NHL Rumor Mill – October 17, 2025

by | Oct 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 17, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the Devils hope to re-sign Jacob Markstrom, Rangers winger Brennan Othmann is drawing some interest, and the latest on the Maple Leafs.

DEVILS TALKING CONTRACT WITH MARKSTROM

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the New Jersey Devils have had contract extension talks with the representatives for goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

The 35-year-old goaltender is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

Dreger indicated the discussions were “healthy”, adding that negotiations are expected to continue. There is a mutual interest from both sides to get something done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was a recent rumor claiming the Devils offered Markstrom an extension with a slightly lower AAV of $5 million. However, there’s been no confirmation about that.

Markstrom could draw a lot of attention if he goes to market next summer. Apart from himself, there aren’t many experienced starting goalies who could be available. They include Florida’s aging Sergei Bobrovsky, Carolina’s oft-injured Frederik Andersen, and Edmonton’s inconsistent Stuart Skinner.

RANGERS COULD CONSIDER MOVING OTHMANN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports New York Rangers prospect winger Brennan Othmann is garnering some interest in the trade market. The 22-year-old was sent down to their AHL affiliate in Hartford, and there have been conversations with other clubs about his future.

Friedman indicates the Rangers have a lot of wingers. Othmann might benefit from a change of scenery.

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano cited a league source claiming the Rangers are open to moving Othmann. There’s been no trade request from the young winger, but both sides feel he might benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.

Rangers general manager Chris Drury is believed to be gauging interest in Othmann, but he’s not in a rush to move him. It’s uncertain what type of return Drury would want.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Othmann was the Rangers’ first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He’s had 25 games with the Blueshirts since 2023-24, collecting two assists.

Drury has been steadily reshaping the Rangers’ roster since last December. Othmann would be the latest of several players to be shipped out in recent months. Given the young winger’s struggles, he might not fetch much of a return unless he’s included in a package deal.

LEAFS MANAGEMENT HAS THE GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE A MAJOR MOVE IF POSSIBLE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that Keith Pelley, the CEO and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), feels that it’s “go time” for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the salary cap rising and the Maple Leafs having some cap flexibility, LeBrun believes Pelley has given the green light to general manager Brad Treliving to “take a swing” at a deal sometime before the March 6 trade deadline.

Treliving remains in the market for a top-six forward. Given the average age of the Leafs roster, there’s a sense of urgency to get over the hump this season.

LeBrun believes they’ll have to get creative given their limited trade assets. They don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Drafts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how creative Treliving can get to land that elusive top-six forward before the trade deadline. And no, shopping Nick Robertson won’t be enough to get it done.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2025

by | Oct 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2025

Jets center Mark Scheifele, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tie franchise records. Get the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, tying former teammate Blake Wheeler for the Jets 2.0 franchise points record with 812. Kyle Connor collected two assists for the Jets, who extended their win streak to three games. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored his first of the season as his club has dropped three of its first four games (1-2-1).

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Auston Matthews lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the New York Rangers 2-1. Matthews tied Mats Sundin for the most regular-season overtime goals (14) in Leafs history. William Nylander also scored for the Leafs, who’ve won three of their first five games. Juuso Parssinen replied for the Rangers, who dropped their third straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reports Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz believes there should be a rule change when a goalie loses his mask during play.

Under NHL rules, play can continue against a goalie who is not wearing a mask if a scoring chance is imminent. Stolarz’s mask was knocked off by a shot from Rangers forward Matt Rempe, but the Rangers still controlled the play, forcing the Leafs’ goalie to make a save without his mask before a stoppage in play.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored the tying goal with 20 seconds remaining in the third period and the winning goal in the final seconds of overtime for a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Caufield tied Howie Morenz for the most regular-season overtime goals in franchise history with 10. Oliver Kapanen also scored for the Canadiens, who have won four of their last five to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division. Steven Stamkos and Nick Perbix scored for the Predators, who are 2-2-1 to open the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield’s tying goal came after teammate Lane Hutson blocked an attempt at an empty-net goal by Jonathan Marchessault. Hutson quickly fired a long pass to Caufield, and the rest is history.

The Vegas Golden Knights held off the Boston Bruins 6-5, extending their season-opening points streak to five games (3-0-2). William Karlsson scored twice, Mark Stone had three assists, and Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev picked up two points for the Golden Knights. Michael Eyssimont and Sean Kuraly each had two points for the Bruins, who’ve dropped two straight after winning their first three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is tied with Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto for the most goals this season with six. Stone leads all skaters with nine assists, and Eichel is the points leader with 11. Golden Knights forward Brett Howden and defenseman Noah Hanifin missed this game due to injuries.

Earlier in the day, the Golden Knights announced the signing of free-agent goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout offer.

A hat trick by Bo Horvat powered the New York Islanders to their first win of the season (1-3-0) by doubling up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Mathew Bazal had a goal and an assist, and David Rittich stopped 31 shots for the Islanders. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a horrible game for Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. His defensive mistakes led to breakaway goals by Barzal and Horvat.

Shootout goals by Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Pinto also scored in regulation to tie Pavel Dorofeyev with his league-leading sixth goal, while Dylan Cozens tied the game late in regulation. Chandler Stephenson tallied twice for the Kraken, who are 2-0-2 in their first four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Senators announced team captain Brady Tkachuk underwent surgery on his injured hand. He is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Kraken forward Frederick Gaudreau left the game after the second period with an undisclosed injury.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1, handing the defending Stanley Cup champions their third straight loss after they opened the season with three straight wins. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist while Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils, who have won three straight. Evan Rodrigues scored for the Panthers.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and winger Conor Garland each had a goal and an assist as they overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Dallas Stars. Thatcher Demko made 28 saves for the Canucks, who are 2-2-0 to start the season. Jason Robertson had two assists for the Stars, who suffered their first loss after opening the season with three straight wins.

The Colorado Avalanche extended their season-opening points streak to five games (4-0-1) by dropping the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1, leaving them with one win in their first four games. Valeri Nichushkin tallied twice, and Cale Makar had a goal and an assist. Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 32 shots for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, Cam Atkinson signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets and officially announced his retirement. The 36-year-old forward spent 10 of his 13-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets. In 809 regular-season games with Columbus, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning from 2011-12 to 2024-25, Atkinson had 253 goals and 236 assists for 489 points. He also had 26 points in 35 playoff games.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored two goals and set up another in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes, who remain undefeated to start the season (4-0-0). Leo Carlsson replied for the Ducks (2-2-0).

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Filip Hallander’s first NHL goal was the game-winner, and Erik Karlsson collected two assists for the 3-2-0 Penguins. Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings, who’ve dropped four of their last five contests (1-3-1).










NHL Rumor Mill – October 16, 2025

by | Oct 16, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 16, 2025

Could the Oilers make a big addition to their roster this season? Will the Flyers end up trading Christian Dvorak? Are the Hurricanes seeking a goalie? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples noted that the rising salary cap and the presence of superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have prompted some Oilers fans to speculate about the club pursuing star players from struggling teams, such as Buffalo’s Alex Tuch.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

However, Staples doesn’t see the Oilers acquiring a top-line forward like Tuch or a No.1 goaltender during this season. He pointed out that the club is up against the $95.5 million salary cap, and they have little to trade other than their 2027 first-round pick.

The only players the Oilers have earning more than $2 million annually who lack no-trade protection are defensemen Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak, and goaltender Stuart Skinner. Bouchard isn’t going anywhere; the Oilers won’t move Skinner if he performs well this season, leaving only Kulak.

Staples believes the earliest the Oilers can make a significant addition to their roster is next summer, when they’ll have more salary cap space to use in the unrestricted free agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could surprise by making a move by the March trade deadline. However, Kulak won’t fetch much in return, and their 2027 first-rounder is likely to be a low pick in that round, which also affects its trade value.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz recently wondered how long Christian Dvorak will be with the Philadelphia Flyers this season. The 29-year-old center signed a one-year, $5.4 million contract this summer as a free agent.

Kurz said the Flyers plan to remain competitive at least through the March 6 trade deadline. If they can’t, Dvorak could become a trade candidate. He’s the type of forward a playoff team covets because of his two-way game and his ability to play center or wing.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli reported the Carolina Hurricanes are monitoring the waiver wire for a goaltender after Pyotr Kochetkov was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes got a win from call-up Brandon Bussi against the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. They could stick with him and starting goalie Frederik Andersen until Kotchetkov is healthy.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

by | Oct 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, injury updates, the highlights from the latest Board of Governors’ meeting, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres snapped their season-opening three-game losing streak with a convincing 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn each tallied twice, and Zach Benson collected four assists in his season debut with the Sabres. Jordan Spence had three assists, and Jake Sanderson scored and set up another for the Senators.

Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (NHL Images

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators played without left wing Brady Tkachuk, who is seeking a second opinion regarding his hand/wrist injury suffered on Monday against the Nashville Predators. If the Senators captain requires surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Justin Danforth left this game with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Lukas Reichel each had three points to lead their club over the St. Louis Blues 8-3. Bedard had three assists, and Reichel scored two goals and picked up an assist as the Blackhawks got their second straight win after going 0-2-1. Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist for the Blues as their win streak ended at two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks announced that team captain Nick Foligno is taking a leave of absence as his daughter undergoes a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. Patrick Kane scored what proved to be the winning goal, and teammate Mason Appleton netted two goals as the Wings picked up their third straight win. Brad Marchand replied for the Panthers, who have dropped two straight after opening the season with three consecutive victories.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Panthers announced defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be sidelined for five months following wrist surgery. As a result, the Panthers claimed blueliner Donovan Sebrango off waivers from the Senators. Kulikov joins Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, left wing Matthew Tkachuk, and winger Tomas Nosek on injured reserve.

The Red Wings played without winger Lucas Raymond, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forwards Barrett Hayton, JJ Peterka, and Kevin Stenlund scored to lead their club to a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who have lost four straight following their season-opening win. Devin Cooley stopped 29 shots for Calgary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth also revealed their mascot, “Tusky”.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LATEST NHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING.

SPORTSNET: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is concerned about the progress of the two hockey rinks under construction for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.

Bettman made the remarks to reporters following the NHL Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. If the main arena isn’t ready on time, Bettman stated that the International Olympic Committee must deal with it, adding the league has made the IOC aware of its concerns. Bettman also said the NHL Players Association shares those concerns.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

Bettman said expansion was not discussed during the meeting, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and another in Phoenix. Daly stated that expansion is not an initiative that the league is pursuing before 2030.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reason Daly mentioned 2030 is that is when the current CBA will expire. It’s also rumored that the league would seek an expansion fee of $2 billion for each new franchise.

Bettman indicated that no changes are expected for the projected salary-cap numbers for the next two years. The cap is projected to rise from $95.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27 and $113.5 million for 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent media speculation suggests that the cap could be higher than expected due to greater-than-anticipated revenue. If that’s the case, we’ll likely have to wait until later in the season for confirmation.

INJURY UPDATES AND MORE

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (upper-body injury) was placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss at least the Rangers’ next seven games.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Matt Duchene is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. They have recalled netminder Nico Daws from their AHL affiliate.

DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood is out for at least a week after suffering an eye injury during Monday’s game against the Devils.

THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are day-to-day with injuries.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Derek Forbort on injured reserve.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York is expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. They have activated him from injured reserve.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings have reacquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Copley was claimed off waivers by the Lightning earlier this month.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 15, 2025

by | Oct 15, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 15, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Adrian Kempe’s contract talks with the Kings, a suggested trade target for the Sabres, what’s next for the Canadiens, and the Nick Robertson trade rumors return.

THE LATEST ON ADRIAN KEMPE’S CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Adrian Kempe wants to remain with the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Friedman said that initial contract discussions between the Kings and Kempe’s camp had been about an average annual salary between $9 million and $10 million. However, the recent signings of notable stars like Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov and Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor could push that price higher.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings will have to pony up if they want to keep Kempe in the fold, perhaps between $10.5 million and $11.5 million on a long-term deal. Unless they intend to rebuild, they can’t risk losing their leading scorer, especially with Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of this season.

SHOULD THE SABRES PURSUE RICKARD RAKELL?

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn recently looked at several options for the Buffalo Sabres to replace sidelined center Josh Norris.

The trade route is one option. Fairburn suggested Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins as a trade target. The 32-year-old has spent much of his career as a winger but can play center and could be a decent middle-six addition.

Rakell is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $5 million. He also carries an eight-team no-trade list, which could be a problem for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rakell doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to leave the Penguins. Given the Sabres’ long-time woes, they’re likely among the teams on his no-trade list.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS AFTER RE-SIGNING LANE HUTSON?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens’ next priority is re-signing Mike Matheson. The 31-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July.

LeBrun said Canadiens management wants to re-sign Matheson, and the veteran blueliner and his agent are interested in having that discussion. The contract term will be the issue, as he doesn’t want a short-term deal. LeBrun speculates the sweet spot could be a four or five-year contract. Finding the right AAV will also be a factor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and several Habs, including team captain Nick Suzuki, think highly of Matheson’s play. He’s become more comfortable in his role as a big-minute blueliner, especially now that he’s paired with offseason addition Noah Dobson.

Matheson is finishing an eight-year contract with an AAV of $4.875 million. The Canadiens have the cap space to sign him to a four or five-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million to $7 million. Given his value to the Habs, it won’t be surprising if that’s what he gets from them.

THE NICK ROBERTSON TRADE RUMORS HAVE RETURNED

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Nick Robertson has resurfaced in the rumor mill. He said that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has recently spoken with clubs that may have some interest in the 24-year-old forward.

Dreger said Robertson is pushing for a larger role with the Maple Leafs. However, the club’s depth has put him in a tough spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve heard the same thing about Robertson for the past two years. Either the Maple Leafs have set an unreasonably high asking price, or the interest in him from some other clubs is lukewarm. We’ll see what happens as the season unfolds.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 15, 2025

by | Oct 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 15, 2025

Recaps of Tuesday’s games, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reaches another milestone, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk sidelined for weeks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens took their home-opener by downing the Seattle Kraken 5-4 in overtime. Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winning goal, and Ivan Demidov tallied the tying goal late in the third to force the extra period. Jared McCann had a goal and an assist for the Kraken. The Canadiens have won three straight since dropping their season-opener to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Canadiens held a video tribute to their late Hall of Famer Ken Dryden, prompting a touching standing ovation from the fans.

Earlier in the day, the Canadiens announced that president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes agreed to contract extensions. The duo has done an impressive job rebuilding the roster by focusing on young talent.

Speaking of young talent, RG. Org’s Marco D’Amico reports that Canadiens prospect Michael Hage is following up an impressive freshman season with the University of Michigan to become a more complete two-way center in his sophomore campaign.

The Habs see the 19-year-old Hage as a future center. For now, he’s focused on playing for Canada at the 2026 World Juniors and helping Michigan win a national championship.

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had two goals in a 7-4 drubbing of the Nashville Predators, handing the latter their first loss of the season. John Tavares, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each collected three points for the Leafs while Nick Perbix had a goal and an assist for the Predators.

Anaheim Ducks forward Chris Kreider scored twice, including the winner late in the third period, to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected two assists, moving past Steve Yzerman into ninth place among the all-time assist leaders with 1,065.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots to blank the New York Rangers 2-0. Trent Frederic and Adam Henrique were the goal scorers. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal on 21 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers became the first team in NHL history to be shut out in their first three home games of the season.

The Vegas Golden Knights extended their season-opening points streak to four games (2-0-2) by overcoming a 2-0 deficit to double up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Jack Eichel tallied twice while Mitch Marner and Tomas Hertl each had two points. Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury and was still being evaluated after the game. Akira Schmid made 19 saves for the win.

An overtime goal by Jakob Chychrun lifted the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tom Wilson had a goal and two assists for the Capitals as they picked up their third straight victory. Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point scored for the Lightning.

Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger kicked out 39 shots in a 5-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild. Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists for the Stars, while Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist for the Wild. Stars center Matt Duchene left the game in the third period following a hit by Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton.

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi made 16 saves in his NHL debut, and Logan Stankoven collected two assists. William Eklund scored for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Hurricanes placed netminder Pyotr Kochetkov on injured reserve.

HEADLINES

TSN: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is expected to miss at least four weeks with a hand/wrist injury suffered during their loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk’s absence will be a significant early test for the Senators. Someone must step up and fill the leadership void.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, winger Drake Batherson is expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Batherson missed the first three games of the regular season after suffering an upper-body injury during training camp.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet cited his club’s high penalty minutes and an offseason ankle issue as the reasons behind Matvei Michkov’s reduced ice time thus far. The 20-year-old sophomore winger has yet to score while averaging 15 minutes of ice time per game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov was among the league’s rookie scoring leaders last season. His performance will be a crucial part of the rebuilding Flyers this season.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports revenue projections for this season are strong enough that the players won’t have escrow deducted from their paychecks. They’ll also have escrow money refunded from 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Friedman also said that there’s talk of the salary cap for 2026-27 being higher than the projected $104 million. There could be more clarity on the issue following the Board of Governors meetings in New York this week.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL defenseman Erik Johnson has landed an analyst gig with ESPN. Johnson announced his retirement earlier this month.