NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 15, 2025

by | Feb 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 15, 2025

Previewing Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off Games and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF NEWS

TSN/SPORTSNET/THE SCORE: Canada and the United States practiced Friday in preparation for their much-anticipated match-up on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Players from both clubs look forward to the next chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the two hockey nations.

Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby called it a game that you love to be a part of, regardless of previous experience. “Excited for the challenge,” he said. Teammate Brad Marchand said there was no bigger rivalry. “They’re the games that everybody dreams about playing growing up.”

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk led Team USA to their 6-1 victory over Finland on Thursday. Brady considers Saturday’s tilt against Canada the biggest game he’s ever played in his career. “Bigger than just the guys on the ice,” he said.

The last time Matthew Tkachuk faced Canada was in a 4-2 victory for Team USA in the preliminary round of the 2016 World Junior Championship. “I think I’ve thought about this game for nine years, so we’ll be ready for it,” said Tkachuk.

Team USA center J.T. Miller expects his team to be fired up when they face Canada on their home turf. Teammate Noah Hanifin expects it will be the most intense environment he’s ever been a part of.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the marquee matchup of the tournament. The two clubs could also end up facing each other again in the championship game in Boston on Feb. 20.

Travis Sanheim will replace Shea Theodore on Canada’s defense. Theodore was sidelined by an upper-body injury in Canada’s 4-3 win over Sweden and is considered week-to-week.

Sam Bennett will replace Travis Konecny among Canada’s forward lines. He skated alongside Marchand during practice on Friday.

Canada’s top defenseman Cale Makar skipped Friday’s practice due to illness but is expected to play against the Americans on Saturday. Canada has been granted permission to bring in blueliner Thomas Harley if Makar remains sidelined.

Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty spoke out against Canadian fans booing the American anthem before Thursday’s game between Team USA and Finland. “I know what’s going on and I understand Canadians’ frustration,” said Doughty. “But I think we should respect the anthems…I don’t think anyone should be booing.”

Canadian coach Jon Cooper hadn’t named his starting goalie for Saturday’s game. Jordan Binnington allowed three goals on 26 shots against Sweden on Wednesday. Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights and Samuel Montembault of the Montreal Canadiens are Canada’s other goalies.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Is this a mind game Cooper is playing against the Americans or a genuine lack of confidence in Binnington on his part? We’ll know for sure by game time if not sooner.

NHL.COM: Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks will get the start in goal for Finland in Saturday’s game against Sweden on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal (1 PM ET). Juuse Saros gave up six goals on 31 shots against the Americans on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a must-win game for Finland. A regulation loss will eliminate them from reaching the championship game on Feb. 20.

NHL.com writers selected Sweden’s Quarter-Century Team on Friday.

The First Team comprised goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Erik Karlsson, and forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Nicklas Backstrom.

The Second Team featured forwards Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin and Henrik Zetterberg, defensemen Victor Hedman and Niklas Kronwall, and goalie Jacob Markstrom.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some might question why Forsberg and Sundin aren’t on the First Team. That’s because most of their best seasons occurred in the 1990s. Forsberg won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy in 2002-03 but injuries hampered him throughout the first decade of this century.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Kaapo Kakko has found the role with the Seattle Kraken that he always wanted with the Rangers. He’s seeing first-line duty alongside center Matty Beniers and winger Jaden Schwartz as well as playing on the top power-play unit. Following a period of adjustment where he scored one goal in his first three games, Kaako improved in his next 21 games with 16 points over that stretch.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski recently reported the Sabres have opened contract extension talks with Jason Zucker. The 33-year-old winger is currently on a one-year, $5 million deal.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed versatile forward Sam Steel to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension. The average annual value is $2.1 million beginning in 2025-26.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins traded minor-league winger Corey Andonovski to the St. Louis Blues organization for minor-league forward Mathias Laferriere.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 9, 2025

by | Feb 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 9, 2025

Multi-point performances from Brandon Hagel, Ryan O’Reilly, Matthew Tkachuk, Matt Duchene, Sebastian Aho, and more highlight Saturday’s games in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A four-goal first period carried the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Brandon Hagel scored two goals and collected two assists while Nikita Kucherov picked up three assists as the Lightning moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 64 points. Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists while Vladimir Tarasenko tallied his 300th NHL regular-season goal.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings remain in the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 61 points.

Nashville Predators forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Jonathan Marchessault each had four points in a 6-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. O’Reilly collected four assists and Marchessault a goal and three assists. Filip Forsberg and Brady Skjei each scored twice for the Predators. Sabres winger Alex Tuch had a goal and two assists.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and assisted on two others as his club defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-1. Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist as the Panthers erupted for four goals in the second period. Matthew’s brother Brady Tkachuk scored for the Senators, who got a 43-save performance from Linus Ullmark.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 71 points while the Senators have lost three straight games, dropping into the first Eastern wild-card berth with 62 points.

The Dallas Stars overcame a 2-0 deficit to thump the San Jose Sharks 8-3. Matt Duchene scored twice and collected an assist for the second straight game while Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist. William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund and Walker Duehr scored for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars sit second in the Central Division with 72 points. Sharks forward Klim Kostin returned to action after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each scored twice in a 7-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Aho finished with three points and Jarvis with four while Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 36 shots as the Hurricanes remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points. Clayton Keller scored twice for Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a milestone game for Aho, joining Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Detroit’s Patrick Kane, and Toronto’s John Tavares and Auston Matthews as the only active NHL players to score 20 goals in each of their first nine seasons. Ovechkin leads that group with 20 seasons. Meanwhile, Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen missed this contest with a lower-body injury.

The Philadelphia Flyers held off the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 to end a five-game losing skid. Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist while Samuel Ersson made 31 saves for the Flyers while the Penguins got goals from Erik Karlsson and Anthony Beauvillier. Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen missed this game with an injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. His status for Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Penguins placed winger Bryan Rust on injured reserve, recalled goaltender Tristan Jarry from the AHL affiliate, and placed winger Jesse Puljujarvi on unconditional waivers as they are granting his request to terminate his contract. Puljujarvi intends to explore other options in Europe.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 43 shots in regulation and overtime to nip the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Trevor Zegras and Leo Carlsson scored in the shootout rounds to give the Ducks their third straight win. Kings forward Adrian Kempe tallied his 25th of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the 4 Nations Face-Off, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was named to Canada’s roster as Alex Pietrangelo’s replacement. The Kings recalled goalie Pheonix Copley on an emergency basis and placed defenseman Mikey Anderson on injured reserve.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy scored twice and picked up an assist as his club overcame a 3-1 deficit for a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders. Filip Gustavsson turned aside 31 shots for the Wild as they sit third in the Central Division with 70 points. Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri each had a goal and an assist as the Islanders (57 points)dropped their second straight game and sit four points out of the final Eastern wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders also announced that forward Mathew Barzal underwent a procedure on his injured left kneecap on Thursday. He could be sidelined for six weeks.

The New York Rangers got two unanswered third-period goals from Urho Vaakanainen and Will Cuylle for a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jonathan Quick stopped 22 shots as the Rangers (58 points) sit three points out of the final Eastern wild card. Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski collected an assist to extend his home points streak to 21 games as his club remains out of that wild-card spot with 60 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers starting goalie Igor Shesterkin will be sidelined for one-to-two weeks with an upper-body injury. He could be ready to return to action by the end of the upcoming two-week 4 Nations Face-Off.

The New Jersey Devils got a 34-save shutout from Jake Allen to blank the Montreal Canadiens 4-0, handing the latter their seventh loss in their last eight contests. Devils forwards Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had a goal and an assist as their club sits two points back of the Hurricanes in third place in the Metro Division. With 55 points, the Canadiens join the Flyers and Penguins sitting six points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was talk a week ago of the Canadiens hanging onto pending UFAs like David Savard, Joel Armia, Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak as “own rentals” for a playoff run. Their recent skid makes it more likely that those four will be peddled by the March 7 trade deadline.

St. Louis Blues forward Radek Faksa scored in the 10th round of the shootout to give his club a 6-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Robert Thomas, Philip Broberg and Mathieu Joseph each had a goal and an assist for the Blues while Ilya Mikheyev had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Ryan Suter became the third American player in league history to play 1,500 regular-season games.

A third-period goal by Tomas Hertl with 1:10 remaining lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the Boston Bruins 4-3. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore each collected two points for the Golden Knights as they sit second in the Pacific Division with 72 points. Brad Marchand scored his 20th goal while Nikita Zadorov had a goal and an assist as the Bruins remain one point behind the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser scored in the third period in a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Filip Hronek also scored while Kevin Lankinen stopped 21 shots for the win following Thatcher Demko’s departure in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Morgan Rielly scored for the Leafs (68 points), who sit three points behind the Panthers in second place in the Atlantic Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said Demko’s injury isn’t considered serious and confirmed he didn’t reinjure his knee. The Canucks sit in the final Western wild-card berth with 63 points.

An overtime goal by Matty Beniers completed a three-goal comeback for the Seattle Kraken to defeat the Calgary Flames 3-2. Shane Wright and Andre Burakovsky also scored for the Kraken while Morgan Frost and Nazem Kadri tallied for the Flames, who sit three points behind the Canucks for that final Western wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour left this game following the first period with an undisclosed injury. There was no postgame update on his status.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2025

by | Jan 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Kings and Predators reveal their Quarter-Century Teams, the Blues and Brandon Saad mutually agree to terminate his contract, the Kraken put Philipp Grubauer on waivers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (NHL Images).

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils got two-point performances from Jack and Luke Hughes in a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jack and Luke each had a goal and an assist while Jake Allen made 24 saves for the shutout as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points. Flyers winger Owen Tippett left the game with an undisclosed injury following an open-ice hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. With 52 points, the Flyers sit three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils captain Nico Hischier missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson will replace sidelined Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom on Team Sweden in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes collected two assists as his club defeated the Nashville Predators 3-1. Thatcher Demko stopped 31 shots and rookie forward Linus Karlsson tallied his first NHL goal for the Canucks (56 points) as they sit one point ahead of the Calgary Flames in the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Tommy Novak replied for the Predators as they’ve dropped two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks forward Dakota Joshua returned to action after missing 11 games with an injured leg.

An overtime goal by Sidney Crosby lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 27 shots as the Penguins (50 points) are five points behind the Lightning in the Eastern wild-card race. Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, who are six points behind the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Utah Hockey Club has narrowed its prospective team names to three choices: the current name, the Utah Mammoth, and the Utah Wasatch. Fans will vote during Utah’s next four home games.

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky kicked out 29 shots to blank the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. Matthew Tkachuk scored and picked up two assists as the Panthers vaulted over the Toronto Maple Leafs into first place in the Atlantic Division with 63 points. Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty made his season debut after being sidelined by a broken ankle since preseason. The Kings are third in the Pacific Division with 58 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doughty’s return to the Kings lineup resulted in young defenseman Brandt Clarke being a healthy scratch.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Filip Gustavsson made 32 saves and Jared Spurgeon netted what proved to be the winning goal for the Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 64 points. William Nylander tallied for the Leafs (62 points) as their losing skid extended to three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Max Pacioretty was activated off injured reserve for this game. Winger Matthews Knies went on IR with an upper-body injury but could return to action on Saturday.

HEADLINES

The Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators unveiled their Quarter-Century Teams on Wednesday.

Forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez, and goaltender Jonathan Quick made up the Kings’ First Team. The Second Team comprised forwards Justin Williams, Adrian Kempe and Zigmund Palffy, defensemen Mattias Norstrom and Lubomir Visnovsky, and goalie Felix Potvin.

The Predators’ First Team featured goaltender Pekka Rinnie, defensemen Roman Josi and Shea Weber, and forwards Filip Forsberg, Paul Kariya and Mike Fisher. The Second Team comprised forwards David Legwand, Ryan Johansen and Steve Sullivan, defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Kimmo Timonen, and goalie Juuse Saros.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues and winger Brandon Saad agreed to terminate his contract once he clears unconditional waivers today. Saad had a year remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million. He had cleared waivers and was slated to be assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad will become an unrestricted free agent, enabling him to sign with another team. I’ll have more about him and the Blues in today’s Rumor Mill update.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken placed goaltender Philipp Grubauer on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Kraken doesn’t have to send down Grubauer but gives them the option. Given his contract, he’s unlikely to be claimed by another NHL team. This also raises questions about his future with the team, including a potential contract buyout in June.

Grubauer was the Kraken’s starter when he signed his contract in 2021 but Joey Daccord outplayed him for the job last season. He’s struggled this season with a 3.83 goals-against average and an. 866 save percentage.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadriceps muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle is the Canadiens’ best shutdown defenseman so his absence is a big blow to the blueline in their quest for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve recalled Jayden Struble from his conditioning stint in Laval.

TSN: Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins is out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek was assigned to his club’s AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint as he works his way back from a fractured cheekbone.

NESN: The Boston Bruins are talking with former captain Zdeno Chara about returning to the club as a front-office consultant.

RG.ORG: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was surprised by Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer suggesting his club play some regular-season games in Quebec City.

He made those remarks during a recent press conference announcing his team will play two preseason games there in September.

Andlauer also said he believes Quebec City deserves an NHL franchise but acknowledged that’s not his decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andlauer will likely get a gentle reminder from the commissioner’s office about speaking out of turn regarding potential NHL expansion destinations.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2025

by | Jan 28, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, the Sharks unveil their Quarter-Century Team, the mid-season Rookie All-Stars are revealed, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond had a goal and three assists as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2. Marco Kasper tallied twice and collected an assist as the Wings (53 points) sit two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield scored for the slumping Kings (58 points), who hold third place in the Pacific Division but have dropped six of their last eight games.

Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a big night for Detroit forward Dominik Shine. The 31-year-old forward made his NHL debut after spending nine seasons with the Red Wings AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. He saw 9:50 minutes of ice time and logged two hits and a blocked shot.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty hopes he’ll get an opportunity to replace Alex Pietrangelo for Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. Doughty’s been sidelined with a fractured ankle since preseason but hopes to return to action in time for the tournament. Pietrangelo withdrew citing an injury.

The Vancouver Canucks got two goals from Conor Garland in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Quinn Hughes picked up two assists while Tyler Myers and Pius Suter had two points each as the Canucks (54 points) moved to within one point of the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington gave up three goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Joel Hofer in the second period. The Blues have lost three straight and sit four points back of the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues traded Scott Perunovich to the New York Islanders for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026. The 26-year-old defenseman played sparingly for the Blues as injuries and inconsistent play frequently sidelined him. The Isles hope a change of scenery will improve his performance as they bring him in to replace Ryan Pulock, who is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Meanwhile, Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored in his return from a three-game suspension to double up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who’ve won seven of their last nine games to sit atop the Pacific Division with 67 points. Eeli Tolvanen and Vince Dunn replied for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (75 points) collected an assist to move within two points of Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in the points race.

The Philadelphia Flyers got a two-point performance from Scott Laughton (one goal, one assist) in a 4-2 upset of the New Jersey Devils. Travis Konecny and Rasmus Ristolainen each had two assists while Samuel Ersson stopped 31 shots as the Flyers (52 points) moved within three points of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 62 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier missed this contest due to illness.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini snapped a 1-1 tie to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Mikael Granlund also scored and Yaroslav Askarov made 29 saves as the Sharks snapped a six-game losing skid. Sidney Crosby replied for the Penguins, who’ve lost seven of their last nine and are seven points behind the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins placed sidelined center Evgeni Malkin (undisclosed) on injured reserve and recalled winger Jesse Puljujarvi. Meanwhile, Fenway Sports Group is reportedly looking to sell a minority stake while retaining a controlling stake in the team.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Sharks unveiled their Quarter-Century Team on Monday.

Forwards Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski highlight the First Team, which includes defensemen Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

The Second Team features forwards Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Owen Nolan, defensemen Erik Karlsson and Dan Boyle, and goaltender Martin Jones.

Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf are among the players chosen for the NHL’s midseason Rookie All-Star Team. The roster also comprised Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allen.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, and Utah Hockey Club forward Barrett Hayton are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 26.

TSN: Mikko Rantanen said he was blindsided by the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The pending unrestricted free-agent forward said he was willing to accept a significant discount from his market value to stay with the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen’s discount wasn’t significant enough to keep him in Colorado. Pierre LeBrun reported the two sides discussed a contract extension but the club believed the gap between them couldn’t be breached, leading to the trade.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year, $35.1 million contract. The average annual value is $5.85 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson’s getting a significant raise over the $766,667 he’s earning this season. He’s been outstanding for the Capitals since his acquisition from the Vegas Golden Knights last summer. Management must also decide the fate of backup goalie Charlie Lindgren, who is UFA-eligible and playing well in his contract year.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg received a two-game suspension from the department of player safety for an illegal hit on Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher on Saturday.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: An immigration issue is delaying Oilers defenseman John Klingberg from joining the team. He’s expected to make his season debut later this week.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Buffalo Sabres placed winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel on waivers.

TSN: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have informed the International Ice Hockey Federation they intend to move forward on the 2028 World Cup of Hockey without IIHF involvement. They hope to announce the World Cup during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators created a furor among their fans when team mascot Spartacat donned a jersey that was half-Senators and half-Quebec Nordiques as part of the club’s announcement it would play two preseason games this fall in Quebec City.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The outrage among Sens fans reached the point where team president Cyril Leeder took to social media to apologize for their mascot’s split jersey and allay concerns that the club might be relocating.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 5, 2024

by | Oct 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 5, 2024

The Devils down the Sabres in the opening game of the 2024-25 season, a recap of preseason action, Utah Hockey Club names a captain, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DEVILS WIN FIRST GAME OF THE 2024-25 NHL SEASON

NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the opening game of the 2024-25 season before 16, 913 fans at O2 Arena in the 2024 NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

It was a game of firsts for several Devils’ offseason additions. Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves for the win in his first game with the Devils, Johnathan Kovacevic and Paul Cotter picked up their first points (one goal, one assist each) with the club, and Sheldon Keefe got his first win as their head coach.

Owen Power scored for the Sabres. Game 2 of their Global Series is Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres also made some offseason changes and have a new head coach (Lindy Ruff) but produced the same old result. The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski pointed out that they once again gave up an early multi-goal deficit, failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and couldn’t overcome their mistakes.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had a goal and four assists to defeat the New York Rangers 5-2. Bo Horvat tallied twice and Anthony Duclair scored and collected two assists. Adam Fox had a goal and an assist and K’Andre Miller picked up two assists for the Rangers.

The Ottawa Senators nipped the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on an overtime goal by Noah Gregor. Ridly Greig and Carter Yakemchuk each had two assists and Anton Forsberg made 30 saves for the Senators. Marco Kasper scored two goals for the Red Wings.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Lars Eller scored two goals and set up two others as his club thumped the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3. Noel Acciari tallied twice and Rutger McGroarty and Jesse Puljujarvi each had a goal and two assists for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets placed winger Dmitry Voronkov (upper body) on injured reserve earlier in the day. Captain Boone Jenner missed this game after suffering an upper-body injury during practice.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Martin Necas picked up two assists for the Hurricanes. Anthony Cirelli replied for the Lightning

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-1. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists while teammates Brock Faber, Marco Rossi and Jonas Brodin each scored a goal and picked up an assist. Seth Jones scored for the Blackhawks.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves to backstop his club to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Kyle Connor snapped a 2-2 tie late in the third period for the Jets. Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Yegor Sharangovich left the game in the third period after an awkward fall. He was still being evaluated following the game.

The Vancouver Canucks downed the Edmonton Oilers 4-1. Arshdeep Bains and Jake DeBrusk each had a goal and an assist and Elias Pettersson picked up two assists for the Canucks. Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers.

A shootout goal by Cutter Gauthier lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Gauthier also scored in regulation. Vitek Vanecek made 40 saves for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks sent goaltender Yaroslav Askarov to their AHL affiliate earlier in the day. Askarov made headlines in August with his refusal to join the Nashville Predators’ farm team, resulting in his trade to the Sharks.

Askarov was expected to challenge Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood for one of the two goaltending jobs on the Sharks. However, an injury combined with solid camps by Vanecek and Blackwood sends Askarov to the AHL to start the season.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Utah Hockey Club named Clayton Keller as their team captain. The 26-year-old was their leading scorer last season with 33 goals and 76 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keller is the club’s first captain since Oliver Ekman-Larsson was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2021.

TSN: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair his fractured ankle. He remains month-to-month.

SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Nick Robertson, Jake McCabe, and Calle Jarnkrok are listed as day-to-day with injuries.

LAS VEGAS SUN: The Golden Knights signed winger Tanner Pearson to a one-year, $775K contract after joining the club last month on a professional tryout offer.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Campbell’s performance deteriorated noticeably over the past two seasons. Here’s hoping he gets the help he needs to get his life and career back on track.

DAILY FACEOFF: Ethan Bear is among the players placed on waivers Friday. The Washington Capitals defenseman is in the second season of his two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.062 million.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL forward Artem Anisimov, 36, officially announced his retirement on Friday. From 2008-09 to 2020-21, he tallied 180 goals and 196 assists for 376 points in 771 regular-season games with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators. He also had 17 points in 43 playoff contests.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 28, 2024

by | Sep 28, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 28, 2024

How will the Kings replace the sidelined Drew Doughty on their blueline? What’s the latest on Flyers goalie Alexei Kolosov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman wondered how the Los Angeles Kings will replace sidelined Drew Doughty. The 34-year-old defenseman requires surgery to repair a broken ankle and is listed as month-to-month.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (NHL Images).

Friedman pondered which right-handed defensemen remain available in the free-agent market, mentioning Justin Schultz and Kevin Shattenkirk. He also suggested a rearguard could become available via waivers.

The Kings could also promote Kyle Burroughs, Brandt Clarke or Jordan Spence as Doughty’s replacement. Friedman doubts they’ll move Clarke because they added Joel Edmundson to pair with him.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens also examined the Kings’ options to replace Doughty.

Stephens thinks it’ll have to be a collective effort by the Kings blueline to offset Doughty’s absence. He noted they already planned to lean more on Clarke and Spence this season. He Stephens also suggested Tyson Barrie, Shattenkirk, or Schultz as external free-agent options if Doughty is out long-term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have over $1.7 million in cap space to put toward adding a defenseman via waivers, trade, or free agency. They could also exceed the cap by placing Doughty and his $11 million annual cap hit on long-term injury reserve to address that issue.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Kings address this situation. They could look to within but it wouldn’t be surprising if they also opt for an affordable veteran addition.

RG.ORG: Sergey Demidov cites a source claiming Alexei Kolosov returned to North America to personally meet with Philadelphia Flyers management to terminate his NHL contract.

The source said the 22-year-old netminder’s goal is to negotiate the termination of his contract and return to KHL club Dinamo Minsk, where his salary has been reserved for this season. He doesn’t want to play in North America, but the KHL won’t allow him to play for Dinamo while under an NHL contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kolosov participated in the Flyers’ practice on Friday. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes he might get into one of their four remaining preseason games and could start this season with their AHL affiliate. The goalie also has a European assignment clause and could return to the KHL if he hasn’t played in the NHL by a certain date.