NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2026

by | Feb 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2026

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scores his 40th goal of the season, Predators captain Roman Josi reaches a goal-scoring milestone, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson collects his 700th assist, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon became the first player to reach 40 goals this season as his club blanked the Detroit Red Wings 5-0. MacKinnon scored twice and collected an assist while Mackenzie Blackwood turned in a 28-save shutout for the league-leading Avalanche (36-8-9), becoming the first team to reach 80 points this season (81). Detroit goalie John Gibson allowed four goals on 17 shots before being relieved by Cam Talbot after the second period. The 32-18-6 Red Wings have one win in their last five games (1-2-2).

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche winger Martin Necas missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Long-time Red Wings radio analyst Paul Woods confirmed he will be retiring at the end of this season after 40 years behind the mike.

Nashville Predators’ captain Roman Josi’s 200th career NHL regular-season goal was the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Josi snapped a 3-3 tie with 1:14 remaining in the third period for the 25-23-6 Predators, who also got two goals from Filip Forsberg. Ilya Sorokin stopped 38 shots, Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his 15th goal of the season for the 30-20-5 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg missed this game with an illness. Islanders rookie center Calum Ritchie is out until after the Olympic break with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson collected an assist to reach 700 career regular-season assists as his club held off the New York Rangers 6-5. Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari each had two goals for the 28-14-11 Penguins, who picked up their sixth straight win. Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck each had three points for the Rangers (22-28-6), who have lost six of their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins held a pregame ceremony honoring their 2015-16 Stanley Cup championship team, moving Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to tears.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed this game and will be sidelined for four weeks with a fractured foot. Earlier in the day, the Rangers claimed defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers from the San Jose Sharks.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark returned to action with a 26-save performance in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists as his club picked up their third straight win and improved to 26-21-7. Timo Meier replied for the Devils (28-25-2), who are 1-3-0 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Ullmark’s first game since taking a leave of absence in late December for mental health reasons. He was mobbed by his teammates at the final horn and named the game’s first star. Teammate Thomas Chabot left this game early for precautionary reasons. Meanwhile, Devils center Jack Hughes missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Justin Sourdif lifted the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 comeback win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals (27-22-7) overcame a 3-0 deficit with Jakob Chychrun and Aliaksei Protas each collecting two points, and call-up goalie Clay Stevenson making 22 saves for his first career NHL win. Frederik Andersen made 38 saves for the 33-15-6 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Capitals announced forward Connor McMichael is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren (lower-body) is on injured reserve. Goalie Logan Thompson and defenseman Matt Roy are listed as day-to-day.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored the tying and winning goals in the third period as his club doubled up the Buffalo Sabres 4-2. Caufield finished with three points, and goalie Jakub Dobes kicked out 36 shots for the 31-17-7 Canadiens, who extended their win streak to three games. Owen Power and Noah Ostlund replied for the Sabres (31-18-5) as their five-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Before the game, the league announced that former Canadiens forward Chuck Lefley had passed away at the age of 76. Lefley spent nine seasons in the NHL with the Canadiens and St. Louis Blues from 1970-71 to 1980-81. He won two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens and tallied a career-best 43 goals and 42 assists for 85 points with the Blues in 1975-76. In 407 regular-season games, Lefley had 128 goals and 164 assists for 292 points, and 13 points in 29 playoff games.

My condolences to Lefley’s family, friends, and former teammates.

The Seattle Kraken nipped the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2. Kaapo Kakko snapped a 2-2 tie early in the third period, Chandler Stephenson collected two assists, and Joey Daccord turned aside 27 shots for the 26-19-9 Kraken, who picked up their fourth straight victory. Jack Eichel assisted on both goals for the Golden Knights (25-15-14), who cling to first place in the Pacific Division with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken forward Berkly Catton will be sidelined until after the upcoming Olympic break with an upper-body injury suffered during Thursday’s win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

An overtime goal by Quinton Byfield gave the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Adrian Kempe tallied twice and picked up an assist for the 23-17-13 Kings. Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (24-20-10), who are 0-3-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings captain Anze Kopitar returned to action after being sidelined since Jan. 5 with a lower-body injury. They placed forward Alex Turcotte (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Calgary Flames snapped a five-game winless skid by defeating the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf stopped 23 shots for the 22-26-6 Flames. Alex Nedeljkovic kicked out 39 shots for the Sharks (27-22-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks activated forward Philipp Kurashev and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin off injured reserve for this game.

Meanwhile, the Flames recalled rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh after his conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate. Though he didn’t play in this game, Parekh said his time in the AHL helped improve his confidence. He also enjoyed his time with Team Canada in the 2026 World Juniors, saying it reignited his love of the game.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander returned to action and scored the winning goal in a 3-2 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks. Joseph Woll stopped 28 shots for the Maple Leafs (25-21-9), snapping a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Nikita Tolopilo turned aside 39 shots for the 18-31-6 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their win streak to five games by defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-3. Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist, and Jet Greaves made 28 saves for the 27-20-7 Blues Jackets. Jimmy Snuggerud and Jonatan Berggren each had a goal and an assist for the Blues (20-26-9), who are 1-5-1 in their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues center Robert Thomas missed this game as he underwent a minor surgical procedure on one of his legs and is sidelined until after the Olympic break. The Blues activated center Pius Suter off injured reserve after he missed 15 games with an injured ankle.

Third-period goals by Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Eric Comrie made 27 saves for the Jets (22-25-7). Eetu Luostarinen replied for the 28-23-3 Panthers, who dropped their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Brad Marchand missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. He’s unlikely to return to action before the upcoming Olympic break.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 39 shots as his club downed the Edmonton Oilers 7-3. Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Mats Zuccarello, and Joel Eriksson Ek each had a goal and an assist for the 32-14-10 Wild, who picked up their third straight win. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jack Roslovic replied for the Oilers (28-20-8), as their three-game win streak ended.

The Dallas Stars nipped the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Matt Duchene scored to extend his goal streak to four games, and Jamie Benn collected two assists for the 32-14-9 Stars, who have won four straight games. Kailer Yamamoto tallied both goals for the Mammoth (28-23-4).










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2026

by | Jan 31, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2026

The latest on Artemi Panarin and Evander Kane, plus updates on the Flames, Maple Leafs, and Predators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ARTEMI PANARIN RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports hearing that New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin seeks a contract extension worth $50 million before signing off on a trade.

“He is going to try and hit a contract home run, even though he’s 34 years old,” Friedman said. Panarin is earning an annual average value of $11.6 million on his current deal, which expires on July 1.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Friedman said several teams reportedly have varying degrees of interest in Panarin. The Colorado Avalanche are interested, but not in an extension. Ditto the Dallas Stars unless they pivot away from re-signing RFA-eligible winger Jason Robertson.

The Los Angeles Kings are wondering if this is the right time to give up future assets. Panarin would love to join the Florida Panthers, but Friedman doesn’t know if they’ll move heaven and earth to get the playmaking winger.

The Minnesota Wild made a big splash by acquiring Quinn Hughes and might be willing to make another, but Friedman wondered how much they have left in the bank to do so.

Friedman believes the Washington Capitals are a serious suitor, citing their willingness to sign Panarin to an extension. He also mentioned the Seattle Kraken, who seek a high-end forward and are reportedly willing to move young center Shane Wright.

Other clubs with potential interest include the San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked if the Canadiens should kick tires on Panarin. He believes they should and will, pointing out that Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton signed the winger to his current contract when he was general manager of the Rangers.

Cowan believes Panarin’s age and the Rangers’ asking price would be concerns. Nevertheless, he thinks the playmaking winger could be a good fit on the Canadiens’ top line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin turns 35 in October, the first season of his new contract. It’s doubtful he’d get anything longer than five years, meaning he’d get $10 million annually on that type of deal. Even with the salary cap rising significantly over the next two seasons, spending that much on a winger heading into his late-thirties is not a wise investment of salary-cap dollars. That will likely scare off most of the rumored suitors.

Based on recent reports, the Avalanche, Ducks, and Stars are out unless Panarin is willing to be a rental player. It’s unlikely that the Rangers will trade him to the Islanders. This isn’t the same thing as sending a depth defenseman like Carson Soucy to the Isles.

The Golden Knights recently acquired Rasmus Andersson and want to re-sign him as a replacement for the permanently sidelined Alex Pietrangelo, so it’s unlikely they’ll have sufficient cap space or tradeable assets to land Panarin. The Wild seek a scoring forward, but their preference is a first-line center.

Panarin is the type of player a Stanley Cup contender acquires. The Flyers and Canadiens aren’t there yet. He’s too old and too expensive for those rebuilding teams, and he might not be interested in joining them.

The Capitals might be willing to do it if this season proves to be Alex Ovechkin’s last, but it would still be a risky investment, given his age and the associated expense. Understandably, the Kraken would be interested, but surely they can find young and more affordable options elsewhere.

The Mammoth could be intrigued by Panarin because he’s a superstar who could generate excitement in their new market, but his asking price could be a deal breaker. The same applies to the Sharks, who have some rising young stars that will soon require new contracts.

COULD THE STARS ACQUIRE EVANDER KANE?

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos recently cited reports claiming the Stars and Colorado Avalanche have inquired about Vancouver Canucks winger Evander Kane.

The Stars are seeking a top-six left winger. Kane has a history with Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan. It’s also believed the Canucks could be willing to retain part of Kane’s $5.125 million AAV.

However, Kane’s character could come into question given his off-ice issues in recent years. They also wouldn’t have the cap space to acquire him without salary retention by the Canucks.

Assimakopoulos believes Calgary Flames winger (and Plano, Texas native) Blake Coleman might be a better option for the Stars.

WHO COULD THE FLAMES TRADE NEXT?

CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson looked at which Flames players could be next on the trade block after the club recently shipped out Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Wilson believes Nazem Kadri could draw interest despite the recent decline in his production. The 35-year-old center could want to be moved to a contender, though his age and his contract could be sticking points. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million.

Winger Blake Coleman and recently-acquired defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be highly coveted. They both have Stanley Cup experience and have term left on their contracts. It could take a strong offer to pry them away from the Flames.

MCMANN, LAUGHTON COULD DRAW INTEREST

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday could send the club into sell mode in the trade market. The loss left the Maple Leafs sitting second-last in the Eastern Conference.

Friedman believes talks about Maple Leafs players will intensify, but doesn’t know if there will be any movement before the Olympic trade freeze goes into effect on Feb. 4. Forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton could draw interest in the trade market. Both are UFA-eligible on July 1.

Some observers might wonder about Auston Matthews’ future with the Maple Leafs. He’s eligible for UFA status in 2028. Friedman doesn’t believe the Leafs are at the stage yet where Matthews could request a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann and Laughton could bring in draft picks that help the Maple Leafs restock their prospect pool.

THE LATEST ON THE PREDATORS

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported the Nashville Predators are open to trading forwards Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron, and defenseman Nick Perbix.

Friedman stated that the New York Islanders attempted to acquire Bunting, but a deal couldn’t be reached. They opted instead for winger Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wondered if the Oilers might look at acquiring one of those players.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 30, 2026

by | Jan 30, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 30, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest speculation on the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin and the Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly, plus the most likely trade candidates for the Maple Leafs.

THE LATEST ON ARTEMI PANARIN

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported Wednesday on potential trade destinations for Artemi Panarin. The 34-year-old winger has been held out of the New York Rangers lineup for “roster management purposes” as efforts are ongoing to trade him. Reports indicated the UFA-eligible winger wants a contract extension before agreeing to waive his no-movement clause.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Based on his sources, Mercogliano believes Panarin prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference. The Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals have been mentioned as possible destinations.

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars could be possibilities if Panarin is traded as a rental player. There’s been talk linking him to the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. Mercogliano believes the Ducks would be the better destination, given their position in the standings and Panarin’s ties to head coach Joel Quenneville from their days with the Chicago Blackhawks.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Panarin’s agent, Paul Theofanous, has the Rangers’ approval to speak directly with other clubs. The Capitals are believed to be interested in the playmaking winger and could be open to an extension.

The Panarin camp has reached out to all three California teams. However, the Ducks are out right now because an extension doesn’t work for them. The Sharks have had a discussion with the Rangers, but LeBrun isn’t sure how seriously they are taking it. Meanwhile, it doesn’t seem as though the Kings are pushing very hard.

LeBrun indicated that the Carolina Hurricanes have discussed acquiring Panarin, but it’s uncertain whether team owner Tom Dundon will approve spending money on an extension.

The Florida Panthers could be Panarin’s destination of choice, but it would be difficult given their salary-cap constraints.

Darren Dreger believes the Stars could be among the suitors for Panarin, but would only be interested in acquiring him as a playoff rental.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker pointed out that Panarin’s $11.64 million cap hit is a sticking point in efforts to move him. Even if the Rangers retained the league maximum of 50 percent, salary would have to be moved to make the dollars fit.

The Sharks and Kings have their 2026 first-round picks to offer. The Sharks also have enticing young players and prospects who the Rangers could pursue, especially at center.

ESPN: Kevin Weekes reports the Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Stars, Utah Mammoth, Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Islanders have expressed interest in Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lots of speculation thus far, but nothing yet to indicate which of these clubs could be front-runners.

The Sharks have the young assets that would entice the Rangers, but there might have to be some salary retention or some salary heading to New York to make this work cap-wise.

The Ducks have lots of cap space to take on Panarin for this season, but they’ve got some young stars who will need new contracts within the next couple of years. The Hurricanes have lots of cap room, but Panarin’s age and the cost of re-signing him could be concerns.

The Mammoth have the cap space and plenty of draft picks, prospects, and young players to draw on, but they might not be on Panarin’s list of destinations. He also doesn’t seem like a fit within their long-term plans.

It’s well-known that the Kraken are seeking a dynamic offensive star. If Panarin were four years younger, this might make sense. They probably aren’t on his list of landing spots.

The Capitals have the cap room, and they have some tradeable assets. However, they’re also struggling to stay in the wild-card chase. As for the Wild, their preference is for a center.

Any interest from the Leafs may have come before their recent slide sent them tumbling in the standings. They’re sellers now, and even if they were buyers, they can’t afford his cap hit or the Rangers’ asking price.

The Stars and Avalanche are out if Panarin remains insistent on a contract extension. Trading him to the Islanders would be a bold move, but it’s not one the Rangers will likely do.

The Lightning would be an interesting move, but they would have to free up considerable cap space to make it work, and they’re probably unwilling to sign him to an extension.

PREDATORS COULD BE WILLING TO MOVE RYAN O’REILLY

TSN: Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz is keeping his trade options open as his club seems poised to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years.

That could include trading Ryan O’Reilly. The 34-year-old center lacks no-trade protection and has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.5 million.

Trotz indicated that he’s willing to listen to all trade offers, but he hasn’t received one yet that would convince him to discuss it with O’Reilly.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been reported that the Predators are treating O’Reilly as though he has a no-trade clause. If Trotz gets an enticing offer, he’ll discuss it with O’Reilly first.

We’ve been down this road before regarding O’Reilly, and nothing’s come of it. We can’t rule out the possibility that he gets traded before March 6, but it’s not a certainty.

WHICH MAPLE LEAFS COULD BECOME TRADE CANDIDATES?

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes UFA-eligible winger Bobby McMann would fetch the best return for the Maple Leafs if they become sellers at the March 6 trade deadline. Koshan recently suggested the Leafs re-sign the 29-year-old McMann, but now believes it would be worthwhile moving him if he brings in an asset or two.

Koshan also believes the Leafs should peddle Scott Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok, and Troy Stecher. Like McMann, they’re eligible for UFA status on July 1. He also advocated that they shop defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Carlo. Ekman-Larsson has a 16-team no-trade list, while Carlo has an eight-team no-trade list. Both of them could help replenish the Leafs’ draft cupboard.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2026

by | Jan 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2026

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin nets his first career hat trick, Patrick Kane ties a league record, the Devils and Islanders make a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin scored his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-4 drubbing of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dahlin finished the game with five points, and Mattias Samuelsson collected three assists for the 30-17-5 Sabres, who’ve won four straight games. Auston Matthews and Max Domi each had a goal and two assists for the sagging Maple Leafs (24-20-9), who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dahlin’s hat trick is the fifth by a defenseman this season. It’s also the 28th hat trick in the NHL this month, tying February 1981 for the second-most in a calendar month. The record is 29, set in December 1985.

Dahlin’s performance comes during a season when he and his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, have endured a difficult year following her near-death experience last summer when she underwent emergency heart-transplant surgery. On Monday, Matovac revealed on Instagram that Jan. 26 would’ve been the due date for the couple’s first child. It was her concern about the unborn baby last summer that played a vital role in the discovery of her heart failure.

Speaking of the Sabres, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Detroit Red Wings winger Patrick Kane collected an assist to tie Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player (1,374) in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Anton Forsberg stopped 27 shots while Samuel Helenius, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Corey Perry scored for the Kings (22-16-13), who have won three straight games. Alex DeBrincat replied for the 32-17-5 Red Wings.

The San Jose Sharks got a four-point effort from Macklin Celebrini (one goal, three assists) to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. Will Smith had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (27-21-3). Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk each had two assists as the Canucks dropped to 17-31-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks received more bad news as they announced that starting goaltender Thatcher Demko will soon undergo season-ending hip surgery.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Kyle Connor collected two assists for the 21-24-7 Jets. Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes each had two points for the Devils (27-24-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils held winger Ondrej Palat from this game. They subsequently traded him and two draft picks (2026 third-round pick, 2027 sixth-rounder) to the New York Islanders for winger Maxim Tsyplakov.

Palat’s performance has declined in recent years, and he no longer fits into the Devils’ plans. They reportedly attempted to move him earlier this season to clear his $6 million average annual value through 2026-27 from their books. Bundling those two picks into the deal was what it took to convince the Islanders to take his full cap hit.

Tsyplakov needs a fresh start after the Islanders signed him from the KHL last season. He had a promising NHL debut with 35 points in 77 games, but the 27-year-old winger is struggling this season with two points in 27 games.

Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann scored twice and set up two goals in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle each had a goal and an assist for the 24-19-9 Kraken. Alex Ovechkin scored for the Capitals (25-22-7), who are 1-5-1 in their last seven games.

The Boston Bruins got an overtime goal by David Pastrnak to nip the Nashville Predators 3-2. Pastrnak finished with two points to extend his points streak to eight games while Morgan Geekie tallied his 30th goal of the season for the Bruins (31-20-3), who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 contests. Roman Josi and Nick Blankenburg scored for the 24-23-5 Predators, who overcame a 2-0 deficit to force the extra frame.

Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans’ overtime goal lifted his club to a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Cole Caufield scored his 30th of the season to extend his goal streak to six games for the Canadiens (29-17-7). Pavel Dorofeyev tallied both goals for the 25-14-3 Golden Knights, who are 1-3-1 in their last five games.

Utah Mammoth goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves to collect his first win since Oct. 26 as his club upset the Florida Panthers 4-3. Sean Durzi had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth (28-21-4), who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games. Sandis Vilmanis, Cole Schwindt, and Carter Verhaeghe replied for the 28-21-3 Panthers, as their three-game win streak ended.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley scored with 1:07 remaining in the third period to give his team a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Matt Duchene scored two goals for the 30-14-9 Stars. Brayden Schenn tallied twice for the Blues, who are 0-4-1 in their last five games and dropped to 19-25-9.

The Minnesota Wild overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on a shootout goal by Kirill Kaprizov. Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and an assist, and Jesper Wallstedt made 29 saves in regulation and overtime for the Wild (30-14-10). Teuvo Teravainen, Ryan Donato, and Ilya Mikheyev scored for the 21-23-9 Blackhawks, who are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins winger Bryan Rust received a three-game suspension from the NHL’s department of player safety for a hit to the head of Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser.

NHL.COM: Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany underwent successful surgery on his left hand. His expected recovery time is eight weeks.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed defenseman Sam Malinski to a four-year contract extension worth an AAV of $4.75 million.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson and Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm have been added to Sweden’s Men’s Olympic hockey team. They will replace sidelined Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson and Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 27, 2026

by | Jan 27, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 27, 2026

Mattias Ekholm scored his first hat trick as the Oilers set a league record, the Rangers traded Carson Soucy, the three stars of the week, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm tallied his first NHL hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Leon Draisaitl collected four assists while Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman each had a goal and an assist for the 27-19-8 Oilers. Ducks forward Mikael Granlund also netted a hat trick as his club dropped to 28-22-3, and their seven-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a record-setting performance for the Oilers, becoming the first team in league history to have defensemen score hat tricks in consecutive games, with Evan Bouchard scoring three goals in a six-point performance in the Oilers’ previous game.

Those three-goal performances by Ekholm and Granlund bring the number of hat tricks scored in January to 27, matching the third-most in a single month (December 1981) in league history. The record is 29, set in December 1985.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)

The New York Rangers nipped the Boston Bruins 4-3 on an overtime goal by Matthew Robertson. Will Cuylle, J.T. Miller, and Will Borgen also scored for the 22-25-6 Rangers, snapping a three-game losing skid. David Pastrnak collected three assists to reach the 900-point plateau, and Elias Linholm netted two goals for the Bruins (30-20-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak is the sixth player in Bruins history to record 900 points, joining Raymond Bourque (1,506), Johnny Bucyk (1,339), Patrice Bergeron (1,040), Phil Esposito (1,012), and Brad Marchand (976).

Before this game, the Rangers held defenseman Carson Soucy out of the lineup. They subsequently announced they had traded Soucy to the New York Islanders in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.

Soucy, 31, is in the final season of his three-year contract with an AAV of $3.25 million and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status this summer. He’s a short-term fix for the Islanders’ blueline with Alexander Romanov on long-term injury reserve, and Ryan Pulock sidelined with an upper-body injury.

As for the Rangers, the Soucy trade is expected to be the first of what could be several moves this season by the retooling franchise before the March 6 trade deadline.

Speaking of the Islanders, they got a 21-save shutout from Ilya Sorokin to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored twice, and Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, who improved to 28-19-5. Samuel Ersson turned aside 19 of 23 shots for the Flyers (24-18-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers activated defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who had been sidelined since Jan. 14 with an upper-body injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy turned in a 28-shot shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Darren Raddysh and Anthony Cirelli scored for the Lightning (33-14-4), who regained first place in the Eastern Conference with 70 points. Karel Vejmelka stopped 27 shots for the 27-21-4 Mammoth as their five-game win streak ended.

The game between the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets at Columbus’ Nationwide Arena was postponed due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for March 9.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 25, 2026.

TSN: Marc-Andre Fleury said a couple of NHL teams have contacted him about coming out of retirement, but the 41-year-old goaltender and future Hall of Famer has no plans to return to action. He still hangs out with his former club, the Minnesota Wild, and has skated with them in several practices, but his next role could be working in their front office.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury has until the March 6 trade deadline to sign an NHL contract if he intends to unretire. Even then, it would likely take several weeks of intense training for him to return to game shape.

Fleury said there were several reasons why he’ll remain retired. One of them is probably the wear and tear of his 21 NHL seasons on his aging body. He alluded to a sore hip during his one-period appearance in a preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins in September as he brought his NHL career full circle.

RG.ORG: DJ Siddiqi reports Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito believes the health of the players his club is sending to the Olympics next month will be a factor in their attempt to win a third-straight Stanley Cup.

The defending champion Panthers have been battered by injuries, leaving them four points out of the final wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference as of Jan. 27. Managing fatigue, ice time, and emotional drain, as well as avoiding further injuries, will be crucial to their playoff hopes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers are sending eight players to the Olympics, including core players Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell.

PUCKPEDIA: Speaking of the Olympics, the trade and assignment regulations for the NHL’s break period (Feb. 4-22) have been revealed. No trades will be permitted during that period.

TORONTO SUN: The league has fined Maple Leafs winger William Nylander $5,000.00 for flipping off a TSN camera during Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Nylander made the gesture while watching the game in the press box with several other sidelined teammates.

THE PROVINCE: The Canucks placed winger Brock Boeser and defenseman Zeev Buium on injured reserve.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins winger Bryan Rust faces a hearing on Tuesday with the league’s department of player safety regarding his high hit on Boeser during Sunday’s game between the two clubs.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is out until the end of next month’s Olympic break with a lower-body injury.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 25, 2026

by | Jan 25, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 25, 2026

Updates on Artemi Panarin, Dougie Hamilton, Robert Thomas, and Alexis Lafreniere in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LATEST ON ARTEMI PANARIN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the New York Rangers would like to receive a return for Artemi Panarin comparable to what the New York Islanders received last season from the Colorado Avalanche for Brock Nelson.

The Islanders received defenseman Oliver Kylington, prospect forward Calum Ritchie, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-rounder in 2028.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Other factors include Panarin’s no-movement clause and whether he’d be willing to sign a contract extension if he agrees to be traded.

Friedman mentioned the Anaheim Ducks, citing Panarin’s history with Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville during their days with the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings have some decisions to make about their overall situation, where they are right now, and what an extension for Panarin would look like. He also thinks the Washington Capitals would be interested in an extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks, Kings, and Capitals are among several teams that Friedman believes could be interested in Panarin. However, the winger reportedly hasn’t given the Rangers a list of preferred trade destinations.

For now, those teams are conducting due diligence for when Panarin decides where he’d like to go. Whether any of them will be on his list remains to be determined.

UPDATE ON DOUGIE HAMILTON

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that a recent injury to defenseman Luke Hughes has complicated the New Jersey Devils’ efforts to trade Dougie Hamilton.

Friedman hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Hamilton getting traded if a club made an offer the Devils can’t refuse. However, with Hughes sidelined and hoping to avoid surgery, they need Hamilton on their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After being scratched from the lineup for a Jan. 11 game against the Winnipeg Jets, Hamilton’s agent recently said his client is willing to be flexible with his trade list to facilitate a fair deal for both sides. The 32-year-old defenseman has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $9 million and a 10-team trade list.

LATEST ON THE BLUES AND FLAMES

SPORTSNET: Ron MacLean mentioned that St. Louis Blues forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou and defenseman Justin Faulk have surfaced in the rumor mill.

Friedman noted that the Blues have had trade talks, but the asking prices are huge for those players. He believes they seek a return for Faulk comparable to what the Flames got in the Andersson deal (defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, and two draft picks).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman also talked about Thomas on Friday, saying the Blues would want a “stud top-six forward who is slightly younger” than the 26-year-old Thomas, preferably between 22 and 24 years old.

Any club carrying that type of forward probably isn’t willing to part with them for Thomas. They might offer up a youngster with that potential, but not one already established in that role.

Thomas is signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause until 2029-30.

Friedman said there’s speculation over what the Calgary Flames’ next move will be after trading Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights last week. He thinks things have quieted down for now, though not out of lack of interest from other clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Center Nazem Kadri and winger Blake Coleman are the two players considered the most likely to be moved next by the Flames.

COULD THE CANADIENS BE INTERESTED IN ALEXIS LAFRENIERE?

SPORTSNET: Ron MacLean brought up Alexis Lafreniere and cited his connection to Montreal Canadiens executive Jeff Gorton, noting that the latter drafted Lafreniere in 2020 when he was the general manager of the Rangers.

Elliotte Friedman thinks the Rangers might talk about moving Lafreniere, but it could be challenging to do so. The 24-year-old winger has struggled to meet expectations as a scoring winger, but he’s still someone who was a first-overall pick not too long ago, and the Rangers would still move him with that designation.

On Friday, Michael Amato included Lafreniere on his list of four under-the-radar trade targets that clubs might pursue. He felt there could be some decent value in the winger if a club could get him at a reasonable price.

Amato acknowledged the Rangers could hang onto Lafreniere. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt to call them to find out what their asking price might be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lafreniere isn’t a fit with the Canadiens as a top-six winger. They already have Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky on the left side, with Ivan Demidov on the right and promising Alexander Zharovsky in their prospect pipeline.

The argument could be made that the Canadiens need a right wing on their first line, but the Habs are currently pressed for cap space, and Lafreniere’s $7.45 million AAV through 2031-32 is too expensive. The Rangers could retain part of it, but it’s doubtful they’ll want to carry dead cap space for the next six years.