NHL Rumor Mill – November 22, 2025

by | Nov 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 22, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on Canucks forwards Lukas Reichel and Kiefer Sherwood, and an update on the Senators.

THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Luke Reichel’s brief tenure with the Vancouver Canucks could be ending. According to CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, the 23-year-old forward is an option to be moved if another club is interested in him.

Vancouver Canucks forward Lukas Reichel (NHL Images).

Reichel was chosen 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Projected to become a scoring winger, he struggled to play up to expectations. The Canucks acquired him from the Blackhawks for a fourth-round pick on Oct. 24.

In 13 games with the Canucks, Reichel has one assist. He was a healthy scratch from Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars. With sidelined Canucks forwards Teddy Blueger and Nils Hoglander returning soon, Reichel will be the odd man out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries are mounting for several teams around the league. Reichel could be a cheap pickup for a club seeking a forward with NHL experience as a stopgap. Maybe he’ll finally blossom with the right club.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there haven’t been any contract talks between the Canucks and forward Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old winger is in the final season of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million.

Sherwood enjoyed a career-best performance last season with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 78 games. He’s currently on pace to exceed those numbers, with 12 goals and 16 points in 22 games.

Dreger believes contract discussions will eventually occur between the two sides. However, the Canucks’ depth on the wings means there’s no guarantee they’ll reach an agreement. He suggested that Sherwood could become a trade candidate, most likely by the March deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are a team in transition right now. If they’re out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, they’ll likely peddle Sherwood while his trade value is high this season.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported Senators general manager Steve Staios has been studying the trade market, seeking some help for another playoff push.

Garrioch claimed the Senators have been in the market for a top-six winger since last May, preferably a physical scorer. They’d also like to bolster the right side of their defense corps.

The St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames are the few clubs believed to be willing to entertain trade offers. It’s believed Flames winger Blake Coleman is one name that is out there in the trade market, prompting Garrioch to ponder if he’d be a good fit with the Senators.

Garrioch noted the Senators don’t have many tradeable assets. They don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and their prospect cupboard isn’t overflowing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The belief is that Staios should make a bold move or two this season while core players such as Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Drake Batherson are still under contract. Tkachuk and Chabot are UFA-eligible in 2028, and Batherson in 2027.

The main problem is that there aren’t many sellers right now, and those that are willing to listen to trade offers are setting high asking prices. Staios might have to wait until the March 6 trade deadline to address his roster needs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2025

by | Nov 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2025

Recaps of Friday’s action, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck sidelined, Predators GM Barry Trotz stands by his coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres crushed the Chicago Blackhawks 9-3. Alex Tuch collected four assists, Josh Doan scored twice, and Jason Zucker had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, who’ve won three of their last four games and improved to 8-9-4. Tyler Bertuzzi tallied two goals for the 10-7-4 Blackhawks.

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal tallied twice as his club extended its points streak to five games by downing the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. Nikolaj Ehlers collected an assist in his first game back in Winnipeg to face his former club. With the win, the 14-5-2 Hurricanes (30 points)opened a three-point lead over the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Eastern Conference. Gabriel Vilardi tallied twice for the 12-8-0 Jets.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Jets announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will undergo knee surgery on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. His absence will be a significant test for the Jets. Hellebuyck was last season’s winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson turned in a 19-save shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt Boldy scored two goals and picked up an assist for the Wild (11-7-4), who’ve won four straight and eight of their last 10 games. Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs gave up four goals on 10 shots and was replaced in the second period by Sergei Murashov, who stopped 10 of 11 shots for the 10-6-4 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Vinnie Hinostroza left the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period. He is flying back to Minnesota for a reevaluation. Meanwhile, the Wild activated Zach Bogosian and Nico Sturm off injured reserve, and placed winger Vladimir Tarasenko on IR.

An overtime goal by Morgan Geekie lifted the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Geekie netted both goals for the 13-10-0 Bruins, who regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 26 points. Joel Armia scored for the Kings (10-6-6), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz praised Head Coach Andrew Brunette and his staff despite the club’s 6-10-4 record.

“I believe our coaches have done a really good job,” Trotz said. “Our record may not show it, but they are coaching their butts off.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz also defended Brunette and his staff through last season’s disappointing performance. His recent comments might quell the speculation about Brunette’s future for now, but if the Predators’ struggles continue, the pressure will grow to shake things up behind the bench and on the ice.

SPORTSNET: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen was fined $5,000.00 for embellishment by the NHL department of player safety. The incident occurred during a Nov. 11 game against the Ottawa Senators.

CALGARY SUN: Flames rookie forward Samuel Honzek underwent season-ending surgery for an upper-body injury. He’s expected to be sidelined for six months.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens recalled center Florian Xhekaj from their AHL affiliate in Laval. He’s the younger brother of Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj. The move comes after center Jake Evans was injured during Thursday’s 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 21, 2025

by | Nov 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 21, 2025

Could Rangers winger Artemi Panarin head to the KHL next season? Are the Canadiens in a hurry to make a trade? Could the Leafs move Brandon Carlo? Are the Jets willing to trade Brad Lambert? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD RANGERS WINGER ARTEMI PANARIN HEAD TO THE KHL NEXT YEAR?

RG.ORG: Sergey Demidov reports former NHL star Alexei Kovalev claims there’s talk that New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin could leave the league and return to Russia next summer. “I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s what people are saying,” Kovalev said.

Panarin, 34, is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $11.6 million. He recently rejected an offer from the Rangers similar to the two-year, $14 million contract that Anze Kopitar has with the Los Angeles Kings.

If Panarin remains unwilling to re-sign, there’s speculation suggesting the Rangers could approach him about a trade if they’re a playoff bubble team by the March 6 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything’s possible, but Panarin’s preference is likely to remain in the NHL if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He won’t get another lucrative long-term contract, but there could be teams willing to pony up $10 million annually on a three-year deal, especially with the salary cap projected to reach $113 million for 2027-28.

THE LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the injury-battered Montreal Canadiens continue to search for a second-line center, but they’re also open to a trade for a winger.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

LeBrun doesn’t expect the Canadiens to make a panic move. He pointed out that their management team of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes isn’t known for making rash decisions.

The problem is that there are few sellers. The Calgary Flames aren’t moving Nazem Kadri and aren’t in any hurry to trade Blake Coleman. During the summer, the Canadiens had an interest in St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, but his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1, and he has no intention of waiving it.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault has surfaced in the rumor mill. The 34-year-old has three years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.5 million, which would scare the Canadiens to some degree.

TVA SPORTS: Speaking of Marchessault, the Predators had two scouts at Thursday’s game between the Canadiens and the Washington Capitals. Neither club will face the Predators in the near future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current Canadiens management tends to acquire players in their mid-to-late twenties with term remaining on their contracts. They tend not to pursue aging stars with expensive contracts, such as Kadri and Marchessault.

Some pundits suggested Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly to address the Canadiens’ need for a reliable second-line center. His $4.5 million AAV through 2026-27 is affordable, but he’s 34 years old and his best seasons are behind him.

COULD THE LEAFS MOVE BRANDON CARLO?

THE ATHLETIC: Earlier this week, Jonas Siegel examined trade candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they attempt to overcome their current struggles. He suggested center Max Domi and defenseman Brandon Carlo could deliver the type of return “to deliver the splash quality that management would be looking for.”

Of the two, Siegel considered Carlo the easiest to trade. He has struggled this season and is currently sidelined. Still, he’s one of those coveted right-shot defensemen who carries an affordable cap hit ($3.45 million) with a year remaining on his contract after this season.

However, trading Carlo would leave a gaping hole on the right side of their blueline, unless they’re getting another right-shot defenseman in return. The Leafs also gave up a lot (Fraser Minten and a first-round pick) to get Carlo. Trading him now for a questionable return would look awful.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless someone loses their mind and offers up a significant return for Carlo, he will likely remain with the Leafs for at least the remainder of this season.

JETS WILLING TO MOVE LAMBERT

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Thursday that the Winnipeg Jets have given Brad Lambert and his agent permission to speak with other teams about a potential trade.

The 21-year-old center was chosen 30th overall by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s appeared in four games this season, scoring one goal while averaging just over nine minutes of ice time per game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lambert was once a highly-touted prospect, but his stock plummeted during his draft year. His performance has been inconsistent, scoring 55 points in 64 games with the Jets’ AHL affiliate in 2023-24, but only 35 points last season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 21, 2025

by | Nov 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 21, 2025

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin moves up the NHL all-time points list, three-point performances from Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied a hat trick in an 8-4 drubbing of the Montreal Canadiens. Ovechkin finished with four points, as did forward Ethen Frank with two goals and two assists. The Capitals have won three straight and improved to 11-8-2. Canadiens goaltenders Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes gave up seven goals on 35 shots as their club lost for the seventh time in their last eight games (1-4-3) and dropped to 10-7-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin moved past Joe Sakic into 10th place on the all-time points list with 1,643. Meanwhile, Canadiens center Jake Evans left this game in the third period following a high hit from Capitals winger Tom Wilson.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each had two goals and an assist to defeat the New York Rangers 6-3. Martin Necas collected three assists for the first-overall Avalanche (14-1-5, 33 points), who’ve won seven straight games. J.T. Miller tallied twice for the 10-10-2 Rangers, who lost their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon is the league leader in goals with 15 and points with 36. He also moved past Peter Stastny into second place among the Avalanche’s all-time points leaders with 1,051. Joe Sakic is the leader with 1,641. Meanwhile, Avalanche rookie Gavin Brindley left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel scored twice and picked up an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Shea Theodore had three assists for the Golden Knights (10-4-6) as they extended their points streak to five games (3-0-2). Nate Schmidt scored for the Mammoth, who are 1-4-3 in their last eight and dropped to 10-8-3.

The Columbus Blue Jackets nipped the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on an overtime tally by Adam Fantilli, who finished the game with two goals and an assist. Zach Werenski picked up three assists for the Blue Jackets (11-8-2). John Tavares had a goal and an assist for the 9-9-3 Maple Leafs, who have one win in their last seven contests (1-4-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided an update on the status of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who’s been sidelined since Nov. 11 with an upper-body injury. Berube said the injury was worse than they originally thought, adding the netminder isn’t ready yet to return to the ice. He remains hopeful that Stolarz will get back to action soon.

An overtime goal by Jack Guentzel gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Lightning Nick Paul scored in his season debut since undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury in mid-September as Tampa Bay improved to 11-7-2. Trent Frederic scored for the 9-9-5 Oilers, who have one win in their last five contests (1-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Lightning placed defenseman Victor Hedman (undisclosed) on injured reserve. He’s expected to be sidelined for two weeks.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Tye Kartye, Shane Wright, and Jaden Schwartz lifted the Seattle Kraken to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Brandon Montour had two assists as the Kraken improved to 10-5-2. Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen scored for the 10-6-4 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky left the game late in the first period following a high hit from Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who received no penalty on the play. Connor Bedard, Burakovsky’s teammate, pulled no punches when asked about the incident following the game. “It’s back-to-back games, guys going right to the head,” Bedard said. “Nothing really happens. I think it sucks. He’s a great player. It’s bullshit.”

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored to extend his goal streak to five games and his points streak to six as his club doubled up the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 4-2. Jake Oettinger kicked out 34 shots for the Stars (13-5-3), who’ve won six of their last seven contests. Forwards Elias Pettersson and Linus Karlsson replied for the 9-11-2 Canucks, who have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

The New York Islanders got a 29-save shutout performance from Ilya Sorokin to blank the Detroit Red Wings 5-0. Maxim Shabanov tallied two goals and collected an assist as the Islanders picked up their sixth win in their last seven games and improved to 12-7-2. John Gibson allowed five goals on 21 shots for the 12-8-1 Red Wings.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 shots to shut out the New Jersey Devils 1-0. Sam Reinhart tallied the only goal for the 11-8-1 Panthers. Jake Allen stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 13-6-1 Devils.

An overtime goal by Travis Sanheim gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Travis Konecny had two assists as the Flyers improved to 10-6-3 on the season. Justin Faulk tallied both goals for the 6-9-6 Blues.

Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson snapped a 2-2 tie with 1:38 remaining in the third period to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for the win as the Senators improved to 10-6-4. Beckett Sennecke and Mason McTavish scored for the 13-7-1 Ducks, who remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 27 points.

A shootout goal by Philipp Kurashev lifted the San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Yaroslav Askarov stopped 31 shots for the Sharks as they improved their record to 10-8-3. Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist for the 10-6-5 Kings.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

by | Nov 20, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

Check out the latest on the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, the Flames’ Rasmus Andersson, the Blues’ Brayden Schenn, the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON ARTEMI PANARIN AND RASMUS ANDERSSON

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson top Luke Fox’s list of next summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Panarin, 34, is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Fox indicated that Panarin wasn’t willing to accept a pay cut to remain with the Rangers despite his age (34) and declining production. Meanwhile, the Blueshirts aren’t interested in maintaining the status quo with his paychecks into his late thirties.

Fox believes the Rangers could hang onto Panarin for the rest of this season if they’re holding a playoff berth by the March 6 trade deadline. If not, they could ask him to waive his no-movement clause to join a playoff contender.

According to Fox’s colleague, Nick Kypreos, the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild may be interested in acquiring Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes might be interested in Panarin as a rental, given they’re in “win-now” mode. They acquired Mikko Rantanen last season, only to trade him weeks later when he wouldn’t sign an extension. They also attempted to acquire Mitch Marner before last year’s trade deadline.

However, their actions with Rantanen suggest they’d prefer adding a star in his prime who can be part of their lineup beyond this season. Panarin might not fit that profile.

Panarin could skate on the Wild’s second line at left wing, but they could prefer bolstering their depth at center. They could also favor a player who’d be more than a rental.

Andersson is a “talented, minute-munching, edgy right-shot defenseman with leadership skills.” That’s why his value in the trade market is high, and could be even higher if he’s willing to sign a contract extension.

Fox believes that “all signs point to the Vegas Golden Knights” as a trade destination, but he acknowledged they have limited cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights could find a way to make the cap dollars fit, but the real issue is their limited trade assets. They lack a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, and The Athletic ranked their prospect pool among the shallowest in the league, sitting 30th overall. Other clubs could outbid the Golden Knights for Andersson’s services.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman took note of the trade rumors starting to swirl about the St. Louis Blues. Regarding captain Brayden Schenn, he reports that teams that have spoken to the Blues over the past two years claim the price is very high for the 34-year-old center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schenn is signed through 2027-28 with a 15-team no-trade list. If he becomes available, it’ll likely be during the lead-up to the March 6 trade deadline.

Speaking of the Blues, Friedman said there are rumors that Alexandre Texier is considering terminating his contract. The 26-year-old winger is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.1 million, but has only appeared in one game since Oct. 28. Friedman wondered if he’d be a fit with the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens seek depth at center, but their recent injuries reportedly make them open to adding a winger. Whether Texier would interest them remains to be seen.

Friedman claimed that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov would like to be traded if he’s not going to play. The 21-year-old blueliner was a healthy scratch for their last two games. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, so Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek won’t be rushed into anything.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman considers this situation something worth monitoring. Mintyukov projects to be a talented puck-moving defenseman, so he’s bound to draw interest if he becomes available. The Ducks could seek a good young player in return.

FEW SELLERS IN THE TRADE MARKET THUS FAR

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico indicates the tightly packed standings leave few true sellers in the trade market. Clubs seeking help, especially those looking for centers, would be forced to overpay.

The Calgary Flames are mired at the bottom of the standings. They have several players, such as Andersson and forwards Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman, who have drawn interest in the trade market. However, they’re facing no urgency to move those players unless they get a significant offer.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are listening to offers. No-trade clauses are an issue for the Predators, and the Blues prefer making “hockey trades” rather than selling off talent for draft picks and prospects.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico also considered the San Jose Sharks as a wild card, but they might not be sellers if they’re in the playoff race leading up to the trade deadline. This rebuilding team still has room for improvement (especially defensively), but they’re an increasingly competitive club this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 20, 2025

by | Nov 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 20, 2025

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin reaches another scoring milestone, the Jets re-sign captain Adam Lowry, and injury updates on the Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy, the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk, and more.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 904th career regular-season goal, and rookie Ryan Leonard had his first NHL multi-goal game in a 7-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Leonard and Tom Wilson scored twice while John Carlson and Connor McMichael each collected three assists for the Capitals, who improved to 10-8-2. Darnell Nurse tallied twice for the struggling Oilers, who dropped to 9-9-4.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin also reached another scoring milestone by scoring his 480th goal at Capital One Arena (regular season and playoffs), tying Gordie Howe (480 at Detroit Olympia) for the most goals in a single venue in NHL history.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead but recovered to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on a shootout goal by Matt Boldy. Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 42 shots, and Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist for the Wild (10-7-4) as they picked up their third straight win. Jackson Blake tallied twice for the 13-5-2 Hurricanes, who collected a point to move into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Wild placed sidelined forward Ryan Hartman (lower body, week-to-week) on injured reserve.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ian Moore snapped a 3-3 tie with 3:35 remaining in the third period to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3. Lukas Dostal stopped 36 shots and Mason McTavish picked up two assists as the Ducks (13-6-1) opened a three-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division with 27 points. Morgan Geekie scored two goals for the 12-10-0 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Bruins announced that defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent successful facial surgery. McAvoy was injured on Saturday when he was struck in the face by a puck. There is no timeline yet for his return.

The Calgary Flames score four unanswered goals in the third period in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Joel Farabee tallied two goals, and Rasmus Andersson had a goal and two assists for the 6-13-3 Flames. Mattias Samuelsson and Tage Thompson replied for the Sabres, who slipped to 7-9-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames will be loaning rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh to the Canadian team for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in December.

HEADLINES

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed captain Adam Lowry to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5 million. Lowry, 32, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lowry is in the final season of a five-year deal with an AAV of $3.25 million. The 6’5”, 210-pound center is the Jets’ top defensive forward and has spent his entire 12-season NHL career with the Jets, who also re-signed Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi, Morgan Barron, and Dylan Samberg earlier this year.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is eyeing the US Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) as his return date. He’s been sidelined since Oct. 13 with an injured thumb.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers revealed that a freak cooking accident is the reason why forward Eetu Luostarinen has been sidelined. A malfunctioning gas grill resulted in Luostarinen suffering burns to the lower half of his body. He’s expected to miss a couple of weeks.

The Panthers also lost center Cole Schwindt during Monday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He suffered a broken arm that might require surgery.

SNY: The New York Islanders placed defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body) on injured reserve. He suffered the injury on Tuesday when he was driven into the end boards from behind by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen.

ESPN: Neck guards are expected to be mandatory for hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.