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 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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 18, 2026

by | Oct 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 18, 2026

Two more Panthers collect hat tricks, the Flyers finally win their first game of the season, Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension ends soon, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers forwards Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett each had hat tricks in an 8-3 drubbing of the Seattle Kraken. Matthew Tkachuk collected three assists for the 5-2-2 Panthers. Shane Wright, Frederick Gaudreau, and Ryker Evans replied for the Kraken (5-3-1).

Florida Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verhaeghe had a natural hat trick, making the Panthers the first team in NHL history with natural hat tricks in three consecutive games, after Brady Tkachuk record natural hat tricks in the Panthers’ previous two games.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored two goals and collected three assists to lead his club over the Utah Mammoth 6-2. Tristan Jarry made 26 saves, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist for the 6-1-1 Oilers. John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev scored for the Mammoth, who remain in first place in the Central Division (6-3-0) with 12 points.

Former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers snapped a 2-2 tie to lift the Carolina Hurricanes over his old club by a score of 3-2. Mark Jankowski extended his goal streak to seven games, and Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists for the Hurricanes (7-1-1) to stretch their win streak to seven games. They also hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 15 points. Mark Scheifele and Alex Iafallo replied for the Jets (4-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following this game, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that multiple sources said Connor Hellebuyck had informed the Jets before their first game of the season (Oct. 2) that he intended to report to the team.

The 33-year-old goaltender went public with his trade request in August. He had not received permission from the Jets to stay away from training camp, allowing the club to suspend him without pay for a “reasonable” length of time. According to Friedman’s sources, the end date for the suspension is Friday, Oct. 23.

Hellebuyck can rejoin the Jets on that date. Friedman suggested the possibility of the club paying him to stay home, but he doesn’t think that’s what anyone wants.

Jets captain Adam Lowry was asked about the possibility of Hellebuyck returning to the lineup. “I think if he does show up, there’s going to have to be conversations; there’s gonna have to be one of those ‘water under the bridge things’,” Lowry said.

The Jets exceeded expectations with Hellebuyck, with a 4-2-2 record. There will be concerns about whether his potential return upsets team chemistry. They’ll want to ensure Hellebuyck is coming back to help the team, not just to hasten a trade or to resume his payments.

The Philadelphia Flyers won their first game of the season by holding off the Ottawa Senators 3-1. Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov each had a goal and an assist, and Dan Vladar stopped 25 shots for the 1-6-3 Flyers. Drake Batherson scored for the 6-3-0 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ victory leaves the Los Angeles Kings as this season’s only team without a win (0-4-2). Flyers winger Owen Tippett missed this game with an upper-body injury. Senators captain Thomas Chabot left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Kings, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins got four unanswered goals from David Pastrnak, Marat Khusnutdinov, Elias Lindholm, and JJ Peterka to improve to 7-2-0, leaving them in first place in the Atlantic Division with 14 points. Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins center Pavel Zacha missed this game with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was a healthy scratch.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to nip the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Carrier each had two assists as the Canadiens improved to 4-3-1. Josh Norris, Jack Quinn, and Tage Thompson scored for the 4-3-2 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forward Oliver Kapanen and defenseman David Reinbacher made their season debut for the Canadiens.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov tallied twice to rally his club from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Brayden Point had two assists and Jake Guentzel a goal and an assist for the Lightning (6-2-0) as they extended their home win streak to five games. Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson scored for the Canucks (2-7-1) as their winless skid reached seven games (0-6-1).

The Washington Capitals scored four straight goals to double up the New Jersey Devils 4-2. Boone Jenner scored for the fourth time in five games, Vincent Desharnais collected two assists, and Logan Thompson stopped 29 shots for the 5-3-0 Capitals. Arseny Gritsyuk had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who slipped to 4-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals placed center Pierre-Luc Dubois (illness) on injured reserve.

New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat had a goal and an assist to lead his club to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Sorokin stopped 28 shots, and Simon Holmstrom scored twice for the 4-3-1 Islanders. Colton Sissons replied for the Maple Leafs as they slipped to 3-4-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders forwards Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli left this game with lower-body injuries. Before this game, the Maple Leafs announced center John Tavares is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

A shootout goal by Lucas Raymond gave the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Alex DeBrincat scored the tying goal, Emmitt Finnie had a goal and an assist, and John Gibson made 31 saves for the Red Wings, who improved to 3-3-2. Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (4-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Red Wings placed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker on waivers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New York Rangers 1-0 on an overtime goal by Kent Johnson. Jet Greaves turned in a 29-save shutout for the Blue Jackets (3-3-0). Dylan Garand stopped 28 shots for the 6-3-1 Rangers.

Dallas Stars winger Arttu Hyry scored twice for his first NHL multipoint game in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Jake Oettinger had a 19-save shutout, and Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the 4-3-1 Stars. Spencer Knight made 28 saves for the Blackhawks, who dropped to 3-6-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars general manager Jim Nill said he hopes to open contract extension talks with Robertson in December. The winger is on a one-year, $12 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Center Wyatt Johnston returned to the Stars’ lineup after missing the last two games with an illness.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi, and Adam Wilsby each collected two assists for the Predators (3-2-3). Philip Broberg and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for the Blues as they dropped to 3-4-1.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as his club thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Trevor Connelly each had two points for the league-leading Golden Knights (8-2-0, 16 points). Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin replied for the 3-5-1 Penguins, who’ve dropped three straight games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2026

by | Oct 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2026

The Avalanche defeat the Penguins, the Bruins down the Ducks, early-season attendance a concern, Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch not ruling out a rebuild, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists as the Colorado Avalanche overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice, and rookie T.J. Hughes scored his first NHL goal for the 5-2-1 Avalanche. Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rusty scored for the Penguins, who dropped to 3-4-1.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected an assist to move past Joe Thornton into seventh place (1,110) among the all-time assist leaders. He needs 26 assists to pass Paul Coffey (1,135) and 46 to move ahead of Jaromir Jagr (1,155).

The Boston Bruins scored four unanswered goals (three straight on the power play) to rally from a 2-0 deficit for a 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and an assist, and rookie Frederic Brunet netted his first NHL goal as the Bruins improved to 6-2-0. Tim Washe and Beckett Sennecke scored for the 4-3-0 Ducks.

HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discussed the reasons behind the disappointing attendance numbers thus far this season.

The Vegas Golden Knights’ nine-year sellout streak ended on Oct. 8 when they had 92 percent attendance for their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Edmonton Oilers had over 2,000 empty seats for their Thursday game against the Utah Mammoth.

Yaremchuk noted the Columbus Blue Jackets were at 75 percent, the New York Islanders at 79 percent, the Ottawa Senators at 82 percent, and the San Jose Sharks at 82 percent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steven Sandor of the Edmonton Journal reported Friday that the Oilers have 840 tickets listed as unsold (“that’s outside of the resale market”) for their Oct. 20 home game against the Minnesota Wild. He also noted tickets remain available for their upcoming game against the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and their “Battle of Alberta” game against the Calgary Flames, and that’s with resale tickets going for as low as $61.00 apiece.

Sandor noted the Oilers aren’t the only Canadian team with an attendance issue. “The Ottawa Senators are selling just 80 percent of their seats, even though the team reduced the capacity of its arena for this season by about 900 seats,” he wrote. The Calgary Flames are selling 90 percent of their tickets, despite this being their final season in the Saddledome. The Winnipeg Jets are off to a strong start, but are selling at 93 percent.

Yaremchuk and Hutton believe the main reason is the high cost of watching NHL games. Hutton noted the rising cost of living is making it too expensive for people with families to attend those contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other factors are at play, like the Golden Knights cutting the number of tickets sold directly to brokers in the hope of making each ticket more valuable. Nevertheless, the running theme in these stories is the rising cost of going to an NHL game.

Sandor spoke to several Oilers fans who found it too costly to renew their season tickets. Pittsburgh Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe of The Athletic cited the high cost of attending games (including parking). His colleague Mark Lazerus estimated the fan cost index for a family of four to attend a Chicago Blackhawks game at around $600.00, though he also pointed out it’s become more expensive to attend other sports or cultural events.

This could become an issue for all NHL teams if it continues throughout this season. The league’s fan cost index has steadily increased over the years, reaching an average of $761.22 in 2025, prompting concern that clubs were pricing out lower- and middle-income fans. That trend could accelerate if unaddressed given the current economic climate.

THE ATHLETIC: In an interview with Max Bultman, Detroit Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch acknowledged the fans’ unhappiness and frustration over the club’s direction this year, prompting some to chant “Sell the team!” at Little Caesars Arena earlier this month.

Ilitch said the fans “absolutely had the right to tell us how they feel.” He said it’s the reason why he changed general managers and why he’s being so meticulous in his ongoing search for a full-time replacement for former GM Steve Yzerman.

Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff recently said the club doesn’t intend to rebuild, but Ilitch isn’t taking that option off the table. He’s going to leave that decision to whoever he finally hires as his new GM.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ilitch might not have much choice if the Red Wings’ playoff drought reaches 11 years. Whoever comes in as general manager will have to sell a rebuild to core players like Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, who signed a long-term extension earlier this week.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports soon-to-be Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron believes the selection of David Pastrnak as the Boston Bruins captain was a logical organizational choice, pointing to the respect Pastrnak has earned through his years of production, personality, and credibility.

Bergeron believes young Bruins center Fraser Minten’s maturity and attention to detail have made him a good fit in Boston. He also singled out Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s growth as a leader and two-way player as setting the standard for his teammates.

DAILY FACEOFF: Winger Zach Hyman will return to action on Saturday against the Utah Mammoth. Colton Dach and Jake Walman are also “very likely” to play.

TSN: Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Sidelined forward Seth Jarvis is travelling with the team and may be nearing a return from offseason shoulder surgery.

TVA SPORTS/SPORTSNET: Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault could be out longer than expected. He was initially projected to miss 10 to 14 days with a lower-body injury. Winger Florian Xhekaj (lower body) will be sidelined for two weeks, while defenseman Mike Matheson (lower body) remains day-to-day.

SPORTSNET: Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

CBS SPORTS: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed winger Miles Wood (undisclosed) on injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito has ties with MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers, who are heading to the World Series for the first time in 44 years. Back then, Zito was a bat boy for the team.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2026

by | Oct 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2026

Another natural hat trick for Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk, Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane sets a record for American-born players, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk became the first NHL player since 1986 to score back-to-back natural hat tricks as he rallied his club from a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Seth Jones assisted on two of Tkachuk’s goals for the 4-2-2 Panthers. Goaltender Leevi Merilainen stopped 36 shots, and winger Liam Ohgren and defenseman Elias Pettersson scored for the Canucks, who dropped to 2-6-1.

Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk joins Petri Skriko (1986) and Cy Denneny (1923) as the only players in league history to record consecutive natural hat tricks.

Patrick Kane collected two assists and Artyom Levshunov scored in overtime as the Chicago Blackhawks nipped the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. Connor Bedard scored his first goal of the season and picked up an assist while Spencer Knight made 31 saves for the 3-5-0 Blackhawks. Neal Pionk had a goal and two assists for the Jets (4-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane has 896 career NHL regular-season assists, passing Phil Housley (894) for the most by an American-born player. Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Jets blueliner Josh Morrissey is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, but he doesn’t require surgery.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy had a hat trick and an assist in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. Karill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists for the Wild, who improved to 5-2-1. Cam Fowler collected three assists, and Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist for the 3-3-1 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Boldy’s fifth career hat trick. Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes had two assists to extend his assist streak to eight games.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on an overtime goal by Owen Power. Jack Quinn had two goals and two assists for the Sabres (4-3-1). Kirill Marchenko tallied a hat trick for the 3-3-2 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs center John Tavares left the game in the third period following a collision with Sabres center Josh Norris.

Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna was benched from the middle of the second period onward. Head coach Jim Hiller explained the Leafs went through a stretch where McKenna sat for a lengthy period as the club was killing penalties. McKenna is not part of the Leafs’ penalty killing unit. Nevertheless, the decision was confusing, prompting speculation that Hiller either mismanaged his bench or may have had an issue with McKenna’s play.

Earlier in the day, the Maple Leafs announced defenseman Chris Tanev is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. They also made a minor trade, acquiring center Aatu Raty from the Canucks in exchange for forward Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had a hat trick to lead his club over the Calgary Flames 6-2. Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists, and Ivan Barbashev set up three goals for the Golden Knights (7-2-0), who hold first place in the overall standings with 14 points. Jake Middleton and Matt Coronato replied for the 1-6-0 Flames.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark turned aside 20 shots to backstop his club to a 2-1 shootout win over the New York Islanders. Shane Pinto scored the winning goal, and Ridly Greig scored the tying goal for the 6-2-0 Senators, who’ve won four of their last five games and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 12 points. Matias Maccelli scored for the 3-3-1 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer wasn’t pleased with his club’s performance, benching forwards Calum Ritchie and Anthony Duclair for the second half of the third period. Before the game, the Senators announced that winger William Eklund underwent surgery to repair a torn ankle tendon and will be sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks.

An overtime goal by Victor Hedman lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Brandon Hagel scored two goals for the Lightning (5-2-0). Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves, and Matty Beniers scored to send the game into overtime for the 5-2-1 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour left this game with a lower-body injury. There was no postgame update on his condition.

The New Jersey Devils crushed the New York Rangers 7-1. Defenseman Luke Hughes scored twice for his first multi-goal NHL game as the Devils improved to 4-3-0. Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand was replaced by Spencer Martin after giving up four goals on 13 shots as the Blueshirts dropped to 6-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers’ AHL affiliate Hartford Wolfpack signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a professional tryout offer. It remains to be seen if he’ll eventually move up into the Rangers’ lineup.

Detroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp snapped a 1-1 tie to give his club a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Anton Johansson also scored for the 2-3-2 Red Wings. Matvei Michkov scored for the Flyers, who remain winless in their first nine games (0-6-3).

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller tallied twice to lead his club over the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist, and Karel Vejmelka stopped 22 shots for the 6-2-0 Mammoth, who’ve won three straight games to move up into first place in the Central Division with 12 points. Leon Draisaitl and Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the 5-1-1 Oilers.

The San Jose Sharks downed the Nashville Predators 3-2 on a shootout goal by Macklin Celebrini. Alex Nedeljkovic kicked out 32 shots for the win as the Sharks improved to 4-3-0. Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos scored third-period goals to force overtime for the 2-2-3 Predators.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed free-agent forward David Perron to a one-year, prorated contract worth $850,000.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars are trying to bolster their forward depth and improve an offense that ranks 30th this season.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks captain Mikael Granlund could miss Friday’s game against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury.

SPORTSNET: Arizona State University hired Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Dave Hakstol to lead its men’s hockey team as the school continues to investigate a training camp workout that left St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich on life support.

Hakstol replaces Greg Power, who stepped down as ASU head coach. The Avalanche named Brett McLean as Hakstol’s replacement.










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.