The Capitals defeat the Canadiens, the Stars nip the Avalanche, the debate about no-trade/no-movement clauses continues, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch had two goals and an assist (including the winning goal as his club held off the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist for the Capitals as they improved to 4-3-0. Josh Anderson tallied twice, and Lane Hutson had a goal and an assist for the 3-3-1 Canadiens.

Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens playoff hero Jakub Dobes continues to struggle in goal. He played well in the Habs’ season-opening win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has given up 16 goals on 85 shots (.811 save percentage) in his last three games.

Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky briefly left following an awkward collision with Capitals winger Tom Wilson, but returned to finish the game. This was the first time Lane Hutson and his brother, Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson, faced each other in NHL action. Cole collected an assist on Tuch’s first goal.

A shootout goal by Roope Hintz lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Miro Heiskanen and Arttu Hyry scored in regulation for the Stars (3-3-1), and Casey DeSmith posted a 25-save performance. Gabriel Landeskog and Brock Nelson scored, and Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves for the 4-2-1 Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar returned to the lineup after missing the last game due to the birth of his twin sons.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh responded to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s concern that players would be weaponizing their no-trade/no-movement clauses to force trades to specific teams.

Walsh said he hadn’t spoken with Bettman about the issue, pointing out that the four-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement began last month. However, he doesn’t believe that one season or one off-season should set the tone for overreaction or making changes.

“It’s the player’s right when they negotiate a contract,” Walsh said. “That’s one of the things they can put in their agreement. And I think 300-plus players have it, so general managers have no issue negotiating with players and putting it there.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s the point I’ve been making about this issue. General managers sometimes use those clauses to negotiate a lower salary-cap hit. They also have no problem including them as a sweetener. If the player insists on no-trade protection, the general managers haven’t put up much resistance. The GMs can negotiate what those clauses will look like over the term of the contract, but some seem content to hand out full coverage throughout the deal.

To be fair, Walsh was echoing Bettman’s remark that one offseason doesn’t suggest a trend. Only Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, and Connor Hellebuyck have used their no-trade/no-movement clauses to try to steer where they can be traded. Thus far, only Tkachuk was successful.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle reported 320 NHL players have some form of no-trade/no-movement protection. He believes the league and the PA are making fair arguments, with the league concerned about competitive balance, and the PA being protective of the players’ contractual rights.

Mirtle acknowledged some level of player empowerment can be healthy as it puts pressure on teams to remain competitive. However, if a large number of players use no-trade/no-movement clauses to block trades to certain markets, it could create a situation where some teams become little more than feeder systems for more desirable markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That is indeed a legitimate concern. Winnipeg is well-known as a market many stars shun. Hellebuyck mentioned this as being among the reasons why the Jets have difficulty attracting talent.

Mirtle believes the solution will likely need to be negotiated in the next round of collective bargaining in 2030. He suggested a limit on the number of no-trade/no-movement clauses per team per year could be implemented, with the existing ones grandfathered in. However, he doesn’t see the PA standing for a rule that would nullify a player’s trade protection if he requests a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I suggested nullifying no-trade protection once a trade request was made as something a GM could negotiate with a player during their contract negotiations. However, I’ve since spoken with some knowledgeable sources about this issue, who share Mirtle’s view that the PA wouldn’t find it acceptable.

Mirtle wouldn’t be surprised if the league attempts to implement restrictions on no-trade and no-movement clauses. However, this could be a contentious issue that both sides will have to navigate carefully.

Once again, general managers (with the blessing of club owners) find loopholes to exploit in the CBA that the league ends up having to address. In other words, they want Bettman to save them from themselves again.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety fined Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier $5,000 for slashing Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis during Tuesday’s game between the two clubs.

SPORTSNET: Alberta’s new time system could complicate start times for several Edmonton Oilers’ games. The province is adopting a permanent “Alberta Time” standard on Nov. 1, rather than the semi-annual daylight saving time.

For Alberta-based fans, watching Oilers games televised from California or Seattle (but not Vancouver) will start an hour later than usual. It would also mean a couple of 9 PM starts for games in Edmonton.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers will induct former players Simon Gagne and Bob Kelly into their Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony on Feb. 27.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed center Aatu Raty on waivers.