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 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 Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2026

by | Oct 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s games and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Christian Dvorak replied for the Flyers, who placed sidelined winger Travis Konency on injured reserve before this game.

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was the second meeting between these two clubs, who faced off in the second round of last spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Hurricanes needed overtime to defeat the Flyers 3-2 on Oct. 3 for their first win of the season.

This contest showed two teams going in different directions.

After stumbling through their first two games (0-1-1), the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes regained their footing and now sit atop the overall standings (5-1-1) with 11 points. Aho is on a torrid scoring streak, with six goals and five assists for 11 points, and is among the league’s top-10 scorers.

The Flyers, meanwhile, are winless in their first seven games (0-5-2), setting a franchise record for the most season-opening losses. They’ve been outscored 28-8 and sit last in the Eastern Conference, prompting some pundits to suggest their season may be unsalvageable.

During last week’s episode of Puck In Deep, I suggested it was too early to panic about the Flyers’ slow start, noting they had plenty of time to turn things around. I’ve since changed my mind. They look nothing like the club that rode a strong late-season surge to the playoffs and upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs. If they don’t find a way to halt this skid, they risk ending up in an early-season hole too deep to climb out of.

New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand stopped 19 shots in a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Tye Kartye and Will Cuylle each tallied twice while Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and an assist for the 5-2-0 Rangers, who sit one point behind the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference standings. Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (2-5-0), whose losing skid reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garand’s performance should provide short-term relief for Rangers fans worried about how the club would replace starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a season-ending leg injury Friday against the Washington Capitals. Nevertheless, the speculation persists, and you can read about it in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

The Seattle Kraken beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 on third-period goals by Jared McCann and Ryan Winterton. Joey Daccord made 33 saves for the Kraken, who improved to 4-2-0. Jordan Kyrou, Alex Ovechkin, and Boone Jenner scored for the 3-2-0 Capitals.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie reported on the creator of Hellebucks.com, which is a website that calculates how much money Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is forfeiting because he’s suspended without pay for refusing to report to the club. The 33-year-old netminder is staging a holdout to force a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I write this at 8:43 am Atlantic Time today, Hellebuyck has forfeited over $513,000 of his $7.5 million salary that he’s slated to earn this season.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Evan Rodrigues was fined $5,000 by the NHL’s department of player safety for high-sticking Canucks center Marco Rossi on Saturday.

Former NHL defenseman Adam Boqvist has signed with Swiss club Geneve-Servette. The eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Boqvist had 103 points in 272 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and New York Islanders.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2026

by | Oct 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2026

Recapping all 14 games from Saturday night, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: William Nylander scored two goals and collected three assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3. Auston Matthews scored twice and set up two others, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots for his first win for the Maple Leafs as they improved to 3-2-1. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for the 3-2-0 Avalanche.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update about his condition.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov tallied a hat trick and added an assist in a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist, and Jesper Wallstedt made 29 saves for the 3-1-1 Wild. Matthew Tkachuk scored for the Panthers (2-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After collecting five points in preseason action, Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk is scoreless in his first five regular-season games.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel’s hat trick gave his club a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Lightning (4-1-0), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with eight points. Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist for the 2-3-0 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders captain Bo Horvat played in this game and collected an assist, showing no ill effects from the blindside hit he received from Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar on Thursday. Nazar received a two-game suspension.

The Montreal Canadiens nipped the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 on a shootout goal by Zachary Bolduc. Goaltender Jacob Fowler made 30 saves in regulation and overtime, and stopped all six shots in the shootout for the shutout win for the 2-2-1 Canadiens, snapping a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Daniil Tarasov also made 30 saves for the Red Wings, who dropped to 1-3-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans chanted “We want Larkin!” in the hope of convincing Red Wings center Dylan Larkin to accept a trade to Montreal. If he were willing, he’d already be with the Habs. Larkin reportedly has an eight-team trade list but only wants to join American-based playoff contenders.

Boston Bruins forward Fraser Minten had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. JJ Peterka collected two assists for the Bruins (4-2-0). Porter Martone replied for the 0-4-2 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s getting ugly for the Flyers, who entered this season with heightened expectations after making the playoffs and reaching the second round last season. They’ve been outscored 24-7 in their first six games, prompting some Flyers followers to blame head coach Rick Tocchet for the club’s woeful start.

Flyers forward Travis Konecny (lower-body injury) and defenseman Cam York (upper-body injury) missed this game, while blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen (hand) missed his third straight contest.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Captain Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and an assist, Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist, and goalie Jake Allen made 20 saves in his 500th NHL start for the Devils, who improved to 2-2-0. Linus Karlsson scored for the Canucks, who dropped to 2-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ penalty killing was their downfall, giving up three power-play goals to the Devils.

The Edmonton Oilers (4-0-1) collected their fourth straight win by downing the San Jose Sharks 3-1. Mattias Ekholm, Vasily Podkolzin, and Alex Formenton scored while Tristan Jarry stopped 19 shots. Macklin Celebrini replied for the Sharks (3-2-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini returned to action after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury.

Anders Lee, Kailer Yamamoto, and John Marino each had a goal and an assist for the Utah Mammoth in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 23 shots for the 4-2-0 Mammoth, who hold first place in the Central Division with eight points. Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres, who slipped to 2-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres scratched forwards Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich from this game.

Ottawa Senators forwards Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto scored shootout goals to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Stutzle had a goal and an assist in regulation for the 4-1-0 Senators, who overcame a 2-0 deficit. Ross Colton and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Predators (2-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Senators placed winger William Eklund (ankle) on injured reserve. He’s expected to be sidelined for two months. Predators forward Mavrik Bourque missed this game with an upper-body injury.

Third-period goals by Ryan Poehling and Nikita Nesterenko lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Mikael Granlund collected two assists for the 4-1-0 Ducks. Morgan Frost and Aydar Suniev replied for the Flames (0-5-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Poehling was injured while scoring his goal and left the game with an apparent injury to his right leg. Teammate Cutter Gauthier left in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner scored in overtime to beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Marner and Trevor Connelly each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (5-1-0), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 10 points. Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings, who dropped to 0-2-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kings placed sidelined forwards Mats Zuccarello and Alex Turcotte on injured reserve. They also signed forward Jared Wright to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $925,000.

The Carolina Hurricanes extended their win streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mark Jankowski extended his goal streak to three games while Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (4-1-1), who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with nine points. Rookie winger Roman Kantserov scored his first NHL goal for the 1-5-0 Blackhawks.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell’s shootout goal gave his club a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Connor Dewar also scored for the 3-2-1 Penguins while Tyler Seguin netted his first of the season for the 2-2-1 Stars.

The St. Louis Blues downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Jonatan Berggren snapped a 3-3 tie, Jimmy Snuggerud tallied two goals, and Dylan Holloway picked up three assists for the Blues (2-2-1).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: The New York Rangers announced Saturday that goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for the season after suffering a lower-body injury during Friday’s loss to the Washington Capitals.

Dylan Garand takes over the starter’s role for the foreseeable future. The 24-year-old has made only four starts in his NHL career. Backup Joonas Korpisalo is on injured reserve (lower body) for another month. Spencer Martin will be Garand’s understudy when the Rangers face the Canucks on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a major blow for the Rangers, who won four of their first five starts before Shesterkin’s injury. It will be difficult for Garand, Korpisalo, and Martin to replace the former Vezina Trophy winner, and could significantly hamper their hopes for playoff contention.

DAILY FACEOFF: Seattle Kraken forward Jacob Melanson is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with “an anterior mediastinal hematoma with vascular pseudoaneurysm” as a result of an upper-body injury suffered during an Oct. 1 game against the Calgary Flames. He will be monitored closely by the Kraken’s medical staff as he makes a gradual return to playing hockey.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL winger Bobby Gould died Friday at age 69. He spent 11 seasons in the league (1979-80 to 1989-90) with the Atlanta/Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, spending eight seasons with the Capitals.

A three-time Selke Trophy finalist, Gould had 145 goals and 159 assists for 304 points in 697 regular-season games. He also had 28 points in 78 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Gould’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

by | Oct 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

Recapping Friday’s action, the Canadiens and Predators make a trade, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An injury to New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin overshadowed his club’s 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Shesterkin left the game in the second period with the score tied at 1-1 after injuring his right leg. He was helped off the ice and replaced by backup Dylan Garand.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images)

Timothy Liljegren, Boone Jenner, and Tom Wilson scored, and Logan Thompson made 21 saves for the Capitals (3-1-0). Alexis Lafreniere tallied for the 4-2-0 Rangers as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no postgame update on Shesterkin’s condition. The former Vezina Trophy winner played a significant role in the Rangers’ strong start, which could be derailed if he’s out for a lengthy period.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Cam Talbot stopped 20 shots and made three straight saves in the shootout to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Kent Johnson scored the winning goal, Damon Severson had a goal and an assist, and Cole Sillinger collected two assists for the Blue Jackets (2-1-0). Sergei Murashov kicked out 43 shots while Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin replied for the 2-2-1 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talbot became the first goalie in NHL history to win a game with nine teams. Now in his 13th season, the 39-year-old netminder had wins with the Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings.

A four-goal second period lifted the Seattle Kraken to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederick Gaudreau tallied two goals, and Ben Meyers had a goal and two assists for the Kraken, who improved to 3-2-0. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had a goal and an assist as the Red Wings dropped to 1-3-0.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. Mikael Granlund, Tim Washe, and rookie winger Judd Caulfield each had a goal and an assist for the 3-1-0 Ducks. Kyle Connor tallied his sixth goal of the season for the Jets (3-1-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Struble became the odd man out on the Canadiens’ crowded blueline. Kaiden Guhle is slated to return soon from adductor muscle surgery, and promising Adam Engstrom recently took Struble’s spot in the lineup. The Canadiens now have two second-round picks in next year’s draft, which could be bargaining chips by the March 1 trade deadline.

Struble, 25, should get more playing time with the retooling Predators. An injury to promising blueliner William Trudeau (upper body, week to week) was another reason for this move.

This was the 10th trade by Nashville general manager Chris MacFarlane since he took over the role on June 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Brad Marchand will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a lower-body (knee) injury.

TSN: Ottawa Senators winger William Eklund will be sidelined for an “extended period of time” with an ankle injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild placed goaltender Filip Gustavsson (offseason hip surgery) on long-term injured reserve.

CBS SPORTS: The New Jersey Devils placed center Nick Bjugstad (torn pectoral muscle) on LTIR.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche after returning to Toronto on Thursday to be with his wife as she gave birth to their fourth child, a son named Tucker.

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Thursday that the NHL has put expansion plans on the back burner for now amid concerns from owners regarding competitive balance. Two Texas cities (Houston and Austin) seemed to be the frontrunners for the NHL’s 33rd franchise if expansion occurs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An interesting development considering recent projections suggesting the league could expand by one or two teams by 2030. It’ll be interesting to see how many owners are concerned and how the league alleviates those worries.

NHL.COM: Defenseman Matt Dumba has announced his retirement after 13 NHL seasons. From 2013-14 to 2025-26, Dumba appeared in 748 regular-season games with the Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 85 goals and 176 assists for 261 points. He also had 15 points in 54 playoff contests.

Dumba spent 10 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Wild, including a career-high 50-point performance in 2017-18.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dumba was a physical puck-moving blueliner, but he was never the same after tearing his right pectoral muscle in December 2018. Up to that point, he had 12 goals and 22 points in 32 games, putting him on pace for another career-high performance.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2026

by | Oct 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2026

Recaps of Thursday’s games feature a hat trick by Hurricanes winger Logan Stankoven, a four-point game by Bruins captain David Pastrnak, and much more.

NHL.COM: Logan Stankoven scored shorthanded, on the power play, and at even strength for his first career NHL hat trick to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 7-2 drubbing of the Vancouver Canucks. Sean Walker collected four assists, and Andrei Svechnikov tallied twice for the 3-1-1 Hurricanes. Jake DeBrusk scored both goals for the Canucks, who dropped to 2-3-0.

Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (NHL Images)

Boston Bruins captain David Pastrnak scored twice and picked up two assists in a 6-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves, and winger Morgan Geekie had a goal and two assists for the Bruins, who improved to 3-2-0. Jack McBain had the only goal for the 3-2-0 Mammoth.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen had a goal and three assists, and Jake Oettinger had a 26-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 4-0. Wyatt Johnston collected three assists for the Stars (2-2-0). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 14 shots for the 2-2-0 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Oettinger’s second straight shutout, who leads all goalies with at least three games played this season with a .967 save percentage and a 0.67 goals-against average.

The Colorado Avalanche thumped the Calgary Flames 7-3. Cale Makar had two goals and an assist, and Nathan MacKinnon scored and had two assists for the Avalanche (3-1-0). Adam Klapka, Mikael Backlund, and Kevin Bahl replied for the 0-4-0 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor left the team for personal reasons following the sudden death of his father, Myles. My condolences to O’Connor and his family.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel scored on a penalty shot and collected an assist as his club overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on a shootout goal by Trevor Connelly. Sergei Bobrovsky kicked out 40 shots for the 2-2-0 Maple Leafs, while the Golden Knights improved to 4-1-0 to lead the Pacific Division with eight points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left this game late in the third period following a hit by Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Before this game, the Golden Knights announced that winger Victor Olofsson is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

The Nashville Predators rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Juuse Saros made 32 saves, Ryan O’Reilly scored the winning goal, and Adam Edstrom potted two empty-netters for the Predators (2-1-1). Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook scored for the Canadiens, who fell to 1-2-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a better effort by the Canadiens, but undisciplined penalties and defensive breakdowns remain troublesome early-season issues.

Rookie defenseman Carter Yakemchuk’s third-period goal lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Nick Cousins also scored, and Linus Ullmark turned aside 28 shots for the Senators (3-1-0), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with six points. Matvei Michkov replied for the 0-3-2 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators winger William Eklund left this game in the first period with an injured leg. There was no postgame update on his status.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman John Carlson scored his first two goals with his new club in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Nikita Kucherov had two assists, and Dennis Hildeby stopped 34 shots for the 3-1-0 Lightning. Quinn Hughes and Blake Coleman scored for the Wild (2-1-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning are tied with the Senators with six points, but the latter holds first place in the division with 12 goals. Wild defenseman Olli Maatta was a late scratch with a lower-body injury.

New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat tallied twice to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Logan Stanley had two assists and Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 shots for the Islanders (2-2-0). Frank Nazar scored for the Blackhawks (1-4-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nazar got a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a blindside hit to Horvat as he scored his second goal. The Isles center left the game and will be reevaluated on Friday.

Defenseman Darnell Nurse’s overtime goal gave the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist, and Collin Graf also scored for the 3-1-0 Sharks. Connor McMichael and Dillon Dube scored for the Blues (1-2-1).

IN OTHER NEWS…

ESPN.COM: Mammoth forward Vincent Trocheck downplayed speculation that Team USA’s Men’s Olympic hockey team group chat played a role in U.S. players on Canadian teams, like Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, requesting trades to American-based NHL teams.

“I think people make it a bigger thing than it is,” Trochek told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. “Obviously, people want the headlines, but the whole Canada thing or guys wanting out of Canada that are from the U.S., I think it was more situational than anything else.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no real evidence that the Team USA group chat played any role in Hellebuyck’s trade request, or directly led to Brady Tkachuk’s trade from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers in June.

Team USA’s gold-medal triumph spurred Hellebuyck to seek a trade to a Stanley Cup contender while he’s still in his prime after 11 seasons with Winnipeg. It’s been 36 years since a Canadian team won the Cup. Tkachuk’s desire to play with his brother Matthew in Florida stretched back to before they were Olympic teammates.

It’s worth noting that Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin’s trade request was also tied to the Team USA group chat. However, his desire to leave Detroit (an American city, last I checked) was because of his frustration about the Red Wings’ decade-long playoff drought. Playing on an Olympic gold-medal team gave Larkin a taste of winning he was missing in his pro career, which he no longer believes he’ll have with the Wings.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Seattle Kraken placed defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils placed forward Stefan Noesen on waivers.