NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2026

by | Feb 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2026

Check out the latest on the Canucks’ Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane, the Flames’ Nazem Kadri, the Maple Leafs and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS GETTING INTEREST IN ELIAS PETTERSSON, COULD MOVE EVANDER KANE

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there is renewed trade interest in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, but they haven’t yet received an offer worth considering. Pettersson’s agents are aware of the trade discussions. However, they won’t include their client (who has a no-movement clause) until it reaches a point where there is a potential deal.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s declining production is a stumbling block in the path to a trade, though the teams that have inquired about him likely believe he’ll regain his scoring form with a change of scenery. Nevertheless, his no-movement protection and his $11.6 million average annual value through 2031-32 are also significant hurdles that could keep him in Vancouver beyond the March 6 trade deadline.

Chris Johnston reports Evander Kane was the subject of a fair amount of trade discussions. It’s expected the 34-year-old winger could be moved to a playoff club by the March 6 deadline, with the Canucks willing to retain half of his $5.125 million cap hit. The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dallas Stars are among the clubs that have made inquiries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is more likely to be moved by March 6 than Pettersson, especially if the Canucks retain half of his remaining salary. He might cost at most a third-round pick.

FLAMES COULD MOVE KADRI, LOOKING AT INTEREST IN COLEMAN AND MORE

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Calgary Flames are still testing the trade market for Nazem Kadri. He claims the 35-year-old center wants to be traded. They’re also looking at the interest in winger Blake Coleman and defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Zach Whitecloud. Dreger stated that Flames general manager Craig Conroy will remain patient to ensure he has a full assessment of the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All those players are signed beyond this season. That’s why Conroy can play the waiting game. He’s under no pressure to move them at the trade deadline. If there are no suitable offers by March 6, he can wait for the offseason to see if the trade market improves.

Chris Johnston suggested the Colorado Avalanche might be a suitor for Kadri, who played for them for several seasons before signing with the Flames in the summer of 2022. The Avalanche created extra salary-cap space on Tuesday by trading defenseman Samuel Girard to the Pittsburgh Penguins for blueliner Brett Kulak. They’re expected to use that additional cap room to add a forward, probably a centerman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri carries an AAV of $7 million through 2028-29 with a 13-team no-trade list. It’s a good bet that the Avalanche aren’t on that list. He’d probably leap at the opportunity to rejoin the Avalanche and pursue another Stanley Cup with them.

WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS BECOME SELLERS?

TSN: Darren Dreger thinks the next two or three games for the Toronto Maple Leafs will decide if they become sellers at the trade deadline. They’re currently six points out of a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference with four clubs to leapfrog.

If the Leafs decide to sell, Dreger believes UFA-eligible forwards such as Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton could be put on the trade block.

WHICH PLAYERS’ TRADE VALUE WAS AFFECTED BY THEIR OLYMPIC PERFORMANCES?

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin examined which players’ trade value changed for better or worse by the performances in the Olympics.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington topped the list of those whose value went up. Binnington had a solid performance between the pipes for Canada. New York Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen also likely got a boost from their efforts in the Olympics.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ottawa Senators center Lars Eller, and Seattle Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen saw their stock go down.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 11, 2026

by | Feb 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 11, 2026

Check out the latest on the Flyers, Maple Leafs, and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH FLYERS COULD BECOME TRADE BAIT?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently looked at the Philadelphia Flyers’ potential plans for the March 6 trade deadline.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (NHL Images).

James dismissed a recent rumor suggesting the Flyers could shake things up by trading Travis Konecny. He pointed out that the 27-year-old winger has a full no-movement clause, is a respected team leader, and will be part of the Flyers’ plans to get better sooner rather than later.

Owen Tippett was also mentioned as a trade candidate. James believes the Flyers would prefer to keep him, but their surplus of wingers could force their hand. Tippett could be someone they could include in a package deal if they were to pursue someone such as St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.

Bobby Brink could also become a trade chip. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent in July and might have to make room for younger wingers in the Flyers’ system.

As for their defensemen, James suggested moving Rasmus Ristolainen as one option before March 6. He also wondered about Noah Juulsen, Emil Andrae, and Nick Seeler.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ recent slide in the standings likely killed off their chances of reaching the playoffs. Management will likely be sellers at the deadline, seeking returns that could accelerate their development, such as young NHL players.

The Flyers could use a first-line center, and Thomas would fit the bill. However, he has a full no-trade clause and might not be keen on joining a retooling/rebuilding club. If he is willing to join the Flyers, Tippett could be part of the deal, but it would cost perhaps another good young player, along with the Flyers’ 2026 first-rounder, and one of their top prospects. The Blues are setting high asking prices for guys like Thomas.

WHICH MAPLE LEAFS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TRADE CANDIDATES?

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel believes forwards Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann are the most likely trade candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The trio is due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Siegel also wouldn’t be surprised if defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Troy Stecher, and winger Nick Robertson end up getting moved by March 6.

Ekman-Larsson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million and a 16-team no-trade list. Stecher is UFA-eligible on July 1, while Robertson is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann, Ekman-Larsson, and Laughton would likely fetch the best returns. McMann is considered their best trade chip because of his style of play and affordable contract.

WHAT WILL THE BLUE JACKETS DO BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE?

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell and his staff will be busy during the Olympic break attempting to sign forwards Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment, and defenseman Erik Gudbranson. The four are UFA-eligible on July 1.

Given the Blue Jackets’ surge in the standings before the Olympic break, Waddell wants to help his club by the trade deadline. If he can find an offensive finisher with term left on his contract, Waddell could go for it. He could also make depth moves, perhaps by targeting Chicago Blackhawks captain (and former Blue Jacket) Nick Foligno.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Waddell’s trade deadline plans will also depend on whether the Blue Jackets can maintain the hot streak they were on before the Olympics. If they struggle and end up sliding in the standings, he could attempt to move any unsigned UFAs.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 9, 2026

by | Feb 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 9, 2026

What kind of moves could the Maple Leafs make by the March 6 trade deadline? Will the Wild use Jesper Wallstedt as a trade chip for a first-line center? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently took note of speculation linking the Oilers to Toronto Maple Leafs center Nicolas Roy and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine.

According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there were rumors circulating in Edmonton before the Olympic trade freeze claiming the Oilers had spoken with the Maple Leafs. While there has been plenty of rumors lately regarding Leafs winger Bobby McMann, Pagnotta believes the Oilers were more interested in Roy and Ekman-Larsson.

Staples also pointed out that Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos recently speculated about the Oilers making a move for Laine.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann (NHL Images).

Insiders such as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Bob Stauffer of “Oilers Now” claim the Oilers seek a third-line winger. Friedman and Stauffer believe McMann’s size, speed, and affordable $1.35 million cap hit would be a good fit for the cap-strapped Oilers. However, Staples believes other clubs will also be interested in McMann and will likely outbid the Oilers.

Staples dismissed the possibility of the Oilers pursuing Laine, who carries an $8.7 million cap hit this season. He noted that the 34-year-old Ekman-Larsson carries an average annual value of $3.5 million for two more seasons, suggesting it’s a coin flip whether he’ll remain a solid NHL defenseman over that period.

The Oilers must move winger Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6 million AAV through next season. Staples suggested sending Mangiapane to the Maple Leafs for Roy and his $3 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers must move out salary if they intend to make any significant acquisitions by the March 6 trade deadline. They have reportedly been trying to move Mangiapane since December. It’s unlikely the Leafs would take him for Roy, McMann, or Ekman-Larsson without a significant sweetener attached.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen wondered if the Avalanche should target Roy or Scott Laughton of the Maple Leafs to center their third line.

Laughton is 31, and accounts for just $1.5 million of the Maple Leafs’ salary cap. He’s on an expiring contract, while Roy is signed through next season.

Deen believes Roy would be a better fit, especially on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could hang onto Roy for another season if they believe they can bounce back from their current disappointing performance. Nevertheless, they’ll likely be open to offers. Whether the Avalanche could outbid other clubs remains to be seen.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos observed that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh is playing well in his contract year and is set to cash in. He believes the 29-year-old right-handed defenseman with the booming shot would be a perfect upgrade to the Maple Leafs’ power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh is in the final season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $975,000. He had a 33-point performance in 2023-24 and 37 points last season, but has exploded into a scoring star with 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points.

Raddysh is playing with more confidence this season, partly because he stepped up when team captain Victor Hedman was sidelined. He’s poised for a substantial raise, which the Lightning can afford if they wish. He might not be available for the Leafs (or anyone else) when free agency begins on July 1.

WILL THE WILD TRADE JESPER WALLSTEDT FOR A CENTER?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith recently responded to questions from their readers regarding the possibility of the Minnesota Wild trading Jesper Wallstedt for a center.

Wallstedt, 23, has paired with Filip Gustavsson to give the Wild one of the better goaltending tandems in the league this season. He leads this season’s rookie goalies with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and four shutouts.

With Gustavsson signed through 2030-31, Wallstedt could be expendable. Trying to acquire a first-line center without including him in the deal would be difficult because of the limited trade chips the Wild have left.

It would reportedly take more than Wallstedt for the Wild to land someone like Robert Thomas. That’s because the St. Louis Blues have set a high asking price for the 26-year-old center.

Russo and Smith don’t believe the Wild could land Jack Hughes by using Wallstedt in a package deal. It’s hard to imagine embattled New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald trading his franchise player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild GM Bill Guerin is preaching patience, but it’s no secret he’s in the market for a scoring forward, preferably a first-line center. A deal involving Wallstedt by the March 6 trade deadline is possible, but it’s more likely that kind of blockbuster occurs in the offseason when teams have more cap room and a willingness to make big trades.










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 Morning Coffee Headlines – November 9, 2025

by | Nov 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 9, 2025

The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and the Canadiens’ Cole Caufield tie for the goal-scoring lead, the Ducks and Bruins extend their win streaks to six games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF SATURDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and two assists while Cale Makar, Parker Kelly, and Jack Drury each tallied twice to thump the Edmonton Oilers 9-1. MacKinnon extended his points streak to eight games as the Avalanche (9-1-5) sits atop the overall standings with 23 points. Connor McDavid replied for the 6-6-3 Oilers, who’ve lost three straight games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all NHL scorers with 23 points and is tied for first with 12 goals. As for the Oilers, this was a humiliating defeat at every level, raising further questions about their viability as a Stanley Cup contender.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice in a 6-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth, extending their points streak to six games (4-0-2) as they sit atop the Atlantic Division with 22 points (10-3-2). Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens. Kailer Yamamoto and Lawson Crouse scored for the 9-6-0 Mammoth, who’ve dropped four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield’s 12 goals tied him with MacKinnon for the league goal-scoring lead.

The Anaheim Ducks picked up their sixth straight win by nipping the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on an overtime goal by Jacob Trouba. Leo Carlsson scored two goals and set up another as the 10-3-1 Ducks (21 points) opened a three-point lead over the 7-3-4 Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. Pavel Dorofeyev and Kaeden Korczak scored as Vegas overcame a 3-1 deficit in the third period to force overtime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks are looking like they’re for real this season. Meanwhile, Golden Knights center William Karlsson left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie had a goal and an assist as his club extended its win streak to six games with a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for the Bruins (10-7-0), who sit second to the Canadiens in the Atlantic Division with 20 points. Nick Robertson, Matias Maccelli, and John Tavares replied for the 8-6-1 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins were sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference before their win streak began. Before this game, they placed Elias Lindholm (lower body) on injured reserve. They also played without defenseman Charlie McAvoy and center Casey Mittelstadt. McAvoy was away attending to a personal matter, while Mittelstadt was sidelined by a lower-body injury.

Meanwhile, Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz was pulled from this game in the second period after giving up four goals on 19 shots. Leafs forward Scott Laughton departed with an upper-body injury in the second period.

The San Jose Sharks won their third straight game by downing the Florida Panthers 3-1. Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 38 shots, Macklin Celebrini tallied his 10th goal of the season, and Will Smith collected two assists for the 7-6-3 Sharks. Brad Marchand extended his goal streak to four games for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who are 7-7-1 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-ravaged Panthers lost another player for a significant period as forward Jonah Gadjovich will miss the next three months as he undergoes surgery for an upper-body injury. They’re already missing Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov, and Tomas Nosek.

Sharks winger William Eklund (lower body) was moved to injured reserve.

New Jersey Devils goalie Jake Allen turned aside 33 shots and Jesper Bratt scored in the shootout for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Arseny Gritsyuk also scored for the 11-4-0 Devils, who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points. Ryan Graves replied for the 9-4-3 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton missed this contest as he’s expected to miss a week with a lower-body injury.

The Ottawa Senators got two goals from Tim Stutzle, including the winner in overtime, to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Michael Amadio also scored for the 7-5-3 Senators. Matvei Michkov and Jamie Drysdale tallied for the Flyers (8-5-2).

Dallas Stars forwards Adam Erne and Sam Steel scored 47 seconds apart in the third period to lift their club to a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators. Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johntson, and Mavrik Bourque each had two points for the Stars (8-4-3). Ryan O’Reilly and Nick Blakenburg each had two points for the 5-8-4 Predators, who have lost four straight.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel scored for the sixth time in seven games as his club beat the Washington Capitals 3-2. Hagel and Jake Guentzel each had a goal and an assist, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves for the 8-5-2 Lightning, who’ve won seven of their last eight contests. Brandon Duhaime and John Carlson replied for the 7-7-1 Capitals, who’ve lost six of their last seven.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh left this game after the first period with an undisclosed injury. The Bolts were also playing without center Anthony Cirelli, who is recovering from an upper-body injury suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

The New York Islanders got a 33-save performance from Ilya Sorokin to shut out the New York Rangers 5-0, leaving the latter winless at home thus far this season (0-6-1). Bo Horvat tallied twice and Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Jonathan Drouin each had a goal and two assists for the 7-6-2 Islanders. Igor Shesterkin gave up four goals on 25 shots for the Rangers, who dropped to 7-7-2.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each had a goal and an assist for the 5-6-4 Sabres, who’ve lost three straight games. The Hurricanes picked up their third straight win and improved to 10-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes claimed goaltender Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. They also placed defenseman Jalen Chatfield (upper body) on injured reserve.

An overtime goal by Shane Wright gave the Seattle Kraken a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists for the Kraken as they improved to 7-3-4. Dylan Holloway, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jordan Kyrou scored for the 5-8-3 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord missed this game as he stayed in Seattle to receive treatment for an upper-body injury. They also activated defenseman Ryker Evans off injured reserve for this game. He made his season debut after being sidelined with an upper-body injury suffered during preseason play.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser’s third-period goal lifted his club over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves as the Canucks improved to 8-8-0. Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov each had three points for the Blue Jackets (7-7-0), who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson.

IN OTHER NEWS…

CALGARY SUN: Flames rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Los Angeles Kings winger Warren Foegele will return to action during Sunday’s game against the Penguins. He’s been sidelined for two weeks with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL center and general manager Mel Bridgman passed away on Saturday at age 70.

Selected first overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft, Bridgman spent 14 seasons as a player from 1975-76 to 1988-89 with the Flyers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks. He captained the Flyers from 1979-80 to 1980-81, and the Devils from 1984-85 to 1986-87. Bridgman had 252 goals and 449 assists for 701 points in 977 regular-season games, and 67 points in 125 playoff contests.

After his playing career, Bridgman was named the first general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 1991, a role he held until 1993. He was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Bridgman’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2025

by | Nov 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2025

Cutter Gauthier leads the Ducks over the defending champion Panthers, a milestone game for the Kings’ Adrian Kempe, Drew Doughty, and Corey Perry, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks sophomore forward Cutter Gauthier tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Gauthier also had an assist for his first four-point game for the 8-3-1 Ducks, who picked up their fourth straight win and moved into first place in the Pacific Division with 17 points. Evan Rodrigues had a goal and an assist as the Panthers dropped to 6-6-1.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Leo Carlsson received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a blindside hit to Rodrigues’ head early in the third period, sending the Panthers forward out of the game.

The Los Angeles Kings (6-4-4) got a 23-save performance from goaltender Darcy Kuemper to shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0. Adrian Kempe tallied his 200th career NHL regular-season goal, and Drew Doughty scored his 162nd career goal to surpass Rob Blake for the most by a defenseman in franchise history. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 of 25 shots as his club’s three-game win streak ended, giving them a record of 9-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a notable game for Kings winger Corey Perry, who became the fourth active player to play 1,400 career regular-season NHL games.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen scored twice and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Wyatt Johnston scored the shootout winner and collected three assists in regulation for the 7-3-3 Stars. Connor McDavid and Jack Roslovic each collected two points for the 6-5-4 Oilers, who held a 3-1 lead in the third period until the Stars rallied.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Alec Regula was activated off injured reserve after missing 12 games with an undisclosed injury.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 25 saves in his season debut to blank the New York Rangers 3-0, leaving the latter winless at home (0-5-1). Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes (8-4-0). Igor Shesterkin turned aside 29 of 31 shots for the Rangers, who dropped to 6-6-2.

The Vegas Golden Knights nipped the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Akira Schmid had a 24-save shutout, and Ivan Barbashev tallied the only goal for the 7-2-3 Golden Knights. John Gibson made 33 saves for the 9-5-0 Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights activated defenseman Noah Hanifin off injured reserve for this contest. He missed the past 10 games with an undisclosed injury.

Colorado Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson scored twice in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Scott Wedgewood kicked out 22 shots for the 8-1-5 Avalanche, who extended their points streak to five games (3-0-2) to sit atop the Central Division with 21 points. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning (6-5-2) as their win streak ended at five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning activated defenseman Max Crozier off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined since Oct. 14 with an undisclosed injury.

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 3-0 lead but rallied to nip the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout by a score of 5-4. Bobby Brink tallied twice and Trevor Zegras scored the winning goal after collecting two assists in regulation for the Flyers, who improved to 7-5-1. Kirby Dach scored two goals and Sam Montembeault stopped 38 of 42 shots for the 9-3-1 Canadiens, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 19 points.

An overtime goal by Clayton Keller lifted the Utah Mammoth to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Nick Schmaltz also scored for the Mammoth (9-4-0). Noah Ostlund replied for the Sabres (5-4-4), who got a 33-save effort from goalie Alex Lyon to extend their points streak to five games (1-0-4).

Boston Bruins forward Marat Khusnutdinov scored the tying goal and the game-winner in a shootout to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3. Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves for the 8-7-0 Bruins, who extended their win streak to four games. Bo Horvat tallied two goals for the Islanders, who dropped to 6-5-2.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on an overtime goal by Marcus Johansson. Johansson and Kirill Kaprizov each finished with two points for the 5-6-3 Wild. Steven Stamkos sent the game into overtime for the 5-6-4 Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansson’s goal was controversial as it was scored after the net was dislodged. Officials ruled that Predators goalie Justus Annunen caused the net to be knocked off its moorings before the puck crossed the goal line.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: Sidelined Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz are expected to return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed goaltender Tristan Jarry and forwards Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari on injured reserve. They recalled goalie Sergei Murashov, demoted defenseman Owen Pickering, and recalled blueliner Ryan Graves.

THE MERCURY NEWS/DAILY FACEOFF: Sharks forward William Eklund (lower-body injury) is expected to miss his second straight game on Wednesday when his club faces the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson will remain with the Sharks for the rest of the season.

STLTODAY.COM: Milan Lucic has signed a professional tryout offer with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have released winger Vitali Kravtsov from his contract, enabling him to return to the KHL.