NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2026

by | Aug 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2026

Check out the latest on Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Travis Jost believes the conditions are right for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews to get back on track in the scoring race.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Matthews tallied 368 goals during his first eight NHL seasons, including a career-high 69 goals in 2023-24. That prompted some observers to suggest that he could one day challenge Alex Ovechkin’s goal-scoring record. However, injuries over the last two seasons and the departure of play-making winger Mitch Marner have hindered his production.

Jost believes Matthews could regain his high-scoring form if he’s returned to full health this season. He’ll also have credible options on his wing such as Matthew Knies, William Nylander, or promising rookie Gavin McKenna.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews’ performance this season will play the most crucial role in the Maple Leafs’ bounce-back plans. Assuming he’s healthy, he will also be motivated to silence his critics this season by leading the Leafs back to playoff contention.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Max Smith noted that Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond’s development as a scoring winger has garnered attention around the league. The 24-year-old Raymond was among the youngest players on NHL Network’s recent ranking of the top-20 wingers in the league.

Raymond’s steady improvement has Smith believing the winger has the opportunity to rise further up that ranking this season. He’s tallied 25-plus goals in each of the last three seasons, with two of those seasons having a rookie as a linemate on the opposite wing. Patrick Kane’s departure could see Alex DeBrincat moved up to the top line alongside Raymond.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Red Wings’ current upheavals, it’ll be interesting to see how Raymond adjusts to potential roster changes. His production could be affected by the potential departure of Dylan Larkin if the Red Wings honor the latter’s trade request.

NHL.COM/CALGARY SUN: Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf faces a critical season. After a promising rookie performance in 2024-25, he struggled during his sophomore campaign.

Derek Van Diest wondered if Wolf can have a strong 2026-27 season, noting he’s entering the first season of a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.5 million. Meanwhile, Kent Wilson mused about whether Wolf, who recently turned 25, might be too far ahead of his younger teammates on the rebuilding Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given his long-term contract, the Flames are fully invested in Wolf as their starter. He’s become a critical piece of their rebuilding program.

The emergence of Devin Cooley last season as Wolf’s backup should lighten the latter’s workload, taking some pressure off his shoulders. Nevertheless, they’ll need Wolf to be at his best if they’re to make significant strides this season.

AWFUL ANNOUNCING: The Columbus Blue Jackets’ elimination of their radio broadcast and the departure of Jackets Insider Jeff Svoboda has raised concerns among some fans about the club’s future.

The recent changes came on the heels of a season of turmoil, including a mid-season coaching change and missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year. That was followed by trade rumors involving Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and scoring winger Kirill Marchenko.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets’ woes also had some observers wondering if relocation might be in the offing, with some comparing the club’s current plight to that of the woeful Arizona Coyotes, who were sold and relocated to Utah two years ago. However, there is no indication that ownership is looking to sell or move the franchise.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jackets are plagued by some troubling issues. They’ve only reached the playoffs six times in their 25-season history, advancing to the second round of the postseason only once. They’ve had difficulty retaining their best players, and while their attendance has remained steady since 2016-17 (averaging 16, 589), they’ve remained below Nationwide Arena’s capacity of 18,500.

If these issues persist, the prospect of relocation could become a legitimate concern.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Former San Jose Sharks superstar Joe Thornton will be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame. Thornton spent 14 of his 24-season NHL career with the Sharks, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2005-06.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thornton was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2026

by | Aug 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2026

The top-20 wingers for 2026-27, Senators coach Travis Green was surprised Brady Tkachuk wanted a trade, the latest front-office changes by the Islanders, Wild, and Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins, and Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild are among the NHL Network’s ranking of the league’s top-20 wingers.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the complete ranking and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators head coach Travis Green admitted he was surprised that Brady Tkachuk wanted out of Ottawa. The Senators traded the 26-year-old left winger to the Florida Panthers in June.

Green said he went through a range of emotions when he learned that Tkachuk wanted a trade, including some anger. However, he said that he spoke with the winger following the trade, had a good conversation, wished him luck, and has moved on. Green was a teammate of Brady’s father, Keith, and said he will maintain a good relationship with the Tkachuk family.

As for the coming season, Green believes the Senators still have plenty of upside, citing the ongoing improvement of young players such as Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle, and Ridly Greig.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk’s departure has some Senators fans believing the club will be better without the distraction over the status of their former captain. It will be interesting to see how they adjust this season and who fills the leadership role.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders officially announced the hiring of Evan Gold as their assistant general manager. Gold has also taken over as general manager of their AHL affiliate in Hamilton.

Gold has previously spent 11 seasons with the Boston Bruins in various front-office roles.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This hiring was not unexpected as Gold was rumored to be joining the Isles once his contract with the Bruins expired on Aug. 1.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired Andy O’Brien as their new head of sports performance. O’Brien is the long-time personal trainer of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, whose clientele also includes Maple Leafs center John Tavares.

A native of Charlottetown, PEI, the 49-year-old O’Brien is founder and president of O’Brien Sports, with 25 years of experience in various athletic performance roles. He’s also been the high- performance consultant for the Florida Panthers since 2021.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL defenseman Alex Goligoski has been moved from player development advisor to player development coach. He was initially hired by the Wild last year after retiring as an NHL player in 2024 following 17 seasons, including three with the Wild.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell recently listed the five most mediocre NHL teams of the past 10 years.

The Detroit Red Wings topped the list, followed by the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What do you think, folks? Do those clubs belong on this list? Would you re-rank them? Is there another club that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments section.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2026

by | Aug 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2026

The cost of the next contract for Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, questions facing the Bruins this season, the latest on Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEWSDAY: Andrew Gross believes Macklin Celebrini’s league-leading $18.8 million average annual value on his new contract will affect the cost for the New York Islanders to re-sign Matthew Schaefer.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).

Schaefer, 18, won the Calder Memorial Trophy last season as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. He’s in the second season of his entry-level contract, and can sign an extension as early as next July.

The salary cap will rise significantly in 2027-28 ($113.5 million), in turn raising the cap maximum for a player’s contract ($22.7 million). Gross speculated that a five-year, $95.5 million contract ($19.1 million AAV) might be enough to get Schaefer under contract next summer.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears noted Schaefer’s recent comments about his next contract, in which the 18-year-old defenseman said he “didn’t care about money” and was letting his agent handle it. Nevertheless, Sears suggests that anything the budding superstar receives that falls under the maximum salary should be considered a hometown discount.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely that Islanders management will try to lowball Schaefer, especially if his sophomore season is as impressive as his debut in 2025-26. They probably won’t sign him to the maximum, but it could be between $19 million and $20 million annually.

NHL.COM: Amalie Benjamin looked at three notable questions facing the Boston Bruins this season.

Benjamin wondered if JJ Peterka will have a bounce-back season after struggling last season with the Utah Mammoth. She also pondered if young players such as Fraser Minten, Murat Khusnutdinov, and James Hagens can take another step forward in their development, and how the Bruins can shore up their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Regarding the third question, Benjamin noted that they recently acquired Will Borgen and brought back Connor Clifton via free agency. Whether they’ll improve the Bruins’ blueline depth remains to be seen.

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov is spending most of his offseason training in Chicago to prepare for his sophomore season.

Levshunov, 20, had an up-and-down rookie campaign last season. He’s sticking in Chicago this year, hoping to build consistency and take the next step in his development. He said he’s getting more flexible and mobile, improving his movement on the ice and working on small details.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chosen second overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Levshunov is part of a Blackhawks defense corps with six members who are 25 and younger. They’ll be counting on him to make significant strides in his development this season.

CBS SPORTS: Utah Mammoth prospect Caleb Desnoyers injured his left leg playing for Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase on Saturday. He left the game and didn’t return. There was no immediate update regarding the 19-year-old center’s condition.

DAILY FACEOFF: Defenseman Brad Hunt announced his retirement after a 10-season NHL career.

Hunt began his career in 2013-14 with the Edmonton Oilers, and also played for the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, and Colorado Avalanche. He had 26 goals and 60 assists for 86 points in 288 regular-season games, and appeared in five postseason contests.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2026

by | Aug 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2026

Making the case for Connor McDavid to become the league’s first $20 million player, Porter Martone could offset the Flyers’ inability to make a significant addition this summer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau makes the case for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid becoming the NHL’s first $20 million player.

Proteau acknowledged the possibility of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar or Minnesota Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes getting there first. Both players are eligible to sign contract extensions before their current deals expire next July.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

McDavid is currently in the first season of a two-year contract at the bargain price of $12 million annually. Proteau believes no one would begrudge the 29-year-old center from seeking top dollar after leaving money on the table with his current contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the best player in the world right now. If Makar or Hughes don’t reach the $20 million plateau, the Oilers superstar is the leading candidate to get there. A case could also be made for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, especially if he has a healthy and productive performance this season.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: A strong rookie season for winger Porter Martone could offset the Flyers’ inability to make a big splash in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.

Martone, 19, made his NHL debut late last season with four goals and 10 points in nine regular-season games, followed by five points in 10 playoff contests.

The Flyers are excited to see what the 6’3”, 209-pound winger can do over the course of a full NHL campaign.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers attempted a major acquisition by signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet worth an average annual value of $18 million. However, the Ducks matched the offer, leaving the Flyers still seeking a reliable first-line center.

Martone won’t address the Flyers’ need for a top-line center, but could help them build on their promising performance last season, when they exceeded expectations by qualifying for the playoffs and upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. If fellow winger Matvei Michkov bounces back from his disappointing sophomore season, he and Martone will provide the scoring punch necessary for the Flyers to remain a playoff contender in 2026-27.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice could break Scotty Bowman’s record for most NHL games coached in about one-and-a-half seasons if he helps his club rebound from a disappointing 2025-26.

With 2,019 regular-season games coached, Maurice sits second on the all-time list, only 129 games behind Bowman.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Matt Rempe acknowledged he has a lot to prove in training camp next month after undergoing two surgeries last season to repair a broken thumb. The injury hampered his performance, limiting the 6’9” Rempe to just 26 games.

Rempe, 24, is in the final season of his contract and a roster spot isn’t assured. He’ll be battling with some of his former Hartford Wolfpack teammates for a spot among the Rangers’ bottom-six.

SPORTSNET: Sonny Sachdeva recently ranked the top five under-25 cores across the NHL.

The Montreal Canadiens topped the list, featuring forwards Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov, defensemen Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle, and goaltenders Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.

Next was the San Jose Sharks, led by forwards Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, and Ivar Stenberg, defenseman Sam Dickinson, and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

The Anaheim Ducks were third with a core featuring forwards Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, and defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov.

Coming in fourth were the Ottawa Senators with forwards Tim Stutzle, William Eklund, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig, and defensemen Jake Sanderson and Jordan Spence.

The Philadelphia Flyers were ranked fifth, featuring forward Trevor Zegras, Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, and Tyson Foerster, and defensemen Jamie Drysdale and Cam York.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens got the nod over the rest in part because their core players are well-distributed throughout their roster, though their weakness is their lack of a center among their group.

So what do you think, folks? Do you agree with this ranking? Is there another team that belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments below.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2026

by | Aug 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2026

The latest on the league’s expansion plans, the latest notable contract signings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SICK PODCAST: On Wednesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told “The Eye Test Podcast” hosts Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy that the league and the owners are “primarily interested” in an expansion franchise in Houston, Texas.

Daly also said they haven’t ruled out Austin, Texas, as an expansion destination, noting that the latter has become an “up-and-coming market” that doesn’t have one of the major four pro sports franchises in it. However, he stressed that they are in the early stages of the process.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Houston remains the front-runner unless there is difficulty for prospective ownership to come up with the $2 billion franchise fee. It’s also rumored that the league could return to Atlanta by the end of the decade.

Regarding the NHL’s new slate of weekday afternoon games in Europe, Daly indicated it’s part of the league’s plan to grow and market their product internationally. As for expansion into Europe, Daly didn’t rule out that possibility, but noted that there is currently no timetable due to obstacles to making that work over the course of an 84-game schedule.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Expansion into Europe is a more distant possibility than moving into other North American markets. The franchise fees, travel costs, and extra time zones are among the likely obstacles.

Daly also said the NHL remains interested in returning to Quebec City with an expansion franchise. However, they’ve yet to find a potential owner willing to operate a franchise long-term in that market. Daly also rejected the notion that the lower value of the Canadian dollar was a major obstacle to bringing a franchise to Quebec City, citing the strength of the other seven Canadian NHL markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daly’s comments about Quebec City dispel the belief that the league no longer sees it as a market for an expansion franchise. Finding a suitable owner is an understandable hurdle given the high cost of the franchise fee.

It could be more affordable to relocate a franchise to Quebec City. However, there’s no indication that the league has any plans to move one of its teams to a new market.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng reported the Sharks re-sign forward Collin Graf to a three-year, $12.75 million contract. Graf, 23, had completed his three-year entry-level contract. He’ll earn an average annual value of $4.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Graf had a promising sophomore season with 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points in 81 games. Peng noted that he logged just over 200 shorthanded minutes, sitting seventh in the league in that category. Sharks general manager Mike Grier praised his versatility and work ethic.

Graf is getting a slightly higher AAV than the two-year, $7.8 million contract ($3.9 million) he was projected to receive. However, he got less than the $6.5 million on the projected seven-year, $45.5 million contract. 

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year contract extension worth an AAV of $4.65 million starting in 2027-28. He’s earning $3.5 million on his current contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Novak exceeded the 40-point plateau last season, marking the third time he’s done so in his five-season NHL career.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former Florida Panthers winger Tomas Nosek signed with Czech team Dynamo Pardubice. The 33-year-old spent 11 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, and the Panthers, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nosek’s NHL career is likely over. The checking-line forward had 47 goals and 73 assists for 120 points in 514 games, and 17 points in 68 postseason contests.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Earlier this week, the Blue Jackets hired Don Granato and Cody Ward as assistant coaches. Granato is the former head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, while Ward is the former assistant video coach for the San Jose Sharks.

SPORTSNET: On Thursday, the International Ice Hockey Federation upheld its ban on Russian participation for the 2026-27 season. Russia has been banned from participating in IIHF tournaments since invading Ukraine in February 2022.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2026

by | Jul 31, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2026

The potential effect of Sharks center Macklin Celebrini’s new contract on future signings, the latest on Maple Leafs prospect Gavin McKenna, three teams face a salary-cap crunch, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle believes Macklin Celebrini’s new contract spells the end of long-term deals for young NHL talent.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

Celebrini, 20, signed a five-year contract extension with an NHL record average annual value of $18.8 million earlier this week. Mirtle believes those five-year deals, instead of the league maximum of eight years (dropping to seven years starting on Sept. 16), will become the norm for other rising young stars.

The NHL has only projected its salary cap to 2027-28, but Mirtle reports every league executive and player agent he’s spoken to believes the salary cap will rise dramatically starting in 2028. By 2031-32, the cap could reach between $150 million and $160 million.

That’s why Celebrini’s contract is five years long. By 2031-32, his new AAV will be only 12 percent of the salary cap, which will be a relative bargain historically.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp increase in the salary cap is starting to change the landscape for NHL contracts.

Players will prefer shorter-term deals over the league maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their teams and six years for unrestricted free agents. Their contracts won’t age out too quickly, ensuring they can still maximize their value in their playing prime to keep pace with the rising cap.

By the way, the league maximum salary under a $150 million salary cap is $30 million. Under a $160 million cap, it’s $32 million.

NHL.COM: Speaking of Celebrini, he’s been training this summer with Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Gavin McKenna, who came away impressed with the offseason training regimen of the Sharks superstar.

“My trainers probably won’t like to hear this, but there was a week where we were on the ice for 17 hours,” McKenna said. “So, yeah, max crazy, but every skate out there, you’re getting better, and it’s a competitive group. So, I had a lot of fun with it.”

McKenna, 18, was chosen first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs. He’s expected to make his NHL debut this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna is trying to follow in Celebrini’s footsteps. Training with the young superstar could give the Maple Leafs’ top prospect an edge as he begins his NHL career.

LA PAGE SPORTIVE: Louis-Andre Lariviere noted the Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights are feeling the pinch of their salary-cap crunch.

Because of the expensive contracts of stars such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the Maple Leafs are sitting above the $104 million salary cap by $2.75 million. They’re permitted to be above the cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must shed a salary or two to become cap-compliant when their regular season begins in late September.

The cost of re-signing Jason Robertson to a one-year, $12 million contract pushed the Stars over the cap by $1.36 million. Like the Maple Leafs, they must make a cost-cutting move before their regular season begins.

As for the Golden Knights, they’re over the cap by $8.66 million, but are expected to place defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve to start the season to become cap-compliant.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs will likely place Max Domi ($3.75 million) on LTIR to get under the cap. He suffered complications from back surgery, and there is no firm timetable for his return to action. Meanwhile, the Stars could send a low-paid player or two to the minors to address their issue.

Speaking of the salary cap, I raised a point in yesterday’s Morning Coffee Headlines regarding the use of signing bonuses and whether it would be a contentious issue in the next round of collective bargaining. It was subsequently brought to my attention that the issue was already addressed. Signing bonuses will be capped at 60 percent of the total contract value for future contracts starting on Sept 16, 2026. Stick tap to foleyd7 for the info.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Bryan McCabe is moving on from his long-time stint in player development with the Florida Panthers. The former defenseman started as a development coach with the Panthers in 2012, became Director of Player Development a year later, and was promoted to Director of Player Personnel in 2017.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets aren’t renewing the contract of Bob McElligott, who was their radio play-by-play broadcaster since 2009. It’s a cost-cutting measure for the club. They are expected to lose revenue by shifting to NHL Productions for TV broadcasts rather than contracting with a regional sports network.

RDS: Former NHL player Pierre Dagenais has become general manager of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks and the city of Vancouver are exploring the construction of a practice rink for the club.