Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 18, 2026

by | Jan 18, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 18, 2026

Check out the latest on who’s pursuing Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, updates on the Rangers, and the latest on Elias Pettersson, Robert Thomas, and Kiefer Sherwood in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

BRUINS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT FOR RASMUS ANDERSSON

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Boston Bruins appear to be the front-runners to acquire Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

The Bruins have made a serious offer. Friedman believes they’re the only team that the Flames have permitted to speak with Andersson about a contract extension. He thinks those discussions have been “pretty serious”.

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (NHL Images).

Friedman reported the Vegas Golden Knights are also involved, but their offer isn’t as strong as the one from the Bruins. He thinks the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs are also floating around in the mix.

TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Bruins were among four teams in the mix for Andersson. Two are in the Eastern Conference, and two are from the West. The Vegas Golden Knights are also considered “strong contenders”.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen reports there is no definitive word on whether the Detroit Red Wings remain in the Andersson sweepstakes. He’s heard they might not be part of it any longer because the 29-year-old defenseman wants to test the free-agent market on July 1. The Flames’ asking price is said to be two first-round picks (or the equivalent) plus another asset.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson played last night and was named the game’s third star, receiving an appreciative ovation from Calgary fans as though it were his final game for the Flames. It’s expected he could be on the move within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Unsubstantiated rumors claimed the Bruins offered up defenseman Mason Lohrei and a first-round pick. We should find out soon if he’s heading to Boston or whether another club might swoop in and meet the Flames’ asking price.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reports New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin admitted he was “confused” over the club’s plans to retool its roster, including not offering him a contract extension. However, he claims he’s okay with it and remains focused on giving his best in every game he has left with the Rangers.

Panarin declined to comment on his discussion with Rangers general manager Chris Drury, and whether he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes there will be teams contacting the Rangers to ask if Panarin is willing to talk to them, and whether he’d be a playoff rental or sign an extension.

Mercogliano believes the Rangers intend to listen to offers on just about everyone, including center Vincent Trocheck, who is considered their best trade chip lacking a no-movement clause. Drury doesn’t have to rush because the 32-year-old Trocheck has three years remaining on his contract, but teams are calling about him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rating’s Marco D’Amico reports an NHL source told him that a few teams have already asked the Rangers what they intend to do with Trocheck.

D’Amico noted that Trocheck’s experience, premium center position, and two-way play check a lot of boxes. He pointed out that Trocheck carries a 10-team no-trade list, and the need for centers in this year’s trade market gives the Rangers plenty of leverage.

Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere and defenseman Braden Schneider are also generating some interest in the trade market. Mercogliano claimed the people he’s spoken with wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers listen to offers for younger players in need of a change of scenery.

Mercogliano also reports that winger Mika Zibanejad has affirmed his commitment to the Rangers. He carries a full no-movement clause and is almost certain not to be moved, at least before the March 6 trade deadline.

UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS

RATINGS: Marco D’Amico reports center Elias Pettersson and defenseman Filip Hronek have come up in trade rumors. The Canucks are more willing to listen to offers for Pettersson because Hronek has flourished since Quinn Hughes was traded to Minnesota last month.

An NHL source suggested that Pettersson’s $11.6 million annual cap hit is too expensive for a team that is rebuilding its roster. He noted the Carolina Hurricanes were previously interested in Pettersson and could attempt another big move. The Utah Mammoth or Philadelphia Flyers could also make a major splash.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have the cap space to take on Pettersson’s full cap hit, but they may be focused on other options now. The Mammoth and Flyers can also afford it, but they could balk unless the Canucks retain part of it.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks are working with Kiefer Sherwood’s agent to help them get a trade done. He believes there are teams interested in the 30-year-old winger, but they’re now waiting for one to step forward.

COULD THE BLUES MOVE ROBERT THOMAS?

RATINGS: Marco D’Amico reports the St. Louis Blues have been quietly retooling their roster over the last three years. That has raised speculation that they could consider moving a core player such as Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou.

The Blues aren’t shopping Thomas, nor will they give him away, but a well-placed source said they could consider moving him if they received an aggressive offer comparable to what the Canucks received in the Quinn Hughes trade with Minnesota.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas and Kyrou must waive their no-trade clauses first, and there’s no indication they’re willing to do that. If they do, the Blues will only get a limited number of trade partners, so the returns might not be that good.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

by | Jan 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

A record-setting game for winger Mika Zibanejad and a milestone one for head coach Mike Sullivan in a win over the Flyers, the Hurricanes regain first place in the Eastern Conference, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad tallied a hat trick, Artemi Panarin scored twice and collected an assist, and Brennan Othmann netted his first NHL goal in a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Zibanejad set the Rangers’ power-play goal record with 117, while head coach Mike Sullivan earned his 500th career NHL win. Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Sanheim each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers (21-22-6) snapped a five-game winless skid (0-4-1), while the Flyers’ skid reached six games (0-5-1). Flyers center Rodrigo Abols left the game in the first period with an injured right leg. Before the game, the Flyers placed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov had a hat trick to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Sebastian Aho had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots for the 30-15-4 Hurricanes, who took over first place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points. Timo Meier replied for the Devils (24-22-2).

Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt scored twice (including the game-winner) and collected two assists in a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Lawson Crouse had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who have won three straight and improved to 25-20-4. Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (21-17-9), who have dropped three straight games and are 1-3-2 in their last six contests.

The Calgary Flames doubled up the New York Islanders 4-2. Adam Klapka had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf made 28 saves for the 21-23-4 Flames. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer picked up two assists for the Islanders (26-17-5) while team captain Anders Lee scored his 300th career NHL regular-season goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was named the game’s third star and was loudly cheered by Calgary fans in what may have been his final game with the club as trade rumors intensify.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his points streak to 11 games in a 7-2 drubbing of the Nashville Predators. Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore, Keegan Kolesar, Alexander Holtz, and Cole Reinhart each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (24-11-12), who lead the Pacific Division with 60 points. Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg scored for the 23-21-4 Predators.

The Edmonton Oilers blanked the Vancouver Canucks 6-0, with all six goals coming in the second period. Tristan Jarry turned in a 31-save shutout, while Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen each tallied twice for the 24-17-8 Oilers. The Canucks are winless in their last 10 games (0-8-2) and slipped to 16-27-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl missed this game as he’s on a leave of absence to return home to Germany due to a family illness.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as his club overcame a 5-3 deficit for a 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Caufield finished with three points, Juraj Slafkovsky tallied two goals, and Lane Hutson collected three assists for the 27-15-7 Canadiens. Jake Sanderson had a goal and three assists for the Senators, who slipped to 22-19-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens center Jake Evans returned to action after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Max Domi lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Domi and Auston Matthew each had a goal and an assist while Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a goal and two assists for the 24-16-8 Maple Leafs. Vladislav Namestnikov collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots for the Jets (19-22-6) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Boston Bruins picked up their sixth straight win by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Mason Lohrei scored two goals while David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and Casey Mittelstadt each had two assists as the Bruins improved to 28-19-2. Ryan Greene and Wyatt Kaiser replied for the 19-22-7 Blackhawks, who’ve dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins activated defenseman Hampus Lindholm off injured reserve after missing six games with an undisclosed injury.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello scored in overtime to give his team a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Kirill Kaprizov had three assists for the 27-13-9 Wild as they picked up their third win in their last nine games (3-3-3). Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (26-16-5).

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals. A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (25-19-3). Jakob Chychrun scored both goals for the 24-19-6 Capitals.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their fourth straight win by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on a shootout goal by Charlie Coyle. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 29 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have won four straight and improved to 22-19-7. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (22-14-11).

An overtime goal by Mikael Granlund gave the Anaheim Ducks a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Mason McTavish also scored for the Ducks (24-21-3), who picked up back-to-back wins over the Kings (19-16-13), who got 31 saves from Anton Forsberg.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2026

by | Jan 17, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2026

The Rangers could part ways with Artemi Panarin and other veterans soon, while the Flames could be on the verge of trading Rasmus Andersson. Check out the latest in the NHL Rumor Mill.

RANGERS TO BECOME SELLERS AS MANAGEMENT INTENDS TO RETOOL THE ROSTER

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the Rangers won’t be offering Artemi Panarin a contract extension. The 34-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

The news comes on the heels of a public letter released by General Manager Chris Drury to Rangers fans, informing them that he intends to retool the roster.

Panarin carries an $11.6 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. The latter could hamper the Rangers’ efforts to trade him for assets. Nevertheless, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports Drury is prepared to work with Panarin and his agent to trade the winger wherever he wants to go.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: From Drury’s standpoint, the more trade destinations that Panarin lists, the better the opportunity to start a bidding war that could fetch the Rangers a solid return before the March 6 trade deadline. If Panarin only lists one or two teams, the Rangers will be lucky to get a couple of second-round picks for him.

Panarin could decide that he doesn’t like the idea of joining another team midseason. However, it’s unlikely that he’ll want to play out the final months of his contract with a club that prefers to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh examined how the Rangers’ upcoming roster retool will affect the current players. He considered Panarin the most likely to be moved.

Drury had individual meetings with Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Igor Shesterkin. Each of them has a no-movement clause, and informed Drury that they want to stay. A league source told Baugh that Miller’s camp doesn’t expect management to ask their client to waive his NMC.

Trading underachieving 24-year-old winger Alexis Lafreniere doesn’t make sense unless the return is a player around the same age.

Baugh believes the Rangers should at least consider offers for 32-year-old center Vincent Trocheck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those players with full NMCs won’t be moved unless they’re willing to waive them. Based on Baugh’s reporting, Panarin seems to be the only one who could be moved because of his UFA eligibility in July.

TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie pointed out that there have been no trades between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers since former Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton became the Canadiens VP of hockey operations in November 2021. Lavoie doubted there would ever be one as long as Gorton and Drury are in their respective roles.

Nevertheless, Lavoie believes the Canadiens have a duty to monitor Panarin’s situation. He noted the veteran winger has been linked to the Florida Panthers for some time.

Lavoie thinks a change of scenery might do wonders for Lafreniere, who is signed through 2031-32 with an AAV of $7.45 million. He believes that the winger’s contract fits within the Canadiens’ salary structure, and he’s the right age to fit in with their young core.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful Panarin will waive his NMC to join a rebuilding team like the Canadiens. Besides, he’s the type of player you acquire if you’re a Stanley Cup contender. The Canadiens have improved, but they’re not yet a Cup contender.

Lafreniere can play either wing, but his strong side is left wing. The Canadiens have Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky filling that role on their top two lines. They have Ivan Demidov at right wing on their second line, and he could end up on the top line within the next two years. Promising right wing Alexander Zharovsky is among their best prospects, and he’ll likely make his NHL debut when his KHL contract expires in 2027.

The Canadiens also lack the cap space to acquire Lafreniere this season. Doing so would mean making a couple of significant cost-cutting moves.

FLAMES COULD BE TRADING RASMUS ANDERSSON SOON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports trade talks are intensifying around Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

The 29-year-old defenseman is UFA eligible in July and carries a $4.55 million cap hit this season with a six-team no-trade list. It’s believed the Flames came close to trading him to the Vegas Golden Knights last summer, but the deal never materialized.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There have been rumors claiming the Flames are on the verge of trading Andersson to the Boston Bruins or the Dallas Stars. Hopefully, there will be further clarification soon.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2026

by | Jan 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2026

The Bruins retire Zdeno Chara’s number, multipoint performances by the Sabres’ Tage Thompson and the Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel, Jets center Jonathan Toews reaches a career milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAME

NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins honored Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara by retiring his No. 33 in a pregame ceremony before winning their fifth straight game by defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Mark Kastelic scored the game-winner while shorthanded, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots for the 27-19-2 Bruins. Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen replied for the Kraken (21-16-9).

The Boston Bruins retire Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 (NHL.com)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chara spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons with the Bruins from 2006-07 to 2019-20. He was their captain throughout that period, making him the longest-tenured captain in franchise history. He led them to three Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Cup in 2011. He also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and was twice named to the Second All-Star Team.

Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied his 20th goal of the season, tying him with Patrice Bergeron and Johnny Bucyk for the second-most consecutive 20-goal seasons among the Bruins’ all-time scoring leaders (10 seasons). Brad Marchand leads the franchise with 12 seasons.

Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour collected an assist as he returned to action for the first time since being sidelined by an injury on Dec. 16.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson tallied a hat trick and collected two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Thompson also passed the 200-goal plateau as the Sabres (26-16-4) have won 15 of their last 17 games. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Lane Hutson each had two points for the 26-15-7 Canadiens, who are 1-2-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson became the second-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 career assists, doing so in 132 games. Sergei Zubov was the fastest with 127 games.

The Sabres recalled forward Konsta Helenius as center Josh Norris is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Vegas Golden Knights rallied to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 on an overtime goal by Jack Eichel, who also had three assists. Mitch Marner picked up two assists against his former club as the Golden Knights (23-11-12) picked up their sixth straight win and lead the Pacific Division with 58 points. William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist for the 23-16-8 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nylander left this game after rolling his ankle in the first period. Meanwhile, Maple Leafs Auston Matthews didn’t want to answer more queries about Marner. Following the warm-up skate, he told TSN’s Mark Masters he’d had enough of the “Mitch questions” for the day, preferring to focus on the upcoming game.

Golden Knights’ goaltender Adin Hill returned to action for the first time since being sidelined by a lower-body injury on Oct. 20. He stopped 23 shots for the win.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Jonathan Toews, Josh Morrissey, and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist as the Jets (19-22-5) have won four straight games. Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild (26-13-9), who have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews picked up his 900th career NHL regular-season point. Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin missed this game as he’s week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 6-3. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each collected two assists, and Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots for the 22-14-10 Penguins. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored his 10th goal of the season for the Flyers (22-16-8) as they are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin kicked out 35 shots to shut out the Edmonton Oilers 1-0. Anthony Duclair scored the game’s only goal as the Islanders improved to 26-16-5. Oilers captain Connor McDavid’s 20-game goal streak ended as his club sits at 23-17-8.

Three second-period goals by the San Jose Sharks gave them a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Collin Graf had a goal and an assist for the 24-19-3 Sharks, who are 7-2-0 in their last nine games. Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard replied for the Capitals (24-18-6).

Columbus Blue Jackets forwards Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson each had a goal and an assist to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, extending the latter’s winless skid to nine games (0-7-2). Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves for the 21-19-7 Blues Jackets as they collected their third straight win. Brock Boeser scored for the Canucks, who sank to 16-26-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson returned to action for the first time since suffering a hip injury on Oct. 25.

The Utah Mammoth extended their points streak to six games (5-0-1) with a 3-1 upset of the Dallas Stars. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 26 shots while Nick Schmaltz and John Marino each had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth, who improved to 24-20-4. Mikko Rantanen scored for the Stars (27-12-9), who have two wins in their last 11 games (2-5-4).

Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund scored a shorthanded goal and picked up an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Devin Cooley made 22 saves for the 20-23-4 Flames. Nick Foligno scored for the 19-21-7 Blackhawks.

IN OTHER NEWS…

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers were honored at the White House on Thursday for their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

AP NEWS: St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas will be sidelined for two weeks with a lower-body injury.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Ross Colton is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 15, 2026

by | Jan 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 15, 2026

Check out the latest on the Rangers and Devils, plus updates on Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano recently looked at the trade tiers for the New York Rangers.

Artemi Panarin topped their list of pending UFA players who could be moved before the March 6 trade deadline. The Rangers will surely try to get a first-round pick as part of the deal, but the potential return depends on how many teams Panarin is willing to consider as trade destinations.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Mercogliano followed up by reporting that a league source informed him that the Rangers haven’t approached Panarin yet about waiving his no-movement clause. They haven’t yet made their final decisions regarding the trade deadline and are holding off on that for a little while longer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The trade deadline is less than two months away, giving management plenty of time to assess the club’s performance and what the trade market looks like. They could be ready to deal before the Olympic roster freeze in early February if the club hasn’t reversed its on-ice fortunes. 

Players who could move as “change of scenery candidates include 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere, winger Brennan Othmann, and defenseman Braden Schneider. Othmann is considered the most obvious candidate, as the Rangers have been listening to offers for the 23-year-old winger.

Vincent Trocheck would be a hot commodity, especially given the need for centers around the league. He carries a 12-team no-trade list, but there’s no indication yet that general manager Chris Drury is ready to entertain offers for Trocheck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of today’s focus is on Panarin, but he’s not the only player the Rangers could move if they become sellers. Othmann is the most likely to move. Lafreniere could attract interest because he’s still young (24) and could flourish in a different setting, although his streakiness and $7.45 million average annual value through 2031-32 could be sticking points.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated about possible destinations for Panarin. He thinks the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals could be among them, but acknowledged it’ll take some work to acquire the Rangers winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Part of that work will be finding sufficient cap space to take on the remainder of Panarin’s $11.642 million cap hit. The rest could be meeting the Rangers’ asking price. However, this could be a situation similar to when the Bruins traded Brad Marchand to Florida last season or when the Chicago Blackhawks traded Patrick Kane to the Rangers. In both cases, the player would only accept a trade to one team, meaning the return was less than what it would’ve been if several teams were involved in the bidding.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Rangers shouldn’t wait for the trade deadline to move Panarin if he’s not interested in re-signing or if they’re not willing to pay what he wants to stay in New York.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Panarin now would probably sink their slim hopes of reaching the playoffs. At this point, however, why risk an injury that would hurt his trade value or take him out of the market altogether?

UPDATE ON THE DEVILS

TSN: New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said he’s been working the phones trying to make trades to improve his struggling team.

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat have been mentioned most often in those trade discussions. Fitzgerald said the two are highly respected among their teammates, and he will treat them with the same respect. He also said he’s been in constant contact with Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, to ensure everyone is on the same page, an assertion confirmed by Barry.

Fitzgerald refuted reports claiming current contracts with trade protection prevented him from attempting to acquire Quinn Hughes before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild last month.

The Devils GM said head coach Sheldon Keefe’s job was safe. It’s also believed that Fitzgerald’s job is safe, as he indicated he speaks regularly with Devils ownership about the club’s direction.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes are among the potential fits for Hamilton. However, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t entertain a deal unless the Devils retain a significant portion of his $9 million AAV through 2027-28.

However, the Devils must move winger Ondrej Palat and his $6 million AAV through 2026-27 before they can move Hamilton to create salary-cap flexibility. The veteran winger has a 10-team trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite Hamilton rejoining the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Sunday, it appears the wheels are in motion to move him. A deal could take place before next month’s Olympic break, depending on how soon they can free up cap space to make room for whatever they can get back for Hamilton.

TRADE TALKS FOR RASMUS ANDERSSON ARE HEATING UP

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis believes the time is right for the Calgary Flames to trade Rasmus Andersson. The 29-year-old right-shot defenseman is UFA-eligible in July, and there’s no indication that a contract extension is in the works.

Andersson isn’t itching to leave Calgary, but the blueliner doesn’t fit into the Flames’ rebuilding timeline. Francis believes he can fetch at least a first-round draft pick and a top prospect who is already contributing at the NHL level.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the trade market for Andersson is heating up fast. The Flames are hoping to finalize a trade before the Olympic break next month.

It’s believed the Boston Bruins have offered up young defenseman Mason Lohrei and a first-round pick. The Detroit Red Wings are said to be interested if Andersson is willing to sign a contract extension. They’ve also made young blueliners Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin Pellikka off-limits in trade talks. The Ottawa Senators are also believed to be interested in the Flames blueliner.

Murphy indicated that the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Dallas Stars have expressed interest in Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames could be assured of a significant return if Andersson is willing to sign a contract extension. However, he could prefer playing out this season and testing the UFA market in July.

The Golden Knights always seem to be in on everybody. However, they have limited trade assets to draw on and wouldn’t be able to outbid clubs like the Bruins, Red Wings, and Ducks.

COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE A GOALTENDER?

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos speculated the Maple Leafs could leverage their goaltending depth by the March trade deadline.

Joseph Woll could get the bulk of the starts if he gives the Leafs the best chance to win. With Anthony Stolarz returning from injury, Kypreos speculates that Stolarz, prospect Artur Akhtyamov, or perhaps even Dennis Hildeby could become a trade chip to pursue a scoring winger or a defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stolarz seems the more likely trade candidate, but the 31-year-old netminder has a 16-team no-trade list for this season, and starts a four-year, $15-million contract extension in July. Hildeby will draw interest, but the Leafs would likely prefer to hang onto him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2026

by | Jan 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak, the Lightning set a franchise record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists to extend his points streak to 20 games, but his club dropped a 4-3 decision to the Nashville Predators on an overtime goal by Roman Josi, who finished the game with two goals. Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots for the 22-20-4 Predators. Zach Hyman tallied twice, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two points for the Oilers (23-16-8).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry made 23 saves and defenseman Jake Walman logged over 17 minutes as both returned from lengthy absences due to injuries. Meanwhile, Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault missed his 13th straight game with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve.

The Tampa Bay Lightning won a franchise-record 11th straight game by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on a shootout goal by Nikita Kucherov. J.J. Moser scored in regulation, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots for the Lightning (29-13-3), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 61 points. Evgeni Malkin replied for the Penguins (21-14-10), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs were missing a key player in this contest. Lightning center Brayden Point is week-to-week with an injured knee. It is not considered season-ending, but his participation in next month’s Winter Olympics for Canada’s men’s hockey team is in question. Meanwhile, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson missed this game with an undisclosed ailment that has landed him on injured reserve. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman turned aside 24 shots as his club picked up its fourth consecutive win, and the second straight by shutout, as they blanked the Detroit Red Wings 3-0. Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minten, and Mark Kastelic were the goal scorers for the 26-19-2 Bruins. Cam Talbot stopped 38 of 40 shots for the Red Wings (28-16-4) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their first win under new head coach Rick Bowness by defeating the Calgary Flames 5-3. Boone Jenner snapped a 3-3 tie while Zach Werenski and Charlie Coyle each had a goal and two assists for the 20-19-7 Blue Jackets. Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund each had a goal and an assist as the Flames dropped to 19-23-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman missed this game with an undisclosed injury and was placed on IR. The Flames sent forward Martin Pospisil to their AHL affiliate in Calgary for a conditioning stint as he works his way back into the lineup from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him from this season. Blue Jackets defensemen Denton Mateychuk (upper-body injury) and Damon Severson (illness) missed this game.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer collected his fourth shutout of the season with a 33-save performance to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Nick Bjugstad, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for the Blues (18-21-8) as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Brandon Bussi turned aside 28 shots for the 28-15-4 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 60 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced the signing of defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension. Hurricanes blueliner Jaccob Slavin missed this game due to injury rehab protocol, meaning they want him to avoid playing back-to-back after returning from a lengthy injury on Monday.

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Ethan Frank tallied twice to tie the game in regulation before Connor McMichael won it in overtime for the 24-17-6 Capitals. Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher scored for the Canadiens (26-14-7), who are 4-1-1 in their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens scratched Kaiden Guhle from this game. Like Slavin, they wanted him to avoid playing in back-to-back games so soon after returning from a long absence due to an injury.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist as their club held off the New York Islanders 5-4. Mark Scheifele collected two assists for the 18-22-5 Jets as they picked up their third straight victory. Emil Heineman had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (25-16-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders got a scare when rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer was injured twice during this game, including taking a Luke Schenn slapshot off his right knee in the second period. He’d also been taken off the ice by a concussion spotter in the first period, but was cleared to return. Schaefer missed the post-game interview because he was having his knee evaluated by team doctors.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 10-game points streak ended with a 6-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Dylan Guenther tallied two goals and an assist, and Jake McBain had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who improved to 23-20-4. Calle Jarnkrok replied for the 23-16-7 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal made 24 saves as his club snapped a nine-game winless skid (0-8-1) by downing the Dallas Stars 3-1. Chris Kreider, Beckett Sennecke, and Jacob Trouba scored for the 22-21-3 Ducks. Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars (27-11-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks were already short on forwards as Frank Vatrano and Tory Terry were sidelined with upper-body injuries. Center Leo Carlsson (upper-body injury) and winger Cutter Gauthier (illness) also missed this game. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen was absent due to a personal family matter.

First-period goals scored 15 seconds apart by Artem Zub and Jordan Spence lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, snapping a four-game losing streak and improving their record to 21-19-5. Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (16-25-8), who are 0-6-2 in their last eight games.