NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2026

by | Feb 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2026

A big game for the Blue Jackets, a hat-trick performance by the Wild’s Matt Boldy, the Blues and Devils make a trade, top prospect Gavin McKenna charged with assault, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets won their seventh straight game by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Jet Greaves stopped 21 shots as the Jackets won their second straight game via shutout. Zach Werenski scored his 20th goal of the season, and Charlie Coyle collected two assists for the 29-20-7 Blue Jackets. Spencer Knight stopped 16 of 19 shots for the Blackhawks, who slipped to 22-26-9.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski leads all NHL defensemen in goals this season and sits second to Edmonton Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard with 62 points. Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko missed his second straight game due to illness. Meanwhile, Blackhawks forwards Wyatt Kaiser and Colton Dach left this game with injuries.

Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy cracked the 30-goal plateau with a hat trick, and Jared Spurgeon scored in overtime for a 6-5 victory over the Nashville Predators. Boldy also collected an assist for a four-point game, and Quinn Hughes had two assists for the 34-14-10 as they extended their win streak to five games. Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each had three points for the Predators (26-24-3).

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the game with 23 seconds remaining in the third period to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-4. Benn also had an assist while Jason Robertson tallied his 200th career NHL regular-season goal for the 34-14-9 Stars as they picked up their sixth consecutive victory. Jimmy Snuggerud and Jordan Kyrou each had a goal and an assist for the 20-28-9 Blues, who’ve dropped eight of their last nine games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin returned to action after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Teammate Lian Bichsel is expected to return to the lineup following the Olympic break. He’s been out of action since Nov. 30 with a lower-body injury.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has two assists, including his 700th career NHL regular-season assist, as his club doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice, and Valeri Nichushkin picked up three assists for the 37-9-9 Avalanche, who lead the league with 83 points. Timothy Liljegren and Philipp Kurashev replied for the Sharks (27-24-4), who are 0-3-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are 4-6-1 in their last 11. Before that slide, they were sitting third in the Pacific Division. They’ve since slipped to sixth, sitting five points out of a wildcard berth in the Western Conference.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson each had a goal and two assists, and goaltender Sam Montembeault kicked out 36 shots for the 32-17-8 Canadiens, extending their points streak to five games (4-0-1). Kyle Connor replied for the Jets, who dropped to 22-26-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Big win for Montembeault, who bailed out his teammates during their sluggish first period. Following the game, he revealed that he had gone through an emotional time recently, with his grandmother passing away on Jan. 27 and the Canadiens firing goalie coach Eric Raymond, who had coached Montembeault since 2021.

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins. Matthew Tkachuk and Uvis Balinskis each had a goal and an assist, and Brad Marchand tallied the winning goal in the shootout for the 29-24-3 Panthers, snapping a four-game losing skid. Michael Eyssimont tallied twice for the Bruins (32-21-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was fortunate to avoid a serious injury after receiving an illegal hit to the head by Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis midway through the first period. McAvoy left the game but returned in the second period. Vilamanis received a two-minute minor penalty but left the game with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley stopped 36 shots, and Ryan Lomberg snapped a 3-3 tie in a 4-3 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist for the 23-27-6 Flames. Leon Draisaitl scored twice, and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers (28-22-8), who have lost three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl was not impressed with his club’s recent performance. Following the game, he blasted everyone (himself included), from the coaches to his teammates. His remarks fueled comments on social media suggesting head coach Kris Knoblauch is in danger of losing his job.

It was a sour end to what had been a good day for Draisaitl, as he learned he was named one of the flagbearers for his native Germany in the opening ceremony for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Utah Mammoth got a goal and an assist each from Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz to lead their club over the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Karel Vejmelka stopped 29 shots for the 30-23-4 Mammoth. Dylan Larkin scored for the Wings (33-19-6).

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Mark Stone picked up two assists for the Golden Knights (26-16-14), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 66 points. Teddy Blueger collected two assists for the 18-33-6 Canucks.

Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Joey Daccord stopped 25 shots for the Kraken (27-20-9). Andrei Kuzmenko scored both goals for the Kings (23-18-14).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings will be looking forward to Artemi Panarin’s production. They acquired the playmaking superstar yesterday in a trade with the New York Rangers.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The St. Louis Blues traded center Nick Bjugstad on Wednesday to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sell-off begins in St. Louis as this move could lead to more deals involving more notable Blues players before the March 6 trade deadline. Goaltender Jordan Binnington, defenseman Justin Faulk, and forwards Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou have been mentioned as trade candidates.

The Devils were seeking experienced depth at center. Bjugstad could skate on the third or fourth line.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Devils, there’s no certainty that sidelined center Jack Hughes will be in their lineup for Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders. He remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to play for Team USA in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

DAILY FACEOFF: Top NHL prospect and Penn State forward Gavin McKenna faces a felony assault charge stemming from an alleged altercation on Saturday. He was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault and two offenses for disorderly conduct and harassment.

A conviction of a first-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in a downtown bar in State College, Pennsylvania, following Penn State’s 5-4 loss to Michigan State in the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. The unidentified victim suffered a broken jaw.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is important to remember that McKenna is innocent until proven guilty. Nevertheless, this incident casts a cloud of uncertainty over his future.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program.

In a statement, Jones indicated he was receiving exosome therapy for a documented injury from an outside provider. He believes his positive test result was related to a contaminated substance associated with the treatment, adding that he didn’t intentionally use the prohibited substance. Nevertheless, he apologized for his actions.










New York Rangers Trade Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings

by | Feb 4, 2026

New York Rangers Trade Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Emily Kaplan report the New York Rangers have traded winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick and prospect forward Liam Greentree.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s not much of a return for a player of Panarin’s caliber, but the Rangers didn’t have much choice. The 34-year-old winger has a full no-movement clause, and Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports the Kings were the only team he wanted to go to and the only club the Rangers had to work with.

New York Rangers trade winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings (NHL Images).

Walker reports that the conditional third-round draft pick can become a second-round pick if the Kings win a playoff round and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2028 if they win two playoff rounds.

Panarin was reportedly seeking a contract extension before waiving his no-movement clause. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported there’s no extension yet, but the two sides are working on it.

Recent reports claimed Panarin was seeking a $40 million or a $50 million extension. Either one guarantees he would get at least $10 million annually. That’s a bit of a pay cut from his current $11.642 million annual average value, but still a hefty price to pay for a playmaking winger who turns 35 in October.

(UPDATE: ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports sources claim the Kings and Panarin have agreed to a two-year extension worth an AAV of $11 million.)

The Kings are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league, which is hampering their efforts to secure a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Panarin should provide a welcome boost to their offense in the short term, especially with team captain Anze Kopitar recently returning from injury.

Over the long term, however, Panarin won’t be able to fill Kopitar’s skates as a center, and locking him up to an expensive, lengthy deal will take a big chunk out of their projected $26 million in cap space for 2026-27. That could complicate efforts to land a potential replacement for Kopitar.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – February 4, 2026

by | Feb 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 4, 2026

The Olympic trade freeze begins at 3 PM ET today. Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann, plus an update on the Blues in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PANTHERS AND LIGHTNING SAID TO BE PUSHING FOR ARTEMI PANARIN

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the New York Rangers intend to move Artemi Panarin before the Olympic trade freeze goes into effect on Wednesday. However, the situation remains firmly in the hands of the 34-year-old winger and his agent.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

The Rangers continue talking to teams, and there has been a range of interest. A key part of a deal is agreeing to a contract extension. Johnston said he’d heard one team put a $40 million offer on the table. However, it’s up to Panarin to determine if he’s found the right situation.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are in the mix for Panarin. It’s believed that the winger’s preference is to join one of the Florida teams. The Minnesota Wild are also making a push.

Murphy indicated that the challenge for the Panthers is that they lack first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. A deal might have to be built around roster players and prospects such as Mackie Samoskevich and Eetu Luostarinen

The San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals are willing to discuss an extension with the Panarin camp. However, they’re unwilling to give up elite young players such as Will Smith or Ryan Leonard in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin’s no-movement clause and his $11.6 million cap hit are stumbling blocks in the path to a trade. Rangers general manager Chris Drury may be keen to move him as soon as possible, but interested clubs can afford to wait him out and hope the asking price drops.

THE BLUES’ HIGH-END TALENT IS PROVING DIFFICULT TO MOVE

TSN: Darren Dreger reports St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong remains eager to refresh the roster before the change in management after this season.

Defensemen Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk, forwards Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, and Robert Thomas, and goaltender Jordan Binnington remain in play. However, Armstrong’s high asking prices and the cap management required to take on some of their high-end players have been sticking points.

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek also noted that Thomas, Kyrou, Faulk, Binnington, and Parayko are floating around in the rumor mill. As for younger players such as Dalibor Dvorsky, Jake Neighbours, and Jimmy Snuggerud, Marek doesn’t believe they’re on the table.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All those high-end players mentioned by Dreger carry annual cap hits of $6 million or more. They also have various forms of no-trade protection. Factor in what Armstrong seeks for each player, and it wouldn’t be surprising if most of those players are still on the Blues roster after the March 6 trade deadline.

TVA SPORTS: Nicolas Cloutier asked the firm Sportslogiq to target the Montreal Canadiens’ most pressing need at the trade deadline and which player to pursue.

The Canadiens could improve defensively, prompting TVA Sports analyst Maxim Lapierre to suggest that they target Colton Parayko of the Blues.

Their most pressing need is a right winger on the top line alongside center Nick Suzuki and left wing Cole Caufield. Cloutier believes the Blues’ Jordan Kyrou would be a good fit, pointing out the Canadiens looked into acquiring him last summer. He’s also a friend of Suzuki’s.

Cloutier isn’t saying the Canadiens are pursuing Parayko or Kyrou. Nevertheless, they could be talking to Armstrong about some of the Blues’ veterans.

Parayko is a big, hard-shooting all-around defenseman who could be a solid defense partner alongside Lane Hutson. However, he’s 32 with four more years left on his contract, and his performance could decline over that period. Parayko might not be keen to waive his no-trade clause.

The Canadiens’ interest in Kyrou is well-documented, and he could fit in well on their top line. It’s worth recalling that the Habs pursuit of Kyrou ended on July 1 when his current contract (with its full no-trade clause) went into effect. Maybe he’d waive it now to go to Montreal, maybe not.

Assuming Parayko or Kyrou agreed to be traded to Montreal, the asking price could be the deal breaker if the Blues ask for Michael Hage, Jacob Fowler, or Alexander Zharovsky.

BOBBY MCMANN BECOMING THE MAPLE LEAFS’ BEST TRADE BAIT

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the Maple Leafs could get a return for winger Bobby McMann that would be comparable to what the Vancouver Canucks received for Kiefer Sherwood from the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks got two second-round picks and minor league defenseman Cole Clayton.

Like Sherwood, the 29-year-old McMann is UFA-eligible on July 1 and carries an affordable salary-cap hit ($1.35 million). Koshan also doesn’t rule out the possibility of the winger fetching a first-round pick.

THE ATHLETIC: Joshua Kloke suggested McMann could be a perfect fit for the Edmonton Oilers. They need to improve their third-line depth, and his versatility makes it possible to move him up or down the lineup as needed.

The Oilers lack a first-round pick in 2026, but they have their first-rounders from 2027 to 2029. They also have their second-rounders for the next three years to draw on for trade bait.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox also mentioned the Oilers as a possible suitor. In addition, he mentioned colleague Nick Kypreos listing the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, and Ottawa Senators as possible suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs were expected to be sellers before their recent little win streak moved them within five points of a wildcard berth. GM Brad Treliving will likely wait until after the Olympic break to determine his club’s position in the standings before deciding whether or not to sell. Nevertheless, he’s probably fielding offers on McMann and others who are pending UFAs, such as Scott Laughton and Troy Stecher, looking for draft picks and prospects to restock his draft cupboard and prospect pipeline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2026

by | Feb 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2026

Recapping Tuesday’s action, Flyers GM Daniel Briere addresses the “noise” about Matvei Michkov and head coach Rick Tocchet, Sam Bennett is named to Team Canada, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) remained atop the Eastern Conference with 76 points following a 4-3 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. Jake Guentzel tallied the game-winner while Nikita Kucherov extended his points streak to nine games with a goal and three assists. Mattias Samuelsson tallied twice for the 32-18-6 Sabres.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have been red hot since Dec. 20, going 18-1-1 in their last 20 games.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s lower-body injury will force him to miss the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Team Finland named Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo as Luukkonen’s replacement.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored two goals, and team captain Jordan Staal snapped a 3-3 tie to nip the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Sebastian Aho netted his 20th goal of the season and collected two assists for the Hurricanes (35-15-6) as they kept pace with the Lightning with 76 points. Jake Sanderson had a goal and an assist for the 27-22-7 Senators as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division. They are second in the Eastern Conference because the Lightning holds two games in hand.

The New York Islanders got two goals and an assist from Bo Horvat, including the winner in overtime, in a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist for the 31-21-5 Islanders. Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist, and Anthony Mantha tallied his 20th goal of the season for the Penguins (28-15-12).

Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves to backstop the Columbus Blue Jackets to their sixth straight win by shutting out the New Jersey Devils 3-0. Mathieu Olivier tallied twice for the Blue Jackets (28-20-6), who are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games. Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 of 25 shots as the 28-26-2 Devils have dropped four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blue Jackets announced the promotions of Rick Nash to director of player personnel and development and Chris Clark to assistant general manager. Clark retains his position as GM of their AHL affiliate in Cleveland.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got two goals from Matias Maccelli in a 5-2 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. John Tavares tallied the winning goal as the Leafs (27-21-9) picked up their third straight win. Jake Walman and Kasperi Kapanen replied for the 28-21-8 Oilers.

A power-play goal by Jamie Drysdale snapped a 2-2 tie as the Philadelphia Flyers doubled up the Washington Capitals 4-2. Rasmus Ristolainen had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (25-20-10) as they ended a four-game winless skid (0-3-1). Anthony Beauvillier had a goal and an assist for the 28-23-7 Capitals as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere addressed the “noise” regarding recent critical comments by head coach Rick Tocchet regarding winger Matvei Michkov’s conditioning at the start of the season and his ice time.

Briere stated that Michkov isn’t going anywhere, explaining that the sophomore winger is going through the usual ups and downs that young players encounter early in their careers. He said Michkov and Tocchet have a good relationship, and that the club is doing everything it can to help the youngster succeed.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-2, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Lukas Dostal made 26 saves while Jansen Harkins and Jackson LaCombe each collected two assists for the 30-23-3 Ducks. Jordan Eberle and Tye Kartye replied for the Kraken (26-20-9).

HEADLINES

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers center Sam Bennett has been named to Team Canada as a replacement for sidelined Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil is sidelined indefinitely amid concerns he’s suffered another concussion after leaving Monday’s game against the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chytil has suffered several concussions during his NHL career. It’s reached the point where he must seriously consider ending his playing career for the sake of his long-term health.

DAILY FACEOFF: The San Jose Sharks placed forward Ryan Reaves (upper body) on injured reserve.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens placed winger Sammy Blais on waivers. If he clears, he’ll report to their AHL affiliate in Laval.

THE ATHLETIC: In the latest player poll by The Athletic, Quebec City came second as the city that those polled believed should be the next to get an NHL franchise.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quebec City is a great hockey town with an NHL-ready arena, but it’s also too small for the league’s taste. The only way they’ll get a franchise is if there becomes an urgent need to relocate one, and that’s a long shot at best.

TORONTO SUN: Former NHL defenseman Jim Morrison passed away at the age of 94. He spent nearly seven of his 12-season NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Morrison’s first tenure in the league was from 1951-52 to 1960-61 with the Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers. After several seasons in the AHL with the Quebec Aces and Baltimore Clippers, he spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1969-70 to 1970-71.

In 704 NHL regular-season games, Morrison had 40 goals and 160 assists for 200 points, and 12 points in 36 playoff games.

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










NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2026

by | Feb 3, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2026

What’s the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin? Will the Blue Jackets be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Could the Penguins add to their roster before the trade deadline? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL ARTEMI PANARIN BE TRADED BEFORE THE OLYMPIC TRADE FREEZE?

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there doesn’t seem to be any eager takers for Artemi Panarin as the Olympic trade freeze (Feb. 4-22) approaches. He indicated that the 34-year-old New York Rangers winger seeks a four-year contract extension at roughly $11 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman last Friday said he’d heard that Panarin was seeking a $50 million contract.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Panarin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He carries a cap hit of $11.6 million this season and a full no-movement clause. The Rangers are holding him out of their lineup as they attempt to find a suitable trade partner.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes last week reported that 14 clubs were interested in Panarin. They included the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars in the Western Conference, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders in the East.

Dreger’s colleagues Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston believe the Capitals and Hurricanes are among the more legitimate suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Capitals, Kings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings were believed to be willing to discuss a contract extension with the Panarin camp. He also indicated that the Ducks, Avalanche, and Stars were only interested in the Rangers winger as a playoff rental. The Hurricanes were said to be flexible regarding a contract extension, but it depended on how much they were willing to pay him.

The Golden Knights are probably out of the bidding given their limited cap space and recent acquisition of Rasmus Andersson. The Maple Leafs are sellers, not buyers. The Lightning would probably be interested in him as a rental. Ditto the Mammoth. It would be quite a swerve if the Rangers traded Panarin to the Islanders, but it’s unlikely to happen given their rivalry and the fact that they are in the same division.

WHAT WILL THE BLUE JACKETS DO IN THE TRADE MARKET?

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports that Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell faces a tough decision regarding pending forwards Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Mason Marchment.

The trio is due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, which could make them trade bait if Waddell became a seller by the March 6 trade deadline. However, the Blue Jackets have won nine of their last 10 games and are surging up the Eastern Conference standings.

Waddell said that he won’t make any substantive moves before the Olympic trade freeze begins at 3 PM ET on Wednesday, Feb. 4. He will try to use the three-week break to get those three players under contract.

RG. ORG: James Murphy reported Waddell intends to reassess his club’s position during the Olympic break and into early March. He also indicated that the Blue Jackets GM would like to re-sign Coyle, but acknowledged a trade could happen if the club falls out of playoff position.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are seven points out of a wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference. They still have some time over the remainder of the season to gain ground, but a losing skid could prove fatal to those playoff hopes.

Portzline pointed out that Waddell can’t wait until March 5 to become a buyer or a seller. Those contract talks with Jenner, Coyle, and Marchment will factor into his decision.

LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will keep his focus on the future as the March 6 trade deadline approaches. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make a move that provides more immediate help for his retooling franchise.

Yohe suggested keeping an eye on right-handed defensemen in the trade market. The Penguins are thin on the right side of their blue line.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

by | Feb 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

Recapping Monday’s action, Barry Trotz to step down as Predators’ general manager, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Steven Stamkos scored the tying and winning goals as the Nashville Predators erased a 5-1 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-5. Ryan O’Reilly also tallied twice, and Roman Josi collected four assists for the 26-23-6 Predators. Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and an assist while Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours each had three points for the Blues, who dropped to 20-27-9.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has 27 goals in 55 games, matching last season’s output in 82 games. He also moved into the top-20 among the all-time regular-season goal scorers with 609, sitting third among active scorers.

The Washington Capitals netted four unanswered goals in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Nick Dowd had a goal and an assist, and Clay Stevenson made 29 saves for the 28-22-7 Capitals, who picked up their third straight win. Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders (30-21-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had an assist to reach 1,670 career-regular-season points, putting him in fifth place among NHL players with the most points with one franchise. Gordie Howe is the leader with 1,809. Meanwhile, Capitals defenseman Matt Roy returned to action after missing three games with a lower-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz had a hat trick and collected an assist to lead his club over the Vancouver Canucks 6-2. John Marino had three assists for the Mammoth (29-23-4). Teddy Blueger had a goal and an assist as the Canucks have one win in their last six games (1-4-1), dropping to 18-32-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Filip Chytil left this game after the second period.

The Buffalo Sabres got 38 saves from Alex Lyon in a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Peyton Krebs had a goal and two assists for the Sabres (32-18-5), who’ve won six of their last seven contests. Sam Reinhart collected two assists for the 28-24-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Sam Bennett left this game with an upper-body injury. After the game, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk acknowledged his injury-ravaged club is in trouble as they try to remain in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. With 59 points, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are eight points out of a wildcard berth.

The Sabres didn’t emerge unscathed from this game, as forward Zach Benson departed in the third period with an upper-body injury.

Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux scored the winning goal to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Drake Batherson had two assists as the Senators (27-21-4) extended their win streak to four games. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves, and Egor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist for the 28-15-11 Penguins as their six-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins disputed Giroux’s goal, claiming it was goaltender interference as the Senators forward crashed into Silovs after the latter made the save, dislodging the puck and knocking the net off its moorings. Following a lengthy review, it was determined to be a goal, and Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was penalized for tripping Giroux.

The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Colorado Avalanche 2-0. John Gibson got the shutout with 21 saves while Marco Kasper and Lucas Raymond scored for the 33-18-6 Red Wings, who ended a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 36-9-9 Avalanche, who lead the league with 81 points, but have one win in their last four games.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Wild (33-14-10), who picked up their fourth straight win. Brendan Gallagher, Ivan Demidov, and Kirby Dach replied for the 31-17-8 Canadiens, who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.

An overtime goal by Thomas Harley lifted the Dallas Stars over the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 to extend their win streak to five games. Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, and Miro Heiskanen each had two points for the Stars (33-14-9). Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist for the 22-25-8 Jets.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev each had four points in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy each collected two points for the 22-25-9 Blackhawks as they ended a five-game winless skid (0-3-2). Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (27-23-4) as they’ve gone 0-2-1 in their last three games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the 26-21-9 Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist for the Flames (22-27-6) as they are 1-4-2 in their last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly missed this game with an upper-body injury and will also sit out their next game against the Edmonton Oilers.

HEADLINES

THE TENNESSEAN: Barry Trotz announced Monday that he will be stepping down as general manager of the Nashville Predators. He will remain in his position until a successor is chosen.

Trotz said he made this decision for family reasons and has no plans to return to coaching. He stated that he informed the Predators’ ownership that he was contemplating retirement when his contract expired at the end of next season.

Predators majority owner Bill Haslam said they were not pushing Trotz out of the job. “He came to us (in December) and said he wanted to retire after his contract,” Haslam said. “After some back and forth, we decided to go ahead and be transparent about it.” He also indicated that the decision was not a reflection of Trotz’s job performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has his priorities in order. Family should always come first.

Trotz is one of the greatest coaches in NHL history. He won the Jack Adams Award twice and coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. However, the Predators’ record since he took over as GM in 2023 has been uneven.

The Predators reached the playoffs in 2024 following a late-season surge but were eliminated in the opening round by the Vancouver Canucks. Trotz made a big splash in the 2024 free-agent market, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, but they failed to qualify for the postseason last year.

After stumbling through the opening two months of this season, they’ve moved to within three points of a wildcard berth in the Western Conference.

NHL.COM: Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny are the league’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 1, 2026.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard cleared waivers on Monday and will report to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

SPORTSNET: Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.