NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2026

by | May 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Wild’s offseason plans, an update on the Flyers, and the Flames could be active in this summer’s trade market.

THE LATEST ON THE WILD

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin could revisit his efforts to land a center. They report that Guerin attempted to do so before the March trade deadline, but a deal never materialized.

Guerin has already traded many assets in recent years, so he and his staff must decide how much more of their future they’re willing to mortgage.

Trade assets could include Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov, Bobby Brink, Daemon Hunt, Charlie Stramel, and future first-round picks.

Roster players with modified no-trade clauses include Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Foligno, and Jake Middleton. Meanwhile, Jonas Brodin, Nico Sturm, and Yakov Trenin lack no-trade protection.

Russo and Smith listed several players they believe Guerin might look into acquiring to address his club’s need for a first-line center. They include Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They also included winger Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, but he and Senators management have made it clear that he’s not available.

Matthews might become available if the Maple Leafs new management fails to sell him on their plans for the club. However, we don’t know if Minnesota would be on his list of preferred trade destinations, and if the Wild could afford him.

Russo and Smith reported sources claimed Guerin attempted to acquire Devils defenseman Luke Hughes earlier this season. They admit it’s unlikely that new Devils GM Sunny Mehta would trade Jack Hughes and Hischier, unless the latter is unwilling to sign a contract extension this summer. It’s also doubtful that Mehta will part with Luke.

The Red Wings could also seek depth at center this summer, making it unlikely they’ll part with Larkin. Russo and Smith reported that Guerin offered up Wallstedt and Yurov as part of a trade package for Thomas, but the Blues rejected it. That tells me the Blues prefer to retain Thomas as they rebuild with younger talent.

Trocheck could be the best available option, provided the Wild aren’t on his no-trade list. He made it known that his preference is to remain in the East.

TWINCITIES.COM: Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes is open to signing a contract extension. The 26-year-old Hughes has one season remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.85 million, and can sign an extension as early as July 1.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

“I really like it here,” Hughes said. “I would definitely be open to re-signing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s music to Guerin’s ears, but the question is, how much will it cost? The Wild have Kirill Kaprizov set to earn a league-leading $17 million annually starting this July. Hughes could seek as much or more.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: If Hughes and the Wild can’t agree to an extension, James Nichols suggested Devils GM Sunny Mehta make a bold move to acquire him.

The bold part would be offering up center Nico Hischier if he’s unwilling to sign an extension with the Devils. Nichols suggested bundling him with a promising defenseman such as Simon Nemec or Anton Silayev, a first-round pick, and another piece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs must ensure Hughes and Hischier agree to contract extensions with their new clubs as part of the deal. Otherwise, they’ll just be swapping two contract headaches, with the risk that both could hit the open market next summer.

NO BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER FOR THE FLYERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere continues to preach patience with his rebuilding plans.

While exceeding expectations by making the playoffs and reaching the second round, Briere insists his club is still in the growth part of the rebuild.

The Flyers could use a top-line center and a defenseman who can quarterback the power play. Briere said he’s keeping his options open if there’s a deal out there that could improve the club and would make sense for the long term.

Nevertheless, with some of their younger players arriving sooner than expected, Briere has the leeway to remain patient with his roster. Those players include forwards Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey. Meanwhile, winger Matvei Michkov is expected to improve after struggling through his sophomore campaign.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James also noted Briere’s comments and the rise of several promising young Flyers.

James noted the way Barkey and Trevor Zegras improved their roles at center this season. They also have promising Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt in their system.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out Briere making a significant addition or two this summer. However, he seems to be tamping down expectations for such a move, putting his trust in those young players already in the lineup and in their system.

THE FLAMES COULD BE BUSY IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports sources have told him that the Calgary Flames could be open to trading “just about anybody” on their roster.

The exceptions would be goaltender Dustin Wolf, forward Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato, and defenseman Zayne Parekh.

Trade candidates include forwards Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost, Connor Zary, and Joel Farabee.

The Flames would probably like to move Jonathan Huberdeau, but his hefty contract means there’s little chance of that happening. Center Ryan Strome and defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be trade pieces, but their veteran experience could make them more valuable to the rebuilding Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames GM Craig Conroy has been in a full-fledged rebuild for the past two seasons. Players on expiring contracts eligible for UFA status next summer (like Coleman) are the most likely to move.

Those players listed by Di Marco could indeed become trade bait, but that doesn’t mean Conroy is staging a fire sale and will ship them all out. He’ll be open to offers that will fetch promising young NHL players, prospects, and draft picks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2026

by | Apr 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2026

The Avalanche clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Penguins and Mammoth clinch playoff berths, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield joins the 50-goal club, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. Martin Necas also had a goal and two assists for the 52-16-10 Avalanche, who sit first overall with 114 points. Rookie Tyson Gross tallied his first NHL goal for the Flames (32-37-9).

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon sits third among the points leaders with 126, but holds the lead in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy with 52 goals.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022 after beating the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Egor Chinakhov had a goal and two assists, and Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Erik Karlsson each had two points for the 41-22-16 Penguins (98 points), who clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division, assuring them of home-ice advantage in the upcoming postseason. Paul Cotter and Jack Hughes replied for the Devils (40-36-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes missed this game as he’s been shut down for the remainder of this season, as he will undergo a season-ending procedure on his injured shoulder.

Utah Mammoth forwards Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther each had a goal and an assist for a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators that clinched a playoff berth for the franchise just two years after its relocation from Arizona. Team captain Clayton Keller collected three assists for the Mammoth (42-30-6), who hold the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Erik Haula scored for the 37-32-10 Predators (84 points) as they dropped one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the first time the Mammoth have reached the playoffs, but it’s the first time this franchise has reached the postseason since 2019-20, when they were in their earlier incarnation as the Arizona Coyotes. It’s also the first time they’ve done it in a non-COVID season since 2011-12, when they were still known as the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Predators played without team captain Roman Josi, who was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Kings, they regained that wild-card spot by downing the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Adrian Kempe tallied two goals, Artemi Panarin had two assists, and Anton Forsberg stopped 24 shots for the 33-26-19 Kings (85 points). Marcus Pettersson scored for the Canucks (22-48-8).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Juraj Slafkovsky broke a 1-1 tie with his 30th of the season and had an assist on Caufield’s goal, and team captain Nick Suzuki had the primary assists on both goals for the 47-22-10 Canadiens, who moved ahead of the Lightning into second place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Darren Raddysh replied for the 48-25-6 Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield becomes the seventh player in Canadiens history to reach the 50-goal plateau, and the first to do so since Stephane Richer in 1990. He’s in second place in the race for the Richard Trophy, two behind Nathan MacKinnon.

Meanwhile, Slafkovsky became the first Slovakian player to score 30 goals in a season since Marian Hossa in 2013-14. With 98 points, Suzuki surpassed Pierre Turgeon for the most points in a season by a Canadiens captain. He’s poised to become the first Hab to reach 100 points in a season since Mats Naslund in 1985-86.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis made 37 saves for his first NHL shutout to blank the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0. Josh Doan scored twice for the 49-23-8 Sabres, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 23 shots for the Blue Jackets (39-28-12), who sit four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This loss likely spelled the end of the Jackets’ hopes of securing a playoff spot. After being red hot from mid-January to mid-March, they’re 2-7-1 in their last 10 and fading fast. Meanwhile, Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon could miss the start of the playoffs with a lower-body injury.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson broke a 4-4 tie to lift his club to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild in a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff series. Miko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Colin Blackwell each had a goal and an assist for the 47-20-12 Stars, who sit second overall in the Western Conference with 106 points. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, Mats Zuccarello had three assists, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Wild (45-22-12), who sit third in the Conference with 102 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period. He’s questionable to play in Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers.

The New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, giving new head coach Peter DeBoer the win in his first game behind their bench. Calum Ritchie and Tony DeAngelo each had two points, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer netted his 23rd goal of the season for the Islanders (43-31-5), who ended a four-game slide to sit one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 91 points. Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan, and Morgan Rielly scored for the 32-33-14 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer has tied Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman. The Isles must overtake the Flyers if they hope to clinch a playoff berth.

Speaking of the Flyers, they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Larkin had a hat trick and an assist, Moritz Seider scored and collected four assists, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Alex DeBrincat scored his 40th goal of the season for the 41-29-9 Red Wings (91 points). Rookie winger Porter Martone had a goal and an assist for the 40-27-12 Flyers (92 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings sit three points behind the Ottawa Senators, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild card with 94 points. Wings goaltender John Gibson left this contest midway through the second period with an undisclosed injury. There was no update on his condition following the game.

Meanwhile, the Senators maintained their three-point lead over the Red Wings by defeating the Florida Panthers 5-1. Fabian Zetterlund scored twice, and Jake Sanderson collected two assists for the 42-27-10 Senators. Jesper Boqvist scored for the 37-38-4 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Panthers announced that defenseman Seth Jones is done for the season after fracturing his foot during Tuesday’s loss to the Canadiens.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson scored his first career hat trick in a 6-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Troy Terry, Beckett Sennecke, Mikael Granlund, and Pavel Mintyukov each had two assists for the Ducks (42-32-5), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points. Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the 37-34-7 Sharks (81 points), who are four points out of the final Western wild card.

The Carolina Hurricanes thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2. Logan Stankoven had two goals and an assist while William Carrier collected three assists for the Hurricanes (51-22-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 108 points. Rookie Anton Frondell scored twice for the 28-37-14 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes sat out Jalen Chatfield, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov from this game.

A shootout goal by Berkly Catton gave the Seattle Kraken a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots as the Kraken (33-34-11) overcame a 3-1 deficit. Mark Stone tallied twice for the 36-26-17 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 89 points.

The Winnipeg Jets kept their playoff hopes alive by nipping the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Mark Scheifele had two assists while Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, and Jonathan Toews scored for the 35-31-12 Jets (82 points), who sit three points behind the Kings for the final Western wild card. Dylan Holloway had a goal and an assist for the 33-33-12 Blues.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

by | Mar 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

Check out the recaps from a busy Saturday night of action in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league-leading Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Cale Makar scored two goals while Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon each collected two assists for the 39-10-9 Avalanche, who sit first in the overall standings with 89 points. Connor Bedard replied for the 22-28-9 Blackhawks.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

An overtime goal by Jason Robertson lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who extended their win streak to eight games. Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos tallied for the Predators 27-24-8 (62 points), who are three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby left this game with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederik Andersen made 27 saves for the Hurricanes (38-15-6), who picked up their fifth straight win and sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 82 points. Simon Edvinsson and Patrick Kane scored for the 34-20-5 Red Wings (74 points), who slipped into the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Buffalo Sabres got two goals from Josh Norris to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 36 shots for the 35-19-6 Sabres, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after giving up five goals on 14 shots for Tampa Bay’s first regulation loss since Dec. 18. The Lightning sit in first place in the Atlantic with 80 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward Zach Benson was activated off injured reserve after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied twice, and captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Jakub Dobes turned aside 27 shots for the 33-17-9 Canadiens, who moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 75 points. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin netted both goals as the Capitals (31-24-7, 69 points), who sit two points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Speaking of the Bruins, their points streak ended at eight games as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers. Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (27-21-11). Charlie McAvoy scored for the 33-21-5 Bruins.

The New York Rangers overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal, and Igor Shesterkin kicked out 31 shots for the 23-29-7 Rangers, who sit last in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Anthony Mantha and Ryan Shea scored for the Penguins (30-15-13), who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is reportedly upset over the lack of progress in his contract extension talks with general manager Kyle Dubas. It was reported that negotiations would be put on hold until the offseason, but Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports that Dubas intends to meet with Malkin this week.

New York Islanders winger Simon Holmstrom’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scott Mayfield and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each had a goal and an assist for the 34-21-5 Islanders, extending their win streak to four games to sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points. Zach Werenski had two assists for the 29-21-8 Blue Jackets (66 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

The Ottawa Senators defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Dylan Cozens scored twice and picked up an assist, and Drake Batherson netted two goals for the Senators (29-22-8), who are also five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the 27-24-0 Maple Leafs, who have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Leafs management had any lingering doubts about becoming sellers before Friday’s trade deadline, this game likely quelled them.

A two-goal performance by Jordan Eberle powered the Seattle Kraken over the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Eberle also had an assist, while Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists for the 28-22-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 65 points. Liam Ohgren scored for the 18-34-7 Canucks, who sit last in the overall standings with 43 points.

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-4. Shakir Mukhamadullin snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period, and Michael Misa had a goal and an assist for the 28-25-4 Sharks (60 points), who sit five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each had three points for the Oilers (29-24-8), who sit third in the Pacific Division with 66 points.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg made 29 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames 2-0. Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings (24-21-14), who are three points behind the Kraken. Dustin Wolf stopped 35 shots for the 24-28-6 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Andrei Kuzmenko missed this game and is considered week-to-week following meniscus surgery.

The New Jersey Devils snapped a five-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who improved to 29-29-2. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the 21-29-9 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes returned to action for the first time since suffering a separated shoulder on Jan. 19. The Blues played without defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas, but they could be available for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

by | Jan 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s action, the Sabres re-sign Josh Doan, the Bruins re-up Alex Steeves, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller scored the tying and overtime goals in a 5-4 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Keller finished with three points while Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz each had two assists as the Mammoth (26-20-4) overcame a 4-2 deficit. Chris Dvorak had two goals and an assist for the 23-17-9 Flyers.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols missed this game and is expected to be sidelined for two months with a fractured ankle.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 40 shots as his club nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Cutter Gauthier scored the winner in the shootout for the 26-21-3 Ducks, who picked up their fifth straight win. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 16 of 17 shots in regulation and overtime for the league-leading Avalanche (34-5-9), who are 1-1-2 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the 1,000th regular-season NHL game for Ducks winger Alex Killorn. Ducks center Mason McTavish missed this game with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Jackson Lacombe was named to the United States Olympic men’s hockey team as a replacement for sidelined Florida Panthers blueliner Seth Jones.

An overtime goal by Dylan Larkin gave the Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Larkin also assisted on Simon Edvinsson’s game-tying goal while John Gibson stopped 30 shots for the Red Wings (31-16-4), who have won seven of their last eight games. Joseph Woll made 39 saves, and Scott Laughton scored for the 24-17-9 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a lower-body injury midway through the first period and did not return to action. He will be reevaluated on Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1. Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each had a goal and an assist for the 24-14-11 Penguins, who are 3-0-2 in their last five contests. Yegor Sharangovich replied for the Flames, who dropped to 21-24-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist as his club ended an 11-game winless skid with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves for the Canucks (17-28-5). Dylan Strome tallied twice and collected an assist for the slumping Capitals (24-21-6), who have dropped four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals winger Tom Wilson collected an assist in his return to action after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. Capitals defenseman John Carlson collected two assists to reach 600 for his NHL career.

The Seattle Kraken beat the New York Islanders 4-1. Vince Dunn had a goal and an assist for the 22-18-9 Kraken, ending a four-game winless skid (0-3-1). Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders (27-18-5).

IN OTHER NEWS…

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed forward Josh Dean to a seven-year, $48.75 million contract extension, with an average annual value of $6.95 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquired from the Mammoth in the JJ Peterka trade last June, the 23-year-old Doan has become a valuable young forward for the Sabres. He’s moved up in their lineup into a first-line role, and sits fourth among their scorers with 35 points in 49 games.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed forward Alex Steeves to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.625 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steeves, 26, has become a versatile player for the Bruins this season, earning praise from head coach Marco Sturm for his ability to play any forward position and move easily throughout the lineup as required.

TSN: The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Luke Hughes (shoulder) on long-term injury reserve.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning have officially extended their lease at the Benchmark International Arena for six more years through 2043.










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 – January 5, 2026

by | Jan 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s action, the Sharks re-sign Alexander Wennberg, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi netted a hat trick, including the winner in overtime, to lift his club to a 3-2 upset of the Vegas Golden Knights. Andre Burakovsky collected two assists as the Blackhawks are 3-0-1 in their last four games, improving their record to 17-18-7. Brandon Saad and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights (17-11-12), who are winless in five games (0-3-2), but hold first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi (NHL Images).

The Florida Panthers nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Daniil Tarasov stopped 27 shots while Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad scored for the 22-16-3 Panthers. Scott Wedgewood made 23 saves, and Artturi Lehkonen replied for the Avalanche (31-3-7), who lead the league with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury after crashing into the Panthers’ net. After the game, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog is going to miss some time. The Avs played without defenseman Devon Toews, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Lane Hutson gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky each finished with a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (23-13-6), who completed their seven-game road trip with a record of 4-1-2. Wyatt Johnston tallied twice for the 25-9-8 Stars, who are winless in their last five contests (0-2-3).

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime. Sidney Crosby tallied the winning goal, finishing the game with two points as his Penguins (20-12-9) extended their win streak to five games. Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko each scored a goal and an assist for the 18-16-7 Blue Jackets.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for the 25-14-3 Hurricanes as they ended a three-game losing skid. Dawson Mercer replied for the Devils (22-18-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes was dejected after being booed by Devils fans for a pair of costly mistakes that ended up in his own net. However, his teammates (especially goaltender Jake Allen) defended the young blueliner following the game.

HEADLINES

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed forward Alexander Wennberg to a three-year, $18 million contract extension. The average annual value is $6 million, and comes with a full no-trade clause through the first two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move indicates a shift for the Sharks. They’ve been rebuilding over the past several seasons, which would’ve meant trading a veteran on an expiring contract (such as Wennberg) to a playoff contender for draft picks and prospects. Instead, they’ve opted to re-sign the 31-year-old center, who has played a key role as the Sharks challenge for a postseason berth in the Western Conference, sitting fifth among their scorers with 26 points.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev could miss the remainder of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. He’s slated to meet with a surgeon soon, and could be sidelined until late April or early May.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries limited the 36-year-old Tanev to just 11 games this season. His recent return to action was among the reasons behind the Maple Leafs’ improvement in late December.

CBC.CA: The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Calgary Flames forward John Beecher and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley one game each for separate roughing incidents on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incidents referred to were Beecher’s sucker punch of Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron and Stanley doing the same to Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has been hired by Hockey Canada to lead a review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario.