NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 14, 2025

by | Oct 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 14, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games and the three stars of the week are revealed in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers upset the Florida Panthers 5-2 as captain Sean Couturier led the way with two goals and two assists, giving Rick Tocchet his first win as the Flyers’ head coach. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who suffered their first loss of the season.

Philadelphia Flyers captain Sean Couturier (NHL Images).

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and defenseman Cale Makar netted his first of the season in a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tage Thompson replied for the Sabres, who are 0-3 to open the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin wasn’t happy with his performance and that of his teammates. “Better start today, worse ending,” Dahlin said in his postgame interview. “Not good power play. Good PK and goaltending, we just can’t catch a break. We have to get out of this bullshit.”

Meanwhile, the Avalanche sent goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to their AHL affiliate for conditioning. An injury sidelined him throughout training camp.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 31 shots and Jonathan Marchessault tallied twice to beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1, handing the latter their second straight loss. Ridly Greig scored for the Senators, who lost captain Brady Tkachuk in the third period to an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk was injured on a cross-check by Predators captain Roman Josi in the first period. He tried to play through it, but left with about 10 minutes remaining in the game. Senators coach Travis Green had no update on his captain, saying Tkachuk was still being evaluated.

A late goal by Mason Appleton lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Goalie Cam Talbot kicked out 38 shots while Dylan Larkin and former Leaf James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Wings. Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist for the Leafs, who had rallied to overcome a 2-0 deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond suffered an upper-body injury in the second period and didn’t return. There was no update on his condition. Meanwhile, Leafs coach Craig Berube singled out William Nylander’s poor play since the start of the season, while praising rookie Easton Cowan’s energy and physicality in his NHL debut.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got two goals from Anthony Cirelli as they held off the Boston Bruins 4-3, handing the latter their first loss of the season. Jonas Johansson made 30 saves for the Lightning. Pavel Zacha collected two assists for the Bruins.

New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer tallied twice to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Devils goalie Jake Allen turned aside 23 shots before leaving after the second period with muscle cramps. Timo Meier also scored for the Devils. Kirill Marchekov and Dmitri Voronkov replied for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Devils announced that forward Zack MacEwen will miss a considerable period of time with an injury.

Blue Jackets forward Miles Wood left this game after taking a high stick in the face from Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson missed this game with an upper-body injury and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice for his first NHL multi-goal game as the St. Louis Blues rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Jordan Binnington made 27 saves and Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist for the Blues. Kiefer Sherwood scored both goals for the Canucks.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Pearson, and Morgan Barron each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Defenseman Logan Stanley also had a goal and an assist for the Jets. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman scored for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets forward Cole Koepke left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-0 lead to the Los Angeles Kings but got a shootout goal from Marco Rossi for a 4-3 win. Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy scored in regulation for the Wild, while Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield, and Adam Kempe replied for the Kings.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev scored two goals, and Andre Burakovsky potted the winning goal to defeat the Utah Mammoth 3-1, giving Jeff Blashill his first win as the Blackhawks coach. JJ Peterka scored for the Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Mammoth announced that defenseman Sean Durzi will be sidelined for a month with an upper-body injury suffered on Saturday against the Nashville Predators.

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev, Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto, and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are the three stars for the week ending Oct. 12.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

by | Oct 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

A hat trick performance by the Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko, Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer netted his first goal, the Ducks downed the Sharks in a wild, high-scoring contest, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko’s hat trick powered his club to a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 48 shots, and Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner each had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and collected an assist, and Zeev Buium tallied his first NHL goal and picked up an assist for the Wild.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jenner’s goal was the 200th of his NHL career, joining Rick Nash and Cam Atkinson as the only players in franchise history to reach that milestone.

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL goal, but his club dropped a 4-2 decision to the Washington Capitals. Aliaksei Protas scored two goals and added an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer was the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He collected his first NHL assist in his first game on Thursday.

An overtime goal by Leo Carlsson lifted the Anaheim Ducks over the San Jose Sharks 7-6. The Ducks erased a 6-4 deficit in the third period. Carlsson also had two assists, Mason McTavish had three assists, and Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier each scored twice for the Ducks. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith each picked up three assists, but Celebrini’s turnover led to Carlsson’s winning goal.

A shootout goal by Mikko Rantanen gave the Dallas Stars a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Jake Oettinger made 35 saves, and Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist for the Stars. Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Avalanche announced that defenseman Samuel Girard would miss this game and is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele tallied two goals as his club rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for the Jets. Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury left this game in the second period after blocking a shot by Kempe.

Three straight power-play goals by Aaron Ekblad, Anton Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich powered the Florida Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Ekblad, Lundell, and Brad Marchand each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, extending their season-opening win streak to three games. Senators center Shane Pinto scored twice for the second straight game.

The Boston Bruins extended their season-opening win streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Mark Kastelic had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Jason Zucker replied for the Sabres, who have only one goal in their first two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that sidelined center Josh Norris is expected to miss a significant amount of time with an upper-body injury. Norris is still undergoing evaluation, and it’s uncertain how long he’ll be out of action.

Detroit Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat each had three points as their club overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond scored twice, including his 100th career NHL goal. Morgan Rielly and Nicolas Roy each had two points for the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz exited this game in the first period with a suspected head injury. The Leafs appeared to have difficulty at times adjusting to the Red Wings‘ speed in this game.

The New York Rangers thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1, giving head coach Mike Sullivan his first victory against his former team. Adam Fox scored two goals and picked up an assist. Penguins rookie Ben Kindel tallied his first NHL goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Rangers announced center Vincent Trocheck is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy exited in the second period with an upper-body injury.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang left in the third period with an undisclosed injury and is undergoing evaluation. The Penguins activated forward Bryan Rust off injured reserve and sent forward Ville Koivunen to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown potted two goals, and Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Luke Hughes also had two assists for the Devils. Max Crozier picked up two assists for the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils announced that forward Evgenii Dadonov has been sidelined with a fractured hand. A timeline for his return has yet to be determined.

The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Bobby Brink had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who got a 35-save performance by Samuel Ersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brink appeared to have scored the winning goal in overtime, but it was overturned for goalie interference by teammate Travis Sanheim. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov saw limited ice time and was benched during overtime by head coach Rick Tocchet. “I just wanted the guys who I thought were skating,” Tocchet said.

It was a costly win for the Hurricanes as top defenseman Jaccob Slavin left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. His status for the remainder of their road trip remains unclear. Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced that goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is out for at least a week with a lower-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored with 15 seconds remaining in the third period to give his club a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Cole Caufield scored his first goal of the season, and Zach Bolduc tallied his third straight goal for the Canadiens. Sam Rinzel and Connor Bedard replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal captain Nick Suzuki collected three assists while Caufield and Bolduc finished with two points each. The Canadiens had 10 power-play opportunities but only scored on two of them.

Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp scored his first NHL goal, and Leon Draisaitl scored a shorthanded empty-netter in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Quinn Hughes collected an assist on a goal by Brock Boeser, becoming the Canucks’ all-time franchise points leader for defensemen with 410.

The Utah Mammoth got an overtime goal by Dylan Guenther to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Logan Cooley and Jack McBain also scored for the Mammoth. Filip Forsberg and Erik Haula replied for the Predators.

Third-period goals by Jake Neighbours and Pius Suter enabled the St. Louis Blues to double up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Neighbours finished with two goals, and Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist. Matt Coronato scored both goals for the Flames.

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann scored with four seconds remaining in overtime to upset the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken. Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his league-leading fifth goal of the season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

Recapping the opening night of the regular season, Kyle Connor and the Jets are getting closer to a contract extension, an update on Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THE OPENING NIGHT GAMES

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists and Martin Necas scored twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Cale Makar also had two assists, and Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Kevin Fiala replied for the Kings.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon moved past Joe Sakic to become the Avalanche’s franchise points leader (1,017) since the club relocated to Colorado from Quebec City in 1995. Sakic remains the all-time leader in points (1,641), goals (625), assists (1,016), and games played (1,378).

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mackie Samoskevich collected two assists for the Panthers, who raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner in a pregame ceremony. Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight made 34 saves against his former team, while teammates Frank Nazar, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen each collected two points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers also signed forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got a 25-save shutout from goaltender Arturs Silovs to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Justin Brazeau scored two goals, and Evgeni Malkin had two assists for the Penguins. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal on 27 shots before being pulled for an extra attacker.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Silovs’ first NHL regular-season shutout. He had one in the 2024 playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks. This was Mike Sullivan’s first game as head coach of the Rangers, and his first against his former team.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Winnipeg Jets and winger Kyle Connor are moving closer to a contract extension. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. It’s believed the new deal will be a long-term one with an average annual value in the $12 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a substantial raise over Connor’s current AAV of $7.142 million. He’s earned it, sitting eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout performance in 2017-18.

Friedman also reported that the Vegas Golden Knights have announced that Alex Pietrangelo will not play during the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs. The 35-year-old defenseman is taking time away to deal with a nagging hip injury. The Golden Knights will be eligible for full salary-cap relief on his $8.8 million cap hit for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo had suggested last month that he wasn’t ruling out a possible return to the lineup this season. This news puts that possibility to rest.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they signed restricted free agent forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year contract with an AAV of $837,500.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Dallas Stars placed captain Jamie Benn on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). He suffered a collapsed lung last month and is expected to miss the first month of the season. They also recalled defenseman Lian Bichsel and signed free-agent forward Adam Erne to a one-year, two-way contract.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers placed winger Zach Hyman on injured reserve (IR) to start the season. He is still recovering from a dislocated wrist suffered during the 2025 playoffs.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Minnesota Wild placed winger Mats Zuccarello on IR with a lower-body injury. He could be sidelined until well into November.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. They also announced that forward Milan Lucic will remain in St. Louis to rehab an injury. The Blues haven’t ruled out signing the 37-year-old winger to another professional tryout offer (PTO).

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (groin injury) on IR and recalled defenseman Victor Mancini.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Anaheim Ducks goalie Ville Husso, and Utah Mammoth forward Kevin Rooney are among the five players placed on waivers on Tuesday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2025

by | Sep 28, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2025

Marc-Andre Fleury’s farewell to Penguins fans, Mason McTavish finally re-signs with the Ducks, the Blues ink Cam Fowler to a contract extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Marc-Andre Fleury made eight saves during his third-period appearance with the Penguins in a 4-1 preseason victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 40-year-old goaltender officially retired at the end of last season, but returned to the Penguins on a training camp tryout contract for a final farewell to the team with which he spent most of his NHL career. A soldout crowd of 18,333 fans gave him a standing ovation when he took to the ice, chanted his name on every save, and called for “One More Year!”.

Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

“A little surreal, a little crazy, but still also comfortable, “ Fleury said of the experience. He explained that it always felt “a little bit weird” whenever he played at PPG Arena with other teams, but this time, “it felt normal.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury’s preseason farewell stint with the Penguins prompted TSN’s Pierre LeBrun to suggest that he might be coaxed back into action by some NHL clubs looking to bolster their goaltending depth.

However, it appears Fleury has hung up his pads for good. He was appreciative of the chants from Penguins fans for one more year, but explained he was tired and his hip was sore. While his competitive desire may not have diminished, Fleury knows that he cannot physically do it anymore.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The contract standoff between the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish ended Saturday with an agreement on a six-year, $42-million deal. The average annual value is $7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates McTavish will have a 15-team no-trade list for the final two seasons of his new contract. It was rumored that the Ducks offered $5.5 million annually while the McTavish camp sought $7.5 million.

The Ducks hope to emerge from their long rebuilding phase into a playoff contender this season. They need McTavish in the fold to center their second line. And no, this isn’t a sign-and-trade situation. While some NHL teams expressed interest in McTavish, the Ducks need him more than they do.

McTavish will return to the Ducks for the remainder of training camp and perhaps get into one of their three remaining preseason games. It’s unlikely he’ll be in the lineup for Monday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, but he could return for Wednesday’s game against the Sharks or Saturday’s tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: The Blues signed defenseman Cam Fowler to a three-year contract extension. Fowler, 33, will earn an average annual value of $6.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates Fowler will have a full no-trade clause for the first two years of the deal and a 15-team no-trade list starting on Jan. 1, 2029.

This is a slight pay cut from Fowler’s $6.5 million AAV on his current contract, but he was willing to accept it to remain with the Blues. Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last December, he quickly fit in well with his new club, tallying 36 points with the Blues as they exceeded expectations to clinch a playoff berth.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Changes to the NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement could prevent Alex Pietrangelo from returning to the Golden Knights’ lineup in time for the 2026 playoffs.

The 35-year-old defenseman is expected to miss the regular season as he rehabs a nagging hip injury and will be placed on long-term injury reserve when the season begins next month. However, he recently said that he hoped to return to the lineup later in the season.

However, teams must now be salary-cap compliant during the postseason. That means the Golden Knights would have to sit one or two players to free up sufficient cap space to enable Pietrangelo to return to the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights could do it by sitting an overpaid, unproductive player. Looking at their current roster, however, there doesn’t appear to be anyone who fits that profile. They could also do it if another player carrying a comparable or more expensive contract ends up on LTIR, but that would mean losing a key player like Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, or Mark Stone.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko suffered a broken hand and will be sidelined for roughly six weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko was rejuvenated after being acquired from the New York Rangers last December, tallying 30 points in 49 games with the Kraken. He is expected to play on their first line when he returns from injury in late October or early November.

CBS SPORTS: Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins will miss the next eight weeks with an upper-body injury.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres are extending their lease at KeyBank Center for five more years. That will buy them time to negotiate a long-term deal that includes public funding for much-needed arena renovations.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled last week that the Pennsylvania Usage Fee, also known as the Facility Tax, is unconstitutional.

The fee, also known as a jock tax, led to visiting athletes and entertainers performing at any of the city of Pittsburgh’s publicly funded sports stadiums being taxed at the rate of three percent of their income.

The NHLPA and New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri were among the appellees.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION: Brett McKay reports financial audits reveal the Edmonton Oilers’ 50/50 raffle has been paying part of the charitable proceeds to a private company called “Win50”, which is owned by the Oilers ownership group.

The report claims “Win50” received $81 million in “licensing and rights fees” between 2021 and 2024, with less than 20 percent of the total fundraising actually going to charities.

McKay reports the Oilers Foundation replied that “Win50” pays all the expenses of running the raffle, explaining it was the cost of doing business.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 25, 2025

by | Sep 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 25, 2025

The latest on Islanders captain Anders Lee, Stars captain Jamie Benn, Senators winger Drake Batherson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders captain Anders Lee will be sidelined for one to two weeks with an upper-body injury. The timeline is precautionary, and there’s little concern that he’ll miss their season opener on Oct. 9.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Islanders, goaltender Semyon Varlamov is not close to rejoining his teammates. His last game was in November 2024, and he underwent knee surgery in December. He’s been skating individually during training camp.

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders signed goalie David Rittich this summer to a one-year contract as insurance in case Varlamov remained out of the lineup.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars captain Jamie Benn is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He was held out of practice on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, but there’s no indication that the injury is serious.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators winger Drake Batherson has been ruled out for two weeks after pulling an upper-body muscle. He could miss their season-opening game on Oct. 9.

TSN: Milan Lucic is day-to-day with a suspected groin injury. He’s attending the St. Louis Blues training camp on a professional tryout offer. Head coach Jim Montgomery suggested the 37-year-old winger could get into a couple of preseason games next week if he returns to the lineup by then.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague will miss the next four to six weeks with an upper-body injury. He left the second game of a doubleheader against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 21 and didn’t return. The Predators acquired the 26-year-old Hague in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and signed him to a four-year contract on July 1.

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander left Wednesday’s game with the Calgary Flames after suffering a lower-body injury. He was wearing a walking boot after the game and will be evaluated on Thursday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins goalie Joel Blomqvist is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin is taking a leave of absence after his father, Alexander, died suddenly on Tuesday. Earlier this week, Podkolzin signed a three-year contract extension with the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Podkolzin on the passing of his father.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2025

by | Sep 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2025

Check out the latest on Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, Jets center Jonathan Toews, Blues defenseman Torey Krug, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s recent comments about a possible return with the Vegas Golden Knights were met with “too much optimism”.

Pietrangelo, 35, is expected to be placed on long-term injury reserve this season with a lingering hip injury. Earlier this week, he left the door open for a possible return with the Golden Knights later in the season.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (NHL Images).

Dreger stated that those close to Pietrangelo claim it was difficult for him to play last season. “Now, he’s just trying to get a place, lifestyle-wise, where he is a healthy and happy husband and father. He is not playing this year, and as we know, he’s got two years remaining on his contract.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo mused about possibly returning in time for the 2026 playoffs. Dreger’s report suggests that could be wishful thinking.

SPORTSNET: Jonathan Toews made his debut with the Winnipeg Jets in preseason action against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The 37-year-old center played 18:36 and finished minus-one with no shots on goal.

It was Toews’ first game since Apr. 23, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks. “I felt like I made some plays and, as the game went on, just relaxed a little bit,” Toews said. He admitted he was still getting used to playing with a different team and getting his conditioning and timing back, but he’s happy to be back in action again.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely that Toews will regain the form that made him one of the best two-way centers in the league. Nevertheless, the Jets hope that he’ll play well enough to fill the second-line center position.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford did a feature on Torey Krug, who underwent career-ending ankle surgery last year. The 34-year-old defenseman is now at peace and getting on with his life.

A 13-year NHL veteran with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, Krug had to adjust to no longer being a player over the course of last season as he recovered from surgery. He is considering coaching, but for now, he’s easing into retirement and enjoying time with his family as his health improves.

Krug has two years remaining on his contract. He will be placed on long-term injury reserve this season. He thanked the Blues’ organization for their support and their belief in him when they signed him in 2020.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed winger Vasily Podkolzin to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $2.95 million.

Podkolzin’s offensive numbers aren’t great (eight goals and 16 assists last season), but head coach Kris Knoblauch and center Leon Draisaitl praised his versatility, his defensive play, forechecking, and physical style.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has taken a leave of absence to attend to a personal family matter. There is no timetable for his return.

Dennis Hildeby is expected to fill in for Woll during his absence.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood engaged in a light workout on his own with some of the coaches on Tuesday. He’s week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, and it’s uncertain if he’ll return in time for their season opener on Oct. 9.

Defenseman Samuel Girard remains sidelined but is expected to be in the lineup for their first game of the season.

TSN: Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson left practice early on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Travis Green said that he “pulled something” and provided no update on his status.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks forward Colin White will be out “a couple of weeks” with an upper-body injury. Defenseman John Klingberg (upper body) is listed as day-to-day.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins will enshrine Scotty Bowman, Ron Francis, Kevin Stevens, and Eddie Johnston in their restarted Hall of Fame on Oct. 25.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle looked at possible loopholes in the NHL’s new playoff salary-cap system.

One could be replacing the backup goaltender with a more affordable third-string netminder. Mirtle doubted that this move would cost a team a playoff game, since second goalies are rarely used in those games, and when they are, it’s in a game that’s already lost.

Another option could be sitting an overpaid player who is underperforming. He cited New Jersey Devils forward Ondrej Palat as an example, noting that his AAV is $6 million but the aging winger’s performance is well below that pay level.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL general managers and capologists have always found ways to circumvent salary-cap rules legally. Don’t be surprised if they employ some of the potential tactics mentioned by Mirtle.