NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2026

by | Oct 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s games and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Christian Dvorak replied for the Flyers, who placed sidelined winger Travis Konency on injured reserve before this game.

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was the second meeting between these two clubs, who faced off in the second round of last spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Hurricanes needed overtime to defeat the Flyers 3-2 on Oct. 3 for their first win of the season.

This contest showed two teams going in different directions.

After stumbling through their first two games (0-1-1), the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes regained their footing and now sit atop the overall standings (5-1-1) with 11 points. Aho is on a torrid scoring streak, with six goals and five assists for 11 points, and is among the league’s top-10 scorers.

The Flyers, meanwhile, are winless in their first seven games (0-5-2), setting a franchise record for the most season-opening losses. They’ve been outscored 28-8 and sit last in the Eastern Conference, prompting some pundits to suggest their season may be unsalvageable.

During last week’s episode of Puck In Deep, I suggested it was too early to panic about the Flyers’ slow start, noting they had plenty of time to turn things around. I’ve since changed my mind. They look nothing like the club that rode a strong late-season surge to the playoffs and upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs. If they don’t find a way to halt this skid, they risk ending up in an early-season hole too deep to climb out of.

New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand stopped 19 shots in a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Tye Kartye and Will Cuylle each tallied twice while Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and an assist for the 5-2-0 Rangers, who sit one point behind the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference standings. Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (2-5-0), whose losing skid reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garand’s performance should provide short-term relief for Rangers fans worried about how the club would replace starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a season-ending leg injury Friday against the Washington Capitals. Nevertheless, the speculation persists, and you can read about it in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

The Seattle Kraken beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 on third-period goals by Jared McCann and Ryan Winterton. Joey Daccord made 33 saves for the Kraken, who improved to 4-2-0. Jordan Kyrou, Alex Ovechkin, and Boone Jenner scored for the 3-2-0 Capitals.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie reported on the creator of Hellebucks.com, which is a website that calculates how much money Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is forfeiting because he’s suspended without pay for refusing to report to the club. The 33-year-old netminder is staging a holdout to force a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I write this at 8:43 am Atlantic Time today, Hellebuyck has forfeited over $513,000 of his $7.5 million salary that he’s slated to earn this season.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Evan Rodrigues was fined $5,000 by the NHL’s department of player safety for high-sticking Canucks center Marco Rossi on Saturday.

Former NHL defenseman Adam Boqvist has signed with Swiss club Geneve-Servette. The eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Boqvist had 103 points in 272 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and New York Islanders.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 11, 2026

by | Oct 11, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 11, 2026

Could the Rangers pursue Connor Hellebuyck? What’s going on with Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikishin, and Flames forward Connor Zary? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports there’s been plenty of wild internet speculation that Winnipeg Jets holdout Connor Hellebuyck would be a fit to replace New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterskin, who suffered a season-ending injury on Friday.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Friedman dismissed the idea, pointing out that it would give the Rangers two goaltenders with expensive long-term contracts. He believes the Blueshirts will try to be patient and not make any panic move regarding their goaltending.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was among those wondering if the Rangers might make a play for Hellebuyck for one year.

Shesterkin is in the second year of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $11.567 million. Hellebuyck is in the third year of a seven-year deal with an AAV of $8.5 million.

Hellebuyck is holding out trying to force a trade, but it’s doubtful the Rangers can afford the Jets’ high asking price if they were inclined to pursue him. Some folks on social media have suggested the Rangers acquire Hellebuyck, keep him just for this season, and then flip him to another club next summer.

However, Hellebuyck probably prefers joining a team where he’ll be part of their future beyond this season. The Rangers also wouldn’t want the headache of trying to find a trade partner willing to meet their asking price.

Meanwhile, Weekes wondered if Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild, Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche, former Rangers backup Jonathan Quick, former Anaheim Ducks goalie Petr Mrazek, or former Ottawa Senators backup James Reimer would be targeted by the Rangers.

Gustavsson is on LTIR recovering from offseason hip surgery. Blackwood is seeing the bulk of the starts for the Avalanche, so he’s probably unavailable. Mrazek and Reimer are UFAs, making them more likely options if the Rangers want to go that route.

Weekes’ colleague Emily Kaplan reported Quick is comfortable in retirement as the Rangers director of goaltending development. However, she stated that sources claim he could be a possibility if the club asked him to play.

Turning to Simon Edvinsson, Friedman claimed the situation remains unchanged for the 23-year-old Detroit Red Wings defenseman. He still prefers a trade, but the Red Wings still hope to re-sign him. Friedman indicated that the Red Wings are willing to consider several contract terms for Edvinsson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings must do some serious fence-mending to convince the young blueliner to change his mind.

As for Alexander Nikishin, Friedman doesn’t see any trade possibility on the horizon for the 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman. He thinks the Hurricanes would bring him back, though his contract still has to be determined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that Nikishin seeks a long-term deal with an AAV of $9 million. Combine that with what could be a high asking price from the Hurricanes, and it’s not surprising that a trade cannot be found at this early stage of the season. The longer he sits out, the more it could hurt his trade value.

Friedman reported the Vancouver Canucks could be among the teams interested in Connor Zary. The Calgary Flames demoted the 24-year-old forward after clearing waivers last week. However, he doesn’t think anything’s imminent.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2026

by | Oct 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2026

Recapping all 14 games from Saturday night, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: William Nylander scored two goals and collected three assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3. Auston Matthews scored twice and set up two others, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots for his first win for the Maple Leafs as they improved to 3-2-1. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for the 3-2-0 Avalanche.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update about his condition.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov tallied a hat trick and added an assist in a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist, and Jesper Wallstedt made 29 saves for the 3-1-1 Wild. Matthew Tkachuk scored for the Panthers (2-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After collecting five points in preseason action, Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk is scoreless in his first five regular-season games.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel’s hat trick gave his club a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Lightning (4-1-0), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with eight points. Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist for the 2-3-0 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders captain Bo Horvat played in this game and collected an assist, showing no ill effects from the blindside hit he received from Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar on Thursday. Nazar received a two-game suspension.

The Montreal Canadiens nipped the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 on a shootout goal by Zachary Bolduc. Goaltender Jacob Fowler made 30 saves in regulation and overtime, and stopped all six shots in the shootout for the shutout win for the 2-2-1 Canadiens, snapping a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Daniil Tarasov also made 30 saves for the Red Wings, who dropped to 1-3-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans chanted “We want Larkin!” in the hope of convincing Red Wings center Dylan Larkin to accept a trade to Montreal. If he were willing, he’d already be with the Habs. Larkin reportedly has an eight-team trade list but only wants to join American-based playoff contenders.

Boston Bruins forward Fraser Minten had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. JJ Peterka collected two assists for the Bruins (4-2-0). Porter Martone replied for the 0-4-2 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s getting ugly for the Flyers, who entered this season with heightened expectations after making the playoffs and reaching the second round last season. They’ve been outscored 24-7 in their first six games, prompting some Flyers followers to blame head coach Rick Tocchet for the club’s woeful start.

Flyers forward Travis Konecny (lower-body injury) and defenseman Cam York (upper-body injury) missed this game, while blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen (hand) missed his third straight contest.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Captain Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and an assist, Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist, and goalie Jake Allen made 20 saves in his 500th NHL start for the Devils, who improved to 2-2-0. Linus Karlsson scored for the Canucks, who dropped to 2-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ penalty killing was their downfall, giving up three power-play goals to the Devils.

The Edmonton Oilers (4-0-1) collected their fourth straight win by downing the San Jose Sharks 3-1. Mattias Ekholm, Vasily Podkolzin, and Alex Formenton scored while Tristan Jarry stopped 19 shots. Macklin Celebrini replied for the Sharks (3-2-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini returned to action after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury.

Anders Lee, Kailer Yamamoto, and John Marino each had a goal and an assist for the Utah Mammoth in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 23 shots for the 4-2-0 Mammoth, who hold first place in the Central Division with eight points. Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres, who slipped to 2-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres scratched forwards Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich from this game.

Ottawa Senators forwards Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto scored shootout goals to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Stutzle had a goal and an assist in regulation for the 4-1-0 Senators, who overcame a 2-0 deficit. Ross Colton and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Predators (2-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Senators placed winger William Eklund (ankle) on injured reserve. He’s expected to be sidelined for two months. Predators forward Mavrik Bourque missed this game with an upper-body injury.

Third-period goals by Ryan Poehling and Nikita Nesterenko lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Mikael Granlund collected two assists for the 4-1-0 Ducks. Morgan Frost and Aydar Suniev replied for the Flames (0-5-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Poehling was injured while scoring his goal and left the game with an apparent injury to his right leg. Teammate Cutter Gauthier left in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner scored in overtime to beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Marner and Trevor Connelly each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (5-1-0), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 10 points. Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings, who dropped to 0-2-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kings placed sidelined forwards Mats Zuccarello and Alex Turcotte on injured reserve. They also signed forward Jared Wright to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $925,000.

The Carolina Hurricanes extended their win streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mark Jankowski extended his goal streak to three games while Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (4-1-1), who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with nine points. Rookie winger Roman Kantserov scored his first NHL goal for the 1-5-0 Blackhawks.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell’s shootout goal gave his club a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Connor Dewar also scored for the 3-2-1 Penguins while Tyler Seguin netted his first of the season for the 2-2-1 Stars.

The St. Louis Blues downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Jonatan Berggren snapped a 3-3 tie, Jimmy Snuggerud tallied two goals, and Dylan Holloway picked up three assists for the Blues (2-2-1).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: The New York Rangers announced Saturday that goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for the season after suffering a lower-body injury during Friday’s loss to the Washington Capitals.

Dylan Garand takes over the starter’s role for the foreseeable future. The 24-year-old has made only four starts in his NHL career. Backup Joonas Korpisalo is on injured reserve (lower body) for another month. Spencer Martin will be Garand’s understudy when the Rangers face the Canucks on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a major blow for the Rangers, who won four of their first five starts before Shesterkin’s injury. It will be difficult for Garand, Korpisalo, and Martin to replace the former Vezina Trophy winner, and could significantly hamper their hopes for playoff contention.

DAILY FACEOFF: Seattle Kraken forward Jacob Melanson is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with “an anterior mediastinal hematoma with vascular pseudoaneurysm” as a result of an upper-body injury suffered during an Oct. 1 game against the Calgary Flames. He will be monitored closely by the Kraken’s medical staff as he makes a gradual return to playing hockey.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL winger Bobby Gould died Friday at age 69. He spent 11 seasons in the league (1979-80 to 1989-90) with the Atlanta/Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, spending eight seasons with the Capitals.

A three-time Selke Trophy finalist, Gould had 145 goals and 159 assists for 304 points in 697 regular-season games. He also had 28 points in 78 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Gould’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2026

by | Oct 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2026

What’s the latest on Simon Edvinsson? Could the Maple Leafs make another big move this season? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman, Shayna Goldman, and Corey Pronman looked at the Detroit Red Wings’ options in Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations and the trade market.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

Edvinsson’s value would be high in the trade market. Some believe he could become a No. 1 defenseman, while others see him as a strong No. 2 or 3 blueliner.

Pronman looked at recent trades involving comparable defensemen. They included one-for-one deals (Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen) or a package deal (Jamie Drysdale as the centerpiece for Cutter Gauthier).

A return for the Red Wings would have to include “a major young player (or more than one)”.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders would have a complicated path to acquiring Edvinsson, but not an impossible one.

With defenseman Alexander Romanov sidelined by a knee injury for the rest of the season, Sears believes the Islanders have the cap space to try and sign Edvinsson to an offer sheet. They would gain $6.25 million in cap space by placing Romanov on long-term injured reserve, provided Romanov is also out for the playoffs. The Islanders would also have to add to their current cap payroll to push them to the cap ceiling to be eligible for full cap relief.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sears raised several scenarios for the Islanders to put themselves in a position to offer-sheet Edvinsson. He’s right that it’s not impossible, but it would be so complicated that they’re unlikely to go that route.

Nevertheless, Sears’ column raises the question of whether other clubs might attempt to sign Edvinsson to an offer sheet. He reportedly rejected several overtures during the summer.

Some observers suggest signing him to a one-year, high-cost offer sheet that would make it difficult for the Red Wings to match, but few teams have the cap space or the necessary compensatory draft picks in 20227 to make that pitch.

Edvinsson reportedly prefers a trade, which suggests he’s still not interested in an offer sheet. It’s doubtful he’ll want a one-year deal. Signing him to a multi-year offer sheet in-season would come with a higher prorated cap hit for this season.

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, James Mirtle was asked if the Toronto Maple Leafs would acquire a top-four defenseman this season.

Mirtle believes they’ll try, indicating that they possess some trade capital. They have the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in each of the next three drafts, and some decent prospects.

However, he doesn’t see them targeting young RFA defensemen like Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes or Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings. He pointed to the high acquisition cost plus the expensive contracts they’re believed to be seeking.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have $5.775 million in cap space with Max Domi and Dakota Joshua on LTIR. If they’re going to shop for a defenseman, they’ll likely try to move a salary or two in the process.

Asked when the Maple Leafs might attempt to trade Morgan Rielly, Mirtle noted that the 32-year-old defenseman is willing to waive his no-movement clause for a handful of teams. He thinks the Maple Leafs could revisit that if this season goes sideways, especially if they’re looking to add a top-four blueliner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Rielly will depend on whether his trade value has improved. He’s signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $7.5 million, which could be difficult to move if his performance isn’t any better.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

by | Oct 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

Recapping Friday’s action, the Canadiens and Predators make a trade, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An injury to New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin overshadowed his club’s 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Shesterkin left the game in the second period with the score tied at 1-1 after injuring his right leg. He was helped off the ice and replaced by backup Dylan Garand.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images)

Timothy Liljegren, Boone Jenner, and Tom Wilson scored, and Logan Thompson made 21 saves for the Capitals (3-1-0). Alexis Lafreniere tallied for the 4-2-0 Rangers as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no postgame update on Shesterkin’s condition. The former Vezina Trophy winner played a significant role in the Rangers’ strong start, which could be derailed if he’s out for a lengthy period.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Cam Talbot stopped 20 shots and made three straight saves in the shootout to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Kent Johnson scored the winning goal, Damon Severson had a goal and an assist, and Cole Sillinger collected two assists for the Blue Jackets (2-1-0). Sergei Murashov kicked out 43 shots while Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin replied for the 2-2-1 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talbot became the first goalie in NHL history to win a game with nine teams. Now in his 13th season, the 39-year-old netminder had wins with the Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings.

A four-goal second period lifted the Seattle Kraken to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederick Gaudreau tallied two goals, and Ben Meyers had a goal and two assists for the Kraken, who improved to 3-2-0. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had a goal and an assist as the Red Wings dropped to 1-3-0.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. Mikael Granlund, Tim Washe, and rookie winger Judd Caulfield each had a goal and an assist for the 3-1-0 Ducks. Kyle Connor tallied his sixth goal of the season for the Jets (3-1-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Struble became the odd man out on the Canadiens’ crowded blueline. Kaiden Guhle is slated to return soon from adductor muscle surgery, and promising Adam Engstrom recently took Struble’s spot in the lineup. The Canadiens now have two second-round picks in next year’s draft, which could be bargaining chips by the March 1 trade deadline.

Struble, 25, should get more playing time with the retooling Predators. An injury to promising blueliner William Trudeau (upper body, week to week) was another reason for this move.

This was the 10th trade by Nashville general manager Chris MacFarlane since he took over the role on June 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Brad Marchand will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a lower-body (knee) injury.

TSN: Ottawa Senators winger William Eklund will be sidelined for an “extended period of time” with an ankle injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild placed goaltender Filip Gustavsson (offseason hip surgery) on long-term injured reserve.

CBS SPORTS: The New Jersey Devils placed center Nick Bjugstad (torn pectoral muscle) on LTIR.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche after returning to Toronto on Thursday to be with his wife as she gave birth to their fourth child, a son named Tucker.

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Thursday that the NHL has put expansion plans on the back burner for now amid concerns from owners regarding competitive balance. Two Texas cities (Houston and Austin) seemed to be the frontrunners for the NHL’s 33rd franchise if expansion occurs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An interesting development considering recent projections suggesting the league could expand by one or two teams by 2030. It’ll be interesting to see how many owners are concerned and how the league alleviates those worries.

NHL.COM: Defenseman Matt Dumba has announced his retirement after 13 NHL seasons. From 2013-14 to 2025-26, Dumba appeared in 748 regular-season games with the Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 85 goals and 176 assists for 261 points. He also had 15 points in 54 playoff contests.

Dumba spent 10 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Wild, including a career-high 50-point performance in 2017-18.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dumba was a physical puck-moving blueliner, but he was never the same after tearing his right pectoral muscle in December 2018. Up to that point, he had 12 goals and 22 points in 32 games, putting him on pace for another career-high performance.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 9, 2026

by | Oct 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 9, 2026

Which clubs could the Red Wings target as potential destinations for defenseman Simon Edvinsson? What’s the latest on Bruins center Pavel Zacha? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at which players the Detroit Red Wings might target in any trade involving restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

Dixon believes the Red Wings would prefer to get an up-and-coming center in return for Edvinsson. He suggested Caleb Desnoyers of the Utah Mammoth, Berkly Catton of the Seattle Kraken, James Hagens of the Boston Bruins, Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues, and Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

The Mammoth already have rising star Logan Cooley, plus Vincent Trocheck and Nick Schmaltz can also play at center. The Kraken already have Matty Beniers, Jake O’Brien, and Shane Wright. Hagens has played mostly on the wing for the Bruins. Robert Thomas and Mason McTavish seem entrenched as the Blues’ top-two centers. Johnson’s been the frequent subject of trade rumors and might benefit from a change of scenery.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Bruins are among at least 10 teams that have inquired about Edvinsson. He said that Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has told those teams he prefers to re-sign the 23-year-old left-shot defenseman. However, the longer this goes on, the more a trade becomes possible.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson believes the Oilers should pursue Edvinsson, but he doubts they have sufficient trade capital to win a bidding war. He thinks it could cost them forward Ike Howard or Matt Savoie as part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Red Wings cannot reach an agreement with Edvinsson, it’s rumored they might be open to a return of futures for the young defenseman, especially if they can get an established forward for Dylan Larkin in a separate deal.

Dixon’s made some interesting suggestions. Apart from the Bruins, we don’t know how much interest those other clubs have in Edvinsson. Nevertheless, those young centers that Dixon mentioned could entice the Red Wings if they are open to a package with a promising prospect (Desnoyers) or an NHL-ready young center as part of the return.

The Oilers could look into Edvinsson’s availability, but they probably can’t afford the Red Wings’ asking price, especially if one of the other clubs mentioned above includes one of those promising centers in the deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that Pavel Zacha “came up in conversations” between the Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets when the latter was shopping winger Kirill Marchenko, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last month.

According to LeBrun, contract negotiations between the Bruins and the 29-year-old UFA-eligible center are continuing, but they’re still not close to a deal. Given his age, the Bruins might be reluctant about signing him to an expensive long-term extension.

LeBrun believes this could go either way. However, if the Bruins are struggling to make the playoffs by the trade deadline and Zacha remains unsigned, he will likely be moved by March 1.