NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 2, 2026

by | Apr 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 2, 2026

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reaches the 50-goal plateau, Macklin Celebrini leads the Sharks closer to a wild-card berth, the three stars and the Rookie of the Month for March are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the first player to reach 50 goals this season, but his club dropped an 8-6 decision to the Vancouver Canucks. Brock Boeser tallied a hat trick and picked up an assist, Teddy Blueger scored two goals, and Marcus Pettersson had a goal and two assists for the 22-44-8 Canucks, who sit last in the overall standings. Sam Malinski had two goals and an assist for the Avalanche (49-15-10), who are first overall with 108 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon sits three goals ahead of Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer. The Avalanche played without Cale Makar, who is expected to miss some time with an upper-body injury, but will return before the playoffs begin on Apr. 18.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini scored twice and set up two others to nip the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Will Smith had a goal and two assists, Alexander Wennberg scored the winning goal, and Yaroslav Askarov made 28 saves for the 35-31-7 Sharks (77 points), who are one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Ryan Poehling, Alex Killorn, and Troy Terry scored for the Ducks (41-29-5), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is fourth among this season’s NHL scoring leaders with 105 points. The 19-year-old Sharks superstar also moved into second place among the Sharks’ all-time single-season scorers. Joe Thornton has the single-season points record with 114.

The Ducks played without defensemen Radko Gudas and Pavel Mintyukov, who are sidelined with lower-body injuries.

Speaking of the Kings, they moved into the final Western wild-card spot by defeating the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on an end-to-end overtime goal by Trevor Moore. Adrian Kempe also scored for the 30-26-18 Kings (78 points). Robert Thomas replied for the 31-31-12 Blues, who sit four points behind the Kings.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, and Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha are the league’s Three Stars for March 2026. St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud was named the Rookie of the Month.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel and Scott Sabourin are sidelined day-to-day with undisclosed injuries.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers recalled defensemen Tobias Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka to replace sidelined blueliners Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed defenseman David Jiricek to a two-year, $1.5 million contract extension.

TORONTO SUN: Former NHL forward Mikhail Grabovski has been accused of assaulting a hockey coach following an Ontario Minor Hockey Association playoff game in Markham.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2026

by | Apr 1, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2026

Who are the potential candidates to become the next GM of the Maple Leafs? Are management changes coming for the Devils and Canucks? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS’ GM SEARCH

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes that Keith Pelley, the head of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, tipped his hand when he said that he favors retooling the Maple Leafs roster over a rebuild. He expects it will be a cue card for the potential candidates for the job.

Darren Dreger reports former Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was at least working on retooling the roster before he was fired. Treliving was hoping to use some of the draft picks that he acquired before last month’s trade deadline as trade collateral to acquire a good young defenseman. The Leafs also need a center to take some of the load off John Tavares.

Chris Johnston indicated that Pelley is seeking a data-minded person for the GM job. The Leafs will hire a search firm to help them find some potential candidates.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong (NHL.com).

LeBrun mentioned that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong has been linked to the Maple Leafs. Armstrong is stepping down from his current role at the end of this season, but he’s under contract as the Blues’ president of hockey operations. It would be up to Blues owner Tom Stillman whether he’ll permit clubs to speak with Armstrong.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic doesn’t expect Stillman to grant permission for the Leafs to talk to Armstrong about their vacant management position. The Blues owner would prefer that Armstrong stick around to help the incoming GM, Alexander Steen.

Johnston mentioned that Pelley has reached out to sidelined Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. It’s expected there will be more discussions between the two regarding the club’s direction. Matthews has two years remaining on his contract.

In his column for The Athletic, LeBrun mentioned former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis as a potential candidate. He also believes the Maple Leafs could be looking at multiple hires, with a veteran hand paired with an up-and-comer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “veteran hand” would likely end up in the hockey operations role, while the “up-and-comer” gets the general manager’s chair.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes there will be plenty of interest in the Leafs GM job. He wondered if former Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi would be a candidate for the Leafs job. Lombardi currently works with the Philadelphia Flyers. Other possibilities could be Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Jason Spezza and Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta.

COULD THE DEVILS AND CANUCKS SHAKE UP THEIR MANAGEMENT?

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos observed that Tom Fitzgerald holds the president of hockey operations and general manager titles. However, some are wondering if they might break up those roles.

Kypreos speculated they could hire a new hockey ops president, keep Fitzgerald around for one more season, and evaluate from there. It’s believed he’s preparing for the worst because he’s been on the hot seat this season.

FULL PRESS MEDIA: Jim Biringer wondered if the Maple Leafs firing of Brad Treliving might lead to a management change for the Devils.

It’s been rumored that Devils ownership might be contemplating some sort of change in the front office. However, Fitzgerald has maintained that he’s been in sync with ownership and the coaching staff.

If the Devils make a management change, Biringer believes it won’t come from within.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems a safer choice to hire a new president and give Fitzgerald one more season to redeem himself. However, the Devils ownership could have an eye on whoever applies for the Leafs’ job and perhaps interview those who didn’t get that role.

Kypreos also noted that changes are coming for the Vancouver Canucks, but it remains unclear to what extent they will take. He’s heard that GM Patrik Allvin doesn’t expect to survive the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allvin is the right-hand man of Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations. It would be an interesting move by Rutherford to hand Allvin his walking papers.

Canucks beat writer Thomas Drance of The Athletic isn’t sure just how far they are willing to go as they attempt to move on from this disastrous season. He thinks the organization should face some measure of accountability, but it remains to be seen what that could be.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 27, 2026

by | Mar 27, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 27, 2026

Check out the latest on Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies and Canucks center Elias Pettersson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently looked at what it might cost the Devils if they were to acquire winger Matthew Knies from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).

Knies, 23, was the subject of trade speculation before the March 6 trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Devils were among a handful of suitors with “serious interest” in the young Maple Leafs power forward.

Knies would be the perfect complementary winger to skate alongside Devils center Jack Hughes. It could cost the Devils defenseman Simon Nemec, who would immediately move up the Maple Leafs’ blueline depth chart.

Nichols also wondered whether the Leafs would be interested in a trade package including center Dawson Mercer, or perhaps a deal that includes prospect defenseman Seamus Casey and the Devils’ 2026 first-round pick. He doesn’t anticipate Devils veteran blueliner Dougie Hamilton being involved in this type of deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this month, James Mirtle of The Athletic expressed his belief that the Maple Leafs shouldn’t trade Knies unless it’s for an elite first-line center or a top-pairing defenseman.

Mercer would not fill that need at center. However, Nemec has the potential to become a top-two blueliner. If the Devils make a pitch, the 22-year-old defenseman would have to be part of the return to draw any interest from the Leafs.

Meanwhile, Adam Proteau of The Hockey News considers Knies among a handful of untouchables on the Maple Leafs. If they’re going to rebuild, they need someone like Knies on their roster.

CANUCKS ARMY: Stephan Roget recently looked at several teams that might be willing to take struggling center Elias Pettersson off the Vancouver Canucks’ hands this summer.

The Carolina Hurricanes seem the most obvious choice, as it’s well-known that they attempted to acquire him from the Canucks. It was rumored that the two sides were close to a Pettersson-for-Martin Necas swap two years ago. They still need skilled scoring depth at center, and they have the cap space to take on Pettersson’s expensive contract.

Pettersson was also linked to the Detroit Red Wings before the March 6 trade deadline. Like the Hurricanes, they need additional scoring depth at center. The Los Angeles Kings could be in the market for a top-six center with Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of this season.

The New York Islanders could be a possibility as it would reunite Pettersson with former Canucks teammate Bo Horvat, especially with Mathew Barzal becoming more of a winger. The rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers also need help at center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some interesting possibilities here, but Pettersson’s recent performance and his contract remain major sticking points in trade negotiations. He’s struggled to meet the lofty expectations that come with his hefty deal, failing to come anywhere close to his career-high 102 points in 2022-23.

Pettersson carries an average annual value of $11.6 million for six more years with a full no-movement clause, giving him full control over potential trade destinations. Even teams with a lot of salary-cap space could insist on the Canucks retaining salary to facilitate a trade.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2026

by | Mar 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2026

​Oilers captain Connor McDavid reaches two scoring milestones, the Blue Jackets, Senators, and Predators keep climbing in the playoff standings, the Panthers’ Paul Maurice reaches a coaching milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored twice to reach his 400th career regular-season goal and his 1,200th career regular-season point in a 5-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Jack Roslovic also tallied two goals while Evan Bouchard collected three assists for the 35-28-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 79 points. Alexander Kerfoot and Lawson Crouse replied for the Mammoth (37-29-6), who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 80 points.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the third-fastest player to reach the 1,200-point plateau, doing so in 784 games. Wayne Gretzky is the fastest (504 games), followed by Mario Lemieux (593 games).

As for the Mammoth, they signed prospect forward Caleb Desnoyers to a three-year entry-level contract on March 23. The 18-year-old center was chosen fourth overall by the Mammoth in last year’s draft. He’s hoping to earn a spot on their roster and one day play a top-six role.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (38-22-11) rose to second place in the Metropolitan Division (87 points) by holding off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Zach Werenski and Mason Marchment each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who are 19-3-4 since hiring Rick Bowness as head coach on Jan. 12. Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale replied for the 34-24-12 Flyers (80 points), who remain five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couturier, Denver Barkey, and Luke Glendening returned to the Flyers lineup after being sidelined by injuries.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Brady Tkachuk also had a goal and an assist, and Linus Ullmark stopped 32 shots as the Senators (38-24-9) have won 15 of their last 20 games to move into the final Eastern Conference wild card with 85 points. Dominik Shine and Dylan Larkin each scored for the struggling Red Wings (38-25-8), who’ve dropped two games in a row and sit one point behind the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin was returning from a seven-game absence with a lower-body injury.

The Nashville Predators widened their lead for the final Western Conference wild card by defeating the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists while Jonathan Marchessault collected three assists for the 34-28-9 Predators (77 points), who picked up their fifth straight win. Will Smith had two goals for the fading Sharks (32-31-6), who’ve lost five straight games.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice reached the 2,000-game coaching milestone in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Kraken. The Panthers (35-32-3) blew a 4-1 lead, but got the win on a shootout goal by Vinnie Hinostroza. Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist for the 31-29-10 Kraken (72 points), who sit five points back of the Predators.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche got two goals from Martin Necas to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves for the win while Nathan MacKinnon tallied his league-leading 46th goal of the season for the 47-13-10 Avalanche, who hold a seven-point lead over the Dallas Stars in the overall standings with 104 points. Egor Chinahkov and Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins (35-20-16), who slipped to third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang picked up an assist to reach 800 career regular-season points. He’s the highest-scoring blueliner in franchise history, sitting fifth among their all-time points leaders. Teammate Evgeni Malkin missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor made his season debut after being sidelined by offseason hip surgery and an undisclosed issue.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes kicked out 41 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov each had a goal and an assist for the 39-21-10 Canadiens, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes (45-20-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield tallied his 44th goal of the season, sitting two behind MacKinnon in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s top goal scorer.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Erik Cernak, Brandon Hagel, and Pontus Holmberg gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (44-21-5) as they sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist for the 40-20-12 Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 92 points.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored two goals as his club held off the Dallas Stars 6-4. Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist for the 36-32-2 Devils. Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson each had three-point performances for the Stars (43-17-11), who sit second in the West with 97 points.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish scored his first goal in 15 games to snap a 3-3 tie as his club went on to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Mikael Granlund tallied twice for the 40-27-4 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 84 points. Center Elias Pettersson and defenseman Filip Hronek each had two assists for the 21-41-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas returned to action after serving a five-game suspension for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who is out for the season as a result. Gudas expressed remorse for injuring Matthews, claiming he “felt terrible about the outcome.”

Actions speak louder than words, and Gudas’ actions definitely speak louder than his empty words. The fact that he got off with a five-game suspension remains a disgraceful decision by the league’s so-called “department of player safety”.

Meanwhile, the Canucks are raising ticket prices for next season by 10 percent. Teams charge what they believe their market will bear, but they might be unwilling to bear that increase when the team is coming off a dreadful season as they rebuild their roster.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the 30-29-12 Jets, as they sit five points back of the Predators with 72 points. Rasmus Andersson scored for the 32-26-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 78 points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (30-29-13) got two goals from Matthew Knies to double up the Boston Bruins 4-2. Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves in his return to action after being struck in the throat by a puck during warmups on Saturday. Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy replied for the 39-24-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern wild card with 86 points.

Chicago Blackhawks rookie Anton Frondell collected an assist in his NHL debut as his club upset the New York Islanders 4-3. Nick Lardis had a goal and two assists for the 27-31-13 Blackhawks. Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom, and Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders (40-27-5), as they slipped out of the final Eastern wild card with 85 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold that wild card with a game in hand. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer set an NHL record for the most single-game ice time by a teenager at 31:59. Isles defenseman Tony DeAngelo left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

A shootout goal by Yegor Sharangovich lifted the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 upset of the Los Angeles Kings. Olli Maatta and Zayne Parekh scored in regulation for the 30-34-7 Flames. Quinton Byfield netted both goals for the Kings (28-25-18), who set three points behind the Predators.

The St. Louis Blues got a 21-save shutout from Joel Hofer in a 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals. Jimmy Snuggerud, Otto Stenberg, and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues (29-30-11). Logan Thompson stopped 24 of 26 shots for the 35-28-9 Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois received a match penalty for a deliberate attempt to injure Blues center Robert Thomas. The two collided, and Dubois appeared to grab Thomas as they fell to the ice, with the latter’s head striking the ice. The Blues center left the game, but head coach Jim Montgomery said afterwards that Thomas was fine and had passed the concussion protocol.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 24, 2026

by | Mar 24, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 24, 2026

Check out the latest speculation on the Canucks and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS FACE A BUSY SUMMER

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston looked at what’s ahead for the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks in the off-season.

Johnston wondered what they would do with Elias Pettersson. He believes the Canucks would be smart to try to trade the 27-year-old center this summer and try to get something of value for him. Johnston felt that Pettersson himself would be smart to ask for a trade, as it’s clear he thinks he needs a fresh start.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s a market for Pettersson. Some general managers seeking offensive depth at center will look at his 102-point performance in 2022-23 and believe he can reach those numbers again in a different market with a better roster.

However, Petersson’s $11.6 million average annual value through 2031-32 is the main stumbling block in the path to a trade. Interested clubs will want salary retention as part of the deal, which the Canucks could be unwilling to do.

Pettersson also has a full no-movement clause, which will also hinder the Canucks efforts to get a decent return. The fewer his preferred destinations, the less likely they’ll get something back that can help their rebuild.

Johnston also pointed out that the Canucks’ biggest needs are a No. 1 center, a top-flight winger, and a big-time defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They won’t get immediate help for those issues in the trade market. The best they’ll get there are promising youngsters and draft picks that might one day blossom into stars, especially if they win the draft lottery in May.

Johnston’s colleague, Paul Chapman, noted that the Canucks won’t find much help in this summer’s shallow unrestricted free-agent pool. The top centers are an aging Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and 34-year-old Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh. If he becomes available, he’s not going to a rebuilding team. The Blue Jackets hope to re-sign Coyle, and he’s likely to stay with them given their impressive improvement this season. 

THE RED WINGS’ UNWILLINGNESS TO MOVE PROSPECTS COULD COST THEM A PLAYOFF SPOT.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports a source told him that Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was unwilling to move any of his top prospects in a prospective trade before the March 6 deadline.

The Red Wings were rumored to have been among the clubs with an interest in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. It’s believed the Blues set a high asking price for the 26-year-old Thomas, but the Red Wings’ depth in prospects put them in a good position to meet that price.

Had Yzerman been willing to move a couple of his top prospects for Thomas, Di Marco felt the Blues might’ve been open to a return of a first-round pick, center Nate Danielson, and either Trey Augustine or Sebastian Cossa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco pointed out that the Red Wings did make a significant addition by adding right-shot defenseman Justin Faulk. However, they failed to acquire a reliable first or second-line center. Thomas would’ve been an excellent fit given his age (26) and offensive talent.

The Red Wings are struggling down the stretch again, dropping out of the final wild-card berth over the weekend. If they miss the playoffs again, critics will point to their inability (or unwillingness) to make a major move when they had the assets and the salary-cap space to do so.

Di Marco wonders if that could cost Yzerman his job. Missing the playoffs for 10 straight years, with the last seven seasons on Yzerman’s watch, could force ownership to consider a shake-up in the front office.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2026

by | Mar 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2026

The Senators move closer to a wild-card berth, Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad reaches a career milestone, the three stars of the week are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators moved closer to an Eastern Conference wild-card berth with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers in the only NHL game on Monday. Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele scored for the 37-24-9 Senators (83 points), moving within two points of the New York Islanders for the final wild card. Conor Sheary replied for the Rangers (28-34-9), who honored forward Mika Zibanejad for playing in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have been on a tear of late, going 14-3-2 in their last 19 games. They’ll have to maintain that pace and hope for one or two of the clubs ahead of them to falter down the stretch to clinch a playoff berth. This win proved costly as defensemen Thomas Chabot and Lassi Thomson left the game injured. 

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg, and Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 22.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the focus in the scoring race has been on Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, but the 32-year-old Kucherov has overtaken both and could win the Art Ross Trophy for the third straight season and the fourth time in his career.

Kucherov is also emerging as a strong candidate to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league MVP. He won the award in 2018-19 and has been the main reason why the aging Lightning remain a force in the Eastern Conference.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will face off in two games in Helsinki, Finland, as part of the 2026 NHL Global Series. Those games will be held in Veikkaus Arena on Nov. 12 and Nov. 14, 2026.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Speaking of the Kraken, defenseman Adam Larsson will play in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game when he and his teammates face off against the Panthers in Florida on Tuesday.

TSN: Kraken forward Ryan Winterton has taken a leave of absence from the team to attend to a family matter.

Meanwhile, the Kraken ownership group has taken full possession of its home arena, Climate Pledge Arena.

THE PROVINCE: On Sunday, the Vancouver Canucks became the first team to be officially eliminated from this season’s playoff race. They sit last overall with a record of 21-40-8 (50 points) with 13 games remaining in their schedule.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz is out of the hospital and feeling better after being accidentally struck in the throat by a shot from teammate William Nylander during warm-ups on Saturday. He was hospitalized for precautionary reasons on Saturday night and released the following day. The Maple Leafs recall goalie Dennis Hildeby on an emergency basis on Monday, but Stolarz could return to action as early as Tuesday when the Leafs face the Boston Bruins.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola won’t require surgery on his injured left knee. However, his season appears to be over as he’ll be sidelined for four to six weeks undergoing rehab.

DAILY FACEOFF/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks forward Ryan Reaves is listed as week-to-week with an injured finger. Meanwhile, sidelined goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and forwards Tyler Toffoli and Igor Chernyshov have resumed practice and could return to the lineup this week.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators signed forward Fedor Svechkov to a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension.

THE ATHLETIC: The Detroit Red Wings have sent young defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka to their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. He’d been a healthy scratch for the past seven games, coinciding with the Red Wings’ acquisition of defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed top prospect Jame Hagens to an amateur tryout agreement.