NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2026

by | Oct 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid sets an assist record, Nikita Kucherov ties a Lightning scoring record, the Kings finally get their first win of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected three assists to become the fastest player in league history to reach the 20-assist mark in a season (nine games) as his club nipped the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on an overtime goal by Evan Bouchard. Leon Draisaitl tallied twice for the 7-1-1 Oilers. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy each had two points for the Wild (6-2-2).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hall of Famers Pat Lafontaine (1992-93), Mario Lemieux (1988-89), and Wayne Gretzky (1986-87) held the previous record of 10 games.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 6-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves, and Anthony Cirelli scored two goals for the Lightning (7-2-0) as they won their third straight game. Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights (8-3-0) as they cling to first place in the Western Conference with 16 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 1,137 points, Kucherov has tied former Lightning center Steven Stamkos as the franchise’s highest-scoring player. He could break the record during Friday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Los Angeles Kings finally picked up their first win of the season by overcoming a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Washington Capitals 5-2. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Adrian Kempe scored twice for the 1-4-2 Kings. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals, who slipped to 5-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings center Quinton Byfield left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. Winger Mats Zuccarello returned to the lineup after missing three games with an undisclosed injury.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick lifted his club to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Jake Oettinger turned aside 18 shots for the 5-3-1 Stars to extend their win streak to three games. Matthew Poitras and James Hagens scored for the Bruins (7-2-1), but they still hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 15 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Esa Lindell missed this game with a lower-body injury as he’ll be sidelined for a week.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Kirill Marchenko scored against his former team in a 6-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 5-4-2. Jake Christiansen and Charlie Coyle scored for the 3-5-0 Blue Jackets, who remain in last place in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe left this game with a facial injury in the first period when he was accidentally cut by the stick of Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson. There was no postgame update regarding his condition.

San Jose Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini scored twice (including the winner in overtime) and collected an assist to rally his club from a 3-1 deficit for a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Michael Misa and Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Sharks as they improved to 5-4-1. Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist for the 4-3-2 Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have blown a two-goal lead in four of their nine games this season. Undisciplined play in those games led to costly turnovers and penalties.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Nicolas Deslauriers, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Logan Stankoven each scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Ehlers, Stankoven, and Jackson Blake each finished with three points for the 8-2-1 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the overall standings with 17 points. Linus Karlsson and Jonathan Lekkerimaki replied for the Canucks, who dropped to 2-8-1.

The New Jersey Devils held off the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-3. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist, Jesper Boqvist scored what proved to be the game-winner, and Jake Allen made 31 saves for the 5-4-0 Devils. Artturi Lekhonen tallied twice for the 5-4-1 Avalanche.

First-period goals by Ondrej Palat, Victor Eklund, and Simon Holmstrom powered the New York Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, who got goals from Frank Vatrano and Alex Killorn. The Islanders improved to 5-3-1 while the Ducks (4-5-0) have lost four straight games.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg scored the winning goal to down the Winnipeg Jets 2-1. Joel Hofer stopped 32 shots, and Jimmy Snuggerud also scored for the Blues as they improved to 4-4-1. Cole Perfetti replied for the 4-3-2 Jets.

The Seattle Kraken blew a 3-0 lead but recovered to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on a shootout goal by Bobby McMann. Mackie Samoskevich, Ryker Evans, and Brandon Montour scored in regulation for the Kraken (6-3-1). Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat each had a goal and an assist for the 3-3-3 Red Wings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Ben Kindel had a medical emergency as his club was flying back from Utah on Tuesday. The plane returned to Salt Lake City, where Kindel was taken to hospital by ambulance. 

In a statement, the team didn’t provide details about the nature of Kindel’s medical episode, but they indicated he was conscious, alert, and in stable condition.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins stated they would provide further updates when appropriate. Let’s hope Kindel makes a full recovery and returns to action soon.

OTTAWA SUN: Brady Tkachuk faces the Senators on Wednesday for the first time since requesting a trade to the Florida Panthers earlier this year. He’s not expected to be welcomed back with open arms.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators fans were understandably upset when Tkachuk forced a trade to Florida. To his credit, he didn’t go public with the request, which made it easier for the Senators to move him to the Panthers, getting a decent return in the process. The Senators have played well in his absence, which could make this game against the Panthers all the more exciting.

TSN: Speaking of the Panthers, goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be sidelined for 10-14 days after suffering an undisclosed injury during practice.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Utah Mammoth forward Michael Carcone (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2026

by | Oct 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2026

Could Red Wings center Dylan Larkin be traded soon? Should the Canadiens pursue a trade for Flyers winger Owen Tippett? Did Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon reject a trade? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD LARKIN BE TRADED SOON?

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan cited a report by ESPN’s John Buccigross, who believes the Detroit Red Wings will soon trade Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade at the end of last season.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

Appearing on the “Frankly Hockey” podcast last Friday, Buccigross told host Frank Seravalli he felt there was going to be a trade “within seven-to-10 days.” However, he didn’t say where Larkin would be traded or what the return would be.

The Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights were on Larkin’s initial three-team trade list. Khan noted that Wild general manager Bill Guerin had been aggressively pursuing the 30-year-old center. He’s also reportedly expanded his list for the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and other clubs.

Khan claims the Montreal Canadiens “has shown interest, but there is no reason to believe Larkin would agree to go to a Canadian-based club.”

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Max Smith reports the asking price for Larkin remains high. He cited TSN’s Darren Dreger, who recently reported that the Red Wings seek a couple of “Grade-A prospects”, a first-round pick, and a top-nine player.

Dreger believes the Canadiens would pay that price, but he doesn’t see Larkin agreeing to add Montreal to his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll find out soon enough if Buccigross’ prediction holds up. The Wild are where Larkin really wants to go, but they haven’t been able to meet the Red Wings’ price. It could take a three-team trade to make it work, but there’s no indication that another club wants to get involved.

WOULD OWEN TIPPETT BE A SUITABLE TRADE TARGET FOR THE CANADIENS?

THE SICK PODCAST: Nick Lariviere suggested Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett could be a good fit with the Montreal Canadiens.

It’s no secret the Canadiens are actively shopping for a top-six forward. Lariviere believes the 27-year-old Tippett would bring some much-needed grit to the table alongside scoring ability. He’s averaged 25 goals and 50 points per season, and is on a team-friendly contract, earning an average annual value of $6.2 million through 2031-23.

Lariviere cited Marco D’Amico of “The Starr and D’Amico Show”, who also thinks Tippett would be a good trade candidate for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The floundering Flyers have been the subject of recent trade conjecture. However, most pundits believe they’re not rushing to make a trade. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently said there’s no quick fix or blockbuster trade out there to save the Flyers’ season.

Tippett has surfaced in the rumor mill over the past couple of years, but there’s no indication the Flyers are shopping him. He might not be on the Canadiens’ radar, but they could keep their powder dry and wait for better trade options to emerge as the season goes on.

BRENDEN DILLON REPORTEDLY REJECTED A TRADE

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Daniel Amoia cited Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman, who reported on Monday that Brenden Dillon’s no-trade protection may have enabled the defenseman to remain with the Devils last season.

Dillon has been a healthy scratch from the Devils’ last three games, as it appears he’s fallen out of favor since Sunny Mehta took over as general manager this summer. He’s in the final season of a three-year, $12 million contract. His full no-trade clause became a 10-team no-trade list for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dillon could be available for teams seeking a big, physical, experienced shutdown defenseman.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 20, 2026

by | Oct 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 20, 2026

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week, the latest on Connor Hellebuyck’s potential return to the Jets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Matvei Michkov scored twice, and Trevor Zegras collected three assists as the Philadelphia Flyers upset the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. Joseph Woll made 24 saves for his first win of the season for the Flyers, who picked up their second straight win (2-6-3). Martin Necas and T.J. Hughes replied for the 5-3-1 Avalanche.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Flyers placed winger Owen Tippett (upper body) on injured reserve. Flyers winger Cole Knuble, son of former Flyers forward Mike Knuble, was held scoreless in his NHL debut.

Four players had multi-point games for the Utah Mammoth to hold off a third-period rally by the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 5-4 victory. Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Kevin Stenlund, and Nate Schmidt each had a goal and an assist for the 7-3-0 Mammoth, who hold first place in the Central Division with 14 points. Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell also had a goal and an assist each for the Penguins (3-6-1), who have lost four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Bryan Rust had two assists before leaving this game in the second period with an undisclosed injury. Mammoth defenseman John Marino missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

The New York Rangers remain undefeated at home (6-0-0) by defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. Dylan Garand stopped 29 shots, and Oliver Bjorkstrand tallied two goals as the Rangers improved to 7-3-1. Nick Jensen and A.J. Greer scored for the Ducks, who dropped to 4-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Rangers signed free agent center Luke Glendening to a professional tryout offer.

Third-period goals by Gavin McKenna and Nick Paul lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 4-4-2. Mason Marchment scored for the 4-4-1 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks center Alexander Wennberg suffered an upper-body injury in the third period. He’s questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Oct. 18.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets players acknowledged the talk of Connor Hellebuyck potentially returning to the team is “in the air”.

Hellebuyck went public with his trade request in August. Last month, the Jets suspended the 33-year-old goaltender without pay for an indefinite period for skipping training camp. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the suspension is slated to end on Friday, Oct. 23.

Winger Cole Perfetti said he and his teammates want players who want to be with the team. “If (Hellebuyck) comes back and kind of recommits to the group and shows to us that he wants to be a part of this…We have big goals, and aspirations for this season. We know what we want to do, and all we want are guys that want to be committed to that goal with us,” Perfetti said, echoing what teammate Kyle Connor said during training camp.

Forward Gabriel Vilardi acknowledged Hellebuyck is “the best goalie in the world.” During training camp, he said he wouldn’t see anyone on the team having a problem with the three-time Vezina Trophy winner returning to the lineup. However, he walked that back a bit, saying that things could change if Hellebuyck returned with a bad attitude.

Head coach Scott Arniel said he and the players are waiting to see how this situation plays out. He praised his players for shutting out “the outside noise” and focusing on their goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The trade rumors surrounding Hellebuyck have recently ramped up following the report that his suspension will end on Friday. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan believes the likely plan if the Jets don’t trade him is to begin paying him to stay home until a suitable deal is found.

Speaking of the Jets, they’ve called up center Brayden Yager from their AHL affiliate

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators announced that head coach Travis Green signed a contract extension through 2030-31.

Meanwhile, sidelined defenseman Jake Sanderson is slated to return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game against former teammate Brady Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers. However, team captain Thomas Chabot will miss one to two weeks with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes placed winger Taylor Hall (upper body) on injured reserve.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders forwards Cal Ritchie will miss four-to-six weeks and Matias Maccelli will miss two-to-four weeks with lower-body injuries.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2026

by | Oct 19, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2026

Should the Mammoth attempt to acquire Connor Hellebuyck? Will the Flyers consider trading Travis Konecny? Can the Maple Leafs find an impact defenseman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato believes the Utah Mammoth are a goaltender away from being a Stanley Cup contender.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Amato considers Mammoth starting goalie Karel Vejmelka an inconsistent, “league-average” goalie who can’t lift his team when they’re not at their best, unlike Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Hellebuyck could rejoin the Jets when his team-enforced suspension for skipping training camp ends on Friday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he will. They could pay the 33-year-old goalie to stay home, or perhaps trade him before Friday.

Amato believes the Mammoth need an elite goalie if they keep playing at a high level. He felt they could upgrade at that position if they really wanted to. The Jets want a goalie in return, and Vejmelka only has a 10-team no-trade clause while backup Sebastian Cossa lacks no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several factors could derail a Hellebuyck-to-Utah trade.

First, Hellebuyck must be willing to go here. He reportedly has a broad list of potential destinations. It becomes a pointless exercise to make that suggestion if Utah isn’t on his list.

The Mammoth must be willing to pursue Hellebuyck, who needs time to get back into game shape after missing training camp and the first month of the regular season. Even then, there’s no certainty he’ll be the difference-maker they need, at least for this season.

They could be unwilling to pay Winnipeg’s asking price. The Jets reportedly seek a second-line forward (preferably a center) or a top-four right-shot defenseman as part of the return. They’ll also want one of the Mammoth’s top prospects and a first-round draft pick.

If the Jets want a goalie in return, they could prefer Cossa over Vejmelka, assuming they’re not on the latter’s no-trade list.

The Mammoth might not be interested in an expensive acquisition like Hellebuyck. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to upgrade their goaltending, but they could prefer a younger, more affordable option.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently addressed a report by Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco citing Flyers sources claiming there’s “a growing sense of frustration” with Travis Konecny within the organization, which could lead to them approaching the 28-year-old winger about waiving his no-movement clause.

James doesn’t buy into it, pointing out that Konecny signed an eight-year, $70-million contract with the Flyers two years ago. He’s also been their leading scorer for six of the last seven years and is among the team’s leadership group.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s plenty of frustration to go around among the Flyers, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that extends to Konecny, who is currently on injured reserve. However, asking him to waive his NMC would be an extreme approach right now. Besides, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently observed, there’s no trade out there that can reverse the Flyers’ poor start. Whatever changes they make will likely come from within.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently looked at what trade options could be available for the Toronto Maple Leafs to improve their defense.

Zach Whitecloud of the Calgary Flames, Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, Carson Soucy of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Brenden Dillon of the New Jersey Devils, and Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators are among the serviceable defensemen who might be available. However, Fox believes making a trade for one of them requires real assets.

Real difference-makers, like RFA Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes or RFA Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings, will cost millions of dollars to sign and will be more expensive to acquire.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox noted that the Maple Leafs face some easier opponents on their upcoming schedule. He believes the best strategy could be to “outscore their issues and hang in the standings race until true sellers drop out.”

That might help if they can pull it off. However, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun thinks it’ll take more than adding one defenseman to improve their blueline corps. The Leafs lack sufficient tradeable assets to bring in more than one rearguard who’ll have a positive impact this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2026

by | Oct 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2026

The Wild defeat the Blue Jackets, the Flames upset the Hurricanes, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov became the first player to score 10 goals this season, tallying the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Danila Yurov also scored for the 6-2-1 Wild, who lead the Central Division with 13 points. Cam Talbot made 32 saves, and Adam Fantilli replied for the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 3-4-0.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov extended his points streak to six games. Before the game, the Wild placed team captain Jared Spurgeon (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Calgary Flames upset the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on a third-period goal by Yegor Sharangovich. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist, and Devin Cooley stopped 34 shots for the Flames (2-6-0). Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jalen Chatfield scored for the 7-2-1 Hurricanes, who remain one point ahead of the Boston Bruins for first place in the Eastern Conference with 15 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski missed this game with a lower-body injury. He is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Injuries kept Flyers forward Tyson Foerster (upper body) and Sean Couturier (undisclosed) out of Sunday’s practice session. They are listed as game-day decisions for Monday’s contest with the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries have contributed to the Flyers’ poor start to this season. Forwards Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett and defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York are currently sidelined. York (upper body) was placed on injured reserve yesterday.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Injuries have prevented Avalanche forwards Zachary L’Heureux, Nicolas Roy, and Logan O’Connor from taking part in the club’s two-game road trip against the Flyers and New Jersey Devils.

CBS SPORTS: The St. Louis Blues placed winger Ross Johnston (lower body) on injured reserve.

LAUSANNE HOCKEY CLUB: Former NHL forward Philipp Kurashev will play for the Swiss National League club Lausanne this season. His contract contains an NHL exit clause and an option for another season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kurashev, 27, spent the past six seasons in the NHL, five of them with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for the San Jose Sharks last season. He has 55 goals and 95 assists for 150 points in 360 games.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 18, 2026

by | Oct 18, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 18, 2026

The latest on Connor Hellebuyck and updates on the Maple Leafs, Penguins, and Capitals in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported that Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension from the Winnipeg Jets will end on Friday, Oct. 23.

According to Friedman, Hellebuyck informed the Jets before their first game of the season (Oct. 2) of his intention to return to the team. The club suspended him without pay for not reporting to training camp in September. He had publicly revealed his trade request in August.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

The collective bargaining agreement states that a player who hasn’t received permission to be absent from training camp shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension “of reasonable length.”

Friedman thinks some teams interested in Hellebuyck want to see what would happen if the Jets faced some kind of deadline pressure. They want to see if this situation might make the Jets more eager or determined to make a deal, but Friedman doesn’t think it will. They would rather make no trade than a bad trade.

The Buffalo Sabres could still be interested. Friedman also thinks the New York Rangers might have a lot to say about what could happen here; not for Hellebuyck, but to make potentially another move that could affect the goalie market. He also noted the Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested. The Carolina Hurricanes were also rumored to be interested, but it’s been hard to make a match.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines that Jets captain Adam Lowry believes there must be “conversations” with Hellebuyck about this situation before he’s welcomed back.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski suggested several scenarios that could happen. Hellebuyck could be traded this week, or the Jets could pay him not to return, though Friedman said neither side wants that. He could also return hoping to play and improve his trade value, but the Jets will want him focused on helping them win.

Last month, Kyle Connor said he and his teammates were “heartbroken” over Hellebuyck’s trade request and his decision not to attend training camp. He said the three-time Vezina Trophy winner would be welcomed back with “open arms” if he changed his mind and wanted to return, but emphasized that Hellebuyck would have to recommit to the team.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience when it comes to trading a high-value asset like Hellebuyck. He’s unlikely to be rushed into making a move now. It’ll be interesting to hear from him where things stand with this situation.

Friedman also reported on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ plans for their blueline to address the absence of sidelined defenseman Chris Tanev.

They made it clear to teams that they aren’t interested in band-aid solutions. They’re willing to part with a premium asset if they can get a difference-maker on the blueline. They won’t move any “A-level” assets for a “B-level” replacement. The Leafs would also consider moving an older player for a younger one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether those types of deals are available this early in the season remains to be seen. Since the Maple Leafs made their blockbuster deal with Columbus for Kirill Marchenko on Sept. 28, subsequent activity in the NHL trade market involved depth players.

As for what the Maple Leafs might consider a premium asset they would part with, forget about Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Darren Raddysh, and Sergei Bobrovsky. They all have no-movement clauses.

Defenseman Morgan Rielly also has a full NMC, but he submitted a four-team list of Western Conference trade destinations upon request during the summer. Perhaps a deal might be found with one of those teams. However, moving him out wouldn’t really address their blueline issues.

Friedman also reported the Pittsburgh Penguins are willing to move a veteran forward for draft picks or prospects to give their younger players more opportunities for playing time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now believes Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell could draw the largest returns. Both forwards have regularly surfaced in the rumor mill over the last two years.

Rust is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.125 million and lacks no-trade protection. Rakell is also signed through 2027-28 and carries an AAV of $5 million. He has an eight-team no-trade list.

And no, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren’t getting traded.

During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Friedman said there are teams keeping tabs on Ivan Miroshnichenko of the Washington Capitals.

The 22-year-old winger has struggled to earn a spot among the Capitals’ crowded forward lines. Nevertheless, Friedman said the youngster is making the most of his limited playing time and is getting noticed as a result.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals might have to consider trading Miroshnichenko if there aren’t any full-time roster spots available. He’s no longer waiver-exempt and would be plucked away if they tried to send him to their AHL affiliate.