Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 29, 2026

by | Mar 29, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 29, 2026

What could new contracts for some of this summer’s top restricted free agents look like? Could the Kraken re-sign Bobby McMann? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

NEW CONTRACTS FOR YOUNG PENDING RFA STARS COULD AFFECT THE MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston recently said that Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets could reset the market when they sign their new contracts later this year.

Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli are restricted free agents coming off their entry-level contracts and lack arbitration rights. They’re also the top-line centers on their respective teams.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

Johnston believes the reason Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli remain unsigned is that they’re holding off due to shifting market dynamics. He also thinks those three wouldn’t mind if a younger player, such as Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, signed an extension beforehand to establish the market.

Those players could get eight-year contracts before the maximum limit is reduced to seven years on Sept. 26.

DAILY FACEOFF: Felix Sicard of the Crash the Pond Podcast projected that Carlsson and teammate Cutter Gauthier could each land contracts of eight years with average annual values between $9 million and $10 million.

Sicard anticipates that Carlsson’s AAV will be over $10 million, given his role as the Ducks’ first-line center. Gauthier could get close to $10 million as he’s poised to reach 40 goals this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp rise in the salary cap is the main reason behind what Johnston called shifting market dynamics. We saw it earlier this season when all the biggest stars eligible to unrestricted free agency this July were signed to expensive long-term extensions.

Celebrini has established himself as a superstar during his sophomore season, sitting fourth overall in league scoring with 98 points. Barring injury or a late-season slump, he’ll likely finish with at least 105 points, more than the single-season best numbers of Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, and Gauthier.

The Sharks will be keen to lock up their franchise player for as long as possible, preferably the current maximum of eight years. Celebrini could earn an average annual value of around $15 million.

Bedard, Carlsson, and Fantilli probably won’t get as much as that, but they would be assured of long-term deals worth over $10 million annually. Gauthier will get around $10 million, especially if he exceeds 40 goals this season.

The Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, and Ducks have the cap space to re-sign those players. However, it could cost the Ducks over $20 million to ink Carlsson and Gauthier, which could limit their efforts to re-sign or replace pending UFAs Jacob Trouba, John Carlsson, Radko Gudas, and to re-sign RFAs Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is a tough negotiator with players coming off entry-level contracts, as current Ducks center Mason McTavish and former Ducks forward Trevor Zegras can attest. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles this summer’s contract talks with Carlsson and Gauthier.

KRAKEN HOPE TO RE-SIGN BOBBY MCMANN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Seattle Kraken have shown an interest in retaining Bobby McMann, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

The 29-year-old McMann has seven goals and four assists in eight games since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the March 6 trade deadline. Friedman said the two sides haven’t gone too far down the road with this yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that one reason why the Maple Leafs parted with McMann was that his camp sought a multi-year extension worth around $5 million per season. Maybe the goal-starved Kraken would be willing to meet that price.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2026

by | Feb 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2026

The Lightning overcome a four-goal deficit to defeat the Bruins in their Stadium Series game, the three stars and Rookie of the Month for January are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 5-1 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 on a shootout goal by Jake Guentzel before a sellout crowd of 64,617 fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Nikita Kucherov led the comeback with a goal and three assists while Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (35-14-4), who picked up their third straight win to remain in first place in the Eastern Conference with 74 points. Morgan Geekie had two goals and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves for the Bruins (32-20-4).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins’ undisciplined play was their undoing, enabling the Lightning to tally three straight power-play goals in the second period to cut the deficit from 5-1 to 5-4, setting the stage for Kucherov’s tying goal and Guentzel’s game-winner.

The game featured the first-ever goalie fight in an outdoor NHL game, as the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Bruins’ Swayman dropped the gloves following a scrum in front of the Bruins’ net.

Lightning defenseman and team captain Victor Hedman made his return to action in this game after being sidelined since Dec. 9 by elbow surgery. Teammate Anthony Cirelli left this contest late in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

An overtime goal by Sebastian Aho gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead, but the Kings (23-17-14) forced overtime on third-period goals by Samuel Helenius and Quinton Byfield. The Hurricanes (34-15-6) sit second in the Eastern Conference with 74 points and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson left this game early in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider scored two goals as his club held off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3. Troy Terry, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Poehling each had two points for the Ducks (29-23-3). Mitch Marner, Ivan Barbashev, and Tomas Hertl replied for the Golden Knights (25-16-14), who cling to first place in the Pacific Division with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Terry returned to action after being sidelined since Jan. 6 with an upper-body injury. The Ducks also placed center Leo Carlsson (thigh) on injured reserve.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Bruins winger David Pastrnak, and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard are the league’s three stars for January 2026. Bruins forward Fraser Minten is the league’s Rookie of the Month for January 2026.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed goaltender Calvin Pickard on waivers Sunday. If he clears, he’ll be sent to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield following the Olympic break.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the lack of reliable goalie depth in the trade market, Pickard could be claimed by another NHL club on Monday. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal believes the Philadelphia Flyers are the most likely to pluck Pickard off the waiver wire.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed veteran center Sheldon Dries to a two-year contract extension. It’s a two-way contract with an average annual value of $875, 000 at the NHL level.

DOSE.CA Montreal Canadiens goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen could be heading overseas next season. The 29-year-old Finnish netminder is on a one-year contract with the Canadiens and has spent this season with their AHL affiliate in Laval.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 21, 2026

by | Jan 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 21, 2026

The Lightning’s points streak reaches 14 games, Senators goalie Linus Ullmark talks about his leave of absence, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their points streak to 14 games (13-0-1) with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Brandon Hagel scored twice and collected an assist. Nikita Kucherov had three assists for the 31-13-4 Lightning, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 66 points, holding two games in hand over the Carolina Hurricanes (66 points). Tyler Toffoli replied for the Sharks (25-21-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning center Anthony Cirelli suffered an injury early in the third period. He will be reevaluated on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

Ottawa Senators forwards Tim Stutzle and Ridly Greig each had a goal and an assist as their club defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Jame Reimer stopped 21 shots as the Senators improved to 23-19-7. Sean Monahan scored for the Blue Jackets (22-20-7) as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, TSN published an interview with Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is currently on a leave of absence. Ullmark explained that he stepped away for mental health reasons after suffering panic attacks before and after the Senators’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 27. There is no timetable for his return.

Ullmark also addressed the rumors circulating on social media regarding his absence, prompting the Senators to release a statement on January 8, condemning the unfounded speculation.

“And people wonder why hockey players – professional athletes – are not talking. Why we’re not showing any sort of emotions. Why mental health in men and in women are a stigma,” Ullmark said.

Referring to the trolls on social media, he said that it took them 24 hours from the announcement of his leave of absence to come up with reasons why he stepped away. “Saying I’m a homewrecker, a person no one likes on the team. And I can’t defend myself.”

Ullmark said the rumors prompted family and friends to contact him and his wife to find out if they were okay. “They send text messages asking, ‘Hey, are you guys good?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, why?’ And then they tell you about the rumors, and you’re like, ‘What the f**k is wrong with people?’”

Speaking of the Senators, defenseman Jake Sanderson said he apologized to now-demoted Leevi Merilainen for publicly criticizing the goaltender’s performance in a 6-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Sanderson said he still feels embarrassed about making those comments and feels bad about his teammate.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored twice to beat the Boston Bruins 6-2, ending the latter’s six-game win streak. Justin Hryckowian and Miro Heiskanen each had three points for the 28-13-9 Stars, ending a three-game losing skid. Morgan Geekie and Fraser Minten scored for the Bruins (28-20-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Robertson, he recently changed agents amid contract extension talks with the Stars. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. Meanwhile, Stars winger Mikko Rantanen missed the game due to illness.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to nip the Minnesota Wild 4-3. Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov each had two points for the 28-15-7 Canadiens. Vladimir Tarasenko tallied twice for the Wild (28-14-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin will miss the upcoming Winter Olympics with a lower-body injury. Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson could also miss that tournament as he recovers from a procedure on his left thigh. Both players were selected for Sweden’s Men’s Hockey Team.

The Los Angeles Kings got 27 saves from Anton Forsberg in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers, ending a four-game winless skid. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who improved to 20-16-13. J.T. Miller scored two goals for the Rangers, who slipped to 21-24-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forsberg took over late in the first period as Darcy Kuemper left the game with an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils forwards Arseny Gritsyuk and Cody Glass scored to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. Jake Allen made 22 saves for the 26-22-2 Devils, who have won four of their last five games. Matt Savoie replied for the Oilers (25-18-8).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes missed this game after suffering an apparent shoulder injury against the Calgary Flames on Monday.

Buffalo Sabres rookie forward Konsta Helenius had a goal and two assists for his first NHL points in a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Noah Ostlund scored twice to open the scoring for the Sabres (27-17-5). Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg each had three points for the Predators, who dropped to 23-22-4.

The Winnipeg Jets downed the St. Louis Blues 3-1. Mark Scheifele had two goals and an assist, and Josh Morrissey had a goal and two assists for the 20-23-6 Jets. Jordan Kyrou tallied for the Blues (19-23-8).

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was sent to the club’s AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint. It’s the next step in his return to the lineup after being sidelined with an upper-body nerve issue since Nov. 11.

CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins acquired defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for winger Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.










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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2024

by | Mar 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2024

Four-assist performances from the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, a hat trick for the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov assisted on each of his club’s goals in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Brayden Point scored twice to reach the 40-goal mark as the Lightning extended their win streak to five games. With a record of 38-25-6, they hold the first Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 82 points. William Eklund replied for the 16-46-7 Sharks.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov leads the scoring race with 122 points, opening a five-point gap over Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Lightning winger Anthony Duclair scored against his former team, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fourth time in his career. Since being acquired by the Lightning before the March 8 trade deadline, Duclair has four goals and seven points in five games.

The Edmonton Oilers erupted for five unanswered third-period goals to crush the Buffalo Sabres 8-3. Connor McDavid collected four assists while Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm scored two goals each for the 42-21-4 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 88 points. JJ Peterka tallied two goals for the 33-33-5 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman is just two goals away from reaching the vaunted 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (Hyman’s former teammate) leads the league this season with 57 goals.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin collected the third hat trick of his NHL career in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Jonathan Quick made 24 saves as the Rangers (46-20-4) moved within one point of the league-leading Bruins with 96 points. Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist for the 41-15-15 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quick picked up his 391st career win to tie Ryan Miller for the most NHL victories by an American-born goaltender.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored twice in his triumphant return to the lineup to beat the New York Islanders 6-3, leaving the latter winless in their last six games (0-5-1). Andrew Copp also had two goals and Christian Fischer had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (36-28-6) as they opened a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 78 points. Mathew Barzal netted his 21st goal for the 29-25-15 Islanders as they slipped five points behind the Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury. During his absence, the Wings went into a tailspin that threatened to derail their playoff hopes. They’re a different team when their captain is in the lineup.

The Vancouver Canucks gained ground on the Bruins in the overall standings with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Nikita Zadorov scored two goals for the Canucks (44-18-8) as they sit one point behind the league-leading Bruins. Juraj Slafkovsky scored to extend his points streak to six games for the Canadiens (25-32-12), who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky remains a bright spot for the Canadiens this season. He had just eight points in his first 31 games but now has 30 points in his last 38 contests. Speaking of the Canadiens, they announced that Joshua Roy will be sidelined for four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of gaining ground in the overall standings, the Carolina Hurricanes moved to within three points of the Bruins by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Frederik Andersen stopped 30 shots for the 44-20-6 Hurricanes (94 points) as they’ve won five straight games. Travis Konecny netted his 28th goal of the season for the Flyers (35-26-9), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Flyers head coach John Tortorella declined to discuss Couturier during a pregame interview. However, benching his captain has drawn plenty of media attention as rumors grow of a possible rift between the two.

The Nashville Predators continue to tighten their grip on the first Western Conference wildcard berth as they blanked the Florida Panthers 3-0. Kevin Lankinen kicked out 33 shots for the shutout and Filip Forsberg tallied twice for the 41-25-4 Predators (86 points) as they extended their points streak to 16 games with their fourth straight win. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 34 shots for the 45-20-4 Panthers (94 points) as they’ve lost three straight and sit three points behind the Bruins in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were without team captain Aleksander Barkov as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Speaking of the Western Conference wildcard spots, the Vegas Golden Knights cling to the final berth following a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Keegan Kolesar snapped a 1-1 tie and Chandler Stephenson netted the insurance goal for the 37-25-7 Golden Knights (81 points). Jaden Schwartz replied for the 28-28-12 Kraken.

The New Jersey Devils got two power-play goals from Jack Hughes to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier each had a goal and two assists for the 34-32-4 Devils. Nikolaj Ehlers replied for the Jets (44-20-5) as they remain in first place in the Central Division with 93 points.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists to keep their playoff hopes alive in a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Jake Neighbours scored twice and Joel Hofer made 37 saves for the 37-30-3 Blues (77 points) as they sit four points behind the Golden Knights for that final Western wild-card berth. Mark Kastelic and Dominik Kubalik scored for the 28-36-4 Senators.

The Anaheim Ducks snapped a seven-game losing skid by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Lukas Dostal stopped 29 shots for his first NHL shutout while Alex Killorn scored two goals for the 24-43-3 Ducks. Arvid Soderblom made 21 saves for the 19-46-5 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Leo Carlsson left this game in the second period following a knee-on-knee collision with the Blackhawks Alex Vlasic. There was no postgame update on his condition.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson was offered an in-person hearing by the NHL department of player safety for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor on Thursday. Wilson faces the possibility of a suspension beyond five games.

CALGARY SUN: Flames goaltender Dan Vladar will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. He’s expected to be ready for the start of next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 27, 2023

by | Dec 27, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 27, 2023

The three stars of the week and more as we catch up on the latest news following the league’s holiday break in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, and Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane are the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 24.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

The NHL returns to action following its three-day holiday break with fourteen games featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs facing off against the Ottawa Senators, the Tampa Bay Lightning squaring off against the Florida Panthers, the Dallas Stars meeting the St. Louis Blues, the Colorado Avalanche going up against the Arizona Coyotes, and the Winnipeg Jets versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Blown leads and a recent scoring drought are among four issues the Bruins must address following the holiday break.

ESPN.COM: Anaheim Ducks rookie Leo Carlsson will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks with a sprained right knee ligament. The 19-year-old suffered the injury during Thursday’s game against the Calgary Flames when he became entangled with Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlsson was fortunate to escape serious injury as his leg bent at an awkward angle. In 23 games, he’s fourth among rookie scorers with eight goals and 12th in points with 15 as the Ducks carefully managed his playing time and number of games played before his injury. Carlsson’s numbers might have been higher had he played as many games as most of his fellow rookies currently ahead of him in goals and points.

SPORTSNET: Columbus Blues Jackets forward Sean Kuraly is resting at home after undergoing tests for an abdominal injury suffered in the final minute of the first period during Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The tests came back negative but there’s no indication how long he’ll be sidelined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuraly left the ice on his own but paramedics were called in after he collapsed on his way to the Blue Jackets’ dressing room, resulting in play being briefly suspended. Fortunately, the injury didn’t appear to be serious but was taken to the hospital for tests as a precaution.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes recalled goaltender Antti Raanta on Tuesday from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings placed forward Christian Fischer on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 23 and called up Jonatan Berggren, Austin Czarnik and Simon Edvinsson from their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids under emergency conditions.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators are continuing talks with the National Capital Commission for a lease at LeBreton Flats. However, they’re also studying other options in case a lease agreement with the NCC falls through.

ESPN.COM: All eyes will be on Team Canada center Macklin Celebrini during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship currently underway in Gothenburg, Sweden. He’s projected to become the top prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft class but he will face competition from players such as Team USA’s Cole Eiserman and Finland’s Aron Kiviharju.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A prospect’s performance in the WJC can affect their value in the draft. It’ll be interesting to see how the potential Class of 2024 performs in this tournament.

DAILY FACEOFF: The WJC isn’t the only international tournament currently taking place. Mike Gould lists five former NHL players worth watching at the 2023 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Young Russian NHL prospects could be staying in the KHL for four to five years before being allowed to join their NHL teams. Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov’s current KHL contract expires in 2026 but could end up staying beyond that if the KHL implements new rules that determine how long teenage prospects would have to stay and play in Russia. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was always the risk for NHL clubs drafting Russian players. The KHL currently has rules in place that prevent their best young players from bolting to the NHL soon after being drafted. If those rules change, the Flyers could wait another four or five years before Michkov finally joins their roster.