NHL Rumor Mill – January 9, 2026

by | Jan 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 9, 2026

The latest on Flames forward Nazem Kadri, the Canadiens could be interested in Flames winger Blake Coleman, the Hurricanes are entertaining offers for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and the latest on the Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NAZEM KADRI COULD BE OPEN TO A TRADE

TSN: Darren Dreger believes Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri would be willing to listen if an opportunity to be traded to a contender came along.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Kadri, 35, is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million and a 13-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade rumors were buzzing about Kadri earlier this season, but Flames ownership said they had no intention of moving him. However, it appears to be a different story if he wants to be moved, or if a contender comes calling with a good offer, whether those offers come before the March 6 trade deadline remains to be seen.

CANADIENS INTERESTED IN FLAMES WINGER BLAKE COLEMAN

TSN: Pierre LeBrun thinks Flames winger Blake Coleman is high on the Montreal Canadiens’ list of trade targets. The 34-year-old is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and would bring a measure of physicality, veteran leadership, and versatility to the Canadiens’ roster.

Coleman is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4.9 million. He also has a 10-team no-trade list.

LeBrun said nothing is imminent with the Canadiens. They intend to wait until the Olympic break in February to gauge the health of their roster and their position in the standings before pursuing that type of deal.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont appreciates Coleman’s skills, but he’s skeptical that the Canadiens will pursue him.

Dumont pointed out that Alexandre Texier’s play negates some of what Coleman would bring to the lineup. He also expressed concern that Coleman’s shooting percentage might collapse, turning him into an expensive bottom-six forward. There is currently no pressing need to make that move.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico indicated that the Canadiens are ahead of schedule with their rebuild and will soon be getting their sidelined players back in the lineup. They’re open to adding physical, middle-six scoring forwards, but they’re not under pressure to do so.

The Canadiens are dealing from a position of strength. They can afford to be patient and wait for value rather than overpaying to keep pace. Management is still prioritizing long-term impact over short-term optics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coleman wouldn’t be a rental player for the Canadiens, provided they’re not on his no-trade list. However, General Manager Kent Hughes’ trade history suggests he won’t overpay to acquire him. LeBrun also stressed that Coleman is among several players on the Canadiens’ trade targets list.

HURRICANES LISTENING TO OFFERS FOR JESPERI KOTKANIEMI

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports several sources claim the Carolina Hurricanes are considering trade offers for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. They want something in return that can help them now or something they can use to acquire something that can provide immediate help.

The Hurricanes successfully signed away Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens with an offer sheet in 2021, and later signed him to an eight-year deal with an AAV of $4.82 million.

Friedman said the Hurricanes have used the 25-year-old Kotkaniemi in recent trade discussions when they attempted to acquire Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings and Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Danault was traded to the Canadiens, and Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kotkaniemi struggled to establish himself as a reliable middle-six center with the Hurricanes. Given the lack of centers in the trade market, Friedman believes he’s drawing legitimate interest from other clubs.

LATEST ON THE DEVILS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is trying to shake up his struggling roster. He’s aggressively searching for a top-six forward, but things are quiet in the trade market right now.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the Devils must make some changes to their roster if they’re not going to shake things up in the front office or behind the bench.

He noted the Devils attempted to move defenseman Dougie Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat earlier this season. Those moves seem more likely in the offseason when things are more flexible.

Nichols suggested it may be time to consider moving a core player. He felt that management should speak with Jack and Luke Hughes to determine how committed they are to the organization after the Devils’ failed attempt to acquire brother Quinn Hughes. Otherwise, it may be time to look at Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and team captain Nico Hischier

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils supporters are roasting Fitzgerald on social media, but it doesn’t sound as though he’s on the hot seat with ownership. Dreger said he speaks to ownership every week, and they know what direction he wants to take this team.

Barring a strong second-half turnaround, the Devils might face some difficult questions regarding the core of their roster. They’ve struggled to regain their once-promising 2022-23 form, when they finished with the best record in franchise history.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

by | Jan 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane reaches a notable scoring milestone, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reclaims the lead in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Patrick Kane scored twice to become the fifth U.S.-born NHL player to reach 500 career regular-season goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks (16-22-5), who are winless in their last five games (0-3-2). The Red Wings improved to 26-15-4.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane joined Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513), and Joe Mullen (502). He’s also the first to reach that milestone since Tkachuk in April 2008.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to reclaim the lead in the NHL scoring race (78 points) as his club thumped the Ottawa Senators 8-2. Brock Nelson and Josh Manson each tallied two goals for the league-leading Avalanche (32-4-7, 71 points) as they snapped a two-game losing skid. Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk replied for the 20-18-5 Senators, who have only two wins in their last eight games (2-7-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators signed free-agent James Reimer in an effort to shore up their struggling goaltending. Reimer, 37, could join the club this weekend.

Earlier in the day, the Senators released a statement expressing extreme disappointment with social media posts regarding starting goalie Linus Ullmark. This is in response to what the club called “fabricated and false stories” regarding the reason behind Ullmark’s leave of absence for personal reasons.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid extended his points streak with a goal and an assist to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3, leaving the latter winless in their last 11 games (0-7-4). Evan Bouchard snapped a 3-3 tie midway through the third period for the Oilers (22-16-6). Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who dropped to 15-22-5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Evgeni Malkin scored in his first game since being sidelined by an upper-body injury on Dec. 4, and Sidney Crosby had two assists to push his points streak to eight games for the 21-12-9 Penguins, extending their winning streak to six games. Luke Hughes scored for the Devils (22-20-2), who are 2-6-1 in their last eight contests.

Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier netted his first NHL hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Oliver Kapanen had a goal and two assists as the Canadiens (25-13-6) picked up their third straight win and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points. Sam Bennett tallied both goals for the 22-18-3 Panthers, who have dropped seven straight games to the Canadiens since the 2023-24 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Brad Marchand missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. Meanwhile, TSN’s Chris Johnston said the chances were pretty high for sidelined Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (knee) to return to action this season, most likely during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped 28 shots to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. Sean Kuraly had a goal and an assist for the 23-19-2 Bruins, who have three wins in their last four games. Connor Zary scored for the Flames (18-22-4) as their losing skid reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Flames announced that rookie defenseman Zayne Perekh is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during the recent World Junior Championship.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their 12th win in their last 13 games by dropping the New York Rangers 5-2. Mattias Samuelsson, Jason Zucker, and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the 23-15-4 Sabres. Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers (20-19-6).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain J.T. Miller returned to action after missing the last two weeks with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Easton Cowan lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Scott Laughton scored against his former club, and Dennis Hildeby made 22 saves for the Maple Leafs (21-15-7) as they extended their points streak to eight games (6-0-2). Travis Konecny scored for the 22-12-8 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Konecny left the game at the end of the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes picked up their third straight win by downing the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. Jalen Chatfield, Logan Stankoven, and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (27-14-3), who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 57 points. Ryan Poehling and Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks (21-20-3), who are 0-7-1 in their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks winger Troy Terry missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his goal streak to six games in a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stone finished with three points, and Reilly Smith tallied twice for the Golden Knights (19-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 50 points. Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan each had two points for the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 18-18-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, they placed defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets defenseman Brendan Smith will be sidelined for three to four months after undergoing knee surgery on Jan. 6.

The Minnesota Wild got an overtime goal from Mats Zuccarello to defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Kirill Kaprizov had two assists for the 26-11-8 Wild. Adam Larsson and Matty Beniers scored for the Kraken (20-14-8), who extended their points streak to 10 games (8-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jordan Eberle missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros stopped 30 shots, and Filip Forsberg scored in the shootout for a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Ryan O’Reilly scored in regulation for the Predators (20-19-4). Simon Holmstrom tallied for the 24-15-5 Islanders.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Seven NHL players will be part of Slovakia’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s hockey tournament. Forwards include Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens, Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues, Martin Pospisil of the Calgary Flames, and Pavol Regenda of the San Jose Sharks. Defensemen include Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Martin Fehervary of the St. Louis Blues, and Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils.

THE ATHLETIC: St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery denied that starting goalie Jordan Binnington refused to be pulled from their 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. He also denied that backup Joel Hofer appeared to be hiding in the tunnel behind the Blues’ bench.

Montgomery explained that he attempted to pull Binnington after Chicago scored its seventh goal, and Binnington was waiting for Hofer to replace him before heading to the bench. However, Hofer was not fully dressed because he had to watch the game from the dressing room due to a lack of room on the St. Louis bench. Play had resumed by the time Hofer was ready to go.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks acquired backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit, depth defenseman Nolan Allen, and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the contract of permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis, minor-league defenseman Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth-round pick.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Jack McGregor, a former Pennsylvania state senator who founded the Pittsburgh Penguins, died on Tuesday at age 91. He was the team’s first president and chief executive officer from 1967 to 1970.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to McGregor’s family, colleagues, and the Penguins’ organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2026

by | Jan 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2026

A record-setting performance by Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak, the Lightning extend their win streak, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Ilya Sorokin kicked out 44 shots to set the New York Islanders’ record for most shutouts (26) as his club crushed the New Jersey Devils 9-0. Anthony Duclair tallied a hat trick in a career-high five-point performance while Mathew Barzal, Casey Cizikas, and Tony DeAngelo each collected three points for the 24-15-2 Islanders. Jacob Markstrom gave up nine goals on 24 shots for the Devils (22-19-2).

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The struggling Devils’ tumble in the standings has raised concern among the club’s fans. That’s putting pressure on general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who has come up short in his trade attempts thus far.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid extended his points streak to 16 games with a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists for the Oilers, who improved to 21-16-6. Ryan O’Reilly and Nick Blakenburg replied for the 19-19-4 Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers scratched forwards Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic from this game. Mangiapane has been a frequent healthy scratch since last week, becoming the subject of trade rumors. He and Frederic were signed last summer to bolster the Oilers’ forward depth, but they haven’t panned out thus far. Mangiapane is in the first year of a two-year contract, while Frederic’s is an eight-year deal.

The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their eighth straight victory by doubling up the Colorado Avalanche 4-2. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had two assists to extend his points streak to eight games for the 26-13-3 Lightning, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson were the goal scorers for the league-leading Avalanche (31-4-7, 69 points), who lost consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Avalanche announced that captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Devon Toews are week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Landeskog could miss a few weeks, but it’s too early to rule him out for the Winter Olympics in February.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras scored twice against his former team in a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Cam York and Nikita Grebenkin each had a goal and an assist for the 22-12-7 Flyers. Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn tallied for the Ducks (21-19-3) as they’re winless in seven games (0-6-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was Gauthier’s first goal against the club that drafted him. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov missed this game with an injured foot, while Flyers forward Bobby Brink and defenseman Jamie Drysdale left this game with injuries. As for the Ducks, they placed forward Nikita Nesterenko on waivers before this game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist, and Auston Matthews scored his sixth goal in the last three games for the 20-15-7 Maple Leafs to extend their point streak to seven games (5-0-2). Carter Verhaeghe replied for the Panthers (22-17-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Brad Marchand tried to stir the pot before this game, telling reporters it was between the Panthers and Maple Leafs this summer before choosing to stay in Florida. He also trolled Toronto fans, claiming they drove former Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner out of town. Marchand exited in the third period for precautionary reasons following a hit by Leafs forward Bobby McMann.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, defenseman Brandon Carlo returned to action after being sidelined by a foot injury since Nov. 13.

An overtime goal by Tomas Hertl lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets, leaving the latter winless in 10 games (0-6-4). Mark Stone scored to extend his goal streak to five games for the 18-11-12 Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 48 points. Cole Perfetti, Luke Schenn, and Kyle Connor replied for the 15-21-5 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury was stretchered from this game with a broken nose in the first period after losing his balance and crashing into the end boards.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini scored to extend his points streak to 11 games in a 5-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Alexander Wennberg had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (21-18-3), as they’ve won four of their last five games. Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan scored for the Blue Jackets (18-17-7) as they’ve dropped three of their last four contests (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Monahan returned to action after missing the last four games. Earlier in the day, they signed former Pittsburgh Penguins and Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula after his contract with the Penguins was terminated.

The Buffalo Sabres held off the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 5-3. Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 32 shots for the Sabres (22-15-4), who’ve won 11 of their last 12 games. Brock Boeser had two assists for the Canucks (16-21-5), leaving them winless in their last four games(0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward Jason Zucker returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller tallied twice and picked up an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Andrei Svechnikov collected four assists for the 26-14-3 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 55 points. Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists, and Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist against his former club, but the Stars (25-10-8) are winless in their last six games (0-3-3).

Seattle Kraken rookie Berkly Catton scored his first two NHL goals as his club defeated the Boston Bruins 7-4. Kaapo Kakko had two goals and an assist for the Kraken (20-14-7), who have won four straight and eight of their last nine contests. David Pastrnak tallied twice for the 22-19-2 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Bruins placed defenseman Hampus Lindholm on injured reserve and activated Henri Jokiharju off IR.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SPORTSNET: International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif remains confident that construction on the main arena for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will be ready in time for the games.

The seating capacity is set at 11,800, which is smaller than expected. Construction on parts of the arena might not be fully finished on time, but the playing surface, practice facilities, and dressing rooms will be ready.

TSN: Speaking of the Winter Olympics, the Czech Republic named 12 NHL players to their Men’s Hockey Team. They include goaltenders Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks, Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth, and Daniel Vladar of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Forwards include David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins, Martin Necas of the Colorado Avalanche, Tomas Hertl of the Vegas Golden Knights, Ondrej Palat of the New Jersey Devils, Radek Faksa of the Dallas Stars, and sidelined Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil. Defensemen included Radko Gudas of the Ducks and Filip Hronek of the Vancouver Canucks.

Latvia’s roster will feature goaltenders Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Arturs Silovs of the Pittsburgh Penguins, forwards Rodrigo Abols of the Philadelphia Flyers, Zemgus Girgensons of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Teddy Blueger of the Vancouver Canucks, and defenseman Uvis Balinskis of the Florida Panthers.

Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier will be part of France’s Men’s Olympic hockey roster.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (lower body) is headed to injured reserve, and defenseman Adam Fox (lower body) was placed on long-term injury reserve.

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings forwards Anze Kopitar (lower body) and Joel Armia (upper body) are listed as day-to-day.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames forward John Beecher is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

by | Jan 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s action, the Sharks re-sign Alexander Wennberg, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi netted a hat trick, including the winner in overtime, to lift his club to a 3-2 upset of the Vegas Golden Knights. Andre Burakovsky collected two assists as the Blackhawks are 3-0-1 in their last four games, improving their record to 17-18-7. Brandon Saad and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights (17-11-12), who are winless in five games (0-3-2), but hold first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi (NHL Images).

The Florida Panthers nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Daniil Tarasov stopped 27 shots while Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad scored for the 22-16-3 Panthers. Scott Wedgewood made 23 saves, and Artturi Lehkonen replied for the Avalanche (31-3-7), who lead the league with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury after crashing into the Panthers’ net. After the game, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog is going to miss some time. The Avs played without defenseman Devon Toews, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Lane Hutson gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky each finished with a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (23-13-6), who completed their seven-game road trip with a record of 4-1-2. Wyatt Johnston tallied twice for the 25-9-8 Stars, who are winless in their last five contests (0-2-3).

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime. Sidney Crosby tallied the winning goal, finishing the game with two points as his Penguins (20-12-9) extended their win streak to five games. Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko each scored a goal and an assist for the 18-16-7 Blue Jackets.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for the 25-14-3 Hurricanes as they ended a three-game losing skid. Dawson Mercer replied for the Devils (22-18-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes was dejected after being booed by Devils fans for a pair of costly mistakes that ended up in his own net. However, his teammates (especially goaltender Jake Allen) defended the young blueliner following the game.

HEADLINES

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed forward Alexander Wennberg to a three-year, $18 million contract extension. The average annual value is $6 million, and comes with a full no-trade clause through the first two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move indicates a shift for the Sharks. They’ve been rebuilding over the past several seasons, which would’ve meant trading a veteran on an expiring contract (such as Wennberg) to a playoff contender for draft picks and prospects. Instead, they’ve opted to re-sign the 31-year-old center, who has played a key role as the Sharks challenge for a postseason berth in the Western Conference, sitting fifth among their scorers with 26 points.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev could miss the remainder of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. He’s slated to meet with a surgeon soon, and could be sidelined until late April or early May.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries limited the 36-year-old Tanev to just 11 games this season. His recent return to action was among the reasons behind the Maple Leafs’ improvement in late December.

CBC.CA: The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Calgary Flames forward John Beecher and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley one game each for separate roughing incidents on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incidents referred to were Beecher’s sucker punch of Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron and Stanley doing the same to Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has been hired by Hockey Canada to lead a review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 4, 2026

by | Jan 4, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 4, 2026

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood and Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane, plus a suggestion for the Hurricanes to upgrade their goaltending.

CANUCKS MAKE A NEW CONTRACT OFFER TO KIEFER SHERWOOD

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks made a new contract offer to Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he’s having a career year.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

Friedman believes “a sizable gap” remains between the two sides. He offered no timetable for a trade if they couldn’t agree to a new contract.

Iain MacIntyre mentioned Friedman’s report and noted that Sherwood remains committed to the Canucks this season despite the lack of progress in his contract negotiations. However, MacIntyre believes Sherwood’s age, his strong case to earn between $4 million and $5 million annually on his next contract, and the Canucks’ long-term commitments to winger Brock Boeser and Conor Garland make him a difficult fit for the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two sides could hammer out an agreement, but it sounds more likely that Sherwood will be shipped to the highest bidder before the March 6 trade deadline.

THE LATEST ON ANDREW MANGIAPANE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman observed that the Edmonton Oilers made Andrew Mangiapane a healthy scratch for the second time in three games.

The 29-year-old winger is in the first season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.6 million. He also has a full no-trade clause this season.

Friedman believes there is interest in Mangiapane, saying he’s heard the Anaheim Ducks had been poking around. Some clubs are concerned about the second year of his contract, while others don’t consider it an issue. Friedman thinks the Oilers will find a trade partner for Mangiapane at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have plenty of cap space and trade capital to bolster their roster as they push to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Last month, Friedman suggested Ducks forward Ryan Strome could be worth watching, pointing out that his playing time has been reduced, including being a healthy scratch several times. His $5 million cap hit would be pricey for the cap-strapped Oilers.

If the Ducks were to retain part of Strome’s cap hit, a swap for Mangiapane is possible. Whether that would happen is another matter.

WILL THE HURRICANES SHOP FOR A GOALTENDER?

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Justin Pelletier believes the Carolina Hurricanes should prioritize adding a goaltender after losing Pyotr Kochetkov to season-ending surgery.

Frederik Andersen remains healthy, but his injury history is a concern, and he has struggled in recent weeks. Call-up Brandon Bussi has played well, but it’s questionable if he can continue to handle the heavy workload.

The Hurricanes have the cap space to acquire a goaltender, but finding a suitable one will be challenging because there aren’t many available in the trade market. Pelletier suggested they target struggling clubs in the Western Conference. Potential targets include Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks, or Devin Cooley of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pelletier acknowledged Binnington’s poor numbers this season wouldn’t make him much of an upgrade. Demko’s three-year contract extension begins in July, and it’s doubtful the Canucks will move him unless he requests a trade. Cooley isn’t going anywhere after signing a two-year extension last week.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

by | Dec 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

A milestone win for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Predators forward Steven Stamkos poised to reach 600 goals, Islanders forward Mathew Barzal fined, the Blue Jackets trade Yegor Chinakhov to the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for his 446th career NHL regular-season win as he backstopped his club over the Washington Capitals by a score of 5-3. Sam Reinhart scored two goals (including his 20th of the season), and Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games for the 21-15-2 Panthers. Tom Wilson tallied twice for the Capitals (20-14-5), who have three wins in their last 11 contests.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky moved ahead of Terry Sawchuk into eighth place on the all-time goaltender wins list. He needs nine more victories to surpass Curtis Joseph, who is seventh with 454 wins, and 14 more to vault over Henrik Lundqvist (459) into sixth place.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored two goals and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who’ve won four of their last five games and improved to 17-17-4. Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the 18-19-3 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a slow start to this season, Stamkos has 17 goals and 25 points in 38 games. He’s also one goal away from becoming the 22nd player in league history to reach 600 career regular-season goals, and only the third active player to do so.

Before this game, the Mammoth placed starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their ninth straight victory by doubling up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Zach Benson scored the winning goal for the Sabres, who improved to 20-14-4 on the season. Brayden Schenn and Jimmy Snuggerud replied for the Blues, who dropped to 15-17-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are one win away from tying the franchise record of 10 straight victories. Team captain Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup after spending time with his fiancée in Europe as she continues her recovery from a heart transplant earlier this year.

Before the game, the Blues announced forward Pius Suter will miss approximately four weeks with an ankle injury.

An overtime goal by Jackson Blake lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (24-11-3) as they hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the 19-17-5 Rangers, who are 1-2-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov underwent surgery for a nagging lower-body injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. They also claimed center Noah Philp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got a 27-save performance from goalie Jet Greaves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Kirill Marchenko scored to collect his 30th point of the season while Charlie Coyle and Cole Sillinger each picked up two assists for the 17-15-6 Blue Jackets, who have won three straight games. Jake Sanderson replied for the Senators (18-15-3), who are 0-2-1 in their last three contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The start of this game was pushed back to 7:30 PM ET as mechanical issues with the Blue Jackets’ jet delayed their arrival into Ottawa. They played without forward Isac Lundestrom, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Before the game began, the Blue Jackets traded forward Yegor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Details and analysis below in the Headlines section.

Senators center Shane Pinto and defenseman Tyler Kleven returned to action after being sidelined by injuries.

Edmonton Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard kicked out 41 shots in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Connor McDavid collected an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Oilers (20-14-6) took over first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points. Adam Lowry scored for the struggling Jets (15-18-4), who are winless in their last six games (0-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane was a healthy scratch as trade rumors are swirling. I’ll have more about his situation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for the 24-10-6 Wild. Vegas goalie Carter Hart gave up five goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid. The Golden Knights (17-9-11) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl was ejected in the first period for boarding Wild winger Ryan Hartman.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and two assists as his club held off the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the 19-17-3 Sharks. Troy Terry tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks (21-16-2), who have lost three straight and have two wins in their last nine contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (upper-body injury) and defenseman Radko Gudas (illness) missed this game, while forward Ryan Strome was a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, extending their winning streak to eight games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the 29-2-7 Avalanche, who lead the league with 65 points. Corey Perry and Joel Armia replied for the Kings (16-13-9).

An overtime power-play goal by Connor Zary lifted the Calgary Flames over the Boston Bruins 2-1. Dustin Wolf stopped 24 shots, and Blake Coleman also scored for the 17-18-4 Flames. Andrew Peeke scored for the Bruins (20-18-2), who are winless in their last six (0-4-2).

The Vancouver Canucks got 37 saves from Kevin Lankinen in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Liam Ohgren tallied the winning goal while Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson scored in regulation for the 16-19-3 Canucks. Jaren McCann and Ryan Winterton replied for the 16-14-7 Kraken as their four-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov, Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen, and Montreal Canadiens right winger Juraj Slafkovsky were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 28.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/THE ATHLETIC: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and a 2027 third-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 2020 first-round pick by the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov was projected to become a top-six forward. However, he struggled with injury and inconsistency over the past two seasons. During the summer, his agent requested a trade for his client, citing “misunderstandings” with head coach Dean Evason. He bounced around the Jackets’ forward lines this season.

It will be interesting to see if Chinakhov can get his NHL career back on track in Pittsburgh. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acknowledged Chinakhov’s issues, but indicated that his club conducted its due diligence before making this move. He stated that they liked the winger’s size, speed, and two-way skills.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Penguins, they placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have tapped Sam Montembeault as their starting goalie for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. Montembeault was recently recalled from a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Laval.