NHL Rumor Mill – May 1, 2026

by | May 1, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 1, 2026

What’s next for the Oilers and Stars following their postseason eliminations? What’s the latest on the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE OILERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille and Chris Johnston looked at what’s next for the Edmonton Oilers after their first-round elimination by the Anaheim Ducks. They don’t have much time to rebuild back into perennial Stanley Cup contender status. Team captain Connor McDavid will be starting his new two-year contract next season.

League sources claim McDavid remains determined to bring the Oilers to the promised land despite this season’s setback. However, he’ll expect management to deliver on specific roster adjustments this summer.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Finding a suitable starting goaltender remains a prime issue for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry has two years remaining on his contract, and didn’t imbue any confidence that he can handle the starter’s job. Connor Ingram is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The pickings are slim in this summer’s UFA market. Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights could be trade candidates, though it’s hard to imagine the latter helping out a division rival.

Forwards Adam Henrique, Jason Dickinson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Curtis Lazar, and defenseman Connor Murphy are also UFA-eligible.

The biggest decision could be what to do with Darnell Nurse. He has four years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9.25 million and a full no-movement clause. If the Oilers can find a way to trade him, it would free up cap space to address other needs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman faces what could arguably be the biggest challenge of his management career this summer. This club is at a crossroads, and trying to rebuild around the core on the cheap likely won’t work any better than it did this season.

Puckpedia indicates the Oilers have over $16.4 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, with 15 active roster players under contract.

Finding a suitable goaltender will be difficult given the limited talent in the trade and free-agent markets. It’s easy to suggest trading for Binnington or Hill, but they both have 10-team no-trade lists, and there’s no certainty they’ll accept a trade to the Oilers.

Nurse’s contract makes moving him a daunting challenge. Even if he agreed to waive his clause, few teams will be willing to take on his full cap hit. The Oilers would have to retain some of it to facilitate a deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara believes the Oilers’ collapse raises questions about McDavid’s future and head coach Kris Knoblauch’s job.

If the trade whispers about McDavid were to become reality, O’Hara believes the Los Angeles Kings would make sense.

While the Kings also made an early postseason exit, O’Hara believes their defensive structure and reliable goaltending are things that McDavid hasn’t had in Edmonton, and could make them an enticing destination.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I put no stock into those “whispers” that McDavid wants out. Assuming he did, I don’t see the Kings as a destination.

Like the Oilers, the Kings are at a crossroads, with Anze Kopitar retiring and long-time defenseman Drew Doughty in the twilight of his career. Yes, they play better defense and have better goaltending, but that hasn’t been enough to get them past the first round over the past five years. They also lack the assets to meet what will be a significant asking price for McDavid.

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark believes the only concern for the Oilers is how to build up a better roster around superstar Connor McDavid. He acknowledged there are other needs to be addressed, but improving the supporting cast around McDavid is the main concern.

The Oilers will have to accomplish that by finding help at team-friendly prices. One way they could resolve that is move one of their higher-paid players not named McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If they can’t move Nurse (and I doubt that they can without adding a significant sweetener to the deal), trading away any of their other high-salaried guys (Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) would do more harm than good. They could attempt to trade defenseman Jake Walman ($7 million AAV starting next season), but he has a full NMC.

The easier player to move that would free up considerable cap space is Evan Bouchard. He earns an AAV of $10.5 million, lacks no-trade protection, and he would fetch a better return than the aforementioned players. However, moving him would take away their top puck-moving defenseman, leaving them scrambling to find a suitable replacement. Trading Bouchard could also send the wrong signal to McDavid, making the prospect of his early departure more likely.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE STARS?

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos reports that losing in the first round of the playoffs was never an acceptable outcome for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations like the Stars. They will start again and try to get back to the level they were a year ago.

The roster might have a slightly different look next season. They still have to re-sign winger Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. They could also have a new team captain if Jamie Benn retires.

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark believes the cost of re-signing Robertson will be expensive, pointing to the expensive deals signed by wingers Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild and Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau wondered if Robertson’s play could price him out of Dallas. The 26-year-old winger had 45 goals and a team-leading 96 points this season, and was second among his teammates in this postseason with eight points in six games.

The Stars have $11.1 million in projected cap space next season. Robertson is coming off a four-year contract with an AAV of $7.75 million, and his next deal will exceed $10 million annually. That could force general manager Jim Nill to make a cost-cutting move or two to free up space to re-sign him.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus wondered if Nill will re-sign Robertson or dangle him in the trade market for a return that replenishes their depleted prospect and draft-pick pools.

Like Proteau, Lazerus believes Nill would have to make a salary-dumping deal to re-sign Robertson. He wondered if veteran center Matt Duchene or the oft-injured (but still highly respected) Roope Hintz would become a trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is earning an AAV of $12 million on an eight-year contract, while Kapizov will earn $17 million annually when his new contract kicks in next season. Robertson won’t get Kaprizov money, but he could end up in the same neighborhood as Marner.

Hintz would be more valuable than Duchene in the trade market, but both players have full no-movement clauses. Thomas Harley ($10.5 million starting next season) and Wyatt Johnston ($8.4 million) would each fetch significant returns and lack no-trade protection, but Nill isn’t going to move those core players.

THE LATEST ON THE RED WINGS

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman looked at some potential offseason free agents and trade targets for the Detroit Red Wings to boost their chances of ending their long playoff drought.

Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, Mason Marchment of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Anders Lee of the New York Islanders top his list of potential free-agent candidates.

Trade targets could include Buffalo Sabres forwards Josh Norris and Jack Quinn, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson.

Bultman also looked at which players on the current Red Wings roster are likely to stay and which ones are likely to move. Players with term remaining on their contracts (J.T. Compher, Michael Rasmussen, and Mason Appleton) are potential trade candidates. Pending UFAs James van Riemsdyk, David Perron, and Cam Talbot could move on.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 24, 2026

by | Apr 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 24, 2026

The Avalanche and Hurricanes take commanding 3-0 leads in their respective series, the Sabres take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche are on the verge of sweeping their best-of-seven first-round series with the Los Angeles Kings following a 4-2 victory in Game 3. Artturi Lehkonen had two points, including the winning goal on a shorthanded effort for the Avalanche, giving them a commanding 3-0 series lead. Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe replied for the Kings. Game 4 is Sunday in Los Angeles, starting at 4:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings’ hardworking defensive style has limited high-scoring Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas to just one point each in three games. However, the Avs’ deep roster has been the difference in this series, putting them on the verge of sweeping the Kings.

Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson left this game with an upper-body injury. Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a knee injury on Feb. 25. He was held scoreless in this contest.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Jackson Blake’s tie-breaking goal in the second period held up as the game winner to nip the Ottawa Senators 2-1, giving the Hurricanes a 3-0 lead in their first-round series. Logan Stankoven opened the scoring for the third straight game for the Hurricanes, while Frederik Andersen made 21 saves for the win. Drake Batherson scored, and Linus Ullmark stopped 25 shots for the Senators. Game 4 goes Saturday in Ottawa at 3 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have done a fine job limiting the Hurricanes to three goals or fewer in each game, but they’ve managed only three goals in total of their own thus far, with Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens being the goal scorers. Top center Tim Stutzle and team captain Brady Tkachuk have been held pointless. The Senators have yet to tally on the power play in this series.

Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson left this game in the second period following a hit to the head from Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall. He might be unavailable for Game 4, and if he’s in concussion protocol, he could be out for the remainder of the series if the Senators manage to push it to Game 7.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Third-period goals by Alex Tuch and Noah Ostlund gave the Buffalo Sabres a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins, and a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. Bowen Byram had a goal and an assist, and Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots in his series debut for the Sabres. Tanner Jeannot replied for the Bruins. Game 4 is Sunday in Boston at 2 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lyon played a solid game for the Sabres, including shutting down Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson’s penalty-shot attempt. Ostlund made an impact in his NHL playoff debut with two points. He drew into the lineup with Josh Norris listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

HEADLINES

TSN: Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t concerned about the availability or effectiveness of team captain Connor McDavid as their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks continues. McDavid was held scoreless in the first two games and briefly left Game 2 with an ankle injury, though he insisted he was fine following the game.

THE ATHLETIC: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar’s status for Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins is in question. Vladar didn’t participate in practice on Thursday. Head coach Rick Tocchet explained the goalie’s absence was due to a maintenance day, saying he was “a little banged up.” The Flyers hold a 3-0 series lead over the Penguins and can close out the series at home in Game 4 on Saturday.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Roope Hintz (lower-body injury) resumed skating on Wednesday on his own back in Dallas. He won’t be joining the team for Game 4 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild and is “highly doubtful” for Game 5. The Stars hold a 2-1 lead in the series with Game 4 on Saturday at 5:30 pm ET.

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson and defenseman Mike Matheson missed practice on Thursday. No reason was given for their absence but it’s believed they were each taking a maintenance day.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Speaking of the Canadiens, forward Kirby Dach shut down his Instagram account after some fans attacked him online for a couple of mistakes he made in Game 2 that led to the Tampa Bay Lightning winning that game in overtime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s one thing to be critical of a player’s performance. It’s crossing the line to launch personal attacks against that player on his social media account. Those are the type of “keyboard commandos” who cowardly hide behind their anonymity to hurl insults at players that they’d never dare say to their faces.

THE ATHLETIC: Utah Mammoth forward Logan Cooley has played well thus far in his first-ever NHL playoff series. The 21-year-old has been Utah’s best player through the first two games of their first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring the winning goal to give the Mammoth a 3-2 victory in Game 2.

DAILY FACEOFF: St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou underwent a minor surgical knee procedure. He is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That knee injury could explain why Kyrou’s production was down this season. After three straight 30-plus goal seasons and reaching 70 points in three of the last four campaigns, the 27-year-old winger managed 18 goals and 46 points in 72 games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

by | Apr 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

The Avalanche take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, the Lightning, Bruins, and Mammoth tie their respective series, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Nicolas Roy lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal while Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Los Angeles center Quinton Byfield. Artemi Panarin opened the scoring for the Kings, who got a 34-save effort from goaltender Anton Forsberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The game was delayed following Wedgewood’s save on Byfield to replace a pane of glass behind the Kings’ bench that shattered from the force of excited Avalanche fans pounding on it.

This series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Thursday at 10 pm ET. If those games are anything like the first two, we can expect them to be physical, close-checking, low-scoring affairs. The Kings must find a way to generate more offense without sacrificing their defensive play in Game 3, or they’ll be facing elimination this weekend.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-1 deficit to nip the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on an overtime goal by JJ Moser, tying their first-round series at a game apiece. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, while Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson tallied for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first half of this game was a greasy physical affair with numerous scrums, including a fight that saw Hagel drop Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Once the shenanigans were over, the game settled into a close-checking contest in which the Lightning’s experience made the difference, with Kucherov’s tying goal the result of a blueline turnover by Slafkovsky. The Canadiens were tentative in overtime, failing to generate a shot while the Lightning peppered Habs goalie Jakub Dobes with nine shots.

Speaking of the Lightning, they announced that team captain Victor Hedman is doubtful to play in this series, which moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. The third game will be on Friday at 7 pm ET.

Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice as his club doubled up the Buffalo Sabres 4-2, tying their series at one game apiece. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves while David Pastrnak collected two assists for the Bruins. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs replied for the Sabres. This series shifts to Boston for the next two games, with Game 3 on Thursday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres fell too far behind to stage another rally as they did in the first game. It was a disastrous outing for Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, giving up four goals on 19 shots, including a backhander from center ice by Bruins winger Morgan Geekie that bounced past him. Alex Lyon replaced Luukkonen after Arvidsson made it 4-0, and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff hinted that Lyon might get the start in Game 3.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (NHL Images).

The Utah Mammoth got their first playoff win since relocating from Arizona by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, squaring their first-round series at a game apiece. Logan Cooley snapped a 2-2 tie while Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbshev scored for the Golden Knights. This series moves to Utah for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Friday at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The speedy Mammoth out-played and out-shot the Golden Knights as this game went along. Led by young stars such as Cooley and Guenther, they’re proving to be a handful for the veteran-laden Golden Knights.

HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league has no plans to change its regular-season points system.

The issue arose as the Los Angeles Kings made the playoffs despite tying for the second-fewest regulation wins this season, playing in a record 33 overtime games. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division despite winning 10 fewer regulation games than the Washington Capitals, while the New York Islanders won 43 games but missed the playoffs with five overtime/shootout points.

Bettman also said that future league expansion fees could exceed $1 billion. He based it on the growth of league revenue and other factors. Atlanta and Houston have been rumored as potential destinations for future expansion franchises.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said sidelined center Roope Hintz didn’t travel with the team to Minnesota for the next two games of their first-round series. A lower-body injury has sidelined Hintz since March 6.

Gulutzan was unfazed over comments by Minnesota forward Marcus Foligno that the Stars “couldn’t hang” with the Wild in even-strength situations. Two of the goals the Stars scored in their 4-2 victory over the Wild in Game 2 came on the power play.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Wild, winger Mats Zuccarello is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique will miss Game 2 of their series with the Anaheim Ducks after suffering a lower-body injury in the first game.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will miss Game 3 of his club’s series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

THE ATHLETIC: The Vancouver Canucks have requested permission to speak with former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams about their vacant GM position.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: New Devils GM Sunny Mehta said everything is under evaluation from the coaching staff to new contracts for Nico Hischier and Simon Nemec. He also indicated that the Devils will be spending to the salary cap.

Mehta spent three seasons as an assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers before taking over as Devils GM last week.

TSN: Former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was named president of KHL club Shanghai Dragons.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2026

by | Apr 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2026

The remaining Eastern Conference opening-round series are set, the Mammoth clinch the first Western Conference wild card, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: David Pastrnak collected an assist for his 100th point of the season as the Boston Bruins blanked the New Jersey Devils 4-0 to clinch the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Jeremy Swayman turned in a 21-save shutout while Mark Kastelic scored twice for the 45-27-10 Bruins, who finished the season with 100 points and will face the Buffalo Sabres in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nico Daws made 22 saves for the Devils.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth consecutive season that Pastrnak has reached the 100-point plateau. Bruins center Pavel Zacha left the game to attend to a family matter.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 28 shots in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes (53-22-7), who finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference (113 points) and will face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the upcoming playoffs. Bo Horvat replied for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The idle Senators clinched the final Eastern wild card with 97 points. They play their final game of the regular season on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will miss that game with an undisclosed injury, but he’ll be ready for Game 1 against the Hurricanes this weekend.

For the first time in NHL history, the Devils, Islanders, and New York Rangers have missed the playoffs in the same year.

The Utah Mammoth (43-32-6) clinched the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 92 points after defeating the Winnipeg Jets 5-3. Nick Schmaltz scored twice, Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist, and Clayton Keller picked up an assist to extend his points streak to a franchise-record nine games. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had two points for the Jets.

Philadelphia Flyers rookie Oliver Bonk had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut as his club doubled up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists for the Flyers, who will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs. The Canadiens finished third in the Atlantic Division and will start their first-round playoff series in Tampa Bay against the Lightning on Sunday.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 53rd goal of the season in a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Martin Necas collected an assist to reach 100 points for the first time in his career, and Cale Makar collected three assists for the first-overall Avalanche. Blake Coleman scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon will win the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s leading goal scorer for the first time. Makar was returning from an upper-body injury that had sidelined him for seven games.

Minnesota Wild rookie Hunter Haight scored his first NHL goal, and Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 35 shots to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Mason McTavish scored both goals for the 42-33-6 Ducks, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild will face the Dallas Stars in the opening round. The Ducks are still waiting to find out who their first-round opponent will be.

An overtime goal by Jake DeBrusk gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. DeBrusk finished the game with two goals for the Canucks. Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist for the Kings (35-26-20), who hold the final Western wild card with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings and Ducks each still have a game remaining. If the Kings win or collect an overtime point and the Ducks lose in regulation, the Kings will finish third in the Pacific Division while the Ducks will drop into that final wild-card spot.

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished their season with a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Jimmy Snuggerud had two goals and two assists, and Dylan Holloway had two goals and an assist for the Blues. Rookie Avery Hayes tallied twice for the Penguins, who finished second in the Metropolitan Division and will meet the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin collected an assist in what might be his final NHL game in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Anthony Beauvillier and Jakob Chychrun scored for the Capitals. Boone Jenner tallied for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is still undecided about his future, but he said he hopes this game was not his last in the NHL. He’s an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he could retire from the NHL and return to Russia to finish his playing career.

Meanwhile, Blue Jackets interim coach Rick Bowness ripped into his players after this game, citing the club’s lack of a winning culture.

“All you’ve got to do is look at the stat sheet,” Bowness said. “Three hits. Twenty-three giveaways. Like, I don’t know if I’m back (next season), but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture. These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important to them. It doesn’t bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that?”

The Blue Jackets hired Bowness as interim coach in mid-January. Their players responded well at first, surging from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into second place in the Metropolitan Division by March 25. However, the Jackets went 2-8-1 in their last 11 games, missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz will not be in the opening two games of his club’s first-round series against the Wild. He’s been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 6.

THE SCORE: Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and Pittsburgh Penguins executive Jason Spezza will lead Canada’s management group at the 2026 IIHF World Championships.

THE ATHLETIC: The Tampa Bay Lightning is considered the NHL’s best-run franchise, and the Vancouver Canucks are considered the worst-run among a poll of NHL player agents.

The Minnesota Wild is ranked as the easiest franchise to deal with, while the Anaheim Ducks are considered to be the most difficult.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2026

by | Apr 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2026

Five teams can clinch playoff berths on Saturday, the Ducks sign GM Pat Verbeek to an extension, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominees are announced, the latest on Alex Ovechkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: After taking a break on Friday, the schedule resumes with 15 games on Saturday, with five teams facing playoff-clinching scenarios.

The Boston Bruins face several clinching scenarios in the Eastern Conference, with the most direct being to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in any fashion.

The Ottawa Senators can punch their ticket to the postseason if they defeat the New York Islanders in any fashion and if the New Jersey Devils defeat the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion.

In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers need one point against the Los Angeles Kings, or with any result in the Winnipeg Jets-Philadelphia Flyers game other than a Jets regulation win.

Like the Bruins, the Vegas Golden Knights face several clinching scenarios. The most direct is defeating the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion.

The Anaheim Ducks aren’t playing today, but they can clinch if all of the following occur: the Vancouver Canucks defeat the San Jose Sharks in any fashion, the Flyers defeat the Jets in regulation, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators in regulation.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed general manager Pat Verbeek to a multiyear contract extension.

The Ducks hired Verbeek in Feb. 2022. He’s conducted most of the franchise’s roster rebuild, putting them on the verge of reaching the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Under Verbeek’s management, the Ducks drafted center Leo Carlsson and rookie winger Beckett Sennecke, acquired winger Cutter Gauthier from the Philadelphia Flyers, defenseman Jacob Trouba and winger Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers, and blueliner John Carlson from the Washington Capitals. He also hired Joel Quenneville as head coach last year.

SPECTOR’ S NOTE: The Ducks still have room for improvement, but there’s no denying the steady progress they’ve made thus far under Verbeek.

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin are among the 32 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. It is presented annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Other notable nominees include Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is looking forward to facing long-time rival Sidney Crosby for what might be the final time this weekend when his club meets the Pittsburgh Penguins in a home-and-home series. The two games will be in Pittsburgh on Saturday and in Washington on Sunday.

Speculation is growing that this could be the 40-year-old Ovechkin’s final NHL season. Earlier this week, he said he’d decide on his future during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin once said that he and Crosby saved the NHL when it emerged from a season-killing lockout in 2005. His remarks sparked some criticism, but his assessment was correct. The rivalry between those two (especially during the early years of their NHL careers) renewed the interest of fans disillusioned over years of labor strife while also attracting a new generation of fans.

Today, the rivalry between Ovechkin and Crosby isn’t as heated as it once was, having mellowed into a mutual respect. Nevertheless, we could be watching history if this weekend’s games are indeed the final time they’ll face each other. Sean Gentille of The Athletic reports uncertainty over Ovechkin’s future has sent ticket prices surging for the Capitals’ final home game.

TORONTO SUN: Hall of Famer Chris Pronger has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the job of Maple Leafs general manager. However, he’s taking a cautious approach as he wants to know what the job parameters will be.

Pronger said he hasn’t been contacted by the Maple Leafs yet, but he’s interested in talking to them.

Other potential candidates include Florida Panthers assistant general managers Sunny Mehta and Brett Peterson. The Panthers have reportedly permitted the Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils to speak with Mehta.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pronger is likely low on their list of candidates. Based on recent reports, it appears the Maple Leafs are focused on current and former management types who will fill their main requirement of a “data-driven” general manager.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Devils, they’ve shut down goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the remainder of the season due to an array of nagging injuries.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars are expected to be without sidelined defenseman Miro Heiskanen and center Roope Hintz for what’s left of the regular season.

Heiskanen underwent an MRI on Friday for a lower-body injury suffered on Thursday. Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan is hoping the blueliner will return during their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Hintz has been sidelined since late February with a lower-body injury and remains week-to-week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having those two core players sidelined for their first-round series will test the Stars’ roster depth against the Wild. The sooner they can return, the better the Stars’ odds of winning that round.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is the winner of the Steve Chiasson Award. Named in honor of the late defenseman, the award is given out annually to the Hurricanes player “that best exemplifies determination and dedication while proving to be an inspiration to his teammates through his performance and approach to the game.”

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Hurricanes, they assigned goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to their AHL affiliate in Chicago for conditioning. He’s been sidelined since Dec. 20 with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings prospect Max Plante is the 2026 winner of the Hobey Baker Award, honoring the most outstanding player in NCAA men’s hockey. Plante, 20, is a left winger with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. He’s the first Red Wings prospect to win this award.

DAILY FACEOFF: Another Red Wings prospect, Trey Augustine, won the Mike Richter Award as this season’s top goaltender in NCAA men’s hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are potentially facing another disappointing season if they fail to make the playoffs. However, they have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which should continue to provide a measure of hope for Wings fans.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed prospect Abram Wiebe to a three-year entry-level contract. The 22-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the return in the Rasmus Andersson trade.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 11, 2026

by | Mar 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 11, 2026

Check out the recaps of Tuesday’s action in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored the go-ahead goal as the Edmonton Oilers nipped the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-3, ending the latter’s five-game win streak. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had two points, and Ryan Nugent Hopkins tallied twice for the 32-28-8 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 72 points. Ross Colton, Martin Necas, and Valeri Nichushkin replied for the Avalanche (43-11-9), who sit in first place in the overall standings with 95 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was ejected from this game in the second period for goaltender interference after colliding with Oilers netminder Connor Ingram, who was cut and had to leave the game. Tristan Jarry stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief of Ingram.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Quinn (NHL Images).

The red-hot Buffalo Sabres picked up their eighth straight victory by downing the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Jack Quinn tallied his first NHL hat trick and picked up an assist while Rasmus Dahlin and Ryan McLeod each collected three assists for the Sabres (40-19-6), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist for the 30-26-6 Sharks (66 points), who sit one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference. Sharks center Macklin Celebrini scored for the fourth straight game.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they recovered from blowing a 4-2 lead to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on a shootout goal by Jackson Blake. Alexander Nikishin had a goal and an assist for the 41-17-6 Hurricanes, who sit first overall in the Eastern Conference with 88 points. Bryan Rust scored twice and added an assist for the Penguins (32-17-15), who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (lower-body injury) is with the team on their five-game road trip and participated in Tuesday’s full morning skate without a non-contact jersey. Head coach Dan Muse said Crosby isn’t ahead of schedule in his recovery, but he’s moving in the right direction.

Muse also told reporters that Penguins forward Justin Brazeau is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Samuel Girard and winger Kevin Hayes both have upper-body injuries, with Girard listed as day-to-day.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1, leaving the latter winless in their last eight games (0-6-2). Rookie center Oliver Kapanen tallied his 20th goal of the season for the Canadiens (35-18-10), who have points in 10 of their last 11 games as they leapfrogged the Detroit Red Wings into third place in the Atlantic Division with 80 points. William Nylander scored for the 27-27-11 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson collected his 116th career NHL assist, setting the league record for the most by a defenseman within their first 150 regular-season games. Meanwhile, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield sat out the first half of the third period with an illness. He travelled with the club to Ottawa for Wednesday’s game against the Senators.

Speaking of the Red Wings, they suffered a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Carter Verhaeghe tallied twice within the final 1:30 of the third period for the 32-29-3 Panthers. Justin Faulk had a goal and an assist for his first points since being acquired by the Red Wings (36-22-7) at the trade deadline. Detroit holds the first Eastern wild-card spot with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Andrew Copp left this game in the second period with an injured left leg. He will be evaluated on Wednesday.

An overtime goal by Charlie McAvoy lifted the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Mason Lohrei also scored for the 36-22-6 Bruins, who hold the final Eastern wild-card berth with 78 points. Drew Doughty replied for the Kings (26-23-15), who sit behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following this game, the Bruins lined up and shook hands with Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who is retiring at the end of this season.

The Kraken, meanwhile, blew a 2-0 lead and fell 4-2 to the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros kicked out 43 shots, and rookie Ryan Ufko’s first NHL goal was the winner for the 29-27-8 Predators (66 points), who are one point behind the Kraken. Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers scored for the 29-25-9 Kraken (67 points), as they cling to that final Western wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Monday, the Kraken activated goaltender Matt Murray from injured reserve. He has been sidelined by a lower-body injury since Nov. 15.

The Dallas Stars held off the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots while Oskar Back and Jamie Benn scored for the 40-14-10 Stars, extending their points streak to 13 games as they hold second place in the Western Conference with 90 points. Jack Eichel scored for the Golden Knights (29-22-14), who have dropped six of their last seven games as they hold third place in the Pacific Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said sidelined winger Mikko Rantanen (lower-body injury) could return to action within the next two to three weeks. Center Roope Hintz (lower-body) remains week-to-week, and it’s hoped that he’ll return in time for the playoffs.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson turned in a 25-save performance to shut out the Utah Mammoth 5-0. Kirill Kaprizov had two points while Bobby Brink scored his first goal since being acquired at the trade deadline for the 38-16-11 Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 87 points. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 25 shots for the Mammoth (34-26-5), who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 73 points.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Conor Garland tallied twice for the second straight game to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2. Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski each had two assists for the 33-21-10 Blue Jackets, who extended their points streak to seven games, sitting two behind the Bruins with 76 points. Gage Goncalves and J.J. Moser replied for the slumping Lightning (39-20-4), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 82 points, but have dropped six of their last seven games.

Anaheim Ducks forwards Alex Killorn and Ryan Poehling each had a goal and an assist to down the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. Defenseman Jackston LaCombe also had a goal and an assist for the Ducks (36-25-3), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 75 points. Morgan Barron scored for the Jets (26-27-10).

The New York Islanders (37-23-5) overcame a 3-0 deficit to nip the St. Louis Blues 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mathew Barzal, who finished with three points. The Islanders sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points. Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and two assists for the 25-29-10 Blues.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere had a hat trick, and Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots to blank the Calgary Flames 4-0. Mika Zibanejad had two assists to reach 800 career regular-season points for the 26-30-8 Rangers. Dustin Wolf made 25 saves for the 25-32-7 Flames.