NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2026

by | Sep 17, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2026

Check out the latest on Nikita Kucherov, Connor Hellebuyck, and Pavel Zacha in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois reiterated his intention to sign Nikita Kucherov to a contract extension. The 33-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s in the final season of an eight-year contract with a cap hit of $9.5 million.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

BriseBois didn’t put a deadline on the negotiations, but he’ll keep working on it. “The sooner the better, obviously. If we want to get technical, I guess he won’t be a free agent until July 1 of next year. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that point,” BriseBois said.

The Lightning GM believes both sides would’ve preferred getting a deal done by now. He said he’ll keep the lines of communication open with Kucherov’s agent. He also acknowledged the effect the rising salary cap has on player contracts, and how each one is different depending on the player and the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Surprisingly, Kucherov hasn’t signed an extension yet. There’s plenty of time for the two sides to reach an agreement, but the longer he goes without a new deal, the more speculation grows about his future in Tampa Bay.

Kucherov is among the league’s elite stars. He’s a three-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy and a two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner who also helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Coming off 130 points last season, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He could be the top player in next summer’s UFA market if he’s still unsigned by then.

Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News recently examined reasons why the Lightning should be concerned about Kucherov’s UFA status, citing his age and the limited competitive years remaining for the current roster. He also noted why they shouldn’t worry, suggesting they can pay him whatever he wants and that he might not want to leave.

It would be interesting to learn what the sticking points are in these negotiations. The Kucherov camp could be seeking a longer term or more money than the Lightning are willing to give. Given his age, those are reasonable concerns.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe reports Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen declined to comment about his rumored interest in Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Kekalainen said he never told anyone in the media about his discussions with other general managers, so he doesn’t know where they’re coming from. He also expressed confidence in his goalie trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres were reportedly close to acquiring Hellebuyck in late June, but the deal fell through after a swap of draft picks before the 2026 NHL Draft.

Kekalainen won’t publicly admit any interest in Hellebuyck because it would violate the league’s anti-tampering rules. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if the Sabres remain linked to the Jets goaltender in the rumor mill.

BOSTON HERALD: Earlier this week, Steve Conroy reported uncertainty remained about Pavel Zacha’s future with the Bruins.

The 29-year-old center is UFA-eligible next July. Bruins GM Don Sweeney said earlier this summer that signing Zacha was a priority, but a deal hasn’t materialized.

Zacha is due for an expensive raise from his current $4.75 million AAV. However, Conroy speculated the cost to re-sign the two-way center might not fit in the Bruins’ youth movement expected to take place over the next two years.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley reports Sweeney provided an update on Zacha’s contract situation. He stressed the center’s importance to the Bruins, adding that discussions are ongoing with his agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sweeney could take a wait-and-see approach with Zacha, who had a career-best 30 goals and 65 points last season. If he doesn’t meet or exceed those numbers, it could justify offering him a lesser deal. However, the asking price could be higher if he has another career year.

Zacha’s situation will be worth monitoring this season. He could become available by the March 1 trade deadline if the Bruins are out of playoff contention and he’s still unsigned. Contenders seeking depth at center will be very interested in Zacha.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2026

by | Sep 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2026

The Jets suspend Connor Hellebuyck; Dylan Larkin to miss the start of Red Wings training camp; Drew Doughty is the Kings’ new captain; and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TOP HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will speak with the media on Thursday to discuss the decision.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Last month, Hellebuyck released a statement revealing he had requested a trade. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck is trying to pressure Cheveldayoff into trading him. The Jets GM will likely cite breach of contract when addressing this issue today. The suspension will likely be without pay as per the collective bargaining agreement. Hellebuyck won’t feel that right away because NHL players don’t start getting paid until the regular season begins.

It’ll be interesting to hear what Cheveldayoff has to say. If he bends and moves Hellebuyck quickly for a poor return, it could encourage other unhappy players to follow suit. It could also cost him his job.

Given Cheveldayoff’s history of dealing with players who want to be traded, he won’t make a move until he gets a decent offer, something he reportedly hasn’t received yet. That could change if injuries strike any team interested in Hellebuyck. A poor start by one of those teams could make them willing to meet Cheveldayoff’s asking price.

This could backfire on Hellebuyck. Cheveldayoff can afford to wait patiently for better offers. If the Jets struggle in Hellebuyck’s absence, fans will blame him more than the general manager. If the club copes well, that strengthens Cheveldayoff’s position. It could leave the 33-year-old Hellebuyck at risk of missing the entire season, which might not be a good idea at this stage of his career.

ESPN.COM: The Los Angeles Kings named defenseman Drew Doughty as their new captain. He replaced Anze Kopitar, who retired at the end of last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Color me unsurprised. The 36-year-old Doughty was expected to inherit the “C” from Kopitar. He’s starting his 19th season, all of them with the Kings.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice will not have Matthew and Brady Tkachuk on the same line as the brothers start their first NHL training camp together. Maurice is thinking about putting Brady alongside center Aleksander Barkov and winger Sam Reinhart.

“I don’t want to give everybody what they want with the two Tkachuk brothers together with Sam Bennett up the middle,” Maurice said with a grin. “They’ll be in jail before the puck drops.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the Tkachuks and Bennett wind up on the same line at some point this season.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes released a statement that restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin will not attend training camp. GM Eric Tulsky said that the 24-year-old Nikishin is not under contract and there would be no further comment at this time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nikishin requested a trade earlier this summer and hasn’t changed his mind. Tulsky could be working on a sign-and-trade scenario for the sophomore blueliner, who’s been linked to the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers GM Stan Bowman addressed the pushback from some of the team’s fans for signing Alex Formenton. The 27-year-old winger was among the five former Canadian junior players acquitted last year of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 in London, Ontario.

Bowman said he understood that signing Formenton might not be universally accepted by the Oilers fans. He claimed the club conducted due diligence to ensure that signing the winger would be the right decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers hiring personnel with controversial histories (including Bowman and new head coach Mike Babcock) has raised concerns from some fans and pundits about the team’s direction and the values of those doing the hiring. Their defenders argue that they deserve a second chance, but they could change their tune if the Oilers perform poorly.

INJURY ROUNDUP

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will miss the start of training camp with an upper-body injury that he suffered during off-ice training.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Is the upper-body injury a jaw wired shut? Okay, I borrowed that one-liner from my Bleacher Report colleague Sara Civian, but it would explain why we haven’t heard Larkin publicly address his messy trade request yet.

Speaking of the Red Wings, interim GM Shawn Horcoff said the club has no desire to rebuild its roster. “We have too many good players in that lineup,” he said, pointing to how close they’ve come to making the playoffs during the last three seasons. Horcoff said his goal, and that of his players, is to keep looking forward.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will miss the start of training camp with a lower-body injury. It’s uncertain when the superstar blueliner will be ready, but head coach Jared Bednar doesn’t believe it’s a cause for concern. He also indicated that Makar’s injury isn’t related to the one he suffered in the postseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will be sidelined for the next two weeks due to inflammation from a previous injury. He could be sidelined for the start of the regular season.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the next four to five weeks due to minor surgery this summer to repair an adductor muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle’s injury opens a spot for one of the Canadiens’ promising young defensemen like David Reinbacher or Adam Engstrom to prove they’re ready to make the jump to the NHL.

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs forward Max Domi failed his training camp physical and will be sidelined indefinitely. He suffered complications from offseason back surgery.

Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has a virus and could miss at least their first preseason game. He is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

OTTAWA SUN: Sidelined Senators defenseman Artem Zub and winger Warren Foegele won’t be full participants in training camp. That could lead to a free agent like Ben Hutton being signed to a professional tryout offer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (offseason hip surgery) and Dominic James (broken right hand) could miss the start of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning signed center Luke Glendening to a PTO contract.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Long-time Blue Jackets president Mike Priest will retire on Sept. 30 after 30 years with the team.

SPORTSNET: The Seattle Kraken hired Chuck Fletcher as a senior advisor to the general manager. Fletcher served as a general manager with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils named Bryan McCabe as vice president of prospect personnel and assistant GM of their AHL affiliate in Utica. Jessica Campbell was named manager of player development.

TSN: The Boston Bruins signed center Matt Poitras to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Winger Ryan Reaves announced his retirement.https://apnews.com/article/ryan-reaves-retires-78450b7c42360ea0bcf2f7da0bf927c6

The 39-year-old enforcer spent 16 seasons in the NHL (2010-11 to 2025-26) with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and San Jose Sharks. In 962 regular-season games, Reaves had 140 points and 1,137 PIMs. He also had nine points and 116 PIMs in 113 playoff games.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2026

by | Sep 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2026

The latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Morgan Rielly, Samuel Montembeault, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Roundup.

JETS GOALIE CONNOR HELLEBUYCK COULD REFUSE TO REPORT TO CAMP

TSN: Darren Dreger said he doesn’t expect Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to report to training camp this week. That will force the Jets to respond, likely on Wednesday or Thursday.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Dreger indicated that there would be no immediate financial punishment because NHL players don’t get paid until the regular season begins.

According to Dreger, the trade interest in Hellebuyck has been minimal. There was activity with the Buffalo Sabres before that draft but very little since. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn’t received any offers that he considers fair value for an elite goalie like Hellebuyck

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck revealed his trade request last month. Refusing to report to training camp will be seen as a tactic to force Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to trade him before the season begins.

Because Hellebuyck is under contract, the Jets can suspend him without pay if his holdout stretches into the regular season. While he’s suspended, his salary doesn’t count against the Jets’ cap payroll.

If Hellebuyck sits out the season, they will toll his contract forward, meaning he’ll still have five years left on his contract instead of four years. That might be fine for Hellebuyck, but it could make interested parties leery of acquiring a 34-year-old goalie with five years left on his deal at $8.5 million annually.

If Hellebuyck goes this route, it could backfire. The longer he’s out, the harder it could be for him to get back into game shape if he’s traded later in the season. Given his age, he can’t afford to blow off a season if he hopes to play for a Stanley Cup contender one day.

Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience regarding players who want to be traded. The Jets GM could have the support of Winnipeg fans, many of whom aren’t happy with Hellebuyck’s stance and won’t support moving the three-time Vezina Trophy winner for pennies on the dollar.

Hellebuyck will wear it if the Jets struggle without him. Meanwhile, Cheveldayoff could wait until one of those interested clubs is willing to meet his asking price. Those clubs are unwilling to do so now, but that could change if injuries strike or they have a bad start to the season.

MORGAN RIELLY WILL REMAIN WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston report Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka said there was no point during the offseason when he had a serious opportunity to trade Morgan Rielly.

Earlier this summer, the 32-year-old defenseman was the subject of trade speculation. In June, it was reported that his agent submitted a list of four Western Conference teams that he’d be willing to join, but Rielly never expressed the desire to leave Toronto.

Chayka believes Rielly will continue playing an important role on the Leafs, citing his puck-moving abilities to create offense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks were rumored to be interested in Rielly. However, they opted to acquire Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers instead.

Rielly struggled over the past two seasons under former head coach Craig Berube’s defense-first system. He could regain his offensive form under new coach Jim Hiller.

CANADIENS WON’T KEEP A THREE-GOALIE SYSTEM THIS SEASON

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes doesn’t intend to have a three-goalie system this season. He said he’s comfortable starting training camp with Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, and Samuel Montembeault, but probably not for the upcoming regular season.

Of the three goalies, only Fowler can be sent to their AHL affiliate in Laval without passing through waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Brendan Kelly revisited his theme that the Canadiens can’t keep Montembeault on their roster following last season’s sub-par performance.

Kelly acknowledged the difficulty Hughes would’ve faced trying to trade the 30-year-old Montembeault this summer. However, he cited veteran analyst Pierre McGuire’s recent suggestion that the Canadiens should put Montembeault on waivers. McGuire believes Montembeault won’t clear, removing his $3.15 million salary cap hit from their books.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kelly fears the Canadiens will give Montembeault too much playing time, which could cost them games if his struggles continue. That’s what happened during the first two months of last season, but they didn’t have much choice after Dobes cooled off following a hot start. At that time, they didn’t think Fowler was NHL-ready.

That’s not the case this season. Dobes seized the starter’s role with a strong second-half performance, while Fowler acquitted himself well as Dobes’ backup.

Montembeault will have a shorter leash this season. If he struggles again, it’s unlikely any club will claim him if he hits the waiver wire. In that case, the Canadiens would recall Fowler and either demote Montembeault or put him in the press box.

THE FLYERS AREN’T DONE TRYING TO MAKE A BIG MOVE

TSN: Darren Dreger believes the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t done attempting to make a big splash this season. He pointed to their signing Leo Carlsson in July to a lucrative offer sheet, which the Anaheim Ducks matched.

Dreger said they’re still “big-game hunting” as they seek a star forward or a star defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word on which players the Flyers could pursue, but they will be worth watching whenever a notable forward or defenseman becomes available this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 16, 2026

by | Sep 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 16, 2026

The Ducks re-signed Cutter Gauthier, the Blackhawks name Connor Bedard captain, the Red Wings make Shawn Horcoff interim GM, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks re-signed Cutter Gauthier to a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $13.5 million, making the 22-year-old winger the second-highest-paid player on the team.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier completed his entry-level contract last season. He’s coming off a breakout performance in which he led the Ducks with 41 goals and 69 points.

After matching Leo Carlsson’s five-year contract offer ($18 million AAV) from the Philadelphia Flyers in July, the Ducks had little choice but to pay Gauthier a substantial raise. However, they had to terminate the final year of veteran winger Chris Kreider’s contract ($6.5 million AAV) to free up the necessary cap space, which could adversely affect their top-six forward depth this season.

The Ducks got Gauthier signed for slightly less than expected. Projections had him receiving between $14 million and $15 million after he reportedly rejected a four-year offer worth $13 million annually.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings named assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff as their interim GM while they continue their search for a permanent one. Horcoff has been handling day-to-day operations since Steve Yzerman was removed as GM in mid-July. He can now make personnel decisions and negotiate contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s puzzling why the Wings didn’t do this earlier, considering that team captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request had to be addressed, and restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson had to be re-signed. Those two factors should be Horcoff’s priority with training camp opening on Thursday.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks named Connor Bedard as team captain. He’s the 37th captain in franchise history and the second-youngest behind Jonathan Toews.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi will serve as alternate captains. Bedard is currently recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and will be sidelined until November.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals responded to requests for comment regarding team captain Alex Ovechkin’s appearance in an ad video for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party.

In a statement, the team said that Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will continue to do so when he retires. They claimed he was asked by his country to appear in the video. The statement cited Ovechkin as the longest-serving pro athlete in Washington and a pillar of the community before concluding that the team is focused on the upcoming season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin was getting roasted on social media for his appearance in the video because of Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, with Hockey Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek among those leading the charge. The Capitals’ “word salad” statement only intensified the criticism.

Speaking of the Capitals, winger Ryan Leonard was signed to an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of $10.5 million. They also signed forward Justin Sourdif to an eight-year extension worth $6.35 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yesterday was the final day for teams to re-sign eligible players to eight-year maximum term contracts. As of today, the maximum term for re-signings is seven years and six years for unrestricted free agents.

The Capitals are betting that Leonard and Sourdif will build on the potential they showed last season. Both are coming off promising rookie seasons, with Leonard scoring 20 goals and 45 points while Sourdif had 15 goals and 35 points.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed team captain Jordan Staal to a one-year, bonus-laden contract extension. Staal, 38, won the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. The deal carries a base salary of $900,000, with a $4 million signing bonus and other bonuses that could take him up to $5.1 million.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils signed winger Luke Evangelista to a five-year extension worth an AAV of $7.25 million. Earlier this month, the 25-year-old Evangelista was acquired from the Nashville Predators

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Evangelista had a career-best 56-point performance with Nashville last season.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens signed winger Alex Newhook to a four-year contract extension ($5.5 million AAV) and inked defenseman Arber Xhekaj to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Xhekaj was the subject of considerable offseason trade speculation. This signing should silence the conjecture for now, but it’s also a “show-me” contract as the big defenseman must prove he can play a larger role on the Canadiens’ crowded blueline.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild signed head coach John Hynes to a multi-year contract extension. He was set to enter the final season of his current deal.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers invited forward Nathan Bastian to training camp on a professional tryout offer.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 15, 2026

by | Sep 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 15, 2026

Check out the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Cutter Gauthier, Adam Fantilli, and Alexander Nikishin in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC’S Murat Ates cited a clip of TSN’s Darren Dreger explaining why Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t been traded yet.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

According to Dreger, the offers for Hellebuyck were “terrible”. The 33-year-old netminder has a full no-movement clause, but there are “more than a few teams” that he’d be willing to go to.

However, Dreger claimed most of those teams have decent goaltending. While some see the three-time Vezina Trophy winner as an upgrade, they want him at a discount price, which the Jets can’t do.

Dreger also dismissed suggestions of trading Hellebuyck to the Edmonton Oilers or Montreal Canadiens. “He’s not waiving to stay in Canada,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ates felt this could be humbling for Hellebuyck. It also makes it difficult for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to find a suitable return.

The more immediate question is whether Hellebuyck reports to training camp if Cheveldayoff hasn’t moved him by then. We won’t have to wait long to find out.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols took note of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman last week claiming he was getting mixed messages regarding Hellebuyck and the Devils. “For a time, I heard they weren’t interested. I know some people think they are.”

Nichols is skeptical that the Devils want Hellebuyck. He pointed out that first-year GM Sunny Mehta has already addressed his goaltending by shipping Jacob Markstrom to Florida, re-signing Nico Daws, and adding David Rittich.

The Devils lack the salary-cap space to take on Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million AAV this season. They also don’t have a suitable goalie to offer up to the Jets as part of the return.

Nichols also noted that acquiring Hellebuyck would use tradable assets that might be required to land Quinn Hughes if the Minnesota Wild defenseman becomes available before the March 1 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils reportedly looked into acquiring Hughes before he was traded to the Wild by the Vancouver Canucks last December. It’s no secret that he wants to play alongside his brothers Jack and Luke one day. Acquiring Hellebuyck could put that dream on the back burner.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Anaheim Ducks have made progress in contract talks with restricted free agent winger Cutter Gauthier. Both sides remain determined to get a deal done before training camp opens later this week.

LeBrun speculated that the 21-year-old Gauthier could get a six-year deal with an AAV between $13 million and $14 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier reportedly rejected a four-year deal worth $13 million annually. If this gets done, it could be closer to $14 million.

As for Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, LeBrun reports the negotiations continue, but things are moving slowly. Both sides still have a substantial gap to overcome

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin “requested a change of scenery” after last season. According to LeBrun’s sources, the 24-year-old blueliner has not backed off from that request.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That explains why Nikishin surfaced in the rumor mill in June after the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. He’s a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract last season and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet.

Nikishin has been linked to the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. It’s also been suggested that he’d have to be part of the return to the Jets if the Hurricanes attempt to acquire Connor Hellebuyck.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 15, 2026

by | Sep 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 15, 2026

Senators close to re-signing Drake Batherson, Bo Horvat named Islanders captain, Sabres re-sign Noah Ostlund, Canadiens re-sign coach Martin St. Louis, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators and winger Drake Batherson are close to an eight-year contract extension. The average annual amount is believed to be between $10.5 million and $11 million, with a formal announcement expected on Tuesday.

Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators want to keep Batherson, who wants to retire as a Senator. Both sides are rushing to get this deal done because today is the deadline for teams to re-sign players to eight-year maximum term contracts. After Sept. 15, the maximum term drops to seven years, while the term for signing unrestricted free agents drops from seven years to six.

Hockey analytics guru “JFresh” reports Batherson’s new deal is for eight years with a $10.6 million AAV, but there’s been no official announcement as of this writing.

Batherson, 28, would become the highest-paid player in Senators history. He’s been a consistent offensive winger, posting 20-plus goals and 60-plus points in each of the last four seasons, including a career-high 33 goals and 71 points in 2025-26.

**UPDATE** 

The Batherson deal is now confirmed at eight years with a $10.75 million AAV. 

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders named Bo Horvat as their new team captain. He replaced Anders Lee, who departed to the Utah Mammoth this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers suggested 19-year-old wunderkind Matthew Schaefer might be tapped for the captaincy. Schaefer will likely earn that honor one day, but Horvat is the better choice for now. The 31-year-old two-way center has 12 NHL seasons under his belt, including four seasons as captain of the Vancouver Canucks.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres signed sophomore forward Noah Ostlund to an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of $6.6 million.

Ostlund, 22, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. He had 27 points in 60 games last season, but management is convinced that he’s earned this lucrative long-term extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres beat the deadline for locking up players to eight-year contracts. This deal follows a similar move by the Vancouver Canucks, who recently signed promising defenseman Zeev Buium to an eight-year deal with a $9.38 million AAV.

Like the Canucks, the Sabres are betting on a promising young player reaching his potential. Ostlund is projected to become a skillful two-way forward. If he meets or exceeds expectations, his extension will be a bargain over the long term, especially under a rapidly rising salary cap.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Montreal Canadiens signed head coach Martin St. Louis to a three-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: St. Louis has done a tremendous job with the rebuilding Canadiens, coaching them from dead last in 2021-22 to the Eastern Conference Final last season.

The Canadiens also announced that Josh Anderson will be an alternate captain. He replaced Brendan Gallagher, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in June.

TVA SPORTS: Speaking of the Canadiens, Renaud Lavoie reports defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the start of this season as he continues to rehab from offseason surgery. Lavoie believes the oft-injured Guhle will return sometime in November.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle’s injury opens up an opportunity for one of the Canadiens’ young defensemen to earn a roster spot. However, that could force management to trade or demote a blueliner once Guhle is ready to return.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Canadiens and Arber Xhekaj are close to agreeing to a new contract for the 25-year-old defenseman. He’s expected to be signed before training camp opens on Wednesday.

THE DENVER POST: Joe Sakic will remain as general manager of the Colorado Avalanche. Sakic, who also serves as president of hockey operations, took over the GM position from Chris MacFarland, who departed in June to become the general manager of the Nashville Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sakic is taking over the role for the second time. He initially served as GM from 2014 to 2022, building the Avalanche into a Stanley Cup champion.

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed UFA goaltender Cam Talbot to a one-year, $950,000 contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talbot, 39, will fill in for Elvis Merzlikins, who is sidelined indefinitely following offseason shoulder surgery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins hired Marcel Braithwaite as their new president of business operations. Braithwaite spent the past 14 years as senior vice president of MLB’s Houston Astros.