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 10, 2025

by | Apr 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2025

A four-goal return to action for Joel Eriksson Ek as Marc-Andre Fleury set a new goalie record, the Devils clinch a playoff berth, the hockey world remembers Ray Shero, the Masterton Trophy nominees are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Joel Eriksson Ek scored four goals and Kirill Kaprizov tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, in an 8-7 win over the San Jose Sharks. Matt Boldy had four assists and Mats Zuccarello had three helpers for the Wild, who vaulted over the St. Louis Blues into the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 93 points. Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had a hat trick in a five-point performance while teammate Will Smith had a goal and three assists.

Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a consequential game for the Wild in more ways than one. Their victory over the Sharks eliminated the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Hockey Club from the postseason race.

Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov returned to action after missing considerable time with injuries. They’ll significantly boost the Wild offense which sputtered during their absence. Meanwhile, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury set the record for most overtime wins (70) in what was likely his final home start for Minnesota.

Celebrini became the first 18-year-old player in Sharks history to tally a hat trick. He holds the single-season franchise record for points by a rookie with 62.

The St. Louis Blues (93 points) dropped into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference following a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Connor Brown scored twice for Edmonton, including the winning goal with 21 seconds remaining in the third period. Oilers captain Connor McDavid had three assists on his return from an eight-game absence with a lower-body injury. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division with 95 points. Meanwhile, the Blues sit behind the Wild because the latter holds a game in hand.

Before this game, they placed defenseman John Klingberg on long-term injury reserve while blueliner Jake Walman was a late scratch with an illness.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier scored the tying and winning goals as his club overcame a 3-1 deficit to upset the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime. Ville Husso stopped 36 shots for the Ducks. Mikael Backlund had a goal and an assist for the Flames (88 points), who sit five points behind the Wild and Blues with two games in hand over the latter.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild have three games remaining in their schedule while the Blues have two. The latter has lost two straight after winning a franchise-record 12 straight games.

The New York Rangers’ playoff hopes suffered a significant setback after an 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Tyson Foerster collected his first NHL hat trick and Nick Seeler picked up three assists for the Flyers. Artemi Panarin scored his 300th NHL regular-season goal for the Rangers (79 points), who’ve lost three straight and remain eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers are on the brink of elimination from the playoff race. They have the same number of games remaining in the schedule as the Canadiens (four) but the latter needs only three points to punch their ticket to the postseason.

That final wild-card spot is the only playoff berth to be determined in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers’ victory and the Rangers’ loss clinched a playoff spot for the idle New Jersey Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points. They’ll face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies scored in overtime to complete a hat trick and defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3. Auston Matthews collected three assists and Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists for the Leafs (100 points), who opened a three-point lead over the Lightning atop the Atlantic Division. Victor Hedman and Oliver Bjorkstrand each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov picked up an assist to regain first place in the scoring race. He and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon each have 116 points but Kucherov holds the lead with 34 goals to MacKinnon’s 32.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The hockey world mourned Ray Shero, who died on Wednesday at 62.

Son of former NHL coach and Hall-of-Famer Fred Shero, Ray had a long, successful career in management. He began as an assistant general manager with the Ottawa Senators from 1993 to 1998, and as an assistant GM with the Nashville Predators from 1998 to 2006.

Shero was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, building them into a Stanley Cup contender in 2008 and a Cup champion in 2009. He won the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award in 2012-13.

Fired by the Penguins in 2014, he became GM of the New Jersey Devils from 2015 to 2020, drafting current Devils stars Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt.

Shero was in his fourth season as a senior advisor to Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin.

Guerin, Wild head coach John Hynes, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, former Predators GM David Poile, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released statements honoring Shero’s memory and legacy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Shero’s family, friends, the Wild organization, and those who knew him from his days with the Senators, Predators, Penguins and Devils.

TSN: Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin are among the 32 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominees. It is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Other notable nominees include Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, and Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above to see the full list.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Landeskog, the Avalanche have loaned him to their AHL affiliate for conditioning as he continues his comeback. The 32-year-old left wing hasn’t played since leading the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in June 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An update will be made regarding Landeskog’s status over the next couple of days. This move is a significant step in his comeback attempt. If it goes well, he could rejoin the Avalanche in the opening round of the playoffs.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators are confident that team captain Brady Tkachuk will be good to go when the playoffs begin on Apr. 19. He’s missed the last five games with an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators clinched a playoff berth so there’s no reason to rush him back to action. They’ll give him all the time he needs between now and Apr. 19 to heal up for the postseason.

RG.ORG: Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov is expected to arrive in Toronto on Friday. He’ll meet with his new team following their game in Ottawa and could make his NHL debut on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2025

by | Apr 9, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger believes acquiring a second-line center will be among the Vancouver Canucks’ priorities this summer.

The free-agent market is thin for such players. However, the Canucks aren’t afraid to spend some draft capital or prospects in the trade market.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (NHL Images).

Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko has a year left on his contract. Dreger wondered what a contract extension might look like. He also thinks a trade could be an option.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: When healthy, Demko’s among the best goalies in the league. His stellar play last season made him a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and played a big role in the Canucks’ 109-point performance.

However, Demko’s absences due to injury create uncertainty about his effectiveness as a starter. The Canucks have also received solid goaltending from Kevin Lankinen, who signed a five-year extension in February.

Despite Demko’s injury history, the lack of quality goalies in the trade and free-agent markets could make him an enticing trade chip for the Canucks if the two sides fail to agree to terms for an extension.

THE ATHLETIC: A reader asked Thomas Drance what his top center trade targets would be for the Canucks this summer.

One option could be pursuing an older center on a risky contract like Steven Stamkos. Drance acknowledged the 34-year-old Stamkos’ no-movement clause but noted that he’s had a rough season with the Nashville Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks will probably have to look elsewhere for that type of center. Besides, Stamkos is more effective at left wing at this stage in his career.

Another option would be a promising young center who hasn’t broken out yet like Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals or Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets. Drance admits both would be expensive to acquire, but if the Canucks intend to make a big swing in this summer’s trade market, those would be the two to pursue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMichael has become part of the Capitals’ core this season with a 55-point performance. He’s signed through next season with an average annual value of $2.1 million. He’s not going anywhere.

Drance observed Perfetti had an acrimonious negotiation with the Jets last summer before agreeing to a two-year deal (at an AAV of $3.25 million). Perfetti would be the most likely to be available, but that doesn’t mean the Jets will move him.

The final option is a reliable veteran in his prime with some term left on his contract. Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins and Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes fall into that category. Drance pointed out that the Bruins are rebuilding, which could make Zacha available. He also noted the Canucks were linked to Kotkaniemi in the past.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha is the better of the two. He had a career-high 59 points last season and has 45 points this season. However, he might not be available if the Bruins are retooling for a quick turnaround rather than staging a rebuild.

The 24-year-old Kotkaniemi is younger than Zacha and has more contract certainty with five years remaining. However, he’s been inconsistent during his tenure with the Hurricanes and usually sees third-line center duty.

MORE CHANGE IN STORE FOR THE SABRES?

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn examined why the Buffalo Sabres missed the playoff for the 14th straight season, and what might be in store during the offseason.

Fairburn noted the Sabres trading Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline. He believes more changes could be coming this season, citing their goals-against (fourth highest in the league) and woeful special-teams play (25th-ranked power play, 23rd-ranked penalty kill).

General manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff each have a year left on their contracts. Fairburn wondered if team owner Terry Pegula would make more changes in the front office and behind the bench.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres’ woes begin with Pegula. He’s provided the financial stability that ensures this club won’t be moved, but as Fairburn observes, the constant losing is taking a toll on its fanbase.

If Adams remains as general manager he’ll emphasize improving the Sabres goaltending and defensive game.










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.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

by | Apr 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

Could this season be the latest for Brock Boeser with the Canucks and Nikolaj Ehlers with the Jets? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the next 10 days could be the last for winger Brock Boeser with the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser, 28, is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. The Canucks are poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Boeser amid a season of turmoil for the Canucks. He said he’s trying not to think about the possibility of moving on after this season. Boeser admitted the trade rumors swirling around him before last month’s trade deadline affected his play.

Boeser doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows his improved performance down the stretch will stand him in good stead.

SPORTSNET: Jacob Stoller noted that the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday could be a preview of life without winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who is day-to-day with an injury.

Ehlers, 29, plays a key role on the Jets’ second line, tallying 60-plus points four times. He’s UFA-eligible on July 1 and was the subject of trade speculation last summer. At the time, he was reportedly open to a change of scenery.

If Ehlers departs, it could be difficult to find a replacement. Stoller observed the Jets are not a prime destination for free agents. He suggested general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could parlay a first-round pick for a play-driving top-six winger. However, it’s difficult to determine who could be available in this summer’s trade market and if the Jets first-rounder would be enough.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has Boeser sitting second and Ehlers at seventh on his list of this summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Both players will be in high demand when the UFA market opens on July 1, especially if other notable forwards ahead of them on this list (Toronto’s Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Dallas’ Matt Duchene and Florida’s Sam Bennett) end up re-signing with their current clubs.

Boeser and Ehlers could also decide to stay with their current teams. However, the pull of lucrative long-term contracts could prove irresistible.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 6, 2025

by | Apr 6, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 6, 2025

The Kings, Lightning and Panthers clinch playoff berths, the Blues set a franchise record for consecutive wins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth by blanking the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Darcy Kuemper turned in a 27-save shutout while Kevin Fiala tallied his 30th goal of the season as the Kings sit second in the Pacific Division with 97 points, reaching the postseason for the fourth straight year. The Oilers remain in third place behind the Kings with 93 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, defenseman Mattias Ekholm and goaltender Stuart Skinner missed this game with injuries. McDavid is expected to return later this week.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson scored his 40th goal as the Buffalo Sabres upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on shootout goals by Jack Quinn and Alex Tuch. Brayden Point and Gage Goncalves tallied for Tampa Bay, who clinched a playoff berth in second place in the Atlantic Division with 94 points. It’s the eighth straight season the Lightning have qualified for the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres have surged recently, winning seven of their last 10 games. Sitting 11 points out of a wild-card berth with seven games remaining, this hot streak comes too late to save their season.

Ottawa Senators netminder Anton Forsberg kicked out 40 shots to shut out the Florida Panthers 3-0. Jake Sanderson had a goal and an assist for the Senators as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 88 points, four back of the third-place Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Despite the loss, the Panthers clinched a playoff berth for the sixth straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Florida has gone 3-6-1 in their last 10 games while Ottawa is 5-4-1. Both teams have six games left. The Senators could overtake the Panthers in the standings if the latter doesn’t snap out of its funk.

St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas (NHL Images).

The St. Louis Blues set a franchise record with their 12th straight win by holding off the Colorado Avalanche 5-4. Robert Thomas scored the game-winner and collected three assists, Cam Fowler had three helpers and Zack Bolduc tallied twice as the Blues hold a four-point lead over the Minnesota Wild for the first Western Conference wild-card spot. Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avalanche, who sit third in the Central Division with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 115 points, MacKinnon holds a three-point lead over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz turned aside 27 shots in a 5-0 shutout of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nick Robertson and William Nylander each scored two goals for the Leafs, who hold a four-point lead over the Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 30th goal, becoming the first American-born NHL player to reach that milestone in nine consecutive seasons. The loss puts the Blue Jackets (77 points) six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern wild card.

Speaking of the Canadiens, they got third-period goals by Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki for a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, eliminating the latter from the playoff race. The Canadiens have won four straight games and opened a four-point lead over the New York Rangers for the final Eastern wild card with 83 points. Ryan Poehling and Tyson Foerster replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Suzuki is two points away from becoming the first Canadien to reach 85 points in a season since Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse in 1995-96. Habs winger Josh Anderson missed this game as his wife is due to give birth soon.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves to blank the Rangers 4-0. Timo Meier scored two goals for the Devils, who sit third in the Metro Division with 89 points. With 79 points, the Rangers are four back of the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card chase.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blueshirts are sputtering with a record of 3-6-1. They and the Canadiens have six games remaining with the latter riding a four-game win streak.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a hat trick and two assists in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Morgan Geekie had a goal and four assists for the Bruins, who were officially eliminated from the postseason race. Hurricanes rookie Justin Robidas scored his first NHL goal. His club sits second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak’s been among the few bright spots in a miserable season for the Bruins. He reached the 40-goal plateau for the fifth time, tying him for second with Rick Middleton among the Bruins all-time scoring leaders. Phil Esposito holds the franchise record with seven 40-goal campaigns.

If Robidas’ last name sounds familiar, he’s the son of former NHL defenseman Stephane Robidas.

An overtime goal by Reilly Smith lifted the Vegas Golden Knights past the Calgary Flames 3-2. Smith finished the game with two goals and Shea Theodore collected three assists as the Golden Knights remain atop the Pacific Division with 100 points, three up on the Kings. Joel Hanley and Matt Coronato scored for the Flames (85 points), who collected a point to sit four behind the Wild for the final Western wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a hat trick and collected an assist in a 5-3 upset of the Dallas Stars, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Evgenii Dadonov had a hat trick for the Stars, who remain four points behind the first-place Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby reached the 30-goal mark for the 13th time in his career.

Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots to beat the Jets 4-1. Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton and Kevin Stenlund each had a goal and an assist for Utah. Mark Scheifele tallied his 38th goal of the season for the league-leading Jets (108 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers missed this game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

A five-goal first period lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Thatcher Demko made 30 saves while Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes each had two points. Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win keeps the Canucks’ fading playoff hopes alive. With 83 points, they’re six behind the Wild in the Western wild-card race.

The Seattle Kraken defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Jared McCann had two goals and an assist for the Kraken. Rookie Will Smith tallied his 14th goal for the Sharks.