NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 18, 2025

by | Nov 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 18, 2025

The Panthers defeat the Canucks in a high-scoring contest, another goal milestone is in reach for Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, the three stars of the week are revealed, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers blew a 5-2 lead, but recovered to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 8-5. Seth Jones scored two power-play goals, Sam Reinhart had three assists, and Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to 11 games for the 10-8-1 Panthers, who’ve won three of their last four games. Center Elias Pettersson tallied twice, and captain Quinn Hughes collected three assists as the Canucks dropped to 9-10-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky collected his 438th career regular-season NHL win, passing Jacques Plante for ninth on the all-time wins list. Bobrovsky is eight wins away from Terry Sawchuk for eighth place. He’s also within range of Curtis Joseph (454 wins) and Henrik Lundqvist (459).

Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Charlie Lindgren stopped 30 shots and Matt Roy netted his first goal of the season for the 9-8-2 Capitals. Anze Kopitar replied for the 10-6-4 Kings as their four-game win streak ended, dropping them into second place in the Pacific Division with 24 points

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin’s goal was his 903rd career regular-season tally and was his 150th game-winning goal (regular-season and playoffs combined), putting him one back of Jaromir Jagr’s record of 151.

Earlier in the day, the Kings announced that defenseman Drew Doughty is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Anaheim Ducks regained first place in the Pacific Division (25 points) with a 3-2 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth. Olen Zellweger scored the winning goal after teammate Troy Terry tied the game with five seconds left in the third period for the 12-6-1 Ducks, snapping their three-game losing skid. Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley scored for the Mammoth (10-7-2), who have two wins in their last nine games (2-5-2).

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 29 saves to backstop his club to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are 6-1-1 in their last eight games and improved to 13-5-1. Riley Tufte scored his first of the season for the 12-9-0 Bruins, who remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 24 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins placed center John Beecher on waivers. A first-round pick (30th overall) in 2019, the 24-year-old Beecher has struggled since his promising 2023-24 rookie campaign. He could prove enticing to clubs seeking depth at center.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (10-7-2) blew a 3-1 lead but managed to nip the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on a shootout goal on a shootout goal by Kirill Marchenko, who extended his points streak to 12 games by collecting two assists in regulation. Lane Hutson scored the tying goal and picked up an assist for the Canadiens (10-6-3), who have dropped six of their last seven games (1-3-3).

Buffalo Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund had his first NHL multipoint game with two goals in a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Colten Ellis kicked out 32 shots and Rasmus Dahlin picked up two assists for the 7-8-4 Sabres. Jack Roslovic scored to extend his point streak to five games as the Oilers slipped to 9-8-4.

HEADLINE

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes are the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 16, 2025.

TSN/DAILY FACEOFF/SPORTSNET/TORONTO SUN: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has not resumed skating since being sidelined by a lower-body injury on Nov. 11. The Maple Leafs also placed sidelined defenseman Chris Tanev on long-term injury reserve, and placed center Nicolas Roy (upper body) and defenseman Brandon Carlo (lower body) on injured reserve.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk could return from an injured thumb during the club’s upcoming seven-game Western road trip. They also reacquired defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for blueliner Maxence Guenette.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars placed center Matt Duchene (undisclosed) and forward Adam Erne (lower body) on LTIR.

CBS SPORTS: Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno (hand) was moved to injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: Former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is remaining with the club as an advisor to team owner Scott Malkin.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2025

by | May 15, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2025

Has the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup window closed? Is the end of the Maple Leafs’ “Core Four” era approaching? What’s the latest on former Isles GM Lou Lamoriello? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS?

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger looked at whether the Vegas Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup window is closing after their second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers.

Many of the Golden Knights’ core players (including Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, and William Karlsson) are over 30. Their “younger players” include Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin (both 28 years old), and Shea Theodore and Adin Hill (both 29). Hanfin, Theodore and Hill had their difficulties during this postseason.

With a projected cap space of $10.5 million next season, the Golden Knights have the space to re-sign most (if not all) of their pending free agents. They include Reilly Smith, Victor Olofsson, Tanner Pearson, Brandon Saad, and Ilya Samsonov. However, they could also use it to upgrade on the wing, where notables like Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser could be available in the free-agent market.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

Granger pointed out that Eichel has a year remaining on his contract. He’ll be eligible to sign what could be a massive contract extension on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granger also reminds us that the Golden Knights have a well-earned reputation for aggressive moves. They can also be ruthless, parting company with aging stars in favor of young options.

Stone and Pietrangelo each have full no-movement clauses, while Hanifin has a full no-trade clause. The only way to move them is if they request it or management somehow talks them into it.

Theodore has a five-team no-trade list this season, but his new contract that begins on July 1 carries full no-trade protection. Hill has a 10-team no-trade list on his current and upcoming contracts. Center Tomas Hertl has a full no-trade for this season, but it reverts to a modified no-trade list on July 1.

It seems unlikely Theodore, Hill or Hertl would be moved so soon after signing contract extensions with the Golden Knights. Nevertheless, we can’t dismiss the possibility of one of them getting peddled before July 1 to create more cap space for other moves.

The Golden Knights don’t have much draft or prospect capital to draw on for trade bait. They dealt away their 2025 and 2026 first-rounders, but they could part with their 2027 first-round pick if it fetches immediate help for their roster. They’ve previouly used their top prospects as trade chips (the Montreal Canadiens thank them for Nick Suzuki) and could do the same with promising Trevor Connelly.

END OF THE MAPLE LEAFS’ “CORE FOUR” ERA APPROACHING?

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston wonders if we’re seeing the last of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ “Core Four” era following their 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, putting them on the brink of elimination from the second round of the 2025 playoffs.

Johnston noted that Mitch Marner is only seven weeks away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility on July 1. He doubts the 28-year-old winger will sign an extension with the Leafs before then, not after refusing to negotiate during the season or the club’s request to waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline.

According to Johnston, there’s a growing sense that Marner will seek a fresh start elsewhere after enduring endless criticism for the Leafs’ shortcomings.

Former captain John Tavares is also UFA-eligible. He wants to stay, but Johnston doubts the 34-year-old center will get the chance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless the Leafs stage a big comeback against the Panthers, this is the end of the “Core Four Era”. It’ll also be the end of the “Shanaplan”, as team president Brendan Shanahan’s contract expires at the end of this season.

Even if the Leafs overcome the Panthers and get into the Conference Final, this is likely to be the last season for Marner and Tavares in Toronto. There have been too many disappointing postseasons and too many expectations dashed. They’ve been running it back with the same core, yet the results remain the same.

The Leafs in this era have only two postseason series victories. It doesn’t matter that they’ve been a good regular-season team that has qualified for the playoffs in every season since 2016-17. What matters is a lack of real postseason progress for a franchise whose Stanley Cup drought is approaching 60 years.

LOU LAMORIELLO SIGHTED IN BUFFALO

TSN: Darren Dreger took note of a recent sighting of former New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello being spotted at the Buffalo airport. He thinks the Sabres would be interested in adding Lamoriello to their braintrust, “but nothing’s imminent”, jokingly suggesting he was there to renew his Nexus. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That sighting raised speculation that the Sabres were about to hire Lamoriello, but his presence at the airport is reportedly unrelated to the team.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 13, 2025

by | Apr 13, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 13, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Islanders and Lightning in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks have some business to take care of when they head into the offseason by the end of this week.

Head coach Rick Tocchet’s contract is up at the end of this season. The Canucks have a club option for one more year but they seem to have cooled on that, preferring to sign him to an extension. Neither side wants this situation to drag on too long into the offseason.

Friedman believes contract term is the big issue regarding Brock Boeser’s contract talks. Last week, the 28-year-old winger said it seemed unlikely that he’ll sign a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Luke Fox doesn’t see the Canucks offering Boeser more than their earlier proposal of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Fox suggested Boeser might fare better on the open market given the rising salary cap and lack of UFA scorers in their twenties. Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner is the biggest name, but once he’s gone, players like Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets will be courted.

The Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames want to rebuild on the fly. The Anaheim Ducks, Utah Hockey Club, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres are under pressure to improve and they have the cap space this summer to do so. The New York Islanders could shake things up this summer to add more scoring punch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet seems more likely to get an extension than Boeser, but there are still over two months to go before the UFA market opens. A lot can happen between now and then.

The current Canucks management returned to the bargaining table with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson when it seemed unlikely but neither player was weeks away from UFA eligibility like Boeser. Still, we can’t dismiss that possibility. We should have get a better idea of where things stand near the start of free agency on July 1.

As Fox pointed out, Boeser won’t lack for suitors if he hits the open market this summer. One of those teams he listed will sign him if the Canucks don’t.

ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders face crucial offseason decisions after missing the playoffs this season.

The biggest is determining the future of head coach Patrick Roy and general manager Lou Lamoriello. Questions surrounded Lamoriello for most of this season but the spotlight shifted to Roy as the Islanders imploded down the stretch. His handling of several players (Pierre Engvall, Samuel Bolduc, Tristan Lennox) prompted speculation of a rift between him and Lamoriello.

Meanwhile, Lamoriello faces criticism for running it back with his aging core once too often. It’s reasonable to ask if he’s the right person to overhaul the roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders fans have been calling for new management but Lamoriello is so entrenched that convincing him to give up the reins won’t be easy.

If Lamoriello gives up the management role he’ll still have considerable influence as president of hockey operations, especially with his son Chris being an assistant GM and a possible candidate to replace him.

LIGHTNING

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina wonders if the Lightning might end up trading top prospect Isaac Howard.

The 21-year-old left wing is the 2025 winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top US college player, but he’s indicated he’s returning to Michigan State University next season as contract talks with the Lightning remain stalled.

Howard becomes eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on Aug. 15, 2026.

The Lightning have a tried-and-true development process involving some service with their AHL affiliate. Current Lightning stars Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brayden Point were products of that process.

Encina believes it’s clear to Howard that he sees no direct path to the NHL with the Lightning, who aren’t interested in bringing him in at this stage of the season to burn a year of his entry-level contract. If the Lightning think he’s unsignable, they could use him as a trade chip this summer or next season to bring more immediate help to their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s still time for both sides to meet and try to sort this out. Nevertheless, this could end up like it did last summer with Rutger McGroarty and the Winnipeg Jets.

McGroarty wanted to join the Jets right away but they wanted him to get some AHL seasoning first with their farm team. He was concerned about what his future in Winnipeg would look like, resulting in his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins last August.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 3, 2025

by | Jan 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 3, 2025

Check out the latest on the Flames and Islanders in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson examined whether Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens would be a good fit for the Flames. They’ve been in the market for a big center with a right-handed shot.

The 6’3”, 210-pound Cozens seems to fit the bill. He’s two years removed from a career-best 31-goal, 68-point performance. The 23-year-old has been the frequent subject of recent trade speculation.

Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens (NHL Images).

With a growing pool of draft picks and prospects, the Flames could part with some of them to acquire Cozens. He could help them accelerate their rebuild.

However, Wilson also points out the decline in his production over the past two seasons, adding that he doesn’t drive the play or defend well. He’s employed as a second-line center against other teams’ second and third-liners.

Wilson also believes Cozens would be expensive to acquire and retain. He’s in the second season of a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $7.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are reportedly looking to add to their roster rather than subtract. If they were to trade Cozens (and that remains a big “if” right now) they’ll want a good young player who can provide immediate help in return, not draft picks and prospects. That’s what they got for Casey Mittelstadt last season, swapping him to Colorado for Bowen Bryam.

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports Flames goaltender Dan Vladar wants to sign a contract extension. The 27-year-old has evenly split the goalie duties with promising rookie Dustin Wolf but he’s also drawn the bulk of the starts against difficult opponents.

Vladar is earning an annual salary-cap hit of $2.2 million. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll depend on how much Vladar seeks on his next contract and for how long. The Flames won’t want to invest in a big raise on a long-term deal when Wolf is considered their future between the pipes. However, finding a suitable replacement for Vladar could be difficult.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple believes the struggling New York Islanders face a reckoning this season as they hobble into the New Year. He believes the core group are good players, many of whom played key roles in the club’s “delightful run” from 2018 to 2021, “but it is so very over.”

Islanders center Brock Nelson is near the top of most NHL trade boards. However, Staple reports teams that are currently buyers are hearing that Isles general manager Lou Lamoriello isn’t interested in selling. Lamoriello has often said the team’s performance will dictate what he’ll do at the trade deadline. Staple believes the team is “sending a neon message to him now.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello has been running it back since 2021-22, hoping his core can regain the form that carried the Isles to consecutive conference finals in 2020 and 2021. Since then, however, they missed the 2022 postseason and were bounced from the first round over the following two seasons.

Islanders fans are calling for change, that it’s time for at least a roster retool. The team must take that opportunity to rebuild while their supporters are open to it.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 1, 2024

by | Dec 1, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 1, 2024

What’s the latest on Rangers stars Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider? Could the Rangers or Red Wings have former coach Joel Quenneville in their sights? Are changes in store for the Islanders? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports teams are trying to figure out what the New York Rangers are trying to do after they sent around a note last week indicating Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider were available.

Friedman noted that Trouba had been in the rumor mill before but not Kreider. “Are there other players available? And since Trouba and Kreider have partial no-trade clauses, where would they be willing to go?”

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Things may have calmed down a bit on Saturday after the Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 to snap a five-game losing skid. Friedman thinks they want to tone down the heat and pause before doing anything too intense or something they might regret later.

Friedman indicated the Rangers haven’t permitted rival clubs to speak with Trouba or Kreider. They want to keep control of the process, which is critical as no one wants to run afoul of the NHL’s tampering rules.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salaries of Trouba and Kreider are also obstacles that could be insurmountable. Trouba is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8 million while Kreider’s is $6.5 million through 2026-27. Those sound like deals that get done in the offseason when teams have more cap space and willingness to swing major deals.

Trouba and Kreider each have 15-team no-trade lists. Clubs with depth in tradeable assets are likely rebuilding and would probably be on those no-trade lists.

Drury bungled this situation. His actions could jeopardize the rest of the Rangers’ season, leading to Igor Shesterkin’s departure next summer as a free agent, jeopardizing Drury’s tenure as general manager.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cites a source suggesting a coaching change could be coming for the Rangers. The source claims their current bench boss, Peter Laviolette, doesn’t have long in New York, adding Joel Quenneville could be the guy if general manager Chris Drury wants to go that route.

D’Amico cites another NHL insider suggesting that Quenneville could also be on the radar of Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman if he changes things behind the bench.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury is unlikely to find a suitable trade for Trouba or Kreider. A coaching change might be his only option to get his club back on track. The Red Wings, meanwhile, rarely replace coaches during the season and could stick with current bench boss Derek Lalonde until the end of this campaign.

ARE CHANGES COMING FOR THE ISLANDERS?

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports a source claims the New York Islanders were considering a management change before last season began. However, general manager Lou Lamoriello saved his job when the club squeaked into the 2024 playoffs.

Lamoriello has shunned rebuilding because his teams are never out of the playoff mix. However, the Islanders could become sellers this season if they don’t soon turn things around. They’re dealing with injuries to key players like Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly, but they weren’t winning when they were in the lineup.

Brock Nelson is the most likely trade candidate if the Isles become sellers. The 33-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Biringer’s source claims Nelson was in play last season and could’ve been moved if the team wasn’t in the wild-card mix. He said the Vancouver Canucks were interested in him and could have their eye on the center again this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what unfolds if they fail to gain ground in the standings. I’ve mentioned before that the Islanders won’t move Nelson if they’re still in the playoff chase by the March trade deadline but he will draw interest just the same.

The Canucks could be a suitor for Nelson. However, most of the chatter out of Vancouver indicates their focus is on shoring up their defense corps.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2024

by | Aug 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2024

The Jets and Penguins swap top prospects McGroarty and Yager plus the latest on Valeri Nichushkin, Travis Konecny, Anthony Duclair and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

WINNIPEG SUN/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Winnipeg Jets traded prospect winger Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins for prospect center Brayden Yager.

McGroarty, 20, was the Jets’ first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s spent the past two seasons with the University of Michigan and had hoped to join the Jets this season but that club intended to start him with their AHL affiliate.

Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Rutger McGroarty. (NHL Images).

The disagreement with the Jets over the timeline of McGroarty’s path indicated he’d return to Michigan this season, sparking rumors he’d welcome a trade to a club where he’d have a better opportunity of playing in the NHL. McGroarty signed an entry-level deal with the Penguins following this trade.

Yager was selected 14th overall by the Penguins in the 2023 draft. The 19-year-old center spent the past four seasons with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins last month. He was touted as a second-line center and was expected to battle for a roster spot in training camp next month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGroarty’s unhappiness over the Jets’ plans for his development forced them to make this move. The Penguins did this deal because he’s a year ahead of Yager, a little larger physically, and believed to be a year closer to reaching the NHL. He could bring a welcome injection of youthful skill and physicality into the retooling Penguins’ roster.

A Saskatchewan native, Yager said he’s thrilled to join a Canadian team close to his family. He has the speed and ability to one day become a scoring center with the Jets.

In the short term, both teams won because they addressed their respective needs by swapping their top prospects. Time will tell how this deal pans out over the long term.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal cites an interview by Russian national team scout Sergey Fedotov with Sports.ru claiming Valeri Nichushkin will return to the Colorado Avalanche in November.

Nichushkin, 29, is currently in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and is suspended until November.

Fedotov claims to be close to Nichushkin. He said the winger is training and also working with a psychologist in anticipation of rejoining the Avalanche when his suspension ends in November.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fedotov also claims the Avs owner wanted to get rid of Nichushkin, adding some players and people in management would also prefer if he didn’t return. However, Rawal suggests those comments should be taken with a grain of salt, pointing out that the Avs can’t terminate Nichushkin’s contract, aren’t interested in trading him, and hope to rehabilitate him.

NEW YORK POST/NYI HOCKEY NOW: New Islanders winger Anthony Duclair cut his dreadlocks and shaved his beard to comply with the club’s dress code.

Duclair signed a four-year contract with the Islanders as a free agent last month. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has a long-standing policy regarding his players’ hair and facial hair designed to promote team discipline and unity, putting no individual above the team.

Lamoriello’s rules have come under criticism by some observers, considering the policy outdated and unnecessary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As a military veteran, part of me doesn’t have a problem with Lamoriello’s dress code as part of the job. On the other hand, I can understand why his critics consider his policy archaic and out of touch with today’s NHL.

I’m more interested in Duclair’s opinion. He knew Lamoriello’s dress code for his players before signing with them and doesn’t seem to have an issue with it.

Lamoriello contacted Duclair’s agent hoping to sign the 28-year-old winger to bolster the Isles’ offense. Being wanted by a team willing to invest in him for four years was perhaps more important to Duclair than the club’s hair policy.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Reports indicate a home believed to be owned by Flyers winger Travis Konecny in New Jersey suffered a devastating fire. Konecny and his family weren’t in the residence at the time of the blaze.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicated two firefighters suffered minor burns but didn’t require additional treatment. The cause of the blaze wasn’t disclosed and is under investigation.

TSN: Veteran forward Sammy Blais signed with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks and will attend the Vancouver Canucks’ training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO). Blais, 28, had seven points in 53 games with the St. Louis Blues last season.

The Penguins signed defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to a PTO contract. He appeared in 10 games last season with the San Jose Sharks.