NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 11, 2026

by | Sep 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 11, 2026

Chris Kreider becomes a free agent, the Kings’ Kevin Fiala undergoes surgery, an update on Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks officially terminated Chris Kreider’s contract on Thursday after the 35-year-old winger cleared unconditional waivers. He is now an unrestricted free agent.

Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

The Ducks terminated Kreider’s contract by mutual consent. The move frees up $6.5 million in salary-cap space, which should give the Ducks sufficient room to sign restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauthier to a new contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kreider reportedly wanted to return to an Eastern Conference team to be closer to his family, who live in the New York City area. It sparked speculation about potential landing spots for the veteran winger, who had a bounce-back season with the Ducks, scoring 22 goals and 50 points during the regular season and seven points in 12 postseason contests.

Kreider might not have to wait long to sign with an Eastern club. His sudden appearance in the UFA market could adversely affect the efforts of currently available wingers like Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrik Laine, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron to find contracts for the coming season.

TSN: Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala underwent a procedure related to his initial surgery to repair the season-ending leg fractures he suffered during the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

Fiala will miss the upcoming start of the Kings’ training camp next week. No timeline has been set for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing one of their top scorers is an early setback for the Kings, especially if he’s sidelined for a significant period.

CALGARY SUN: Jonathan Huberdeau’s recovery from hip-resurfacing surgery is going well, but he’s still expected to miss the start of the regular season. He will skate on his own during training camp, but there is no timeline for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Patrick Kane is the only player to successfully continue his playing career following a similar procedure three years ago. Huberdeau and the Flames want to ensure that he doesn’t jeopardize his career by returning too soon.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights signed forward Braeden Bowman to a six-year contract extension. Bowman, 23, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. His new deal is worth an average annual value of $3.4 million beginning next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bowman was called up last season to replace Mark Stone when the Golden Knights’ captain suffered a broken finger. He played so well that he earned a regular roster spot, netting 26 points in 54 games.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed depth defenseman Mike Reilly to a one-year, two-way contract.

NHL.COM: Former NHL stars Phil Kessel, Ryan Suter, and T.J. Oshie are among the five inductees in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Phil’s sister, Amanda Kessel, is also being inducted, as is longtime USA Hockey athletic trainer Stan Wong.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to these five inductees for this well-deserved honor. It’s great to see the Kessels being inducted together. Phil and Amanda made their mark on hockey during their playing careers. They are the second brother-and-sister inducted into the US HHoF, joining Tony and Cammi Granato, but they’re the first to be inducted together.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 5, 2026

by | Sep 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 5, 2026

The Canucks sign Zeev Buium to a lucrative extension, clarity on Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau’s status, the latest on Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen’s contract talks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Zeev Buium to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $9.38 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buium, 20, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. He joined the Canucks last December as part of the return from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (NHL Images)

A skillful puck-moving defenseman, Buium had a promising rookie campaign with 26 points in 76 games, including 12 in 45 games with the Canucks.

The Canucks are taking a big gamble on Buium reaching his potential as an elite offensive blueliner. He’s only 20 years old, and there’s no certainty he’ll play up to the massive expectations that come with this contract. He’s shown promise, but hasn’t done enough to deserve such an expensive deal.

If Buium becomes a superstar, Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson will be praised for his foresight with this big investment. If he doesn’t, it could become one of the worst contracts in the league, derailing Johnson’s plans to rebuild this club into a contender.

SPORTSNET: Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy clarified the status of Jonathan Huberdeau’s recovery from hip resurfacing surgery in March.

Earlier this week, Conroy said that Huberdeau suffered “a little bit of a setback” with his skating about two weeks ago. The Flames GM now says it was “a poor choice of words” on his part.

“It’s not that there was a setback. It was more in the hope in me that he was going to be ready for camp.” Conroy said. “What I meant was it was a setback that he probably won’t be ready for the first day of camp. That’s where I made my mistake”.

Huberdeau is skating with his teammates and appears close to returning, but there is no timeline yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Conroy hopes that Huberdeau might rejoin his teammates at some point during training camp. However, he stressed that it will be when the 33-year-old winger feels 100 percent.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said contract extension talks with Artturi Lehkonen could stretch into the regular season.

Lehkonen, 31, is in the final season of his five-year contract with a $4.5 million AAV. He’s scored 20 goals three times over the past four seasons, but his availability is in question as he’s been frequently sidelined by injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lehkonen can become an unrestricted free agent next July. His future in Colorado depends on how many years and how much salary he’s seeking on his next deal. The Avalanche have a projected $11.646 million in salary cap space for 2027-28 with 18 active roster players signed. Nicolas Roy, Brent Burns, and Scott Wedgewood are also UFA-eligible next year.

TORONTO SUN: NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is believed to be closer to returning to Sportsnet. However, it’s rumored that Rogers Communications, which owns Sportsnet, doesn’t want Friedman to also work on Amazon Prime’s midweek games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman’s contract with Sportsnet expired on Aug. 31, prompting speculation that he could be joining Amazon Prime. Fellow NHL analyst Kevin Bieksa’s contract also expired on Monday, but there’s no indication whether Amazon Prime might be wooing him too.

ARIZONA SPORTS: Arizona State University defenseman and St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich “needs a miracle” after being hospitalized following a training incident last month, his family’s lawyer said.

Mayich collapsed from heat stroke during an outdoor bootcamp-style workout on Aug. 20. Lawyer Robert Carey said the 21-year-old is in a coma, adding that his body has ceased functioning in a fundamental way, and his condition is irreversible.

The university issued a statement on Sept. 3 that the school’s vice-president is reviewing “the workout and related university policies, procedures, and training protocols”.

Leonard Aragon, another attorney representing the Mayich family, claimed a former Green Beret led the workout, pushing the student-athletes beyond their limits. He also alleged the athletes would be punished for stopping or drinking water.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The more details revealed about what led to Mayich’s hospitalization, the worse it sounds. His family is pushing the school to do more than conduct a review.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed winger Jacob Melanson to a three-year contract with a $1.45 million AAV.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed defenseman Zach Metsa to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth $900,000.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs inked forward Brendan Brisson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2026

by | Sep 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2026

Questions facing the Capitals this season, the Ducks retiring Ryan Getzlaf’s number, an update on Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau, the Predators trading Luke Evangelista to the Devils, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: How the defense holds up until Rasmus Sandin returns to action, where Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou play, and Alex Ovechkin’s role are the three big questions facing the Washington Capitals in 2026-27.

Sandin remains sidelined recovering from his April knee surgery, with a recovery timeline of six to nine months. The addition of Vincent Desharnais and re-signing of Timothy Liljegren should help, while promising blueliner Cole Hutson could play a significant role.

Tuch was acquired in a sign-and-trade move from the Buffalo Sabres, while Kyrou arrived in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. Given the Capitals’ depth on right wing, Tuch or Kyrou could shift to the left side.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Ovechkin turns 41 this month as he approaches his 22nd NHL season. His place as the league’s all-time goal-scoring leader is assured, but his ice time has declined in recent years, and he might not play the full two minutes on the power play this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals were among the league’s busiest teams during this offseason as they attempt to rebound from last season’s disappointing performance. How they answer those three questions will determine how successful their bounce-back efforts will be.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks will retire Ryan Getzlaf’s No. 15 during a ceremony on Jan. 30 before the club’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Getzlaf spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Ducks from 2005-06 to 2021-22. He’s the franchise leader in regular-season games played (1,157), assists (737), and points (1,019), and he holds the club’s single-season assist record with 66. He also helped the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup in 2007 and is their longest-serving captain, serving 12 seasons from 2010-11 to 2021-22.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved honor for one of the greatest players in Ducks history.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Jonathan Huberdeau might not be ready when the club’s 2026-27 regular-season schedule begins.

Huberdeau underwent season-ending hip resurfacing surgery in March 2026. Conroy said the 33-year-old winger suffered “a little bit of a setback” about two weeks ago with his skating. He added that they will give Huberdeau the time to fully recover.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Huberdeau’s production had been in steady decline since his career-best 115-point performance in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers. He played through pain last season before undergoing hip resurfacing in March, a procedure that few NHL players fully recover from.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded winger Luke Evangelista to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Colorado Avalanche’s conditional 2028 first-round pick, and their own second-round pick in 2028.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading a young winger like Evangelista for two draft picks prompted puzzled reactions on social media. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin acknowledged the Devils paid a high price for the 24-year-old winger, but wondered if this was a precursor to a bigger deal by the Predators, such as pursuing Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.

Predators general manager Chris MacFarland told Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean that he’s not ruling out using those two picks to acquire more immediate help. It remains to be seen who they might target in the trade market and when they’ll make that move.

The Predators are not among the teams on Larkin’s narrow list of preferred destinations. Unless that changes, they’ll have to look elsewhere for a top-six center.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin was back on the ice this week as part of the captain’s skate. The 34-year-old Seguin last played on Dec. 2, when he tore the ACL in his right knee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seguin is in the final season of his eight-year contract with a $9.85 million cap hit. Injuries have limited him to 20 games in 2024-25 and 27 games last season. His performance in 2026-27 could determine if he’ll continue his NHL career after his contract expires.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers are closing in on a one-year contract with winger Eeli Tolvanen worth $1.5 million. He completed a three-year deal worth $3.475 million annually with the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tolvanen, 27, was among the youngest players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. A versatile forward who can skate at either wing, he spent most of the last four seasons with the Kraken. He reportedly sought a multi-year contract, but had to settle for a significant pay cut on a one-year deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke and his ownership group have acquired a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.

CALGARY SUN: Tickets for the Flames’ final game at the Saddledome on April 10, 2027, sold out in minutes on Monday morning. The Flames are moving to the Scotia Place arena next season, and the iconic Saddledome is slated for demolition once the move is complete.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2026

by | Jul 29, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2026

Check out the latest on Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, Blues center Robert Thomas, Avalanche winger Jaden Schwartz, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo believes Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin will meet with defenseman Quinn Hughes and his representatives this week in Michigan to discuss a contract extension.

Hughes, 26, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $7.85 million.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Russo reports the Wild want to sign him to a new deal between five and eight years, pointing out that the maximum term for re-signing players drops to seven years as of Sept. 16. However, a three-year deal makes the most sense for Hughes, aligning with the remaining term on brother Jack Hughes’ contract with the New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild owner Craig Leipold last month claimed his club would re-sign Hughes, but that was before Leo Carlsson’s new contract (with its record $18 million average annual value) set a more expensive bar for retaining talent.

The Wild have already invested $17 million annually in superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov. If Hughes seeks more than that, regardless of term, they will have a significant chunk of their salary cap payroll tied up in two players.

Hughes is among the NHL’s elite players, winning the Norris Trophy as top defenseman in 2023-24. He would be justified in seeking a significant raise that puts him among the league’s highest-paid players.

Before the Carlsson signing, it was expected that Hughes would at least double his salary. Now, he could seek between $18 million and $20.8 million, which is the current maximum cap hit allowed under the CBA.

With a projected $45.9 million in cap space for 2027-28, the Wild have room to accommodate a new contract for Hughes. However, it could complicate efforts to maintain a Stanley Cup-contending roster.

The Wild currently have only 11 active roster players under contract for that season, with forwards Blake Coleman and Ryan Hartman, defenseman Jared Spurgeon, and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt among the notables to be re-signed or replaced.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports Robert Thomas has put last season’s trade speculation behind him as he and the Blues focus on building something special in St. Louis.

Despite the rumors, Thomas indicated that he was never asked by Blues management to waive his no-trade clause. After meetings with new general manager Alex Steen, the two sides are now aligned on the club’s goal of building a Stanley Cup contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues shook things up in recent months, trading away veterans Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou. Goaltender Jordan Binnington will likely remain a trade candidate, and rumors continued to dog blueliner Colton Parayko. However, whatever changes come next to their roster, they won’t involve Thomas, who could take on a larger leadership role with the Blues.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen considers winger Jaden Schwartz as the Avalanche player with the most to prove in 2026-27.

Schwartz, 34, signed a three-year contract with the Avalanche. He could fill a top-six role, which means they’ll need the 2024-25 version who scored 26 goals and 49 points in 2024-25, not the one who managed only 26 points in 50 games last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Deen noted that the Avalanche brought in Schwartz after moving out forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Ross Colton in cost-cutting deals. He inked an affordable AAV of $3.25 million, down from his previous annual salary of $5.5 million.

Schwartz’s production declined last season because he missed 32 games with various injuries. When healthy, he’s a productive second-line winger. The problem is he’s been dogged by injuries for most of his career.

THE ATHLETIC: Dom Luszczyszyn recently published his annual ranking of the NHL’s 10 worst contracts. For the third straight year, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames tops the list.

He also considers Leo Carlsson’s new contract with the Anaheim Ducks among the worst. He acknowledged the 21-year-old center has plenty of potential and could be worth his $18 million AAV by the fourth or fifth year of the deal, but he’s not worth that amount of coin at this stage of his career.

Luszczyszyn also agreed that matching the offer to retain Carlsson was a win. However, he felt the contract efficiency aspect is a big loss that will limit the Ducks’ ceiling over the course of the center’s contract.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken Hockey Network’s color analyst Eddie Olczyk is stepping away from his duties for personal and family reasons. He joined KHN in 2022 after spending 15 seasons as an analyst for the Chicago Blackhawks.

THE SCORE: Prime Video will broadcast three Stanley Cup playoff series in Canada (two in the first round, one in the second) as part of a 12-year sublicensing agreement with Rogers. It will also get Wednesday night regular-season national games in Canada in English and French.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 28, 2026

by | Jun 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 28, 2026

The highlights from the second and final day of the 2026 Draft are in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins selecting Markus Ruck with the 39th overall pick was the notable highlight from the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft. Ruck’s twin brother, Liam, was chosen at No. 22 in the first round on Friday.

Liam and Markus Ruck (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether the Ruck twins would end up on the same team was among the big questions heading into this draft. It seemed that hope was dashed when Liam was taken by the Penguins in the first round, leaving them facing the possibility that they would be split up for the first time in their young hockey careers before the Penguins chose Markus.

The Ruck twins being on the same NHL franchise have drawn comparisons to Hall of Famers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were selected by the Vancouver Canucks in 1999. Time will tell if they go on to have great careers like the Sedins.

Several prospects in this year’s draft have NHL bloodlines.

Vancouver Canucks first-round pick (third overall) Caleb Malhotra is the son of former NHL player and current Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra. Wyatt Cullen, chosen 10th overall by the Nashville Predators, is the son of former forward Matt Cullen.

St. Louis Blues prospect center Maddox Dagenais (16th overall) is the son of former forward Pierre Dagenais. Anaheim Ducks first-rounder (28th overall) Marcus Nordmark is the son of former defenseman Robert Nordmark. Detroit Red Wings prospect Victor Plante (chosen 47th overall) is the son of former center Derek Plante.

Calgary Flames winger Joe Iginla (65th overall) is the son of Hall of Fame winger Jarome Iginla. Montreal Canadiens prospect winger Parker Trottier (189th overall) is the grandson of Hall of Fame center Bryan Trottier.

A record-setting four players were from Latvia: Alberts Smits (No. 5 by the New York Rangers), Rudolfs Berzkains (No. 58 by the Edmonton Oilers), Patriks Plumins (No. 114 by the Toronto Maple Leafs), and Oliver Murnieks (No. 124 by the Buffalo Sabres).

San Jose Sharks prospect defenseman Alexander Karmanov (201st overall) is the tallest player ever selected in an NHL draft. The 18-year-old is 7’1” and weighs 280 pounds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for the complete list of picks from every round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes acquired the contract rights of defenseman John Carlson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a sixth-rounder in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlson is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’d already informed the Ducks that he intended to sign with an Eastern club. The Hurricanes have his exclusive negotiating rights until noon ET on Wednesday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Jonathan Huberdeau has returned to skating and is trending toward being ready for training camp in September. The 33-year-old winger underwent season-ending hip resurfacing in March.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars GM Jim Nill said forward Radek Faksa underwent surgery to repair a foot injury he suffered during this season. He also said that forward Tyler Seguin is continuing his rehab from a season-ending ACL tear suffered in December.

Both players are expected to be ready for training camp in September.

TORONTO SUN/THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Maple Leafs traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues for two third-round picks in this year’s draft.

The Leafs moved Carlo because he didn’t have the impact the club desired when they acquired him from the Boston Bruins at the March 2025 trade deadline. He’ll get a fresh start in St. Louis, where he’ll be insurance in case promising blueliner Adam Jiricek isn’t ready to make the jump to the NHL next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The move also freed up salary cap space for the Maple Leafs, giving them over $22 million to put toward other moves via the trade and free-agent markets.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW/COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins traded forward Fabian Lysell to the Colorado Avalanche for forward Ivan Ivan.

NEW YORK POST/THE TENNESSEAN: The Rangers trade forward Adam Edstrom to the Predators in exchange for the No. 148 pick in this year’s draft and prospect Massimo Rizzo.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

by | Jan 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s action, the Sabres re-sign Josh Doan, the Bruins re-up Alex Steeves, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller scored the tying and overtime goals in a 5-4 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Keller finished with three points while Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz each had two assists as the Mammoth (26-20-4) overcame a 4-2 deficit. Chris Dvorak had two goals and an assist for the 23-17-9 Flyers.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols missed this game and is expected to be sidelined for two months with a fractured ankle.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 40 shots as his club nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Cutter Gauthier scored the winner in the shootout for the 26-21-3 Ducks, who picked up their fifth straight win. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 16 of 17 shots in regulation and overtime for the league-leading Avalanche (34-5-9), who are 1-1-2 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the 1,000th regular-season NHL game for Ducks winger Alex Killorn. Ducks center Mason McTavish missed this game with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Jackson Lacombe was named to the United States Olympic men’s hockey team as a replacement for sidelined Florida Panthers blueliner Seth Jones.

An overtime goal by Dylan Larkin gave the Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Larkin also assisted on Simon Edvinsson’s game-tying goal while John Gibson stopped 30 shots for the Red Wings (31-16-4), who have won seven of their last eight games. Joseph Woll made 39 saves, and Scott Laughton scored for the 24-17-9 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a lower-body injury midway through the first period and did not return to action. He will be reevaluated on Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1. Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each had a goal and an assist for the 24-14-11 Penguins, who are 3-0-2 in their last five contests. Yegor Sharangovich replied for the Flames, who dropped to 21-24-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist as his club ended an 11-game winless skid with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves for the Canucks (17-28-5). Dylan Strome tallied twice and collected an assist for the slumping Capitals (24-21-6), who have dropped four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals winger Tom Wilson collected an assist in his return to action after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. Capitals defenseman John Carlson collected two assists to reach 600 for his NHL career.

The Seattle Kraken beat the New York Islanders 4-1. Vince Dunn had a goal and an assist for the 22-18-9 Kraken, ending a four-game winless skid (0-3-1). Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders (27-18-5).

IN OTHER NEWS…

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed forward Josh Dean to a seven-year, $48.75 million contract extension, with an average annual value of $6.95 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquired from the Mammoth in the JJ Peterka trade last June, the 23-year-old Doan has become a valuable young forward for the Sabres. He’s moved up in their lineup into a first-line role, and sits fourth among their scorers with 35 points in 49 games.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed forward Alex Steeves to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.625 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steeves, 26, has become a versatile player for the Bruins this season, earning praise from head coach Marco Sturm for his ability to play any forward position and move easily throughout the lineup as required.

TSN: The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Luke Hughes (shoulder) on long-term injury reserve.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning have officially extended their lease at the Benchmark International Arena for six more years through 2043.