NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 2, 2025

by | Nov 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 2, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee, we recap a busy Saturday schedule, plus the three stars and the Rookie of the Month for October are revealed.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets got two goals from Kyle Connor to down the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had two points for the 9-3-0 Jets as they picked up their third straight win. Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte replied for the 8-3-2 Penguins as their points streak ended at eight games (6-0-2).

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheifele took over the scoring lead, becoming the first player to reach 20 points this season. Penguins winger Justin Brazeau missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

A shootout goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Marchand also scored in regulation, as did teammates Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett for the Panthers, who improved to 6-5-1. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, and Sam Steel had three assists for the 6-3-3 Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand returned to the Panthers’ lineup after taking a leave of absence to be with his friend and trainer, J.P. MacCallum, following the death of his daughter. Marchand immediately pointed skyward after he opened the scoring. Reinhart’s goal was the 300th regular-season goal of his NHL career.

San Jose Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Macklin Celebrini scored to extend his points streak to seven games while Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 37 shots for the 4-6-2 Sharks, who’ve won three of their last four contests. Nathan MacKinnon netted his 10th goal of the season for the 7-1-5 Avalanche, who picked up a point to sit atop the overall standings with 19 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren left this game with an upper-body injury after being struck by a puck while sitting on the bench. Avalanche call-up Taylor Makar made his debut, marking the first time he and older brother Cale Makar played together in the NHL. Taylor was returned to Colorado’s AHL affiliate after this game.

The Montreal Canadiens got an overtime goal from Alex Newhook for a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki extended his points streak to 11 games with two assists, and Cole Caufield scored his 10th goal of the season for the Canadiens (9-3-0), who sit first in the Atlantic Division with 18 points. Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who dropped to 6-5-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Batherson ended up being the goat in this game, as his errant pass in overtime was picked off by Newhook, who made no mistake on the breakaway.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom turned in a 43-save performance to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Dawson Mercer has two goals for the 9-3-0 Devils as they move into first place in the Metropolitan Division with 18 points. Andrei Kuzmenko had the only goal for the Kings as they dropped to 5-4-4 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils winger Connor Brown was ruled out for this game with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, the Kings placed winger Warren Foegele (upper body) on injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson had a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs got their first road victory of the season with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Rookie Easton Cowan tallied his first career NHL goal, and John Tavares had two assists as the Maple Leafs improved to 6-5-1. Christian Dvorak and Tyson Foerster replied for the 6-4-1 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was stretchered off the ice with a suspected head injury in the third period after being inadvertently hit from behind by Flyers winger Matvei Michkov. After the game, Leafs coach Craig Berube said they will know more about Tanev’s condition after he undergoes more tests, but added that the defenseman was moving. Berube thinks Tanev will be okay.

An overtime goal by Evan Bouchard lifted the Edmonton Oilers (6-4-3) over the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 3-2. Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and an assist, and Connor McDavid assisted on all three Oilers goals. Andre Burakovsky had a goal and an assist for the 5-4-3 Blackhawks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots to backstop his club over the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Casey Mittelstadt had a goal and an assist as the Bruins improved to 7-7-0. Alexander Nikishin scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last four games and dropped to 7-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis returned to action in this game after leaving Thursday’s 6-2 win over the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist as his club nipped the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Jet Greaves made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets as they improved to 7-4-0. Justin Faulk and Nick Bjugstad scored for the Blues, who dropped to 3-7-2.

A shootout goal by Bowen Byram gave the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each netted their fifth goals of the season, and rookie Isak Rosen scored his first NHL goal for the 5-4-3 Sabres. Aliaksei Protas potted his fifth of the season for the Capitals (6-5-1), who are winless in their last four (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

New York Rangers winger Will Cuylle scored in overtime to give his team a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Cuylle finished with two points, and teammate Adam Fox collected two assists for the 6-5-2 Rangers as they picked up their third straight win. Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist as the 5-2-4 Kraken extended their points streak to four games (2-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko was held scoreless against his former team in his season debut after suffering a broken hand in a preseason game.

Minnesota Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists as his club snapped a five-game winless skid to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots for the 4-6-3 Wild. Drew O’Connor tallied twice as the Canucks slipped to 6-7-0.

The Nashville Predators ended a three-game losing skid by doubling up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Michael Bunting had a goal and two assists in the first period for the 5-6-2 Predators. Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee scored for the Flames, who sit last in the overall standings with a record of 2-9-2.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes are the three stars for October 2025. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named Rookie of the Month.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2025

The potential effect of Connor McDavid’s new contract on the UFA market, the latest on Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights, Lane Hutson’s negotiations with the Canadiens, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HOW MCDAVID’S CONTRACT COULD AFFECT THE UFA MARKET

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Los Angeles Kings would’ve attempted to sign Connor McDavid had he gone to free agency next July. He also thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Dallas Stars would’ve been among the suitors for the 28-year-old center, who signed a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes all eyes will be on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar as the next big contract explosion. He claims the Avalanche have prepared for it and could just hand him a blank check. Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks could be another.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both players are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July 2027. The earliest their teams can attempt to re-sign them is July 1, 2026.

The recent signings of McDavid and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov convinced Friedman that there will be more players earning eight-figure salaries. He singled out Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas, and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been speculation suggesting that some NHL teams might point to McDavid accepting well below market value to stay with the Oilers to get their own superstars to do the same. However, most player agents will simply say that McDavid’s case was a unique one that has no bearing on their clients’ contract situations.

For example, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been underpaid for years, partly because of his superstition about his No. 87, and partly because his previous contract was an extremely long one (12 years). Those deals no longer exist due to the implementation of contract term limits since 2013.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

Today, 45 players carry a higher AAV than Crosby. Not all of them are superstars.

UPDATE ON JACK EICHEL’S CONTRACT TALKS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports contract negotiations are ongoing between the Vegas Golden Knights and Jack Eichel. The 28-year-old center doesn’t want to go anywhere, and both sides are focused on an eight-year deal. LeBrun also said that Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value with the Wild isn’t much of a factor in these negotiations.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also noted it’s a happy marriage between Eichel and the Golden Knights, and he expects they’ll get a new deal done. He claimed the club would prefer to get Eichel and Mitch Marner for a combined $25 million. Marner is already earning $12 million annually on an eight-year deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eichel is earning $10 million annually on his current contract. The Golden Knights might be offering $13 million, but he could be seeking something between $14 and $15 million.

THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens made an eight-year contract extension offer to Lane Hutson. He believes it had some salary deferral, which the Hutson camp wasn’t interested in. Both sides are taking some time now to let things cool down before resuming discussions.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman felt that Hutson was hoping to sign an extension before the start of this season. He cited several sources claiming it was “slightly below 8 x $9 million”, including some deferral to lower the cap hit. The Canadiens also pitched a Canadian retirement compensation arrangement (RCA), which many players use to soften the tax burden. Hutson’s representatives were slightly above the $9 million AAV but weren’t interested in salary deferral or the RCA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated that the Canadiens still want to keep Hutson, and he still wants to stay. General manager Kent Hughes said the club’s fans shouldn’t be worried, pointing out that the 21-year-old defenseman isn’t eligible for unrestricted free-agent status until July 2031.

Hughes also acknowledged the recent new contracts for New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Jackson Lacombe. He considers Hughes a better comparable for Hutson than Lacombe.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico believes the Canadiens are preparing to make a big trade during this season.

Instead of icing a 23-man roster to start this season, the Canadiens are using 22 players. In this way, they save about $775K in early-season salary obligations, which could compound into several million dollars by the trade deadline.

The Canadiens could be targeting a move before the December trade freeze (Dec. 20-27), as some teams could be pushed into becoming early sellers in the trade market. They’ll have around $14.5 million in prorated cap space by then, giving them a potential advantage over other teams.

UPDATE ON ROSLOVIC

TSN: Chris Johnston believed free-agent forward Jack Roslovic might not have to wait too long to land with an NHL team. He indicated that the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets are among several clubs already looking for forwards.

OTHER NOTABLE RUMORS FROM FRIEDMAN’S LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Philadelphia Flyers are “definitely checking” to see what’s available on defense in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: William James of Philly Hockey Now pointed out that defenseman Cam York is joining fellow Flyers blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve to start the season. They have over $6.6 million in cap space after trading away Ryan Ellis’ contract to San Jose earlier this week, giving them cap flexibility to add a defenseman.

The Vancouver Canucks are continuing their search for a center. The Toronto Maple Leafs want to add a top-six forward, while the Carolina Hurricanes are “always lurking.” The Ottawa Senators could attempt to make a big move this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Friedman reported they attempted to sign Evan Bouchard to an offer sheet this summer before he eventually re-signed with the Oilers. They instead acquired blueliner K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 4, 2025

by | Oct 4, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 4, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at recent speculation about Cale Makar’s next contract with the Avalanche, the latest on Lane Hutson’s contract talks with the Canadiens, and an update on free-agent forward Jack Roslovic.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently discussed how much Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar could make on his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar, 26, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $9 million, after which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Avalanche agree to an extension before then. The earliest they can re-sign him is July 1, 2026.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

Yaremchuk and Hutton believe Makar could earn between $17 million and $18 million annually. He’s the best defenseman in the world and knows that he’s going to get a significant raise given how much the salary cap is rising.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap is going up significantly over the next two seasons for sure, and probably longer. With the flat cap era over, the cost of signing players is increasing, especially for superstars like Makar. We’re starting to see it with the eight-year contract worth $17 million annually that Kirill Kaprizov recently got from the Minnesota Wild.

It’ll be interesting to see whether clubs in smaller markets can keep pace with the rising cap. There is revenue sharing in the CBA to help those clubs, but some of them may still lack sufficient funds to spend against the cap each year. Those teams could be forced to part ways with their top talent if they cannot afford to re-sign them.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Canadiens are engaged in detailed discussions with Lane Hutson’s camp. The final price of re-signing the 21-year-old defenseman could be close to the new contracts of New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Jackson LaCombe.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both defensemen signed long-term contracts with their respective teams, with each worth an AAV of $9 million.

Friedman acknowledged the suggestions that the new deals for Hughes and LaCombe meant it could cost the Canadiens between $10 million and $11 million annually to re-sign Hutson. However, he thinks the Canadiens blueliner could end up with an AAV closer to $9 million.

Marc Dumont points out that Hutson will be coming off his entry-level contract next summer and ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club. He also lacks arbitration rights. He indicated that Friedman said there is still work to be done, but the two sides might not be far off from their ideal number.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that the Canadiens are trying to get Hutson signed to an extension as quickly as possible. If he builds on last season’s Calder Trophy performance, he could seek closer to $11 million annually, especially if he finishes as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

It seems that $9 million annually is the baseline for Hutson’s next contract. Keeping that number under $10 million would be quite the accomplishment for Habs management.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun recently said that Jack Roslovic had an offer from the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, but it didn’t interest him. The 28-year-old forward is the most notable player still available in this year’s unrestricted free-agent market.

Roslovic has since changed agents, but LeBrun is surprised that he spurned an opportunity to play with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Nevertheless, he believes the versatile forward will sign with a team soon.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

by | Jun 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar wins the Norris Trophy, an update on the Rangers’ efforts to trade Chris Kreider to the Ducks, the latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Cale Makar is the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman for 2024-25. It’s the second time the 26-year-old Colorado Avalanche blueliner has taken home this award, having won in 2021-22.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar has been the NHL’s dominant defenseman since 2020-21. In addition to winning the Norris twice, he’s been a finalist three times (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24). He joins Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins as the only active multiple Norris Trophy winner.

Since Makar’s NHL debut in 2019-20, he leads all defensemen with 428 points and 24 game-winning goals, sits fourth in takeaways (295) and sixth in 5v5 puck possession (55.5 percent shot attempt percentage) among defensemen with 300-plus games played.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers have an agreement in principle on a trade that would send winger Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. Now, they await his blessing.

Anaheim is on Kreider’s 15-team no-trade list, but his camp permitted the Rangers to hold trade discussions with the Ducks. As of Tuesday night, the 33-year-old winger hadn’t signed off on the deal, but Brooks cited an Anaheim source saying it was a fait accompli.

Should the deal go through as expected, it will be a straightforward salary dump by the Rangers. The Ducks will take on Kreider’s full $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27, while the Rangers would receive prospect Carey Terrance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Rangers could also receive a third or fourth-round pick in the deal.

**UPDATE**

Kreider approved the trade. The Rangers send him and a 2025 third-round pick to the Ducks for Terrance and a 2025 fourth-rounder.

Brooks believes Rangers forward Miko Zibanejad could be amenable to waiving his no-movement clause if Kreider is traded, pointing out that the pair are close friends.

Moving Zibanejad might not be as easy as trading Kreider. He has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Leading the best-of-seven series 2-1, the Panthers have an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to reveal his starting goaltender for Game 4 until Thursday morning. Starter Stuart Skinner has a perfect 6-0 record in his previous Game 4s, while backup Calvin Pickard is a perfect 6-0 in this postseason.

NHL.COM: The Oilers could replace defenseman John Klingberg with Troy Stecher for Game 4. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. He had the same status in Game 3, but played 15:34 in that contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Game 4 is the pivotal contest. An Edmonton win ties the series, turning it into a best-of-three with the Oilers holding home-ice advantage if it goes the distance. A Panthers victory puts them in a position to win their second straight Stanley Cup in Game 5.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL and NHL Players’ Association are getting closer to a CBA extension.

They’ve been meeting in Florida during the Stanley Cup Final and, while issues remain, it’s expected a deal could be completed soon. LeBrun speculates it could be done in time to present to the Board of Governors meeting on June 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it reaches that stage, the CBA extension could supersede the current agreement, slated to expire in September 2026. James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested the deal would run to September 2030.

Reports suggest there would be few significant changes in the next CBA. The most notable would be adjusting the long-term injury reserve (LTIR) rules to address the issue of playoff contenders using LTIR to bolster their rosters at the trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former Penguins owners Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle and David Morehouse are reportedly interested in purchasing a minority stake in the franchise. They sold the club to Fenway Sports Group in 2021 for $900 million.

It was initially reported that the Lemieux group was investigating the possibility of buying back the Penguins. Still, FSG reiterated that they’re only interested in selling a minority share to raise capital as they develop the property around PPG Paints Arena.

THE SCORE: An Atlanta group eyeing NHL expansion has received agreements from the Forsyth County Commission for a $3 billion project that includes the construction of an NHL-ready arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors have swirled suggesting the NHL could soon return to Atlanta. The league has played coy on the matter, and building a new arena doesn’t guarantee the arrival of an NHL franchise. Nevertheless, it’s only a matter of time.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators revealed a new-look third jersey for 2025-26. It will be themed in red with metallic black and gold striping.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2025

by | Apr 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2025

A milestone game for Cale Makar as the Avalanche clinch a playoff berth, the Senators and Canadiens strengthen their wild-card positions, the Blues match a franchise record, the league plans to address LTIR issues with the NHLPA, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tallied his 30th goal of the season in a 7-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, clinching a playoff berth in the Western Conference. Makar also collected two assists while Nathan MacKinnon, Charlie Coyle and Devon Toews also each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche as they sit third in the Central Division with 98 points. Sean Monahan, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner replied for the Blue Jackets, who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 77 points.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar is the ninth defenseman in NHL history to record a 30-goal season, and the first to do so since Mike Green (31) in 2008-09. He also reached the 60-assist and 90-point plateaus, becoming the first defenseman to achieve consecutive 90-point campaigns since Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis in 1990-91. Makar joins Coffey, Raymond Bourque, Denis Potvin and Bobby Orr as the only blueliners in NHL history to have 30 goals and 60 assists in one season.

The Ottawa Senators nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, strengthening their grip on the first Eastern wild-card spot while snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Linus Ullmark stopped 31 shots while Shane Pinto and Jake Sanderson scored for the Senators (86 points), giving them a five-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens. Brandon Hagel netted his 34th goal for the Lightning (93 points), who remain three points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators also reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2016-17, when they last clinched a playoff berth. They got this win without team captain Brady Tkachuk. He remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Canadiens (81 points), they got a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins to open a two-point lead over the New York Rangers for the final Eastern wild card. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki each had a goal and an assist and Cole Caufield tallied his 35th goal of the season. Elias Lindholm replied for the Bruins, who’ve dropped 10 straight games and sit last in the Eastern Conference with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 81 points, Suzuki is the first Canadiens player to reach the 80-point plateau since Alex Kovalev in 2007-08. Caufield is the first Hab to score 35 goals in a season since Max Pacioretty in 2016-17. In other Canadiens news, they’ve reportedly signed prospect goaltender Jacob Fowler to an entry-level contract.

The last time the Bruins finished last in the Eastern Conference was in 1996-97. They also finished last overall, selecting Joe Thornton with the first overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft.

The St. Louis Blues tied their franchise-record win streak of 11 games by squeaking past the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on an overtime goal by Robert Thomas, who also collected an assist in regulation. Jake Neighbours tallied twice while Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who surged past the Minnesota Wild (89 points) into the first Western wild-card berth with 91 points. Penguins rookie Rutger McGroarty collected his first NHL points with a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues forward Dylan Holloway left this game after the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no post-game update regarding his condition. Penguins center Evgeny Malkin missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman scored twice to down the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Dustin Wolf made 26 saves and Yegor Sharangovich picked up two assists for the Flames (84 points), putting them five behind the Wild in the Western wild-card race. Olen Zellweger replied for the Ducks, who were officially eliminated from the postseason chase.

The Edmonton Oilers’ 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks was overshadowed by Leon Draisaitl’s departure in the second period with an undisclosed injury. Draisaitl picked up an assist before he left the game while teammate Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Tyler Toffoli picked up his 28th goal for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl recently returned from an injury. There was no postgame update regarding his current status. The absence of their leading scorer is cause for concern for the Oilers, who are also without team captain Connor McDavid, defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and starting goalie Stuart Skinner. Meanwhile, Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin missed this game with an upper-body injury and is still being re-evaluated.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie kicked out 26 shots to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0. Mark Scheifele netted his 37th goal of the season as the Jets tied their franchise record with their 52nd win, sitting three points ahead of the Washington Capitals atop the overall standings with 108 points. The Golden Knights hold first place in the Pacific Division with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers left this game in the third period with an injured left leg. In his post-game interview, head coach Scott Arniel indicated that he felt Ehlers’ injury wasn’t too serious.

The Dallas Stars picked up their seventh straight win by defeating the Nashville Predators 5-1. Wyatt Johnston extended his goal streak to six games while Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Jason Robertson and Mason Marchment each had two points as the Wild sit second in the Central Division with 104 points. Steven Stamkos replied for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen became the third-fastest Finnish-born NHL player to reach the 700-point plateau, achieving the milestone in 645 games. Jiri Kurri was the fastest (483 games) followed by Teemu Selanne (541). Stars captain Jamie Benn missed this game with a “maintenance issue”, ending his streak of 371 consecutive games played.

Los Angeles Kings forwards Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore scored 44 seconds apart for a 4-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 28 shots and Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist for the Kings (95 points), moving within three points of the first-place Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain scored for Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah forward Dylan Guenther suffered a broken nose, two black eyes and nine stitches during Tuesday’s game against Calgary, but suited up for this contest wearing a protective bubble cage attached to his helmet. “I mean, your nose is a long way from your legs. It doesn’t really affect you,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association began this week. The league intends to bring up the ongoing issue of long-term injury reserve where players on LTIR return in time to skate in the playoffs. That’s been a contentious issue because several teams soar over the salary cap during the playoffs because there is no cap in the postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether the two sides can find an adequate solution remains to be seen.

One suggestion is the salary cap should be extended to the playoffs, but that issue can be seen as penalizing teams for having injured players. Another suggestion was having sidelined players scheduled to return by the opening round of the playoffs prevented from playing in that round, but that would unfairly punish them for getting injured, which could violate Canadian and American labor laws.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders winger Anthony Duclair has been granted a leave of absence from the team after head coach Patrick Roy publicly criticized his play following a recent loss. Roy told reporters that he and Duclair had a good discussion following the incident, and the winger is taking time off to reflect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That raises questions over whether Duclair is done for the season and about his future with the Islanders.

DAILY FACEOFF: Michigan State forward Isaac Howard, University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, and Boston College forward Ryan Leonard are the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists. Howard is a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, Buium is a prospect of the Minnesota Wild, and Leonard recently joined the Washington Capitals on an entry-level contract.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2025

by | Mar 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2025

Recaps of Thursday’s games, the Stars could be close to acquiring Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can see the roundup of Thursday’s trades by following this link. 

NHL.COM: A late goal by Seth Jarvis lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 32 shots as the Hurricanes sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Morgan Geekie scored both goals for the Bruins (64 points), who’ve lost three straight games and sit three points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mikko Rantanen played what could be his final game with the Hurricanes. Reports emerged overnight claiming the Dallas Stars have permission from the Canes to negotiate a contract extension with the 28-year-old winger’s representatives that would lead to Rantanen being traded to the Stars before today’s 3 pm ET trade deadline.

Meanwhile, the Bruins continue their sell-off, shipping pending free-agent forward Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild for forwards Jakub Lauko and Marat Khusnutdinov.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar had two goals and four assists and Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and three assists in a 7-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Avalanche have won four straight games, holding the first Western wild-card berth with 76 points. Sharks forward William Eklund had a goal and an assist, while rookie teammate Macklin Celebrini tallied his 20th goal of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon holds a four-point lead over Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl with a league-leading 98 points. Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko returned to action after missing nine games with a lower-body injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel scored a second-period hat trick and newly acquired forward Oliver Bjorkstrand tallied the winning goal to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5. The Lightning have won 10 of their last 11 games, sitting third in the Atlantic Division with 78 points. Rasmus Dahlin and JJ Peterka each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy became the third goaltender in NHL history to record eight or more consecutive 30-win seasons, joining Martin Brodeur (12) and Patrick Roy (eight).

Speaking of the Stars, they got an overtime goal from Jason Robertson to nip the Calgary Flames 3-2, picking up their fourth straight win. Robertson also scored the tying goal as the Stars overcame a 2-0 deficit. They sit second in the Central Division with 84 points. Joel Farabee and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames, who cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 68 points.

The Florida Panthers extended their win streak to five games by blanking the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 16-save shutout for his 423rd regular-season win, tying Tony Esposito for 10th on the all-time list. Sam Reinhart, Mackie Samoskevich and Aleksander Barkov were the goal-scorers as the Panthers hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 81 points.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had three points in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who hold sole possession of first place in the overall standings with 90 points. Rookie winger Matvei Michkov scored his 20th of the season for the Flyers (62 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot.

The Edmonton Oilers got an overtime goal from Evan Bouchard to down the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to 13 games with his league-leading 46th goal and also added an assist for the Oilers. Cole Caufield netted his 31st goal of the season for the Canadiens (66 points) as they sit one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern wild-card berth.

Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka kicked out 38 shots in a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Nick Schmaltz, Kevin Stenlund and Lawson Crouse scored as Utah overcame a 2-1 deficit. With 68 points, they sit three points behind the Flames in the Western wild-card race. Dylan Larkin and Jonatan Berggren scored for the Red Wings (66 points), who have lost four straight games and remain one point behind the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings fans must have an uneasy feeling of deja vu. Around this time last season, the Wings held a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference before a costly losing skid knocked them out of contention. Meanwhile, Utah placed forward Nick Bjugstad (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Nashville Predators defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-3. Filip Forsberg tallied twice and Steven Stamkos had two assists for the Predators. Adam Larsson, Jared McCann and Michael Eyssimont replied for the Kraken.

IN OTHER NEWS…

STLTODAY.COM: Blues defenseman Colton Parayko will undergo a scope on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues’ playoff odds got a lot longer with their top defenseman sidelined.

SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Ryan Reaves on waivers. If he clears, they can free up $1.15 million in cap space by sending him to the minors.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predators claimed forward Jakub Vrana off waivers from the Washington Capitals and defenseman Jordan Oesterle from the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed winger Christian Fischer from the Detroit Red Wings.