NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 4, 2026

by | Oct 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 4, 2026

Recaps of Saturday’s games, the Panthers place Aleksander Barkov on LTIR, former Blue Jackets captain Lyle Odelein passed away, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Buffalo Sabres winger Jiri Kulich snapped a 3-3 tie to give his club a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Anton Frondell and Alex Vlasic each collected two assists for the Blackhawks, who have lost their first three games of this season.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kulich’s goal was his first since last November, when he was missed most of last season with a blood clot. Blackhawks defenseman (and former Sabre) Bowen Byram missed this game because of a personal matter.

Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist in his first game as captain of the Ottawa Senators to lead his team over the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Stephen Halliday broke a 2-2 tie in the third period, and Claude Giroux had two assists in the Senators’ season opener. Kirill Marchenkov scored his first goal with the Maple Leafs, and team captain Auston Matthews also scored.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson left this game after aggravating a lower-body injury. There was no immediate update on his status.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1. Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists, Brandon Hagel collected two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves. Justin Sourdif replied for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vasilevskiy has 371 wins in 600 regular-season games, giving him the most among NHL goaltenders over the same period. Maple Leafs goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is second with 339, and Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck is third with 334. Capitals defenseman Matt Roy left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Shayne Gostisbehere lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, giving the defending Stanley Cup champions their first win after dropping their first two games (1-1-1). Sebastian Aho had a goal and two assists. Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen left this game with an undisclosed injury after taking a shot off his left glove.

The Pittsburgh Penguins blew a 5-1 lead but defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 on an overtime goal by Tommy Novak, who finished with two goals and an assist. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Nick Suzuki led the Canadiens comeback with a goal and three assists, and Cole Caufield tallied twice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Penguins activated forward Ben Kindel off injured reserve and placed forward David Gustafsson on waivers. Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier left this game with an upper-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forwards Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther led their club to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Schmaltz scored two goals, and Guenther had a goal and two assists, while Sebastian Cossa made 17 saves for his first win with the Mammoth. Kent Johnson replied for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets held a pregame moment of silence to honor the memory of former NHL defenseman Lyle Odelein, who died on Friday of a heart attack at age 58.

Odelein was the Blue Jackets’ first captain and spent two of his 16-season NHL career in Columbus. He also played for the Montreal Canadiens (winning the Stanley Cup in 1992-93), New Jersey Devils, Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. From 1989-90 to 2005-06, Odelein had 252 points in 1,056 games, and 18 points in 86 playoff contests.

My condolences to Odelein’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Blue Jackets’ organization.

Third-period goals by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid lifted the Edmonton Oilers over the Seattle Kraken 3-1. Owen Michaels also scored, and Devon Levi made 19 saves for the Oilers, while Bobby McMann tallied for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a better defensive effort by the Oilers after giving up 13 goals in their first two games.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 37 saves for his first shutout of the season to blank the New Jersey Devils 6-0. Rookie Victor Eklund scored his first NHL goal, and Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer collected two assists. Nico Daws made 26 saves for the Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sidelined Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (left knee inflammation) is expected to resume skating later this week.

The Nashville Predators nipped the Dallas Stars 2-1 on a goal by Nils Hoglander. Steven Stamkos also scored, and Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots. Miro Heiskanen scored for the Stars, who’ve dropped their first two games and have only one goal on the season thus far.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored two goals, and defenseman Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 26 shots for the Wild. Tanner Jeannot replied for the Bruins.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon each had three points to lead their club over the St. Louis Blues 6-1. Necas scored twice and set up another, while MacKinnon had three assists. Dalibor Dvorsky scored the Blues’ only goal.

A four-goal third period lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Liam Ohgren had a goal and an assist, and Leevi Merilainen kicked out 23 shots. Matt Coronato scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk missed this game due to illness.

San Jose Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Chernyshov also collected an assist, and team captain Macklin Celebrini had two assists. Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, and Quinton Byfield each had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: RG.ORG’s Marco D’Amico interviewed Sharks forward Michael Misa, who explained how he spent the summer improving his shot, faceoffs, and play along the boards. He’s also quickly established chemistry with Sharks rookie forward Ivar Stenberg.

SPORTSNET: The Florida Panthers placed team captain Aleksander Barkov on long-term injured reserve. Barkov injured his left knee during Thursday’s loss to the Sharks.

The Panthers are still unclear about the status of Barkov’s injury. He will be seeing team physicians on Monday. His LTIR status means he’ll miss at least the next 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not the same knee that Barkov had season-ending surgery on last September. While this one isn’t as serious, he could miss more than 10 games.

CBS SPORTS: Detroit Red Wings forward Marco Kasper will miss Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

by | Oct 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s games, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has a new contract, Golden Knights center William Karlsson and Stars goalie Casey DeSmith get new deals, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon led the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Makar had two assists, becoming the first defenseman in league history to record multiple points in five straight season openers, while MacKinnon scored two goals and got into a third-period fight with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

Artturi Lehkonen also tallied twice, and Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche. Alex Laferriere collected two assists, and Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings.

Before this game, the Avalanche announced that head coach Jared Bednar signed a four-year contract extension. Bednar was in the final season of his current deal. He is the longest-tenured head coach in franchise history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the offseason rumors that the front office was losing confidence in Bednar after the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. What do you think about this signing, Avalanche fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 in the latter’s home-opening game. Arturs Silovs turned in a 19-save shutout, Nick Robertson scored two goals, and Filip Hallinder had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Flyers goalie Dan Vladar gave up seven goals on 38 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang won their 494th game together, setting the league record for the most by a trio. The Penguins also activated forward Blake Lizotte from injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan scored the winning goal and collected an assist on Colton Sissons’ game-opener in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the win. Emil Heineman scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (lower-body injury) missed this game, but he could return to the lineup this weekend. Before this game, the Maple Leafs placed sidelined forwards Max Domi and Dakota Joshua on long-term injured reserve.

HEADLINES

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights signed center William Karlsson to a two-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $6.75 million. Karlsson, 33, is in the final season of an eight-year deal with a $5.9 million AAV.

Karlsson’s been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons. When healthy, he’s a solid two-way center and invaluable core player. He’s also one of the three remaining players from their 2017-18 expansion roster.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeSmith has been a reliable backup for Stars starting goalie Jake Oettinger.

Speaking of the Stars, center Matt Duchene is doubtful for Friday’s season-opener against the St. Louis Blues with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson has returned to Sweden and is practicing with Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda. The 22-year-old restricted free agent awaits a new contract with the Red Wings.

“It takes as long as it needs to take,” Edvinsson’s agent Peter Werner said. “It is an ongoing negotiation that is ongoing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan Lambert (my colleague at The Hockey News) summed this up best: the Red Wings are completely mishandling Simon Edvinsson’s situation.

This is just another chapter in the Red Wings’ decade-long decline, a maddening decline for their fans with no end in sight.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Red Wings were a once-proud franchise that became a laughingstock because of incompetent ownership, mismanagement, and a revolving door of coaches, earning them the derisive nickname of “The Dead Things”.

They are now The Dead Things 2.0. Their front office doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. They haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. They’re bungling negotiations with their second-best defenseman. Their former captain wants out, and they can’t find a replacement for former GM Steve Yzerman.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Connor Brown will miss his club’s first two games of this season with a lower-body injury.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets will not have a captain this season. They will have six alternate captains, with Zach Werenski serving as permanent alternate. The decision is due to the departure of former captain Boone Jenner and uncertainty over Werenski’s future.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL center Ryan Spooner has retired. He spent seven seasons in the NHL (2012-13 to 2018-19) with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. In 325 games, he had 48 goals and 167 points, and two points in four postseason contests. He spent the past seven seasons in the KHL, the Swiss National A League, and the Slovakian Extraleague.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2026

by | Sep 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2026

The Bruins have a new captain, plusthe latest on Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, Islanders winger Mathew Barzal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins named David Pastrnak as the 28th captain in the franchise’s history.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

Pastrnak, 29, replaced Brad Marchand, who filled that role from 2023-24 until traded in March 2025.

“Yeah, obviously very grateful and humble. (It’s) an honor to be the captain and recognize all the responsibility that comes with it,” Pastrnak said. “I can’t wait, and my biggest goal is to be the best version (of myself) for the team and the Bruins organization.”

Pastrnak ranks sixth all-time among Bruins scorers with 933 points in 833 games. He also has 94 points in 96 playoff games. He’s tied for second in franchise history with five 40-goal seasons, is only the second Bruin to score 60 goals in a season, and is the third player in team history to have four 100-point seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak is among the league’s elite forwards. He took on a larger leadership role with the Bruins last season, so it’s not surprising they made him captain.

What do you think about Pastrnak becoming Bruins captain? Let us know in the comments section below.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is selling his home. The move comes as the 32-year-old netminder recovers from offseason shoulder surgery and is sidelined indefinitely

Merzlikins struggled over the past four seasons, losing the starter’s job last season to Jet Greaves. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins’ future with the Blue Jackets was in question before this report that he’s selling his home. This comes amid rumors that he might not return before the end of this season.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is travelling with his teammates to Toronto and hasn’t been ruled out for his club’s season-opener against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Barzal missed training camp after aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation.

Meanwhile, the Islanders signed free-agent defenseman Logan Stanley to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was fined $5,000 for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Grieg during Saturday’s preseason game in Montreal.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed four players on injured reserve. They include forwards Blake Lizotte, Justin Brazeau, and Ben Kindel, and defenseman Ryan Graves.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. He’d attended training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers signed forward Nathan Bastian to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

CBS SPORTS: The Bruins placed forward Matthew Poitras (upper body) on injured reserve.

TSN: The St. Louis Blues claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils plucked goaltender Remi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars.

DAILY FACEOFF: 71 players hit the waiver wire on Sunday as the 32 NHL clubs finalized their rosters for the upcoming regular season.

Goaltenders include David Rittich of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Garand of the New York Rangers, Laurent Brossoit of the Anaheim Ducks, and Vitek Vanecek of the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Placing the 24-year-old Garand on waivers could be a risky move by the Rangers. A rival club seeking a promising young netminder or goaltending depth could snap him up today.

Notable defensemen include Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, Henri Jokiharju of the Boston Bruins, and Donovan Sebrango of the Florida Panthers.

Forwards include Sam Lafferty of the Panthers, Vinnie Hinostroza of the Colorado Avalanche, Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars, Taylor Raddysh of the Rangers, and Alexander Holtz of the Vegas Golden Knights.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2026

by | Sep 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2026

The Jets suspend Connor Hellebuyck; Dylan Larkin to miss the start of Red Wings training camp; Drew Doughty is the Kings’ new captain; and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TOP HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will speak with the media on Thursday to discuss the decision.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Last month, Hellebuyck released a statement revealing he had requested a trade. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck is trying to pressure Cheveldayoff into trading him. The Jets GM will likely cite breach of contract when addressing this issue today. The suspension will likely be without pay as per the collective bargaining agreement. Hellebuyck won’t feel that right away because NHL players don’t start getting paid until the regular season begins.

It’ll be interesting to hear what Cheveldayoff has to say. If he bends and moves Hellebuyck quickly for a poor return, it could encourage other unhappy players to follow suit. It could also cost him his job.

Given Cheveldayoff’s history of dealing with players who want to be traded, he won’t make a move until he gets a decent offer, something he reportedly hasn’t received yet. That could change if injuries strike any team interested in Hellebuyck. A poor start by one of those teams could make them willing to meet Cheveldayoff’s asking price.

This could backfire on Hellebuyck. Cheveldayoff can afford to wait patiently for better offers. If the Jets struggle in Hellebuyck’s absence, fans will blame him more than the general manager. If the club copes well, that strengthens Cheveldayoff’s position. It could leave the 33-year-old Hellebuyck at risk of missing the entire season, which might not be a good idea at this stage of his career.

ESPN.COM: The Los Angeles Kings named defenseman Drew Doughty as their new captain. He replaced Anze Kopitar, who retired at the end of last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Color me unsurprised. The 36-year-old Doughty was expected to inherit the “C” from Kopitar. He’s starting his 19th season, all of them with the Kings.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice will not have Matthew and Brady Tkachuk on the same line as the brothers start their first NHL training camp together. Maurice is thinking about putting Brady alongside center Aleksander Barkov and winger Sam Reinhart.

“I don’t want to give everybody what they want with the two Tkachuk brothers together with Sam Bennett up the middle,” Maurice said with a grin. “They’ll be in jail before the puck drops.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the Tkachuks and Bennett wind up on the same line at some point this season.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes released a statement that restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin will not attend training camp. GM Eric Tulsky said that the 24-year-old Nikishin is not under contract and there would be no further comment at this time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nikishin requested a trade earlier this summer and hasn’t changed his mind. Tulsky could be working on a sign-and-trade scenario for the sophomore blueliner, who’s been linked to the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers GM Stan Bowman addressed the pushback from some of the team’s fans for signing Alex Formenton. The 27-year-old winger was among the five former Canadian junior players acquitted last year of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 in London, Ontario.

Bowman said he understood that signing Formenton might not be universally accepted by the Oilers fans. He claimed the club conducted due diligence to ensure that signing the winger would be the right decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers hiring personnel with controversial histories (including Bowman and new head coach Mike Babcock) has raised concerns from some fans and pundits about the team’s direction and the values of those doing the hiring. Their defenders argue that they deserve a second chance, but they could change their tune if the Oilers perform poorly.

INJURY ROUNDUP

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will miss the start of training camp with an upper-body injury that he suffered during off-ice training.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Is the upper-body injury a jaw wired shut? Okay, I borrowed that one-liner from my Bleacher Report colleague Sara Civian, but it would explain why we haven’t heard Larkin publicly address his messy trade request yet.

Speaking of the Red Wings, interim GM Shawn Horcoff said the club has no desire to rebuild its roster. “We have too many good players in that lineup,” he said, pointing to how close they’ve come to making the playoffs during the last three seasons. Horcoff said his goal, and that of his players, is to keep looking forward.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will miss the start of training camp with a lower-body injury. It’s uncertain when the superstar blueliner will be ready, but head coach Jared Bednar doesn’t believe it’s a cause for concern. He also indicated that Makar’s injury isn’t related to the one he suffered in the postseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will be sidelined for the next two weeks due to inflammation from a previous injury. He could be sidelined for the start of the regular season.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the next four to five weeks due to minor surgery this summer to repair an adductor muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle’s injury opens a spot for one of the Canadiens’ promising young defensemen like David Reinbacher or Adam Engstrom to prove they’re ready to make the jump to the NHL.

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs forward Max Domi failed his training camp physical and will be sidelined indefinitely. He suffered complications from offseason back surgery.

Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has a virus and could miss at least their first preseason game. He is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

OTTAWA SUN: Sidelined Senators defenseman Artem Zub and winger Warren Foegele won’t be full participants in training camp. That could lead to a free agent like Ben Hutton being signed to a professional tryout offer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (offseason hip surgery) and Dominic James (broken right hand) could miss the start of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning signed center Luke Glendening to a PTO contract.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Long-time Blue Jackets president Mike Priest will retire on Sept. 30 after 30 years with the team.

SPORTSNET: The Seattle Kraken hired Chuck Fletcher as a senior advisor to the general manager. Fletcher served as a general manager with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils named Bryan McCabe as vice president of prospect personnel and assistant GM of their AHL affiliate in Utica. Jessica Campbell was named manager of player development.

TSN: The Boston Bruins signed center Matt Poitras to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Winger Ryan Reaves announced his retirement.https://apnews.com/article/ryan-reaves-retires-78450b7c42360ea0bcf2f7da0bf927c6

The 39-year-old enforcer spent 16 seasons in the NHL (2010-11 to 2025-26) with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and San Jose Sharks. In 962 regular-season games, Reaves had 140 points and 1,137 PIMs. He also had nine points and 116 PIMs in 113 playoff games.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026

by | Jul 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026

A look at how Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet could affect the Ducks’ efforts to re-sign Cutter Gauthier, plus the latest on the Sharks, Red Wings, Hurricanes, Bruins, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE DUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Anaheim Ducks will have less than $10 million in salary-cap space if they match Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. That will affect their efforts to re-sign restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauther.

The 22-year-old Gauthier tallied 41 goals in the final season of his entry-level contract. Stephens doubts the Ducks will be able to re-sign him to an average annual value of under $10 million.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

Gauthier lacks arbitration rights and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek could use that leverage to play hardball with the young winger. However, Stephens pointed out that it didn’t work well with now-former Ducks Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish. Gauthier was also the pure finisher that Verbeek wanted to pair with Carlsson when he acquired the winger from the Flyers two years ago.

If the Ducks match Carlsson’s offer sheet and re-sign Gauthier, they’ll have to shed salary to become salary cap-compliant before the start of their regular season in October.

Winger Frank Vatrano seems the obvious choice, but moving his $4.57 million AAV through 2026-27 (and its deferred money) won’t be easy. It seems unlikely they’ll move Chris Kreider or Alex Killorn, both of whom have 15-team no-trade lists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano would have to be packaged with a draft pick or prospect to facilitate a trade. Even then, clubs might balk at taking on his contract. Kreider or Killorn would draw more interest, possibly from teams not on their no-trade lists.

If the Ducks don’t match Carlsson’s offer sheet, they’ll have to find a suitable replacement. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings could be an option if he agrees to accept a trade to Anaheim, but at 29, he’s already hit his ceiling. Another possibility could be Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barzal has a 22-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. So would the Islanders’ asking price, as they’ll likely want a good young player in return. So would the Red Wings with Larkin.

NOTABLE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” PODCAST

SPORTSNET: In his final “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” for 2025-26, Elliotte Friedman wondered how much it will cost the San Jose Sharks to sign superstar center Macklin Celebrini to a contract extension.

Celebrini, 20, has a year left on his entry-level contract. He’ll be an RFA without arbitration rights next summer and eligible to sign an offer sheet.

The Sharks will want to avoid Celebrini becoming an offer-sheet target. Friedman mused whether they would try to convince him to accept less than the league maximum on his next cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The maximum cap hit is 20 percent of the salary cap for the first season in which the contract is signed. For 2027-28, it’s $22.6 million.

Given that Leo Carlsson’s new contract has set the benchmark with his league-leading $18 million average annual value, the Sharks will likely try to keep their offer to Celebrini to between $18 million and $19 million. However, his representatives could push for over $20 million.

Friedman said the Carolina Hurricanes are hoping to use an offer sheet to make a big splash this summer. He wondered if they could be eyeing Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Hurricanes will need a defenseman because they’re reportedly shopping Alexander Nikishin, who is an RFA this summer. Friedman said they’re also trying to include forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the deal, which would free up $4.25 million in cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now reports the Red Wings have set aside $12 million in cap space in case Edvinsson signs an offer sheet. Even if the Hurricanes can move out Kotkaniemi, they won’t have enough to make an unmatchable offer for the Wings blueliner.

Friedman also said the Hurricanes were considering signing a player to an offer sheet and then trading him if the signing was successful. If a team matches an offer sheet, they cannot trade the player for one year. However, there are no restrictions for a team that successfully signs away a player with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In that scenario, the Hurricanes would sign a player they don’t need, and then flip him to another team to address a more pressing roster issue.

Pavel Zacha’s contract extension talks with the Boston Bruins caught Friedman’s attention. He thinks they’ve spoken with other clubs about him. He assumed one of them was the Montreal Canadiens, but two sources denied it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably prefer to retain Zacha, but it doesn’t hurt to gauge the trade market just in case.

Speaking of the Canadiens, Friedman said they’re still searching for a top-six forward. He indicated that they’ve made numerous calls to the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kirill Marchenko, but the Jackets aren’t willing to move him right now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nick Lariviere of The Sick Podcast suggested Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken as a trade option for the Canadiens. The Kraken are reportedly shopping the 22-year-old center.

The Canadiens passed over Wright in the 2022 draft in favor of winger Juraj Slafkovsky. He’s struggled to establish himself as a top-six center with the Kraken. He still has time to achieve that goal and would be an affordable acquisition in terms of salary and return.

However, the Canadiens have been reportedly pursuing more established young talent, such as Marchenko and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. Wright doesn’t fit that profile.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2026

by | Jun 27, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko, Connor Hellebuyck, Jason Robertson, Darnell Nurse, and Mathew Barzal heading into the second day of the NHL Draft.

WERENSKI AND MARCHENKO COULD BE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF COLUMBUS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Zach Werenski is unlikely to sign a contract extension next summer. The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman has two years remaining on his deal.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

Over the past week, the Blue Jackets have been taking calls to gauge Werensky’s value in the trade market. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be traded this summer, but there is now a little more urgency on the Blue Jackets’ part.

LeBrun subsequently indicated that a dozen teams could become suitors for Werenski. He suggested the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes might come calling.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported that Kirill Marchenko’s camp told him that it’s unlikely he’ll sign a contract extension with the Blue Jackets.

The 25-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract and will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. He’s earning an average annual value of $3.85 million.

Weekes also indicated that the Marchenko camp will seek a deal comparable to what winger Pavel Dorofeyev signed on Friday with the New York Rangers. The Vegas Golden Knights traded the 25-year-old Dorofeyev to the Rangers, who promptly signed him to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $11 million.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell didn’t rule out retaining Werenski and Marchenko for next season. Werenski’s no-trade clause becomes a 10-team trade list next July 1, while the Blue Jackets would still retain Marchenko’s rights.

Waddell will continue trying to improve his roster’s depth for next season, but Portzline believes it’s hard for the Blue Jackets GM to proceed when two of the pillars he was building around are starting to crumble.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who claimed the Canadiens made a “MASSIVE” offer for Marchenko. “I don’t know the pieces involved,” Seravalli said, going on to say that he’d been told the Canadiens might look “borderline insane” for putting that deal on the table.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This news is a horrible gut punch for the Blue Jackets. Werenski and Marchenko are two of their core players. Having them indicate that they no longer see their futures in Columbus could have a demoralizing effect on the franchise and its fans at a time when they were hoping to build their roster this summer to push through as a playoff contender next season.

Waddell has a measure of control over this situation. He doesn’t have to move either player right away and can afford to wait for the right offers to come in. On the other hand, starting next season with two players who don’t want to be there will hang like a dark cloud over this franchise, becoming an unnecessary distraction for the players.

UPDATE ON CONNOR HELLEBUYCK

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there have been trade negotiations regarding Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Before Friday’s draft, there were “deep negotiations” with the Buffalo Sabres, with the fourth-overall pick in this year’s draft as part of those discussions, but those talks cooled before the draft.

Hellebuyck is under contract with the Jets for four more years, so they can afford to remain patient and await the right offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It looks like Hellebuyck to Buffalo isn’t happening as the Sabres used that pick to select prospect defenseman Daxon Rudolph. Of course, we can’t rule out other pieces being offered by the Sabres if they wish to revisit the talks, but that high draft pick was likely the main piece in their original discussions.

THE LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes Jason Robertson wants to remain with the Dallas Stars, but the two sides are having difficulty finding the right number.

Robertson, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. According to LeBrun, the winger seeks $14 million annually, while the Stars aren’t comfortable with going beyond $12.5 million.

LeBrun said the Stars have gone back to the teams that were interested in Robertson. However, there’s been nothing new because those clubs saw his rejection of a trade to Seattle and are concerned that he wouldn’t sign an extension.

An offer sheet is also a possibility on July 1. A $15 million AAV offer for seven years would mean the Stars would be entitled to four first-round picks as compensation.

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus wondered if the Chicago Blackhawks have a shot at landing Robertson. They point out the Blackhawks have the financial freedom to sign Robertson, Connor Bedard, and Bowen Byram to $10-plus million contracts and still have plenty of cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson and the Stars could agree to a new contract, but it seems more likely that he’s going to be playing for a new team next season. The Stars would’ve traded him to the Kraken if he’d been willing to accept their offer (eight years, $15 million AAV). They’re probably going to call around until they find a club he’d be willing to join before someone tries to sign him away with an offer sheet.

As for the Blackhawks, maybe the chance to play alongside Bedard would have more appeal, but Robertson’s preference seems to be playing with a contender.

NOTHING NEW ON DARNELL NURSE

TSN: Darren Dreger said there was nothing new to report on Darnell Nurse’s trade request. The Edmonton Oilers received a three-team trade list from the 32-year-old defenseman, but there’s been no headway with those clubs.

Dreger believes there is no benefit to either side in having this situation drag on through the summer. He speculated that Oilers management could ask the Nurse camp to expand their trade list.

TEAMS CALLING ABOUT MATHEW BARZAL

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports cited sources claiming the New York Islanders are getting trade inquiries about forward Mathew Barzal as the trade and free-agent markets dry up.

Two of the teams are believed to be the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars could see Barzal as a potential replacement for Jason Robertson. The Canadiens are trying to find a top-six forward to skate alongside rising star Ivan Demidov on their second line. Rosner pointed out that the Isles previously told the Habs that Barzal wasn’t available.