NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 20, 2026

by | Feb 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 20, 2026

Check out the latest Olympic Men’s hockey and NHL news in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

OLYMPIC MEN’S HOCKEY NEWS

TSN: Canadian center Connor McDavid has a chance to record the most points in one Olympic Men’s hockey tournament during Friday’s semifinal game against Finland. He’s currently tied the record of 11 points set by Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

SPORTSNET: Team Canada coach Jon Cooper didn’t rule out Sidney Crosby returning to the lineup in this tournament. The Canadian captain left his team’s quarterfinal game against Czechia with a lower-body injury.

Team Canada center Connor McDavid (TSN)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is expected to have a quick skate Friday morning to see how he feels. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported it’s unlikely that he’ll be suiting up for the game against Finland. If so, his spot will be taken by Nick Suzuki while McDavid will take over as captain in his absence.

Cooper also didn’t rule out sidelined defenseman Josh Morrissey rejoining the club for Friday’s game.

TSN: Canadian center Sam Bennett said he missed Wednesday’s quarterfinal game with an illness. However, he’s ready to go for Friday’s game against Finland.

NHL.COM: Team USA continues to be inspired by the legacy of the late Johnny Gaudreau. His No. 13 Team USA jersey hangs in their dressing room for this tournament, as it did in the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2025 IIHF World Championships.

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky is leading the next generation of hockey talent for Slovakia. Youngsters such as Slafkovsky, St. Louis Blues forward Dalibor Dvorsky, and New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec have starred for the underdog Team Slovakia as they face the United States in the semifinal on Friday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of Dvorsky, he continues to shine in this tournament. The 20-year-old winger has three goals and three assists in four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slovakia’s bronze-medal performance in 2022 was downplayed by critics because there were no NHL players in that Olympic Men’s hockey tournament. They’ve silenced that criticism this year. Win or lose on Friday, they’ve exceeded expectations.

TORONTO STAR: Anton Lundell revealed a bout of norovirus kept him out of Finland’s final preliminary round game. The Florida Panthers winger returned to action on Wednesday to help the Finns advance to the semifinal against Canada on Friday.

NHL NEWS

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said winger Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider will rejoin their teammates next week. He told both players to take a few days to rest after Germany and Sweden were eliminated from the Olympic Men’s hockey tournament on Wednesday. “We want them fresh and recovered,” McLellan said.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev has been skating in recent days. However, it remains unclear whether he’ll be returning to their lineup following the Olympic break. The 36-year-old Tanev has been limited to 11 games by injuries this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway admits he returned from a high-ankle sprain in January too soon. He’s now deemed fit to return to action when the Blues resume their schedule on Feb. 26 against the Seattle Kraken.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NEWS: A lower-body injury cost Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen an opportunity to play for Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics. He’s now returned to practice and hopes to help his club clinch its first playoff berth in 14 years.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2026

by | Jan 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2026

The Jets end their long losing skid, the Capitals spoil Blackhawks center Connor Bedard’s return from injury, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets ended an 11-game winless skid (0-7-4) by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-1. Mark Scheifele scored twice while Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi each collected two assists for the 16-22-1 Jets. Quinton Byfield replied for the Kings (18-15-10), who replaced goaltender Darcy Kuemper with Anton Forsberg after Kuemper gave up five goals on 16 shots.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his fourth goal in his last three games in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist as the Capitals improved to 23-16-6. Oliver Moore scored for the Blackhawks (18-19-7), bringing their four-game win streak to an end.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard was held pointless as he returned to action after missing 12 games with a shoulder injury.

The Utah Mammoth doubled up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists, and Clayton Keller picked up three assists for the Mammoth (22-20-3) as they extended their win streak to three games. Oskar Sundqvist and Pavel Buchnevich scored for the 17-20-8 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth forward Alex Kerfoot left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of Keller, he’s not a fan of the Mammoth fans’ recent peculiar habit of whistling during the game. “It’s been pretty disruptive, to be honest,” Keller said, adding he’s not sure where it’s stemming from.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The league’s department of player safety fined Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell $5,000 for high-sticking Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier during Thursday’s game between the two clubs.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers placed defenseman Jamie Drysdale (undisclosed) on injured reserve.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks will be keeping rookie Michael Misa for the remainder of this season. Misa’s last NHL game was on Nov. 1, when he suffered an ankle injury. He was subsequently loaned to Team Canada for the 2026 World Junior Championship.

TSN: Chris Johnston got a first-hand look at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, which will be the main site for the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

An Italian Cup game was played there on Friday, which was stopped briefly at one point during the first period to repair a small hole in the ice. That’s not unusual with new ice surfaces.

Johnston reported the arena remains a construction site, with visible holes in the exterior of the building, spartan concourses inside with unfinished drywall, and ongoing work to complete the dressing rooms. Construction dust also floated over the playing surface.

Nevertheless, Johnston believes these issues are not a threat to the Olympics starting on time.

THE SCORE: Olympic organizers remain 100 percent confident that the NHL won’t pull out of the upcoming tournament. The league is expected to release a statement following its inspection of the facility.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 29, 2025

by | Dec 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 29, 2025

Recapping Sunday’s action, plus the latest on Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Justin Brazeau tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Bryan Rust scored two goals, and Ryan Shea collected three assists for the Penguins, who improved to 16-12-9. Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored in his first game since being sidelined for 19 games with an injured hand, but his club (14-18-6) has dropped seven of its last eight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks were struggling before centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar were sidelined by injuries, but their absence accelerated their slide in the standings. Speaking of Nazar, he was placed on injured reserve with a facial injury and is expected to be out for another three weeks.

An overtime goal by Simon Edvinsson lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Moritz Seider and Mason Appleton also scored, and Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots for the Red Wings (23-14-3), who sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 49 points. Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson replied for the Leafs (17-15-6), who got a 33-save performance from Dennis Hildeby.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edvinsson earned praise from his teammates when he “rose from the dead” after being injured by a John Tavares shot while killing a penalty in the second period. He and Seider are among the best defense pairings in the league this season.

The Maple Leafs played without winger William Nylander, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and questionable for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov tallied twice in regulation, and Gage Goncalves scored the shootout winner to nip the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. It was the Lightning’s fourth straight win, improving their record to 22-13-3. The Canadiens (20-12-6) overcame a 4-1 deficit in the third period as Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel returned to action after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Lightning made a minor trade, shipping forward Boris Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild for forward Michael Milne.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Ivan Provorov, Kirill Marchenko, and Cole Sillinger gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders. Marchenko finished the game with two goals while Sean Monahan and Denton Mateychuk each had two assists for the 16-15-6 Blue Jackets. Max Shabonov and Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders (21-14-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things got ugly early in the second period when Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment clipped Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer by sticking out his right leg, prompting Isles forward Mathew Barzal to slash Marchment’s right foot with his stick. That earned Barzal a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, and he could face supplemental discipline by the league’s department of player safety. Marchment received two minutes for tripping Schaefer, who was uninjured on the play.

Before this game, the Blue Jackets placed defenseman Zach Werenski (lower body) on injured reserve and activated forward Mathieu Olivier off the IR list.

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1. Eeli Tolvanen scored two goals and picked up an assist while Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves for the 16-14-6 Kraken, who extended their win streak to four games. Carl Grundstrom replied for the Flyers (19-11-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken activated winger Jared McCann off injured reserve for this game. Defenseman Vince Dunn also returned to action after missing their previous game with an upper-body injury. Both were held scoreless in this contest.

IN OTHER NEWS…

OTTAWA SUN: Senators starting goaltender Linus Ullmark is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. There is no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sun’s Bruce Garrioch observed that this season has been a difficult one for Ullmark, with a 2.95 goals-against average and a save percentage of .881. He noted that Ullmark was pulled from Saturday’s 7-5 loss to the Maple Leafs after giving up four goals on 14 shots.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues winger Jordan Kyrou has been activated off IR after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. They also activated winger Jimmy Snuggerud, who underwent wrist surgery earlier in the month.

SPORTSNET: The NHL’s department of player safety fined Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell $5,000.00 for high-sticking Lightning winger Jake Guentzel, and fined Lightning forward Scott Sabourin $2,081.23 for slashing Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. Both incidents occurred during Saturday’s game between the two clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a tough weekend for Sabourin. In addition to his fine, he was knocked to the ice by a punch from Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj during a fight between the two on Sunday. Sabourin left that game and didn’t return.

TSN: Penguins forward Danton Heinen and Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp are among six players placed on waivers on Sunday.

PUCKPEDIA: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Yegor Zamula has changed agents. He’s in the final season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.7 million, but he could be willing to terminate that deal to sign with another NHL club for less money.

RDS: Former NHL forward Guy Chouinard passed away on Sunday at age 69.

Chouinard spent 10 seasons in the NHL from 1974-75 to 1983-84, beginning with the Atlanta Flames and following them to Calgary in 1980. He spent nine of his 10 seasons with the Flames organization, with his best season being his 50-goal, 107-point performance in the 1978-79 season. In 578 regular-season games, Chouinard had 205 goals and 370 assists for 575 points, along with 37 points in 46 playoff contests.

Following his playing days, Chouinard became a coach in the QMJHL, finishing third all-time in wins among that league’s coaches with 569. He was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in 2005.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Chouinard’s family, friends, teammates, and his former QMJHL players.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2025

by | Jun 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2025

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they await Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, updates on the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson spoke about the club’s return to the Stanley Cup Final and Connor McDavid’s next contract.

McDavid, 28, is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He and the Oilers can agree to a contract extension starting this July 1.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

“Look, Connor knows what he means to this organization and the city of Edmonton,” said Jackson. “And this organization and the city certainly know what Connor means to them. We’re very cognizant of that.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The approaching end to McDavid’s contract has some fans and pundits wondering if he’ll re-sign with the Oilers or test next summer’s UFA market. I believe that he will sign an extension this summer that’ll make him the highest-paid player in the league starting in 2026-27.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers forwards Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and AJ Greer missed practice on Saturday. Luostarinen and Greer were injured in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Head coach Paul Maurice indicated Luostarinen and Lundell are fine, but Greer is considered day-to-day.

THE SCORE: Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn doesn’t plan on leaving the only NHL team he’s ever played for. The 35-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but he hopes to work something out with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benn is completing an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million. He’s been the Stars’ captain for years, but his performance declined noticeably over the past two seasons.

The Stars’ front office has indicated a desire for Benn to finish his career in Dallas. However, they have less than $5 million in cap space this summer. He must accept a significant pay cut to stay in Dallas.

Matt Duchene is also UFA-eligible on July 1 after finishing the second of the one-year contracts he’s had with the Stars. The 34-year-old center wants to stay in Dallas, but indicated he’ll be seeking term on his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duchene is unlikely to get more than a year from the Stars. They must ensure sufficient long-term cap room to re-sign winger Jason Robertson and defenseman Thomas Harley. Both players are restricted free agents next summer with arbitration rights.

SPORTSNET: Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and goaltender Jake Oettinger aren’t concerned about their working relationship going forward.

Eyebrows were raised when DeBoer pulled Oettinger early in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final after the latter gave up two goals on two shots. Following the game, the Stars coach didn’t exactly give a glowing review of his starter’s performance in that series.

Two days later, DeBoer insisted he is a big fan of Oettinger as a player and a person, calling him “the best young goaltender in the league,” suggesting he still has room to grow and improve. He also revealed that Oettinger was battling an upper respiratory illness, leading the coaching staff to debate whether to start backup Casey DeSmith in Game 4.

Meanwhile, Oettinger refused to use the illness as an excuse. He dismissed the idea that DeBoer’s comments following Game 5 had hurt their relationship. “I think for me, just the whole experience, I’m going to learn from it and it’s going to help me grow and be a better person and better goalie.”

DAILY FACEOFF: Stars center Roope Hintz said his foot was fractured by a slash from Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. Hintz missed Game 3 but returned for the final two games of the series. Nurse was initially given a five-minute major penalty but it was reduced on review to two minutes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nurse should’ve received supplemental discipline for his actions, but that’s not how things work in the erratic world of the NHL’s department of “player safety.”

STLTODAY.COM: Blues winger Dylan Holloway was heartbroken to miss the playoffs due to a lower-body injury that required season-ending surgery. He’s coming off a career-best 26 goals and 37 assists in 77 games this season.

Holloway completed the first season of a two-year contract and is eligible to sign an extension with the Blues on July 1. The 23-year-old could earn an average annual value of $7 million on his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway and teammate Philip Broberg were signed away from the Edmonton Oilers last summer via offer sheets. Their additions played a key role in the Blues reaching the playoffs this season, suggesting they could soon become core players for this club.

ESPN.COM: Thousands attended the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day on Saturday at Washington Lake Park in southern New Jersey. Roughly 1,110 people participated in person, along with more than 1,300 virtually in the United States, Canada, and around the world.

The event honored the memory of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died last August after being struck by an alleged drunk driver. The goal was to raise money for an accessible playground at Archbishop Damiano School, where their mother, Jane, and her daughter Kristen work.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2024

by | Oct 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2024

The Leafs down the Lightning, the latest on Panthers center Anton Lundell and Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, and injury updates on Anthony Duclair, Alexis Lafreniere and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in the only NHL game on Monday. William Nylander scored twice and collected an assist, Auston Matthews scored for the third straight game and Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves for the Leafs. Nick Paul and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning, who pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy after he gave up four goals on 14 shots.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports Panthers center Anton Lundell is gaining more recognition for his two-way play. He’s performed well filling in for sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers’ first-line centering Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lundell started drawing attention around the league during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup last spring, earning the nickname “Baby Barkov”. The 23-year-old is off to a hot start this season, sitting second in team scoring with eight points in seven games.

Lundell will move out of that first-line role when Barkov returns but he’s shown that he can handle top-line minutes when required.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Lane Hutson is settling in well with the Canadiens. The 20-year-old defenseman has four assists in his first six games while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game, including over 30 minutes during the Canadiens’ 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson began this season among the favorites to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. It remains to be seen how the rest of his season pans out but he’s off to a good start, drawing positive reviews from his coaches, teammates and Canadiens fans for his creativity and puck-possession skills.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said winger Anthony Duclair will be sidelined for a while. He injured his right leg during Saturday’s game against the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello also said the injury won’t end Duclair’s season. Nevertheless, his absence will deplete the Isles’ popgun offense.

Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere missed practice on Monday with an upper-body injury but skated on his own after the session ended. He’s listed as day-to-day and isn’t expected to miss much time.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks GM Mike Grier said Macklin Celebrini is expected to be out for at least two more weeks as he recovers from a hip injury. The 18-year-old rookie center suffered the injury during training camp but played in the Sharks’ season opener on Oct. 10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Grier indicated that Celebrini’s injury was an off-and-on issue, adding the youngster claimed he felt great in the lead-up to their season opener.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Kraken placed defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) on long-term injury reserve retroactive to Oct. 17. The earliest he can return to action is Nov. 12.

OTTAWA SUN: Goaltender Linus Ullmark (strain) and center Ridly Greig (upper-body injury) are expected to return to action in Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils sent defenseman Seamus Casey to their AHL affiliate in Utica after eight games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated the return of sidelined defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce is imminent.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered during last Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Kennedy reports a source told him the next NHL collective bargaining agreement could include a rule permitting AHL eligibility for 19-year-old Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players.

Under the current CBA, CHL-eligible players must be 20 years old by Dec. 31 of the select calendar year or have played four years of Junior A hockey to become eligible for pro hockey in the AHL. Unless 18- and 19-year-old players play more than nine NHL games, they must return to their CHL team, which retains their rights until age 20.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 4, 2024

by | Jul 4, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 4, 2024

An update on Leon Draisaitl’s contract status, Vladimir Tarasenko signs with the Red Wings, the Kraken makes a historic coach hire, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

UPDATE ON LEON DRAISAITL’S CONTRACT SITUATION

EISHOCKEY NEWS: Michael Bauer recently interviewed Leon Draisaitl’s agent, Jiri Poner, about his client’s contract situation. The 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers center can become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Poner said the ball is in the Oilers’ court. “There’s no rush yet, but either it happens quickly, i.e. by the end of August, or it doesn’t work out at all. It will also become clear whether Edmonton really wants him or not. Leon holds all the trump cards.”

Draisaitl signed his current contract in Aug. 2017 under then-Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli. “I can still remember the shitstorm (Chiarelli) had to endure when he gave Leon the contract for $8.5 million a year,” recalled Poner. “Today, he would be celebrated for that deal.” He believes his client has been playing “at least 30 percent below his value for three years”, but insisted that wasn’t a complaint.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Poner also addressed the recent rumors in the North American media suggesting Draisaitl could be traded if he and the Oilers fail to agree to a contract extension.

“There are two important points. Firstly: What would a club be willing to give up for a short-term deal? Leon would then be a free agent again and the club would lose far too much. And secondly: What would Connor McDavid do a year later when his contract expires and Edmonton has already given up his best friend?”

Poner remains “very confident” that there will be an agreement with the Oilers that will please both sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl is still recuperating from a long, draining playoff run. Meanwhile, Oilers management has had its hands full with the recent draft and free agency. The contract extension talks will likely start later this summer.

Draisaitl’s contract status will become a focus of media attention once the dust settles in the free-agent market. The longer it drags on, the more nervous Oilers followers will become, giving rise to increasing media speculation over his future in Edmonton.

LATEST NOTABLE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tarasenko, 32, is past his 30-plus goal prime but he tallied 23 goals last season split between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. He’ll likely skate on their second line with Patrick Kane and J.T. Compher.

The Wings weren’t the only team interested in Tarasenko. TSN cited The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reporting the Pittsburgh Penguins made an offer but it was lower than other suitors.

The Red Wings freed up cap space for Tarasenko by trading winger Robby Fabbri to the Anaheim Ducks for goaltender Gage Alexander. Fabbri, 28, has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4 million. The oft-injured forward had 18 goals and 32 points in 68 games last season.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers and center Anton Lundell agreed to a six-year, $30 million contract. Lundell, 22, was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. The average annual value is $5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lundell earned his new deal as he’s increasingly become a valuable part of the Panthers’ core. Nicknamed “Baby Barkov”, he plays a two-way style similar to the Panthers captain. He did a fine job filling in for the sidelined Sam Bennett as their second-line center and could take over full-time this season with Bennett a year away from UFA eligibility.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with Jack Roslovic. Details have yet to be released.

DAILY FACEOFF: The list of notable UFAs keeps shrinking. Winger James van Riemsdyk, defensemen Ryan Suter and Tyson Barrie, and wingers Tyler Johnson and Max Pacioretty are still available.

NHL COACHING AND MANAGEMENT NEWS

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken hired Jessica Campbell as a full-time assistant coach. She’s the first woman to fill that role in NHL history. Campbell has a long background as a player and a coach. Her previous job was as an assistant coach with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Campbell is the first but won’t be the last. The day that a woman becomes an NHL head coach isn’t that far away.

DAILY FACEOFF: The San Jose Sharks named Ryane Clowe as an assistant general manager. He spent the past three seasons with the New York Rangers as a senior advisor and hockey operations advisor.

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens hired Lauri Korpikoski as a player development coach and named former assistant coach Alex Burrows as a player development consultant.