NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025

by | Apr 23, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025

The latest on the Canucks, Flyers and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BROCK BOESER HEADING TO FREE-AGENCY & QUESTIONS OVER QUINN HUGHES’ FUTURE

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser appears headed to free agency in July. However, management is willing to leave the door open if the 28-year-old winger doesn’t find any suitable offers from other clubs.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Finding a replacement for Boeser won’t be easy. The Canucks would not be dealing from a position of strength in the free-agent market.

Johnston also cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reporting Canucks president of hockey ops Jim Rutherford won’t be disciplined by the NHL for his quip on Monday about team captain Quinn Hughes hoping to one day play with brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Some observers wondered if Rutherford violated the league’s anti-tampering rules. According to Dhaliwal, the league believes Rutherford’s remark was made in jest.

DAILY FACEOFF: Rutherford may have been joking about Hughes’ desire to play with his brothers, but Frank Seravalli believes the possibility could be out of the Canucks’ hands.

Seravalli thinks Hughes’ future in Vancouver could be tied to whatever happens with head coach Rick Tocchet. The club hopes to sign him to a contract extension, as Tocchet is taking some time to consider his options.

Hughes has been vocal about Tocchet being the best coach he’s played for. If he doesn’t return, it could open the door for Hughes’ potential departure when his contract expires in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given all the drama the Canucks have endured this season, it’s hard to believe they were considered an emerging power in the Western Conference a year ago.

Since then, J.T. Miller has been traded, questions have arisen over Elias Pettersson’s role as their first-line center, Boeser and Tocchet could sign elsewhere, there are growing concerns about oft-injured goaltender Thatcher Demko, and now there are questions about Hughes’ future in Vancouver. 

WILL THE FLYERS MAKE BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at the potential offseason plans of Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.

The Flyers GM wants to add a difference-maker (preferably a top-six center) to his lineup. It’s unlikely he’ll bring in a big-ticket free agent, meaning he’ll have to get creative.

They have seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft to draw on for trade bait. Briere could also go the offer-sheet route.

A goaltending upgrade is also necessary. Barring some sort of blockbuster move, Samuel Ersson will return next season. They’re stuck with Ivan Fedotov, who has a year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $3.75 million.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James suggests Briere target Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks via trade or offer sheet, or attempt to acquire Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken or Elias Pettersson of the Canucks through the trade market.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco expects the Flyers will be moderate spenders during the offseason. He doesn’t expect they’ll get into the bidding for someone like Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Instead, he suggested signing Brock Nelson to a three-year contract as a stop-gap solution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere has made bold moves in the past and could do so again this summer. However, if the intent is to be moderate spenders, that could put the kibosh on pursuing any of James’ suggested targets.

THE LATEST RED WINGS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman recently reported that Patrick Kane indicated that he believes there is mutual interest in returning with the Detroit Red Wings. He intends to discuss his situation with his family, his agents and Wings management, but he has enjoyed his time in Detroit.

Bultman also believes the Red Wings’ biggest offseason question is whether they can add a legit top-four defenseman to skate with Moritz Seider on the top pairing or to lead the second pairing if Simon Edvinsson moves up.

Another priority is finding a top-line winger to skate alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Mitch Marner could be the top player in this summer’s free-agent market, but Bultman doesn’t expect the Wings could win a bidding war for the Toronto Maple Leafs winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings could pursue a UFA winger like Brock Boeser or Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets.

Meanwhile, the market for UFA blueliners is thinner after the Jets re-signed Neal Pionk. Vladislav Gavrikov would be a good option but Bultman noted the Kings are confident they can re-sign him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2025

by | Apr 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2025

Results of Tuesday’s playoff action, the Islanders part ways with GM Lou Lamoriello, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and collected an assist in a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Tkachuk had been sidelined with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

Nate Schmidt tallied twice and forwards Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers. Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning. Game 2 is Thursday, Apr. 24, at 6:30 pm ET in Tampa Bay.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk and the Panthers played like defending Stanley Cup champions. They haven’t lost that tenacious work ethic that made them back-to-back Cup finalists, something the Lightning must match if they hope to win this series.

An overtime goal by Max Domi gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. John Tavares had a goal and an assist and Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the Leafs. Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette scored for the Senators. This series shifts to Ottawa for the next two games with Game 3 starting Thursday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Leafs have had a 2-0 lead in a playoff series since 2002. The Senators had a better effort in this game but they’ll need more in Game 3 to avoid going into a much deeper hole.

The Leafs looked like they would run the Senators out of the building in the first period but took their foot off the gas in the second. That led to Tkachuk’s flukey goal, setting the stage for Gaudette’s tying goal in the third.

The Minnesota Wild opened a 4-0 lead that resulted in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, tying their series at a game apiece. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and set up Matt Boldy, who finished the night with two points. Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas. The series moves to Minnesota with Game 3 on Thursday starting at 9 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov’s long pass to Boldy for the latter’s breakaway goal was a thing of beauty. The Golden Knights played better than the score indicates, but their defensive breakdowns and turnovers were their downfall.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 25 shots in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils to open a 2-0 series lead. Jordan Martinook scored the winning goal and set up Seth Jarvis for the empty-net insurance goal. Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils. This series moves to New Jersey with Game 3 on Friday, Apr. 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a better effort by New Jersey than Game 1, but they were frustrated by Andersen’s goaltending and the Hurricanes’ stifling penalty kill. Devils forward Timo Meier had a golden opportunity to make it 2-2 in the third period but whiffed on the bouncing puck. Devils defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon missed this game due to injuries suffered in the previous game.

HEADLINES

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders announced yesterday that they were not renewing the contract of team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. The status of assistant GM Chris Lamoriello and head coach Patrick Roy remains uncertain.

Russ Macias believes the Islanders’ stagnation since 2021 and several mistakes by Lamoriello led to his downfall. It led to a decline in attendance and a revolving door of coaches that finally forced ownership to make a change.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears listed former Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham, former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis, and former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin among the potential candidates to replace Lamoriello.

Sears also pondered Roy’s future as head coach under Lamoriello’s replacement. A team spokesman said the plan is for Roy and his coaching staff to meet with the new GM and take it from there.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello did a fine job in his early years as Isles GM, building up the club into a back-to-back Conference finalist in 2020 and 2021. However, the decline began with the departure of head coach Barry Trotz in 2022 and accelerated as Lamoriello stubbornly stuck with his aging core.

THE ATHLETIC: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen’s been through a lot since January, changing teams twice and participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s been trying to adjust to the upheaval but the Stars need him to regain his form if they’re to stage a Stanley Cup run this spring.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary’s season is over after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. He suffered the injury during the Capitals’ second-last game of the regular season.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher’s absence from practice on Tuesday raised eyebrows. However, head coach Martin St. Louis said Gallagher will be fine. The Canadiens face the Capitals in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday. The Capitals took Game 1 by a score of 3-2.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Sidelined Oilers Evander Kane and John Klingberg could be options for Game 2 of their series against the Los Angeles Kings. Klingberg is considered “a very good possibility”, according to head coach Kris Knoblach. The Oilers were beaten 6-5 in the opening game.

NEW YORK POST: Five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexual assault in a London, Ontario court. The jurors who will hear their case were selected yesterday.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged last year for an incident that allegedly occurred in June 2018. McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault.

DAILY FACEOFF: The list of potential witnesses includes Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson, and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 22, 2025

by | Apr 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 22, 2025

Could Quinn Hughes reunite with his brothers in Vancouver or New Jersey this summer? What’s next for the Kraken after making changes behind the bench and in the front office? What’s the latest on the Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE HUGHES BROTHERS REUNITE IN VANCOUVER OR NEW JERSEY?

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre thinks Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford was joking when he spoke about reuniting team captain Quinn Hughes with brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Rutherford mentioned that Quinn had spoken of playing with his brothers one day. He said that was partly out of the club’s control, but it would be within the team’s control to bring Jack and Luke to Vancouver.

“We’ve got to be careful with tampering here, so we’ll just leave it at that,” said Rutherford. “I probably crossed the line anyways.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford was speaking about the importance of ensuring sufficient cap space to re-sign Quinn when his contract expires in two years. He suggested money might not be what matters most to him, mentioning the blueliner’s brothers.

Rutherford’s remarks raised eyebrows and will undoubtedly spark speculation about how such a reunion might happen. However, there is no indication Quinn intends to leave the Canucks, while the Devils aren’t parting with Jack and Luke.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes it would be easier for Quinn to head to New Jersey than for Jack and Luke to go to Vancouver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The path of least resistance is to wait for Quinn to become a UFA in 2027. It will only cost the Devils money to sign him rather than money plus a package of player assets to acquire him through a trade with the Canucks.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Canucks must come up with a plan to ensure they keep Quinn in the lineup for a long time. One way would be getting aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets over the next two years to make the Canucks the best competitive option.

Another would be acquiring Jack and Luke. However, that would be very difficult to accomplish given their lack of trade assets to make such a blockbuster occur.

The Canucks could also trade Quinn if it appears unlikely that he’ll sign a long-term extension next summer. However, they would get equal value for Hughes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The best way is for the Canucks to convince Quinn that they want to build a winner around him. That means trying to stock up their roster over the next two years through trades and free agency. Their moves this summer will determine if Hughes has a long-term future in Vancouver.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KRAKEN?

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Matt Calkins recently looked at what the Kraken must do this summer to regain relevance after missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calkins wrote this column on Apr. 17, before the Kraken fired head coach Dan Bylsma and replaced Ron Francis as general manager with Jason Botterill.

Team CEO Tod Leiweke said last week that Kraken fans should expect this offseason to be one of the most active and busy in the club’s short history.

Calkins believes the Kraken should leverage their draft capital to land one or two true scorers. He pointed out that they have five first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three drafts. That’s ample ammunition to make some moves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lack of scoring punch has been the Kraken’s weakness. They’ve never had a true scoring star on their roster. Landing one won’t be easy, even with that draft capital. It’ll be interesting to see what approach Botterill takes this summer to address that need.

Calkin’s colleague Kate Schefte listed several possible coaching candidates to replace Dan Bylsma.

Former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet, and former NHL coaches Bruce Boudreau and John Tortorella were among the notables.

RECENT BRUINS SPECULATION

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss recently looked at what the Bruins might do to fix their roster and bounce back as a playoff contender next season.

Finding a legitimate top-six center is one issue to be addressed. The best potential free-agent option would be Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers. However, he’s not one the Bruins should spend major money on, especially if they want to take a crack at signing Mitch Marner if he parts ways with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent on July 1.

Goss believes the trade market is the best way for the Bruins to find a suitable top-six center. He points out they’ve got four first-round picks and five second-rounders over the next three drafts to draw on for trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding suitable centers in the trade market won’t be easy. The Bruins could target cash-strapped clubs to address that need.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2025

by | Apr 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines: recapping Monday’s playoff action, the Kraken make coaching and management changes, plus the latest on the Canucks, Rangers, and Red Wings as they head into the offseason.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings blew 4-0 and 5-2 leads before nipping the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Phillip Danault scored twice, including the winning goal with 42 seconds left in the third period. Kings forwards Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal and two assists. Oilers captain Connor McDavid led his club’s comeback with four points, including the tying goal. Evan Bouchard picked up three assists. Game 2 is Wednesday, Apr. 23, in Los Angeles, with a 10 pm ET start.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A wild game that seemed poised for a blowout win by the Kings until Edmonton made it interesting in the third with McDavid leading the way. It certainly wasn’t a defensive masterpiece, with goalies Darcy Kuemper of the Kings and Stuart Skinner of the Oilers looking shaky at times, whilst both clubs committed costly blunders in their own zones.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored two goals (including his first NHL playoff overtime goal) to down the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Game 1 of their opening round series. The Capitals jumped to a 2-0 lead before the Canadiens tied it on goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, with rookie defenseman Lane Hutson collecting two assists. Game 2 is Wednesday, starting at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals dominated the first two periods as their postseason experience was on display during that stretch. Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault was sharp, keeping his team in the game until they gained their footing and rallied back.

The Winnipeg Jets squeezed past the St. Louis Blues 2-1 with Kyle Connor breaking a 1-1 tie early in the third period. Mark Scheifele also scored and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets, who take a 2-0 lead in the series. Rookie Jimmy Snuggerud scored his first NHL playoff goal and Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots for the Blues. The series shifts to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4 with the next match scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 24, at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both games have been closely contested and could’ve gone the Blues’ way with some puck luck. Scheifele (five points) and Connor (four points) have stepped up to lead offensively for the Jets, with the latter tallying both winning goals.

An overtime goal by Colin Blackwell gave the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, tying their series at a game apiece. Jake Oettinger turned aside 34 shots and Tyler Seguin scored his first goal since returning from hip surgery. Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves and Logan O’Connor had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Game 3 is Wednesday at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche created a stir before the game by announcing captain Gabriel Landeskog was activated off long-term injury reserve. He was not in the lineup for Game 2, but he appears a step closer to appearing in this series at some point. Due to knee surgeries, Landeskog hasn’t played since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

HEADLINES

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken announced Monday they fired head coach Dan Bylsma after one season on the job. They have reportedly reassigned general manager Ron Francis to team president, with assistant GM Jason Botterill taking over the management job.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken missed the playoffs for the second straight year under Bylsma, finishing 20 points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Francis had recently come under criticism for the club’s stalled improvement, including last summer’s expensive signings of center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour.

The Kraken reached the playoffs in their second season, but that set heightened expectations they have struggled to meet. Botterill has management experience, serving three seasons as GM of the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2020. Time will tell if he’ll have better luck in Seattle than he did in his brief tenure in Buffalo.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford raised eyebrows during his end-of-season press conference, saying team captain Quinn Hughes hopes to one day play alongside brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Rutherford said a reunion of the Hughes brothers is partly out of the Canucks’ control. He added that bringing Jack and Luke to Vancouver would be within the club’s control, adding that he had to be careful with tampering and left it at that. Rutherford also said his club cannot afford to lose Quinn and would do everything they could to keep him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford wasn’t saying his club was trying to bring Jack and Luke to Vancouver. He also wasn’t saying Quinn wants out of Vancouver.

It’s unlikely that Rutherford gets his fingers slapped for any violation of the league’s tampering rules. Realistically, such a move is highly doubtful. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill.

Quinn Hughes has two years remaining on his contract with the Canucks. Whatever Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin do this offseason could determine whether he remains in Vancouver beyond 2027.

Rutherford also said the Canucks won’t pick up the option year in head coach Rick Tocchet’s contract. If he returns next season, it’ll be on a new long-term deal. Tocchet is at his Las Vegas home, taking a breather and mulling things over. He could make his decision later this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford and Allvin are keen to keep Tocchet behind the Canucks’ bench. They commended him and his coaching staff for their handling of a difficult season, including a major rift between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller that led to the latter’s trade to the New York Rangers in January.

Speaking of Pettersson, the club plans to stick with the struggling center, hoping a stronger off-season training regimen will help him regain his high-scoring form. Allvin is keeping his options open, but insists the team still has faith in Pettersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks options will narrow considerably when Pettersson’s no-movement clause kicks in on July 1.

TSN: The Canucks also intend to let Brock Boeser reach this summer’s free-agent market on July 1. However, they haven’t ruled out bringing him back if he doesn’t find a better deal elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser could return to the Canucks after July 1 on the latter’s terms. However, there will be teams with plentiful cap space seeking scoring depth who could be willing to meet his asking price.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider underwent surgery on Apr. 17 to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder that’s been nagging him for the past two years. He can resume skating in three months.

Rangers winger Chris Kreider revealed he suffered back spasms in November and vertigo in December. He also injured his left hand in February following the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which could require surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those issues explain why Kreider’s production dropped significantly this season, making him the subject of trade speculation.

The Rangers don’t intend to approach former NHL coach Joel Quenneville about their vacant head-coaching position. It’s believed there is a mutual recognition that it would not be the best landing spot for his potential return to the NHL coaching ranks.

THE SCORE: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin believes management’s inaction at the trade deadline didn’t help the club gain momentum in the playoff race. Their only move was acquiring goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Joe Veleno. The Wings wound up missing the postseason for the ninth straight year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s frustration over the club’s long playoff drought could raise further questions about general manager Steve Yzerman’s efforts to build this club into a postseason contender.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 21, 2025

by | Apr 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 21, 2025

Will the Penguins trade Erik Karlsson during the offseason? What’s next for the Ducks after firing their head coach? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE PENGUINS TRADE ERIK KARLSSON?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas should do himself a favor and trade Erik Karlsson this summer.

Acquiring the three-time Norris Trophy winner two years ago was a worthy experiment, but it’s clear that it has failed. He costs too much against their salary cap, his defensive play has been notoriously bad, he’s been ineffective on the power play, and his laid-back personality isn’t what they need.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

Yohe cites multiple league sources claiming some teams might be intrigued if Dubas retained a portion (maybe $2.5 million) of his $10 million cap hit. Despite the flaws in Karlsson’s game with the Penguins, he would have more value in the trade market than the struggling Ryan Graves or the aging Kris Letang.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski believes Karlsson is frustrated over the Penguins’ underachieving in the last two seasons. He will soon turn 35 and carries a salary-cap hit just shy of $10 million with two years left on his contract.

Karlsson has been coy this season, never firmly stating he’s all in like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. However, Kingerski noted that few suitors for Karlsson have emerged in the trade market. He’s doubtful that a deal could be found if the blueliner asks for a trade. Still, if the right situation comes along, a trade could be made.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Mark Madden believes the Penguins will trade Karlsson. He expects they’ll retain $3 million of his cap hit to facilitate the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s average annual value is $11.5 million, but the Penguins carry almost $10 million while the San Jose Sharks pay the rest.

Dubas will probably scour the trade market for a suitable trade partner for Karlsson. The Penguins will have to retain part of his AAV to make a deal happen, but at this stage, it’s better to move out most of it if it’ll result in moving him to another team.

A potential sticking point is Karlsson’s no-movement clause. His preference could be a playoff contender that plays a style best suited to his puck-moving skills.

THE LATEST DUCKS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek made a bold step by firing head coach Greg Cronin. Now, the onus is on Verbeek to deliver a winner.

Verbeek must find a new head coach but also make moves to give that bench boss a better roster. The Ducks have plenty of promising young talent, but they were inconsistent and defensively deficient, relying too heavily on their goaltending.

The Ducks will have almost $39 million in salary-cap space next season, giving them financial muscle to flex this offseason. Verbeek was rebuffed in his efforts to land Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault last summer, but Stephens expects he’ll go big-game hunting again this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitch Marner could be the biggest name in this summer’s free-agent market if he doesn’t re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Stephens said it isn’t clear if the 28-year-old two-way winger would be a target.

The Ducks could afford to make Marner one of the NHL’s highest-paid players. The question is, would he want to join a promising but unproven young team? Otherwise, Verbeek might have to turn to the trade market for an impact player.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2025

by | Apr 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2025

Recaps of Sunday’s playoff action, plus the latest on Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Pierre-Luc Dubois and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: “The Battle Of Ontario” resumed after 21 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs getting a convincing 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists and Anthony Stolarz stopped 31 shots for Toronto, who went 3-for-6 on the power play. Leafs forwards William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist and Auston Matthews collected two assists. Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig replied for the Senators. Game 2 of this series is Tuesday, Apr. 22, at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators swept the three-game regular-season series, but the Leafs’ experience in postseason play was evident in this contest. They were tenacious on the forecheck, their “Core Four” of Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares stepped up, and they didn’t shy away from the Senators’ physical style, seizing the opportunity with the man advantage.

The Senators will have to regroup and focus on a more disciplined effort. They’ll also need a better performance from goaltender Linus Ullmark, who continues to struggle in postseason play.

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist to double up the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 1 of their opening-round series. Brett Howden tallied twice and Adin Hill turned aside 18 shots for the Golden Knights. Matt Boldy scored both of the Wild’s goals and Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves. Game 2 of this series is Wednesday, Apr. 23, at 11 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most closely contested game of the evening. There weren’t many penalties, but the Golden Knights made the most of their opportunities, going 2-for-2 with the man advantage.

NHL linesman Bryan Pancich left this game in the second period following an accidental collision with Howden. Backup official Frederick L’Ecuyer replaced Pancich for the remainder of the game.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven scored two goals in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Taylor Hall picked up two assists and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves as the Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in this first-round series. Nico Hischier scored for the Devils. Game 2 goes Tuesday, Apr. 22, at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The score flattered New Jersey as Carolina dominated most of this game. It got worse for the Devils as Brenden Dillon and Cody Glass left the game with injuries. Glass was accidentally struck on the knee by teammate Jacob Markstrom as the Devils’ goalie attempted to whack Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov with his stick.

HEADLINES

SI.COM: Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters not to read too much in Gabriel Landeskog’s absence from practice on Sunday, saying the team captain remains on his own recovery schedule. However, he didn’t rule out Landeskog replacing injured winger Ross Colton for Game 2 of their series against the Dallas Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog’s last NHL game was Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup. He’s been sidelined since by knee surgeries but recently completed a two-game conditioning stint with the Avs’ AHL affiliate as he attempts a comeback.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars need winger Mikko Rantanen to be a bigger factor in their series against his former team. On Saturday, he was held scoreless in their 5-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy said he felt like he played last season on one leg following back surgery in 2023. He claims he’s feeling like he’s back to his old self this season and has a clear mind entering the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The improvement in Vasilevskiy’s performance contributed to the Lightning’s improvement as a team this season, rising from sixth overall in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24 to third overall this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois credits head coach Spencer Carbery with helping him regain his focus and form. The 26-year-old Dubois has become one of the league’s best two-way centers and a beloved leader in the Capitals’ dressing room. Dubois and his teammates face the Montreal Canadiens with Game 1 of their first-round series starting Monday.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers winger Jeff Skinner looks forward to his first playoff game in his 15-season NHL career when he and his teammates meet the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first-round series on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner played for the Hurricanes when they struggled throughout most of the previous decade. He also played for the hapless Buffalo Sabres until they bought out his contract last summer. His postseason drought was 1,078 regular-season games.

ROTOWIRE: Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot remains week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets are prepared for another physical contest with the St. Louis Blues when the two clubs face off for Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday. The Jets won Game 1 5-3 but were outhit 53-33.