NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2026

by | Jun 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2026

The Hurricanes are a game away from winning the Stanley Cup, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov wins the Hart Trophy, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requests a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from winning the Stanley Cup after holding off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (NHL Images)

Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals, Sebastian Aho tallied the game-winner, Nikolaj Ehlers had three assists, Jordan Staal scored to extend his goal streak to five games, and Brandon Bussi made 23 saves for the Hurricanes.

Pavel Dorofeyev scored both goals for the Golden Knights.

The series returns to Las Vegas for Game 6 on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Hurricanes’ best game of this series, and the Golden Knights’ worst.

The Hurricanes struggled in the second period of the previous four games in this series, but they dominated the frame in this contest with Svechnikov and Aho scoring big goals.

Svechnikov and Aho were under scrutiny entering this game over their lack of production in this series. With the pressure on, they silenced their critics and delivered for their club.

Staal is having a Stanley Cup Final for the ages. He leads all scorers in this series with six goals, becoming the first player since Jean Beliveau in 1956 to score five goals in the first five Stanley Cup Final games. Maurice Richard (1951) and Cyclone Taylor (1918) are the only other players to do it.

The Golden Knights’ penalty kill was their undoing in this game. They also lost two-way center William Karlsson in the second period with an injured left arm that could sideline him for the remainder of this series.

Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella remains confident that his club will bounce back in Game 6. He guaranteed that his club will send this series back to Raleigh for Game 7.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the 2025-26 winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team. It’s the second time he’s taken home the Hart, doing so in 2018-19. He finished second among NHL scorers this season with 130 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The voting was close for the Hart this year, with Kucherov garnering 1,436 votes while Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had 1,426 votes. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was third with 1,297 votes.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman and Mark Spector report sources say that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has requested a trade.

Nurse, 31, is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $9.25 million. He also has a full no-movement clause. He’s reportedly submitted a list of three to five preferred destinations to Oilers management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nurse has been a whipping boy for Oilers fans and some Edmonton pundits because his performance never reached the standard expected of a defenseman with his expensive contract. He’s not a bad player, but he’s overpaid for what he brings to the game.

Those factors could make it difficult for the Oilers to find a suitable trade partner for Nurse. It also raises the question of whether this is the beginning of the end of this version of the Oilers, which struggled to make the playoffs this season and was upset in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.

I’ll have more about Nurse’s trade request in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche president and acting general manager Joe Sakic still believes his club remains a Stanley Cup contender despite being swept from the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Sakic pointed to the Avalanche’s strong regular-season performance, winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. He also indicated that head coach Jared Bednar will return behind the bench, and hinted at the possibility of a contract extension.

Superstar defenseman Cale Makar is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1. Sakic said the 27-year-old blueliner “is going to finish his career” with Colorado. He said he’s confident that a new contract will be worked out at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sakic’s belief that his team’s season was derailed by “one bad week” isn’t sitting well with Troy Renck of The Denver Post. He thinks that Bednar’s system is no longer effective in the postseason, adding that the roster is getting older and must get younger and tougher.

TORONTO STAR: Former NHL forward Joe Pavelski acknowledged that he’s in the running to become head coach of the Maple Leafs. He’s made it to the short list of candidates despite never coaching at the pro level. Former New York Islanders bench boss Patrick Roy is also believed to be on that list.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has joined the Kraken as vice president and assistant GM.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens must find a new head coach for their AHL affiliate in Laval, as Pascal Vincent will serve as an assistant coach with the Kraken.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2026

by | Apr 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2026

The final two Western Conference first-round series are set, Connor McDavid wins the Art Ross Trophy, Nathan MacKinnon takes home the Richard Trophy, Macklin Celebrini sets a Sharks record, the Canucks reportedly fire GM Patrik Allvin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THE LAST NIGHT OF THE NHL REGULAR SEASON

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers rookie Matt Savoie tallied his first NHL hat trick as his club romped to a 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Connor McDavid collected four assists for the 41-30-11 Oilers, who clinched second place in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Canucks rookie Ty Mueller scored his first NHL goal.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers will face off against the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. Meanwhile, McDavid finished with a league-leading 138 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer for the sixth time. He joins Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Gordie Howe as the only players to win that award at least six times.

Speaking of the Ducks, they nipped the Nashville Predators 5-4 on a tie-breaking goal by Troy Terry. Mikael Granlund had three assists for the Ducks, who finished one point behind the Oilers to sit third in the Pacific Division. Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg each scored twice for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos and Forsberg both finished this season having reached the 40-goal plateau. For Stamkos (42 goals), it’s the eighth time he’s done it.

The Colorado Avalanche blanked the Seattle Kraken 2-0. Scott Wedgewood turned in a 22-save shutout while Nick Blankenburg and Parker Kelly scored for the league-leading Avalanche (121 points), who will meet the Los Angeles Kings. Rookie goalie Victor Ostman stopped 33 of 35 shots for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche rested several players, including Nathan MacKinnon. Nevertheless, MacKinnon won the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s leading goal scorer, finishing with 53. It’s the first time he’s won the Richard Trophy. He and Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens were the only players to reach the vaunted 50-goal plateau this season.

Wedgewood and fellow Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood won the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is awarded annually to the goaltender(s) who play a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar returned behind the bench after missing the club’s last two games with facial injuries after being struck by a puck during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights last weekend.

As for the Kings, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Calgary Flames. Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev stopped 27 shots for the win in his first NHL game, while Joel Farabee reached the 20-goal plateau for the third time. Quinton Byfield scored for the Kings.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists in a 6-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. William Eklund and John Klingberg each had three points for the Sharks. Cole Koepke replied for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini finished the season with 115 points, breaking the franchise record of 114 set by Joe Thornton in 2006-07. The 19-year-old Sharks center finished fourth overall among NHL scorers this season.

The St. Louis Blues closed out their season with a 5-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Robert Thomas tallied a hat trick for the Blues. Clayton Keller and MacKenzie Weegar each had two assists for the Mammoth, who will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The complete schedule for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been released. It begins Saturday with Game 1 of the Ottawa Senators-Carolina Hurricanes series at 3 pm ET.

THE PROVINCE: cited a report in the Swedish paper Aftonbladet, which claimed that general manager Patrik Allvin is set to be dismissed by the Vancouver Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As of this writing, there has been no official confirmation yet by the Canucks. It’s been speculated for weeks that Allvin could be replaced as general manager following one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils have hired former Florida Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta as their new general manager. He’s returning to the club where he pioneered the NHL’s first full-time analytics department from 2014 to 2018.

Mehta joined the Panthers in 2020. Promoted to assistant GM in 2023, he contributed to the Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Among Mehta’s first duties will be deciding the future of head coach Sheldon Keefe, opening contract extension talks on July 1 with team captain Nico Hischier, and perhaps gauging the trade value of veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed head coach Rick Bowness to a one-year contract extension.

Bowness took over on an interim basis in mid-January. Under his guidance, the Blue Jackets rose from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings to second place in the Metropolitan Division by March 25.

However, the Blue Jackets went 3-9-1 over their remaining games to fall out of the playoff picture. That sparked a public season-ending tirade from Bowness, accusing the players of being too comfortable with losing. He subsequently walked back those comments, but his claim that he would change the culture if he returned as head coach has resonated with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bowness claimed he loved the Blue Jackets players, who said they loved playing for him. It remains to be seen if that mutual love translates into a culture change that leads to a winning team next season.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews appeared noncommittal about his future when speaking to the media during the club’s locker cleanout on Thursday. The 28-year-old superstar center expects to be physically ready for next season, but he’s uncertain about where things go from here.

Matthews said he can’t predict the future, pointing out that the Maple Leafs are in the process of hiring new management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like Matthews will wait to see who becomes the new GM and what their plans are for the offseason and for 2026-27. He has two years remaining on his contract, which explains the curiosity about his plans among the denizens of Leafs Nation.

TSN: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, Craig Berube said he expects to return as their head coach next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will depend on the next general manager and how much autonomy he’ll have from ownership when it comes to making decisions about the coaching staff.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin offered up more clarity about his future. Despite speculation that this season could be his last, the 40-year-old Capitals captain remains hopeful that he hasn’t played his final NHL game. He intends to decide at some point in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed defenseman Matt Dumba on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. It will allow him to finish this season without having to participate in the AHL playoffs.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers will have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after all. They had traded that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of last year’s Seth Jones trade. However, the pick was top-10 protected. The Panthers currently sit eighth in the draft order and can fall no lower than two spots in the draft lottery.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2026

by | Apr 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2026

Will the Blues trade Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou this summer? Are big changes coming this summer for the Canucks? What’s the latest Canadiens speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE BLUES PEDDLE ROBERT THOMAS AND JORDAN KYROU THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, St. Louis Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford was asked if the club’s improvement of late might affect Robert Thomas’ willingness to stay or management’s desire to trade him.

Rutherford noted Thomas has improved since returning from an injury, scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate. He also pointed out that moving Thomas could adversely affect the play of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).

When the Blues were engaged in trade talks, Thomas expressed his desire to stay in St. Louis. That could change if the club revisits those discussions, but the 26-year-old center sees the young talent joining the club and wants to be a part of it.

Rutherford was also asked if Jordan Kyrou will be moved this summer. He believes he will, pointing out that the 27-year-old winger’s production has dried up in recent weeks.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has been reluctant to move players for less than their value in his eyes. Rutherford acknowledged Kyrou’s skill and scoring ability, but believes the Blues must move him for the best available offer if they don’t see him as part of their plans moving forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was the focus of considerable speculation before last month’s trade deadline. Afterward, he expressed his desire to stay put, adding that he wasn’t approached by management about waiving his no-trade clause. He’s signed through 2030-31 with a reasonable average annual value of $8.125 million.

Kyrou also surfaced in the rumor mill before the deadline. However, there wasn’t as much buzz about him, partly because Thomas is a center (and those players are more highly prized), and partly because of his offensive inconsistency. His contract is identical to Thomas’. Both players have full control over their situations.

Thomas would fetch the best return, but it would take a significant offer to pry him away from the Blues. The asking price was reportedly at least three pieces comparable to high first-round draft picks. It was too expensive at the trade deadline and could be the same this summer, and that’s before they get around to asking Thomas if he’ll agree to move.

Kyrou seems the more likely of the two to move this summer, provided he’s open to the possibility. He won’t fetch as high a return, but it should still be decent enough for the Blues to put toward retooling their roster. The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly interested in him last summer, but wound up settling for Zachary Bolduc.

LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Vancouver Canucks are considering changes in their front office and behind the bench after this dismal season.

According to Dreger, there is a “50/50 chance” that the Canucks might consider replacing Patrik Allvin as general manager. It was also rumored that the Nashville Predators sought permission to speak with Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, but were rebuffed. However, Dreger said the Predators never made that request.

There’s speculation the Canucks could move on from head coach Adam Foote, who was hired last year to replace the departed Rick Tocchet.

Dreger stressed no decisions have been made yet as the Canucks brass continues to evaluate their options.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reported a league source claiming Allvin could end up working for the Minnesota Wild as their top scout if he’s fired by the Canucks. His departure would open the door for Johnson to step into the GM role.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently reported speculation that the Canucks sign promising youngsters Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren to eight-year contract extensions this summer before the term limits on contracts are reduced by one year on Sept. 15.

However, the Canucks won’t be pushing with any urgency to make those sorts of deals this summer.

The Canucks could consider using their various second and third-round draft picks as trade bait this summer for young NHL-ready players. They’ll also be willing to consider reclamation projects of young players similar to Justin Sourdif with the Washington Capitals, Trevor Zegras with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Egor Chinakhov with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what decisions the Canucks make regarding their management and coaching positions. This club is definitely rebuilding, but they’re going to try to hasten the process by bringing in as much young NHL talent as possible.

The Canucks have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Those will be off-limits, especially if they win the draft lottery with their own pick. They have two second-round picks and three sixth-rounders this year, two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders next year, and in 2028. That gives them some good trade capital to work with this summer and over the next two years.

THE SICK PODCAST WITH TONY MARINARO: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes shed a little more light on the speculation that he was working on a blockbuster move before last month’s trade deadline.

Following the deadline, Hughes hinted that he had been working on a big deal that he could revisit during the offseason. That prompted speculation that Toronto Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies was his target, while other reports claimed Hughes was pursuing different players.

Hughes revealed he was working on two deals before the deadline, but they decided the asking prices were too high, or they didn’t necessarily want to go after players on expiring contracts. He stressed that his club is looking to “get better today and get better in the future at the same time.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens didn’t suffer from Hughes’ inability to swing a major deal at the deadline. Nevertheless, his recent comments will keep Habs fans buzzing during the offseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2026

by | Apr 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2026

A list of RFA players ineligible for offer sheets, an update on the Predators’ search for a new general manager, and the latest on the Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LIST OF RFAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE OFFER SHEETS THIS SUMMER.

PUCKPEDIA: recently released their list of Group 2 restricted free agents classified as 10.2(C) players, making them ineligible for offer sheets or arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The article linked above explains the criteria players must meet to avoid becoming 10.2(C) RFAs.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The notable players this year include Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf, and Philadelphia Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m linking to this because a few readers have mentioned Gauthier, Nikishin, and Graf as potential offer sheet targets.

There are two ways these players change teams this summer. One is if their respective teams don’t qualify their rights, and they become unrestricted free agents. The other is trading them. I don’t foresee either situation occurring for Gauthier, Nikishin, Graf, and Grebenkin.

PREDATORS

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty recently reported on the Nashville Predators’ search for a new general manager to replace Barry Trotz, who intends to step down as soon as his replacement is found.

The Predators sought permission from the Toronto Maple Leafs to speak with assistant general manager Brandon Pridham. Former Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has also been linked to the Predators.

Florida Panthers assistant general manager Brett Peterson and Oilers assistant GM Bill Scott are believed to be on the Predators’ search list. Former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has also been mentioned as a candidate.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Predators could be about to begin in-person interviews with the candidates. He believes that Peterson and Scott are among them, along with Dallas Stars assistant general manager Scott White and possibly former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka.

Friedman believes Predators current assistant GM Jeff Kealty could be in the mix. He also thinks they reached out to player agent Matt Kater. Friedman brought up Tom Fitzgerald, given the uncertainty about the New Jersey Devils general manager this season.

CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger addressed recent rumors suggesting the Vancouver Canucks could make a management shakeup, saying that Patrik Allvin has no intention of leaving as general manager. Dreger said Allvin remains “highly regarded” as GM of the team.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2026

by | Apr 1, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2026

Who are the potential candidates to become the next GM of the Maple Leafs? Are management changes coming for the Devils and Canucks? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS’ GM SEARCH

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes that Keith Pelley, the head of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, tipped his hand when he said that he favors retooling the Maple Leafs roster over a rebuild. He expects it will be a cue card for the potential candidates for the job.

Darren Dreger reports former Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was at least working on retooling the roster before he was fired. Treliving was hoping to use some of the draft picks that he acquired before last month’s trade deadline as trade collateral to acquire a good young defenseman. The Leafs also need a center to take some of the load off John Tavares.

Chris Johnston indicated that Pelley is seeking a data-minded person for the GM job. The Leafs will hire a search firm to help them find some potential candidates.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong (NHL.com).

LeBrun mentioned that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong has been linked to the Maple Leafs. Armstrong is stepping down from his current role at the end of this season, but he’s under contract as the Blues’ president of hockey operations. It would be up to Blues owner Tom Stillman whether he’ll permit clubs to speak with Armstrong.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic doesn’t expect Stillman to grant permission for the Leafs to talk to Armstrong about their vacant management position. The Blues owner would prefer that Armstrong stick around to help the incoming GM, Alexander Steen.

Johnston mentioned that Pelley has reached out to sidelined Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. It’s expected there will be more discussions between the two regarding the club’s direction. Matthews has two years remaining on his contract.

In his column for The Athletic, LeBrun mentioned former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis as a potential candidate. He also believes the Maple Leafs could be looking at multiple hires, with a veteran hand paired with an up-and-comer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “veteran hand” would likely end up in the hockey operations role, while the “up-and-comer” gets the general manager’s chair.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes there will be plenty of interest in the Leafs GM job. He wondered if former Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi would be a candidate for the Leafs job. Lombardi currently works with the Philadelphia Flyers. Other possibilities could be Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Jason Spezza and Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta.

COULD THE DEVILS AND CANUCKS SHAKE UP THEIR MANAGEMENT?

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos observed that Tom Fitzgerald holds the president of hockey operations and general manager titles. However, some are wondering if they might break up those roles.

Kypreos speculated they could hire a new hockey ops president, keep Fitzgerald around for one more season, and evaluate from there. It’s believed he’s preparing for the worst because he’s been on the hot seat this season.

FULL PRESS MEDIA: Jim Biringer wondered if the Maple Leafs firing of Brad Treliving might lead to a management change for the Devils.

It’s been rumored that Devils ownership might be contemplating some sort of change in the front office. However, Fitzgerald has maintained that he’s been in sync with ownership and the coaching staff.

If the Devils make a management change, Biringer believes it won’t come from within.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems a safer choice to hire a new president and give Fitzgerald one more season to redeem himself. However, the Devils ownership could have an eye on whoever applies for the Leafs’ job and perhaps interview those who didn’t get that role.

Kypreos also noted that changes are coming for the Vancouver Canucks, but it remains unclear to what extent they will take. He’s heard that GM Patrik Allvin doesn’t expect to survive the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allvin is the right-hand man of Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations. It would be an interesting move by Rutherford to hand Allvin his walking papers.

Canucks beat writer Thomas Drance of The Athletic isn’t sure just how far they are willing to go as they attempt to move on from this disastrous season. He thinks the organization should face some measure of accountability, but it remains to be seen what that could be.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2024

by | Feb 1, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2024

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, reaction to the Flames trading Elias Lindholm to the Canucks, Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantelli sidelined for eight weeks, and the latest on Phil Kessel in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings snapped a four-game winless skid by doubling up the Nashville Predators 4-2, handing the latter their third straight loss. Rookie forward Alex Turcotte had a goal and an assist for his first NHL points while David Rittich kicked out 39 shots for the 23-15-10 Kings as they hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 56 points. Filip Forsberg and Philip Tomasino replied for the 26-23-2 Predators, who sit two points behind the Kings and remain behind the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot.

Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Shane Pinto lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 upset of the Detroit Red Wings. Pinto finished the night with two points while Joonas Korpisalo stopped 23 shots for the 20-25-2 Senators. Daniel Sprong and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings (26-18-6) as they hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 58 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson suffered a lower-body injury in the first period and didn’t return. He’ll be re-evaluated when the club returns to Ottawa.

The Anaheim Ducks got an overtime goal by Frank Vatrano to nip the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Troy Terry had a goal and an assist while John Gibson made 26 saves for the 18-30-2 Ducks. Anthony Duclair and Marc-Edouard Vlasic tallied for the 14-32-5 Sharks.

HEADLINES

THE PROVINCE/CALGARY SUN: Pundits are reacting to yesterday’s trade between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks that saw the Flames ship center Elias Lindholm to the Canucks in exchange for winger Andrei Kuzmenko, two defense prospects and two draft picks, including the Canucks’ 2024 first-rounder.

The Province’s Patrick Johnston believes the price wasn’t that steep for the Canucks. He cited Kuzemenko’s struggles this season, considered prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz to be long-shots to reach the NHL, and noted the first-rounder will likely be in the high 20s or even in the 30s by the time this season is over.

Johnston also felt this move indicates that Canucks management isn’t fooling around. He considers the acquisition of two-way center Lindholm as “pushing their chips in to win the Stanley Cup.”

Meanwhile, Sun pundit Wes Gilbertson felt the Flames got a “substantial haul” from the Canucks for Lindholm. He called Kuzmenko “an intriguing talent”. However, he acknowledged his inclusion in the deal may have had more to do with making the cap dollars fit in this deal than how he potentially fits into the Flames’ long-term plans.

Brzustewicz currently leads the OHL in assists by a wide margin (61 in 47 games) and sits third in that league’s scoring race. Jurmo is a big blueliner (6’4”, 210 pounds) skating in Finland’s pro league.

Gilbertson also noted the willingness of Flames general manager Craig Conroy to trade one of his favorite players. He also considered this proof that Conroy is serious about rebuilding the roster and will prioritize acquiring future assets in any trade talks regarding pending free agents Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think this is a move the Canucks could afford to make this season. They’re an entertaining club loaded with talent generating excitement among their fans. Bringing in Lindholm indicates confidence by management that this team can stage a deep playoff run.

Yes, there’s a risk that it might not work out and Lindholm departs this summer as a free agent. Nevertheless, they already possess some good young talent on their roster and they didn’t have to part with one of their better prospects such as Jonathan Lekkerimaki or Tom Willander to get Lindholm. If they’re going to take the chance by acquiring a notable potential rental player, this is the season to do it.

As for the Flames, I agree with Gilbertson that Conroy isn’t waffling on what to do with his pending UFAs. If they don’t want to re-sign or are dragging their feet about it, he’s going to move them before March 8 for the best possible returns. Tanev and Hanifin are likely on their way out in the coming weeks.

TSN: Speaking of the Canucks, they signed general manager Patrik Allvin to a multi-year contract extension. This news was announced before they acquired Lindholm.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hired in January 2022, Allvin’s done a fine job thus far in reversing the Canucks’ fortunes as they currently sit atop the NHL’s overall standings. He’s also been the busiest GM in the trade market since the start of the regular season, making six trades since Oct. 8. Those include the additions of Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Sam Lafferty.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets rookie center Adam Fantilli will miss the next eight weeks after suffering a skate laceration to his left calf muscle. He suffered the injury on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A big blow to Fantilli and the struggling Blue Jackets. He sits third among their skaters and fourth among rookie scorers with 27 points in 49 games.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Phil Kessel remains in contact with several NHL teams and is still hopeful of signing with a club this season. The 36-year-old free-agent winger has been skating and trying to remain ready in case a team comes calling. He holds the NHL Ironman record with 1,064 consecutive regular-season games played. Kessel had 36 points in 82 games last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning his third Stanley Cup.