NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

by | Mar 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

Check out the recaps from a busy Saturday night of action in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league-leading Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Cale Makar scored two goals while Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon each collected two assists for the 39-10-9 Avalanche, who sit first in the overall standings with 89 points. Connor Bedard replied for the 22-28-9 Blackhawks.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

An overtime goal by Jason Robertson lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who extended their win streak to eight games. Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos tallied for the Predators 27-24-8 (62 points), who are three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby left this game with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederik Andersen made 27 saves for the Hurricanes (38-15-6), who picked up their fifth straight win and sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 82 points. Simon Edvinsson and Patrick Kane scored for the 34-20-5 Red Wings (74 points), who slipped into the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Buffalo Sabres got two goals from Josh Norris to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 36 shots for the 35-19-6 Sabres, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after giving up five goals on 14 shots for Tampa Bay’s first regulation loss since Dec. 18. The Lightning sit in first place in the Atlantic with 80 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward Zach Benson was activated off injured reserve after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied twice, and captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Jakub Dobes turned aside 27 shots for the 33-17-9 Canadiens, who moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 75 points. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin netted both goals as the Capitals (31-24-7, 69 points), who sit two points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Speaking of the Bruins, their points streak ended at eight games as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers. Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (27-21-11). Charlie McAvoy scored for the 33-21-5 Bruins.

The New York Rangers overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal, and Igor Shesterkin kicked out 31 shots for the 23-29-7 Rangers, who sit last in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Anthony Mantha and Ryan Shea scored for the Penguins (30-15-13), who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is reportedly upset over the lack of progress in his contract extension talks with general manager Kyle Dubas. It was reported that negotiations would be put on hold until the offseason, but Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports that Dubas intends to meet with Malkin this week.

New York Islanders winger Simon Holmstrom’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scott Mayfield and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each had a goal and an assist for the 34-21-5 Islanders, extending their win streak to four games to sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points. Zach Werenski had two assists for the 29-21-8 Blue Jackets (66 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

The Ottawa Senators defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Dylan Cozens scored twice and picked up an assist, and Drake Batherson netted two goals for the Senators (29-22-8), who are also five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the 27-24-0 Maple Leafs, who have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Leafs management had any lingering doubts about becoming sellers before Friday’s trade deadline, this game likely quelled them.

A two-goal performance by Jordan Eberle powered the Seattle Kraken over the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Eberle also had an assist, while Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists for the 28-22-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 65 points. Liam Ohgren scored for the 18-34-7 Canucks, who sit last in the overall standings with 43 points.

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-4. Shakir Mukhamadullin snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period, and Michael Misa had a goal and an assist for the 28-25-4 Sharks (60 points), who sit five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each had three points for the Oilers (29-24-8), who sit third in the Pacific Division with 66 points.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg made 29 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames 2-0. Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings (24-21-14), who are three points behind the Kraken. Dustin Wolf stopped 35 shots for the 24-28-6 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Andrei Kuzmenko missed this game and is considered week-to-week following meniscus surgery.

The New Jersey Devils snapped a five-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who improved to 29-29-2. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the 21-29-9 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes returned to action for the first time since suffering a separated shoulder on Jan. 19. The Blues played without defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas, but they could be available for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2026

by | Feb 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2026

Predators forward Steven Stamkos denies he’ll waive his NMC, an update on Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers, several teams are interested in Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS DENIES REPORTS HE WOULD WAIVE HIS NO-MOVEMENT CLAUSE

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports Steven Stamkos is denying a report from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic that the 36-year-old Nashville Predators forward might be willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to a contender.

Stamkos said he’s never talked to Predators general manager Barry Trotz about it, adding that there was “zero chance” he’d be willing to waive his NMC.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

“Obviously, there’s stuff that gets reported,” Stamkos said. “But what I’ll say, with this group, we want to be together. I can only control what I control, but I love it here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Stamkos’ remarks, it’s probably safe to assume that he’s not going anywhere.

In fairness, LeBrun didn’t report that Stamkos was willing to waive his clause to join a contender. He stated that the veteran forward was happy in Nashville and didn’t want to be traded.

LeBrun claimed that the Stamkos camp provided Predators management with a list of potential destinations as a preparatory move in case management approached him about a trade.

TYLER MYERS REMAINS WITH THE CANUCKS AS RUMORS SWIRL

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reported Tyler Myers was absent from the Vancouver Canucks’ practice on Friday, but the 36-year-old defenseman remains with the team amid reports of the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars expressing interest in him.

Myers has a year left on his contract with a full no-movement clause for this season. He was held out of Wednesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets for “roster management reasons”, which usually means a trade could be imminent. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Canucks had an offer on the table from the Red Wings, but Myers and his agent were still deliberating.

A trade to the Stars could be more appealing to Myers. His mother is from Texas, and he lived there until moving to Calgary at the age of 10 to play hockey. The Stars also placed forward Tyler Seguin on season-ending LTIR, freeing up $6 million in cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Be it Detroit, Dallas, or elsewhere, Myers could be playing with a new team by the March 6 trade deadline. It’ll be interesting to see how long this plays out.

WILD, AVALANCHE, AND PENGUINS COULD BE PURSUING VINCENT TROCHECK

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports speculation tying Vincent Trocheck to the Minnesota Wild. There’s also talk linking the 32-year-old New York Rangers center to the Colorado Avalanche, but Friedman reports his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Friedman also mentioned that there was some speculation that the Pittsburgh Penguins might pursue Trocheck, who is a Pittsburgh native. He also mentioned the Detroit Red Wings, who attempted to sign him in 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Minnesota is west, but maybe not so far west that Trocheck might say no. We’ll see.

As for Pittsburgh, acquiring the 32-year-old center would pretty much go against everything that GM Kyle Dubas has been doing for the past two years, which is acquiring players in their twenties who can be part of the club’s long-term plans. Trocheck has three years left on his contract, but his effectiveness will diminish as he ages.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUES’ PLANS FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently reported on what he’s been hearing about Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington, and other St. Louis Blues players ahead of next Friday’s trade deadline.

Thomas, Binnington, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, Pavel Buchnevich, Justin Faulk, Brayden Schenn, and Cam Fowler all have some form of no-trade protection. General manager Doug Armstrong recently met with them to discuss the club’s trade deadline plans. As of Thursday, none of them had been asked to waive that protection.

It’s believed the Blues are willing to trade their older players, specifically those over 25. Thomas is 26, and Kyrou is 27, while the rest are over thirty.

Rutherford reports Armstrong’s asking price for Thomas is “three first-half-of-the-first-round assets”. That could mean an established young player, a prospect, and a draft pick who were all selected or could be chosen within the top 15 picks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also believes the Blues are setting high prices for some of those players. He claimed the asking price for Faulk is comparable to what the Calgary Flames received in the Rasmus Andersson trade. The Flames got an established player, a prospect, and a pair of draft picks.

LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

TSN: Craig Button took note of the recent speculation over whether the Florida Panthers might trade UFA-eligible goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old netminder has not yet signed a contract extension with the Panthers, resulting in trade conjecture.

Button believes a trade sending Bobrovsky to the Montreal Canadiens would make a lot of sense if the veteran netminder were open to it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky has a $10 million cap hit this season. The Canadiens have roughly $1.4 million in projected trade-deadline cap room. They’ll have to move out some salary to take on the remainder of his cap hit. He also has a 16-team no-trade list and might not want to go to Montreal.

Even if it were possible, it’s doubtful the Canadiens would do it, as it would go against what they’ve been trying to build with younger talent. While their goaltending has been questionable this season, they prefer to make trades for younger players who have term left on their contracts. They’ll likely stick with their current tandem for this season.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Montreal Canadiens have “poked around” about Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, but he isn’t sure how feasible it is.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not feasible. The Predators are pushing for a playoff spot, and O’Reilly wants to stay put.

Friedman also believes the Canadiens have looked into the availability of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports forward help remains a priority for the Canadiens, but they’re also looking at adding a depth defenseman. He indicated that the Canadiens made a brief call to the Flyers about Ristolainen to gauge their asking price, but there was no serious push.

D’Amico said the Canadiens are open to adding some toughness to their blueline, but only if the cost makes sense for where they are in their competitive window.

TVA SPORTS: The Canadiens have been trying to move Patrik Laine for some time. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported they allowed the winger’s agent to speak with other teams about a trade months ago.

MAPLE LEAFS PROJECTED TO BE SELLERS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Toronto Maple Leafs’ flat performance coming out of the Olympic break has GM Brad Treliving listening to offers for his players who are on expiring contracts.

That includes Bobby McMann, who appears all but certain to be moved. Murphy claimed the Edmonton Oilers are among several clubs interested in the 29-year-old winger. McMann wants to stay in Toronto, but there’s no sign of progress in contract negotiations.

Murphy acknowledged the trade speculation about Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz. However, sources suggest Joseph Woll as the more realistic trade chip. They also have Dennis Hildeby under contract, and Treliving could attempt to clear the club’s logjam in goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Woll and Stolarz are both signed beyond this season. Injuries in his brief NHL career have frequently sidelined Woll. He’s also easier to move than Stolarz because he lacks no-trade protection (Stolarz has an eight-team no-trade list) and a slightly more affordable cap hit than Stolarz’s $3.75 million AAV on his new contract that begins in July.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples indicated that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Oilers have a “real interest” in Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Oilers are trying to move Andrew Mangiapane to free up salary-cap space, but haven’t found any takers yet for the struggling winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekman-Larsson has a 16-team no-trade list. Assuming the Oilers aren’t on it, his $3.5 million AAV through 2027-28 could be a good fit if they can shed Mangiapane’s $3.6 million AAV through next season, and if the Oilers can meet the Leafs’ asking price.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2026

by | Feb 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2026

Recaps of Friday’s games, Stars forward Tyler Seguin is officially sidelined for the season, the latest on Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, snapping the latter’s six-game win streak. Lawson Crouse tallied two goals for the 31-24-4 Mammoth, who hold the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference with 66 points. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild (35-15-10).

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek left this game near the end of the second period after taking a stick to the face from Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz.

The Buffalo Sabres (34-19-6) moved into second place in the Atlantic Division with 74 points by nipping the Florida Panthers 3-2. Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist, and Alex Lyon made 28 saves. Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist, and Daniil Tarasov stopped 36 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Cole Schwindt missed this game due to a lower-body injury suffered during Thursday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pierre-Luc Dubois tallied twice, and Jakob Chychrun scored what proved to be the winning goal as the Washington Capitals held off the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 3-2. Braeden Bowman and Tomas Hertl scored for the Golden Knights (28-17-14), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 70 points. The Capitals (32-17-9, 69 points) picked up their third straight win to move within two points of the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

An overtime goal by Chris Kreider lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Beckett Sennecke collected three assists for the 32-23-3 Ducks, who picked up their fourth straight win. Kyle Connor and Alex Iafallo each had a goal and an assist for the 23-26-9 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks winger Troy Terry missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov left this game with a lower-body injury. The Jets also played with winger Nino Niederreiter, who is week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

HEADLINES

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars have ruled out forward Tyler Seguin for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. Seguin, 34, had surgery for a torn ACL on Dec. 2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seguin carries an average annual value of $9.85 million. He will now be placed on season-ending long-term injury reserve (SLTIR).

The Stars have $1.4 million in cap space, but TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports they’re already using $3.8 million of his cap hit with other players injured. Nevertheless, this will still give the Stars salary-cap flexibility heading toward the March 6 trade deadline.

ESPN.COM: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk isn’t happy that he was part of an AI-doctored TikTok video released by the White House that made it appear he was disparaging Canadians.

In the video, Tkachuk is made to say, “They booed our national anthem, so I had to go out and teach those maple syrup-eating f**ks a lesson.”

“Well, it’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving,” Tkachuk said. “I’m not in control of any of those accounts. I know those words would never come out of my mouth. So, I can’t do anything about it.

Asked if he enjoyed the video, Tkachuk said he didn’t because he would never say those things about Canadians. He also denied that he was the person who shouted, “Close the northern border!” during Team USA’s congratulatory call with President Donald Trump.

“I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me. But if you watch the video, it’s not my voice or something I would never say.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk is a proud American, and he’s obviously overjoyed to have helped the United States win its first gold medal in Olympic Men’s hockey in 46 years. However, he would never make those comments.

Tkachuk has spent the entirety of his eight-season NHL career with the Ottawa Senators, becoming their captain and the face of the franchise. He’s also been active in the local community for years. He signed an eight-year contract with the club in 2021 and denied trade rumors about him that popped up last spring, calling them lies.

TSN: The New York Rangers claimed forward Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki underwent successful shoulder surgery. He will miss the remainder of this season, but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in September.

SPORTSNET: Ian (Scotty) Morrison, a former NHL referee and top executive with the Hockey Hall of Fame, died on Wednesday at the age of 95.

Morrison joined the NHL as a referee in 1954. By 1965, he was appointed the league’s Referee-in-Chief. In 1981, he became their vice-president of officiating until 1986, when he was appointed to an executive position in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In 1991, he became the Hall’s chairman and chief executive officer until his retirement in 1998. A year later, he was inducted into the Hall along with superstar Wayne Gretzky and referee Andy Van Hellemond.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Morrison’s family, friends, and colleagues.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2026

by | Feb 27, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2026

Check out the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers, Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS PROVIDES PREDATORS WITH A LIST OF TRADE DESTINATIONS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos has provided the team with a list of trade destinations.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Stamkos has two years remaining on his contract and carries a full no-movement clause. LeBrun said that the 34-year-old forward is happy in Nashville and isn’t asking to be traded. This is a preparatory move in case Predators management approaches him about a trade.

The list is topped by Stamkos’ former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are also believed to be on it. LeBrun also believes the New Jersey Devils could be there, as they attempted to sign Stamkos two years ago.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos recently said he’s not sweating the upcoming trade deadline because of his no-movement clause. The possibility of a trade seems unlikely at this point.

RED WINGS REPORTEDLY MAKE A TRADE OFFER FOR TYLER MYERS

TSN: Darren Dreger reported yesterday that the Vancouver Canucks received a trade offer from the Detroit Red Wings for Tyler Myers. That’s why they held the 36-year-old defenseman out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Myers is signed through next season with an average annual value of $3 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause for this season. The blueliner and his agent were reportedly deliberating their next move.

Dreger indicated other clubs, such as the Dallas Stars, are believed to be interested in Myers.

Chris Johnston reported Myers had not yet signed off on the deal. It remains to be seen how this plays out between now and the March 6 trade deadline. The blueliner wants time to decide where he wants to play.

Speaking of the Canucks, Dreger noted that forwards Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and Elias Pettersson have been mentioned in the rumor mill. However, he believes Evander Kane remains the most likely of their forwards to be moved.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche would also be interested in Myers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers had intended to finish his career in Vancouver. He and his family love the city and are well-established in the community. He probably wants to take their needs into account. We’ll find out soon enough what Myers intends to do.

WILL THE PANTHERS BECOME SELLERS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Florida Panthers’ remaining games leading up to next Friday’s trade deadline will determine if they become buyers or sellers.

LeBrun noted that goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is among their players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. He pointed out that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes indicated that the 37-year-old goaltender has not been signed to an extension, and wondered if he could be traded. LeBrun thinks he could be moved if the Panthers become sellers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky carries a salary-cap hit of $10 million, but he’s earning $5 million in actual salary this season. He has a 16-team no-trade list.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold for the Panthers in the coming days. Trading Bobrovsky would be a bold move, and it could send them into the offseason trade and free-agent markets for a suitable replacement.

THE LATEST ON MAPLE LEAFS FORWARDS BOBBY MCMANN AND SCOTT LAUGHTON

TSN: Chris Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will move forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton if they haven’t signed contract extensions by the trade deadline.

Both players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents by July 1. The Leafs aren’t going to carry them to free agency in a season that appears to be heading in the wrong direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann and Laughton have indicated they want to remain with the Leafs. However, that’ll only happen if they’re willing to accept less than market value, which for both players could be around $5 million annually on long-term contracts.

OILERS INTERESTED IN FAULK OR EKMAN-LARSSON?

NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes the Edmonton Oilers could be paying close attention to St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk and Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Both play right-side defense, something the Oilers are trying to address before the trade deadline. However, they’ll have to move Andrew Mangiapane first to clear sufficient cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are pressed against the salary cap. Mangiapane carries an average annual value of $3.6 million through next season with a full no-trade clause, but he’s believed to be willing to waive it to join a team where he’ll get more playing time.

Faulk’s AAV is $6.5 million through 2026-27 with a 15-team no-trade list, while Ekman-Larsson’s is $3 million through 2027-28 with a 16-team no-trade list. By moving Mangiapane, they would have more than enough for Ekman-Larsson, and should have enough to take on the remainder of Faulk’s salary for this season.

However, the Oilers have limited trade assets. The Blues have reportedly set a high asking price for Faulk, and the Maple Leafs could seek a first-round pick or a top prospect for Ekman-Larsson.

THE SHARKS COULD FLIP KIEFER SHERWOOD

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports a source informed him that the San Jose Sharks are open to trading Kiefer Sherwood if he hasn’t signed a contract extension by March 6.

The Sharks acquired the 30-year-old winger from the Vancouver Canucks last month. Given his $1.5 million cap hit, he could draw plenty of interest in the trade market.

LeBrun believes Sherwood would like to stay with the Sharks. However, it’s more likely than not that he gets moved by the trade deadline if he’s not re-signed by then.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 27, 2026

by | Feb 27, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 27, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid reaches another scoring milestone, Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer sets a league record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist to reach the 100-point plateau for the ninth time as his Edmonton Oilers ended a four-game losing skid by crushing the Los Angeles Kings 8-1. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists, Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists, and Jake Walman tallied twice for the 29-23-8 Oilers. Warren Foegele replied for the Kings (23-21-14), who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid moved past Marcel Dionne into third place for the most 100-point seasons. Wayne Gretzky is the leader with 15, followed by Mario Lemieux with 10. He currently sits atop this season’s scoring race with 100 points, five points ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty suffered a lower-body injury, and winger Joel Armia suffered an upper-body injury in this game. Meanwhile, the Oilers were without forward Mattias Janmark, who is sidelined long-term with a chronic injury that requires rest.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored twice to set an NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman (18) as his club nipped the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on an overtime goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Noah Dobson scored twice, and Cole Caufield netted his 33rd goal of the season as the Canadiens (32-17-9) took 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but the Islanders (33-21-5) battled back with Anders Lee scoring late in the third period to force overtime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens continue to struggle holding leads. It’s something they must improve as they try to clinch a playoff berth.

The Minnesota Wild collected their sixth straight win by defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2. Matt Boldy had two goals and two assists, Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson kicked out 44 shots for the 35-14-10 Wild. Martin Necas tallied both goals for the Avalanche (38-10-9), who sit first overall with 85 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a gutty effort by Gustavsson, who is battling an illness. He left this game with a minute left in the third period after throwing up in his crease.

A power-play goal by Sebastian Aho gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Seth Jarvis each had a goal and an assist for the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (37-15-6), who extended their points streak to 11 games. Jake Guentzel had three assists and Brayden Point collected a goal and an assist for the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning (38-15-4) as their six-game win streak ended.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored the tying goal and the overtime winner to lift his team over the Ottawa Senators by a score of 2-1. Lucas Raymond picked up two assists, and John Gibson stopped 26 shots for the Red Wings (34-19-6). Brady Tkachuk scored, and Tim Stutzle had an assist to extend his points streak to eight games for the 28-22-8 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the NHL announced it had cleared Ottawa forward Arthur Kaliyev of gambling allegations. He was called up from the Senators’ AHL affiliate for precautionary reasons, as Tim Stutzle was a game-time decision to play against the Red Wings.

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves to backstop his club to a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals for the Bruins (33-20-5) as they extended their points streak to eight games. Adam Fantilli and Mason Marchment each had two points for the 29-21-7 Blue Jackets.

First-period goals by Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe, and Evan Rodrigues powered the Florida Panthers to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marchand finished with two goals for the 30-25-3 Panthers. John Tavares replied for the 27-23-9 Maple Leafs, who sit last in the Atlantic Division with 63 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, it was reported that Maple Leafs management would take three or four games to decide on their plans for the March 6 trade deadline. After watching their last two games, it’s obvious they should be sellers by next Friday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got three unanswered third-period goals by Connor Clifton, Egor Chinakhov, and Blake Lizotte to down the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Evgeni Malkin collected two assists, and Arturs Silovs made 28 saves for the 30-15-12 Penguins. Paul Cotter scored for the Devils, who have lost five straight games and dropped to 28-29-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of potential sellers, the Devils could be joining that club as they continue to flounder in the standings.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to lift his club to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Alexis Lafreniere and Sam Carrick replied for the Rangers. The Flyers improved to 26-21-11, while the Rangers (22-29-7) sit last in the Eastern Conference with 51 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers welcomed back goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox. Both players had been sidelined since Jan. 5.

St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and picked up an assist to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Pius Suter had a goal and two assists for the 21-28-9 Blues, who sit last in the Central Division with 51 points. Kaapo Kakko replied for the 27-22-9 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, Blues forward Mathieu Joseph and Kraken forward Tye Kartye were placed on waivers.

Third-period goals by Matthew Wood, Ryan O’Reilly, and Steven Stamkos gave the Nashville Predators (27-24-7) a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the 22-27-9 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have 61 points, putting them two points behind the Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot.

The Calgary Flames defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-1. Dustin Wolf turned aside 34 shots, and Nazem Kadri tallied twice for the 24-27-6 Flames. Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks (27-25-4), who are 0-4-1 in their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks remain five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 58 points.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 26, 2026

by | Feb 26, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 26, 2026

Who could the Maple Leafs peddle if they become trade deadline sellers? What’s the latest on Canadiens winger Patrik Laine? Could Brendan Shanahan and Marc Bergevin join the Predators’ front office? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MAPLE LEAFS TRADE CANDIDATES

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan looked at five potential Maple Leafs trade candidates if management becomes a seller by the March 6 trade deadline.

Bobby McMann topped the list. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Maple Leafs currently lack a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Given the way first-round picks are thrown around in trades now, McMann could fetch one.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann (NHL Images).

McMann has said he wants to re-sign with the Maple Leafs, but that could cost between $4.5 million and $5 million per season. Koshan believes he’ll be moved if he hasn’t signed an extension before next Friday.

Scott Laughton is also UFA-eligible, and he hasn’t provided the return that the Leafs sought when they sent a first-rounder and prospect Nikita Grebenkin to the Philadelphia Flyers last year to get him. He could be an effective depth player for a contender.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. He could be an attractive piece for teams with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz’s four-year contract extension begins next season with an AAV of $3.75 million. Injuries have hampered his performance this season.

Like McMann and Laughton, forward Calle Jarnkrok is due to become a UFA on July 1.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reports the Maple Leafs would like to re-sign McMann, but it doesn’t seem like they’re willing to pay him up to $5 million annually. They’d also like to keep Laughton, but where his salary number starts is debatable.

There’s not much of a goalie market heading toward the trade deadline. The Leafs might have to wait until the offseason to determine who stays or goes between Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed some possible trade destinations for McMann.

Topping his list is the Edmonton Oilers, followed by the Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann’s style of play and his affordable $1.4 million cap hit will make him among the most desirable players at this year’s trade deadline.

The Oilers lack their 2026 first-rounder, and their prospect pool is getting shallow. The other clubs have their first-rounders, while the Islanders and Kraken each have two, though their spare first-rounders come with conditions attached. Most of them also have plenty of prospects and promising young players to draw on for trade bait.

CANADIENS AND KINGS DISCUSSED PATRIK LAINE

TVA SPORTS: According to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings had talks about Patrik Laine in recent weeks.

The Kings are looking for a top-six forward and spoke with the Canadiens about Laine, who is due to return to action after being sidelined by abdominal surgery since October. However, there doesn’t seem to be a fit right now, and the Kings are looking elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was expected that the Kings would return to the trade market following Kevin Fiala’s season-ending leg injury during the Olympics. No surprise that they checked in with the Canadiens, who could be having some difficulty fitting players returning from injuries back into their lineup.

It’s doubtful that Laine will end up with the Kings by the trade deadline, but the 27-year-old winger could end up with another playoff contender by March 6.

The Canadiens have played well in Laine’s absence, and he no longer fits in their plans. He’s UFA-eligible on July 1. The asking price won’t be high, and the Canadiens could be willing to retain part of his $8.7 million cap hit.

COULD SHANAHAN AND BERGEVIN JOIN THE PREDATORS?

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple NHL sources claim Brendan Shanahan and Marc Bergevin have been linked to the Nashville Predators.

Shanahan is the former president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Bergevin is the former general manager of the Montreal Canadiens and currently an associate GM with the Buffalo Sabres.

Predators general manager Barry Trotz has indicated he will step down as soon as a suitable replacement is found. It’s rumored that Shanahan would become the Predators’ President of Hockey Operations while Bergevin would be their new general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy stated that his sources caution that nothing is set in stone yet. Shanahan and Bergevin could be among several candidates for those positions.

For now, Trotz remains as general manager and is handling the club’s plans for the upcoming trade deadline. There is no timetable to replace Trotz, but it’s believed the club prefers to do so before the 2026 NHL Draft in June.