NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2026

by | Jun 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2026

The latest on the Canucks, Penguins, and Avalanche in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma looked at the challenges that Ryan Johnson will face as the new general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Among them is how he will advance the Canucks’ rebuilding process. Kuzma wondered what winger Jake DeBrusk might fetch in this summer’s trade market.

Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).

Kuzma also mused over whether Johnson would be interested in Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher to bring some leadership to his rebuilding roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk, 29, has four years left on his contract with a reasonable average annual value of $5.5 million. He’s a streaky scorer, but he has tallied 20-plus goals five times and 40-plus points seven times in his nine NHL seasons, including in this tumultuous campaign for the Canucks. He could bring back a decent return of futures.

Gallagher has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. He has a six-team no-trade clause, but indicated he’s open to returning to his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Whether a deal can be worked out to send him there remains to be seen.

SKINNER, MANTHA TO TEST THE UFA MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports goaltender Stuart Skinner and winger Anthony Mantha are unlikely to return with the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.

Skinner and Mantha are UFA-eligible on July 1. The Penguins are expected to re-sign goalie Arturs Silovs and pair him with Sergei Murashov next season, which would spell the end of Skinner’s brief tenure in Pittsburgh. They wouldn’t mind signing Mantha to a short-term deal, but he’s seeking a long-term contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner and Mantha were meant to be short-term additions.

They took on Skinner to move out the struggling Tristan Jarry and his burdensome contract, using him to buy time until they were certain that Silovs and Mursahov would be a decent tandem. Mantha was an affordable one-year veteran signing as they continue to transition younger forwards into the lineup.

POSSIBLE GM CANDIDATES FOR THE AVALANCHE

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak listed eight potential candidates to replace Chris MacFarland as general manager of the Colorado Avalanche.

MacFarland departed the Avalanche earlier this week to become president and general manager of the Nashville Predators.

One option is Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who has taken over the GM role for the foreseeable future. He previously filled that position from 2014 to 2022, winning the Jim Gregory GM of the Year award in 2022.

Other internal possibilities are special assistant to the GM Andrew Cogliano, assistant GM Kevin McDonald, and director of analytics Arik Parnass.

External options could include Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Tyler Dellow, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Chris Clark, and former Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche don’t appear to be in a hurry to replace MacFarland, probably because Sakic’s there to hold the fort until they have sufficient time to find a full-time GM. They could have a new guy in place before the start of the regular season in October, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Sakic remains in the role until next offseason.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 4, 2026

by | Jun 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 4, 2026

Lightning coach Jon Cooper wins the Jack Adams Award, the latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, plus updates on Anders Lee, Jonathan Toews, Brendan Gallagher, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is this season’s winner of the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year. The longest-serving active coach, Cooper guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record and a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper (NHL.com)

Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres and Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins were runners-up.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Cooper on this long-overdue recognition of his coaching abilities. He should’ve won this award much earlier in his NHL career.

Personally, I think it should’ve gone to Ruff or Muse. Their respective teams weren’t expected to do much this season, but they exceeded expectations and qualified for the playoffs. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t detract from this belated acknowledgement of Cooper’s accomplishments.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights hold a 1-0 lead in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, but they know their 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 wasn’t their best effort. “We’re going to have to play better,” coach John Tortorella said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights fell behind 2-0 early in Game 1. They rallied to take 3-2 and 4-3 leads, only to have the Hurricanes tie the score. It took a goal by Tomas Hertl late in the third period to give the Golden Knights the win.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Hurricanes need production from their top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis if they want to defeat the Golden Knights and win the Stanley Cup. They’ve had the occasional goal and a few dangerous shifts in this postseason, but nothing of the level of offense expected of them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarvis has eight points in this postseason while Aho and Svechnikov each have seven points. Half of their production came in the Eastern Conference Final against the overmatched Montreal Canadiens. They had no points in Game 1 against the Golden Knights.

The Hurricanes reached this stage partly because the second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake offset the offensive struggles of the Aho line. Nevertheless, winning the Cup will be more difficult if the top line fails to regain its form. If they don’t, and if the Golden Knights successfully contain the Stankoven line, the Hurricanes will be in big trouble.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is preparing to test the open market. The 35-year-old left wing is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

LeBrun claimed both sides remain far apart in negotiations, though they intend to keep trying.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lee has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Islanders. He’s completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million. LeBrun recently reported the Isles want to re-sign Lee, but they need to make some other moves first. That could mean one or two cost-cutting trades. They have over $10.6 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, but would like to add more scoring punch.

LeBrun’s colleague, Darren Dreger, reports Jonathan Toews is leaning toward retirement. The 38-year-old center staged a comeback with the Winnipeg Jets this season after missing the last two seasons recovering from long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was obvious this season that Toews is well past his playing prime. He played all 82 games, but scored 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points, well below his average of 27 goals and 38 assists for 65 points in his 15 NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Toews’ comeback attempt was understandable. It allowed him to settle any nagging doubts in his mind and to go out on his terms.

DAILY FACEOFF: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reported the Montreal Canadiens have given permission to winger Brendan Gallagher’s agent to speak with other teams to facilitate a possible trade.

Gallagher, 34, has one year remaining on his contract, but he acknowledged on Monday that he’d played his final game with the Canadiens. Dhaliwal is based in Vancouver, where Gallagher played his junior hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher no longer fits into the Canadiens’ fast-paced system under head coach Martin St. Louis. He indicated that he’d be open to joining the Canucks, but it remains to be seen if they’re interested in acquiring him.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs have conducted 15 virtual interviews as they continue their search for a new head coach. Among the candidates were former NHL coaches Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy.

Friedman also reported the Los Angeles Kings could be down to two candidates for their head coach position. One of them is interim coach D.J. Smith, and former Edmonton Oilers bench boss Jay Woodcroft.

Sportsnet’s play-by-play broadcaster Chris Cuthbert is the latest recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Swedish hockey writer and US correspondent Gunnar Norstrom received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Cuthbert and Norstrom. They will officially receive these awards during the Hockey Hall of Fame weekend in November.

YAHOO! SPORTS: With Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights reaching the Stanley Cup Final, a former teammate of Jaromir Jagr has now appeared in the Final in 46 straight seasons.

The notable players include Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier (1980 to 1983), Mark Messier (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994), Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992), Brendan Shanahan (2002), Mark Recchi (2006, 2011), and Henrik Lundqvist (2014). It also includes future Hall of Famer Aleksander Barkov (2023 to 2025).










NHL Rumor Mill – June 2, 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 2, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Canadiens’ offseason plans, and a rumor claiming the Islanders could be shopping Mathew Barzal.

THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan examined possible offseason moves for the Canadiens.

General manager Kent Hughes intends to be busy working the phones this summer searching for players to improve his roster. However, he said it’s “unlikely” that he’ll trade for short-term fixes at the expense of the future. Hughes hopes to continue adding players that can help them now and in the future.

Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens president of hockey operations, understand that their roster must be better defensively and be more physical. They also took from their series with the Carolina Hurricanes just how hard it is to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Cowan noted that forwards Brendan Gallagher, Patrik Laine, and goaltender Sam Montembeault won’t be back next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Gallagher and Montembeault each have a year left on their contracts.

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher (NHL Images)

Gallagher carries an average annual value of $6.5 million ($4 million in actual salary) and a six-team no-trade list for next season, while Montembeault’s AAV is $3.1 million. They will be traded or bought out this summer. Gallagher indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault could draw some interest from clubs seeking goaltending depth.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports the Canadiens must add an established second-line center and “a seasoned, high-quality, right-handed defense partner” for Lane Hutson. They also need “two more big, tenacious, intimidating depth wingers”.

The Canadiens have nearly $11 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, and could free up another $6.5 million if Gallagher is traded.

Engels noted that Gorton and Hughes hope to add more to the Canadiens’ core. They will try to address as many of their roster issues as possible, even if it means blocking or trading a prospect who could eventually fill a void but won’t be able to in short order.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have plenty of trade capital, especially in promising young players. It could mean peddling someone such as center Michael Hage and winger Alexander Zharovsky to accomplish those goals.

TVA SPORTS: Hughes also mentioned that he could revisit the significant deal that he was working on at the trade deadline. “It depends on the other team,” Hughes said. “That doesn’t stop us from making the appeal and revisiting it.” However, he also said that what was available in March might not be available in June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation at that time linked the Canadiens to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.

The Leafs are under new management, which could ensure Knies stays in Toronto. The Blues set a high asking price for Thomas, who has a no-trade clause and insists he wants to stay in St. Louis.

Nicolas Cloutier believes it could be easier for the Canadiens to trade Gallagher than some people think. He suggested a rebuilding club, such as the Canucks, could take on Gallagher’s contract to stay above next season’s salary cap floor, which $76.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cloutier pointed out that the Canucks could drop below the cap floor by trading one of their expensive veterans. He noted that Gallagher’s actual salary for next season is lower than his cap hit, which could be appealing to some teams.

Renaud Lavoie shot down a rumor linking the Canadiens to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

The speculation claimed McDavid was in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix looking at houses in the area. However, Lavoie reports the Oilers superstar wasn’t in Montreal at the time and wasn’t house shopping. McDavid’s wife was in Montreal at the time, attending an event to which she had been invited.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last year, it was “Sidney Crosby to Montreal.” Now, it’s McDavid. Next summer, it’ll be McDavid, or Auston Matthews, or Brady Tkachuk.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports it’s rumored that the Canadiens were in talks with the New York Rangers regarding Vincent Trocheck at the March trade deadline.

Garrioch believes Trocheck would be a “perfect fit” to fill the Canadiens’ second-line center role. He’s also signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $5.625 million. However, he’s not sure if Trocheck was the player at the center of the deal that fell through.

Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere was also linked to the Canadiens. He has a big cap hit at $7.145 million through 2031-32, but Garrioch suggested the Habs should “swing for the fences.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck’s age (33) would be a concern as his production will inevitably decline over the remainder of his contract. There’s also his desire to remain on the East Coast as close to New York as possible. He also might not be keen to join a Canadian team.

As for Lafreniere, he doesn’t address the Canadiens’ priorities. He’s neither a center nor a right-shot, top-four defenseman.

ARE THE ISLANDERS SHOPPING MATHEW BARZAL?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports a league executive informed him that the New York Islanders are exploring the trade market for Mathew Barzal.

The Islanders want to clear some salary cap space. Barzal carries an AAV of $9.15 million through 2030-31.

Garrioch claimed the Utah Mammoth “kicked tires” on Barzal last summer, but opted not to make the move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch included the Barzal tidbit among possible trade targets for the Senators, who are reportedly seeking a top-six forward. He believes Barzal’s cap hit would be difficult to swallow when they’re going to talk contract extension with winger Drake Batherson, who could seek between $9 million and $10 million annually.

Moving Barzal won’t help the offensively anemic Islanders, who must boost their scoring punch if they hope to be a playoff contender next season. He also has a 22-team no-trade list.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

The latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, the Canucks name their new head coach, the Canadiens head into the offseason, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights begins Tuesday at 8 pm ET in Raleigh.

ESPN.COM: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel believes teammate Mitch Marner was treated unfairly during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“As a teammate and a friend of his, and somebody who cares about him and his family, of course I do,” Eichel said. “I think the world of Mitch. Anybody that has negative or bad things to say about him, obviously I disgree with, because I think highly of him.”

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner leads all postseason scorers with 21 points entering the Stanley Cup Final, with Eichel second with 18 points. That’s in contrast to his playoff performances during his nine seasons with the Maple Leafs, where he was often criticized for failing to produce in crucial games.

Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon believes the Golden Knights have given Marner a chance to thrive.

“I think our team is deeper and a better team than what he had played on in Toronto,” McCrimmon said. “Not that Toronto didn’t have real good teams. But you have to have that depth throughout your roster, because everyone’s going to take their turn.” He added that Marner is playing “with tremendous confidence” and is “savouring the moment.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP heading into this series. That’s led to the inevitable comparison to his postseason play with the Maple Leafs, much to the consternation of Leafs fans, who believe their team and the city of Toronto are getting a bad reputation for putting too much pressure on their players.

Marner faced considerable pressure during his time with the Maple Leafs. As a Toronto native, he probably put a lot of stress on himself to meet expectations. Some players can rise to the occasion playing for their hometown club while others wilt.

Playing in a market where the spotlight isn’t as harsh has been just as important to Marner’s performance in this postseason as playing for a deeper roster.

TORONTO SUN: Marner isn’t the only former Maple Leaf in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen has played a big role in his club’s run to this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner spoke highly of Andersen during Monday’s media availability. He said the netminder was among the first players on the Leafs to make him feel welcome when he joined the club in 2016, calling him “a fun character” and “a joy to be around.”

Andersen returned the compliment, noting how Marner has grown from the young rookie he first met to a family man today.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall could make history by tying the longest gap between being selected first overall in the NHL Draft and winning the Stanley Cup. The record is 16 years, held by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and former NHL defenseman Erik Johnson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skating on the Hurricanes’ second line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Hall sits third among this postseason’s leading scorers with 16 points.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks named Manny Malhotra as their new head coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This hiring doesn’t surprise me, especially when the rebuilding Canucks recently promoted assistant GM Ryan Johnson to general manager. As GM of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, Johnson hired Malhotra as their head coach in 2024, and he led that club to the Calder Cup last season.

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens hope to sign rookie forward Ivan Demidov to a long-term contract extension this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov also hopes to ink a long-term deal with the Canadiens. Both sides will likely try to get this done before Sept. 15, when the maximum term for re-signing players drops from eight years to seven.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: A tearful Brendan Gallagher told reporters that he’s played his final game with the Canadiens. The 34-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract, and could be traded or bought out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher spent 14 seasons with the Canadiens, but the decline in his performance led to a drop in his playing time over the past two years. The gritty veteran winger carries a cap hit of $6.25 million for next season, but will be paid $4 million in actual salary.

Gallagher has a six-team no-trade list. He indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Whether the two clubs can work out a trade remains to be seen.

TSN: Canadiens winger Patrik Laine is looking forward to landing with another NHL club. The 27-year-old winger played only five games this season before being sidelined by core muscle surgery. He was cleared to return to the Canadiens lineup in December and practiced with his teammates, but didn’t draw back into the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens kept Laine on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Management said it was because he fell behind the pace of his teammates, and since they were in a must-win situation, there wasn’t enough time to integrate him into the lineup.

However, the move raised some eyebrows. Being on IR for the remainder of the season makes Laine eligible to receive a bonus-laden UFA contract with a low base salary. Patrick Johnston of The Province believes the Canadiens skirted the rules regarding injured reserve and called on the league and the NHLPA to look into it.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Judd Brackett as their new assistant general manager overseeing player development. Brackett spent the past six years as head of amateur scouting for the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zeev Buium, Charlie Stramel, Liam Ohgren, Danila Yurov, and Jesper Wallstedt were among the notable players chosen by the Wild during Brackett’s tenure.

SPORTSNET: The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2027. The 20-year-old Kitchener Rangers winger helped his club win the 2026 Memorial Cup, leading the tournament with five goals and nine points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks traded Pridham’s rights because he wasn’t expected to sign an entry-level contract with them by the 5 pm deadline on June 1. He’s expected to join the University of Denver for next season, which means the Lightning will have two years to sign him to an ELC.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026

by | Mar 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026

Anze Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time points leader, the Stars tie their franchise points streak record, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour reaches a coaching milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored twice to become the franchise points leader in a 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne with his 1,308th career NHL regular-season point.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Brandt Clarke had three assists for the 27-24-15 Kings (69 points), who slipped one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Nico Hischier scored twice and set up two others for the Devils (33-31-2).

The Dallas Stars blew a 2-0 lead, but Thomas Harley’s overtime goal gave them a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to tie their franchise-record points streak of 15 games. Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist, while Michael Bunting scored his first goal since being acquired by the Stars at the March 6 trade deadline. Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond replied for the 36-23-8 Red Wings, who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 80 points. Meanwhile, the Stars (42-14-10) hold second place in the Western Conference with 94 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings activated winger David Perron off injured reserve for this game. He’d been recovering from a sports hernia since Jan. 20. The Wing acquired Perron from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each had a goal and an assist to double up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Rod Brind’Amour’s 600th career NHL regular-season game as a head coach. Jordan Martinook tallied the winning goal for the 42-18-6 Hurricanes as they sit atop the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Yanni Gourde and Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored for the 40-21-4 Lightning, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Lightning announced that defenseman Declan Carlile will miss the next four to five weeks with a lower-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist to reach the 30-goal plateau for the eighth time in his career in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Mark Scheifele collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots for the 27-28-10 Jets. Martin Necas scored for the Avalanche (44-12-9), who sit first in the overall standings with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns played in his 990th consecutive NHL regular-season game, moving into second place on the league’s Ironman rankings. Phil Kessel leads with 1,064.

The Buffalo Sabres got the game-tying goal from Jack Quinn, who also scored the shootout winner to nip the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Owen Power also scored in regulation for the 41-20-6 Sabres, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Dakota Joshua and Max Domi scored for the 28-27-12 Maple Leafs.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev tallied twice and collected an assist as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Adin Hill turned in a 21-save shutout while Mitch Marner and Mark Stone each had two assists for the Golden Knights (31-22-14), who regained first place in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Spencer Knight stopped 28 of 32 shots for the 25-30-11 Blackhawks.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin kicked out 46 shots in a 4-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild. Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and two assists for the 28-30-8 Rangers. Matt Boldy and Danila Yurov scored for the Wild (38-17-12), who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild captain Jared Spurgeon played in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game. He’s spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Wild. Meanwhile, the Rangers activated team captain J.T. Miller off injured reserve for this game.

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist, and Collin Graf had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (32-26-6), as they regained the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 70 points. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki replied for the 36-19-10 Canadiens, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov left the game in the first period when his face struck the ice following a hit from Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and travelled with the club to Ottawa following the game for their Sunday game against the Ottawa Senators.

Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher was a healthy scratch for the first time in his 14-season NHL career. He’s expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.

Speaking of the Senators and Ducks, Linus Ullmark had a 23-save shutout to give Ottawa a 2-0 win over Anaheim. Michael Amadio and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators (33-23-9). Ville Husso stopped 27 of 29 shots for the 36-27-3 Ducks, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 75 points.

A shootout goal by Fraser Minten gave the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Charlie McAvoy tallied twice for the 37-23-6 Bruins, who moved into the first Eastern wild-card spot with 80 points. Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin replied for the Capitals (33-27-8).

New York Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom scored twice as his club held off the Calgary Flames 3-2. Casey Czikas also scored while David Rittich turned aside 30 shots for the Islanders (38-24-5), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored for the 26-33-7 Flames.

The Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Utah Mammoth 4-3. Noel Acciari broke a 3-3 tie while Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist for the 33-18-15 Penguins, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Dylan Guenther scored two goals for the Mammoth (34-27-6) as they hold the first Western wild card with 74 points.

Bobby McMann scored twice and picked up an assist in his debut with the Seattle Kraken in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. McMann was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle each had three points for the Kraken (30-26-9) as they ended a four-game losing skid and sit one point behind the Sharks for the final Western wild-card berth. Evander Kane and Marco Rossi replied for the 20-38-8 Canucks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to nine games with a 2-1 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kirill Marchenko scored in regulation and also tallied the game-winner for the 34-21-11 Blue Jackets, who are one point behind the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card. Alex Bump replied for the 31-23-12 Flyers.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2025

by | Oct 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2025

Could the Canucks or Oilers pursue Sabres forward Alex Tuch? Will the Canadiens trade Brendan Gallagher or Jayden Struble? Are the Flames considering adding a backup goaltender? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE CANUCKS OR OILERS PURSUE ALEX TUCH?

SEKERES & PRICE PODCAST: Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek believes the Buffalo Sabres could be an early seller if they have another poor start. He wondered how many players could be asking out by American Thanksgiving (Nov. 27).

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Marek noted that Alex Tuch hasn’t signed a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He pointed out that Tuch’s wife is from British Columbia and mused about a possible fit with the Vancouver Canucks, even though he wouldn’t address that club’s need for a second-line center.

The Edmonton Oilers might be another possibility given their cap space after Connor McDavid agreed to accept a discount on a two-year extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has a five-team no-trade list, and one or both teams may be on it. Assuming they’re not, the Canucks and Oilers don’t have a lot of tradeable assets to give up for Tuch. If the Sabres become sellers, they could find better offers from other clubs.

THE LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked if the Canadiens would let Brendan Gallagher finish his contract in Montreal, when it is at the detriment of younger players who deserve to be on the roster.

Cowan doesn’t see Gallagher going anywhere. He pointed out the value the gritty 33-year-old winger continues to have for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher also brings a measure of veteran leadership and gritty two-way play to the up-and-coming Canadiens. His contract expires in 2027, so there’s no need to push him out the door or move him out for cap relief.

Cowan was also asked if Jayden Struble might be a trade chip to address the Canadiens’ roster needs.

While it’s a possibility, they have already traded away three young defensemen. There’s also the big question mark about David Reinbacher after suffering another injury, and the uncertainty over Mike Matheson’s contract situation. He doesn’t see the Canadiens being in a hurry to peddle Struble.

COULD THE FLAMES SEEK ANOTHER BACKUP GOALIE?

SPORTSNET: During the latest episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said the Calgary Flames were talking to other teams about a backup goaltender.

They intend to give Devin Cooley a shot at securing the backup role to starter Dustin Wolf. If they do add another netminder, they would have four on one-way contracts. Friedman said the teams the Flames are talking to want an enticement to take on one of those extra goalies in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cooley is expected to get the start for Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’ll be a big test for the 28-year-old netminder, who has six games of NHL experience.