agree to a lesser cap hit. He’s not the only one to do so. Check out the no-trade protection for Maple Leafs’ Max Domi, Brandon Duhaime, and Dakota Joshua. They each got full or partial NTCs as enticement for accepting a lower cap hit. Teams with limited cap space will offer NTCs/NMCs to entice a player to accept less money. Sometimes, the player’s camp will ask for it if the team wants him to accept less money.
If you’re a McDavid, Kutcherov, McKinnon, Makar, Hughes the chances of you being dealt would be slim to none anyway – unless you demanded it..
Hainsey made a strawman statement with regard to Bettman’s remarks.
Bettman’s remark was about player’s using NMC/NTC differently than intended and would need tweaking if it continues .
NHLPA response was that NMC/NTC was a hard fought benefit with a list of reasons why it was needed.
The issue isn’t to keeping or removing NMC/NTC from the CBA, it’s about enforcing it, it’s about ensuring that it isn’t weaponized.
Lyle, your fallback is that it’s individual negotiation that decides the issue which is true but means that individual GMs, agents and players tweak their own contracts.
Unfortunately the CBA doesn’t allow any side agreements.