NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

by | Oct 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, injury updates, the highlights from the latest Board of Governors’ meeting, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres snapped their season-opening three-game losing streak with a convincing 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn each tallied twice, and Zach Benson collected four assists in his season debut with the Sabres. Jordan Spence had three assists, and Jake Sanderson scored and set up another for the Senators.

Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (NHL Images

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators played without left wing Brady Tkachuk, who is seeking a second opinion regarding his hand/wrist injury suffered on Monday against the Nashville Predators. If the Senators captain requires surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Justin Danforth left this game with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Lukas Reichel each had three points to lead their club over the St. Louis Blues 8-3. Bedard had three assists, and Reichel scored two goals and picked up an assist as the Blackhawks got their second straight win after going 0-2-1. Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist for the Blues as their win streak ended at two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks announced that team captain Nick Foligno is taking a leave of absence as his daughter undergoes a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. Patrick Kane scored what proved to be the winning goal, and teammate Mason Appleton netted two goals as the Wings picked up their third straight win. Brad Marchand replied for the Panthers, who have dropped two straight after opening the season with three consecutive victories.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Panthers announced defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be sidelined for five months following wrist surgery. As a result, the Panthers claimed blueliner Donovan Sebrango off waivers from the Senators. Kulikov joins Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, left wing Matthew Tkachuk, and winger Tomas Nosek on injured reserve.

The Red Wings played without winger Lucas Raymond, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forwards Barrett Hayton, JJ Peterka, and Kevin Stenlund scored to lead their club to a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who have lost four straight following their season-opening win. Devin Cooley stopped 29 shots for Calgary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth also revealed their mascot, “Tusky”.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LATEST NHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING.

SPORTSNET: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is concerned about the progress of the two hockey rinks under construction for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.

Bettman made the remarks to reporters following the NHL Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. If the main arena isn’t ready on time, Bettman stated that the International Olympic Committee must deal with it, adding the league has made the IOC aware of its concerns. Bettman also said the NHL Players Association shares those concerns.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

Bettman said expansion was not discussed during the meeting, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and another in Phoenix. Daly stated that expansion is not an initiative that the league is pursuing before 2030.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reason Daly mentioned 2030 is that is when the current CBA will expire. It’s also rumored that the league would seek an expansion fee of $2 billion for each new franchise.

Bettman indicated that no changes are expected for the projected salary-cap numbers for the next two years. The cap is projected to rise from $95.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27 and $113.5 million for 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent media speculation suggests that the cap could be higher than expected due to greater-than-anticipated revenue. If that’s the case, we’ll likely have to wait until later in the season for confirmation.

INJURY UPDATES AND MORE

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (upper-body injury) was placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss at least the Rangers’ next seven games.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Matt Duchene is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. They have recalled netminder Nico Daws from their AHL affiliate.

DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood is out for at least a week after suffering an eye injury during Monday’s game against the Devils.

THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are day-to-day with injuries.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Derek Forbort on injured reserve.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York is expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. They have activated him from injured reserve.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings have reacquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Copley was claimed off waivers by the Lightning earlier this month.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2025

by | Aug 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2025

Nazem Kadri believes he should have a chance to make Canada’s Olympic team, Marc-Edouard Vlasic isn’t happy over being bought out by the Sharks, an update on Flyers forward Tyson Foerster, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri recently told Julian McKenzie that he believes he deserves a chance to make Canada’s 2026 Olympic Men’s hockey team.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

“I think over the last few seasons I’ve certainly proven that with my statistics and the winning pedigree,” Kadri said. “I think it speaks for itself.”

Kadri was left off the 42-man orientation camp roster. The Olympic roster will be finalized in early 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A strong performance this season could earn Kadri a place on the team, especially if injuries strike before the tournament.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Marc-Eduoard Vlasic is displeased over how his 19-season tenure with the San Jose Sharks ended this year.

The 38-year-old defenseman was under the impression he would return for the final season of his contract in 2025-26 following what he claimed was a positive exit interview. Instead, they informed him at the end of June that they were buying him out.

Vlasic isn’t considering retirement. He’s hoping to land with another NHL team this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Age and injuries led to a decline in Vlasic’s performance and a reduction in his playing time over the past three seasons. At the time of the buyout, Sharks general manager Mike Grier acknowledged it was a difficult decision, but they needed to free up a roster spot to improve their defense corps. He claimed Vlasic handled the decision well.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere last week said that winger Tyson Foerster should be ready for the start of the season. The 23-year-old was recovering from surgery to address an infection from an injury suffered during the 2025 World Championships.

“Everything looks good right now,” said Briere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Foerster will be crucial for the Flyers this season. He was second on the club with 25 goals as a sophomore in 2024-25.

TSN: Utah Mammoth prospect Caleb Desnoyers underwent wrist surgery last week and will be sidelined for 12 weeks. The 18-year-old forward was selected fourth overall by the Mammoth in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will affect Desnoyers’ chances of cracking the Mammoth roster this season. In all likelihood, he was slated to return to the QMJHL before suffering the injury.

SPORTICO: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joined his NFL, NBA, and MLB peers last week to meet with members of the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, specifically regarding blackout rules.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to “George O” for the link. Time will tell if this leads to any meaningful change to the SBA.

THE ATHLETIC: Billionaire financier Tom Dundon and a group of investors reached an agreement last week to buy the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers. Dundon is the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The sale of the Trailblazers is not yet final. There is some concern in Portland that the group could move the franchise to another city. Dundon and his Hurricanes’ spokesperson didn’t respond to questions about whether he intends to keep the team in Portland.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The name of the Lightning’s home venue will change from Amalie Arena to Benchmark International Arena.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators announced last week that they will maintain their AHL affiliate in Belleville through the 2029-30 season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2025

by | Jun 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2025

The Oilers draw first blood in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Nikita Kucherov wins the Ted Lindsay Award, the Avalanche re-sign Brock Nelson, the Penguins and Bruins have new head coaches, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OILERS DEFEAT PANTHERS IN THE OPENING GAME OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl opened and closed the scoring as his club overcame a 3-1 deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Draisaitl scored early in the first period, but the Panthers rallied on goals by Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand midway through the period. Bennett’s second goal of the game early in the second period gave the Panthers a two-goal lead, but a slapshot by Oilers winger Viktor Arvidson quickly cut that lead to one goal.

Connor McDavid set up Mattias Ekholm for the tying goal at 6:33 of the third period. McDavid also picked up the primary assist on Draisaitl’s game-winner on the power play at 19:29 of overtime.

Game 2 is Friday, June 6, in Edmonton at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl tied a Stanley Cup Playoff record with three overtime goals in a single postseason. Teammate Stuart Skinner settled down after giving up three goals, making 24 saves over the rest of the game, including 16 in the second period.

McDavid leads all playoff skaters with 22 assists, holding a one-point lead over Draisaitl (28-27).

Bennett scored his 12th goal to lead all scorers in these playoffs. He also set a franchise record for the most goals in a single postseason. Jesper Boqvist rejoined the Panthers’ lineup for Game 1. He replaced A.J. Greer, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Before this game, Oilers winger Zach Hyman revealed he dislocated and tore ligaments in his right wrist in a collision with Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. He’s out for the remainder of the playoffs, but hopes to be ready for training camp in September.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ekblad told reporters he hopes to remain in Florida after this season. The long-time Panthers defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

“I live and breathe for the Florida Panthers,” said Ekblad. “I bleed for the Florida Panthers. I’ve given my body and everything to this team. I want to keep doing it forever, for as long as they’ll let me keep coming to the rink.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is completing an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The Panthers must also re-sign Bennett, meaning Ekblad might have to accept a significant pay cut on a shorter term to remain in Florida.

HEADLINES

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the 2024-25 winner of the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s MVP, as voted by the membership of the NHL Players’ Association. The team surprised Kucherov with the award during a training session on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov previously won this award in 2018-19, the same season he won the Hart Memorial Trophy. He’s up for that award this season with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Kucherov also took home his first Art Ross Trophy in ’18 -’19 and won it this season for the third time.

THE DENVER POST: The Colorado Avalanche signed Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Acquired from the New York Islanders at the March trade deadline, the 33-year-old center was due to become a UFA on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Nelson addresses the Avalanche’s long-term need for a second-line center. However, it leaves them with $1.2 million in cap space, with 19 active roster players under contract for the 2025-26 season. Expect a cost-cutting trade in the coming weeks.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins named Dan Muse as their new head coach. He served previously as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hiring Muse surprised observers expecting the Penguins to choose a more experienced NHL head coach. Nevertheless, he’s considered a smart bench boss who works well with young players, which should make him a good fit for the rebuilding Penguins.

EISHOCKEY NEWS: The Boston Bruins announced Marco Sturm as their new head coach. “A dream come true,” said Sturm. “I’m proud and super happy that it worked out.” He’s returning to the club that he played for from 2005-06 to 2009-10.  Sturm was the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the past three seasons. He’s the first German-born head coach in NHL history. 

NHL.COM: League commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said collective bargaining discussions between the two sides are going well. They didn’t offer a timetable for when an agreement will be reached, but Bettman felt it should be in place before the current agreement expires in September 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talks are likely to continue throughout the summer.

Bettman said the league has had discussions with parties interested in adding new markets, but insisted there are no plans to expand beyond the current 32 teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation suggests Houston and Atlanta could become the next destinations for NHL expansion clubs. It won’t be surprising if there are new franchises in those markets by the end of this decade.

Bettman also said an All-Star event will be hosted by the New York Islanders in 2027. The franchise was supposed to host the 2026 All-Star Game, but that plan was scuttled by the success of this year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

SPORTSNET: The NHL and NHLPA indicated there will be no changes in the upcoming CBA to address any perceived advantages for teams located in no-tax states.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there are many reasons why a player chooses to play in a certain location, a particular team or a particular coach that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market.

NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey pointed out that clubs in higher-tax states like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston dominated the league between 2008 and 2020. He noted that superstars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara could’ve made more money playing elsewhere, but stayed put because they were playing for contenders, they liked where they lived, and didn’t want to move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to Hainsey for pointing out the blatantly obvious to punch holes in this “issue”.

The notion of teams in no-tax states having an advantage over other clubs has been recently trotted out by critics of the Florida Panthers, insinuating it’s the main reason behind their recent success. It’s the same excuse being used to explain why a Florida-based team has reached the Stanley Cup Final in every season since 2020.

That critique, of course, is nonsense.

The Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning before them, were built by smart general managers and guided by shrewd coaches. To suggest otherwise is insulting to the hard work that those franchises have done to become champions.

THE ATHLETIC: Hainsey confirmed that the league and the PA are working to address the long-term injury reserve loophole in the next CBA. He didn’t get into the details, but said they continue to discuss finding a mechanism to put into place to manage that issue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LTIR is legalized salary-cap circumvention because there is no salary cap during the postseason. Every team has used it at one time or another, but some clubs have used it to bolster their rosters in preparation for the playoffs.

The Panthers are the most recent example. Matthew Tkachuk suffered an injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off that sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular season. The Panthers used the salary-cap savings to acquire Seth Jones and Brad Marchand before the trade deadline. Tkachuk returned to action for the start of this postseason, able to rejoin the roster because the salary cap only applies to the regular season.

The Panthers operated within the rules as laid out in the CBA. They did nothing wrong, and they aren’t the only team to have used LTIR to their advantage. Nevertheless, this loophole allowed them to bolster their roster for the playoffs in a way that they wouldn’t have had if Tkachuk had been healthy.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: T.J. Oshie will make an announcement on Monday, in which he is expected to reveal his intention to retire. The 38-year-old Washington Capitals winger missed all of this season dealing with back issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oshie tallied 302 goals and 393 assists for 695 points in 1,010 games between 2008-09 and 2023-24. He began his career with the St. Louis Blues before being traded to the Capitals in 2015, and helped the latter win the Stanley Cup in 2018. He had 34 goals and 69 points in 106 playoff games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2025

by | May 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2025

The Jets tied their series with the Stars, the Panthers got their first win in their series with the Maple Leafs, seven more skaters are added to the Quarter-Century Team, the latest on a new franchise in Atlanta, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebucyk made 21 saves to shut out the Dallas Stars 4-0, tying their best-of-seven second-round series at a game apiece.

Nikolaj Ehlers had two goals and an assist, Dylan DeMelo collected two assists, and Josh Morrissey picked up an assist as he returned to action after missing Game 1 with an injury. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

The series shifts to Dallas for the next two games. Game 3 is 4:30 pm ET on Sunday, May 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a solid bounce-back performance by the Jets after dropping the first game on the strength of Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick. They dominated the Stars, doing an outstanding job neutralizing Rantanen and his teammates in this contest. Hellebuyck struggled with consistency in the first round, but his Game 2 performance should silence his critics for a little while. However, he must build on it if the Jets are to win this series. 

An overtime goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3 of their second-round series.

Marchand is the leader among active NHL players with 14 game-winning goals in the playoffs.

Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who narrowed Toronto’s lead in the series to 2-1. John Tavares tallied twice and Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist for the Leafs.

Game 4 will be Sunday, May 10, at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs looked poised to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they got early goals from Knies and Tavares. Aleksander Barkov made it 2-1 but Tavares restored the two-goal lead early in the second. However, Reinhart and Verhaeghe quickly scored to tie it and Jonah Gadjovich gave the Panthers the lead.

It then became a game of bounces involving Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. His game-tying goal in the third deflected off Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s blocker, striking his defenseman Seth Jones, and bounced into the Panthers’ net. Marchand’s goal deflected into the Leafs’ net as Rielly was jostling with Panthers center Anton Lundell.

The hockey gods giveth, and the hockey gods taketh away.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Seven skaters who debuted in the NHL between 2000 and 2010 were named to the league’s Quarter-Century Team.

The new players are former Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, former Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, former Chicago Blackhawks and current Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, Pittsburgh Penguins centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin, and former Tampa Bay Lightning and current Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprises here. They were/are the most impactful players of their era. Datsyuk is already in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bergeron will soon join him, and the others are all future first-ballot Hall-of-Famers once their playing careers are over.

The league will reveal the six skaters who debuted since 2010 on Saturday.

THE ATHLETIC: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league’s two failed attempts to house a franchise in Atlanta would prevent the possibility of a third attempt to bring an expansion team to that market.

Bettman’s comments come days after prospective Atlanta owner Paul Krause said his group was getting closer to making a formal expansion pitch. The commissioner said there is interest in a potential expansion to Atlanta, but no formal timetable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict the league will expand to Atlanta and Houston by the end of this decade, expanding to 34 teams.

Like it or not, billionaires are willing to pony up the increasingly rising expansion fee (likely to be $2 billion) to own an NHL expansion franchise in the United States.

Sorry, Quebec City, you have a devoted fan base and a proper NHL-ready arena, but your market is too small compared to those in the United States, and that’s where the money is. Your best bet is to become an emergency relocation destination for a failing American team like Winnipeg was for the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy was fined $7,812.50 for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic during Game 2 of the teams’ second-round series on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league explained they fined Roy instead of suspending him because he was reckless with his stick rather than intentionally trying to injure Frederic when he cross-checked the Oilers forward in the face. Frederic remained in the game, which explains why Roy escaped harsher discipline.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury suffered toward the end of the regular season. He is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether that’s with the Rangers or another team remains to be seen. Miller is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a difficult season. He could receive an offer sheet from a rival club if negotiations stall with the Rangers. Miller could also be a trade candidate if management decides he no longer fits into their long-term plans.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils have parted ways with assistant coaches Ryan McGill and Chris Taylor.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former WWE star Brock Lesnar’s son was recently drafted by the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Duke Lesnar, 14, is a 5’11”, 168-pound forward chosen 115th overall by the Tigers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t NHL news, but I’m a pro wrestling fan, so this was interesting to share here.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2025

by | Mar 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2025

Recaps of Tuesday’s games, Gary Bettman talks about the playoff format and the All-Star Game, seven NHL prospects among this season’s Hobey Baker Award candidates, and more in today’s morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An accidental interference by referee Kelly Sutherland resulted in Steven Lorentz’s game-winning goal in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Sutherland stumbled and fell when he caught a rut, accidentally blocking a clearing attempt by Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit. The puck remained in the neutral zone, where Lorentz picked it up and beat Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the faceoff circle.

Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll kicked out 38 shots and Auston Matthews tallied his 27th goal of the season. Valeri Nichushkin replied for the Avalanche as their nine-game points streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs move into a tie with the Florida Panthers with 85 points, but the latter holds first place in the Atlantic Division with 35 regulation wins to the Leafs’ 33. Colorado holds third place in the Central Division with 85 points. The Avs announced before the game that defenseman Josh Manson will miss three to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy (NHL Images)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 34 shots to shut out the Seattle Kraken 4-0. Matt Boldy scored twice for the Wild, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marco Rossi left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury after being accidentally struck by a shot from Boldy. Kraken center Chandler Stephenson departed in the second period for undisclosed reasons and didn’t return. There was no postgame update on either player.

HEADLINES

TSN: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took questions from reporters yesterday following the final day of general managers’ meetings.

Bettman gave an emphatic “no” when asked if the league would consider changes to the playoff format, saying he liked the current setup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman appears to be in the minority as there are growing calls from fans and pundits for changes to the playoff format. Don’t expect any tinkering while he remains in charge.

He said the league remains committed to staging an All-Star Game hosted by the New York Islanders next season. However, he said they’re reevaluating the format after last month’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament “raised the bar.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 4 Nations tournament gave the fans a meaningful event with hockey played at the highest level by many of the world’s top players who were fully invested. Fans don’t want a gimmicky skills competition followed by All-Stars going through the motions because they don’t want to risk injury on a nothing game.

The commissioner declined to speculate about the discussion between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week about a United States-Russia hockey series featuring NHL and KHL stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Russia’s war with Ukraine prompted the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to ban them from participating in international tournaments. The NHL has honored that ban.

Bettman said the 2025-26 season will open on Oct. 7. He also indicated that talks with the NHL Players’ Association regarding a new collective bargaining agreement will begin the first week in April. “I’m hoping we can do this quickly, quietly and painlessly,” said Bettman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The atmosphere between the league and the PA has been free of the animosity and distrust that hung over previous negotiations, leading to work stoppages that hurt the game’s momentum and upset its fans. Here’s hoping things go smoothly this time around.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals prospect forward Ryan Leonard and Minnesota Wild prospect defenseman Zeev Buium are among the 10 candidates for the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which annually honors the top US men’s college hockey player.

Leonard plays for Boston College while Buium skates for the University of Denver. Other candidates with NHL ties include Michigan State forward Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning), University of Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), University of Denver winger Jack Devine (Florida Panthers), Penn State winger Aiden Fink (Nashville Predators), and Clarkson winger Ayrton Martino (Dallas Stars).

The three finalists will be revealed on Apr. 3 and the winner will be announced on Apr. 11.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is optimistic that sidelined defenseman Colton Parayko might return before the end of this season. Parayko underwent a scope of his left knee on March 6 with a recovery timeline of six weeks. Montgomery said the defenseman’s rehab is progressing well.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers coach Paul Maurice said defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (right arm injury) is expected to be sidelined for two weeks. He’s expected back before the playoffs begin next month.

ROTOBALLER: Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Dmitry Orlov is expected to return to action tonight against the San Jose Sharks. He missed the last five games with an upper-body injury.

TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is expected to be named GM of Canada’s team at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in May.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2025

by | Feb 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, uncertainty over future 4 Nations tournaments, updates on Matthew Tkachuk, Trevor Zegras suspended, the Ducks and Red Wings make a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

JETS DOWN THE SHARKS, KINGS RALLY OVER THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Mark Scheifele lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Josh Morrissey tied the game for the Jets in the third period after Sharks forward William Eklund opened the scoring in the first period. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 17 shots for the Jets, while Vitek Vanecek kicked out 33 for the Sharks.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheifele scored his franchise-record 329th regular-season goal, surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk. The Jets picked up their 10th straight win to regain first place in the overall standings with 85 points.

Meanwhile, San Jose is 0-4-1 in their last six games, with only one victory in 13 contests. Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren missed this game with an upper-body injury.

Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield collected a career-high four assists as his club defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Trevor Moore tallied twice as the Kings scored four third-period goals. Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights remain atop the Pacific Division with 74 points, while the Kings are third with 69 points.

HEADLINES

YAHOO! SPORTS: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told Rich Eisen that the league must consider where any future 4 Nations Face-Off tournament would fit into a busy schedule of international tournaments.

The league is riding high following the success of the 4 Nations tournament, which garnered millions of viewers. Bettman admitted the event’s success was “so quick and overwhelming”, saying they have a lot to consider and sort out, including what the All-Star Game will look like going forward.

Bettman said the 4 Nations was meant as a “quick appetizer” for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, followed by the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and every four years thereafter.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be difficult for the NHL to return to its previous All-Star Game format. Fans want to see more meaningful best-on-best international play rather than a gloried no-contact game where the players are just going through the motions.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice insisted that sidelined winger Matthew Tkachuk will play again this season, though he admitted he didn’t have a timeline for his return. Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. TVA Sports Renaud Lavoie claimed the Panthers were concerned that Tkachuk’s season could be over as they awaited his medical results.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show on Monday to discuss how much it meant to represent his country alongside his brother Brady.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Panthers, forward Eetu Luostarinen will miss Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators as he and his wife are expecting a child.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety handed down a three-game suspension to Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras for interference on Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras leveled Rasmussen with a blindside hit to the head. The latter left the game and is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings made a trade on Monday, shipping goaltender Ville Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. The 30-year-old Husso is in the final season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report suggested that the future considerations could be the Red Wings eating part of Husso’s cap hit, but PuckPedia shows no indication of salary retention on their part. This trade frees up cap room for the Wings to add a player or two by the March 7 trade deadline.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports this move doesn’t mean the Ducks are planning to trade goalie John Gibson. He says it provides experienced depth to their AHL affiliate in San Diego as that club pushes for a playoff spot.

NHL.COM: League commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the suspension levied on Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman for roughing Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle on Feb. 1. However, he reduced the suspension from 10 games to eight, making Hartman eligible to return to action on March 4.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos is mired in the worst slump of his NHL career. He’s gone nine consecutive games without a point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ production this season is well below his usual standards. He has 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 56 games, well below last season’s 40-goal, 81-point performance.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach will miss Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Legendary New York Rangers broadcaster Al Trautwig has died at the age of 68. He’d reportedly undergone recent treatments for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Trautwig hosted USA Network’s NHL coverage in the 1980s and on Versus Network for several seasons. He covered the Rangers on MSG Network from 1989 to 2021. He also covered MLB’s New York Yankees and the NBA’s New York Knicks. Trautwig won numerous broadcasting awards, including national Emmys and a New York Sportscaster of the Year Award.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Trautwig’s family, friends, broadcast partners and the Rangers organization.