NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 8, 2026

by | Mar 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 8, 2026

Milestone games for Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey, the Sabres extend their win streak to six games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nikita Kucherov collected four assists to reach the 100-point mark for the sixth time in his career as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Corey Perry scored in his first game back with the Lightning (39-18-4) since being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson replied for the 27-26-11 Maple Leafs, who are 0-5-2 in their last seven games. The Lightning hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 82 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov is the third player to reach the 100-point plateau this season, sitting behind Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (106 points) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (103). The Lightning played without defenseman Emil Lilleberg, who suffered a facial fracture during practice on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss two weeks.

The Buffalo Sabres kept pace with the Lightning with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Tage Thompson scored to extend his points streak to 10 games, and Alex Lyon stopped 23 shots for the 38-19-6 Sabres (80 points), who have won six straight games. Zachary L’Heureux and Matthew Wood replied for the Predators (28-27-8), who have lost four of their last five and remain three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 64 points.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes tallied a hat trick and collected an assist to lead his club to their fourth straight win with a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists for the 32-29-2 Devils. Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Will Cuylle replied for the Rangers (24-30-8).

An overtime goal by Josh Morrissey lifted the Winnipeg Jets over the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 3-2. Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists for the 26-26-10 Jets, who are five points out of the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference with 62 points. Linus Karlsson had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (19-36-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Morrissey’s first game since getting injured during the Olympics. It was a memorable return as he moved past Dustin Byfuglien for the most points by a defenseman for this version of the Jets with 417 points.

The Montreal Canadiens nipped the Los Angeles Kings 4-3. Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice and had an assist, Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists, and Jakub Dobes kicked out 36 shots for the Canadiens (34-18-10), who moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 78 points. Anze Kopitar, Scott Laughton, and Alex Laferriere scored for the 25-23-14 Kings (64 points), who also sit three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laughton’s goal was his first for the Kings since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

Speaking of the Kraken, they dropped a 7-4 decision to the Ottawa Senators. Shane Pinto had a goal and two assists, and Warren Foegele scored his first goal since being acquired from the Kings for the 31-22-9 Senators (71 points), who are four points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Jordan Eberle collected two assists for the 29-24-9 Kraken (67 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update on his status. Kraken winger Jaden Schwartz departed in the first period after being accidentally cut on his face by the skate of Senators forward Nick Cousins. He was reportedly still being evaluated following the game.

As for the Bruins (35-22-5), they downed the Washington Capitals 3-1. Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Elias Lindholm scored, and David Pastrnak collected two assists as they hold that final Eastern wild-card spot with 75 points. Aliaksei Protas replied for the Capitals (31-26-7).

An overtime goal by Bo Horvat gave the New York Islanders a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 shots, and Tony DeAngelo also scored for the 36-23-5 Islanders, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 77 points. Macklin Celebrini tallied his 32nd goal of the season, and Yaroslav Askarov made 32 saves for the Sharks (30-25-6), who sit one point behind the Kraken with 66 points

The Philadelphia Flyers upset the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on a shootout goal by Trevor Zegras. Alex Bump scored his first goal in his NHL debut for the 29-22-11 Flyers. Rickard Rakell had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (31-17-14), who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points.

Calgary Flames forward Joel Farabee had two goals and an assist in a 5-4 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist in his first game with the Flames (25-30-7) since his acquisition from the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists for the 40-17-6 Hurricanes, who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4. Karel Vejmelka stopped 27 shots to become the first goaltender to reach 30 wins this season as the Mammoth (34-25-4) has won three straight and holds the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 72 points. Damon Severson, Mathieu Olivier, Adam Fantilli, and Mason Marchment each had a goal and an assist for the 32-21-9 Blue Jackets, who sit two points behind the Bruins for the final Eastern wild-card spot.

IN OTHER NEWS…

MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Roope Hintz is expected to miss some extended time after injuring his left leg during Friday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.

NHL.COM: Former Chicago Blackhawks forward and broadcaster Troy Murray passed away from cancer on Saturday at the age of 63.

Murray played 15 seasons in the NHL from 1981-82 to 1995-96, spending 12 of those seasons with the Blackhawks. In 915 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche, Murray had 230 goals and 354 assists for 584 points, as well as 43 points in 113 playoff contests. He won the Selke Trophy with the Blackhawks in 1985-86, and the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1995-96.

After retiring, Murray became the Blackhawks’ radio analyst for over two decades.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Murray’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Blackhawks organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2026

by | Mar 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2026

Recapping Friday’s games, fallout from the trade deadline, contract signings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider had a goal and three assists as his club nipped the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 on a shootout goal by Alex Killorn. Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist for the 35-24-3 Ducks, who took over first place in the Pacific Division with 73 points. Cole Caufield had two goals and an assist, and Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (33-18-10), who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 76 points.

Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights (29-20-14) dropped a 4-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild, slipping one point behind the Ducks. Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves, and Michael McCarron had a goal and an assist in his debut with the Wild after being acquired from the Nashville Predators. Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev had two points, including his 30th goal of the season. The Wild sit third in the Central Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights captain Mark Stone missed this game with an upper-body injury, but he’s not expected to be sidelined for long.

A shootout goal by Valeri Nichushkin lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the Dallas Stars 5-4, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Nichushkin also scored the tying goal that sent the game to overtime and the shootout, while Martin Necas had a goal and three assists for the Avalanche (42-10-9), who remain atop the overall standings with 93 points. Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen, and Justin Hryckowian each had a goal and an assist for the 38-14-10 Stars as they sit second in the Western Conference with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz left this game after injuring his left leg following a collision with Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon during the second period. There was no postgame update on his condition.

The Carolina Hurricanes got two goals from Jackson Blake in a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. K’Andre Miller collected three assists for the 40-16-6 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points. Zach Hyman tallied twice for the Oilers (30-25-8) as they cling to third place in the Pacific Division.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk’s hat trick gave his club a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves for the Panthers (31-29-3) as his club ended a four-game losing skid. Alex DeBrincat replied for the 35-21-7 Red Wings, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 77 points, but have dropped seven of their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin left this game with a lower-body injury in the third period. Head coach Todd McLellan doesn’t believe Larkin will be sidelined long-term, but he must have his injury attended to.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Dylan Holloway collected three assists for the 24-29-9 Blues. Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood replied for the 30-25-5 Sharks (65 points), who sit two points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Sharks signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $6 million contract extension.

The Vancouver Canucks ended a seven-game losing skid by downing the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Brock Boeser scored twice for the 19-36-7 Canucks. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev each had a goal and an assist for the 23-29-10 Blackhawks.

TRADE DEADLINE FALLOUT

THE ATHLETIC: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong expressed his displeasure regarding leaked reports of a proposed trade involving Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres before the blueliner was approached about waiving his no-trade clause. Parayko ultimately refused to waive his clause, killing the deal.

Armstrong was adamant that the leak didn’t come from the Blues. He ordered a thorough examination of his staff’s phone, text, and email records. “Everyone passed the test, not surprisingly,” Armstrong said. “I knew it didn’t come from us.”

However, Armstrong is not pointing the finger at the Sabres. “There’s so many people involved in things that go on: family members, agents. It’s a never-ending cycle of people that get talked to.”

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals players were shocked and saddened by the trade of long-time Capitals defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.

Team captain Alex Ovechkin said hearing the news was the toughest day of his career. “We’re very close, and it’s hard,” Ovechkin said. “We’ve been together since his Day 1 on Caps, and we’re growing up together as a person, families. It’s hard and it’s a sad day.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Getting traded is part of the business for professional hockey players, but it still takes an emotional toll, especially when they’ve spent years together as teammates.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving shouldered the blame for his club’s poor performance this season. He made the remarks after trading forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton before Friday’s trade deadline. Treliving also acknowledged that more changes could be coming for the struggling Maple Leafs in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving could be among those changes. His three-year contract expires at the end of this season.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said his club’s decline after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season starts with him. Cheveldayoff admitted that his offseason acquisitions were past their prime. He intends to play more of their younger players for the remainder of this season and is looking toward resetting in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unlike Treliving, Cheveldayoff won’t lose his job over this season’s disappointing effort. However, he must replace some of those aging players with younger talent for the Jets to bounce back next season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky was expected to make another big trade deadline move after doing so the last two years. However, his only move was acquiring rugged depth forward Nic Deslauriers. Tulsky explained his quiet trade deadline, claiming his club didn’t find any deals that made sense for them.

IN OTHER NEWS…

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin received a five-game suspension from the league for slashing at the head of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed captain Jordan Eberle to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $5.5 million.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders re-signed center Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a three-year extension with an AAV of $4.85 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Islanders, goaltender Semyon Varlamov is not expected to return to action this season. He’s been sidelined by a knee injury since November 2024.

TSN: Free-agent forward Mathieu Joseph signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth a prorated $900,000.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will likely miss the remainder of the season. He’s been sidelined since November with blood-clot issues.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2025

by | Oct 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2025

Jonathan Toews scores as the Jets win their fifth straight game, the Golden Knights extend their points streak, the three stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S NHL ACTION

NHL.COM: Jonathan Toews scored his first goal with his hometown Winnipeg Jets in a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Mark Scheifele also scored for the Jets as they picked up their fifth straight win. Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who’ve lost six straight (1-6-0) and sit last in the overall standings.

Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was Toews’ first goal since his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks on Apr. 13, 2023. The 37-year-old center has four points in his first six games of this season. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames placed little-used defenseman Daniil Miromanov on waivers earlier in the day.

The Vegas Golden Knights extended their points streak to seven games (5-0-2) by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1, snapping the latter’s five-game season-opening win streak. Akira Schmid made 22 saves in relief of Adin Hill after the latter was sidelined in the first period with an injured left leg. Ivan Barbashev had a goal and an assist, and Mitch Marner collected two assists for the Golden Knights, who sit atop the overall standings with 12 points. Nikolaj Ehlers collected his first point with the Hurricanes by assisting on Sebastian Aho’s goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Golden Knights placed captain Mark Stone (wrist) on injured reserve. Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 30 shots in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, snapping the latter’s two-game win streak. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki collected two assists to extend his points streak to six games, and Lane Hutson tallied the game-winner for the 5-2-0 Canadiens. Alex Lyon made 27 saves, and Jiri Kulich and Tyson Kozak scored for the 2-4-0 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres defenseman Beck Malenstyn missed this game for personal reasons.

The Philadelphia Flyers got two goals from winger Owen Tippett to down the Seattle Kraken 5-2. Cam York had three assists and Sean Couturier collected two helpers for the Flyers, who improved their record to 3-2-1. Jordan Eberle and Jani Nyma replied for the Kraken as they suffered their first regulation loss (3-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jared McCann missed this contest with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Minnesota Wild rookie winger Danila Yurov scored his first NHL goal as his club beat the New York Rangers 3-1. Jonas Brodin and Kirill Kaprizov also scored for the 3-3-1 Wild. Artemi Panarin scored for the Rangers as their record dropped to 3-4-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marco Rossi and defenseman Zach Bogosian missed this game as they’re day-to-day with lower-body injuries. Meanwhile, Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy returned to action after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood were the three stars for the week ending Oct. 19, 2025.

RG.ORG: Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish is happy to have put his protracted contract negotiations behind him. The 22-year-old center enjoys playing head coach Joel Quenneville’s up-tempo, aggressive system. He’s now focused on helping his club reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McTavish missed training camp due to his contract negotiations, but it hasn’t adversely affected his performance thus far in this regular season. He’s tied for second among Ducks scorers with five points in as many games.

THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno has rejoined his teammates after taking a leave of absence to be with his 12-year-old daughter as she underwent follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. She is now at home and doing well.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks placed Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimaki on injured reserve after the two forwards were sidelined during Sunday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chytil left the game following a high hit from Capitals winger Tom Wilson. He has a history of concussions and is still being evaluated.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Kasperi Kapanen is expected to miss several games after leaving Sunday’s contest with the Detroit Red Wings. Meanwhile, Oilers anthem singer Robert Clark announced he has been diagnosed with leukemia. He’ll undergo treatment starting next month, and hopes not to miss too much time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Clark for a swift and full recovery.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2025

by | Sep 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2025

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes could become a Hart Trophy candidate, three Flyers with the most to gain or lose this season, the latest on Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal considered the possibility of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes becoming the first defenseman in 26 years to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hall-of-Famer Chris Pronger was the last blueliner to win the Hart Trophy (1999-2000). Brent Burns came the closest to winning the award since then, finishing fourth in voting during the 2016-17 season with the San Jose Sharks.

The Canucks failed to make the playoffs last season, but have Hughes to thank for staying in the race until late in the season. Leal believes the 25-year-old blueliner could win the Hart this season if he leads the Canucks to the playoffs while producing at the same rate that he did in 2023-24, when he had a career-high 92 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A strong case could be made for Hughes as a Hart contender if the season unfolds like Leal’s scenario. The Canucks’ roster isn’t as deep as it was two years ago, so leading this current group in the postseason while producing over 90 points would be an MVP-worthy performance.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James looks at three Philadelphia Flyers with the most to gain or lose this season.

Sophomore winger Matvei Michkov has the most to gain. The budding scoring star should flourish under new head coach Rick Tocchet this season, seeing more playing time and with better linemates than he had during his rookie campaign.

Veteran winger Travis Konecny has the most to lose. The 28-year-old is entering the first season of his eight-year contract and will face pressure to live up to it.

Trevor Zegras has the biggest opportunity this season. The 24-year-old forward joins the Flyers after struggling during the past two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. He has the chance to play top-six minutes at the center position with Michkov, Konecny, Tyson Foerster, or Owen Tippett as his potential linemates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are rebuilding, and the performance of those three will determine their potential improvement this season. Michkov’s stock as an offensive star should keep rising, while Konecny should remain a feisty first-line winger and leader. Zegras could face the most pressure as he attempts to get his career back on track.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is rising up a list on the Red Wings that no player wants to sit atop.

Larkin has played 734 regular-season games with the Red Wings, putting him on track to play the most games for the franchise without winning the Stanley Cup. The franchise leader in that category is Norm Ullman (875), followed by Nick Libett (861) and Justin Abdelkader (739).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s only playoff appearance was in 2016, when he played five games. The Red Wings captain has endured nine years of a difficult roster rebuild that seems to have stalled over the past two seasons. Unless the Wings make significant improvement, Larkin will set the franchise record for most games without winning the Cup.

RG.ORG: Former NHL head coach Gerard Gallant is embracing the challenge of coaching in the KHL. He was hired this summer as bench boss of the rebranded Shanghai Dragons, now based in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Gallant intends to run a North American “support-and-forecheck” style. The Dragons’ goal is to win now and build a fanbase for a possible return to China.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A good performance by the Dragons this season could be a springboard for Gallant to rejoin the NHL coaching ranks.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber looked at where promising rookie winger Ryan Leonard will start in the Washington Capitals’ roster this season.

Leonard, 20, saw nine games of regular-season action and eight postseason contests last season. He could begin the season on the Capitals’ third line, though his potential linemates have yet to be determined.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 6, 2025

by | May 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 6, 2025

What’s the latest on the off-season plans for the Canadiens, Canucks and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Herb Zurkowsky and Stu Cowan report Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens executive vice-president of hockey operations, is pleased and proud of his rebuilding club’s performance this season. However, he felt there was still work to be done.

Gorton believes the Canadiens must improve defensively, they need more scoring, and must get bigger and more competitive. “We want to build a team that can compete for a Stanley Cup every year,” he said. “We’re getting there (but) we’re not quite there.”

Gorton acknowledged the club’s need for a second-line center, but suggested adding a creative winger who can drive the play could be another way to bolster their top-six forwards. He didn’t rule out the possibility of using an offer sheet to address a roster need.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes will explore the trade and free-agent markets for a second-line center. However, Gorton’s remark about seeking a winger suggests limited options will be available to address that center position.

Cowan noted that Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs is the type of winger Gorton was referring to. The 28-year-old is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. If Marner goes to market, the Canadiens could find it difficult to win a bidding war that could see him earn over $15 million annually on his next contract.

TSN: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes came to the defense of Patrik Laine. The 27-year-old winger had an up-and-down performance this season, missing the first two months of the season with a knee injury and the final three games of the postseason with a broken finger.

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Speaking in French, Hughes told reporters the Canadiens wouldn’t have made the playoffs without Laine. He scored 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine received recent media criticism regarding his play, culminating in Pat Hickey of The Gazette calling for the winger to be traded or bought out. However, Laine’s return to the lineup in December was among the factors in their midseason turnaround that vaulted them into playoff contention.

Laine has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. They’ll likely hang onto him and try to find a playmaking second-line center or winger that best suits his shoot-first style of play.

TVA SPORTS: Hughes said the Canadiens haven’t announced their intentions regarding their UFA players like Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and Michael Pezzetta. Management intends to meet soon to discuss their options and will inform those players of their decision.

COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE THEIR FIRST-ROUND PICK?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes the Vancouver Canucks should use their first-round pick in this year’s draft (15th overall) as a trade chip to bring in a proven center.

The jury remains out on Elias Pettersson as a reliable first-line center. Meanwhile, health concerns continue to dog midseason acquisition Filip Chytil.

Kuzma suggested targeting someone like Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. Larkin recently expressed his unhappiness with management’s inability to make a significant move at the March trade deadline to improve the club’s playoff chances.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin may be unhappy with the Wings’ direction this season but there’s no indication that he wants to be traded. He also has a full no-trade clause and Kuzma acknowledged it would take something special to pry him out of Motown. A first-round pick would only be one piece of a likely three-asset offer to get him.

Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre also believes the Canucks must shop their 2025 first-rounder for a return that will help them bounce back next season. He agrees that they’ll target a top-six forward.

WHAT ARE THE SENATORS’ OFFSEASON PLANS?

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie believes the Ottawa Senators will attempt to find a scoring forward this summer.

Toronto’s Mitch Marner could be a free-agent option but he’ll likely be out of the Senators’ price range. Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets seems a realistic target. They could also be linked to Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks.

The Senators also need more blueline depth. One option could be Rasmus Andersson if he and the Calgary Flames don’t agree to a contract extension this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The availability of salary-cap space and tradeable assets will be an issue if the Senators intend to go big-game hunting this summer.

They have a projected $17.5 million in cap room with 14 active roster players (including their core players except Giroux) under contract next season. Landing a top-six scorer will take up a big chunk.

The Senators used to have a deep prospect pool, but it’s now ranked 27th by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler. They also don’t have a lot of extra draft picks to use as trade bait.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports sources told him the Senators will likely search for a top-six right wing and a right-shot defenseman.

Senators forward Drake Batherson’s name surfaced at the trade deadline, but the club instead traded Josh Norris to Buffalo for Dylan Cozens. Garrioch writes that several teams wonder if general manager Steve Staios would be willing to listen to offers for Batherson around the draft.

Garrioch believes the Senators would have to tread carefully regarding Batherson because of their scoring difficulties this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators would want an established player in return for Batherson, not picks, prospects or an inexperienced young NHLer. In other words, something like the Cozens-for-Norris deal.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 30, 2025

by | Apr 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 30, 2025

Check out the latest on the Red Wings and the latest on coaches Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATE ON THE RED WINGS’ OFFSEASON PLANS.

THE ATHLETIC: Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman addressed team captain Dylan Larkin’s recent comments about his unhappiness with the club’s lack of significant moves at the March 7 trade deadline. He explained that he tried to address the club’s needs but there were “no good options.”

Yzerman claimed his team is willing to use premium assets (like draft picks, prospects and players) to get better, pointing out he did so when he acquired Alex DeBrincat in 2023. He added that he expected his best players to give the club a bit of a morale boost. Yzerman said he spoke with Larkin, but didn’t elaborate on that conversation.

The Red Wings GM acknowledged his club needed more production from their bottom-six forwards and more 5-on-5 scoring from their top six. He made it clear that he’s willing to make trades to address those issues, but doesn’t expect to go the offer-sheet route.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff reported Larkin’s comment raised speculation that the Red Wings captain could end up on the trade block.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).

Duff dismissed that chatter, pointing out Larkin is the face of the franchise who carries a full no-movement clause in his contract. He also noted the Red Wings captain remains determined to get the team into the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin doesn’t sound like he wants to be traded. He could waive his NMC if Yzerman asked him to, but that’s unlikely to happen.

Meanwhile, Duff believes Vladimir Tarasenko could be a buyout candidate following a disappointing performance this season. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson could be a trade candidate.

Forward J.T. Compher and defenseman Justin Holl are expected back next season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Yzerman said there was mutual interest in bringing back Patrick Kane for another season. He admits he and his staff hope to sign the 36-year-old winger to a contract extension.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS AFTER RICK TOCCHET’S DEPARTURE?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma listed former former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, former New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, former NHL coach Gerard Gallant, and coach Manny Maholtra of the Canucks’ AHL affilate in Abbotsford as possible replacement for Rick Tocchet, who decided not to return behind the Canucks bench.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre believes replacing Tocchet is the offseason priority for the Canucks. He also thinks team captain Quinn Hughes will have a say in the hiring process. Finding someone who works well with Hughes will be a significant step toward ensuring the latter’s long-term future in Vancouver.

Scratch Sullivan from Kuzma’s list. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said his friend wants a coaching job in the East.

It remains to be seen where Tocchet ends up. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall noted the recent speculation linking him to the Flyers, examining the pros and cons of bringing Tocchet to Philadelphia.

If the Flyers are interested in Tocchet, they could face competition from several other clubs seeking a coaching upgrade. The 2024 Jack Adams Award winner won’t be out of work for long.

MIKE SULLIVAN DRAWING INTEREST FROM SEVERAL TEAMS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports five NHL teams have expressed interest in coach Mike Sullivan, who parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. He claims there are varying degrees of interest in Sullivan, with some clubs simply curious and others very serious.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun didn’t indicate the identity of those clubs. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and the Flyers are among the teams linked to Sullivan in the rumor mill.