NHL Rumor Mill – June 3, 2026

by | Jun 3, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 3, 2026

Are the Islanders shopping Mathew Barzal? What’s the latest on Vincent Trocheck? Could the Maple Leafs trade a goalie? Which young RFA defensemen would be good trade options for the Penguins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ISLANDERS SPECULATION

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Russell Macias weighed in on a recent report claiming the Ottawa Senators were testing the trade market on forward Mathew Barzal

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (NHL Images).

According to Macias’ colleague Stefen Rosner, the Islanders aren’t actively shopping Barzal. He noted that teams have made inquiries, and it’s general manager Mathieu Darche’s job to listen, but the 29-year-old forward is not on the trade block.

Macias also noted that Barzal has four years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9.15 million and a 22-team no-trade list.

According to Macias and Rosner, Darche would like to free up some salary-cap space this summer. They currently have over $10.6 million. He would like to re-sign his UFA-eligible captain Anders Lee, but needs to clear some cap room first.

Anthony Duclair tops the list of Islanders’ trade candidates. They attempted to move the 30-year-old winger, but he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause. However, it drops from a full no-trade to a 16-team list on July 1. He has two years remaining on his deal with an AAV of $3.5 million.

The Islanders could also attempt to move Pierre Engvall ($3 million AAV through 2029-30, 16-team NTC) and Ondrej Palat ($6 million for next season, 10-team trade list).

Defenseman Adam Pelech has also been mentioned as a trade option. He has three years left on his deal with an AAV of $5.75 million and a 16-team no-trade list. Macias suggested the San Jose Sharks as a trade partner given their need for defensemen. He also wondered if Ryan Pulock (four years, $6.15 million AAV) or Scott Mayfield (four years, $3.5 million AAV) might be moved, though both hold full no-trade clauses until next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duclair’s injury history and inconsistent play could make him difficult to move in the trade market. The same applies to Engvall. Palat is past his prime, making him a potentially tough sell.

Pelech and/or Pulock could draw more serious interest. Macias considered Pelech the better trade candidate, believing his value is high right now. A team in desperate need of blueline depth that isn’t on his no-trade list could have serious interest in him, depending on the asking price.

MAPLE LEAFS INTERESTED IN VINCENT TROCHECK

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have reached out to the Rangers about Vincent Trocheck. This comes after the Maple Leafs learned Max Domi is out indefinitely due to complications from his recent back surgery.

Domi’s absence puts the Maple Leafs in the market for a second-line center. Walker believes Trocheck could be a fit, depending on whether the Maple Leafs are on his no-trade list and the Pittsburgh native is willing to go to Canada.

As for what the Maple Leafs might offer in return, Walker suggested winger Nick Robertson could be a trade option. The Rangers could also target defense prospect Ben Danford. Matthew Knies could be on the Blueshirts’ radar, but it’s unclear if the Leafs would part with the 23-year-old power forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the high number of teams seeking a second-line center, the Maple Leafs could have difficulty outbidding other clubs for Trocheck’s services even if he was willing to play for them. Offering up Knies could tip it in their favor, but it’s doubtful the Leafs would do that.

Walker noted the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings were interested in Trocheck before the March trade deadline. A report out of Ottawa earlier this week claimed the Montreal Canadiens had spoken to the Rangers about the 33-year-old center. However, Walker indicated that a league source said there was no communication at all between those two teams.

COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE A GOALTENDER?

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox speculated the Toronto Maple Leafs could attempt to trade a goalie during this offseason.

Fox pointed out that Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, and Dennis Hildeby are on one-way contracts for next season, with each of them having to clear waivers before being sent to their AHL affiliate. Promising Artur Akhtyamov will be joining them in 2027-28.

However, Fox believes the Leafs could find it challenging to move one of them. A few teams are willing to discuss a goalie trade, but names such as Jordan Binnington, Filip Gustavsson, Jesper Wallstedt, Devon Levi, and Adin Hill could garner more attention in the rumor mill.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There could be more interest in the Leafs goalies if those other netminders are out of the market for one reason or another.

The St. Louis Blues could retain Binnington for next season. Gustavsson won’t be going anywhere until he has fully recovered from his recent hip surgery, which means Wallstedt won’t be available until his fellow Minnesota Wild goalie is healthy. Levi is the odd man out in Buffalo and the most likely to be moved among the Sabres’ netminders. The Vegas Golden Knights could move Hill in a cost-cutting deal.

FOUR POTENTIAL DEFENSE TRADE TARGETS FOR THE PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski recently listed four restricted free agent defensemen who could be suitable trade targets for the Penguins.

They include Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger of the Anaheim Ducks, and Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski noted their respective pros and cons, but each of them could be a fit for the Penguins as they continue to retool by adding young NHL-ready talent.

The Penguins aren’t the only clubs that could be keeping an eye on those four blueliners. How much it would cost to acquire and sign them will be the determining factor. Clubs with plenty of cap space and draft picks could also try the offer-sheet route.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 2, 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 2, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Canadiens’ offseason plans, and a rumor claiming the Islanders could be shopping Mathew Barzal.

THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan examined possible offseason moves for the Canadiens.

General manager Kent Hughes intends to be busy working the phones this summer searching for players to improve his roster. However, he said it’s “unlikely” that he’ll trade for short-term fixes at the expense of the future. Hughes hopes to continue adding players that can help them now and in the future.

Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens president of hockey operations, understand that their roster must be better defensively and be more physical. They also took from their series with the Carolina Hurricanes just how hard it is to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Cowan noted that forwards Brendan Gallagher, Patrik Laine, and goaltender Sam Montembeault won’t be back next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Gallagher and Montembeault each have a year left on their contracts.

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher (NHL Images)

Gallagher carries an average annual value of $6.5 million ($4 million in actual salary) and a six-team no-trade list for next season, while Montembeault’s AAV is $3.1 million. They will be traded or bought out this summer. Gallagher indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault could draw some interest from clubs seeking goaltending depth.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports the Canadiens must add an established second-line center and “a seasoned, high-quality, right-handed defense partner” for Lane Hutson. They also need “two more big, tenacious, intimidating depth wingers”.

The Canadiens have nearly $11 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, and could free up another $6.5 million if Gallagher is traded.

Engels noted that Gorton and Hughes hope to add more to the Canadiens’ core. They will try to address as many of their roster issues as possible, even if it means blocking or trading a prospect who could eventually fill a void but won’t be able to in short order.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have plenty of trade capital, especially in promising young players. It could mean peddling someone such as center Michael Hage and winger Alexander Zharovsky to accomplish those goals.

TVA SPORTS: Hughes also mentioned that he could revisit the significant deal that he was working on at the trade deadline. “It depends on the other team,” Hughes said. “That doesn’t stop us from making the appeal and revisiting it.” However, he also said that what was available in March might not be available in June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation at that time linked the Canadiens to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.

The Leafs are under new management, which could ensure Knies stays in Toronto. The Blues set a high asking price for Thomas, who has a no-trade clause and insists he wants to stay in St. Louis.

Nicolas Cloutier believes it could be easier for the Canadiens to trade Gallagher than some people think. He suggested a rebuilding club, such as the Canucks, could take on Gallagher’s contract to stay above next season’s salary cap floor, which $76.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cloutier pointed out that the Canucks could drop below the cap floor by trading one of their expensive veterans. He noted that Gallagher’s actual salary for next season is lower than his cap hit, which could be appealing to some teams.

Renaud Lavoie shot down a rumor linking the Canadiens to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

The speculation claimed McDavid was in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix looking at houses in the area. However, Lavoie reports the Oilers superstar wasn’t in Montreal at the time and wasn’t house shopping. McDavid’s wife was in Montreal at the time, attending an event to which she had been invited.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last year, it was “Sidney Crosby to Montreal.” Now, it’s McDavid. Next summer, it’ll be McDavid, or Auston Matthews, or Brady Tkachuk.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports it’s rumored that the Canadiens were in talks with the New York Rangers regarding Vincent Trocheck at the March trade deadline.

Garrioch believes Trocheck would be a “perfect fit” to fill the Canadiens’ second-line center role. He’s also signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $5.625 million. However, he’s not sure if Trocheck was the player at the center of the deal that fell through.

Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere was also linked to the Canadiens. He has a big cap hit at $7.145 million through 2031-32, but Garrioch suggested the Habs should “swing for the fences.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck’s age (33) would be a concern as his production will inevitably decline over the remainder of his contract. There’s also his desire to remain on the East Coast as close to New York as possible. He also might not be keen to join a Canadian team.

As for Lafreniere, he doesn’t address the Canadiens’ priorities. He’s neither a center nor a right-shot, top-four defenseman.

ARE THE ISLANDERS SHOPPING MATHEW BARZAL?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports a league executive informed him that the New York Islanders are exploring the trade market for Mathew Barzal.

The Islanders want to clear some salary cap space. Barzal carries an AAV of $9.15 million through 2030-31.

Garrioch claimed the Utah Mammoth “kicked tires” on Barzal last summer, but opted not to make the move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch included the Barzal tidbit among possible trade targets for the Senators, who are reportedly seeking a top-six forward. He believes Barzal’s cap hit would be difficult to swallow when they’re going to talk contract extension with winger Drake Batherson, who could seek between $9 million and $10 million annually.

Moving Barzal won’t help the offensively anemic Islanders, who must boost their scoring punch if they hope to be a playoff contender next season. He also has a 22-team no-trade list.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

by | May 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

The Golden Knights push the Ducks to the brink of elimination, the Sabres tie their series with the Canadiens, the finalists for GM of the Year are announced, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to give his club a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their second-round series. Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist while Jack Eichel collected two assists for the Golden Knights, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series. Beckett Sennecke and Olen Zellweger scored while Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier each had two assists for the Ducks.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights can win this series in Game 6, which will be held in Anaheim on Thursday, May 14.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an entertaining, closely contested game. Zellweger’s goal tied it to force overtime late in the third, but Dorofeyev was the star of this one with his clutch scoring for the Golden Knights.

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected for interference when he laid out Ducks center Ryan Poehling with a big hit when the latter no longer had possession of the puck. Poehling was helped from the ice and didn’t return.

The Golden Knights played this game without team captain Mark Stone, who remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury suffered during Game 3 of this series.

Game 6 will be a big test for the Ducks as they try to counter the Golden Knights’ experience to force Game 7 back in Las Vegas.

The Buffalo Sabres knotted their series with the Montreal Canadiens at two games apiece with a 3-2 win. Zach Benson snapped a 2-2 tie with a third-period power-play goal, Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots in his return to the Sabres’ net. Alex Newhook extended his goal streak to three games while Cole Caufield tallied his second straight power-play goal for the Canadiens. Game 5 is in Buffalo on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson’s goal was a flukey one. With the Canadiens up 2-1 in the second period, he fired a dump-in from center ice that took a weird bounce off a stanchion that surprised Habs goalie Jakub Dobes, bouncing off his right pad into the net. It was a game-changer that set the stage for Benson’s winner in the third.

The Canadiens were flat through the first half of the opening period, but they had the better of the play for most of the game. They also had seven power-play opportunities but only scored on one of them, while the Sabres went 2-for-4 with the man advantage. Luukkonen was outstanding for the Sabres, who regained home-ice advantage as the series narrowed to a best-of-three.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, Chris MacFarland of the Colorado Avalanche, and Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim Ducks are the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The award is given annually based on a vote of NHL general managers and a panel of league executives, print, and broadcast media.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin and MacFarland got the nod for their trades this season, including the Wild’s acquisition of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes in December and the Avalanche’s obtaining Nazem Kadri, Nicolas Roy, Brett Kulak, and Nick Blankenburg before the trade deadline.

Verbeek also made a splash by landing defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals, but he’d be my choice because of his work rebuilding the Ducks, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reported the Edmonton Oilers sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former head coach Bruce Cassidy, who was fired in March. However, the Golden Knights have thus far withheld permission from their division rival.

Seravalli said the Golden Knights haven’t outright rejected the Oilers’ request, but they’re keeping the Oilers waiting as they continue their second-round series with the Ducks. Cassidy is also reportedly being targeted by the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, which is why teams must seek permission to speak with him. Seravalli speculates this could prompt a call from league commissioner Gary Bettman to sort this out.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes this is a weird bit of gamesmanship by the Golden Knights in line with their front-office reputation for ruthlessness. It’s garnered a mix of puzzlement and criticism around the league, with those in the latter camp (myself included) considering it an unprofessional, classless act.

This also isn’t a good look for the Oilers, who are searching for a new bench boss while leaving their current coach, Kris Knoblauch, twisting in the wind.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed center Charlie Coyle to a six-year, $36 million contract worth an average annual value of $6 million. Coyle, 34, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year deal with an AAV of $5.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are trying to maintain a roster that narrowly missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Coyle played a key role with his versatility, leadership, and two-way play.

Nevertheless, this contract won’t age well. The salary increase is marginal, and the Blue Jackets can afford it in the short term, but six years is way too long for a player at this stage of his career. He’s also getting a full no-movement clause for the first four years.

This contract could complicate things for the Blue Jackets down the road if they need cap room to retain or acquire a better player.

SPORTSNET: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000 by the NHL for butt-ending Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron during Game 4 of their playoff series on Monday.

Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin will remain sidelined by injuries for Game 5 against the Avalanche.

TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will replace New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal on Team Canada in the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship. Barzal is coping with a minor, preexisting injury.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended from the first six games of the Bruins’ 2026-27 regular-season schedule for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incident happened late in that game when Benson took McAvoy’s skates out from under him with a slew-foot move, sending him crashing into the end boards. An infuriated McAvoy got up, charged at Benson, and leveled a two-handed chop of his stick to Benson’s upper body.

McAvoy’s anger was understandable as he could’ve been injured, but that didn’t justify his subsequent action.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers winger Owen Tippett revealed that he missed his club’s second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes with an internal-bleeding issue. He said that he was dealing with a sports hernia injury during their first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett said he’s confident he’ll make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp in September.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers rookie forward Porter Martone will be joining Team Canada for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken have hired Sportsology Group to conduct an audit of its hockey operations department, including the organizational structure, scouting, and player development departments.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

by | Dec 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

A milestone win for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Predators forward Steven Stamkos poised to reach 600 goals, Islanders forward Mathew Barzal fined, the Blue Jackets trade Yegor Chinakhov to the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for his 446th career NHL regular-season win as he backstopped his club over the Washington Capitals by a score of 5-3. Sam Reinhart scored two goals (including his 20th of the season), and Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games for the 21-15-2 Panthers. Tom Wilson tallied twice for the Capitals (20-14-5), who have three wins in their last 11 contests.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky moved ahead of Terry Sawchuk into eighth place on the all-time goaltender wins list. He needs nine more victories to surpass Curtis Joseph, who is seventh with 454 wins, and 14 more to vault over Henrik Lundqvist (459) into sixth place.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored two goals and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who’ve won four of their last five games and improved to 17-17-4. Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the 18-19-3 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a slow start to this season, Stamkos has 17 goals and 25 points in 38 games. He’s also one goal away from becoming the 22nd player in league history to reach 600 career regular-season goals, and only the third active player to do so.

Before this game, the Mammoth placed starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their ninth straight victory by doubling up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Zach Benson scored the winning goal for the Sabres, who improved to 20-14-4 on the season. Brayden Schenn and Jimmy Snuggerud replied for the Blues, who dropped to 15-17-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are one win away from tying the franchise record of 10 straight victories. Team captain Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup after spending time with his fiancée in Europe as she continues her recovery from a heart transplant earlier this year.

Before the game, the Blues announced forward Pius Suter will miss approximately four weeks with an ankle injury.

An overtime goal by Jackson Blake lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (24-11-3) as they hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the 19-17-5 Rangers, who are 1-2-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov underwent surgery for a nagging lower-body injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. They also claimed center Noah Philp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got a 27-save performance from goalie Jet Greaves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Kirill Marchenko scored to collect his 30th point of the season while Charlie Coyle and Cole Sillinger each picked up two assists for the 17-15-6 Blue Jackets, who have won three straight games. Jake Sanderson replied for the Senators (18-15-3), who are 0-2-1 in their last three contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The start of this game was pushed back to 7:30 PM ET as mechanical issues with the Blue Jackets’ jet delayed their arrival into Ottawa. They played without forward Isac Lundestrom, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Before the game began, the Blue Jackets traded forward Yegor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Details and analysis below in the Headlines section.

Senators center Shane Pinto and defenseman Tyler Kleven returned to action after being sidelined by injuries.

Edmonton Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard kicked out 41 shots in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Connor McDavid collected an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Oilers (20-14-6) took over first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points. Adam Lowry scored for the struggling Jets (15-18-4), who are winless in their last six games (0-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane was a healthy scratch as trade rumors are swirling. I’ll have more about his situation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for the 24-10-6 Wild. Vegas goalie Carter Hart gave up five goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid. The Golden Knights (17-9-11) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl was ejected in the first period for boarding Wild winger Ryan Hartman.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and two assists as his club held off the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the 19-17-3 Sharks. Troy Terry tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks (21-16-2), who have lost three straight and have two wins in their last nine contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (upper-body injury) and defenseman Radko Gudas (illness) missed this game, while forward Ryan Strome was a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, extending their winning streak to eight games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the 29-2-7 Avalanche, who lead the league with 65 points. Corey Perry and Joel Armia replied for the Kings (16-13-9).

An overtime power-play goal by Connor Zary lifted the Calgary Flames over the Boston Bruins 2-1. Dustin Wolf stopped 24 shots, and Blake Coleman also scored for the 17-18-4 Flames. Andrew Peeke scored for the Bruins (20-18-2), who are winless in their last six (0-4-2).

The Vancouver Canucks got 37 saves from Kevin Lankinen in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Liam Ohgren tallied the winning goal while Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson scored in regulation for the 16-19-3 Canucks. Jaren McCann and Ryan Winterton replied for the 16-14-7 Kraken as their four-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov, Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen, and Montreal Canadiens right winger Juraj Slafkovsky were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 28.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/THE ATHLETIC: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and a 2027 third-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 2020 first-round pick by the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov was projected to become a top-six forward. However, he struggled with injury and inconsistency over the past two seasons. During the summer, his agent requested a trade for his client, citing “misunderstandings” with head coach Dean Evason. He bounced around the Jackets’ forward lines this season.

It will be interesting to see if Chinakhov can get his NHL career back on track in Pittsburgh. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acknowledged Chinakhov’s issues, but indicated that his club conducted its due diligence before making this move. He stated that they liked the winger’s size, speed, and two-way skills.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Penguins, they placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have tapped Sam Montembeault as their starting goalie for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. Montembeault was recently recalled from a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Laval.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 29, 2025

by | Dec 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 29, 2025

Recapping Sunday’s action, plus the latest on Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Justin Brazeau tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Bryan Rust scored two goals, and Ryan Shea collected three assists for the Penguins, who improved to 16-12-9. Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored in his first game since being sidelined for 19 games with an injured hand, but his club (14-18-6) has dropped seven of its last eight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks were struggling before centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar were sidelined by injuries, but their absence accelerated their slide in the standings. Speaking of Nazar, he was placed on injured reserve with a facial injury and is expected to be out for another three weeks.

An overtime goal by Simon Edvinsson lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Moritz Seider and Mason Appleton also scored, and Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots for the Red Wings (23-14-3), who sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 49 points. Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson replied for the Leafs (17-15-6), who got a 33-save performance from Dennis Hildeby.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edvinsson earned praise from his teammates when he “rose from the dead” after being injured by a John Tavares shot while killing a penalty in the second period. He and Seider are among the best defense pairings in the league this season.

The Maple Leafs played without winger William Nylander, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and questionable for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov tallied twice in regulation, and Gage Goncalves scored the shootout winner to nip the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. It was the Lightning’s fourth straight win, improving their record to 22-13-3. The Canadiens (20-12-6) overcame a 4-1 deficit in the third period as Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel returned to action after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Lightning made a minor trade, shipping forward Boris Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild for forward Michael Milne.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Ivan Provorov, Kirill Marchenko, and Cole Sillinger gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders. Marchenko finished the game with two goals while Sean Monahan and Denton Mateychuk each had two assists for the 16-15-6 Blue Jackets. Max Shabonov and Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders (21-14-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things got ugly early in the second period when Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment clipped Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer by sticking out his right leg, prompting Isles forward Mathew Barzal to slash Marchment’s right foot with his stick. That earned Barzal a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, and he could face supplemental discipline by the league’s department of player safety. Marchment received two minutes for tripping Schaefer, who was uninjured on the play.

Before this game, the Blue Jackets placed defenseman Zach Werenski (lower body) on injured reserve and activated forward Mathieu Olivier off the IR list.

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1. Eeli Tolvanen scored two goals and picked up an assist while Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves for the 16-14-6 Kraken, who extended their win streak to four games. Carl Grundstrom replied for the Flyers (19-11-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken activated winger Jared McCann off injured reserve for this game. Defenseman Vince Dunn also returned to action after missing their previous game with an upper-body injury. Both were held scoreless in this contest.

IN OTHER NEWS…

OTTAWA SUN: Senators starting goaltender Linus Ullmark is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. There is no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sun’s Bruce Garrioch observed that this season has been a difficult one for Ullmark, with a 2.95 goals-against average and a save percentage of .881. He noted that Ullmark was pulled from Saturday’s 7-5 loss to the Maple Leafs after giving up four goals on 14 shots.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues winger Jordan Kyrou has been activated off IR after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. They also activated winger Jimmy Snuggerud, who underwent wrist surgery earlier in the month.

SPORTSNET: The NHL’s department of player safety fined Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell $5,000.00 for high-sticking Lightning winger Jake Guentzel, and fined Lightning forward Scott Sabourin $2,081.23 for slashing Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. Both incidents occurred during Saturday’s game between the two clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a tough weekend for Sabourin. In addition to his fine, he was knocked to the ice by a punch from Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj during a fight between the two on Sunday. Sabourin left that game and didn’t return.

TSN: Penguins forward Danton Heinen and Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp are among six players placed on waivers on Sunday.

PUCKPEDIA: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Yegor Zamula has changed agents. He’s in the final season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.7 million, but he could be willing to terminate that deal to sign with another NHL club for less money.

RDS: Former NHL forward Guy Chouinard passed away on Sunday at age 69.

Chouinard spent 10 seasons in the NHL from 1974-75 to 1983-84, beginning with the Atlanta Flames and following them to Calgary in 1980. He spent nine of his 10 seasons with the Flames organization, with his best season being his 50-goal, 107-point performance in the 1978-79 season. In 578 regular-season games, Chouinard had 205 goals and 370 assists for 575 points, along with 37 points in 46 playoff contests.

Following his playing days, Chouinard became a coach in the QMJHL, finishing third all-time in wins among that league’s coaches with 569. He was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in 2005.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Chouinard’s family, friends, teammates, and his former QMJHL players.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 31, 2025

by | Oct 31, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 31, 2025

The Penguins’ strong start continues, Trevor Zegras is settling in well with the Flyers, the Avalanche re-signs Martin Necas, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ surprisingly strong start to this season continued with a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, pushing the Penguins into first place in the overall standings with 18 points (8-2-2). Bryan Rust and Ryan Shea each had a goal and an assist, and Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for the win. Kirill Kaprizov scored for the Wild, who dropped to 3-6-3 in their first 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Projected to finish near the bottom of the standings, the Penguins have defied expectations thus far. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has 17 points, sitting second to Gordie Howe for the most points by a 39-or-older player through his first 12 games. Howe had 20 points in his first dozen games of the 1968-69 season.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras had two goals and an assist to lead his club over the Nashville Predators 4-1. It was Zegras’ second three-point game in his last three contests. Dan Vladar stopped 32 shots for the Flyers (6-3-1) as they extended their home win streak to five games. Rookie Matthew Wood tallied his first NHL goal as his Predators (4-6-2) have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers center Sean Couturier left this game in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Flyers placed goaltender Sam Ersson (lower body) on injured reserve.

The Winnipeg Jets improved to 8-3-0 and moved into first place in the Western Conference with 16 points with a 6-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Jets center Jonathan Toews had an assist in his first game against his former team, Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and collected an assist, and Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each had three points for the Jets. Connor Bedard and Connor Murphy each had two assists for the 5-4-2 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets winger Gustav Nyquist left this game with an undisclosed injury.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood scored an NHL hat trick, and Jake DeBrusk scored the game-winner in a shootout to nip the St. Louis Blues 4-3. Kevin Lankinen kicked out 36 shots for the 6-6-0 Canucks. Pius Suter had a goal and an assist for the 3-6-2 Blues, who are winless in their last six (0-4-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks winger Brock Boeser left this game early in the first period after being struck by a puck in the “midsection”, which is a polite way of saying he took a shot in the balls.

The Carolina Hurricanes downed the New York Islanders 6-2. Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and an assist as the Hurricanes improved their record to 7-3-0. Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom replied for the Islanders, who are winless in their last three (0-2-1) as their record dropped to 4-5-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis left the game in the third period after blocking a shot with his left foot. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said it “doesn’t look great”, and added that Jarvis will be reevaluated on Friday. Meanwhile, Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was a healthy scratch after he was late arriving at the rink.

An overtime goal by Marat Khusnutdinov lifted the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Joonas Korpisalo turned aside 37 shots, David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist, and Morgan Geekie extended his goal streak to six games for the 6-7-0 Bruins. Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (4-4-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins center Elias Lindholm left this game in the second period with an injured left leg following an accidental knee-on-knee collision with Sabres forward Jordan Greenway. Earlier in the day, the Bruins announced that defenseman Jordan Harris underwent surgery on Monday for a right ankle fracture and will be sidelined for the next two months.

The San Jose Sharks scored three straight goals to open the first period as they upset the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev each had a goal and an assist for the 3-6-2 Sharks. Dawson Mercer scored both goals for the 8-3-0 Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Sharks placed forward Adam Gaudette (upper body) on injured reserve.

A shootout goal by Lucas Raymond gave the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Marco Kasper tallied two goals as the Red Wings took a 3-1 lead, but the Kings rallied to tie it on two goals by Corey Perry. The Red Wings moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with 16 points (8-3-0), while the Kings dropped to 5-3-4.

Shootout goals by Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Calgary Flames 4-3. Jake Sanderson scored the tying goal late in the third period, and Lars Eller had a goal and an assist for the 6-5-1 Senators. Devin Cooley stopped 35 shots for the 2-8-2 Flames.

An overtime goal by Anthony Cirelli gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, who have won four straight and improved to 5-4-2. Jake Oettinger made 30 saves for the 6-3-2 Stars as they extended their points streak to five games (3-0-2).

New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller scored in overtime to lead his team over the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves for the 5-5-2 Rangers. Darnell Nurse scored twice for the 5-4-3 Oilers.

IN OTHER NEWS…

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Martin Necas agreed to an eight-year contract extension with the Avalanche on Thursday. The 26-year-old winger was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He will earn an average annual value of $11.5 million starting in 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having acquired Necas from the Hurricanes in January’s Mikko Rantanen trade, the Avalanche couldn’t risk losing him to free agency next summer. Fortunately for them, he’s proven to be a good fit alongside superstar center Nathan MacKinnon on the Avalanche’s top line with seven goals and 13 points in his first 11 games of this season.

After ponying up $11.5 million annually for Necas, some observers wonder why the Avalanche let Rantanen go in the first place, pointing to the former Avs winger signing with the Dallas Stars for $12 million annually. That’s because he was reportedly seeking a deal comparable to what Leon Draisaitl got from the Edmonton Oilers (eight years, $14 million AAV), which prompted Avalanche management to trade him.

RG.ORG: Sergey Pryahkin examines the cost of winning the Stanley Cup, revealing that frugal clubs rarely end up hoisting hockey’s holy grail.

Championship teams allocate over 93 percent of their salary-cap payroll, with some teams exceeding this amount. The age sweet spot for Cup-winning teams is between 26 and 30, with Cup rosters dedicating one-third of their cap payroll to three players and half toward five players, with elite centers being the most valuable asset.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link for a more detailed breakdown of Pryahkin’s findings.