NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2025

by | Dec 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2025

Are the Devils interested in Predators forward Steven Stamkos? Could the Stars pursue Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood or Flames forward Blake Coleman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS LINKED TO THE DEVILS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils are believed to have internally discussed Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos, among several other trade targets.

Stamkos, 35, is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-movement clause. LeBrun doubts that he’s going anywhere this season, but indicated that the Predators “would definitely listen to calls on him.”

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

The Devils were among the suitors for Stamkos when he was an unrestricted free agent in 2024. LeBrun suggests this is something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Stamkos’ production since 2023-24 likely means the Devils won’t have to put together a significant offer to pry him away from the Predators, assuming he’ll waive his NMC.

Cap space will be a sticking point. The Devils have a projected $3.6 million in trade deadline cap room. Even if they convince the Predators to retain salary (which will raise their asking price), they still must free up more cap space to acquire Stamkos.

HOW WILL THE STARS REPLACE TYLER SEGUIN?

TSN: Chris Johnston believes the recent injury to Tyler Seguin could turn the Dallas Stars into more aggressive buyers by the trade deadline.

Seguin suffered what could be a season-ending knee injury earlier this week. The Stars currently have just over $3 million in cap space, but that’s with sidelined forwards Matt Duchene and Adam Erne and defenseman Nils Lundkvist on long-term injury reserve (LTIR)

If Seguin is out for the season (including the playoffs), he’ll go on season-ending long-term injury reserve (SELTIR). That would enable the Stars to spend up to the entirety of his $9.85 million cap hit to exceed the cap to another player.

On the other hand, if Seguin is expected to return later in the regular season or during the playoffs, the LTIR benefit is limited to last season’s average league salary, which was just over $3.8 million.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos goes into greater detail regarding the changes to the LTIR policy and how it would affect the Stars’ efforts to replace Seguin.

If Seguin’s gone for the season, she speculates the Stars could trade for a forward with an expensive cap hit to replace him on the roster. If he is to return later this season, the Stars will have to be more conservative in their efforts to add to their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston noted that the Stars were reportedly among the clubs interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. His $1.5 million cap hit would make him a very affordable trade option.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs are showing a strong interest in Blake Coleman. The 32-year-old Calgary Flames winger is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade list.

Murphy claimed the Utah Mammoth, Minnesota Wild, and Carolina Hurricanes have also been linked to Coleman. He believes the Flames winger could be a cost-effective option who could move earlier than more expensive teammates such as Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Seguin goes on SELTIR, the Stars will be in a better position to pursue Coleman than the cap-strapped Leafs. The Mammoth, Hurricanes, and Wild would be in an even better cap position and could have more tradeable assets to work with.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2025

by | Dec 4, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2025

The latest speculation regarding Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, plus the latest on the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHERE COULD QUINN HUGHES GO IF HE LEAVES THE CANUCKS?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma noted the uncertainty over Quinn Hughes’ future with the Vancouver Canucks has led to a growing line of suitors for the 26-year-old superstar defenseman.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes has a year remaining on his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1, 2027. If an extension isn’t in the works, Kuzma believes the Canucks could move him for a multiplayer return to get younger and eventually better.

Kuzma thinks any team acquiring Hughes will want assurances he’ll be more than a one-year rental player. He thinks ties to certain teams could determine where the former Norris Trophy winner could land.

The Detroit Red Wings could be an option, given that Hughes spent his formative years in Michigan with the US National Team Development Program and the NCAA Wolverines. Kuzma speculated the Canucks could push for winger Lucas Raymond, rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, rookie center Nate Danielson, and a 2026 first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: To which Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman will reply, “Well, thanks for the call, and the best of luck in your future endeavors”. Giving up Raymond would blow a big hole in their forward lines. It’s also unlikely he’d give up both Sandin-Pellikka and Danielson.

Kuzma also noted the obvious tug for Hughes to head to New Jersey, where his brothers (Jack and Luke) play for the Devils. There’s also the Philadelphia Flyers, who are coached by former Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The asking price for the Devils would be defenseman Simon Nemec and a first-round pick in 2026 for sure. Center Dawson Mercer and rookie winger Arseny Gritsyuk would also likely be part of it.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reported a Flyers source claimed the team hasn’t had any conversations with the Canucks about Hughes, but they are interested in him.

Di Marco speculated that winger Tyson Foerster and top prospect Porter Martone could be part of the Canucks’ asking price. He thinks the Flyers would prefer sending a package to Vancouver centered around a defenseman like Jamie Drysdale or Cam York.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks would likely hold firm to their projected offer rather than one centered around Drysdale or York. The Flyers probably won’t get into the bidding for Hughes, based on Di Marco’s comment that they don’t want to gut their roster in a trade.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently looked at which members of the Toronto Maple Leafs were most likely to be traded and those who are not.

Of the most likely trade candidates, Dixon listed forwards Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Matias Maccelli as those who might have more value to another team than the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s been a fixture in trade rumors since the summer of 2024. He shows flashes of scoring potential, but he remains unable to establish himself as a reliable top-six forward.

McMann had a promising 20-goal performance last season, but has just six in 26 games thus far this season. The Leafs hoped Maccelli might regain the 57-point form of his 2023-24 season, but he has only nine points in 22 games and was a healthy scratch in three of the Leafs’ last four games.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos suggested the Leafs might be able to draw on their goaltending depth at the trade deadline.

If Anthony Stolarz can establish himself as a 1A or 1B goalie with Joseph Woll once he returns from injury, Kypreos suggested dangling a goalie prospect such as Dennis Hildeby or Artur Akhtyamov as a trade chip. If Hildeby shows he’s ready for a larger role, that could make Stolarz a trade candidate, though they’d have to work around his 16-team no-trade list.

Kypreos believes the Maple Leafs’ biggest need is finding a puck-moving defenseman to take some of the burden off of Morgan Rielly.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2025

by | Dec 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2025

Sidney Crosby moves closer to overtaking Mario Lemieux’s franchise points record, Macklin Celebrini reaches another points milestone, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby tallied two goals to lead his Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Bryan Rust had a goal and two assists for the 13-7-5 Penguins. Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers (14-8-3) as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby has 1,716 points, putting him within eight points of overtaking Mario Lemieux’s franchise record of 1,723 points, which is eighth on the NHL’s all-time points list. The 38-year-old Penguins captain has 18 goals, putting him third behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie (20 goals each) among this season’s goal-scoring leaders.

Meanwhile, Foerster exited the game in the second period after injuring his right shoulder. There was no postgame update regarding his condition.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini collected three assists in a 6-3 win against the Utah Mammoth. Tyler Toffoli had two goals and two assists, and Will Smith scored twice and picked up an assist as the Sharks improved to 13-11-3 on the season. Lawson Crouse netted two goals for the Mammoth (12-12-3), who dropped their fourth straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is the second player to reach the 40-point plateau this season. The 19-year-old Sharks center is the third-fastest teenager in NHL history to reach 40 points in a season, doing so in 27 games. Wayne Gretzky did it in 24 games in 1980-81, and Sidney Crosby did it in 26 games in 2006-07.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks (16-9-1), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 33 points. Jordan Kyrou replied for the 9-11-1 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke collected an assist to become the first rookie to reach 20 points this season. He also extended his points streak to eight games, tying Paul Kariya’s franchise rookie record.

Blues starting goaltender Jordan Binnington was pulled halfway through the first period after giving up two goals on five shots. Earlier in the day, the Blues announced that rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud will undergo wrist surgery and will be reevaluated in six weeks, while forward Alexey Toropchenko is week-to-week after suffering burns to his legs in a home accident.

Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris tallied twice and picked up an assist in his return to action in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Norris had missed 24 games with a lower-body injury. Zach Benson and Josh Doan each had two assists as the Sabres improved to 11-11-4. Kyle Connor scored for the slumping Jets (13-12-0), who have dropped five of their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The loss prompted a players-only meeting by the Jets following this game. Their recent struggles coincide with the absence of Connor Hellebuyck. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery on Nov. 22. He’s expected to be sidelined until late December.

The Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a four-game losing skid with a four-goal rally to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-3. Charlie Coyle had a goal and two assists, Sean Monahan scored twice, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 30 shots for the 12-9-5 Blue Jackets. Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt each had two points for the Devils (16-9-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon played in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game, but had to leave this contest after he was injured in a tussle with Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov. Devils blueliner Jonas Siegenthaler was ejected following a fight with Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli for not having the fight strap on his jersey secured.

Meanwhile, Monahan left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. He’s been playing through some nagging injuries and might need to sit for a stretch.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel, and Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson are the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 30, 2025.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said defenseman Brandon Carlo suffered a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury. Carlo has returned to Toronto for further assessment. His last game was on Nov. 13 against the Los Angeles Kings.

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Mason Appleton will miss Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins with an undisclosed injury.

RG.ORG: Former Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is looking forward to his tribute night in Montreal on Tuesday. Markov played all 990 of his NHL regular-season games with the Canadiens over 16 seasons, and remains popular among Montreal fans.

TSN: Veteran forward Robby Fabbri signed a professional tryout offer with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. The 29-year-old Fabbri has appeared in 442 NHL games over the past nine seasons.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Dallas Stars had their 1999 throwback third jersey launch last week. It reportedly became the most successful one-day jersey sale in NHL history, though details have yet to be released.

SPORTSNET: Team Canada assistant coach Pete DeBoer said the ice surface for the Olympic arena currently under construction outside Milan, Italy, could be three or four feet smaller than a standard NHL arena.

Arenas under IIHF rules tend to have larger ice surfaces than the NHL. DeBoer doesn’t understand how the Milan arena could end up with a smaller surface.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As reported earlier in the week, there is no “Plan B” if the Milan arena’s construction isn’t completed in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. The construction delays and the push to completion likely account for the smaller ice surface.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

by | Nov 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

The Wild ended the Avalanche’s long win streak, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached another scoring milestone, the Canadiens re-signed Mike Matheson, the Flames re-signed general manager Craig Conroy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild extended their win streak to seven games with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, ending the latter’s win streak at 10 games. Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 39 shots, Kirill Kaprizov tallied twice (including his 200th career goal), and Matt Boldy scored the winning goal for the 14-7-4 Wild. Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 19th goal for the Avalanche (17-1-6), who picked up a point and sit atop the overall standings with 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Wild placed forward Marcus Foligno on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Kris Letang tallied in overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. With the win, the Penguins improved to 12-6-5. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-5 Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby scored his 640th career regular-season NHL goal, moving past Dave Andreychuk into 15th on the overall goal list. He also moved past Jarome Iginla into 20th place for the most multi-goal games with 109.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals, and Adam Fox picked up three assists for the Rangers (13-11-2), who picked up their third straight win. Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie replied for the 14-12-0 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha missed this game due to injuries and are listed as day-to-day. Forward Matej Blumel was placed on long-term injury reserve.

The Montreal Canadiens got a 30-save performance from Sam Montembeault to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Zach Bolduc each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (13-7-3), who picked up their third straight win. Mark Stone scored for the slumping Golden Knights (10-6-8), who are winless in their last four contests (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canadiens signed defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6 million. The 31-year-old Montreal native has been a reliable veteran presence on the Canadiens’ blueline. His cap hit is a bit pricey, but he likely would have received over $7 million annually on a longer term in next summer’s free-agent market. It’s a good move by the Habs, ensuring their top-four defensemen are all under long-term contracts.

Calgary Flames goalie Devin Cooley stopped 37 shots as his club overcame an early 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Florida Panthers. Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists for the 9-14-3 Flames, who’ve won four of their last five contests. Evan Rodrigues and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who’ve dropped three of their last four and dropped to 12-11-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Flames announced the signing of general manager Craig Conroy and fellow front-office executives Don Maloney, Dave Nonis, and Brad Pascall to two-year contract extensions. It’s a vote of confidence from Flames’ ownership despite the club’s low placement in the standings thus far.

New Jersey Devils netminder Jake Allen turned in a 42-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 5-0. Arseny Gritsyuk had two goals for the Devils (16-7-1) as they picked up their third straight victory. Alex Lyon allowed five goals on 18 shots for the Sabres, who slipped to 9-11-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Devils hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 33 points.

The Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 6-3. Yanni Gourde tallied twice, and Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to extend his points streak to eight games for the 15-7-2 Lightning, who picked up their sixth straight win. J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen each had a goal and an assist for the 13-11-1 Red Wings, who’ve lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning sit atop the Atlantic Division with 32 points, three ahead of the second-place Canadiens.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston snapped a 3-3 tie to give his club a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen each had two assists as the 16-5-4 Stars collected their third straight win. Logan Cooley, Kevin Rooney, and Jack McBain scored for the Mammoth (12-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth winger Clayton Keller played in the game despite the sudden death of his father the previous day. As a tribute, he was named the game’s first star. My sincere condolences to Keller and his family.

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 3-0 lead to the New York Islanders but picked up a 4-3 win on a shootout goal by Travis Konecny. Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for the 13-7-3 Flyers, who’ve won four of their last five games. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (13-9-3), who’ve dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. While on his way to the bench, he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae and passed to Anders Lee, who set up Emil Heineman for the Isles’ first goal.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored the tying goal and had two assists as his club nipped the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on a shootout goal by Mason McTavish. The win gave the Ducks (15-8-1) a two-point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division with 31 points. Defensemen Brandt Clarke and Brian Dumoulin each had two assists for the Kings (11-6-7), who have one win in their last five games (1-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Ducks announced that goaltender Lukas Dostal would be sidelined for two to three weeks with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Kings winger Warren Foegele missed this contest with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored to extend his goal streak to five games as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (14-9-3) as they’ve won six of their last seven contests. Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies scored for the struggling Maple Leafs (10-11-3), who are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander missed this game due to an illness, and forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch.

A hat trick by Seth Jarvis powered the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the 15-7-2 Hurricanes. Mark Scheifele replied for the slumping Jets (12-11-0) as they lost their fourth straight game.

The St. Louis Blues squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on a goal by Matthew Kessel. Jordan Binnington stopped 25 shots for the 8-10-7 Blues. Brady Tkachuk collected an assist in his return to action with the 12-8-4 Senators.

San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopped 32 shots, and Macklin Celebrini picked up two assists to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Adam Gaudette netted the winning goal for the 12-10-3 Sharks. Forwards Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (10-13-2), who have lost four of their last five games.

The Nashville Predators held off the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Luke Evangelista each had a goal and an assist for the 8-12-4 Predators. Ryan Donato, Ryan Greene, and Teuvo Teravainen replied for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost four straight and dropped to 10-9-5.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 27, 2025

by | Nov 27, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 27, 2025

Avalanche extends their win streak to 10 games, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scores after a pregame ceremony honoring two career milestones, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki reaches 400 career regular-season points, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league-leading Colorado Avalanche (17-1-5, 39 points) extended their win streak to 10 games by blanking the San Jose Sharks 6-0. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood turned in a 26-save shutout against his former club, Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, and Cale Makar collected an assist to lead all NHL defensemen with 30 points. San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov was pulled early in the second period after giving up four goals on 19 shots. The Sharks slipped to 11-10-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all NHL scorers with 18 goals and 39 points.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 908th career regular-season goal in a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored to extend his goal streak to four games as the Capitals (13-9-2) have won five of their last six games. Gabriel Vilardi tallied twice for the Jets, who’ve lost three in a row and dropped to 12-10-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals honored Ovechkin for reaching 900 career goals and 1,500 regular-season games in a pregame ceremony.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki reached the 400-point regular-season milestone with two goals and an assist to nip the Utah Mammoth 4-3. Jakub Dobes stopped 31 shots, Zach Bolduc had a goal and two assists, and Ivan Demidov tallied the winning goal as the Canadiens blew a 2-0 lead but rallied to improve their record to 12-7-3. Barrett Hayton, Kailer Yamamoto, and Michael Carcone replied for the Mammoth (12-9-3), who are 2-2-3 in their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game saw the debut of Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom. Meanwhile, Mammoth blueliner Sean Durzi returned to the lineup after missing 21 games with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Simon Nemec lifted the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists for the 15-7-1 Devils, who moved into first place in the Eastern Conference. Cam Fowler had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who dropped to 7-10-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Evgenii Dadonov is expected to be out for a period of time after suffering an undisclosed injury during Monday’s game with the Detroit Red Wings.

Two goals in the opening 90 seconds by Brandon Hagel and Charle-Edouard D’Astous powered the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Hagel and Nikita Kucherov each had a goal and an assist, and Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 31 shots as the Lightning (14-7-2) picked up their fifth straight win to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 30 points. Joel Farabee scored for the 8-14-3 Flames, whose three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames are reportedly poised to extend the contract of general manager Craig Conroy.

Boston Bruins forward Alex Steeves scored twice for his first NHL multi-goal game in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Jeremy Swayman kicked out 44 shots as the Bruins improved to 14-11-0. Mathew Barzal scored for the 13-9-2 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Islanders announced that they would not loan rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer to Canada’s World Junior Team. That’s understandable, given Schaefer’s value to the Islanders. Meanwhile, the Isles announced Jean-Gabriel Pageau is expected to return from an upper-body injury before Christmas.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry made 29 saves in his return to action to double up the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 4-2. Matt Dumba and Kevin Hayes tallied their first goals of the season for the Penguins (11-6-5), who picked up their third win in their last 10 games. Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who slipped to 9-10-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Penguins returned goaltender Sergei Murashov to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Given his solid performance during his call-up, he might not be down on the farm for long.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots in a 4-2 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. The win improved the Rangers to 12-11-2. Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two points for the Hurricanes (14-7-2), who’ve dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller picked up an assist as he returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by William Nylander lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Easton Cowan scored to tie the game for the Maple Leafs (10-10-3), who got their second win in their last nine games. Zach Werenski scored for the 11-9-3 Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last three (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Auston Matthews and Matthews Knies returned to the Maple Leafs lineup after missing several games with injuries. The Leafs also placed forward Sammy Blais on waivers.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson had a goal and two assists as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on a shootout goal by Shane Pinto. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves for the Senators, who improved to 12-7-4. Brett Howden, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone scored as the Golden Knights (10-5-8) overcame a 3-1 deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stone returned to the Golden Knights’ lineup after being sidelined since Oct.18 with an injured wrist. Meanwhile, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk confirmed he will return to action on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. He’s been out with an injured thumb since Oct. 13.

The Vancouver Canucks got a 37-save performance by call-up goalie Nikita Tolopilo in his season debut to beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. Max Sasson, Filip Hronek, and Tom Willander each collected two points for the Canucks (10-12-2), who snapped a three-game losing skid. Jackson LaCombe had a goal and two assists for the 14-8-1 Ducks, who remain in first place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks starting netminder Lukas Dostal missed this contest with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Dallas Stars defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok snapped a 2-2 tie to lift his club over the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell also scored for the Stars (15-5-4) as they extended their road points streak to 10 games. Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn tallied for the 11-6-6 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jared McCann collected an assist as he returned to the Kraken lineup after being sidelined since Oct. 18 with a lower-body injury.

The Nashville Predators ended a three-game losing skid with a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and two assists for the 7-12-4 Predators. Alex DeBrincat, James van Riemsdyk, and Ben Chiarot scored for the Red Wings (13-10-1), who’ve dropped three of their last four contests.

Four unanswered goals by Emil Andrae, Matvei Michkov, Tyson Foerster, and Sean Couturier rallied the Philadelphia Flyers from a 2-0 deficit to upset the Florida Panthers 4-2. The win improved the Flyers’ record to 12-7-3. Brad Marchand and Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers (12-10-1).

The Minnesota Wild collected their sixth straight win by downing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Kirill Kaprizov. Matt Boldy had a goal and two assists, and Filip Gustavsson turned aside 34 shots for the 13-7-4 Wild. Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks (10-8-5), who are winless in their last five contests (0-3-1).










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 25, 2025

by | Nov 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 25, 2025

A career-best single-game performance by Mammoth center Logan Cooley, a lopsided victory by the Panthers over the Predators, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley had a career-best single-game performance with four goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Karel Vejmelka made 33 saves, and Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth, who improved to 12-8-3. Ivan Barbashev replied for the 10-5-7 Golden Knights.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (NHL Images).

The Florida Panthers romped to an 8-3 drubbing of the Nashville Predators. A.J. Greer scored twice and collected an assist, while Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and two assists for the Panthers (12-9-1). Filip Forsberg, Fedor Svechkov, and Nick Blankenburg replied for the Predators, who’ve lost three straight and dropped to 6-12-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This loss came after Predators general manager Barry Trotz backed head coach Andrew Brunette while calling for his players to do more, especially on offense. However, the message fell on deaf ears.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel had two goals and an assist, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves to shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Nikita Kucherov collected three assists as the Lightning improved to 13-7-2, picking up their fourth straight win and moving into first place in the Atlantic Division with 28 points. Samuel Ersson stopped 15 of 17 shots for the Flyers, who dropped to 11-7-3 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What a difference a month makes. On Oct. 23, the Lightning were off to the worst start in franchise history, sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 1-4-2. Some observers suggested that they were past their prime and incapable of fending off the hungry younger teams in the conference. They’ve since won 12 of their last 15 games.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun tallied two goals as his club defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1. Tom Wilson and John Carlson each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (12-9-2), who’ve won four of their last five games. Denton Mateychuk scored for the 11-9-3 Blue Jackets as they dropped four of their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and winger Mathieu Olivier left this game with upper-body injuries. Winger Kirill Marchenko missed this game with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Jackets announced the signing of defenseman Brendan Smith to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Los Angeles Kings nipped the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on a third-period goal by Brandt Clarke. Warren Foegele also scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for the 11-6-6 Kings, who ended a three-game winless skid (0-1-2). Fabian Zetterlund netted the only goal for the Senators (11-7-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot missed this game as he returned to the injury list with an upper-body ailment. He’s listed as day-to-day and could return to the lineup when the Senators face the St. Louis Blues on Friday.

New Jersey Devils forwards Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Connor Brown each had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, extending their home points streak to nine games. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 32 shots for the 14-7-1 Devils, who snapped a three-game losing skid. Moritz Seider picked up two points for the Red Wings (13-9-1).

The New York Rangers snapped a four-game losing skid by dropping the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Igor Shesterkin stopped 19 shots for the win while defensemen Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov each had two assists for the Rangers, who improved to 11-11-2. Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn replied for the Blues, who dropped to 7-10-6.

NHL.COM: Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski, and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini are the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 23, 2025.