NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has a five-point game, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is out for the rest of the regular season, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied his 40th goal of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored a hat trick and collected two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (41-21-4), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Bobby McMann and Jared McCann replied for the 31-27-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 71 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov overtook Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for second place in the scoring race with 111 points, sitting four points behind Edmonton Oilers captain Nathan MacKinnon.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3. Max Jones scored the tie-breaker, and Zach Hyman netted the insurance goal for the 34-26-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (32-28-6), who sit one point behind the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers announced that center Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Draisaitl sits second among Oilers scorers with 97 points and fourth among NHL scorers, so his absence will be a significant test for the Oilers as they attempt to nail down a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield lifted the Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins 3-2. Caufield and Nick Suzuki each finished with a goal and an assist, while Jakub Dobes stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens (37-20-10) as they continue to hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. Pavel Zacha scored both goals for the 37-23-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time that Caufield has reached the 40-goal plateau, making him the first Canadien to do so since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. Caufield also holds second place among NHL goal scorers this season, five goals behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Before this game, the Canadiens announced that winger Kirby Dach would be sidelined for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to 10 games with a 5-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Charlie Coyle had a goal and three assists while Jet Greaves turned aside 27 shots for the red-hot Blue Jackets, who improved to 35-21-11 and sit one point behind the Bruins and the idle Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes (42-19-6) as they cling to first place in the East.

Speaking of red-hot teams, the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 to pick up their 10th win in their last 11 games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season while Josh Doan and Josh Norris were the goal scorers as the Sabres (42-20-6) remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Adin Hill stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 31-23-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead before downing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mats Zuccarello. Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists, and Brock Faber picked up three assists for the 39-18-12 Wild, who are in third place in the Central Division with 90 points. Frank Nazar and Louis Crevier each had a goal and an assist while Connor Bedard collected two assists for the 25-30-12 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to remain sidelined for at least two more games.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had three assists while Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brayden Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired by the Islanders (39-24-5) at the trade deadline. The Isles sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. Steven Lorentz replied for the 29-28-12 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders announced the signing of defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to a three-year entry-level contract. Aitcheson, 19, was chosen 17th overall by the Islanders in last year’s draft. He has 70 points in 54 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The New York Post reports he’ll likely only play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport once his junior season ends.

The Nashville Predators got a 36-save performance from goalie Juuse Saros to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on a shootout goal by Ryan O’Reilly. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the 30-28-9 Predators (69 points), who sit two points behind the Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot. Kyle Connor had three assists for the Jets (28-28-11), who are four points back of the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson tallied twice to snap a 20-game goalless drought in a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser each had three points for the 21-38-8 Canucks. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett replied for the 33-31-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson also reached the 200-goal milestone in this game.

HEADLINES

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury has NHL stars such as Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Matthews’ teammate John Tavares pushing for change in the NHL’s department of player safety.

Matthews was injured following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. A repeat offender, Gudas received a five-game suspension from the league, which Matthews’ agent called “laughable and preposterous”.

Department head George Parros defended his staff on Tuesday. He stood by the five-game suspension, expressing confidence in the hard work his staff puts in to reach their decisions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t excuse the fact that the DOPS got it wrong, very wrong, by handing Gudas what amounted to a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season with a blatant cheapshot.

The on-ice officials made the right call by handing Gudas a major penalty and a game misconduct. However, Parros and his group made the latest in a long series of confusing decisions that have amounted to growing frustration and calls for change around the league. Whether anything will come of it remains to be seen.

ESPN.COM: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him back the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls**t that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” Hughes said, adding that he wants to give the puck to his father.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has begun displaying Hughes’ “golden goal” puck and that of Megan Keller, whose overtime goal won gold for Team USA’s Women’s hockey team. “I don’t see why Megan Keller or I shouldn’t have those pucks,” Hughes said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a good look for Hughes. Those pucks represent two great moments in hockey history and are on display for all hockey fans to enjoy.

Keller hasn’t made a similar comment, leading one to assume that she has no issue with her golden goal being displayed in the Hall.

Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” from the 2010 Winter Olympics has been on display in the HHoF for years. Crosby has never asked for it to be returned to him.

TSN: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Blake Lizotte will miss the last four weeks of the Penguins’ season with an upper-body injury.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed prospect center Cole Knuble to an entry-level contract. The 21-year-old is the son of former NHL forward Mike Knuble.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 16, 2026

by | Mar 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 16, 2026

Check out the recent Canucks speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parsons wondered what the future holds for Brock Boeser with the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser is in the first season of a seven-year contract. Meanwhile, questions remain about the Canucks’ current core players. Leading up to the trade deadline, he stated that he is committed to the club and its direction, adding that he hopes to play a leadership role.

The 29-year-old winger was the subject of some speculation leading up to the trade deadline, which he laughingly downplayed. Nevertheless, Parsons noted that there was rumored interest from the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins amid reports he might waive his no-movement clause for the right fit.

Parsons claimed the Canucks weren’t aggressively shopping Boeser, but suggests their interest in keeping the veteran winger long-term isn’t as certain as his. They might consider moving him worthwhile if they get offers that could fetch a solid return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser’s $7.25 million annual average value for the next six seasons isn’t as difficult to move as teammate Elias Pettersson’s $11.6 million over the same period. However, the latter is two years younger than Boeser and has shown elite offensive skill.

Like Pettersson, Boeser’s no-movement clause gives him full control over his situation. There’s always a possibility he could agree to a trade, but it’s a slim one right now.

DONNIE & DHALI: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal recently wondered why the Canucks didn’t move Teddy Blueger at the March 6 trade deadline.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin claimed he received no offers for the 31-year-old checking-line center. However, Dhaliwal expressed skepticism, noting that they had found a trade partner for David Kampf, who went unclaimed on waivers earlier this season and spent some time in the minors. He doubted that no one was interested in Blueger, who has Stanley Cup experience and is a better center than Kampf.

Dhaliwal believes the Canucks hope to re-sign Blueger, who is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. However, it’s believed he’s interested in staying in Vancouver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Dhaliwal observed, the Canucks need depth at center. Losing Blueger will only weaken them at that position. He won’t be an expensive re-signing for them.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2026

by | Mar 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2026

Lightning stars Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy reach notable career milestones, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is injured by a knee-on-knee hit, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to reach the 1,100 regular-season points milestone in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Jake Guentzel and Gage Goncalves each scored twice for the Lightning (40-20-4, 84 points), who moved within two points of the Buffalo Sabres for first place in the Atlantic Division. J.T. Compher replied for the 36-23-7 Red Wings, who’ve dropped four of their last five games and cling to the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy became the second netminder in NHL history to record nine consecutive 30-win seasons. Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur holds the record with 12 consecutive seasons.

The slumping Red Wings were without Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. Both centers will be sidelined by injuries for at least the next two weeks.

Speaking of the Sabres, their eight-game win streak ended as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Washington Capitals. Jakob Chychrun snapped a 1-1 tie late in the third period while Logan Thompson stopped 29 shots for the 33-27-7 Capitals. Sam Carrick scored for the 40-20-6 Sabres, who sit second in the Eastern Conference with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres winger Alex Tuch missed this game with a lower-body injury. He’s considered day-to-day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks was overshadowed by an injury to Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs captain left the game in the second period following a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct.

Matthew Knies had a goal and three assists, and winger Matias Maccelli had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (28-27-11). Cutter Gauthier tallied his team-leading 33rd goal of the season for the 36-26-3 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 75 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gudas could receive supplemental discipline for that hit on Matthews, who may have suffered a serious injury to his left knee. The Ducks blueliner has had four suspensions in his NHL career, with the last being in 2019.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored twice and collected two assists in a 7-2 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers. Wyatt Johnston had a goal and two assists, Miro Heiskanen collected three assists, and Jamie Benn scored two goals for the Stars (41-14-10), who hold second place in the Western Conference with 92 points. Evan Bouchard and Jason Dickinson scored for the Oilers (32-26-8), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars extended their points streak to 14 games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Martin Necas tallied his 30th goal of the season, and Nazem Kadri scored his first goal with the Avalanche since being acquired from the Calgary Flames last Friday. Ryker Evans replied for the 29-26-9 Kraken, who’ve lost four straight games and slipped out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 67 points. The Avalanche (44-11-9) holds first place in the overall standings with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the league announced it had rescinded the game misconduct penalty handed to MacKinnon during Tuesday’s game against the Oilers.

The San Jose Sharks vaulted over the Kraken into the final Western wild card by doubling up the Boston Bruins 4-2, handing the latter its first home loss since December. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic kicked out 39 shots while William Eklund, Tyler Toffoli, and Michael Misa each had a goal and an assist for the 31-26-6 Sharks, who sit one point ahead of the Kraken. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (36-23-6), who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 78 points.

An overtime power-play goal by Sam Reinhart gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sam Bennett also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for the 33-29-3 Panthers. Adam Fantilli scored for the 33-21-11 Blue Jackets, who extended their points streak to eight games, sitting one point behind the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantilli was unhappy about being whistled for tripping Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk in overtime. He and his teammates believe Tkachuk dove after losing control of the puck to draw the penalty.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice and collected an assist while Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist for the 30-22-14 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 74 points. Rickard Rakell and Ben Kindel replied for the Penguins (32-18-15), who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights captain Mark Stone returned to action after missing the last five games with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, Marner told reporters that Penguins captain Sidney Crosby suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain while playing for Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Crosby remains sidelined but is expected to return to action before the end of March.

St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud tallied two goals while Jordan Binnington turned aside 31 shots for a 3-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Pavel Buchnevich also scored, and Dylan Holloway collected two assists for the 26-29-10 Blues, who are 5-0-1 in their last six games. Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes (41-18-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon sold a portion of the club to three new minority owners. One of them is former NHL winger Bobby Farnham, who had eight goals and 10 points in 67 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and Montreal Canadiens from 2014-15 to 2016-17. He went on to Harvard Business School and co-founded the investment group Fourth Line Capital.

The Philadelphia Flyers nipped the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on a shootout goal by Travis Konecny. Owen Tippett tied the game for the Flyers (31-23-11) with a shorthanded goal. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov scored for the 38-16-17 Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild’s Quinn Hughes collected two assists, becoming the first defenseman to collect 60 assists in 60 games since Hall of Famer Paul Coffey in 1992-93.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard scored in overtime to defeat the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi each had a goal and an assist for the 25-29-11 Blackhawks. Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka scored for the 34-26-6 Mammoth, who hold the first Western wild-card spot with 74 points, but are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).

The Vancouver Canucks nipped the Nashville Predators 4-3. Jake DeBrusk scored the shootout winner, Marco Rossi had a goal and two assists, and Brock Boeser and Filip Hronek each had a goal and an assist for the 20-37-8 Canucks. Tyson Jost scored twice for the Predators (29-27-9), who remain one point out of the Western wild-card berth with 67 points.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere scored for the third straight game as his club downed the Winnipeg Jets 6-3. Gabe Perreault had his third straight multipoint game with a goal and an assist for the Rangers (27-30-8). Isak Rosen scored his first goal with the Jets (26-28-10) since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last Friday.

The Calgary Flames nipped the New Jersey Devils 5-4. John Beecher scored twice for his first NHL multi-goal game while Dustin Wolf made 28 saves for the 26-32-7 Flames. Jack and Luke Hughes each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (32-31-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators will receive the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after the league modified the disciplinary sanction originally imposed on the club for a botched trade involving Evgenii Dadonov by former Senators management in 2022.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2026

by | Mar 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2026

The trade deadline is over, but the fallout remains. Check out the latest on Vincent Trocheck, Sergei Bobrovsky, the Canadiens’ efforts to make a big move, and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHY DIDN’T THE RANGERS TRADE VINCENT TROCHECK?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers general manager Chris Drury stuck by his asking price for Vincent Trocheck, which is why the 32-year-old center wasn’t moved by Friday’s trade deadline. He told reporters it didn’t make sense to do something just to say they did something.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

Trocheck is under contract for three more years, so the Rangers can try again down the line. Whether Drury will have better luck moving him in the offseason remains to be seen. A league source said several teams other than the Minnesota Wild checked in on Trocheck.

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported that the Wild were believed to have offered up prospect forward Charlie Stramel, a likely future first-round draft pick, and a possible third piece. The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins were believed to be in the mix.

Mercogliano believes Drury could be taking a big gamble hanging onto Trocheck and hoping for better offers in the offseason. Other centers could be available, including Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, and perhaps even Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A more crowded offseason market for centers could work against the Rangers. Nevertheless, Trocheck being under contract beyond this season allowed them to try again, rather than being forced to accept a lesser return at the trade deadline if he’d been UFA-eligible in July.

CANADIENS STAND PAT, BUT A MAJOR DEAL COULD BE COMING IN THE SUMMER

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont reports Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said his club had the framework for a potential trade in place before the deadline, but it fell through in the final moments.

“We spent a lot of time on one case in particular,” Hughes said. “And it went down to the wire, but that doesn’t stop us from revisiting it in the summer.”

Dumont speculated that the Canadiens may have been interested in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas or Rangers center Vincent Trocheck. Both players will still be available in the offseason.

Had the deal gone through, Hughes indicated that other moves may have taken place. “We had some things that would have happened if we concluded the deal we were working on,” he said. “Yes, it was a significant trade for us.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That should keep fans and pundits in Montreal buzzing for a while. It will be entertaining to see what speculation emerges in the coming days.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reports Hughes said the Canadiens would’ve made a trade if they had found a deal that made sense for the right price.

Hughes also reminded fans who may have been upset over the club’s lack of deadline movement of the acquisitions they made since last summer. Those include defenseman Noah Dobson and forwards Zach Bolduc, Phillip Danault, and Alexandre Texier.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Critics believe Canadiens management is too much in love with their prospects to part with any of them for a significant return. A quick look at their recent trade history should dispel that myth. The Canadiens tend to be patient in their search for a return that addresses their short and long-term needs.

Given the Canadiens are ahead of schedule with their rebuild, Arpon Basu of The Athletic believes management has earned the benefit of the doubt for their inactivity at this year’s trade deadline. However, he thinks this will be the last trade deadline where they will have that benefit. Expectations will be much higher after this season. 

PANTHERS WORKING TO RE-SIGN SERGEI BOBROVSKY

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports the Panthers didn’t bother to move Sergei Bobrovsky before yesterday’s trade deadline. Instead, they’re focused on signing the 37-year-old goaltender to a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Panthers GM Bill Zito said he had to listen to offers for his players, but he’s glad Bobrovsky is still there. “Sergei is a part of our franchise, a part of our core,” Zito said. “We want to try and keep him. I am glad he is here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two sides will likely try to reach a short-term deal. Bobrovsky will have to accept a significant pay cut from the $10 million AAV of his current deal. He’s earning $5 million in actual salary this season, so that might be what he gets as an AAV on his next contract.

POST-TRADE DEADLINE TIDBITS

SPORTSNET: In his post-trade deadline “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said there was a lot of noise about Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews this week. He thinks there was no chance of him being traded, but believes Matthews and Leafs management will have to talk during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported that the Matthews camp informed management that their client has no issue with returning with the Maple Leafs next season. What Friedman seems to be alluding to is where Matthews sees his future beyond the end of his contract in 2028.

Friedman said that Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies was mentioned in the trade market. He thinks it’s because Knies would fetch the type of assets that would help management show Matthews the direction of the team.

One of the players Friedman wondered about for Knies was New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec. He doesn’t think a one-for-one swap would make sense for the Maple Leafs, but it may have been the kind of thing the two teams discussed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman recently speculated that the Maple Leafs may have floated Knies in the market to see if a rival club would make them an irresistible offer.

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have been in on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, but he didn’t think they were willing to meet the Blues’ asking price.

Friedman wondered if there was a chance that New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton would’ve wound up in Toronto, with the Maple Leafs taking a sweetener to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming that the Maple Leafs weren’t on Hamilton’s 10-team trade list. If they’re not, why would he waive it to go from one struggling team to another?

According to Friedman, the Vancouver Canucks considered acquiring Jesperi Kotkaniemi, but decided against it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I felt that Kotkaniemi could be packaged in a larger deal by the Hurricanes at the trade deadline. Maybe they’ll try to peddle him in the offseason.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2026

by | Mar 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2026

Recapping Friday’s games, fallout from the trade deadline, contract signings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider had a goal and three assists as his club nipped the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 on a shootout goal by Alex Killorn. Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist for the 35-24-3 Ducks, who took over first place in the Pacific Division with 73 points. Cole Caufield had two goals and an assist, and Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (33-18-10), who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 76 points.

Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights (29-20-14) dropped a 4-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild, slipping one point behind the Ducks. Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves, and Michael McCarron had a goal and an assist in his debut with the Wild after being acquired from the Nashville Predators. Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev had two points, including his 30th goal of the season. The Wild sit third in the Central Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights captain Mark Stone missed this game with an upper-body injury, but he’s not expected to be sidelined for long.

A shootout goal by Valeri Nichushkin lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the Dallas Stars 5-4, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Nichushkin also scored the tying goal that sent the game to overtime and the shootout, while Martin Necas had a goal and three assists for the Avalanche (42-10-9), who remain atop the overall standings with 93 points. Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen, and Justin Hryckowian each had a goal and an assist for the 38-14-10 Stars as they sit second in the Western Conference with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz left this game after injuring his left leg following a collision with Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon during the second period. There was no postgame update on his condition.

The Carolina Hurricanes got two goals from Jackson Blake in a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. K’Andre Miller collected three assists for the 40-16-6 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points. Zach Hyman tallied twice for the Oilers (30-25-8) as they cling to third place in the Pacific Division.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk’s hat trick gave his club a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves for the Panthers (31-29-3) as his club ended a four-game losing skid. Alex DeBrincat replied for the 35-21-7 Red Wings, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 77 points, but have dropped seven of their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin left this game with a lower-body injury in the third period. Head coach Todd McLellan doesn’t believe Larkin will be sidelined long-term, but he must have his injury attended to.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Dylan Holloway collected three assists for the 24-29-9 Blues. Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood replied for the 30-25-5 Sharks (65 points), who sit two points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Sharks signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $6 million contract extension.

The Vancouver Canucks ended a seven-game losing skid by downing the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Brock Boeser scored twice for the 19-36-7 Canucks. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev each had a goal and an assist for the 23-29-10 Blackhawks.

TRADE DEADLINE FALLOUT

THE ATHLETIC: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong expressed his displeasure regarding leaked reports of a proposed trade involving Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres before the blueliner was approached about waiving his no-trade clause. Parayko ultimately refused to waive his clause, killing the deal.

Armstrong was adamant that the leak didn’t come from the Blues. He ordered a thorough examination of his staff’s phone, text, and email records. “Everyone passed the test, not surprisingly,” Armstrong said. “I knew it didn’t come from us.”

However, Armstrong is not pointing the finger at the Sabres. “There’s so many people involved in things that go on: family members, agents. It’s a never-ending cycle of people that get talked to.”

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals players were shocked and saddened by the trade of long-time Capitals defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.

Team captain Alex Ovechkin said hearing the news was the toughest day of his career. “We’re very close, and it’s hard,” Ovechkin said. “We’ve been together since his Day 1 on Caps, and we’re growing up together as a person, families. It’s hard and it’s a sad day.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Getting traded is part of the business for professional hockey players, but it still takes an emotional toll, especially when they’ve spent years together as teammates.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving shouldered the blame for his club’s poor performance this season. He made the remarks after trading forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton before Friday’s trade deadline. Treliving also acknowledged that more changes could be coming for the struggling Maple Leafs in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving could be among those changes. His three-year contract expires at the end of this season.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said his club’s decline after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season starts with him. Cheveldayoff admitted that his offseason acquisitions were past their prime. He intends to play more of their younger players for the remainder of this season and is looking toward resetting in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unlike Treliving, Cheveldayoff won’t lose his job over this season’s disappointing effort. However, he must replace some of those aging players with younger talent for the Jets to bounce back next season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky was expected to make another big trade deadline move after doing so the last two years. However, his only move was acquiring rugged depth forward Nic Deslauriers. Tulsky explained his quiet trade deadline, claiming his club didn’t find any deals that made sense for them.

IN OTHER NEWS…

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin received a five-game suspension from the league for slashing at the head of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed captain Jordan Eberle to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $5.5 million.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders re-signed center Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a three-year extension with an AAV of $4.85 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Islanders, goaltender Semyon Varlamov is not expected to return to action this season. He’s been sidelined by a knee injury since November 2024.

TSN: Free-agent forward Mathieu Joseph signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth a prorated $900,000.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will likely miss the remainder of the season. He’s been sidelined since November with blood-clot issues.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 6, 2026

by | Mar 6, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 6, 2026

The trade deadline is 3 pm ET today. Check out the latest rumors as the deadline approaches

UPDATES ON VINCENT TROCHECK AND ALEXIS LAFRENIERE

NEW YORK POST: A high number of teams in playoff contention has allowed teams like the Rangers to drive up the asking prices for Trocheck and defenseman Braden Schneider.

THE ATHLETIC: The Minnesota Wild’s interest in Trocheck has faded due to what Rangers general manager Chris Drury wants in return. The Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings could also have an interest in the Rangers center.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

The Wild could shift their focus toward Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators. Centers such as Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames are simply too expensive for the Wild

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens have checked in on Trocheck. However, the asking price could be too big a haul for them.

THE ATHLETIC: The Rangers are unlikely to move Alexis Lafreniere, but questions linger about his future amid concerns over how the club has developed its young talent.

WHO COULD THE RED WINGS TARGET?

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Defensemen linked to the Red Wings include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Forwards such as Trocheck, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues could be on their radar.

JORDAN KYROU COULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou could provide an offensive boost to the New York Islanders, assuming he’d waive his no-trade clause. However, the asking price could cost them a couple of top prospects, such as Kashawn Aitcheson and Victor Eklund, or promising forward Cal Ritchie.

COULD JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT BE THE NEXT PLAYER SHOPPED BY THE PREDATORS?

THE TENNESSEAN: Trade speculation is starting to swirl about Jonathan Marchessault, but he’s not keen to leave the Nashville Predators. He reminded reporters that he has a full no-movement clause but declined to say if he discussed the situation with GM Barry Trotz.

DEVILS STILL LISTENING TO OFFERS FOR SIMON NEMEC

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils continue to entertain offers for Simon Nemec. The 22-year-old defenseman is due to become a restricted free agent this summer. The Devils will only move him if they get a return that improves their top-six forwards.

WILL THE HURRICANES SIT OUT THIS DEADLINE?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes made significant moves during the last two trade deadlines. However, the exorbitant asking prices for players such as Robert Thomas and Vincent Trocheck could force them to stand pat or consider making low-cost depth additions.

POTENTIAL CANUCKS TRADE CANDIDATES

THE PROVINCE: Forwards Teddy Blueger, Evander Kane, and David Kampf could be among the players the Vancouver Canucks attempt to trade today. Others could include forwards Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and defenseman Marcus Pettersson.

PENGUINS EYEING A REUNION WITH TEDDY BLUEGER

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports league sources claim the Pittsburgh Penguins are considering a deal with the Vancouver Canucks to bring back center Teddy Blueger to help them in the faceoff circle.