NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2026

by | May 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Wild’s offseason plans, an update on the Flyers, and the Flames could be active in this summer’s trade market.

THE LATEST ON THE WILD

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin could revisit his efforts to land a center. They report that Guerin attempted to do so before the March trade deadline, but a deal never materialized.

Guerin has already traded many assets in recent years, so he and his staff must decide how much more of their future they’re willing to mortgage.

Trade assets could include Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov, Bobby Brink, Daemon Hunt, Charlie Stramel, and future first-round picks.

Roster players with modified no-trade clauses include Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Foligno, and Jake Middleton. Meanwhile, Jonas Brodin, Nico Sturm, and Yakov Trenin lack no-trade protection.

Russo and Smith listed several players they believe Guerin might look into acquiring to address his club’s need for a first-line center. They include Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They also included winger Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, but he and Senators management have made it clear that he’s not available.

Matthews might become available if the Maple Leafs new management fails to sell him on their plans for the club. However, we don’t know if Minnesota would be on his list of preferred trade destinations, and if the Wild could afford him.

Russo and Smith reported sources claimed Guerin attempted to acquire Devils defenseman Luke Hughes earlier this season. They admit it’s unlikely that new Devils GM Sunny Mehta would trade Jack Hughes and Hischier, unless the latter is unwilling to sign a contract extension this summer. It’s also doubtful that Mehta will part with Luke.

The Red Wings could also seek depth at center this summer, making it unlikely they’ll part with Larkin. Russo and Smith reported that Guerin offered up Wallstedt and Yurov as part of a trade package for Thomas, but the Blues rejected it. That tells me the Blues prefer to retain Thomas as they rebuild with younger talent.

Trocheck could be the best available option, provided the Wild aren’t on his no-trade list. He made it known that his preference is to remain in the East.

TWINCITIES.COM: Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes is open to signing a contract extension. The 26-year-old Hughes has one season remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.85 million, and can sign an extension as early as July 1.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

“I really like it here,” Hughes said. “I would definitely be open to re-signing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s music to Guerin’s ears, but the question is, how much will it cost? The Wild have Kirill Kaprizov set to earn a league-leading $17 million annually starting this July. Hughes could seek as much or more.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: If Hughes and the Wild can’t agree to an extension, James Nichols suggested Devils GM Sunny Mehta make a bold move to acquire him.

The bold part would be offering up center Nico Hischier if he’s unwilling to sign an extension with the Devils. Nichols suggested bundling him with a promising defenseman such as Simon Nemec or Anton Silayev, a first-round pick, and another piece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs must ensure Hughes and Hischier agree to contract extensions with their new clubs as part of the deal. Otherwise, they’ll just be swapping two contract headaches, with the risk that both could hit the open market next summer.

NO BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER FOR THE FLYERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere continues to preach patience with his rebuilding plans.

While exceeding expectations by making the playoffs and reaching the second round, Briere insists his club is still in the growth part of the rebuild.

The Flyers could use a top-line center and a defenseman who can quarterback the power play. Briere said he’s keeping his options open if there’s a deal out there that could improve the club and would make sense for the long term.

Nevertheless, with some of their younger players arriving sooner than expected, Briere has the leeway to remain patient with his roster. Those players include forwards Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey. Meanwhile, winger Matvei Michkov is expected to improve after struggling through his sophomore campaign.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James also noted Briere’s comments and the rise of several promising young Flyers.

James noted the way Barkey and Trevor Zegras improved their roles at center this season. They also have promising Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt in their system.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out Briere making a significant addition or two this summer. However, he seems to be tamping down expectations for such a move, putting his trust in those young players already in the lineup and in their system.

THE FLAMES COULD BE BUSY IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports sources have told him that the Calgary Flames could be open to trading “just about anybody” on their roster.

The exceptions would be goaltender Dustin Wolf, forward Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato, and defenseman Zayne Parekh.

Trade candidates include forwards Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost, Connor Zary, and Joel Farabee.

The Flames would probably like to move Jonathan Huberdeau, but his hefty contract means there’s little chance of that happening. Center Ryan Strome and defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be trade pieces, but their veteran experience could make them more valuable to the rebuilding Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames GM Craig Conroy has been in a full-fledged rebuild for the past two seasons. Players on expiring contracts eligible for UFA status next summer (like Coleman) are the most likely to move.

Those players listed by Di Marco could indeed become trade bait, but that doesn’t mean Conroy is staging a fire sale and will ship them all out. He’ll be open to offers that will fetch promising young NHL players, prospects, and draft picks.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2026

Could the Wild make a big offseason move? What’s the latest on Stars winger Jason Robertson? Will the Maple Leafs trade a goalie this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE WILD MAKE A BLOCKBUSTER MOVE THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo speculated that Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin could attempt to make another major move in the offseason.

Guerin made headlines in December by acquiring superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Russo thinks the reason the Wild GM didn’t use up his trade capital at the recent March 6 trade deadline is that he could use it to pursue another superstar this summer.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).

Russo wondered if Guerin might pursue Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, or St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Matthews and Tkachuk have full no-movement clauses, while Thomas has a full no-trade clause.

Guerin has multiple assets to draw on for trade bait this summer. They include goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, rookie winger Danila Yurov, prospect forwards Charlie Stramel and Adam Benak, and his 2027 first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin’s acquisition of Hughes was a bold move that has improved the Wild’s performance this season. A deep playoff run by the Wild could turn them into a favorable destination for stars on struggling teams itching to move on to a potential Cup contender.

We don’t know if Matthews, Tkachuk, or Thomas wants to move on. Thomas was the subject of frequent rumors leading up to the March trade deadline, but he said he was never asked to waive his no-trade clause, has never requested a trade, and remains committed to the Blues.

Nevertheless, if any of those guys are available this summer, Guerin will likely go after them.

STARS MAKE RE-SIGNING JASON ROBERTSON A PRIORITY

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars GM Jim Nill told NHL Tonight that he’s making the re-signing of Jason Robertson a priority.

Robertson, 27, is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. He’ll also be a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility, depending on the outcome of his negotiations this summer.

“He’s a big part of our team,” Nill said. “He’s one of the leading scorers in the league, he’s really in the prime of his career. He’s a big part of our team, so a priority for us is to get him signed this summer, and move on.”

Robertson leads the Stars with 80 points and is second on the team in goals with 36.

Nill said the two sides started discussions last summer but decided to table them for now. Robertson has also changed agents since then.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s contract negotiations will be worth following during the offseason.

The Stars have a projected $14.9 million in salary-cap space next season with 18 active roster players under contract. Robertson is their most notable pending free agent, but they must also ensure they have enough space to re-sign RFA Mavrik Bourque (who also has arbitration rights) and team captain Jamie Benn, who is a UFA this summer.

Robertson is earning an AAV of $7.75 million and could seek between $10 million and $11 million annually on his next contract. That won’t leave much room for the Stars to fill out the rest of their lineup for next season without making a cost-cutting move or two.

The threat of an offer sheet could become a concern if negotiations drag on unless one side or the other files for arbitration.

COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS SHOP A GOALIE THIS SUMMER?

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox noted the Toronto Maple Leafs have four goaltenders in their system for at least the next two seasons. They signed Artur Akhtyamov over the weekend, joining Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby.

Fox believes something has to give. Carrying more than two goaltenders is problematic, and the Leafs don’t want to risk losing one of them to waivers. He believes that’s why there were murmurs about Stolarz and Woll before the March trade deadline.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving can take his time addressing this issue. The free-agent market is thin on goalies, which could push teams seeking help between the pipes into the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming they don’t move the recently signed Akhtyamov, Woll and Hildeby would be the easiest to move as they have affordable contracts and lack no-trade protection. Stolarz’s four-year contract extension kicks in on July 1 and carries a 16-team no-trade list. He also has a 16-team NTC on his current deal. 










NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2026

by | Jan 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2026

What’s the latest on Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad? Could the Wild make another bold move before the March 6 trade deadline? What are the Capitals seeking in the trade market? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary recently listed five potential landing spots for Artemi Panarin.

The 34-year-old New York Rangers winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1, and was informed by Rangers management that they wouldn’t be offering him a contract extension. He has a full no-movement clause this season, giving him full control over possible destinations before the March 6 trade deadline.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

O’Leary suggested the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, acknowledging their limited cap space but also noting they have the assets to tempt the Rangers. The Washington Capitals could use another skilled scoring winger, but they won’t part with top prospect Cole Hutson.

The Vegas Golden Knights were O’Leary’s third choice, but he made that pick before they acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. The Los Angeles Kings have the cap space, but lack sufficient trade assets.

O’Leary suggested Panarin could be what the Carolina Hurricanes need to put them over the top as a Stanley Cup champion. They possess more cap space than the other clubs on this list, and the trade capital to make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito has made bold moves to bolster his roster. He’ll have the cap space if sidelined team captain Aleksander Barkov remains out for the entire season, including the playoffs.

The Golden Knights are always sniffing around for the best available talent and usually get it, but their acquisition of Andersson may have taken up what little trade bait they had left. As for the Kings, they could have their eye on more affordable trade options, if a recent rumor linking them to Vancouver’s Evander Kane is anything to go by.

That leaves the Hurricanes as the most likely option, provided they’re interested and if Panarin is willing to join them.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad said he hasn’t been approached by management about waiving his no-movement clause. He maintained that he remains committed to the club, though Walker felt he left his intentions somewhat open-ended, saying he couldn’t say for certain what would happen in the future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful that Zibanejad gets moved by the March 6 trade deadline. Their focus is on moving Panarin. Given he’s signed for four more years with an AAV of $8.5 million, trading him might be an offseason move if he’s open to the possibility.

THE WILD MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith still believe that Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin isn’t done in the trade market after acquiring Quinn Hughes last month.

They believe the Wild are “a scoring winger or first-line center away from true contender status.” Guerin is in “win-now” mode and could make another big swing by dealing draft picks and prospects for a center.

Russo and Smith raised the possibility of Guerin using promising goaltender Jesper Wallstedt as trade bait. They pointed out that netminder Filip Gustavsson is under contract until 2031, reminding us that young defenseman Zeev Buium was considered untouchable before he was shipped off to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return in the Hughes deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Wallstedt would certainly be a bold choice by Guerin. It’ll depend on which first-line center or scoring winger becomes available.

That player would have to be someone who could truly turn them into Cup contenders. It’s unlikely he’d move Wallstedt for a rental player, so it’ll have to be someone with at least another year left on their contract, or a pending UFA willing to sign an extension.

CAPITALS SHOPPING FOR HELP UP FRONT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently reported that Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick is closely watching the trade market.

Patrick said he’s “definitely actively pursuing an addition” that will likely be for his forward lines. He believes the Capitals’ biggest need is for a “higher-end skilled winger”, acknowledging that those types of players usually aren’t available by the trade deadline.

The Capitals GM prefers finding a winger who can be a good short-term addition with the potential to stick around beyond this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cue the “Artemi Panarin to the Capitals” speculation. A more affordable option could be Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames, provided they’re on his list of preferred trade destinations.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2025

by | Oct 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2025

A milestone goal for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the debut of Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Jonathan Toews played his first game with the Jets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Evgeni Malkin collected three assists, and Justin Brazeau broke a 3-3 tie as the Pittsburgh Penguins nipped the New York Islanders 4-3. Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had an assist for his first NHL point. He was the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby has 626 career regular-season goals, moving past Joe Sakic into fifth place for the most goals with one franchise. Former Penguin Mario Lemieux is fourth with 690. Penguins rookie Harrison Brunicke scored his first goal, becoming the first player from South Africa to score in the NHL.

The Dallas Stars held off the Winnipeg Jets for a 5-4 victory. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, and Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the Stars. Kyle Connor had a hat trick as the Jets rallied from a 5-1 deficit, but fell short. Jonathan Toews was held scoreless in his debut with the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Jets placed forward David Gustafsson on waivers.

Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto scored twice (including the go-ahead goal) and picked up an assist to down the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4. Brady Tkachuk and Artem Zub also collected three points as the Senators overcame a 3-1 deficit. Nikita Kucherov tallied twice, and Brayden Point had a goal and two assists for the Lightning.

The Vegas Golden Knights overcame a 3-2 deficit for a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jack Eichel scored the tying goal and collected an assist for the Golden Knights. Jeff Skinner scored his first goal with the Sharks after joining them in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A solid effort by the Sharks was undone as goaltender Alex Nedeljovic allowed Eichel’s weak game-tying goal late in the third period, followed by a costly turnover near his own blueline on Reilly Smith’s overtime goal.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored the go-ahead and insurance goals to beat the New Jersey Devils 6-3. K’Andre Miller tallied twice in his debut with the Hurricanes, while Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes each had two points for the Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltender Frederik Andersen got the win as Pyotr Kochetkov was unavailable for this game after getting injured in practice earlier this week. He will be evaluated on Friday.

An overtime goal by Fraser Minten lifted the Boston Bruins over the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 4-3. Casey Mittelstadt, Tanner Jeannot, and Elias Lindholm also scored for the Bruins, while Connor Bedard and Andre Burakovsky each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson did not come out for the third period due to an undisclosed injury.

The New York Rangers got a 37-save performance from Igor Shesterkin as he shut out the Buffalo Sabres 4-0. Alexis Lafreniere and J.T. Miller each had a goal and an assist, giving Mike Sullivan his first win as head coach of the Rangers. Alex Lyon stopped 29 shots for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury. Sabres forward Josh Norris suffered an upper-body injury in the third period.

Speaking of shutouts, Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild made 26 saves to blank the St. Louis Blues 5-0. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy each had three points, and Ryan Hartman scored two goals. Blues goalie Jordan Binnington gave up five goals on 21 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Wild general manager Bill Guerin defended his club’s signing Kaprizov to an eight-year deal with a league-leading $17 million average annual value (AAV). “Look, everybody’s got a price to where they want to play in their market, and Kirill is worth that to us. He’s that important to us,” Guerin said. “And we couldn’t take the chance of letting him go.”

The Wild announced forward Nico Sturm is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a back injury.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes turned aside 30 shots in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, spoiling the latter’s season opener. Zack Bolduc and Oliver Kapanen scored in their second straight games, and Mike Matheson had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens. Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings netminder John Gibson was pulled in the second period after giving up five goals on 13 shots.

A four-goal third period carried the Vancouver Canucks over the Calgary Flames 5-1. Filip Chytil tallied twice for the Canucks, who also got goals from Kiefer Sherwood, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Brock Boeser. Morgan Frost scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Adam Foote’s first win as head coach of the Canucks. Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl left this game in the third period after being struck in the back of the head by a puck.

The Florida Panthers downed the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on a third-period goal by Brad Marchand. Anton Lundell also scored for the Panthers, while Noah Cates replied for the Flyers, who got a 32-save effort by Dan Vladar.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros kicked out 37 shots, and Ryan O’Reilly scored the winning goal to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Michael Bunting also scored for the Predators, and Dmitri Voronkov tallied for the Blue Jackets.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon’s early third-period goal held up as the winner in a 2-1 victory against the Utah Mammoth. Ross Colton also scored for the Avalanche, who got a 32-save performance by netminder Scott Wedgewood. Dylan Guenther tallied for the Mammoth.

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on goals by Vince Dunn, Mason Marchment, and Jared McCann. Ducks rookie Beckett Sennecke tallied his first career NHL goal.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2025

by | Aug 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2025

Here’s a look back at the notable news during my vacation in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

ESPN.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he remains undecided over whether he’ll undergo surgery for a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia before the 2025-26 season. However, he acknowledged he could miss the first two to three months of the schedule if he goes under the knife.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Based on Tkachuk’s offseason workouts, he’ll know for certain if he needs surgery. We’ll know by mid-September when the Panthers’ training camp begins.

TSN: Keith Tkachuk shot down any trade speculation about his son, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. He said Brady loves it in Ottawa and has cemented himself within the community. Keith believes the Senators are a team on the rise, and Brady wants to be a part of it.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keith believes Matthew’s departure from Calgary three years ago has fans wondering if Brady will also do so. However, there was also speculation out of New York last season claiming the Rangers had made the Senators’ captain a trade target, prompting Senators ownership to suggest the Blueshirts were engaged in “soft tampering” regarding Tkachuk.

During his end-of-season press conference, Brady dismissed the rumors as lies. It hasn’t fully put to rest the speculation, given that his father had to recently dispel it. They’ll likely continue to surface whenever the Senators are struggling, and the chatter will likely go into overdrive when he enters the final season of his contract in 2027-28.

RG.ORG: Winger Brad Marchand said the club’s re-signings of center Sam Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad were key reasons behind his decision to ink a six-year contract with Florida.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is in the tail end of his long career and wants to remain with a Stanley Cup contender. Now 37, it’s unlikely he’ll play out the entirety of his contract, but neither he nor the Panthers is concerned about the long term. Winning three Cups in a row and becoming the first true NHL dynasty since the early 1980s New York Islanders is what matters.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson is fully fit a month before training camp and is seeking “revenge” after his abysmal 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old Pettersson said he’s learned from last season and will be a more mature player in 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s disappointing performance last season was a key factor in the Canucks missing the 2025 playoffs. A return to form this season is a must if they’re to be postseason contenders.

RG.ORG: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin isn’t surprised that superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and promising center Marco Rossi remain unsigned. He said the talks have been “pretty consistent, and I’ve been happy with them”. Guerin also said reports claiming Rossi can’t be signed until Kaprizov is under contract are false.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The dearth of real hockey news through the first half of August has fueled speculation over the status of the Wild’s contract negotiations with Kaprizov and Rossi. Kaprizov is in the final season of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next July, while Rossi is a restricted free agent awaiting a new contract.

Guerin has plenty of time to get both players signed before the start of training camp. However, the speculation will persist if the current drought of notable NHL news continues throughout the remainder of this month.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks made the case for J.T. Miller to be named the new captain of the Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll know by October whether the Rangers will have a captain for this season, and who it’ll be. Do you agree with Brooks that it should be Miller? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

NESN.COM: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm has been cleared for training camp in September. He appeared in 17 games last season until sidelined by a fractured kneecap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm’s absence contributed to the Bruins missing the playoffs last season. He’ll be a key factor in their attempt to rebound in 2025-26.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Flyers in a grievance filed by the NHL Players’ Association following the termination of forward Ryan Johansen’s contract in August 2024.

Johansen was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024, and immediately placed on waivers. He was assigned to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in LeHigh Valley, but didn’t play for the remainder of the season due to a hip injury.

The Flyers placed Johansen on unconditional waivers last August and terminated his contract, citing a “material breach”. He missed all of last season recovering from hip surgery and remains a UFA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansen played every game of the 2023-24 season with the Avalanche, but informed the Flyers that he couldn’t report to the AHL or play due to his hip injury. At the time, he had a year remaining on his contract. The Flyers would’ve been on the hook for that final season had the ruling gone against them.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators and the National Capital Commission (NCC) reached an agreement in which the club will purchase 11 acres of land for a new arena at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa. It’s believed the Senators will pay over $30 million for the land, which is 10 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Senators still have several hurdles to clear before the deal becomes a reality. Nevertheless, this is a significant step toward realizing the dream of a new arena near the heart of Ottawa.

THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE: The Wild signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional tryout contract (PTO).

TSN: The Detroit Red Wings signed UFA defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, $1 million contract.

USHL.COM: Former NHL forward Pat Maroon joined the coaching staff of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Maroon won three straight Stanley Cups (2019 to 2021) with the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former NHL defenseman Josh Gorges was hired by the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets as an assistant coach. Gorges spent eight of his 13 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford announced his retirement as a player and is joining the club’s front office in a player development role. Clifford spent 13 seasons in the NHL (2010-11 to 2022-23) with the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and the Maple Leafs, winning two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) with the Kings. In 753 NHL games, Clifford had 66 goals and 78 assists for 144 points, and 16 points in 65 playoff games.

DAILY FACEOFF: Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel retired after 13 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers. In 369 regular-season games from 2012-13 to 2024-25, he had 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points. He also appeared in 25 playoff contests, winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016-17.

MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings will go with their “Hockeytown” center ice logo for their 2025-26 centennial season. The logo was introduced in 1996-97. It was removed in 2018 following the move from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2024

by | Sep 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2024

The Red Wings re-sign Moritz Seider, Thatcher Demko talks about his nagging injury, Kyle Okposo calls it a career, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.55 million. Seider, 23, was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The AAV was no surprise as Wings general manager Steve Yzerman didn’t want Seider or recently-signed winger Lucas Raymond to exceed captain Dylan Larkin’s team-leading $8.75 million.

This deal will likely turn into a long-term bargain for the Wings. Seider is their established top defenseman and has yet to reach the prime years of his career. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, he had 42 points in 82 games last season. Like Raymond, he’s a foundational part of the Wings’ rebuild.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko explained Thursday that he’s been dealing with a rare lower-body muscle injury. While the 28-year-old netminder didn’t have a timetable for his return to the lineup, he said he has growing confidence in his rehab process.

Demko suffered the injury during Game 1 of the Canucks’ opening-round series against the Nashville Predators, sidelining him for the remainder of the playoffs. He also explained that he “hit a bit of a wall” with his recovery this summer but has experienced “a lot of progress” over the last couple of weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Demko’s condition is “exceptionally unique.” His medical team spent weeks scouring the world for other hockey players who’ve suffered the same injury but couldn’t find any, though they discovered five soccer players with a similar ailment.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Former Sabres captain Kyle Okposo announced his retirement on Thursday. Okposo, 36, spent 17 seasons with the New York Islanders, Sabres, and Florida Panthers from 2006-07 to 2023-24, winning a Stanley Cup with the Panthers in June.

Okposo scored 242 goals and 372 assists for 614 points in 1,051 career regular-season games and 17 points in 41 playoff games. He battled through several concussion issues since 2017 to continue his playing career.

RG.ORG: Jimmy Murphy reports Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin understands that Kirill Kaprizov will be in line for a mega-contract when his current deal expires in 2026. Nevertheless, he expects more from his franchise player this season.

Kaprizov, 27, exceeded the 40-goal plateau for the third straight season in 2023-24 with 46 goals and 96 points in 75 games. He can ensure a substantial raise if he exceeds 100 points this season.

Guerin acknowledged the cost of re-signing star players is rising but isn’t panicking when it comes to Kaprizov, saying his club will have to be ready for it when the time comes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov is earning an AAV of $9 million on his current deal. Another big season from him could put him within the $12 million to $13 million range on his next contract.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports Devils defenseman Brett Pesce remains week-to-week following offseason to repair a fractured fibula suffered during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Devils were aware of Pesce’s situation before signing him as a free agent on July 1.

The Devils received good news about Simon Nemec. The 20-year-old blueliner suffered no lingering ill effects from a shoulder injury suffered when playing in Slovakia’s Olympic qualifier last month and was on the ice with his teammates for the opening day of training camp.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the opening week of training camp following an appendectomy on Wednesday. Guhle, 22, will be re-evaluated in seven days.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture, defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shakir Mukhamadullin and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov missed the opening day of training camp. Askarov, Couture and Mukhamadullin are nursing lower-body injuries while Vlasic has an upper-body injury. No details were revealed regarding the severity of their injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couture continues to deal with a nagging lower-body injury that sidelined for all but six games last season. He’s expected to be placed on injured reserve.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks named Radko Gudas as their ninth captain in franchise history.

SPORTSNET: The Ottawa Senators invited goaltender Dustin Tokarski to training camp on a professional tryout offer. His last appearance in the NHL was a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022-23.

THE SCORE: Jaromir Jagr intends to retire from professional hockey at the end of this season. The 52-year-old forward has spent the past eight seasons with Czech club Kladno Knights. He’s also their owner and team president.

Jagr spent 24 seasons in the NHL from 1990-91 to 2017-18, sitting fourth all-time with 766 goals, fifth with 1,155 assists, and second with 1,921 points.