NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2025

by | Feb 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2025

Alex Ovechkin moves closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the Jets remain in sole possession of first overall, William Nylander’s hat trick lifts the Leafs to victory, and more from a busy Tuesday evening in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin moved closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record with an empty-net goal in the final second of the third period in a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Logan Thompson made 30 saves and Nick Dowd had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who lead the Eastern Conference with 77 points. Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has 878 regular-season goals, moving within 17 of breaking Gretzky’s record of 894. The Capitals extended their home points streak to 14 games. Meanwhile, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk looks forward to a potential playoff matchup against the Ottawa Senators and his younger brother Brady.

The Winnipeg Jets picked up their seventh straight win by blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Eric Comrie turned in a 29-save shutout while Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who lead the overall standings with 79 points. The Hurricanes have dropped their second straight game and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander’s hat trick carried his club to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Leafs captain Auston Matthews collected three assists as the Leafs moved within one point of the Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar each collected two assists for the Flames, who lost four of their last six contests and cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 59 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Mitch Marner missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 37th goal and Connor Brown tallied the winner in overtime for the Oilers, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 70 points. Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl has 79 points, one back of league leader Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. Blues defenseman Nick Leddy returned to action after missing 49 games with a lower-body injury.

A shootout goal by Patrick Kane lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Seattle Kraken 5-4 to extend their win streak to seven games. Lucas Raymond scored his 21st goal of the season as the Wings hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 61 points. Shane Wright tallied twice for the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 25 shots to shut out the Colorado Avalanche 3-0. Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser and Drew O’Connor scored for the Canucks, who sit just behind the Flames for that final Western wild card with 59 points. Avalanche netminder Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 28 shots as his club holds the first Western wild-card berth with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks got the win without captain Quinn Hughes. He missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury suspected to be in his abdominal area.

The Tampa Bay Lightning held off the Ottawa Senators 4-3, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Third-period goals by Brandon Hagel and Ryan McDonagh secured the win for the Lightning as they’re clinging to the final Eastern wild card with 60 points. Linus Ullmark made 34 saves in his return to action as the Senators hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Ullmark’s first game since being sidelined by a back injury on Dec. 22. His teammate Shane Pinto left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury while Lightning forward Nick Paul departed in the same period with an undisclosed injury.

Boston Bruins goalies Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild. Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie tallied for the Bruins, who sit just behind the Lightning with 60 points. Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild activated defenseman Jonas Brodin from long-term injury reserve and forward Marcus Johansson from injured reserve for this game.

The New Jersey Devils got two goals from Jack Hughes to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout. Timo Meier scored the game-winner and Jesper Bratt collected two assists as the Devils (66 points) sit two points behind the Hurricanes in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Rickard Rakell and Kevin Hayes scored for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left this game with an injured right leg in the first period. Following the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Siegenthaler is expected to miss some time.

New York Islanders center Brock Nelson broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as his club defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Bo Horvat also scored and Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves for the Islanders, who sit three points behind the Lightning with 57 points. Brandon Saad scored his first goal for the Golden Knights since joining them as a free agent last week. They sit second in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson stopped 26 shots in a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Cutter Gauthier and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks, who’ve won five of their last six contests. Colin Blackwell replied for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson became the first goaltender to play 500 regular-season games for the Ducks. Before this game, the Stars announced that defenseman Miro Heiskanen underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and is listed as month-to-month. They also played without forward Mavrik Bourque as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their fourth straight win by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Alex Tuch netted two goals and an assist and Jason Zucker had two assists for the Sabres. Kent Johnson and Ivan Provorov scored for the Blue Jackets as they slipped out of a wild-card spot in the East with 59 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-wracked Blue Jackets played without defenseman and scoring leader Zach Werenski, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Sabres were without center Tage Thompson, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

A shorthanded goal by Joel Armia with 4:04 remaining in the third period gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves while Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook each had two points for the Canadiens (55 points) as they’re five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Sharks forwards Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov set the KHL single-season scoring record for an under-20 player with 43 points. Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov held the former record of 42 points.

The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Dylan Guenther scored with one second remaining in overtime to finish with two goals and an assist. Mikhail Sergachev had a goal and two assists for Utah to end their five-game losing skid. Samuel Ersson made 39 saves for the Flyers, who’ve lost four straight.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson is day-to-day with an injured finger.

The Nashville Predators placed forward Vinnie Hinostroza on waivers.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Adam Edstrom will miss the next six to 10 weeks with a lower-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2025

by | Feb 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2025

Recaps of Saturday’s games, the three stars and rookie of the month for January are unveiled, the Sharks trade Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied a hat trick and collected an assist in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Brad Marchand, Matthew Poitras and Pavel Zacha each collected two points for the Bruins (58 points), who sit behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. J.T. Miller scored twice in his first game with the Rangers since they reacquired him from the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The loss leaves the Rangers (52 points) six points behind the Lightning. Blueshirts forward Jimmy Vesey was a healthy scratch for the ninth straight game. He recently lamented that his situation left him feeling he had “no role or purpose” with the team but head coach Peter Laviolette insists he remains an important part of the roster.

Meanwhile, the Lightning dropped a 3-2 decision to the New York Islanders. Tony DeAngelo scored in overtime and Adam Boqvist netted his first goal with the Isles since being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov replied for the Lightning (58 points), who cling to the final Eastern wild-card spot with three games in hand over the Bruins. The Islanders (55 points) have won seven straight and are three points back of the Bolts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders are on a tear despite being walloped by injuries. They announced on Saturday that goaltender Semyon Varlamov remains sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. He joined goalie Marcus Hogberg and defensemen Ryan Pulock, Noah Dobson and Mike Reilly on injured reserve.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice collected his 900th NHL win as his club beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1. Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists while Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each picked up two points for the Panthers (65 points), who hold a one-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. Blackhawks forward Logan Slaggert opened the scoring just seven seconds into the game, setting a franchise record for the fastest game-opening goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maurice becomes the fourth coach in league history to reach the 900-win milestone. Meanwhile, Barkov joined Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne as the third Finnish player to record 200 multi-point games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy returned to action after missing 13 games with a groin injury.

The Winnipeg Jets got an overtime goal from Josh Morrissey to nip the Washington Capitals 5-4, giving the Jets 77 points and a two-point lead over the Capitals for first place in the overall standings. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 877th NHL regular-season goal. Morrisey finished the night with two goals while Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg each had a goal and an assist for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is 18 goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson had a goal and three assists while goalie Leevi Merilainen made 16 saves in a 6-0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild. Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson each had a goal and two assists for the Senators, who picked up their fourth straight win and sit third in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. The Wild’s three-game win streak ended as they remain third in the Central Division with 66 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Ryan Hartman received a match penalty for intent to injure Stutzle following a face-off draw when he pushed Stutzle’s head into the ice. The Senators center received treatment for cuts above his left eye and finished the game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs scored three first-period goals and Mitch Marner tallied what proved to be the game-winner in the third as they held off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Marner and teammate Auston Matthews each had two points while Joseph Woll kicked out 45 shots for the win. Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak each had two points for the Oilers, who remain in second place in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed this game due to illness. Leafs blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson left this contest after the second period with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Leafs rearguard Jani Hakanpaa ended his comeback bid for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off as he continues to deal with a lingering knee injury.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield each picked up two points for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 60 points. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Eric Robinson scored for the Hurricanes as their seven-game points streak ended, leaving them second in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes’ Brent Burns collected an assist to become the 13th defenseman in league history to reach the 900-point milestone. He’s the only active blueliner on that list. Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings picked up their fifth straight win by dousing the Calgary Flames 3-1. Cam Talbot turned aside 33 shots while Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and Andrew Copp tallied for the Red Wings (57 points), leaving them one point out of the final Eastern wild card. Nazem Kadri scored for the Flames, who’ve lost three of their last four contests and cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 57 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. Sidney Crosby extended his goal streak to four games, Philip Tomasino scored against his former club for the first time and Bryan Rust netted his 20th of the season. The Predators have dropped four straight.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were the league’s three stars for January 2025. Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf was named Rookie of the Month.

The Dallas Stars acquired center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund and Ceci are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. Granlund was reportedly interested in signing an extension with the rebuilding Sharks, but general manager Mike Grier opted to move the pair to stockpile draft picks, giving his club two first-rounders this year.

Dallas made this move to bolster their roster for a potential Stanley Cup run this season. Granlund has 45 points in 52 games, putting him on pace to reach 60 points for the second straight year. Ceci is an experienced right-shot defenseman who’ll provide depth on the right side of the Stars blueline.

The Stars put center Tyler Seguin and defenseman Nils Lundkvist on long-term injury reserve to free up cap space to acquire Granlund and Ceci. Seguin underwent hip surgery in December and could return to action during the playoffs, when salary-cap constraints no longer apply. Lundkvist is done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks GM Patrick Allvin met with the media on Saturday to explain why his club traded J.T. Miller to the Rangers on Friday. He felt he had no choice but to move the 31-year-old center for his own well-being and the sake of the club’s culture, which had been upset by a rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller got off to a great start in his first game back with the Rangers by scoring two goals. All eyes in Vancouver will be on whether Pettersson regains his scoring touch after struggling through the first half of this season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Canucks, they placed winger Philip Di Giuseppe on waivers.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 1, 2025

by | Feb 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – February 1, 2025

What’s next for the Canucks after trading J.T. Miller and acquiring Marcus Pettersson? What does a higher salary cap mean for the Leafs’ efforts to re-sign Mitch Marner? What’s the latest on the Bruins and Sharks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS?

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes the projected hike in the salary cap to $95.5 million means Brock Boeser should hold firm on asking for a significant raise.

The 27-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Contract extension talks between Boeser and management have been reportedly lukewarm.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

If the Canucks part ways with Boeser via trade or free agency, Johnston believes his replacement will be promising winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently observed rumors suggesting Boeser could become available at the March 7 trade deadline barring a significant turnaround in the Canucks’ fortunes.

If Boeser finishes the season in Vancouver, he could become available in this summer’s free-agent market. Nichols believes the Devils should look into acquiring Boeser because they need a shooter on their first power-play unit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers on Friday shifts the focus on Boeser’s future with the club. He carries a $6.65 million cap hit coming off a three-year contract. His production is down this season but he’s not the only Canuck facing that predicament.

Boeser tallied a career-high 40 goals last season and will use that to seek a significant raise on a long-term contract. The skyrocketing increases in the cap starting next season mean the Canucks can afford to re-sign him. Whether they will remains to be seen.

HOW WILL A HIGHER CAP AFFECT THE LEAFS’ EFFORTS TO RE-SIGN MARNER?

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle examined the pros and cons of how a rising cap over the next three seasons will affect the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially their efforts to re-sign pending UFAs like Mitch Marner and John Tavares.

On the plus side, it’ll open up more cap space to re-sign those players and to address other roster weaknesses. The downside is the possibility of pending UFAs and their agents negotiating their cap percentage based on substantial cap increases beyond next season.

Mirtle believes the Leafs should be able to re-sign Tavares and restricted free agent Matthew Knies without much difficulty. However, Marner is harder to forecast because of his status among the league’s top forwards. He could get more than $13 million annually on the open market but it remains to be seen how much more.

TORONTO STAR: Kevin McGran speculates Marner could seek a higher average annual value than Auston Matthews’ current team-leading $13.25 million. He also thinks Tavares’ AAV will drop from its current $11 million but not by much, perhaps to $8 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs will have over $29.6 million in projected cap space for next season with 17 active roster players under contract. They can afford Marner, Tavares and Knies but the trio will take up a significant chunk of that cap room.

Assuming Marner agrees to stay below Matthews’ number and accepts $13 million, Tavares gets $8 million and Knies $5 million, that’ll eat up over $26 million.

WHAT’S BRUIN IN BOSTON?

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss reports Bruins captain Brad Marchand could draw plenty of interest if his struggling club becomes sellers by the March 7 trade deadline. The 36-year-old winger is UFA-eligible this summer.

Marchand said he’s focussing on the day-to-day and isn’t concerned about what management has in store. “They’re going to do what they feel is necessary for the team. And all we can do is worry about our play and what we can control,” he said. The Bruins captain also said he’s not paying attention to media rumors and has no control over that.

If the Bruins intend on retooling for a bounce-back performance next season, Goss believes it would make sense if Marchand stayed put.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is a heart-and-soul Bruin who wants to stay in Boston. Bruins management would prefer retaining him. However, it will depend on what type of contract he wants and what kind of trade offers the Bruins get for him.

Goss also believes bringing back Trent Frederic would make sense at the right price. His production is down from last season’s 40-point pace but the 26-year-old forward is in his prime and his physical style suits the Bruins. Goss felt a fair contract would be one comparable to Dakota Joshua’s four-year deal with the Canucks worth $3.25 million annually.

If a new contract isn’t possible, Goss believes the Bruins should trade Frederic for a draft pick or a prospect. He considers him too valuable to lose for nothing.

SEVERAL SHARKS COULD SOON BECOME TRADE CANDIDATES

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka recently reported several San Jose Sharks players are in limbo with the March 7 trade deadline on the horizon.

The Sharks’ list of pending UFAs includes forward Mikael Granlund, Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm, defensemen Cody Ceci and Jan Rutta, and goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Alexandar Georgiev.

Sharks GM Mike Grier intends to examine his options as the deadline approaches. It’ll depend on what type of return those players could fetch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund has 45 points in 52 games this season and should exceed last season’s 60-point performance. That production should make him enticing for contenders seeking scoring depth.

Ceci is a right-shot defenseman and they are currently a hot commodity in the trade market. He also has playoff experience, including his run with the Edmonton Oilers to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Kunin is a versatile two-way forward who could tempt teams seeking a third-line center.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

by | Jan 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

Are the Blue Jackets interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Which teams might pursue free-agent winger Brandon Saad? What next for the Flyers following their multi-player trade with the Flames? All this and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BLUE JACKETS TALKING TO CANUCKS ABOUT PETTERSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are among the clubs talking to the Buffalo Sabres about Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.

The Jackets have the same question as other interested parties like the Buffalo Sabres: “Who is Elias Pettersson right now?” Is the 26-year-old center the one who warranted a massive contract extension last season or the one who’s been struggling this season?

LeBrun believes teams are waiting to see if the Canucks will lower their asking prices for Pettersson (and J.T. Miller) before engaging more fully in contract talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets were linked to Pettersson earlier this month but Aaron Portzline (The Athletic’s Blue Jackets beat writer) cited a team source claiming no trade discussions had taken place. Maybe the situation has now changed. It’s worth pointing out that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell attempted to acquire Pettersson last season while GM of the Carolina Hurricanes.

THE LATEST ON BRANDON SAAD

TSN: Chris Johnston reported winger Brandon Saad will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday afternoon following the mutual termination of his contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Former St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).

Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the suitors. They’re in the market for a center but are interested in seeing if Saad might be a fit as a potential wing option. The cost of signing him will be a determining factor. He walked away from the $5 million remaining on his contract with the Blues and might not necessarily be a cheap signing.

Darren Dreger believes the Leafs have a moderate interest in Saad, who played for head coach Craig Berube during the latter’s tenure in St. Louis. They’re interested in secondary scoring but the 32-year-old winger had difficulty filling that need for the Blues this season. The Leafs also have other needs to fill at center and on the blueline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli suggested the Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning as teams to watch regarding Saad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad won’t be a UFA for long. He could accept a cheap, prorated one-year deal with a playoff club, hoping that a strong performance with them could elevate his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.

FLYERS MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at what could be in store for the Philadelphia Flyers after trading former first-rounders Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames on Thursday for Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier.

Flyers GM Daniel Briere sees value in Pelletier and in the 2025 second-round pick he received from the Flames. That gives them seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, including four in the second round. Kurz speculates Briere could attempt to package some of those picks for a high-end asset. Shedding Farabee’s $5 million annual cap hit creates room to add a player with a significant salary and term.

Kurz also believes this move set the bar high for younger players like Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale or Noah Cates if they wish to remain with the Flyers for the long term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko is a UFA this summer. Briere could flip him for a draft pick before the March 7 trade deadline, perhaps for another second-rounder if the 28-year-old winger regains his scoring touch with the Flyers.

CAPITALS TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH CHARLIE LINDGREN

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the Washington Capitals are exploring a contract extension for goaltender Charlie Lindgren with an AAV in the range of $3.5 million and $4 million.

Lindgren, 31, is UFA-eligible on July 1. He’s in the final year of a $3.3 million deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals re-signed goalie Logan Thompson earlier this week to a six-year extension with an AAV of $5.85 million.

KINGS NOT PEDDLING BRANDT CLARKE

TSN: Chris Johnston noted an undercurrent of speculation regarding Brandt Clarke when the 21-year-old Los Angeles defenseman was scratched from their lineup to make way for the return of Drew Doughty.

Johnston stated Clarke was “not in play,” adding the scratch was merely a recharge for the promising young blueliner.

UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens won’t search for a rental defenseman before the March 7 trade deadline to replace Kaiden Guhle. The 23-year-old blueliner is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadricep.

LeBrun indicated the trade discussions the Canadiens have had with other teams involve players who will help them beyond this season. They could retain their pending UFAs as “own rentals” if they remain in the playoff chase leading up to the deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have cooled from the hot streak that had them briefly holding the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, management remains focused on their long-term picture. It’s not about quick fixes. Any additions via trades will be players carrying term on their contracts, like their acquisition of Alexandre Carrier last month from Nashville.

SALARY CAP SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports it’s expected the NHL will reveal its updated salary cap projection for 2025-26 during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 10-21). He said he’s been told that it is “very unlikely” to rise beyond $96 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman projected the cap could reach $92.4 million but didn’t rule out a higher number. It could end up between $94.5 and $96 million. Any amount over $92.4 million will be welcomed by most NHL general managers, especially those with expensive players to re-sign or those looking to add to their rosters for next season.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 30, 2025

by | Jan 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 30, 2025

The latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, Brandon Saad, Sidney Crosby and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON PETTERSSON AND MILLER

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and Shayna Goldman noticed the recent rise of trade speculation around Elias Pettersson.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported the 26-year-old center was close to getting traded to the Carolina Hurricanes before they acquired Mikko Rantanen. He added trade discussions regarding Pettersson are ongoing.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Dayal and Goldman believe if it came to a choice for the Canucks they would retain Pettersson and trade J.T. Miller, who turns 32 in March and doesn’t have as many productive seasons ahead.

However, Miller’s trade value appears distressed, the number of interested teams is dwindling and his no-movement clause gives him full control of his situation. Pettersson’s age, track record, and lack of no-trade protection this season could give him more lucrative trade value.

Dayal and Goldman included the Philadelphia Flyers among their proposed list of trade destinations for Pettersson. However, their colleague Kevin Kurz believes Miller would be a better choice, citing his more affordable contract, size, body of work and the Canucks’ lower asking price.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The offer the Canucks received from the New York Rangers could be the only one they’ve had for Miller. That would explain the recent increase in the Pettersson trade chatter.

The Flyers need a No. 1 center but they might not be interested in Miller because of his age or Pettersson because of his contract. Given the drama between those two, they might not view either player as a good fit for their rebuilding club.

WHAT NEXT FOR BRANDON SAAD AND THE BLUES?

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford believes Brandon Saad’s decision to accept contract termination from the St. Louis Blues is the club’s best-case scenario in addressing this issue.

The Blues tried finding a trade partner for Saad but had no takers partly because of his contract. He had a year left on his deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million and a full no-trade clause this season. The 32-year-old winger cleared waivers and was due to be assigned to their AHL affiliate in Springfield.

By accepting contract termination, Saad becomes an unrestricted free agent. Rutherford speculated the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars could become suitors, citing their needs for more forward depth.

The contract termination also clears Saad’s $4.5 million from their books for next season, giving them $10 million in cap space.

Rutherford’s colleagues Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston examined whether the Maple Leafs should sign Saad. They believe he could be despite his struggles this season, citing he’s played for Leafs coach Craig Berube in St. Louis plus he’d be an affordable addition to their forward lines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad’s championship experience with the Chicago Blackhawks, his seven 20-plus goal seasons, and his affordability will make him a tempting option for contenders seeking forward depth for the postseason.

UPDATE ON THE PENGUINS

TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is done addressing trade rumors as his team faces a third season outside the playoff picture. The 37-year-old center was recently linked to the Colorado Avalanche after they traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I know how speculation works: Everybody’s looking to talk about different things, different scenarios,” said Crosby. “I can’t control that. I don’t know where that comes from. I don’t think that it’s something I’m going to discuss every time somebody speculates something. I’m not going to answer it every time it happens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For the umpteenth time: Crosby has a full no-movement clause in his current contract and his two-year extension that he signed with the Penguins last year. He wouldn’t have signed that team-friendly extension if he didn’t want to stay in Pittsburgh. He would’ve played out this season, thanked the Penguins and their fans for 20 wonderful years, and hit this summer’s free-agent market where everyone and their dog would’ve fallen all over themselves trying to sign him.

Crosby is a Penguin until he decides he doesn’t want to be. Neither he nor the team have indicated he doesn’t want to be. Until then, as The Bard would say, it’s all sound and fury, signifying nothing.

NHL.COM: Meanwhile, in the real world, Dan Rosen believes Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Matt Grzelcyk could become rental players by the March 7 trade deadline. He speculates there could be a bigger trade to be made for forward Rickard Rakell or winger Michael Bunting.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. They could become sellers if they haven’t gained ground in the standings by March 1.

PREDATORS COULD BECOME BUYERS IF THEY IMPROVE IN THE STANDINGS

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz isn’t ruling out the possibility of becoming a buyer at the March 7 trade deadline. He indicated he could make an addition or two if his club crawls back into the playoff race by then. If not, Trotz said he could become a seller if the returns make sense.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2025

by | Jan 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Kings and Predators reveal their Quarter-Century Teams, the Blues and Brandon Saad mutually agree to terminate his contract, the Kraken put Philipp Grubauer on waivers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (NHL Images).

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils got two-point performances from Jack and Luke Hughes in a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jack and Luke each had a goal and an assist while Jake Allen made 24 saves for the shutout as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points. Flyers winger Owen Tippett left the game with an undisclosed injury following an open-ice hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. With 52 points, the Flyers sit three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils captain Nico Hischier missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson will replace sidelined Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom on Team Sweden in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes collected two assists as his club defeated the Nashville Predators 3-1. Thatcher Demko stopped 31 shots and rookie forward Linus Karlsson tallied his first NHL goal for the Canucks (56 points) as they sit one point ahead of the Calgary Flames in the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Tommy Novak replied for the Predators as they’ve dropped two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks forward Dakota Joshua returned to action after missing 11 games with an injured leg.

An overtime goal by Sidney Crosby lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 27 shots as the Penguins (50 points) are five points behind the Lightning in the Eastern wild-card race. Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, who are six points behind the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Utah Hockey Club has narrowed its prospective team names to three choices: the current name, the Utah Mammoth, and the Utah Wasatch. Fans will vote during Utah’s next four home games.

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky kicked out 29 shots to blank the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. Matthew Tkachuk scored and picked up two assists as the Panthers vaulted over the Toronto Maple Leafs into first place in the Atlantic Division with 63 points. Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty made his season debut after being sidelined by a broken ankle since preseason. The Kings are third in the Pacific Division with 58 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doughty’s return to the Kings lineup resulted in young defenseman Brandt Clarke being a healthy scratch.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Filip Gustavsson made 32 saves and Jared Spurgeon netted what proved to be the winning goal for the Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 64 points. William Nylander tallied for the Leafs (62 points) as their losing skid extended to three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Max Pacioretty was activated off injured reserve for this game. Winger Matthews Knies went on IR with an upper-body injury but could return to action on Saturday.

HEADLINES

The Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators unveiled their Quarter-Century Teams on Wednesday.

Forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez, and goaltender Jonathan Quick made up the Kings’ First Team. The Second Team comprised forwards Justin Williams, Adrian Kempe and Zigmund Palffy, defensemen Mattias Norstrom and Lubomir Visnovsky, and goalie Felix Potvin.

The Predators’ First Team featured goaltender Pekka Rinnie, defensemen Roman Josi and Shea Weber, and forwards Filip Forsberg, Paul Kariya and Mike Fisher. The Second Team comprised forwards David Legwand, Ryan Johansen and Steve Sullivan, defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Kimmo Timonen, and goalie Juuse Saros.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues and winger Brandon Saad agreed to terminate his contract once he clears unconditional waivers today. Saad had a year remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million. He had cleared waivers and was slated to be assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad will become an unrestricted free agent, enabling him to sign with another team. I’ll have more about him and the Blues in today’s Rumor Mill update.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken placed goaltender Philipp Grubauer on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Kraken doesn’t have to send down Grubauer but gives them the option. Given his contract, he’s unlikely to be claimed by another NHL team. This also raises questions about his future with the team, including a potential contract buyout in June.

Grubauer was the Kraken’s starter when he signed his contract in 2021 but Joey Daccord outplayed him for the job last season. He’s struggled this season with a 3.83 goals-against average and an. 866 save percentage.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadriceps muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle is the Canadiens’ best shutdown defenseman so his absence is a big blow to the blueline in their quest for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve recalled Jayden Struble from his conditioning stint in Laval.

TSN: Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins is out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek was assigned to his club’s AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint as he works his way back from a fractured cheekbone.

NESN: The Boston Bruins are talking with former captain Zdeno Chara about returning to the club as a front-office consultant.

RG.ORG: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was surprised by Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer suggesting his club play some regular-season games in Quebec City.

He made those remarks during a recent press conference announcing his team will play two preseason games there in September.

Andlauer also said he believes Quebec City deserves an NHL franchise but acknowledged that’s not his decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andlauer will likely get a gentle reminder from the commissioner’s office about speaking out of turn regarding potential NHL expansion destinations.