NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

by | Nov 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

The Wild ended the Avalanche’s long win streak, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached another scoring milestone, the Canadiens re-signed Mike Matheson, the Flames re-signed general manager Craig Conroy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild extended their win streak to seven games with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, ending the latter’s win streak at 10 games. Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 39 shots, Kirill Kaprizov tallied twice (including his 200th career goal), and Matt Boldy scored the winning goal for the 14-7-4 Wild. Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 19th goal for the Avalanche (17-1-6), who picked up a point and sit atop the overall standings with 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Wild placed forward Marcus Foligno on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Kris Letang tallied in overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. With the win, the Penguins improved to 12-6-5. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-5 Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby scored his 640th career regular-season NHL goal, moving past Dave Andreychuk into 15th on the overall goal list. He also moved past Jarome Iginla into 20th place for the most multi-goal games with 109.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals, and Adam Fox picked up three assists for the Rangers (13-11-2), who picked up their third straight win. Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie replied for the 14-12-0 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha missed this game due to injuries and are listed as day-to-day. Forward Matej Blumel was placed on long-term injury reserve.

The Montreal Canadiens got a 30-save performance from Sam Montembeault to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Zach Bolduc each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (13-7-3), who picked up their third straight win. Mark Stone scored for the slumping Golden Knights (10-6-8), who are winless in their last four contests (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canadiens signed defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6 million. The 31-year-old Montreal native has been a reliable veteran presence on the Canadiens’ blueline. His cap hit is a bit pricey, but he likely would have received over $7 million annually on a longer term in next summer’s free-agent market. It’s a good move by the Habs, ensuring their top-four defensemen are all under long-term contracts.

Calgary Flames goalie Devin Cooley stopped 37 shots as his club overcame an early 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Florida Panthers. Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists for the 9-14-3 Flames, who’ve won four of their last five contests. Evan Rodrigues and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who’ve dropped three of their last four and dropped to 12-11-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Flames announced the signing of general manager Craig Conroy and fellow front-office executives Don Maloney, Dave Nonis, and Brad Pascall to two-year contract extensions. It’s a vote of confidence from Flames’ ownership despite the club’s low placement in the standings thus far.

New Jersey Devils netminder Jake Allen turned in a 42-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 5-0. Arseny Gritsyuk had two goals for the Devils (16-7-1) as they picked up their third straight victory. Alex Lyon allowed five goals on 18 shots for the Sabres, who slipped to 9-11-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Devils hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 33 points.

The Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 6-3. Yanni Gourde tallied twice, and Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to extend his points streak to eight games for the 15-7-2 Lightning, who picked up their sixth straight win. J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen each had a goal and an assist for the 13-11-1 Red Wings, who’ve lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning sit atop the Atlantic Division with 32 points, three ahead of the second-place Canadiens.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston snapped a 3-3 tie to give his club a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen each had two assists as the 16-5-4 Stars collected their third straight win. Logan Cooley, Kevin Rooney, and Jack McBain scored for the Mammoth (12-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth winger Clayton Keller played in the game despite the sudden death of his father the previous day. As a tribute, he was named the game’s first star. My sincere condolences to Keller and his family.

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 3-0 lead to the New York Islanders but picked up a 4-3 win on a shootout goal by Travis Konecny. Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for the 13-7-3 Flyers, who’ve won four of their last five games. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (13-9-3), who’ve dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. While on his way to the bench, he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae and passed to Anders Lee, who set up Emil Heineman for the Isles’ first goal.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored the tying goal and had two assists as his club nipped the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on a shootout goal by Mason McTavish. The win gave the Ducks (15-8-1) a two-point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division with 31 points. Defensemen Brandt Clarke and Brian Dumoulin each had two assists for the Kings (11-6-7), who have one win in their last five games (1-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Ducks announced that goaltender Lukas Dostal would be sidelined for two to three weeks with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Kings winger Warren Foegele missed this contest with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored to extend his goal streak to five games as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (14-9-3) as they’ve won six of their last seven contests. Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies scored for the struggling Maple Leafs (10-11-3), who are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander missed this game due to an illness, and forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch.

A hat trick by Seth Jarvis powered the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the 15-7-2 Hurricanes. Mark Scheifele replied for the slumping Jets (12-11-0) as they lost their fourth straight game.

The St. Louis Blues squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on a goal by Matthew Kessel. Jordan Binnington stopped 25 shots for the 8-10-7 Blues. Brady Tkachuk collected an assist in his return to action with the 12-8-4 Senators.

San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopped 32 shots, and Macklin Celebrini picked up two assists to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Adam Gaudette netted the winning goal for the 12-10-3 Sharks. Forwards Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (10-13-2), who have lost four of their last five games.

The Nashville Predators held off the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Luke Evangelista each had a goal and an assist for the 8-12-4 Predators. Ryan Donato, Ryan Greene, and Teuvo Teravainen replied for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost four straight and dropped to 10-9-5.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

by | Nov 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

The latest on the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Chris Johnston said the Vancouver Canucks still want to add a center, but if they can’t fill that position immediately, they’d like to add another forward.

Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, likes to get the jump on the trade deadline. Johnston wondered if it would be wise to move pending unrestricted free-agent forward Kiefer Sherwood now or wait until the March 6 trade deadline, when he might fetch a first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood’s team-leading 12 goals have him on pace for a career-best 40. If he maintains that production, a contender could overpay for him by the trade deadline.

Johnston believes management is trying to make their changes as palatable as possible to put themselves in a good position to sell superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes on their long-term plans.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he has an excellent relationship with Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin. Despite management’s willingness to become a seller in the trade market, the Canucks captain isn’t giving up on this season. Whether he’s willing to sign a contract extension after this season remains to be seen.

The struggling Calgary Flames prefer to hang onto Nazem Kadri, but Johnston thinks the veteran center must decide if he wants to consider a move elsewhere at some point. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson is a pending UFA who will get increased attention in the trade market. Winger Blake Coleman has a year left on his deal, and he’s drawing some interest around the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coleman said he’s heard the trade rumors but shrugged them off as part of the job. His Stanley Cup pedigree and gritty two-way style could make him a valuable trade chip by the deadline, but the number of trade partners will be limited by his 10-team approved trade list.

Johnston also noted the rumors linking the Edmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. He acknowledged Jarry’s bounce-back performance this season and his ties to Edmonton.

Whether it’s Jarry or somebody else, Johnston believes the Oilers must address their goaltending situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That somebody else could be Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, who was also linked to the Oilers this week. However, there is no indication that the Blues are shopping him, and the Oilers could be on his 10-team no-trade list. The same can also be said of Jarry and the Penguins.

Even if Binnington were available and willing to go to Edmonton, the Oilers lack the cap space to take on his $6 million AAV through 2026-27. It would require a significant sweetener to get the Blues to retain half of Binnington’s cap hit, and to take on a salaried player from the Oilers in the deal.

Turning to the Canadiens, Johnston said they’re trying to add a top-six forward, but they’ve encountered difficulty in a trade market with little activity. Unless they can find some external help, they’ll have to look within.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TVA Sports’ Marc de Foy noted the recent rumors claiming the Canadiens are interested in Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, but he considers the reported asking price of a first-round pick and a top prospect to be too expensive. However, his colleague Jean-Charles Lajoie believes the Canadiens should overpay “a little” to get O’Reilly, suggesting they offer up defenseman Kaiden Guhle.

It’s been noted that O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but it’s also been reported that the Predators will treat him as though he does. All this chatter linking him to the Canadiens could be a moot point if he has no interest in going to Montreal.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has a well-earned reputation for being patient and not overpaying for talent. It would be surprising if he changed tactics now. Rather than pursue an aging veteran like O’Reilly, Hughes could have his sights set on Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 27, 2025

by | Nov 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 27, 2025

Are the Oilers interested in the Blues’ Jordan Binnington or the Penguins’ Tristan Jarry? What’s the latest on the Canucks, Predators, Flames, Stars, and Mammoth? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OILERS LINKED TO BINNINGTON AND JARRY

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples referred to a recent list of trade targets by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, where the latter claimed the “strongest speculation” tied the Oilers to St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.

Kypreos observed that the 32-year-old Binnington has one season remaining on his contract, and he’s unlikely to be part of any roster retooling by the Blues. He speculated the deal would see the Oilers ship their current starter, Stuart Skinner, to St. Louis in the deal. Kypreos said that they’re also seeing if they can pry a defenseman away from the Blues.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (NHL Images).

Staples pointed out that Binnington carries an average annual value of $6 million, while Skinner is on an expiring contract with an AAV of $2.6 million. He thinks they will have to include a significant sweetener in the deal to convince the Blues to retain part of Binnington’s cap hit.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted that Kypreos’ rumor about Binnington to the Oilers “stirred up a hornet’s nest”. He pointed out the Oilers can’t trade for the veteran netminder without his permission, even if the Blues were willing to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington has a 14-team no-trade list, and the Oilers could be on it. Even if he were willing to go to Edmonton, the cap-strapped Oilers can’t afford him without either moving out a lot of salary in the deal or giving up what few decent assets they have among their promising young players to make it happen.

Staples pointed out that Binnington’s stats are worse than Skinner’s this season. What’s also worth noting is that the Oilers’ sloppy defensive play this season has contributed to Skinner’s struggles, so Binnington probably wouldn’t fare much better.

Meanwhile, Staples noted that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is claiming the Oilers might be interested in acquiring netminder Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Weekes reminded everyone that Jarry played in Edmonton for the WHL’s Oil Kings during his junior days.

Friedman and Oilers insider Bob Stauffer believe the Jarry rumor makes more sense. The Penguins are carrying four goaltenders and are dealing from a position of strength. However, Stauffer noted the difficulty the capped-out Oilers would face trying to add to their roster.

Staples indicated that Jarry carries an AAV of $5.375 million through 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry’s cap hit isn’t as hefty as Binnington’s but has more term left on his contract. He also has a history of inconsistent play, spending several weeks playing for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate last season. He got off to a good start to this season before suffering an injury, but he picked up the win in his first game back last night against the Buffalo Sabres.

The same cap issues apply, not to mention Jarry’s 12-team no-trade list could also complicate things.

Trading for Binnington or Jarry would be risky for the Oilers. It could work out better than expected, or it could only make things worse. Given the few options available, they risk overpaying for either guy.

RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: In addition to the Binnington rumor, Elliotte Friedman touched on the Vancouver Canucks becoming sellers in the trade market.

He indicated that Quinn Hughes isn’t available, stating that several sources have pushed back hard on the notion that the 26-year-old superstar defenseman has already decided he won’t re-sign with the Canucks. Still, at some point, the Canucks and Hughes will have to discuss his future.

Pending UFA winger Kiefer Sherwood will garner plenty of interest. There is probably little desire by the Canucks to trade blueliner Filip Hronek, and Friedman doesn’t think Tyler Myers will waive his no-movement clause during this season. They also prefer to retain winger Conor Garland.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current theory regarding Hughes is that he could seek a trade as early as the March trade deadline if the Canucks haven’t improved by then.

The real issue is whether he’s willing to sign an extension. If he doesn’t, the Canucks will entertain trade offers. They could wait until the offseason, when teams will have more cap space and a willingness to make a big trade for a superstar such as Hughes.

Like the Canucks, the Nashville Predators are exploring the trade market. There are teams interested in Ryan O’Reilly, but he’s got a big say in any move. Friedman also dismissed the Filip Forsberg trade theories and doesn’t see the Predators being willing to retain salary in any deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are treating him as though he does. They’re not trading Forsberg unless he wants out, and there’s no indication that he does. He has a full no-movement clause.

The Calgary Flames won’t make any short-term moves to save their season. “If it’s a high pick, they will take it.”

Goalie-hungry teams will be watching Laurent Brossoit’s return from knee and hip surgeries that have sidelined him since April 2024. There’s no room for him with the Chicago Blackhawks now.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill remains confident he can afford to re-sign Jason Robertson when they already have an expensive Mikko Rantanen on their roster.

The Utah Mammoth would like to add to its roster. They have plenty of draft picks and prospects to draw on for trade capital.

Friedman believes free-agent forward Robby Fabbri could land with a new NHL club soon. The Ottawa Senators were among the rumored teams, but it won’t be with them.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2025

by | Nov 25, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2025

A look at the goalie market, the Canucks could become sellers, and an update on Jets center Brad Lambert in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH GOALIES COULD BECOME TRADE OPTIONS?

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at some goaltending options for clubs (like the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens) that could look to level up their goaltending.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).

The St. Louis Blues’ early-season struggles have led to Jordan Binnington resurfacing in the rumor mill. However, his stats are among the league’s worst.

Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators has also been suggested as a trade target, but his full no-movement clause makes him unlikely to be moved.

Jonathan Quick could be an option if the New York Rangers are out of playoff contention by the March 6 trade deadline. He’s having a strong final chapter to his NHL career as Igor Shesterkin’s backup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could become sellers if their current woes persist. With Anthony Stolarz under contract for four more years and the Leafs entering a possible transitional phase, Dixon suggested that Joseph Woll could be moved for the right return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon cautioned that adding any of those goalies is no guarantee that they’re going to turn into Scott Wedgewood, whose career was rejuvenated after being acquired last season by the Colorado Avalanche.

Binnington carries a 14-team no-trade list. His $6 million annual cap hit could also be a deal-breaker unless the Blues retain part of it.

It’s doubtful that Saros will be going anywhere after the Predators re-signed him to a lucrative long-term contract, especially after they traded away promising Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks in August 2024.

Quick might be a quick fix for a playoff contender, and seems the most likely on the list to get traded. Still, he’s turning 40 and is now best in a supporting role. As for Woll, if the Leafs trade him, they’re just making their situation worse. If they’re in transition, it would make sense to keep that tandem of Woll and Stolarz together to maintain some semblance of stability between the pipes.

Meanwhile, Dixon’s colleague Elliotte Friedman proposed two goalies that might be of interest to the Montreal Canadiens. He indicated that some people wondered if the Detroit Red Wings might move Cam Talbot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are in the thick of the playoff race in the Atlantic Division. Talbot’s their best goaltender. They’re not trading him to a divisional rival, and have no intention of moving him unless they’re out of playoff contention by the March deadline.

Friedman suggested Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could be an interesting name to watch. He thinks the Canadiens are among the teams “doing their research” on the Buffalo Sabres netminder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Luukkonen came up because he was sidelined by an early-season injury and struggled a bit during his return. Meanwhile, backup Alex Lyon and call-up Colten Ellis were playing well, prompting some observers to wonder if the Sabres might peddle their starter.

However, it’s doubtful the Sabres will move Luukkonen. They don’t know for certain what they’ve got in Ellis, who isn’t waiver-exempt. For now, they appear content to stick with three goalies.

ARE THE CANUCKS ABOUT TO BECOME SELLERS?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman cited several sources indicating that the Vancouver Canucks have let it be known that they’re willing to entertain trade offers for veteran players.

Friedman stated that the list of veterans they’re willing to listen on doesn’t include defenseman and team captain Quinn Hughes. It’s also unlikely that blueliner Filip Hronek is available.

It appears the Canucks are willing to listen to offers for pending unrestricted free agents or players with a year or two remaining on their contracts. However, they don’t wish to engage in a full roster rebuild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those pending UFAs include forwards Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, Kiefer Sherwood, and David Kampf, and defensemen Derek Forbort. Those with one or two years remaining on their contracts include forwards Filip Chytil and Drew O’Connor, and defenseman Tyler Myers.

Of those, Sherwood could be the most enticing. He carries an affordable $1.5 million cap hit, had a career-best 40-point performance in 2024-25, and has 12 goals and 16 points in 23 games this season.

THE LATEST ON BRAD LAMBERT

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates reports the Winnipeg Jets have no interest in trading Brad Lambert to acquiesce to his trade request. They hold plenty of leverage, with the 21-year-old forward waiver-exempt until next season.

Ates believes GM Kevin Cheveldayoff won’t move Lambert unless it benefits the Jets. He speculates that the youngster could be bundled with draft capital at the trade deadline to acquire an impact player. If no sensible offers come their way, they’re content to retain Lambert until he’s NHL-ready.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James observed that NHL insider Frank Seravalli included the Flyers among his list of four clubs that could be a good fit for Lambert. The others were the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Based on Ates’ comments, the Flames or Canucks could be the more likely trade partners as they are likely to be among the sellers at the trade deadline, if not sooner. The Canadiens and Flyers aren’t parting with an impact player for a prospect and a draft pick.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2025

by | Nov 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2025

The Flyers set a franchise record against the Devils, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached a points milestone, Lightning winger Brandon Hagel had a four-point performance, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers scored four first-period goals, including three in 26 seconds, in a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Tyson Foerster tallied twice in 17 seconds, and Noah Cates had a goal and two assists for the 11-6-3 Flyers. Nico Hischier scored two goals and set up another as the Devils (13-7-1) dropped their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers set a franchise record for the fastest three goals in one period.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for his 500th career multipoint game in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Montour scored in overtime, and Mason Marchment had a goal and an assist as the Kraken improved to 11-5-5. Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins (10-6-5), who have one win in their last six games (1-2-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is sixth on the all-time multipoint games list. Wayne Gretzky leads with 824 games, followed by Jaromir Jagr (540), Marcel Dionne and Mark Messier (513), and Gordie Howe (511).

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel scored two goals and collected two assists in a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists as the Lightning (12-7-2) extended their winning streak to three games. Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-2 Capitals as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov and teammate Brayden Point left this game with undisclosed injuries. There was no postgame update regarding their statuses. Meanwhile, Capitals forward Nic Dowd missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood made 35 saves to shut out the Nashville Predators 3-0. Nathan MacKinnon scored to extend his points streak to 12 games as the league-leading Avalanche (15-1-5, 35 points) extended its win streak to eight games. Juuse Saros stopped 23 of 24 shots as the Predators (6-11-4) have lost seven of their last eight contests (1-5-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators captain Roman Josi returned to action after being sidelined since late October with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Avalanche announced that forward Gavin Brindley is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings got an overtime goal from Alex DeBrincat as they overcame a 3-1 deficit to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Cam Talbot stopped 31 shots, and defensemen Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot each had a goal and an assist for the Detroit Red Wings, who improved to 13-8-1 and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 27 points. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets (11-8-3).

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington made 30 saves as his club held off the New York Islanders by a score of 2-1. Brayden Schenn and Pius Suter scored for the 7-9-6 Blues, who ended a four-game winless skid (0-1-3). Anders Lee replied for the Islanders (12-8-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues placed forward Alexandre Texier on unconditional waivers for contract termination. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are believed to be the front-runners, with the Canadiens considered the favorites to sign him. The 26-year-old winger is in his seventh NHL season. He’s a speedy two-way checking-line forward whose best season was a 30-point performance with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24.

Speaking of the Canadiens, they picked up their first win in two weeks with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Noah Dobson and Josh Anderson each tallied twice for the Canadiens, who improved to 11-7-3 after dropping seven of their previous eight games (1-4-3). William Nylander had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who dropped to 9-10-3 and have lost seven of their last eight contests (1-5-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Edmonton Oilers got two goals from Jack Roslovic to defeat the Florida Panthers 6-3 in their first game since facing each other in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Stuart Skinner kicked out 35 shots, and blueliners Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm each had three points for the 10-9-5 Oilers, ending their three-game losing skid. Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich each had a goal and an assist as the Panthers dropped to 11-9-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s expected to travel with the team on Sunday and play in Monday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle snapped a 2-2 tie to give his club a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. He also collected an assist to finish the game with two points as the Senators (11-6-4) picked up their third win in four games. John Klingberg and Barclay Goodrow replied for the 10-9-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to action after missing three games with an upper-body injury. However, he left this contest in the third period after reinjuring himself.

The Utah Mammoth nipped the New York Rangers 3-2 on a third-period goal by Nick DeSimone. JJ Peterka and Clayton Keller also scored for the 11-8-3 Mammoth, ending a four-game winless skid (0-1-3). Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who’ve lost four straight games and dropped to 10-11-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain J.T. Miller missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier scored in overtime in a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Gauthier, Troy Terry, and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist as the Ducks improved to 14-7-1, sitting in first place in the Pacific Division with 29 points. Jack Eichel had two assists for the Golden Knights (10-4-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitch Marner was the goat of this game as his turnover in front of his own net led to Gauthier’s game-winner.

The Calgary Flames upset the Dallas Stars 3-2 on a shootout goal by Nazem Kadri. Matt Coronato scored to extend his goal streak to four games for the 7-13-3 Flames. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the 13-5-4 Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars winger Mikko Rantanen received his second game misconduct in three games for boarding Coronato.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

by | Nov 20, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

Check out the latest on the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, the Flames’ Rasmus Andersson, the Blues’ Brayden Schenn, the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON ARTEMI PANARIN AND RASMUS ANDERSSON

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson top Luke Fox’s list of next summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Panarin, 34, is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Fox indicated that Panarin wasn’t willing to accept a pay cut to remain with the Rangers despite his age (34) and declining production. Meanwhile, the Blueshirts aren’t interested in maintaining the status quo with his paychecks into his late thirties.

Fox believes the Rangers could hang onto Panarin for the rest of this season if they’re holding a playoff berth by the March 6 trade deadline. If not, they could ask him to waive his no-movement clause to join a playoff contender.

According to Fox’s colleague, Nick Kypreos, the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild may be interested in acquiring Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes might be interested in Panarin as a rental, given they’re in “win-now” mode. They acquired Mikko Rantanen last season, only to trade him weeks later when he wouldn’t sign an extension. They also attempted to acquire Mitch Marner before last year’s trade deadline.

However, their actions with Rantanen suggest they’d prefer adding a star in his prime who can be part of their lineup beyond this season. Panarin might not fit that profile.

Panarin could skate on the Wild’s second line at left wing, but they could prefer bolstering their depth at center. They could also favor a player who’d be more than a rental.

Andersson is a “talented, minute-munching, edgy right-shot defenseman with leadership skills.” That’s why his value in the trade market is high, and could be even higher if he’s willing to sign a contract extension.

Fox believes that “all signs point to the Vegas Golden Knights” as a trade destination, but he acknowledged they have limited cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights could find a way to make the cap dollars fit, but the real issue is their limited trade assets. They lack a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, and The Athletic ranked their prospect pool among the shallowest in the league, sitting 30th overall. Other clubs could outbid the Golden Knights for Andersson’s services.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman took note of the trade rumors starting to swirl about the St. Louis Blues. Regarding captain Brayden Schenn, he reports that teams that have spoken to the Blues over the past two years claim the price is very high for the 34-year-old center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schenn is signed through 2027-28 with a 15-team no-trade list. If he becomes available, it’ll likely be during the lead-up to the March 6 trade deadline.

Speaking of the Blues, Friedman said there are rumors that Alexandre Texier is considering terminating his contract. The 26-year-old winger is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.1 million, but has only appeared in one game since Oct. 28. Friedman wondered if he’d be a fit with the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens seek depth at center, but their recent injuries reportedly make them open to adding a winger. Whether Texier would interest them remains to be seen.

Friedman claimed that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov would like to be traded if he’s not going to play. The 21-year-old blueliner was a healthy scratch for their last two games. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, so Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek won’t be rushed into anything.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman considers this situation something worth monitoring. Mintyukov projects to be a talented puck-moving defenseman, so he’s bound to draw interest if he becomes available. The Ducks could seek a good young player in return.

FEW SELLERS IN THE TRADE MARKET THUS FAR

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico indicates the tightly packed standings leave few true sellers in the trade market. Clubs seeking help, especially those looking for centers, would be forced to overpay.

The Calgary Flames are mired at the bottom of the standings. They have several players, such as Andersson and forwards Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman, who have drawn interest in the trade market. However, they’re facing no urgency to move those players unless they get a significant offer.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are listening to offers. No-trade clauses are an issue for the Predators, and the Blues prefer making “hockey trades” rather than selling off talent for draft picks and prospects.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico also considered the San Jose Sharks as a wild card, but they might not be sellers if they’re in the playoff race leading up to the trade deadline. This rebuilding team still has room for improvement (especially defensively), but they’re an increasingly competitive club this season.