The Jets defeat the Devils as Connor Hellebuyck returns to Winnipeg, proposed candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets doubled up the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in an emotional win as former Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck returned to Winnipeg for the first time since his trade to New Jersey last month.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images)

The Devils relegated Hellebuyck to backup duty for this game. Former Devils Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws played prominent roles for the Jets, with Mercer scoring twice (including the winning goal) while Daws made 19 saves for the win. Kyle Connor also tallied twice for the Jets, who’ve won four straight games to improve to 8-8-3. Jesper Bratt and Cody Glass replied for the Devils (13-6-0) as their five-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets fans booed and jeered Hellebuyck during pregame warm-ups. Hanging over this game were his statements earlier in the day about why he wasn’t playing and the reasons behind his trade to the Devils.

Hellebuyck reiterated that it was management’s decision to sit him for analytical reasons. He mentioned several reasons why he felt a trade was best for himself and his family, including online death threats that his family received after he backstopped Team USA over Canada in the Olympic gold medal game last February.

Pressed for details about those threats, Hellebuyck declined to elaborate, saying it was more than that that led to his decision, and he asked that his and his family’s privacy be respected. He also said he didn’t want to ruin his relationship with the city of Winnipeg, adding that he loved his time there.

Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reported the Jets’ security contacted Winnipeg police about those threats, but no arrests were made. Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli cited multiple sources claiming Hellebucyk didn’t notify the Jets or Winnipeg police of any fan behavior beyond online death threats, nor did he mention additional activity until late August with training camp approaching.

Hellebucyk also mentioned some uncertainty in his career factored into his decision, but no one followed up on that remark. Maybe he’s concerned about the direction of the Jets after they missed the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. Perhaps he felt he was running out of time to win the Stanley Cup because he’s approaching his mid-thirties.

Speaking of the Jets, defenseman Josh Morrissey returned to action after being sidelined since early October with a wrist injury.

Washington Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson scored his first NHL overtime goal to give his team a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Hutson also assisted on Pierre-Luc Dubois’ tying goal, setting the stage for his overtime heroics as the Capitals improved to 10-6-0. Thomas Chabot collected two assists for the Senators (11-6-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators forward Nick Cousins left the game late in the third period after a big hit by Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun. He wasn’t sent to the hospital but was reportedly not doing well.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was asked before the game about the Court of Arbitration for Sports’ decision to allow Russia back into international tournaments.

“I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but I’m pretty sure if you ask the fans, the fans want to see the best players out there,” Ovechkin said. However, he acknowledged that it’s not up to the players.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress organized a demonstration outside the Canadian Tire Centre to protest Ovechkin’s support for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The Colorado Avalanche tallied three third-period goals to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored twice (including the winning goal) and Devon Toews had a goal and an assist. Darren Raddysh, Jack Roslovic, and Ethan Cowan each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (8-10-2) as they’ve dropped four straight games. The Avalanche (11-6-2) collected their second straight win.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Maple Leafs announced forward Colton Sissons is week-to-week and defenseman Morgan Rielly is day-to-day with lower-body injuries. Kirill Marchenko (lower body) remains week-to-week.

A power-play goal by Kirill Kaprizov lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Bobby Brink opened the scoring, and Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves for the 13-3-4 Wild, who hold first place in the Central Division with 30 points. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki tied the game late in the third period, and Jacob Fowler stopped 22 shots for Montreal (11-3-4) as their points streak reached 11 games (8-0-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens celebrated former goalie Carey Price’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame by including him in their Ring of Honour in a pregame ceremony. Price was moved by the event, which included a four-minute standing ovation.

Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Sam Bennett scored twice, and Jacob Markstrom kicked out 37 shots for the 10-7-2 Panthers. Defenseman Ivan Provorov replied for the Blue Jackets (7-9-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said sidelined forwards Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand (lower-body injuries) are expected to return in two weeks.

Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros turned in a 30-save shutout to blank the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. Filip Forsberg scored twice for the Predators (9-4-5) as they collected their fifth straight win. Anton Forsberg turned aside 27 of 29 shots for the Kings, who dropped to 5-9-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Mats Zuccarello returned to action after being sidelined for the last six games with an upper-body injury.

St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer made 30 saves (19 in the third period) to nip the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and an assist for the Blues (8-8-2). Andrew Copp had a goal and an assist for the 7-9-3 Red Wings, who’ve dropped four straight games.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen looked at some potential candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027.

Among them are former NHL stars Joe Pavelski, Rod Brind’Amour, Vincent Damphousse, Patrik Elias, Theo Fleury, Ryan Getzlaf, Sergei Gonchar, Curtis Joseph, Phil Kessel, John LeClair, Claude Lemieux, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Miller, Bernie Nichols, Tuukka Rask, Jason Spezza, Tim Thomas, Justin Williams, and Henrik Zetterberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Which player do you think should be in next year’s HHoF class? Let us know in the comments section below.

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli reports the NHL and NHL Players’ Association intend to meet in the new year to discuss the salary cap for 2027-28 and 2028-29.

The salary cap is expected to rise to $113.5 million for next season and is projected to reach $127.5 million for 2028-29. Seravalli speculated the two sides could consider raising next year’s cap and lowering the ‘28-’29 cap by an equal amount. For example, they could agree to raise next year’s by $2 million to $115.5 million and lower the following season’s by $2 million to $125.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli explained the NBA did the same thing after a new TV contract resulted in a significant increase in their salary cap that created havoc in the free-agent market. They decided to cap future increases at 10 percent.

CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin is week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks forward Mason Marchment was fined $5,000 by the department of player safety for roughing New York Islanders forward Victor Eklund during Monday’s game between the two clubs.