NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 15, 2026

by | Oct 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 15, 2026

The Capitals defeat the Canadiens, the Stars nip the Avalanche, the debate about no-trade/no-movement clauses continues, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch had two goals and an assist (including the winning goal as his club held off the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist for the Capitals as they improved to 4-3-0. Josh Anderson tallied twice, and Lane Hutson had a goal and an assist for the 3-3-1 Canadiens.

Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens playoff hero Jakub Dobes continues to struggle in goal. He played well in the Habs’ season-opening win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has given up 16 goals on 85 shots (.811 save percentage) in his last three games.

Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky briefly left following an awkward collision with Capitals winger Tom Wilson, but returned to finish the game. This was the first time Lane Hutson and his brother, Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson, faced each other in NHL action. Cole collected an assist on Tuch’s first goal.

A shootout goal by Roope Hintz lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Miro Heiskanen and Arttu Hyry scored in regulation for the Stars (3-3-1), and Casey DeSmith posted a 25-save performance. Gabriel Landeskog and Brock Nelson scored, and Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves for the 4-2-1 Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar returned to the lineup after missing the last game due to the birth of his twin sons.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh responded to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s concern that players would be weaponizing their no-trade/no-movement clauses to force trades to specific teams.

Walsh said he hadn’t spoken with Bettman about the issue, pointing out that the four-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement began last month. However, he doesn’t believe that one season or one off-season should set the tone for overreaction or making changes.

“It’s the player’s right when they negotiate a contract,” Walsh said. “That’s one of the things they can put in their agreement. And I think 300-plus players have it, so general managers have no issue negotiating with players and putting it there.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s the point I’ve been making about this issue. General managers sometimes use those clauses to negotiate a lower salary-cap hit. They also have no problem including them as a sweetener. If the player insists on no-trade protection, the general managers haven’t put up much resistance. The GMs can negotiate what those clauses will look like over the term of the contract, but some seem content to hand out full coverage throughout the deal.

To be fair, Walsh was echoing Bettman’s remark that one offseason doesn’t suggest a trend. Only Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, and Connor Hellebuyck have used their no-trade/no-movement clauses to try to steer where they can be traded. Thus far, only Tkachuk was successful.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle reported 320 NHL players have some form of no-trade/no-movement protection. He believes the league and the PA are making fair arguments, with the league concerned about competitive balance, and the PA being protective of the players’ contractual rights.

Mirtle acknowledged some level of player empowerment can be healthy as it puts pressure on teams to remain competitive. However, if a large number of players use no-trade/no-movement clauses to block trades to certain markets, it could create a situation where some teams become little more than feeder systems for more desirable markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That is indeed a legitimate concern. Winnipeg is well-known as a market many stars shun. Hellebuyck mentioned this as being among the reasons why the Jets have difficulty attracting talent.

Mirtle believes the solution will likely need to be negotiated in the next round of collective bargaining in 2030. He suggested a limit on the number of no-trade/no-movement clauses per team per year could be implemented, with the existing ones grandfathered in. However, he doesn’t see the PA standing for a rule that would nullify a player’s trade protection if he requests a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I suggested nullifying no-trade protection once a trade request was made as something a GM could negotiate with a player during their contract negotiations. However, I’ve since spoken with some knowledgeable sources about this issue, who share Mirtle’s view that the PA wouldn’t find it acceptable.

Mirtle wouldn’t be surprised if the league attempts to implement restrictions on no-trade and no-movement clauses. However, this could be a contentious issue that both sides will have to navigate carefully.

Once again, general managers (with the blessing of club owners) find loopholes to exploit in the CBA that the league ends up having to address. In other words, they want Bettman to save them from themselves again.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety fined Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier $5,000 for slashing Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis during Tuesday’s game between the two clubs.

SPORTSNET: Alberta’s new time system could complicate start times for several Edmonton Oilers’ games. The province is adopting a permanent “Alberta Time” standard on Nov. 1, rather than the semi-annual daylight saving time.

For Alberta-based fans, watching Oilers games televised from California or Seattle (but not Vancouver) will start an hour later than usual. It would also mean a couple of 9 PM starts for games in Edmonton.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers will induct former players Simon Gagne and Bob Kelly into their Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony on Feb. 27.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed center Aatu Raty on waivers.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2026

by | Oct 14, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2026

Could the Flyers make a blockbuster trade to save their season? What’s the latest on Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson, and Connor Hellebuyck? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATE ON THE FLYERS

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports no coaching changes are planned for the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. That has him wondering what roster changes might be in store.

The Flyers are in the market for an experienced defenseman with size. Adding someone like Justin Faulk of the Detroit Red Wings or Zach Whitecloud of the Calgary Flames would help to bolster their blueline, but it won’t improve their sputtering offense.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny (NHL Images)

If the Flyers want to make a big splash with a “hockey trade”, Di Marco believes it would have to involve Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone, or Matvei Michkov. Martone “is about as untouchable as it gets,” while Foerster and Michkov remain well-regarded within the organization. “Moving off one of those players is highly unlikely, especially mid-season,” Di Marco writes.

Di Marco doesn’t see the Flyers moving Trevor Zegras. The 25-year-old forward is in the first season of a four-year contract and is coming off a career-best performance.

Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, or Noah Cates could be trade candidates. Di Marco cited sources who believe approaching Konecny to waive his no-movement clause could be an option if the Flyers continue to struggle. He’s in the second year of a seven-year, $70-million contract. Di Marco suggested the Utah Mammoth as a destination, and wondered if Mammoth prospect Caleb Desnoyers might be expendable.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Justin Bailey wondered if the Flyers might look to the Ottawa Senators as a trade partner. He noted that they’ve long had interest in Senators centers Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Flyers GM Daniel Briere is getting lots of calls, but none that would help his team right now.

LeBrun stated that there was no easy fix or blockbuster trade out there that would pull the Flyers out of their brutal start. He also indicated they’re not currently considering a coaching change. Instead, they’ll have to fix this internally.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Replacing head coach Rick Tocchet could happen later next month (if not sooner) if the Flyers don’t right the ship. If they don’t want to go that far, they could shake up his staff.

A major trade is possible, but unlikely at this stage of the season. If they’re unwilling to part with Martone, Foerster or Michkov, it’s doubtful Konecny, Tippett or Cates will fetch a return that significantly improves the Flyers.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN AND SIMON EDVINSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal fans chanting Dylan Larkin’s name during Saturday’s game between the Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre did nothing to convince the 30-year-old center to include the Habs on his 10-team trade list.

LeBrun noted the Canadiens have tried to make a significant addition in the trade market by pursuing wingers Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko. He believes they’d be “ready to engage” with Larkin if he has a change of heart. However, the Canadiens can afford to be patient, with promising center Michael Hage coming at the end of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t looking into whether Larkin would be open to coming to Montreal. However, it’s obvious that he’s not interested, so they’ll look elsewhere for opportunities to bring in a top-six forward.

Chris Johnston reports that Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson has left Sweden and is returning to North America to work with a trainer that he’s comfortable with. While not necessarily a sign that he’s close to returning to action, it does symbolize “some good things.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have until 5 pm ET on Dec. 1 to get the unsigned Edvinsson under contract, or he’ll become ineligible to play in the NHL this season. He reportedly prefers a trade, but the Wings remain intent on signing him.

RANGERS CONTACTED THE JETS ABOUT CONNOR HELLEBUYCK

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there’s been “conversation” between the New York Rangers and the Winnipeg Jets regarding holdout goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, there’s no sense of urgency on the Rangers’ part. Dreger claims the Blueshirts “flat-out don’t wanna pay the hefty asking price” for Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This seems like Rangers general manager Chris Drury conducting due diligence. He undoubtedly knew the Jets would set a high price, but it was still worthwhile to at least call. For now, the Rangers won their last two games with backup Dylan Garand, so that takes some pressure off Drury. Garand’s performance will ultimately determine if the Rangers GM goes shopping for a starter this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 14, 2026

by | Oct 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 14, 2026

Recapping Tuesday’s “Frozen Frenzy” with all 32 teams in action, the Red Wings re-sign Alex DeBrincat, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Brady Tkachuk tallied a natural hat trick and an assist, while brother Matthew Tkachuk had five assists to lead the Panthers to a 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sam Reinhart had two goals and an assist, Seth Jones had four assists, and Carter Verhaeghe scored twice for the Panthers (3-2-2). Kent Johnson, Denton Meteychuk, and Cole Sillinger replied for the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 2-3-0.

Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Tkachuks became the first brothers to combine for nine points in a game since Daniel and Henrik Sedin in a Nov. 21, 2015 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier was ejected in the second period after delivering a between-the-legs slash to Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis.

Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness ripped his team following the game. “You have to hope, you got to believe that performance tonight will embarrass them enough to stop this, right? Because if they’re not embarrassed by that, we don’t want them on the team. It’s as simple as that,” Bowness said.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid recorded a goal and three assists in his 800th NHL regular-season game, leading his club to a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Vasily Podkolzin scored two goals, and Devon Levi kicked out 39 shots as the Oilers (5-0-1) extended their win streak to five games. Brandt Clarke scored for the Kings, who remain winless this season (0-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid sits third all-time among players with the most career points in 800 games (1,237), behind Wayne Gretzky (1,892) and Mario Lemieux (1,580).

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored in overtime and picked up two assists to nip the Detroit Red Wings 5-4. Jesper Bratt also had a goal and two assists for the 3-3-0 Devils, while Alex DeBrincat scored twice and collected an assist for the 1-3-2 Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following this game, reports emerged that the Red Wings and DeBrincat agreed to a seven-year, $91 million contract extension. The average annual value is $13 million, though the deal hadn’t been formally announced.

This is the first positive headline for the reeling Red Wings after months of bad news, including their playoff drought reaching 10 years, center Dylan Larkin’s public trade request, their ongoing search for a new general manager, and their difficult contract talks with defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

DeBrincat, 28, has been the Red Wings’ leading goal scorer (111 goals) and sits second in points (230) since joining the club in 2023-24. The Michigan native was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, so retaining him long term is a major step forward for this struggling franchise.

It’s an expensive contract, but DeBrincat would’ve received a similar deal elsewhere had he opted to test next summer’s free-agent market. It also reflects the ongoing rise in player salaries in conjunction with the rising salary cap.

The Montreal Canadiens got a shootout winner from Zachary Bolduc to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who improved to 3-2-1. Olen Zellweger tallied two goals for the 3-3-1 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the second straight game that Bolduc scored the winning goal in a shootout for the Canadiens, who called up center Owen Beck while defenseman Mike Matheson missed this game with a lower-body injury. The Sabres recalled blueliner Dennis Gilbert to replace sidelined captain Rasmus Dahlin. They also placed sidelined defenseman Matt Grzelcyk on injured reserve.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored twice (including the winning goal) and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Mark Jankowski scored to extend his goal streak to five games as the Hurricanes (6-1-1) extended their win streak to six games, holding first place in the Eastern Conference with 13 points. Ryan Leonard had two assists for the 3-3-0 Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Hurricanes announced that team captain Jordan Staal would be sidelined for one to two months with a torn calf muscle. Winger Taylor Hall departed during the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Seattle Kraken blew a 2-0 lead but recovered to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on a shootout goal by Bobby McMann, who also opened the scoring. Chris Dvorak and Trevor Zegras scored for the Flyers, who sank to 0-5-3.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere scored twice to extend his goal streak to a career-high four games in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Goalie Dylan Garand made 25 saves for the Rangers as they improved to 6-2-0. Zemgus Girgensons replied for the 4-2-0 Lightning.

St. Louis Blues forwards Pius Suter, Jake Neighbours, and Mason McTavish each scored twice to lead their club to a 7-2 drubbing of the Ottawa Senators. Suter and McTavish also each picked up an assist, and Pavel Buchnevich collected three assists for the 3-2-1 Blues. Claude Giroux and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the 5-2-0 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-riddled Senators lost another player as forward Ridly Greig departed in the third period with a muscle strain.

The New York Islanders got two goals from forward Kyle Palmieri to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Matias Maccelli had a goal and an assist, and Matthew Schaefer picked up two assists for the Islanders (3-3-0). Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored for the 2-6-0 Canucks, who rallied to tie the score before Palmieri scored the winning goal.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard had an assist in his season debut as his club downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3. Teuvo Teravainen scored twice and picked up an assist, and Roman Kantserov tallied two goals for the 2-5-0 Blackhawks. Sidney Crosby scored two goals for the 3-3-1 Penguins.

The Winnipeg Jets got a three-point performance from Mark Scheifele (one goal, two assists) in a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Cole Perfetti scored two goals, and Neal Pionk had two assists for the 4-1-1 Jets. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice for the 4-2-1 Wild.

Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas scored twice as his club held off the Dallas Stars 3-2. Nathan MacKinnon set up two goals, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 24 shots for the Avalanche (4-2-0). Tyler Seguin and Roope Hintz replied for the Stars, who slipped to 2-3-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon and Hintz got into a second-period fight that bloodied the Avalanche star. The Avalanche played without top defenseman Cale Makar. He returned to Denver to be with his wife, who is expecting twins.

The Vegas Golden Knights got third-period goals from William Karlsson, Trevor Connelly, and Brett Howden to beat the Nashville Predators 5-2. Adin Hill made 25 saves, and Rasmus Andersson collected two assists as the Golden Knights improved to 6-2-0 to sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 12 points.

Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev each had a goal and an assist as their club held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4. Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (3-3-1) while the Mammoth moved into first place in the Central Division with 10 points (5-2-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs made it interesting with third-period goals by John Tavares and rookie winger Gavin McKenna, who has five points in his last four games.

Third-period goals by Martin Pospisil and Yegor Sharangovich lifted the Calgary Flames to their first win of the season by doubling up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Aydar Suniev had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf turned aside 23 shots for the 1-5-0 Flames. Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson scored for the Ducks (4-2-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Ducks called up Roger McQueen for his NHL debut and placed center Ryan Poehling on injured reserve. Poehling is out six to eight weeks with an MCL sprain.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy scored in his season debut in a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Fraser Minten scored two goals, and Jeremy Swayman made 35 saves for the Bruins (5-2-0), who moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with 10 points. Macklin Celebrini scored and assisted on rookie Ivar Stenberg’s first NHL goal as the Sharks dropped to 3-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Darnell Nurse left this game in the third period following a fight with Bruins blueliner Nikita Zadorov.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 13, 2026

by | Oct 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 13, 2026

Will the struggling Flyers make a coaching change or a trade? Will Connor Hellebuyck be traded to the Rangers or return to the Jets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at the free-falling Philadelphia Flyers’ options to reverse their fortunes.

Some Flyers fans want head coach Rick Tocchet fired, but Kurz doesn’t think it’s likely to happen; at least, not yet. He’s also barely into the second season of a five-year, $26.25 million contract.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet (NHL Images).

Kurz acknowledged that could change if the Flyers remain dreadful deep into November. In the meantime, he suggested it might be time to consider shaking up the assistant coaches.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also isn’t convinced they’ll fire Tocchet. He believes Flyers general manager Daniel Briere will remain patient as he tries to find another way to improve the club’s overall performance.

Kurz noted that Briere won’t make a trade for the sake of doing so and won’t be rushed into a panic deal that hurts the club down the road. Nevertheless, he thinks the Flyers GM will have to make a move at some point with a hockey trade or two.

Players like Trevor Zegras, Cam York, Noah Cates, Jamie Drysdale, Tyson Foerster, Matvei Michkov, and Denver Barkey are on long- and short-term contracts that lack no-trade protection. Kurz doesn’t believe the Flyers would be in the mix for a star player, but speculated that Briere might consider swapping one of his young players for another young player like Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers making the playoffs and reaching the second round last spring heightened expectations for a club that is still rebuilding. Their followers might be more forgiving if they were more competitive, which could’ve resulted in at least a win or two by now.

Shaking up the assistant coaching or swapping a promising youngster or two for someone like Edvinsson could improve the situation. Whether those moves are possible remains to be seen. Briere could have no choice but to replace Tocchet if they’re still terrible a month from now, especially when a proven winner like Bruce Cassidy is available.

LATEST ON CONNOR HELLEBUYCK

SPORTSNET: On Monday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reiterated his doubt of the New York Rangers trading for Connor Hellebuyck to replace starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on Friday.

Friedman said he’d been told that move isn’t going to happen. He admitted he’d loved to see it, but unless it’s a three-way trade, he doesn’t see a path toward a deal. Most of the Rangers’ best players have no-trade protection. They’re unlikely to move Alexis Lafreniere given his strong start to this season. Meanwhile, promising Gabe Perreault is garnering more playing time.

Friedman also mentioned there was talk of Hellebuyck returning to the Jets. However, he doesn’t believe anybody wants that: not Hellebuyck, not the Jets’ organization, not the players, and not the Winnipeg fans. However, if this drags on, Hellebuyck could have no choice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck is hockey’s version of Gob Bluth from “Arrested Development” when he realizes he’s made a huge mistake.

In Hellebuyck’s case, it was going public with his trade request and then not reporting to the team when training camp opened last month. He’s been suspended without pay by the team for his actions. Meanwhile, the Jets have been okay so far with Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson as their goalie tandem.

Look, I understand the 33-year-old Hellebuyck’s desire to play for a contender while he’s still in his prime. Backstopping Team USA to Olympic gold in February gave him a taste of winning he hasn’t had in his 11-season NHL career, and he no longer believes he can do it with the Jets. But how he’s gone about it has made it difficult for the Jets to trade him, and it risks wasting a season that he can’t afford to waste at this stage of his career.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 13, 2026

by | Oct 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 13, 2026

Recaps of Monday’s action, the three stars of the week are revealed, another round of injury updates, the Sabres and Penguins make a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, and Linus Ullmark stopped 29 shots as the Ottawa Senators downed the New Jersey Devils 4-1. The Senators improved to 5-1-0, moving into first place in the Atlantic Division and second place in the Eastern Conference with 10 points. Arseny Gritsyuk scored for the Devils, who dropped to 2-3-0.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark improved his record to 5-0-0, joining Ray Emery (2007-08) and Dominik Hasek (2005-06) as the third goalie in Senators history to win his first five or more games of the season.

Injuries continue to bite the Senators. Defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo left this game with what appeared to be a head injury after being boarded by Devils winger Anthony Mantha, who received a major penalty but remained in the game. Matinpalo will be reevaluated on Tuesday.

Buffalo Sabres forwards Noah Ostlund and Tage Thompson scored in the third period to give their club a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 13 saves for the Sabres (3-3-0) after Colten Ellis was pulled midway through the second period after giving up two goals on nine shots. Sam Reinhart scored twice for the Panthers (2-2-2), and Akira Schmid turned aside 18 shots after replacing Jacob Markstrom, who left after the first period with a minor injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day and is expected to miss Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Minnesota Wild got first-period goals from Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov, and Danila Yurov to hold off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Quinn Hughes had two assists, and Jesper Wallstedt made 21 saves for the Wild (4-1-1), who moved into first place in the Central Division with nine points. Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson replied for the 5-2-0 Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 10 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Nico Sturm was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons after being struck in the head by a puck shot by teammate Jared Spurgeon in the first period. It immediately reminded the Wild of teammate Brock Faber, who suffered a fractured skull from a similar incident during a preseason game.

Earlier in the day, the Wild placed forward Marcus Foligno (lower body) to injured reserve. Golden Knights defenseman Parker Wotherspoon missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, and New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere were the three stars for the week ending Oct. 11.

TORONTO SUN/SPORTSNET: The Maple Leafs placed defenseman Chris Tanev (upper body) on IR. Meanwhile, center John Tavares rejoined his teammates on their road trip after returning to Toronto over the weekend to celebrate the birth of his son Tucker.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Matt Duchene underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He will be sidelined for about three months.

CALGARY SUN: Flames winger Sam Honzek will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have recalled forward Owen Beck to replace winger Florian Xhekaj, who appeared to aggravate what looked like a lower-body injury during practice on Monday.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (lower body) on IR.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Speaking of the Penguins, they traded defenseman Caleb Jones and depth blueliner Daniel Laatsch to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Ryan Johnson.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche have given assistant coach Dave Hakstol permission to speak with Arizona State University for the head coach position for their men’s hockey team.

Hakstol could be behind the bench for ASU’s upcoming game on Friday. The university has reportedly informed other candidates that they’re no longer in the running.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 12, 2026

by | Oct 12, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 12, 2026

How will the Rangers address the loss of Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending leg injury? Which goalies could they target in the trade and free-agent markets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker examined how the Rangers intend to cope with the absence of starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on Friday against the Washington Capitals.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images)

The next steps will depend on how the Rangers react as a team, and how backup Dylan Garand performs. They’ve placed Shesterkin on long-term injury reserve, freeing up approximately $3.97 million, which is based on last season’s average league salary, instead of his roughly $11.6 million cap hit.

Shesterkin could be placed on season-ending LTIR (SELTIR), but he’d be unable to return to the Rangers lineup later this season or in the playoffs. Keeping him on LTIR leaves the door open for his potential return in the postseason.

Walker believes Rangers general manager Chris Drury will explore alternate goalie options, especially since veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo is expected to be sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury. The Rangers recalled Spencer Martin to back up Garand on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks. Martin hadn’t played yet for their AHL affiliate in Hartford because of a lower-body injury.

ESPN reported former Rangers backup Jonathan Quick was a possibility, but Walker stated that there’s a strong belief they’re not considering it. Quick retired after last season and is now the Rangers director of goaltending development.

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed several possible goalie trade targets for the Rangers.

He noted the recent speculation linking the Rangers to Connor Hellebuyck but dismissed it as unrealistic. He pointed out that the 33-year-old Winnipeg Jets goalie is under contract through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million, while Shesterkin’s is over $11 million. “Having two goalies making a combined $20 million against the cap beyond this season isn’t going to fly,” Wegman wrote.

Wegman also noted that acquiring Hellebuyck for this season and flipping him to another club next summer is also unrealistic. “This isn’t a video game,” he wrote.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Wegman. He could’ve also mentioned the high cost for the Rangers to acquire Hellebuyck, and the headache they would have trying to move him in a trade market that would make low-ball offers. Nevertheless, pointing out the blatantly obvious regarding the cap dollars suffices.

Quick unrestricted free agent fixes include Peter Mrazek, Matt Murray, and James Reimer. Trade targets could include Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues; John Gibson of the Detroit Red Wings; Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg of the Los Angeles Kings; Arturs Silovs of the Pittsburgh Penguins; and Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers could go the UFA route first. They have $4.6 million in cap space with Shesterkin on LTIR, and Drury might prefer an affordable free-agent addition that leaves cap space for later in the season.

Binnington and Montembeault seem more likely to be available in the trade market right now. However, the former carries a cap hit of $6 million and a 10-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. Montembeault has a more affordable $3.15 million salary and lacks no-trade protection. The Canadiens might be willing to retain part of his salary. However, he’s sidelined for the next two weeks and hasn’t had a chance to play this season to improve his trade value.