NHL Rumor Mill – April 18, 2025

by | Apr 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 18, 2025

Check out the latest speculation regarding the offseason plans for the Canucks, Penguins and Islanders in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston wondered what the future holds for Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet and first-line center Elias Pettersson.

Tocchet’s contract expires at the end of this season but the Canucks hold a club option for another year. It’s believed they offered a contract extension, but Tocchet has strong bargaining power given his reputation around the league and his 2024 Jack Adams Award.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Management’s plans for next season and beyond will also factor into whether Tocchet stays or goes.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Pettersson had an awful season, prompting Johnston to ponder if management still believes signing him to his long-term contract last year was a good idea. If they decide to move him, they must find a trade partner and a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson has seven seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $11.6 million. If the Canucks intend to move him their best opportunity is before his no-movement clause kicks in on July 1.

Pettersson’s performance this season makes him difficult to move unless the Canucks retain up to half of that cap hit, which they won’t do. They’ll likely hang onto him and hope he has a bounce-back effort next season.

Johnston believes the Canucks must find a suitable second-line center. Filip Chytil is talented but not a full-fledged second-line center, plus he’s frequently sidelined. Pius Suter has shown potential in that role, but Johnston wonders if he can truly fill that spot next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Suter can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Canucks could scour the trade and free-agent markets before then to see if there are obtainable options. They have over $16.7 million in cap space with 17 active roster players under contract for next season.

The Canucks might have to find a scoring right wing if Brock Boeser departs as a free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser recently expressed doubt that he’ll be back with the Canucks. If they don’t re-sign him, it’ll give them more cap space to add that second-line center, likely the more pressing need in management’s eyes.

Team captain (and reigning Norris Trophy winner) Quinn Hughes has two years left on his contract. They can sign him to an extension next summer, but Johnston believes he’ll want to see improvement before he commits to a long-term deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes isn’t going anywhere this summer but the Canucks’ performance next season could determine his future in Vancouver. That will play a role in management’s moves this summer.

PENGUINS

POST-GAZETTE.COM: Matt Vensel had nine questions that will define the offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

One was whether it would be the status quo for next season. Vensel doesn’t think so, suggesting defensemen Erik Karlsson and winger Rickard Rakell as trade candidates this summer.

Winger Bryan Rust’s no-movement clause expires at the end of this season but it would take a significant offer to convince management to part with him. Much-maligned defenseman Ryan Graves and goaltender Tristan Jarry could be shopped this summer, though the latter is no sure thing if they can’t find a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Josh Yohe of The Athletic believes there’s a real chance Karlsson could be moved if a suitable offer from a team he’s willing to join should emerge, but it would take the Penguins retaining part of his annual cap hit.

As for Jarry, Yohe believes he’ll be back next season, citing his improved performance following his stint in the minors. Of course, the Penguins will listen to offers if a rival club expresses interest in him.

Vensel wondered if the Penguins would make a splash in the trade or free-agent markets this summer. If they do, improving the blueline is the priority. Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov are the top left-handed defensemen potentially available in the UFA market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vensel also mentioned that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner will be the player we hear the most between now and the start of free agency on July 1. He cited Marner’s relationship with Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas during the latter’s tenure as Leafs GM. However, that relationship might not be enough for the rebuilding Penguins to win a bidding war for his services.

ISLANDERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple addressed questions over how the New York Islanders intend to address their crowded blueline during the offseason.

He believes restricted free agents Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov will be re-signed. Dobson’s difficult season could land him a four or five-year contract with an AAV between $7.5 million and $8 million. He suggested a six or seven-year deal for Romanov for between $6.5 million and $7 million.

Dobson and Romanov would receive lots of interest in the trade market, but it would be difficult getting equal value for either guy.

Scott Mayfield seems the main candidate to be moved. He’s got five years left on his contract with a full no-trade clause, but they could attempt to buy him out. Ryan Pulock has five years left with a full NTC for the next two years.

Adam Pelech had four years left on his contract with a 16-team no-trade list. Of those three, he’s the one they could prefer to keep.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 3, 2025

by | Apr 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 3, 2025

Check out the latest on the Penguins and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports everything is in play for the Pittsburgh Penguins this offseason. He indicated that general manager Kyle Dubas is willing to trade draft picks for young, NHL-ready players hoping to turn the club back more quickly into a playoff contender.

Dubas also doesn’t appear to be against targeting other teams’ restricted free agents with offer sheets. However, Yohe isn’t betting on him using that tactic this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have a projected cap space of $24.5 million for 2025-26 with 18 active roster players under contract, including all their core players. They have the room to acquire established young NHL players this summer.

That includes going the offer-sheet route, but it must be remembered that it takes two to tango. The targeted player must be willing to entertain such offers from rival clubs.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).

This summer’s top RFAs include Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, New Jersey’s Luke Hughes, the New York Islanders’ Noah Dobson, Winnipeg’s Gabriel Vilardi, Toronto’s Matthew Knies, Buffalo’s JJ Peterka, and the New York Rangers’ K’Andre Miller.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel believes Dubas must sort out his goaltending situation before next season.

It feels like the Penguins are headed for a split this summer with the inconsistent Tristan Jarry. Dubas isn’t a contract buyout proponent but that is an option if they can’t find a trade partner. They could also attempt to swap him for another team’s unwanted contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry has three more seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.375 million and a 12-team no-trade list. Dubas could also attempt to retain up to half of Jarry’s cap hit to make him more palatable in the trade market but those three years remaining on his contract could still be a deal-breaker.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dave Molinari reports the Penguins’ one-year investment in Matt Grzelcyk paid off as the 31-year-old defenseman proved to be a good addition. He set career highs this season with 34 assists and 35 points.

Grzelcyk is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Penguins will presumably attempt to re-sign him given their lack of depth among skilled left-shot defensemen within their system.

RED WINGS

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman was recently asked what player in this summer’s UFA market could help the Detroit Red Wings. He thinks Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings would fit well alongside Moritz Seider on their top line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Steve Yzerman could feel pressured to make one or two significant additions this summer if the Red Wings miss the playoffs again. Improving their defensive depth could be a priority with Gavrikov among the targets if he’s available.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 26, 2025

by | Mar 26, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 26, 2025

The latest on the Penguins goaltending, the Canadiens offseason plans, and the fallout of Jakob Chychrun’s new contract in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS FACE OFF-SEASON GOALIE DECISION

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Mark Madden wonders if Tristan Jarry has saved his future with the Penguins.

The 29-year-old goaltender struggled in the first half of the season, leading to his demotion to the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. However, he’s rallied since his recall, prompting Madden to suggest Jarry could stick with the club beyond this season if he keeps playing well.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).

Jarry’s contract is part of the equation. He’s signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.375 million. His recent improvement isn’t likely to increase interest in him. The Penguins would have to retain salary in any swap.

Madden believes the Penguins can’t retain Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic. The latter has a year left on this deal with an AAV of $2.5 million. Having both is blocking one of their promising young netminders from moving up

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Madden also mentioned buying out Jarry if need be would be the easy call but his recent play makes that difficult. A buyout would see a cap hit of $1.747 million for 2025-26, rising to $5.047 million in 2026-27, dropping to $4.547 million in 2027-28, and falling to over $797K for each of the final three seasons.

THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS’ OFFSEASON PLANS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun recently reported another important offseason awaits the Montreal Canadiens. They have salary-cap flexibility and draft capital at their disposal. Adding another top-six forward is the priority.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Specifically, a reliable second-line center.

Hughes acknowledged the situation but clarified a recent comment where he seemed to suggest a willingness to overpay in the trade market rather than doing so in free agency. He said he was contrasting the two options, adding that it was in the context of signing a 32-year-old player to a seven-year contract that isn’t going to age well. He said his team isn’t in a three-year window where they have to win now and would be comfortable carrying that type of contract on the back end.

The Canadiens GM said that his team needs to be smart about this because they expect to have a much larger window of opportunity. He’ll be engaged in talking with other general managers to explore ways of improving his team but doesn’t want to be short-sighted about it.

LeBrun indicated that finding a center in his mid-twenties this summer will be challenging, especially with teams like the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks seeking the same thing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes has a pretty good offseason trade record but this summer will present his biggest challenge. If he can’t find a suitable option in the trade market, he might have to take a calculated risk on a short-term free-agent signing.

THE FALLOUT FROM THE CHYCHRUN SIGNING.

TSN: Chris Johnston believes Jakob Chychrun’s new eight-year, $72-million contract caught a lot of people around the league by surprise. He’ll be the 10th highest-paid defenseman next season. Some teams believe the salary cap will reach $120 million four years from now, which could make Chychrun’s new deal a bargain by that point.

Darren Dreger believes Chychrun might’ve received more on the open market this summer given the season he’s having. However, the 26-year-old blueliner is comfortable with the Capitals and wants to avoid the uncertainty of free agency.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun’s contract will be used as a comparable by Evan Bouchard’s representatives. The Edmonton Oilers defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The 25-year-old had 82 points last season and is on pace to reach 60 this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2025

by | Mar 20, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2025

The latest on the Penguins and some potential offer sheet targets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski is on record suggesting the possibility of Penguins general manager (and former Toronto Maple Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas pursuing Mitch Marner if the latter goes to free agency this summer.

He believes it depends on how far and fast Dubas thinks his team hits rock bottom and bounces back. If the Penguins GM flips some draft picks for younger players and feels good about the direction, pursuing Marner could be on the table.

However, Kingerski doubted that Dubas could sell his picks as quickly or easily as he might hope. The rising salary cap means more teams will have cap space, making it difficult to weaponize the Penguins’ cap room.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything can happen, but Marner to the Penguins seems like a long shot. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe recently cited team sources claiming Dubas intends to wait until the 2026 offseason to take a swing at landing a big-ticket player.

Kingerski thinks Dubas could use his cap space and depth in draft picks to pursue a restricted free agent with an offer sheet. He considers Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka a prime target.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres have almost as much projected cap space for next season ($24.1 million) as the Penguins ($26.3), with Peterka and Bowen Byram as their notable RFAs. Nevertheless, they’re in a good position to match any offer sheet for Peterka unless it’s ridiculously expensive (over $10 million annually). Dubas will have to target clubs with much less cap room to make an offer sheet worthwhile.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Jason Mackey believes the Penguins should attempt to trade Erik Karlsson and Tristan Jarry this summer to free up as much salary-cap space as possible and recalibrate.

Mackey doesn’t see them trading Kris Letang if next season is the last one for center Evgeni Malkin. Karlsson, however, is a different story.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Letang and Malkin have spent their entire NHL careers with the Penguins and want to finish their careers in Pittsburgh. Some observers aren’t sure Letang wouldn’t accept a trade, but that’s unlikely to happen with Malkin heading into his final season. And with Sidney Crosby signed for two more seasons, Letang could ride things out until his captain hangs up his skates.

Karlsson hasn’t worked out as the Penguins hoped when they acquired him two years ago. However, his puck-moving abilities and solid performance for Sweden during last month’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament saw him emerge in the rumor mill leading up to the recent trade deadline. Dubas could find a trade partner for the 34-year-old defenseman this summer if the Penguins are willing to retain some of his salary.

POTENTIAL OFFER SHEET TARGETS

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston was asked which players he felt were viable offer-sheet targets this summer.

Johnston believes mid-tier or emerging players to be the most vulnerable because contending teams are most worried about not overpaying those types of players. He cited the St. Louis Blues signing away Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer as examples.

Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque could be a target. The Stars have already made some significant investments for next season.

Florida Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich could be another. Johnston’s colleague Peter Baugh suggested Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller of the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dallas has $5.33 million in cap space with Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund eligible for unrestricted free-agent status. Florida has $19 million in cap space but must re-sign or replace pending UFAs Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad. That could make Bourque or Samoskevich prime options for offer sheets.

The Rangers have $10.6 million available with Cuylle and Miller as their notable free agents. However, management is expected to attempt to shake up its roster via trades and free agency, which could make one or both players potential free-agent targets.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 4, 2025

by | Mar 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 4, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, plus the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Gabriel Landeskog and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens recovered from blowing a 3-0 lead with an overtime goal by Mike Matheson for a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and three assists and Cole Caufield reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time. Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin replied for the Sabres.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens (65 points) have won five straight games, sitting one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson became the fastest rookie blueliner in franchise history to reach the 50-point plateau, accomplishing that feat in 63 games.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 21 shots to shut out the New York Islanders 4-0. J.T. Miller, Artemi Panarin and Will Cuylle each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (66 points), who sit behind the Red Wings in the wild-card race. Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 shots as his club remains five points behind the Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders center Brock Nelson became the fifth player in franchise history to reach the 900-game milestone, but he might not have many more games left with them. The 33-year-old center is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and there’s no indication a contract extension is imminent. Nelson could be moved by Friday’s trade deadline.

The Rangers held winger Reilly Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game for “roster management”, suggesting they’re attempting to trade him before the Friday deadline.

The Washington Capitals blew a 3-0 and 4-3 leads before defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on a shootout goal by Dylan Strome. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists while Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (86 points), moving within two points of the first-overall Winnipeg Jets. Shane Pinto scored twice and Jake Sanderson collected three assists for the Senators, who sit one point out of the final Eastern wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals signed goaltender Charlie Lindgren before this game to a three-year, $9 million contract extension. Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven missed this game with an undisclosed mid-body ailment and is expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored two second-period goals as his club held off the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, ending the latter’s eight-game win streak. The win leaves the Panthers second in the Atlantic Division with 79 points. Brandon Hagel replied for the Lightning, who sit third in the division with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk could miss the rest of the regular season with a lower-body injury. General manager Bill Zito said they hope the 27-year-old winger will return for the playoffs. Tkachuk was placed on long-term injury reserve on Sunday to enable the Panthers to call up goaltender Chris Driedger, giving them $8.7 million in additional cap space if they wish to add to their roster before Friday’s trade deadline.

The San Jose Sharks overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on a shootout goal by Fabian Zetterlund. Jack Thompson and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks to end an eight-game winless skid. John Tavares and Matthew Knies opened the scoring for the Leafs, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toronto holds first place over Florida because they hold a game in hand. Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok made his season debut after being sidelined by an injury in training camp, followed by groin/sports hernia surgery in November. Meanwhile, the Sharks placed defenseman Henry Thrun (undisclosed) on injured reserve.

Goaltender Spencer Knight kicked out 41 shots in his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks for a 5-1 upset over the Los Angeles Kings. Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Anze Kopitar replied for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 70 points but have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks acquired Knight on Saturday from the Panthers in the Seth Jones trade. Jones played over 22 minutes in his debut with the Panthers against the Lightning. The Blackhawks placed forward Philipp Kurashev on IR with an injured hand.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz, and Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 2.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland indicated his club doesn’t expect team captain Gabriel Landeskog to return to the lineup this regular season. The 32-year-old winger is attempting to return from knee surgeries that have sidelined him for the past two seasons. MacFarland said there’s a chance Landeskog could return in the 2025 playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A postseason return for Landeskog seems as likely as his return during the regular season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek reports the Dallas Stars are working on an eight-year contract extension with forward Wyatt Johnston. The 21-year-old forward is in the final season of his entry-level contract. Marek believes Johnston could see a raise to between $8 million and $8.5 million annually on his next deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston has steadily grown into a reliable offensive star, tallying 41 points as a rookie in 2022-23 and 65 points as a sophomore in 2023-24. He has 55 points in 60 games this season, putting him on pace to exceed last season’s output.

TSN: The Utah Hockey Club signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.5 million. The 30-year-old Maatta was UFA-eligible on July 1.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are closing in on a contract extension with scrappy winger Mathieu Olivier. It’s believed to be a multi-year deal, likely four years or more.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov could return this week after missing 39 games with a back injury.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins recalled goalie Tristan Jarry from their AHL affiliate and placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph on injured reserve.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2025

by | Jan 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2025

Connor McDavid moves up among the Oilers’ all-time scoring leaders, the Sabres accomplish a unique feat, Leafs center John Tavares is injured during practice, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry goes on waivers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid moved into second place among his club’s all-time leading scorers as his club defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3. McDavid scored twice and collected an assist to move past Jari Kurri with 1,044 points while the Oilers picked up their seventh win in their last eight games. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild as they’ve lost three of their last four games.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wayne Gretzky is the franchise leader with 1,669 points.

McDavid angered the Wild by going unpenalized for elbowing Marcus Johansson in the jaw during the second period. Johansson left the game with an upper-body injury.

Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the third straight game. He has 15 points in 40 games.

Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan McLeod collected his first NHL hat trick in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots and Jason Zucker collected two assists as the Sabres picked up their third win in their last four contests. Jacob Slavin and Martin Necas replied for the Hurricanes

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres accomplished a unique feat by scoring a goal without registering a shot during a full 20-minute period. The goal occurred in the final minute of the third period with the Sabres hanging onto a 3-2 lead.

As per Daily Faceoff, McLeod attempted a shot on the empty Hurricanes net but his stick snapped and didn’t make contact with the puck. Meanwhile, Carolina defenseman Brent Burns’ attempt to get the puck out of the slot caused him to trip McLeod. That resulted in what would’ve been a penalty shot, but with the net empty, became an automatic goal, giving McLeod a hat trick and the Sabres the win.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres revealed their Quarter-Century Team on Wednesday.

The First Team consists of forwards Daniel Briere, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, defensemen Brian Campbell and Rasmus Dahlin, and goaltender Ryan Miller.

The Second Team is comprised of forwards Chris Drury, Derek Roy and Jack Eichel, defensemen Jay McKee and Tyler Myers, and goaltender Dominik Hasek.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares left practice on Wednesday favoring his right leg after getting tangled up with defenseman Chris Tanev. Head coach Craig Berube said Tavares was still being evaluated and he’s hoping he’ll be okay. Meanwhile, defenseman Jake McCabe took part in his first full practice after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed goaltender Tristan Jarry on waivers and plan on assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. They have called up netminder Joel Blomqvist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely that a rival club will pluck Jarry off waivers. He has a record of 8-8-4 with a 3.31 goals-against average and a save percentage of .886. Jarry also carries an average annual value of $5.375 million through 2027-28.

NESN: Boston Bruins president Cam Neely said his club is looking at two approaches leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. They could be buyers or they could be “retooling a little bit” depending on where they are in the standings by the deadline. They’re holding one of the two wild-card berths in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll likely be retooling if their play throughout the first half is anything to go by. Their lack of a reliable first-line center is a significant factor in their struggles this season. However, they might have to wait until the offseason to address that need.

DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings winger Alex Laferriere has been sidelined by an upper-body ailment. A further update on his status is expected later this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 23-year-old Laferriere has had a solid sophomore season with 13 goals and 26 points in 41 games.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic was fined $1,996.53 by the NHL’s department of player safety for cross-checking Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk.

Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain was fined $4,166.67 for high-sticking Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher.

RG.ORG: The upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off is forcing NHL general managers to move up their timelines to prepare for the March 7 trade deadline. The tournament takes place from Feb. 12-20, with 28 of the 32 NHL teams being off from Feb. 9-22, leaving the general managers less than two weeks to prepare for the trade deadline.

Teams are moving up their pro scouting meetings to narrow down their trade boards.

TSN: The Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks made a minor trade on Wednesday, with the Jets acquiring defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Blackhawks for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin.