NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2025

by | Apr 24, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2025

Check out the latest on the Bruins and the Utah Hockey Club in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BRUINS FOCUSED ON A QUICK TURNAROUND FOR NEXT SEASON

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa reports Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney intends to use “every mechanism possible” during the offseason to bolster his roster for a quick turnaround from a disappointing 2024-25 season.

That includes being active in this summer’s free-agent and trade markets.

The Bruins GM wants to improve the depth among his top-six wingers. They also need more depth at center, but could stand pat this summer, given how expensive it is to address that issue.

Sweeney expects better performance from underachievers like goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, and center Elias Lindholm. He’s also hoping for healthy seasons from blueliners Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss also cited Sweeney saying he’d look to add scoring wingers this summer. Free-agent options could include Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets.

Goss acknowledged it’s unknown if Marner or Ehlers will be available on July 1, let alone if they’d sign with the Bruins. He believes that leaves the trade market for Sweeney to find that scoring winger, pointing out they have four first-round picks and five second-rounders over the next three drafts to draw up for trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have $28.8 million in projected cap space with 11 active roster players under contract next season.

Some of that money will go toward re-signing restricted free agents like Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, John Beecher, Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko. Sweeney has already confirmed contract talks are underway with Geekie, and he’s expected to be in their lineup for next season.

Nevertheless, they should have enough left to make a significant signing or two in the free-agent market.

BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL: Joe Haggerty wondered if the Bruins will make any surprising moves involving some of their veterans during the offseason.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images)

Haggerty noted that Jeremy Swayman is the Bruins’ only high-salaried player lacking no-trade protection. The no-movement clause in the 26-year-old goaltender’s contract doesn’t kick in until the 2026-27 season.

Swayman’s difficult season contributed to the Bruins missing the playoffs. It has some observers like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wondering if he could be moved this summer based on his performance this season, his ugly contract negotiations last summer, or some potentially conflicting personalities within the Bruins’ dressing room.

Friedman believes the Bruins should be patient with Swayman and look for a bounce-back performance next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Swayman would be a bold move by the Bruins and there would be no shortage of suitors among clubs seeking a goaltending upgrade. However, it would also leave the Bruins without a reliable starting netminder. There is no suitable replacement in their system or in the trade and free-agent markets.

The Bruins hope to make a quick turnaround from this disappointing season. They need a focused Swayman between the pipes to pull it off.

LATEST UTAH HOCKEY CLUB SPECULATION

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Spencer Lazary noted the Utah Hockey Club intends to be aggressive in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.

They could use their 2025 first-round draft pick as a trade chip to improve the current roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah is among the 16 teams in this year’s upcoming NHL Draft Lottery. They’re currently sitting 14th overall in the draft order but could move up 10 spots if they win the lottery.

Utah already has a well-stocked prospect pipeline and several rising young stars like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther on their roster. They can afford to peddle that first-rounder if it’ll fetch a return that provides immediate help.

They might attempt to make a splash in this summer’s UFA pool.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah has $22.3 million in cap space with 19 active roster players signed for next season, including their core players. They have room for a significant signing if ownership is willing to spend to the cap.

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Belle Fraser reports Utah forward Matias Maccelli had a difficult season. After netting 57 points in 2023-24, his production dropped to 18 points in 55 games, becoming a regular healthy scratch during the second half.

Maccelli hopes for a bounce-back performance next season. Fraser indicates the club still has faith in him, but his role in Utah is now unclear. The 24-year-old left winger has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.425 million, but an offseason trade isn’t off the table.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli could become a trade chip this summer as part of the return for an impact player.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 22, 2025

by | Apr 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 22, 2025

Could Quinn Hughes reunite with his brothers in Vancouver or New Jersey this summer? What’s next for the Kraken after making changes behind the bench and in the front office? What’s the latest on the Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE HUGHES BROTHERS REUNITE IN VANCOUVER OR NEW JERSEY?

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre thinks Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford was joking when he spoke about reuniting team captain Quinn Hughes with brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Rutherford mentioned that Quinn had spoken of playing with his brothers one day. He said that was partly out of the club’s control, but it would be within the team’s control to bring Jack and Luke to Vancouver.

“We’ve got to be careful with tampering here, so we’ll just leave it at that,” said Rutherford. “I probably crossed the line anyways.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford was speaking about the importance of ensuring sufficient cap space to re-sign Quinn when his contract expires in two years. He suggested money might not be what matters most to him, mentioning the blueliner’s brothers.

Rutherford’s remarks raised eyebrows and will undoubtedly spark speculation about how such a reunion might happen. However, there is no indication Quinn intends to leave the Canucks, while the Devils aren’t parting with Jack and Luke.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes it would be easier for Quinn to head to New Jersey than for Jack and Luke to go to Vancouver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The path of least resistance is to wait for Quinn to become a UFA in 2027. It will only cost the Devils money to sign him rather than money plus a package of player assets to acquire him through a trade with the Canucks.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Canucks must come up with a plan to ensure they keep Quinn in the lineup for a long time. One way would be getting aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets over the next two years to make the Canucks the best competitive option.

Another would be acquiring Jack and Luke. However, that would be very difficult to accomplish given their lack of trade assets to make such a blockbuster occur.

The Canucks could also trade Quinn if it appears unlikely that he’ll sign a long-term extension next summer. However, they would get equal value for Hughes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The best way is for the Canucks to convince Quinn that they want to build a winner around him. That means trying to stock up their roster over the next two years through trades and free agency. Their moves this summer will determine if Hughes has a long-term future in Vancouver.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KRAKEN?

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Matt Calkins recently looked at what the Kraken must do this summer to regain relevance after missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calkins wrote this column on Apr. 17, before the Kraken fired head coach Dan Bylsma and replaced Ron Francis as general manager with Jason Botterill.

Team CEO Tod Leiweke said last week that Kraken fans should expect this offseason to be one of the most active and busy in the club’s short history.

Calkins believes the Kraken should leverage their draft capital to land one or two true scorers. He pointed out that they have five first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three drafts. That’s ample ammunition to make some moves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lack of scoring punch has been the Kraken’s weakness. They’ve never had a true scoring star on their roster. Landing one won’t be easy, even with that draft capital. It’ll be interesting to see what approach Botterill takes this summer to address that need.

Calkin’s colleague Kate Schefte listed several possible coaching candidates to replace Dan Bylsma.

Former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet, and former NHL coaches Bruce Boudreau and John Tortorella were among the notables.

RECENT BRUINS SPECULATION

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss recently looked at what the Bruins might do to fix their roster and bounce back as a playoff contender next season.

Finding a legitimate top-six center is one issue to be addressed. The best potential free-agent option would be Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers. However, he’s not one the Bruins should spend major money on, especially if they want to take a crack at signing Mitch Marner if he parts ways with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent on July 1.

Goss believes the trade market is the best way for the Bruins to find a suitable top-six center. He points out they’ve got four first-round picks and five second-rounders over the next three drafts to draw on for trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding suitable centers in the trade market won’t be easy. The Bruins could target cash-strapped clubs to address that need.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2025

by | Apr 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2025

The Jets clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Blue Jackets and Flames remain alive in the playoff race, Nikita Kucherov is this season’s scoring champion and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents’ Trophy despite a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It’s the first time in franchise history the Jets have won this award, sitting atop the overall standings with 114 points.

Corey Perry had a goal and an assist and Connor McDavid collected two assists for the Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 99 points. They will face the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Alex Iafallo scored for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Jets for winning their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. They will attempt to become the first team since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks to finish first overall and go on to win the Stanley Cup when the 2025 playoffs begin on Saturday.

Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg left this game after being struck on the left knee by a shot from McDavid. Jets coach Scott Arniel later said that he thinks Samberg will be okay. Meanwhile, the Jets are awaiting word on the status of winger Nikolaj Ehlers after suffering a foot injury against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

The Jets clinched because the Washington Capitals (109 points) lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Jet Greaves made 29 saves in his second straight start in as many days for the Jackets (85 points), who kept their playoff hopes alive by sitting three behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 43rd goal of the season and the 896th of his NHL career as his club will finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets and Canadiens each have two games left. The latter can clinch that final wild card with a win in regulation, overtime or shootout against the Blackhawks on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames avoided elimination with a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Yegor Sharangovich tallied twice and Dustin Wolf stopped 28 shots for the Flames (92 points), who sit two behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who are assured the best odds to win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with the worst record in the league. The lottery is expected to be on May 5 or 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames, Blues and Minnesota Wild play on Tuesday, with the latter two having played 81 games each. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Wild (95 points) need a point against the Anaheim Ducks to clinch a berth. The Blues (94 points) need a regulation win against the Utah Hockey Club to clinch. Calgary must defeat the Vegas Golden Knights and “get help”.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov will win the Art Ross Trophy as his club defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. Kucherov scored two goals and added an assist, Jake Guentzel tallied twice, and Brandon Hagel had three assists for the Lighting, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. Rasmus Dahlin picked up two assists for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 119 points, Kucherov will become the scoring champion for the second straight season and the third time since 2018-19. Nathan MacKinnon (116 points) finished second for the second consecutive year as his club’s regular-season schedule ended on Sunday. Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (106 points) sits third and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (104) is fourth.

Speaking of the Lightning, they called up Conor Geekie with Oliver Bjorkstrand listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Sabres defenseman Owen Power missed this game with a lower-body injury and he’s not expected to play in their remaining two games.

The Colorado Avalanche scored four unanswered third-period goals to double up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Charlie Coyle had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who finished the season third in the Central Division with 102 points. Mason McTavish scored his 22nd goal for the Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche rested several key players during their final two games. Nathan MacKinnon is dealing with a minor undisclosed ailment while Ryan Lindgren, Jonathan Drouin and Josh Manson are nursing injuries. Cale Makar and Ross Colton also didn’t travel with the Avs on their final road trip of the regular season.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 399th NHL regular-season goal in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Morgan Rielly collected three assists as the Leafs hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Sebastian Aho replied for the Hurricanes, who are second in the Metropolitan Division with 99 points.

An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Stutzle finished the game with two goals and an assist for the Senators, who hold the first Easter wild card with 94 points. Garnet Hathaway had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin turned in a 25-save shutout in a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders. The Devils sit third in the Metro Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Paul Cotter has a hearing scheduled on Monday with the NHL department of player safety for an illegal check on Isles defenseman Adam Pelech.

The Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Morgan Geekie scored for the fifth straight game while David Pastrnak collected two assists to extend his multi-point streak to five games. Rickard Rakell scored his 35th goal of the season for Pittsburgh.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Calvin de Haan isn’t happy with how the Rangers managed his playing time. Acquired at the trade deadline, he was a healthy scratch for the past 18 games.

When asked how he’s been treated by the Rangers during an optional practice on Sunday, de Haan didn’t mince words. “It’s f**ked,” he replied.

The Rangers informed the media that de Haan would speak with them at the end of the season. He took to social media to explain the situation, saying his brief remark was based in frustration over his lack of playing time. He also said he would’ve preferred a media scrum setting to chat about how his time with the Rangers has gone.

THE PROVINCE: Derek Forbort suffered a fractured orbital bone following a late punch by Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin to the face of the Vancouver Canucks blueliner when he was lying defenseless on the ice following a fight between the two players on Saturday. Trenin will not face supplemental discipline.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom will miss their final three games of this season with an undisclosed injury.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild signed prospect defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year entry-level contract. He was selected 12th overall by the Wild in last year’s draft.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2025

by | Apr 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Leafs, and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre reports Brock Boeser considers it unlikely that he’ll be signing a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.

The 28-year-old right winger is UFA-eligible on July 1. There’s been little traction in negotiations between Canucks management and Boeser’s agent.

“It sucks, it’s unfortunate,” said Boeser. “I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser indicated he’s not talking to his agent about his contract until after the season has ended.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston also weighed in on Boeser’s comments, pointing out that the winger loves Vancouver and prefers to stay.

Johnston suggests one of the “different things” Boeser referred to was management’s lack of endorsement of him during the season, culminating in the post-trade deadline comments by Canucks GM Patrik Allvin regarding the underwhelming offers he supposedly received for the winger.

Boeser’s claim that a new deal seems “unlikely” could leave the door open for a new contract. Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks made another push to re-sign him before July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ management had seemingly difficult contract extension talks with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson before re-signing them. Still, those players weren’t less than three months away from UFA eligibility.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance looked at the Canucks offseason “to-do” list. Among them was what to do with Elias Pettersson.

The 27-year-old center is coming off a disappointing performance in the first season of his eight-year contract with an AAV of $11.6 million. His no-movement clause goes into effect on July 1.

Pettersson was taken off the trade block after J.T. Miller was traded in January. However, Drance indicates there’s plenty of skepticism in the market toward the Canucks center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks know what Pettersson is capable of when he’s on top of his game. They reportedly weren’t happy with his conditioning and preparation for this season.

They could make inquiries to gauge Pettersson’s trade value. However, his poor play and hefty contract will make it tough to move him before his NMC kicks in this summer.

A trade is possible but the Canucks are more likely to retain Pettersson in the hope that he’ll be better-prepared and determined to prove himself next season.

LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes Mitch Marner faces a basic choice this offseason: spend the rest of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, or depart as a free agent on July 1 and take his chances elsewhere.

Marner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 while Knies becomes a restricted free agent. Simmons believes the latter will be re-signed first to avoid the threat of an offer sheet. He also thinks the better Knies plays, the easier for the Leafs to bid farewell to Marner if he intends to go to market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston considers a new contract for Knies to be a priority for the Leafs. However, he doesn’t think there’s much chance the young winger will sign an offer sheet, citing the Leafs’ plentiful cap space and Knies’ disinterest in signing an offer from a rival club.

As for Marner, it could also come down to how the Leafs fare in the playoffs. Another early exit could lead to changes in the front office (no new contract for team president Brendan Shanahan) and on the roster, especially if the 27-year-old winger doesn’t perform well in this postseason. They could decide the $13 or $14 million per season investment in Marner could be better spent elsewhere.

BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked at what changes might be in store for the Boston Bruins roster this summer.

Shinzawa doesn’t see the Bruins including their draft picks in any trade proposals because of their shallow prospect pool. He believes free agency is the route to restock their roster although he acknowledged it didn’t work out well last summer when they invested in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Shinzawa also suggested targeting a cap-strapped team with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a projected cap space of $26.2 million with 14 active roster players under contract.

They should have enough to sign a notable player or two in the unrestricted free-agent market. If they won’t include draft picks in trade offers, they’re unlikely to go the offer-sheet route as a successful signing costs them draft picks as compensation.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2025

by | Apr 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2025

Capitals clinch first place in the Eastern Conference, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Panthers coach Paul Maurice each reach notable career milestones, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Washington Capitals clinched first place in the Eastern Conference and in the Metropolitan Division with a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Pierre-Luc Dubois netted the winning goal in the shootout and also scored in regulation while Tom Wilson tallied his 33rd of the season. Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis scored late in the third period to force overtime and the shootout. The Capitals have 109 points, three behind the first-overall Winnipeg Jets. With 97 points, the Hurricanes have secured second in the Metro.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals also honored team captain Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th regular-season goal with a pregame ceremony. Ovechkin tallied that goal against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Speaking of the Jets, they secured a stranglehold on the Central Division crown by blanking the Dallas Stars 4-0. Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for his league-leading eighth shutout of the season and Kyle Connor tallied twice for the Jets (112 points), who sit six points ahead of the Stars in the Central.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck collected his single-season high and franchise-record 45th win of the season. He’s the seventh goaltender in NHL history to reach the 45-win milestone, joining Braden Holtby and Martin Brodeur (48 each), Bernie Parent and Roberto Luongo (47 each), Evgeni Nabokov (46) and Miikka Kiprusoff (45).

Brad Marchand scored his first goal with the Florida Panthers in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Gustav Forsling collected two assists and Florida head coach Paul Maurice picked up his 915th regular-season win to move into third place on the all-time list as the Panthers sit third in the Atlantic Division with 96 points. Alex DeBrincat replied for the Red Wings (79 points), who remain eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maurice sits behind Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins) and Joel Quenneville (969 wins). Meanwhile, Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been granted permission by the league and the NHLPA to rejoin the club in all team activities except for games. He’s serving a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Ekblad can return to action during Game 3 of the Panthers’ first-round playoff series.

The New York Rangers kept their thin playoff hopes alive by thumping the New York Islanders 9-2. Igor Shesterkin kicked out 44 shots while Artemi Panarin and Brett Berard each scored two goals for the Rangers, who sit six points behind the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card race. Maxim Tsyplakov and Hudson Fasching scored for the Islanders, who remain eight points behind the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin missed this game with an upper-body injury. The Rangers and Islanders will be eliminated from the postseason race if the Canadiens pick up one point in their four remaining games.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves stopped 39 shots as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. James van Riemsdyk, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner scored for the Jackets, who sit six points behind the Canadiens. JJ Peterka and Rasmus Dahlin scored for the Sabres as their five-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues Jackets’ playoff hopes also hang by a thread. They will be eliminated if the Canadiens collect three points in their remaining games.

The Vegas Golden Knights held off the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Adin Hill turned aside 24 shots while Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson scored for the Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 105 points. Kraken winger Jared McCann scored to reach 60 points on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl returned to action following an eight-game absence with a shoulder injury.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala scored two goals in a 6-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko each had three assists as the Kings remain six points behind the Golden Knights in second place with 99 points. Ducks rookie winger Cutter Gauthier netted his 20th goal of the season.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen stopped 31 shots to upset the Colorado Avalanche 4-1. Kiefer Sherwood and Dakota Joshua each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Devon Toews replied for the Avalanche, who will finish third in the Central Division with 100 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon missed this game and could be out for their remaining two games as he deals with a minor injury.

A three-goal third period lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Nick Foligno scored twice for the Blackhawks while David Pastrnak netted his 42nd goal of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Bruins announced that sidelined defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic are done for the season.

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros made 39 saves to backstop his team for a 4-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Filip Forsberg scored the winner in the shootout while Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators head coach Andrew Brunette rejoined the team after taking time away dealing with a personal matter.

IN OTHER NEWS…

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will miss his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury when his club faces the Canadiens on Friday. However, he’s confident he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs starting next weekend.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk could return for action for one of their remaining three regular-season games after Friday. However, the club might prefer he sit out the rest of those games rather than risk reinjuring himself in a meaningless regular-season contest.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas was named the GM for Canada’s 2025 World Championship team. The Penguins also announced that sidelined players Rutger McGroarty, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte, Matt Nieto and Tommy Novak are finished for the season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro’s season is over after suffering a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s games against the Minnesota Wild.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 9, 2025

by | Apr 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 9, 2025

The Senators clinch their first playoff berth since 2017, the Capitals clinch the Metropolitan Division, the Canucks stage a history-making comeback, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators clinched their first playoff berth since 2016-17 despite a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fabian Zetterlund and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 90 points. Kent Johnson, Justin Danforth and Mathieu Olivier each had two points for the Blues Jackets (79 points), who sit eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Senators for ending their long playoff drought. The past several years have seen them go through an ownership change and a painful, at times fitful rebuilding process.

Speaking of the Canadiens, they moved a step closer to clinching the final Easter wild-card spot by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Sam Montembault made 35 saves (including 22 in the first period) while Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and an assist as the Canadiens (87 points) picked up their sixth straight win to sit eight points above the Red Wings, Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal’s win assured the Senators of a playoff berth. It was the Canadiens’ sixth game in nine days, making their current win streak more impressive. The Wings, Jackets, Rangers and Isles all have a game in hand but the Habs need three points in their remaining four games to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Earlier in the day, the Canadiens signed highly-touted prospect Ivan Demidov to a three-year entry-level contract hours after he was released from his KHL deal. Demidov could be in the Canadiens’ lineup as early as Friday when they face the Senators. The way Demidov’s contract is structured, the first year will be used up regardless of the number of games played. He can also return to his KHL team next season if he fails to secure a roster spot with the Canadiens.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer made 33 saves to shut out the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0, handing the latter their third straight loss. Tage Thompson scored his 44th goal for the Sabres, who were officially eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th straight season. The Hurricanes remain second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points. Their loss to the Sabres ensured the idle Washington Capitals clinched the division crown.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be out for at least a week.

The Vancouver Canucks staged a history-making comeback against the Dallas Stars with three goals within the final minute of the third period before winning the game 6-5 on an overtime goal by Kiefer Sherwood. Pius Suter scored two of those last-minute goals and Conor Garland collected three assists for the Canucks (85 points), who staved off elimination from the Western Conference wild-card race. Mikael Granlund had a goal and two assists for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 106 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are the first team in NHL history to erase a three-goal deficit in the final minute of regulation. They are six points behind the Minnesota Wild in the Western wild-card race.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists in a 7-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Pastrnak reached the 100-point plateau for the third straight season with 16 points in his last seven games. The Devils hold third place in the Metro Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a history-making performance for Pastrnak, joining Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito as the only Bruins to record three straight 100-point seasons. He’s also the first Czech-born NHL player to do so. Jaromir Jagr had five 100-plus point campaigns but never did it in three consecutive seasons.

Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton has been sidelined since March 4 with a lower-body injury. He’s skating on his own and could return to the lineup for the first round of the playoffs.

Third-period goals by Eetu Luostarinen and Carter Verhaeghe lifted the Florida Panthers over the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. John Tavares scored his 37th goal of the season for the Leafs, who remain first in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. The Panthers sit four points behind the Leafs in third place.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the silly conspiracy theory that the Panthers were sandbagging the rest of their schedule to finish lower in the standings to ensure they face the Leafs in the first round. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling returned to the injury-ravaged Panthers lineup for this game.

The Colorado Avalanche overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Third-period goals by Valeri Nichushkin and Jimmy Vesey set the stage for Charlie Coyle’s game-winner in the shootout. With 100 points, the Avalanche sit third in the Central Division. William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb scored for the Golden Knights, who sit first in the Pacific Division with 103 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nathan MacKinnon picked up an assist for his 116th point, moving one ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov into first place in the scoring race. He also has 1,015 points in 870 regular-season games, tying him with Joe Sakic for the Denver-based Avalanche scoring record. Sakick also reached that milestone in 870 games.

Golden Knights center Jack Eichel missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson scored his 200th goal as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. Tristan Jarry turned in a 26-save shutout and Kevin Hayes collected two goals for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pittsburgh rookie Rutger McGroarty left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot by Blackhawks center Connor Bedard. Penguins forward Blake Lizotte missed this contest with an undisclosed injury.

The Nashville Predators nipped the New York Islanders 7-6 on an overtime goal by Fedor Svechkov. Steven Stamkos and Michael Bunting scored late in the third period to set the stage for Svechkov’s game-winner. Simon Holmstrom scored twice and set up two others for the Islanders, who sit eight points behind the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card chase.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders starting goalie Ilya Sorokin missed the third period for precautionary reasons with an upper-body injury. Head coach Patrick Roy said Sorokin should be ok but they didn’t want to take any chances.

The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Seattle Kraken 7-1, setting a franchise record for the most goals in one game since moving to Utah. Dylan Guenther and Mikhail Sergachev each had three points as Utah (84 points) sit seven points behind the Wild in the Western wild-card race.

IN OTHER NEWS:

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets prospect Chaz Lucius announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a group of inherited disorders that affects the skin, joints and blood vessel walls.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lucius’ dream of becoming an NHL player reached a sad, sudden end. Here’s hoping he finds success elsewhere in the game or in whatever non-hockey endeavor he chooses.

CALGARY SUN: Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh signed his entry-level contract on Tuesday. With the Flames chasing a playoff berth, the young defenseman might not get a chance to see any playing time during the club’s final five regular-season games.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL player Brendan Lemieux was suspended four games in Switzerland’s National League playoffs after punching a linesman in a scrum during a postseason game against ZSC Lions.

TSN: Alex Faulkner, the first Newfoundland-born player to compete in the NHL, passed away in Bishop Falls at age 88. Faulkner made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1961-62 season. He went on to play 100 games with the Detroit Red Wings from 1962-63 to 1963-64.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Faulkner’s family, friends and former teammates. He blazed the trail for 30 other Newfoundland-born players to reach the NHL, including Michael Ryder, Daniel Cleary, Ryane Clowe, Teddy Purcell, Alex Newhook and Dawson Mercer.