NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2025

by | Apr 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2025

The Jets clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Blue Jackets and Flames remain alive in the playoff race, Nikita Kucherov is this season’s scoring champion and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents’ Trophy despite a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It’s the first time in franchise history the Jets have won this award, sitting atop the overall standings with 114 points.

Corey Perry had a goal and an assist and Connor McDavid collected two assists for the Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 99 points. They will face the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Alex Iafallo scored for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Jets for winning their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. They will attempt to become the first team since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks to finish first overall and go on to win the Stanley Cup when the 2025 playoffs begin on Saturday.

Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg left this game after being struck on the left knee by a shot from McDavid. Jets coach Scott Arniel later said that he thinks Samberg will be okay. Meanwhile, the Jets are awaiting word on the status of winger Nikolaj Ehlers after suffering a foot injury against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

The Jets clinched because the Washington Capitals (109 points) lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Jet Greaves made 29 saves in his second straight start in as many days for the Jackets (85 points), who kept their playoff hopes alive by sitting three behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 43rd goal of the season and the 896th of his NHL career as his club will finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets and Canadiens each have two games left. The latter can clinch that final wild card with a win in regulation, overtime or shootout against the Blackhawks on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames avoided elimination with a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Yegor Sharangovich tallied twice and Dustin Wolf stopped 28 shots for the Flames (92 points), who sit two behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who are assured the best odds to win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with the worst record in the league. The lottery is expected to be on May 5 or 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames, Blues and Minnesota Wild play on Tuesday, with the latter two having played 81 games each. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Wild (95 points) need a point against the Anaheim Ducks to clinch a berth. The Blues (94 points) need a regulation win against the Utah Hockey Club to clinch. Calgary must defeat the Vegas Golden Knights and “get help”.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov will win the Art Ross Trophy as his club defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. Kucherov scored two goals and added an assist, Jake Guentzel tallied twice, and Brandon Hagel had three assists for the Lighting, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. Rasmus Dahlin picked up two assists for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 119 points, Kucherov will become the scoring champion for the second straight season and the third time since 2018-19. Nathan MacKinnon (116 points) finished second for the second consecutive year as his club’s regular-season schedule ended on Sunday. Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (106 points) sits third and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (104) is fourth.

Speaking of the Lightning, they called up Conor Geekie with Oliver Bjorkstrand listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Sabres defenseman Owen Power missed this game with a lower-body injury and he’s not expected to play in their remaining two games.

The Colorado Avalanche scored four unanswered third-period goals to double up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Charlie Coyle had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who finished the season third in the Central Division with 102 points. Mason McTavish scored his 22nd goal for the Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche rested several key players during their final two games. Nathan MacKinnon is dealing with a minor undisclosed ailment while Ryan Lindgren, Jonathan Drouin and Josh Manson are nursing injuries. Cale Makar and Ross Colton also didn’t travel with the Avs on their final road trip of the regular season.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 399th NHL regular-season goal in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Morgan Rielly collected three assists as the Leafs hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Sebastian Aho replied for the Hurricanes, who are second in the Metropolitan Division with 99 points.

An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Stutzle finished the game with two goals and an assist for the Senators, who hold the first Easter wild card with 94 points. Garnet Hathaway had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin turned in a 25-save shutout in a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders. The Devils sit third in the Metro Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Paul Cotter has a hearing scheduled on Monday with the NHL department of player safety for an illegal check on Isles defenseman Adam Pelech.

The Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Morgan Geekie scored for the fifth straight game while David Pastrnak collected two assists to extend his multi-point streak to five games. Rickard Rakell scored his 35th goal of the season for Pittsburgh.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Calvin de Haan isn’t happy with how the Rangers managed his playing time. Acquired at the trade deadline, he was a healthy scratch for the past 18 games.

When asked how he’s been treated by the Rangers during an optional practice on Sunday, de Haan didn’t mince words. “It’s f**ked,” he replied.

The Rangers informed the media that de Haan would speak with them at the end of the season. He took to social media to explain the situation, saying his brief remark was based in frustration over his lack of playing time. He also said he would’ve preferred a media scrum setting to chat about how his time with the Rangers has gone.

THE PROVINCE: Derek Forbort suffered a fractured orbital bone following a late punch by Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin to the face of the Vancouver Canucks blueliner when he was lying defenseless on the ice following a fight between the two players on Saturday. Trenin will not face supplemental discipline.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom will miss their final three games of this season with an undisclosed injury.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild signed prospect defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year entry-level contract. He was selected 12th overall by the Wild in last year’s draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 13, 2025

by | Apr 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 13, 2025

The Jets clinch top spot in the Western Conference and Central Division, the Golden Knights secure the Pacific Division title, the Rangers, Islanders and Red Wings are eliminated from the playoff race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets clinched first place in the Western Conference and the Central Division with a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Cole Perfetti tallied the game-winner in the shootout and Josh Morrisey scored twice for the Jets (114 points). Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets hold a five-point lead over the second-place Washington Capitals in the overall standings but they have two games left while the Capitals have three. Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers left the game in the second period after accidentally colliding with a linesman. There was no postgame update on his status.

This was also the final game for Blackhawks forward Patrick Maroon and defenseman Alec Martinez as both players retired after this game. They will not be joining the Blackhawks on their season-ending two-game road trip.

The Vegas Golden Knights clinched the Pacific Division title for the fourth time in eight years by defeating the Nashville Predators 5-3. Noah Hanifin broke a 3-3 tie with 1:55 remaining in the third period while Brett Howden and Nicolas Roy each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (107 points). Former Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault scored in his first game in Vegas since joining the Predators last summer.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists in a 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers, eliminating the latter from the playoff race. The Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth last week and will face the New Jersey Devils in the opening round. J.T. Miller had a goal and an assist for the Rangers.

A shootout goal by Bobby Brink lifted the Philadelphia Flyers over the New York Islanders 4-3 to eliminate the latter from the postseason chase. Tyson Foerster tallied twice for the Flyers while Bo Horvat, Anders Lee and Noah Dobson each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

The Montreal Canadiens failed to clinch the final Eastern wild-card berth as they dropped a 1-0 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mitch Marner scored in overtime for the Leafs, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 102 points. Jakub Dobes stopped 35 shots for the Canadiens (88 points), who picked up a point to move seven ahead of the Detroit Red Wings, eliminating the latter from the playoff race.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs also announced that former general manager Gerry McNamara died on Friday at age 90.

A minor-league goaltender for most of his playing career, McNamara appeared in seven NHL games with the Leafs between 1960-61 and 1969-70. He was a scout for the Leafs in the 1970s and was GM from 1981-82 to 1987-88.

My condolences to McNamara’s family, friends, former teammates and the Leafs organization.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves made 21 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 7-0 drubbing of the Washington Capitals. James van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists and Adam Fantilli scored twice as the Blues Jackets kept their playoff hopes alive. They’re five points behind Montreal but have three games left while the Canadiens have two.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets face Washington on Sunday in the second game of their back-to-back. They will be eliminated if they lose that game in any fashion.

The Capitals gave captain Alex Ovechkin the day off on Saturday but he could return to the lineup for Sunday’s contest. Teammate Jakob Chychrun was also absent Saturday as he’s battling an illness while Hunter Shepard gave up seven goals on 26 shots. Charlie Lindgren will be their starter on Sunday.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello scored in overtime to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Brock Faber and Marcus Foligno scored in the third period as the Wild overcame a 2-0 deficit. Marcus Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks. With 95 points, the Wild sit one point ahead of the St. Louis Blues in the first Western Conference wild-card spot and five points ahead of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canucks announced center Elias Pettersson is done for the season as he continues to deal with an upper-body injury suffered on March 22 against the New York Rangers. Wild forward Yakov Trenin was ejected after hitting Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort with a late punch while the latter was lying on the ice following a fight between the two players.

The St. Louis Blues fell 4-3 to the Seattle Kraken on a shootout goal by Chandler Stephenson. Nick Leddy had a goal and an assist in regulation play for the Blues, who sit one point behind the Wild in the final wild-card spot, four points ahead of the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild and Blues each have one game left in their schedules while the Flames have three games. The latter still has a chance to clinch a wild-card spot if they win all three games while the Blues lose their final game. Speaking of the Blues, defenseman Colton Parayko returned to action in this game after injuring his right knee on March 5 against the Los Angeles Kings.

Speaking of the Kings, they held off the Colorado Avalanche 5-4. Kevin Fiala scored two goals while Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each had a goal and two assists for the Kings, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 101 points. Colorado center Brock Nelson scored twice, including his 300th NHL regular-season goal. The Avalanche will face the Dallas Stars in the first round.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings will meet the Edmonton Oilers in the opening round for the fourth straight year. They’ll face an Oilers team lacking a key defenseman as Mattias Ekholm will be sidelined for “quite some time” with an undisclosed injury.

Meanwhile, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could join his teammates for their series with the Stars. He’s currently on a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. On Saturday, Landeskog scored a goal in his second game with the Eagles. His last NHL game was Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

The Stars, meanwhile, dropped a 5-3 decision to the Utah Hockey Club. Logan Cooley had a goal and two assists for Utah. Jason Robertson scored his 35th goal of the season and Wyatt Johnston his 32nd for the Stars, who clinched second place in the Central Division.

A shootout goal by Anton Lundell gave the Florida Panthers a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. Rasmus Dahlin and JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2025

by | Apr 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2025

Capitals clinch first place in the Eastern Conference, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Panthers coach Paul Maurice each reach notable career milestones, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Washington Capitals clinched first place in the Eastern Conference and in the Metropolitan Division with a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Pierre-Luc Dubois netted the winning goal in the shootout and also scored in regulation while Tom Wilson tallied his 33rd of the season. Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis scored late in the third period to force overtime and the shootout. The Capitals have 109 points, three behind the first-overall Winnipeg Jets. With 97 points, the Hurricanes have secured second in the Metro.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals also honored team captain Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th regular-season goal with a pregame ceremony. Ovechkin tallied that goal against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Speaking of the Jets, they secured a stranglehold on the Central Division crown by blanking the Dallas Stars 4-0. Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for his league-leading eighth shutout of the season and Kyle Connor tallied twice for the Jets (112 points), who sit six points ahead of the Stars in the Central.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck collected his single-season high and franchise-record 45th win of the season. He’s the seventh goaltender in NHL history to reach the 45-win milestone, joining Braden Holtby and Martin Brodeur (48 each), Bernie Parent and Roberto Luongo (47 each), Evgeni Nabokov (46) and Miikka Kiprusoff (45).

Brad Marchand scored his first goal with the Florida Panthers in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Gustav Forsling collected two assists and Florida head coach Paul Maurice picked up his 915th regular-season win to move into third place on the all-time list as the Panthers sit third in the Atlantic Division with 96 points. Alex DeBrincat replied for the Red Wings (79 points), who remain eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maurice sits behind Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins) and Joel Quenneville (969 wins). Meanwhile, Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been granted permission by the league and the NHLPA to rejoin the club in all team activities except for games. He’s serving a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Ekblad can return to action during Game 3 of the Panthers’ first-round playoff series.

The New York Rangers kept their thin playoff hopes alive by thumping the New York Islanders 9-2. Igor Shesterkin kicked out 44 shots while Artemi Panarin and Brett Berard each scored two goals for the Rangers, who sit six points behind the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card race. Maxim Tsyplakov and Hudson Fasching scored for the Islanders, who remain eight points behind the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin missed this game with an upper-body injury. The Rangers and Islanders will be eliminated from the postseason race if the Canadiens pick up one point in their four remaining games.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves stopped 39 shots as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. James van Riemsdyk, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner scored for the Jackets, who sit six points behind the Canadiens. JJ Peterka and Rasmus Dahlin scored for the Sabres as their five-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues Jackets’ playoff hopes also hang by a thread. They will be eliminated if the Canadiens collect three points in their remaining games.

The Vegas Golden Knights held off the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Adin Hill turned aside 24 shots while Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson scored for the Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 105 points. Kraken winger Jared McCann scored to reach 60 points on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl returned to action following an eight-game absence with a shoulder injury.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala scored two goals in a 6-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko each had three assists as the Kings remain six points behind the Golden Knights in second place with 99 points. Ducks rookie winger Cutter Gauthier netted his 20th goal of the season.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen stopped 31 shots to upset the Colorado Avalanche 4-1. Kiefer Sherwood and Dakota Joshua each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Devon Toews replied for the Avalanche, who will finish third in the Central Division with 100 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon missed this game and could be out for their remaining two games as he deals with a minor injury.

A three-goal third period lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Nick Foligno scored twice for the Blackhawks while David Pastrnak netted his 42nd goal of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Bruins announced that sidelined defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic are done for the season.

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros made 39 saves to backstop his team for a 4-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Filip Forsberg scored the winner in the shootout while Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators head coach Andrew Brunette rejoined the team after taking time away dealing with a personal matter.

IN OTHER NEWS…

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will miss his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury when his club faces the Canadiens on Friday. However, he’s confident he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs starting next weekend.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk could return for action for one of their remaining three regular-season games after Friday. However, the club might prefer he sit out the rest of those games rather than risk reinjuring himself in a meaningless regular-season contest.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas was named the GM for Canada’s 2025 World Championship team. The Penguins also announced that sidelined players Rutger McGroarty, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte, Matt Nieto and Tommy Novak are finished for the season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro’s season is over after suffering a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s games against the Minnesota Wild.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 8, 2025

by | Apr 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 8, 2025

The Jets set a franchise record for wins while ending the Blues’ franchise-record win streak, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov reaches a significant milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets collected their franchise-record 53rd single-season victory by beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1, ending the latter’s franchise-record win streak at 12 games. Morgan Barron, Alex Iafallo and Adam Lowry scored for the Jets (110 points), opening a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals for first place in the overall standings. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the Blues, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 93 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists in his club’s 5-1 win over the New York Rangers. Brayden Point scored twice and set up another and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 38 saves as the Lightning (96 points) sit two points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers (79 points) remain six points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 115 points, Kucherov is tied for first place in the scoring race with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. He also collected his 80th assist, joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr as the only players in NHL history to accomplish that feat in at least three consecutive seasons.

The Calgary Flames kept their playoff hopes alive by nipping the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Dustin Wolf stopped 29 shots while Adam Klapka, Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato scored for the Flames, who sit four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the final Western wild card with 87 points. Sharks rookie Will Smith scored twice and teammate Macklin Celebrini set the rookie franchise record for assists with 36.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: San Jose winger Tyler Toffoli missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Sharks also announced defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin’s upper-body injury will sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 45 shots in a 3-2 upset win over the injury-depleted Edmonton Oilers. Cutter Gauthier tallied twice for the Ducks. Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner replied for the Oilers (93 points), who remain four points behind the Los Angeles Kings in third place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Trent Frederic’s return from an ankle injury was short-lived. He missed this game after aggravating that injury during Saturday’s loss to the Kings.

Speaking of the Kings, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Seattle Kraken. Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour scored and Joey Daccord turned aside 28 shots for the win. Quinton Byfield tallied his 20th of the season for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was given time off from this game as he rests his surgically repaired ankle. Teammate Adrian Kempe left this game in the third period to attend to a personal matter. Forward Tanner Jeannot missed this contest with an undisclosed injury and is listed as week-to-week.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas are the league’s three stars for the week ending April 6, 2025.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers have a growing list of injured players. Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Niko Sturm, Dmitry Kulikov and Gustav Forsling are sidelined, and the club could rest some of them for several games to ensure they’ll be fully healthy for the coming playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have already clinched a playoff berth so they have the luxury of giving some of these players an extra game or two to rest up over their remaining five games in the schedule.

It’s given rise to a silly conspiracy theory that they’re sandbagging the rest of the season to drop further in the standings, ensuring they draw the Toronto Maple Leafs as their first-round opponent.

If the playoffs started now, the Panthers would face the Lightning in the opening round. The theory suggests they prefer meeting the Leafs because they’re an easier opponent.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of playoff-bound teams with injury-ravaged rosters, the Avalanche hope to have sidelined defenseman Josh Manson and Samuel Girard and forwards Martin Necas and Jonathan Drouin back in the lineup later this week.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club blueliner John Marino is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association continue their collective bargaining agreement negotiations this week in New York City. CBA talks between the two sides began last week. The current agreement expires in September 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: League commissioner Gary Bettman hopes to get a new CBA in place as soon as possible, perhaps by the 2025 NHL Draft in late June. The recent relationship between the NHL and NHLPA lacks the rancor and mistrust that hampered previous CBA negotiations.

THE ATHLETIC: Meredith Gaudreau gave birth to her and late husband Johnny Gaudreau’s third child (a boy named Carter Michael Gaudreau) on April 1. Carter’s middle name is the same as his father’s.

Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver last August. The alleged driver faces charges including reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My thoughts go out to the Gaudreau family. Here’s hoping Carter has a long and happy life.

TSN: Long-time NHL goaltender and broadcaster Greg Millen died on Monday at age 67. The cause of death was not revealed.

Millen spent 14 seasons as an NHL goaltender from 1978-79 to 1991-92 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. He played in 604 games, making 582 starts with a 3.88 goals-against average and a save percentage of .873.

Following his playing career, Millen went on to a long broadcasting career mostly with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on Sportsnet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Millen’s family, friends, teammates and broadcasting colleagues.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

by | Apr 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

Could this season be the latest for Brock Boeser with the Canucks and Nikolaj Ehlers with the Jets? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the next 10 days could be the last for winger Brock Boeser with the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser, 28, is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. The Canucks are poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Boeser amid a season of turmoil for the Canucks. He said he’s trying not to think about the possibility of moving on after this season. Boeser admitted the trade rumors swirling around him before last month’s trade deadline affected his play.

Boeser doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows his improved performance down the stretch will stand him in good stead.

SPORTSNET: Jacob Stoller noted that the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday could be a preview of life without winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who is day-to-day with an injury.

Ehlers, 29, plays a key role on the Jets’ second line, tallying 60-plus points four times. He’s UFA-eligible on July 1 and was the subject of trade speculation last summer. At the time, he was reportedly open to a change of scenery.

If Ehlers departs, it could be difficult to find a replacement. Stoller observed the Jets are not a prime destination for free agents. He suggested general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could parlay a first-round pick for a play-driving top-six winger. However, it’s difficult to determine who could be available in this summer’s trade market and if the Jets first-rounder would be enough.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has Boeser sitting second and Ehlers at seventh on his list of this summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Both players will be in high demand when the UFA market opens on July 1, especially if other notable forwards ahead of them on this list (Toronto’s Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Dallas’ Matt Duchene and Florida’s Sam Bennett) end up re-signing with their current clubs.

Boeser and Ehlers could also decide to stay with their current teams. However, the pull of lucrative long-term contracts could prove irresistible.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2025

by | Apr 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2025

A milestone game for Cale Makar as the Avalanche clinch a playoff berth, the Senators and Canadiens strengthen their wild-card positions, the Blues match a franchise record, the league plans to address LTIR issues with the NHLPA, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tallied his 30th goal of the season in a 7-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, clinching a playoff berth in the Western Conference. Makar also collected two assists while Nathan MacKinnon, Charlie Coyle and Devon Toews also each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche as they sit third in the Central Division with 98 points. Sean Monahan, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner replied for the Blue Jackets, who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 77 points.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar is the ninth defenseman in NHL history to record a 30-goal season, and the first to do so since Mike Green (31) in 2008-09. He also reached the 60-assist and 90-point plateaus, becoming the first defenseman to achieve consecutive 90-point campaigns since Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis in 1990-91. Makar joins Coffey, Raymond Bourque, Denis Potvin and Bobby Orr as the only blueliners in NHL history to have 30 goals and 60 assists in one season.

The Ottawa Senators nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, strengthening their grip on the first Eastern wild-card spot while snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Linus Ullmark stopped 31 shots while Shane Pinto and Jake Sanderson scored for the Senators (86 points), giving them a five-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens. Brandon Hagel netted his 34th goal for the Lightning (93 points), who remain three points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators also reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2016-17, when they last clinched a playoff berth. They got this win without team captain Brady Tkachuk. He remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Canadiens (81 points), they got a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins to open a two-point lead over the New York Rangers for the final Eastern wild card. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki each had a goal and an assist and Cole Caufield tallied his 35th goal of the season. Elias Lindholm replied for the Bruins, who’ve dropped 10 straight games and sit last in the Eastern Conference with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 81 points, Suzuki is the first Canadiens player to reach the 80-point plateau since Alex Kovalev in 2007-08. Caufield is the first Hab to score 35 goals in a season since Max Pacioretty in 2016-17. In other Canadiens news, they’ve reportedly signed prospect goaltender Jacob Fowler to an entry-level contract.

The last time the Bruins finished last in the Eastern Conference was in 1996-97. They also finished last overall, selecting Joe Thornton with the first overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft.

The St. Louis Blues tied their franchise-record win streak of 11 games by squeaking past the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on an overtime goal by Robert Thomas, who also collected an assist in regulation. Jake Neighbours tallied twice while Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who surged past the Minnesota Wild (89 points) into the first Western wild-card berth with 91 points. Penguins rookie Rutger McGroarty collected his first NHL points with a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues forward Dylan Holloway left this game after the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no post-game update regarding his condition. Penguins center Evgeny Malkin missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman scored twice to down the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Dustin Wolf made 26 saves and Yegor Sharangovich picked up two assists for the Flames (84 points), putting them five behind the Wild in the Western wild-card race. Olen Zellweger replied for the Ducks, who were officially eliminated from the postseason chase.

The Edmonton Oilers’ 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks was overshadowed by Leon Draisaitl’s departure in the second period with an undisclosed injury. Draisaitl picked up an assist before he left the game while teammate Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Tyler Toffoli picked up his 28th goal for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl recently returned from an injury. There was no postgame update regarding his current status. The absence of their leading scorer is cause for concern for the Oilers, who are also without team captain Connor McDavid, defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and starting goalie Stuart Skinner. Meanwhile, Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin missed this game with an upper-body injury and is still being re-evaluated.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie kicked out 26 shots to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0. Mark Scheifele netted his 37th goal of the season as the Jets tied their franchise record with their 52nd win, sitting three points ahead of the Washington Capitals atop the overall standings with 108 points. The Golden Knights hold first place in the Pacific Division with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers left this game in the third period with an injured left leg. In his post-game interview, head coach Scott Arniel indicated that he felt Ehlers’ injury wasn’t too serious.

The Dallas Stars picked up their seventh straight win by defeating the Nashville Predators 5-1. Wyatt Johnston extended his goal streak to six games while Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Jason Robertson and Mason Marchment each had two points as the Wild sit second in the Central Division with 104 points. Steven Stamkos replied for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen became the third-fastest Finnish-born NHL player to reach the 700-point plateau, achieving the milestone in 645 games. Jiri Kurri was the fastest (483 games) followed by Teemu Selanne (541). Stars captain Jamie Benn missed this game with a “maintenance issue”, ending his streak of 371 consecutive games played.

Los Angeles Kings forwards Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore scored 44 seconds apart for a 4-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 28 shots and Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist for the Kings (95 points), moving within three points of the first-place Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain scored for Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah forward Dylan Guenther suffered a broken nose, two black eyes and nine stitches during Tuesday’s game against Calgary, but suited up for this contest wearing a protective bubble cage attached to his helmet. “I mean, your nose is a long way from your legs. It doesn’t really affect you,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association began this week. The league intends to bring up the ongoing issue of long-term injury reserve where players on LTIR return in time to skate in the playoffs. That’s been a contentious issue because several teams soar over the salary cap during the playoffs because there is no cap in the postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether the two sides can find an adequate solution remains to be seen.

One suggestion is the salary cap should be extended to the playoffs, but that issue can be seen as penalizing teams for having injured players. Another suggestion was having sidelined players scheduled to return by the opening round of the playoffs prevented from playing in that round, but that would unfairly punish them for getting injured, which could violate Canadian and American labor laws.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders winger Anthony Duclair has been granted a leave of absence from the team after head coach Patrick Roy publicly criticized his play following a recent loss. Roy told reporters that he and Duclair had a good discussion following the incident, and the winger is taking time off to reflect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That raises questions over whether Duclair is done for the season and about his future with the Islanders.

DAILY FACEOFF: Michigan State forward Isaac Howard, University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, and Boston College forward Ryan Leonard are the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists. Howard is a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, Buium is a prospect of the Minnesota Wild, and Leonard recently joined the Washington Capitals on an entry-level contract.