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 14, 2025

by | Nov 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 14, 2025

Panthers winger Brad Marchand nets his 1000th point, the Senators re-sign Shane Pinto, Scott Wedgewood signs an extension with the Avalanche, remembering hockey pundit Larry Brooks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S NHL ACTION

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand collected two assists, including his 1,000th career NHL regular-season point, in a 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen each had three points, and Danill Tarasov made 37 saves for the 9-7-1 Panthers. Rasmus Sandin had a goal and an assist for the struggling Capitals (8-8-1), who have two wins in their nine games.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is off to a sizzling start to this season. The 37-year-old winger leads the Panthers with 11 goals and 20 points in 16 games.

The Ottawa Senators got two goals and an assist from Tim Stutzle to defeat the Boston Bruins 5-3, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Claude Giroux and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and an assist for the Senators (9-5-4), who’ve won three of their last four contests. David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and an assist for the 11-8-0 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Senators announced Shane Pinto had agreed to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The 25-year-old center was slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July. This contract doubles Pinto’s AAV and will enable him to become eligible for unrestricted free agent status at age 29.

Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas scored twice and collected two assists to lead his club over the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. Nathan MacKinnon collected an assist to extend his points streak to 11 games as the Avalanche (12-1-5) holds first place in the overall standings with 29 points. Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist as the 5-8-4 Sabres are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Avalanche announced that Scott Wedgewood agreed to a one-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. The 33-year-old backup goalie played well as he filled in for sidelined starter Mackenzie Blackwood, leading the league with 10 wins in 14 contests.

Before this game, the Avalanche activated defenseman Samuel Girard off injured reserve. He’d been sidelined for the past 15 games.

The Dallas Stars thumped the Montreal Canadiens 7-0. Jason Robertson scored two goals and picked up an assist, Radek Faksa collected three assists, and Casey DeSmith stopped 24 shots for the shutout as the Stars (11-4-3) picked up their third straight win. Jakub Dobes got the hook after giving up five goals on 13 shots for the 10-5-2 Canadiens, who have one win in their last five games (1-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the second straight lopsided loss for the Canadiens against a bigger, more experienced Western Conference team. They still hold first place in the Atlantic Division over the Senators and Bruins based on games played, but this promising club has more work to do to compete against Stanley Cup contenders such as the Stars. In the meantime, they could be without forward Alex Newhook for a while. He left this game in the second period when he injured his right leg after he was sent crashing into the end boards.

An overtime goal by Quinton Byfield lifted the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Byfield and Drew Doughty each finished with two points for the 9-5-4 Kings, who’ve won three straight games. John Tavares scored two goals and Dennis Hildeby turned aside 33 shots for the Leafs (8-8-2), who are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs played without captain Auston Matthews and goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Matthews will be sidelined for at least a week with a lower-body injury, while Stolarz is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Leafs placed center David Kampf on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar was held scoreless in his last regular-season game in Toronto. He has never scored against the Leafs on their home ice.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat had two goals and an assist to beat the Anaheim Ducks 6-3. Patrick Kane collected two assists to reach the 1,350-point milestone as the Red Wings (10-7-0) snapped a five-game winless skid (0-4-1). Leo Carlsson’s point streak ended at 11 games as the 11-5-2 Ducks (23 points) have lost two straight games, holding a one-point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings goaltender John Gibson left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Ducks activated Ryan Strome from injured reserve for this game. It was his season debut after suffering an upper-body injury during training camp.

Columbus Blue Jackets forwards Mathieu Olivier and Charlie Coyle each had three points to nip the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 5-4. Winger Kirill Marchenko picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games as the Blue Jackets picked up their second straight win and improved to 9-7-1. Leon Draisaitl scored two goals and Connor McDavid had two assists for the Oilers, who slipped to 8-7-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner did not play in this game. He’s out with an upper-body injury and could be sidelined for a while. “It’s not short-term,” coach Dean Evason said.

The Seattle Kraken got two goals from Jordan Eberle as they rallied to a 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Vince Dunn had a goal and two assists for the Kraken as they improved to 8-4-5. Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist for the 10-7-0 Jets, who’ve lost four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Jets activated defenseman Dylan Samberg off injured reserve for this game. He made his season debut after being sidelined for six weeks.

A shorthanded overtime goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau gave the New York Islanders a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist as the Islanders (9-6-2) picked up their third straight victory. Shea Theodore, Tomas Hertl, and Reilly Smith replied for the 7-4-5 Golden Knights, who are winless in their last four (0-2-2).

The Calgary Flames got a 16-save shutout from goaltender Dustin Wolf to blank the San Jose Sharks 2-0. Blake Coleman and Samuel Honzek were the goal scorers for the 5-12-2 Flames as they ended a three-game losing streak. Yaroslav Askarov gave up one goal on 34 shots for the 8-7-3 Sharks as their four-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Long-time hockey pundit Larry Brooks passed away on Thursday at age 75 following a brief bout with cancer.

Brooks spent 38 years with the Post, covering the Rangers, Islanders, and New Jersey Devils. In 2018, he received the Elmer Ferguson Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements in covering the game. Brooks also served as president of the Professional Hockey Writers Association from 2001 to 2003.

Brooks’ passing prompted an outpouring of tributes throughout the NHL from past and present players, coaches, general managers, league executives, and pundits. Among them was former Rangers head coach John Tortorella, who had a sometimes testy relationship with Brooks. Tortorella called him an icon, adding he would be missed by the hockey community.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to Brooks’ family, friends, and his colleagues at the Post. I followed his work regularly since 1998, when I started this website. I didn’t always agree with what he wrote, but I respected his work. There was no denying that he was a well-connected, entertaining, old-school hockey scribe whose passion for the game shone through in every article that he wrote. His Sunday “Slap Shots” column was a must-read.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes skipped practice on Thursday, but head coach Adam Foote remains hopeful he’ll be able to suit up on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for boarding Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi on Wednesday.

CBS SPORTS: Speaking of the Devils, they placed forward Zack MacEwen (lower body) on injured reserve.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios is selling his Malibu beachfront mansion. The list price is nearly $60 million.










List Of Notable NHL UFA Signings and Trades – July 1, 2024

by | Jul 1, 2024

List Of Notable NHL UFA Signings and Trades – July 1, 2024

NOTE: This list will be updated throughout the day as free-agent signings become official.

Edmonton Oilers sign Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract. 

San Jose Sharks sign Alex Wennberg to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million. 

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. 

Edmonton Oilers signed Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4 million. 

New Jersey Devils signed Brenden Dillon to a three-year deal with an AAV of $4 million. 

Dallas Stars sign Matt Dumba to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. 

Carolina Hurricanes sign Sean Walker to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $3.6 million. 

Nashville Predators re-sign Alexandre Carrier to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3.75 million.

Los Angeles Kings sign Warren Foegele to a three-year deal with an AAV of $3.5 million. 

San Jose Sharks sign Tyler Toffoli to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. 

The New York Rangers acquire Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder. The Penguins also retain 25 percent of Smith’s $5 million cap hit for 2024-25. 

New Jersey Devils sign Brett Pesce to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $5.5 million.

New York Islanders sign Anthony Duclair to a four-year contract with an AAV of $3.5 million. 

Chicago Blackhawks sign Teuvo Teravainen to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million.

Calgary Flames sign Anthony Mantha to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. 

Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.

Ottawa Senators sign David Perron to a two-year deal with an AAV of $4 million.  

Buffalo Sabres sign Jason Zucker to a one-year contract worth $5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Steven Stamkos to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million. 

Seattle Kraken ink Brandon Montour to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7.14 million

Boston Bruins sign  Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7.75 million. 

Boston Bruins sign Nikita Zadorov to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Brady Skjei to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7 million. 

Vancouver Canucks sign Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million

Columbus Blue Jackets ink Sean Monahan to a five-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million

Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. 

Florida Panthers re-sign Sam Reinhart to an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8.63 million.

Tampa Bay Lightning sign Jake Guentzel to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million

Detroit Red Wings re-sign Patrick Kane to a one-year contract with a base salary of $4 million and $2.5 million in bonuses.

Chicago Blackhawks sign Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million.

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Chris Tanev to a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Max Domi to a four-year deal with an AAV of $3.75 million.

Dallas Stars re-sign Matt Duchene to a one-year, $3 million contract.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2024

by | Apr 28, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2024

The Islanders and Lightning stave off elimination, the Bruins push the Leafs to the brink, and the Stars cut their series deficit in half against the Golden Knights. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The New York Islanders staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 over the Carolina Hurricanes on a double-overtime goal by Mathew Barzal, who finished the game with two goals. Semyon Varlamov kicked out 42 shots for the Islanders while Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen scored for the Hurricanes, who hold a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round series. Game 5 is Tuesday, Apr. 30 in Carolina starting at 7:30 pm EDT.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders played desperation hockey to keep their season alive. It was Barzal’s best game of the series while Varlamov was outstanding between the pipes. The Hurricanes still dominated the play for long stretches in this game. They’ll be determined to finish this series in front of their fans in Raleigh.

Steven Stamkos scored twice and Nikita Kucherov collected three assists for the Tampa Bay Lightning to avoid being swept from the first round by dropping the Florida Panthers 6-3. Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Victor Hedman each had three points for the Lightning. Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for the Panthers to cut the Lightning’s lead to 4-3 before Stamkos and Nick Paul put the game out of reach. The Panthers hold a 3-1 lead in this series, which returns to Sunrise, Florida for Game 5 on Monday, Apr. 29 at 7 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning got a big lift with the surprising return of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev for his first game since breaking his left leg in February. He collected an assist on Hagel’s second goal of the game. The Bolts’ power play was a big factor, going two-for-five with the man advantage.

The Boston Bruins are a win away from eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs following their 3-1 victory in Game 4. Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist and Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins, who hold a 3-1 series lead and can wrap things up on Tuesday in Boston starting at 7 pm EDT. Mitch Marner scored his first of the series for the Leafs while an illness forced Auston Matthews from the game after the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins did a masterful job shutting down the Leafs offense. They also went one-for-three on the power play and killed off three penalties. Ilya Samsonov gave up three goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Joseph Woll for the third period.

The Leafs’ frustration was evident as the game progressed, culminating in TV cameras catching Matthews, Marner and William Nylander in animated conversation on the bench. After the game, the players denied any tension between them but it’s apparent they’re struggling to find a way to beat the Bruins.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, reducing their deficit in this series to two games to one. Miro Heiskanen scored to give the Stars a 2-0 lead before Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel tied the game to force the extra frame. Jake Oettinger made 32 saves for the Stars while Logan Thompson stopped 42 for the Golden Knights. Game 4 goes on Monday in Las Vegas with a 9:30 pm EDT start.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon is listed as day-to-day and received no structural damage to his left hand after being cut by a skate blade during a scuffle at the end of Game 3 of their first-round series with the Colorado Avalanche.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney is week-to-week with an upper-body injury after being hit by Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua during Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday.

Predators forward Michael McCarron was fined $2,000.00 for goaltender interference after knocking down Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith behind his net during Friday’s game between the two clubs.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Jaromir Jagr intends to play for his hometown team Rytiri Kladno in 2024-25 but indicated it will be his last professional season. The 52-year-old played just 15 regular-season games for Kladno this season, spending two months in the United States as the Pittsburgh Penguins retired his No. 68. He also became the oldest player to score a goal in professional hockey, surpassing the legendary Gordie Howe.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 30, 2024

by | Mar 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – March 30, 2024

Will the Canucks re-sign defensemen Filip Hronek and Nikita Zadorov? Could the Blackhawks target defensemen in this summer’s free-agent market? Check out the latest in the NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATES ON HRONEK AND ZADOROV

SEKERES AND PRICE: Frank Seravalli recently appeared on the podcast where he discussed Vancouver Canucks defensemen Filip Hronek and Nikita Zadorov.

Hronek is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Seravalli believes the 26-year-old blueliner has played an important role in the Canucks’ improvement this season. He believes management shouldn’t have any issues paying him an average annual value of $8 million on an eight-year deal.

That would exceed the $7.85 million annually being earned by Quinn Hughes through 2026-27. However, he doubted that the Canucks captain would be upset that Hronek would make $150K more than him per season, pointing out that he’ll likely get $14 million annually on his next contract.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (NHL Images).

Seravalli believes paying Hronek $8 million per season for eight years won’t hurt the Canucks cap down the road. By 2028-29, the cap should be around $120 million to $125 million. “$8 million is nothing by that point,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hronek is completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.4 million. He’s enjoying a career-best performance with 40 assists and 45 points in 73 games and should exceed the 50-point plateau before the end of the season.

The Canucks will sign Hronek to a long-term deal to avoid arbitration. I don’t think it’s a problem for them if he’s seeking around $8 million annually. They could quibble a bit over the length of the deal but it will likely come in at seven or eight years.

Quinn signed his current contract following his sophomore season. It was a hefty raise coming off his entry-level deal. I doubt he’ll care if Hronek makes a little more than he does over the next two years. By July 2026, the Canucks captain will likely have signed an expensive extension worth far more than what Hronek will be earning.

Zadorov, meanwhile, is finishing up a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. Seravalli doesn’t think the Canucks will re-sign the 28-year-old defenseman.

Seravalli believes Zadorov’s asking price will be around $5 million annually. He said the Calgary Flames knew his number would start with a five, which made it easier for them to trade him to Vancouver earlier this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks had to boost their defense corps in the short term. They were willing to make that short-term move for Zadorov even at the risk of losing him this summer to free agency.

They could try to keep Zadorov following this season. However, they won’t have enough room to meet Zadorov’s asking price if they sign Hronek to a deal worth $8 million annually.

LATEST BLACKHAWKS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers believed the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks are expected to add forwards to their roster in the offseason. He also thinks they could make a change or two among their defensemen.

Powers doesn’t expect the Blackhawks to sign a big-name free agent to an expensive long-term contract. They’ll likely be interested in short-term options.

Those who fall into that category include Brenden Dillon of the Winnipeg Jets, Justin Schultz of the Seattle Kraken, Ian Cole of the Vancouver Canucks and Chris Tanev of the Dallas Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those defensemen are in their mid-thirties. They’re at the stage of their career where they could be receptive to short-term deals. One or two could bring much-needed experience and leadership to the rebuilding Blackhawks blueline.

Tanev might not be available to the Blackhawks. The 34-year-old shutdown defenseman drew plenty of interest at the trade deadline from contenders like the Stars. If he doesn’t stay in Dallas after this season, the clubs that lost out to the Stars could revisit their interest this summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 8, 2024

by | Feb 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 8, 2024

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the latest on the Coyotes’ arena saga, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers picked up their third straight win by downing the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1. Jimmy Vesey scored twice and Jonathan Quick stopped 18 shots for the 32-16-3 Rangers as they sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 67 points. Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay (27-19-5) while Nikita Kucherov collected an assist to regain the lead in the NHL scoring race with 86 points. With 59 points, the Lightning slipped to the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning also lost defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to what appeared to be a serious injury to his lower left leg in the second period following a collision with Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere. Sergachev was stretchered from the ice and it’s expected he’ll be out of action for a while.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares (NHL Images).

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored two goals and collected an assist in a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars. John Tavares had a goal and two assists while Auston Matthews tallied his league-leading 41st goal of the season for the Maple Leafs (26-15-8) as they vaulted over the Lightning into third place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. Evgenii Dadonov scored two goals for the 31-14-6 Stars as they sit in second place in the Central Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Tavares, The Canadian Press reports (via TSN) that the Leafs captain is taking the Canada Revenue Agency to court to have the reassessment of his 2018 tax return annulled.

According to the CRA reassessment, Tavares’ income was determined to be $17.8 million higher than reported and he was ordered to repay $6.8 million in taxes plus $1.2 million in interest. The report indicates the $17.8 million accounts for a $15.25 million US signing bonus in the first year of his contract which “was integral to Tavares’ decision” to accept the deal.

The Minnesota Wild nipped the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Marcus Foligno snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period for the 22-23-5 Wild. Nick Foligno scored for the 14-35-2 Blackhawks, who’ve lost five straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Wild announced winger Pat Maroon underwent back surgery and will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks. Maroon has surfaced in the rumor mill as a trade candidate but this news could ensure he finishes the season in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson (foot) was activated off injured reserve for this game.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said things don’t sound promising for the Arizona Coyotes’ efforts to purchase a piece of state land that is up for auction to build a new arena and entertainment complex.

Friedman doesn’t want to jump to conclusions because “deadlines are movable”. However, he said if there is going to be an announcement by this weekend or very soon regarding the purchase of that land, “it doesn’t seem to be good for the current ownership group.”

Speaking of the Coyotes’ ownership, Friedman thinks that “we’re coming to the end of the line”. If there isn’t a new arena plan in place soon, he speculates they could begin the process of selling the team or the NHL taking over and selling the club to somebody else.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predictions of the Coyotes’ relocation have been flying around for nearly two decades. This time, however, there seems to be a different vibe to the speculation. There’s a sense the NHL Board of Governors is running out of patience with this franchise.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been the biggest champion for keeping the Coyotes in Arizona. Nevertheless, he could finally admit defeat if he lacked BoG support on this issue.

I also think it’s more than a coincidence that a prospective ownership group in Salt Lake City recently made a very public expression of interest in bringing an NHL franchise to their city. If the Coyotes go up for sale, they could be on their way to Utah.

The Coyotes saga seems destined to end in relocation but I won’t rejoice if it happens. My thoughts will be with the club’s fans. Contrary to popular belief, the Coyotes drew reasonably well during many difficult years. Unfortunately, their supporters have been let down by decades of mismanagement and ongoing uncertainty over the club’s future.

TSN: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk laments what is shaping up to be another lost season for the franchise.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This one probably hurts a lot more for Tkachuk given how much excitement there was entering this season following the sale of the club last summer to billionaire Michael Andlauer. The Sens captain has four more years left on his contract and he’s stated repeatedly he wants to turn this team into a winner. However, Tkachuk’s patience will be tested if new general manager Steve Staios struggles like his predecessor did.

Speaking of the Senators, Vladimir Tarasenko has changed agents again.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more about Tarasenko in today’s Rumors update.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon received a three-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for an illegal hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins rookie forward Matthew Poitras will be sidelined for five months after undergoing successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: The Flames signed forward Martin Pospisil to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1 million.