NHL Rumor Mill – January 22, 2026

by | Jan 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 22, 2026

Could Auston Matthews consider moving on if the Leafs miss the playoffs? Would Dougie Hamilton be a good fit in Toronto? Could the Penguins attempt to acquire Jason Robertson and re-sign Evgeni Malkin? Will the Blues trade Robert Thomas? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST MAPLE LEAFS SPECULATION

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos wonders what Auston Matthews will be thinking if the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs this season. The 28-year-old superstar center has two seasons left on his contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Kypreos believes Matthews will need assurances that the Maple Leafs are capable of building a contender. He pointed out that other elite NHL players, such as Matthew Tkachuk in 2022 and Quinn Hughes last month, forced a change of scenery, and wondered if Matthews might do the same at some point if the Leafs are no longer playoff contenders going forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews isn’t going anywhere this season, but it’s fair to raise the question about his future if the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs. Even if they squeak in but endure another early elimination, that will spark speculation about whether he’ll finish his contract in Toronto.

Kypreos also addressed whether Dougie Hamilton would be a good fit with the Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old New Jersey Devils defenseman has surfaced in the rumor mill after his agent recently indicated that the blueliner was willing to be flexible with his 10-team trade list.

“Aside from the high acquisition cost and a few warts in his game, the Devils defenseman does check many boxes the Leafs desperately need on their blueline for a playoff push.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Warts aside, the acquisition cost is the biggest stumbling block in the path of a trade here. Hamilton carries an average annual value of $9 million through 2027-28. It’ll likely take a sweetener to convince the Devils to retain any part of that cap hit.

The Leafs have limited cap room and trade capital. They could face difficulty trying to outbid other clubs.

Meanwhile, Kevin McGran noted the logjam in the Maple Leafs crease with Anthony Stolarz due to return soon from injury, joining Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby.

McGran believes Hildeby will likely return to their AHL affiliate because he’s waiver-exempt. If Stolarz regains last season’s solid form, the Leafs could be tempted to use one of those three goalies as a trade chip to shore up the defense.

COULD THE PENGUINS PURSUE JASON ROBERTSON AND RE-SIGN EVGENI MALKIN?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe speculated recently that the Pittsburgh Penguins might go the trade route this summer to bring in a young NHL star forward.

He believes the Penguins love Jason Robertson. The 26-year-old Dallas Stars winger is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. He will draw lots of attention if the Stars make him available in the trade market, suggesting the Penguins have the salary-cap space and the tradeable assets to make a solid pitch. He also doesn’t see them attempting to go the offer sheet route as the compensation required would be over the top.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas will probably be in touch with the Stars if they decide to trade Robertson this summer. And yes, it would be in the summer because the Stars are all-in this season to win the Stanley Cup, and that includes having Robertson in the lineup.

The Penguins would be well-situated to outbid most teams. The question is whether Robertson would be committed to joining them on a long-term deal. He could opt to go to arbitration, sign a one-year deal, and test the unrestricted free-agent market in 2027. That would crush his value in next season’s trade market, making him enticing only to Stanley Cup contenders seeking a postseason rental.

Yohe also reported that long-time Penguins star Evgeni Malkin is willing to sign a one-year contract and accept a pay cut to stay in Pittsburgh.

Malkin, 39, realizes this could be his final NHL season, but he’s not ready to retire yet. He’s not interested in playing for another team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas indicated last fall that he would meet with the Malkin camp during the upcoming Olympic break to discuss his future. Despite missing 15 games with an upper-body injury, he’s third among their scorers this season with 37 points in 34 games. It won’t be surprising if he ends up with that one-year deal at a reduced price.

COULD THE BLUES PEDDLE ROBERT THOMAS?

THE ATHLETIC: With St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas surfacing in recent trade speculation, Jeremy Rutherford and Shayna Goldman looked at his potential value in the trade market.

Thomas, 26, is in the third season of an eight-year contract with a AAV of $8.125 million. Rutherford and Goldman believe he’ll fetch more than the asking price of a comparable center on an expiring contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You’ll need a subscription to see their detailed breakdown of comparables, cost, and whether it would be worthwhile for the Blues to trade Thomas. In my opinion, he could fetch three assets containing at least a first-round pick and a top prospect or a promising young NHL player.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 10, 2026

by | Jan 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 10, 2026

Check out the latest on Evgeni Malkin, Jason Robertson, Artemi Panarin, Jordan Kyrou, Blake Coleman, Jonathan Marchessault, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Joonas Korpisalo, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TEAMS INTERESTED IN EVGENI MALKIN

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently reported that some teams would love to acquire Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, but he carries a full no-movement clause. Any attempt to move him requires his consent.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

According to Kypreos, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin would be among the suitors, wondering if Russian winger Kirill Kaprizov might convince Malkin to join the Wild for a playoff run.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kypreos acknowledged that Pittsburgh is in wildcard contention and under new ownership. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said earlier this season that he’d meet with Malkin during the Olympic break to discuss the remainder of this season. If the Penguins remain in the playoff hunt, Malkin will likely stay put.

COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS PURSUE STARS WINGER JASON ROBERTSON?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have limited assets to attempt a major trade. They used Easton Cowen as a trade chip last season in a failed attempt to acquire Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues. However, Cowen’s performance this season makes it tough to part with him unless it’s for a significant return.

One idea involves the Maple Leafs making a pitch to the Dallas Stars for winger Jason Robertson. He could seek $12 million annually on his next contract, which is too expensive for the Stars. The Leafs could afford it, but the acquisition cost would be steep, involving Cowen, blueline prospect Ben Danford, and more. That could be more of an offseason move than a deadline one.

Kypreos touched on the possibility of moving Cowen and Danford in a package deal for a top-six forward or puck-moving defenseman in his latest Toronto Star column. He also suggested that Leafs forwards Bobby McMann, Nick Robertson, Nicolas Roy, Max Domi, Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stecher could be valuable trade commodities to stock up on futures while retooling the roster for the next two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson is tied with Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor as this season’s highest-scoring American player (52 points). The 26-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.

Robertson could price himself out of Dallas, but the Stars won’t move him this season. They’re all-in for the Stanley Cup, and they need Robertson’s offense.

The Leafs could be hard-pressed to win a bidding war for Robertson this summer, but they have an advantage with his younger brother, Nick, on their roster.

UPDATE ON THE PREDATORS, RANGERS, FLAMES, BLUES, SABRES, AND JETS

The Nashville Predators are still expected to be sellers despite their recent surge in the standings. Winger Steven Stamkos’ $8 million annual cap hit makes him difficult to move. Winger Jonathan Marchessault could be a more likely trade candidate, but he has a full no-movement clause. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of goaltender Juuse Saros being part of a “bombshell deal”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything’s possible, but the Predators have clawed their way back into wildcard contention. They’re unlikely to sell if they’re still in contention by March 6. Stamkos, Marchessault, and Saros all have full no-movement clauses, and it’s unlikely that they’ll waive them.

Kypreos felt the New York Rangers could become sellers if sidelined goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for a lengthy period. He mentioned pending UFA winger Artemi Panarin as the most likely trade candidate. He also suggested keeping an eye on center Vincent Trocheck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mollie Walker of the New York Post listed Panarin and Trocheck as trade candidates if the Rangers are sellers by March 6. She also included struggling young winger Brennan Othmann, defenseman Carson Soucy, and winger Alexis Lafreniere.

Blake Coleman is currently the player most in demand on the Calgary Flames. Teams are wary of center Nazem Kadri’s age and the remaining term of his contract. Kypreos still thinks the Vegas Golden Knights are still circling on defenseman Rasmus Andersson and could attempt to acquire him before the Olympic break.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson remains the most likely to be traded because of his UFA eligibility on July 1 and his status as the top defenseman in this summer’s free agent market. Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff recently listed the Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and the Golden Knights as potential destinations.

The Flames aren’t facing the same pressure to trade Coleman because he has another year left on his contract, though they could ship him out if they get a good offer.

St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou has a full no-trade clause. However, Kypreos believes there’s a sense he may be softening on waiving it to go to a contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou was the frequent subject of trade chatter until last July, when his NTC kicked in and silenced that talk. The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly interested at that time, but their current limited cap space makes it difficult for them to take on his $8.125 million AAV through 2030-31.

The Buffalo Sabres are aggressively shopping as buyers. They have some good young prospects and depth in their system to use as trade bait. Kypreos also believes they can afford to meet the salary demands of UFA-eligible winger Alex Tuch of around $10 million.

Kypreos doesn’t expect the struggling Winnipeg Jets to make a significant roster shake-up if they become sellers by the March 6 trade deadline. He anticipated they would make minor moves, such as peddling pending UFA defenseman Luke Schenn.

LATEST ON THE BRUINS

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Boston Bruins have been gauging the trade market for Joonas Korpisalo. However, the 31-year-old backup goaltender’s contract is a sticking point. He’s got two more years left on his deal with an AAV of $4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

Murphy indicated that league sources believe the Bruins would have to attach a draft pick or prospect to unload Korpisalo in a deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently examined potential trade candidates for the Boston Bruins should they become sellers by March 6.

Korpisalo fell into the “Limited Market” category. Winger Viktor Arvidsson, defenseman Mason Lohrei, center Casey Mittelstadt, and defenseman Andrew Peeke were among those in the “Let’s Make A Deal” category.

Shinzawa thinks the biggest decision is whether to move Pavel Zacha. He’s a versatile forward who can play in all situations and carries an affordable $4.75 million AAV through 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins could be buyers or sellers by the deadline, depending on where they are in the standings. Their performance over the rest of this month could determine which direction they go.

UPDATE ON JESPERI KOTKANIEMI

THE ATHLETIC: Cory Lavalette examined what’s gone wrong for Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The 25-year-old Carolina Hurricanes center has been the subject of recent trade speculation. Lavalette believes he failed to establish an identity to his game. His lack of consistency resulted in head coach Rod Brind’Amour losing confidence in him.

Kotkaniemi still believes he can become a top-six forward. Another club could take him on as a reclamation project. His contract isn’t that bad, with four years remaining at an AAV of $4.82 million. There is also a market for centers right now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that there are teams interested in Kotkaniemi. The Hurricanes could seek a roster player in return, but they could settle for a return of draft picks, or a pick and a prospect, that they could use as trade bait to add a player by the trade deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 10, 2025

by | Dec 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 10, 2025

Four games see tying goals in the final seconds of regulation, Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi extends his win streak, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the first player to reach 50 points this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on a shootout goal by Leo Carlsson. Ducks rookie Beckett Sennecke got credit for the shorthanded tying goal with 1 second remaining after Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson accidentally deflected the puck into his own net. Ville Husso kicked out 44 shots for the 19-10-1 Ducks, who picked up their third straight win to remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 39 points. Karlsson finished with two assists for the Penguins (14-7-7).

Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sennecke leads all rookie scorers with 26 points. Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens is second with 23 points, followed by New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer with 22 points.

Before this game, the Penguins placed forwards Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte on injured reserve.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch scored in overtime to lift his club to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Connor McDavid scored twice for the 13-11-6 Oilers, including the tying goal with two seconds remaining in the third period. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin each had three points, and Josh Doan tallied two goals for the Sabres (12-14-4), who snapped a three-game losing skid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Sabres placed winger Jason Zucker on IR after he suffered upper and lower-body injuries during Monday’s loss to the Calgary Flames. Center Josh Norris was a late scratch due to illness and muscle stiffness, and goaltender Colten Ellis was replaced by Alex Lyon in the first period after being removed by concussion spotters following a collision with Oilers winger David Tomasek.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly’s shootout goal gave his club a 4-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche. Cale Makar tied it for the Avalanche with eight seconds left in regulation time. Juuse Saros stopped 39 shots for the 11-14-4 Predators. Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists for the league-leading Avalanche (21-2-7, 49 points), becoming the first player to reach 50 points this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood returned to the lineup after suffering an upper-body injury last Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. During the shootout, he was pulled by the concussion spotters after Predators winger Filip Forsberg lost his footing and accidentally collided with the Avs goalie.

The New York Islanders got a shootout goal from Emil Heineman to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 5-4 after Vegas winger Pavel Dorofeyev tied the game with 14 seconds left in the third period. Bo Horvat scored twice for the Islanders (17-11-3), as they’ve won four of their last five games. Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone each collected two points for the 14-6-9 Golden Knights as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau returned to action after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi turned aside 23 shots to pick up his seventh straight win in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Andrei Svechnikov collected two assists for the Hurricanes (18-9-2). Dmitri Voronkov scored for the 13-11-6 Blue Jackets as their losing streak reached three games.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh scored two goals as his club ended a four-game losing skid by thumping the Montreal Canadiens 6-1. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point each had a goal and an assist for the 17-11-2 Lightning, who regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 36 points. Oliver Kapanen replied for the Canadiens, who dropped to 15-11-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning captain Victor Hedman left this game after the first period with an undisclosed injury. This was his third game back after missing 12 games.

Following the game, the Canadiens called up center Owen Beck, defenseman Adam Engstrom, and goaltender Jacob Fowler from their AHL affiliate in Laval. The addition of Fowler is notable because the Canadiens’ tandem of Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes has the league’s second-worst goals-against per game (3.55) this season. He could make his NHL debut as early as Thursday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.

The Dallas Stars extended their points streak to 11 games (9-0-2) by holding off the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. Mikko Rantanen collected three assists as the Stars jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Jets rallied with two goals from Mark Scheifele before Jason Robertson scored what proved to be the winning goal for the 21-5-5 Stars. Kyle Connor had two assists for the Jets, who dropped to 14-14-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Thomas Harley was held scoreless in his first game back in action since missing the last 12 games with an injured foot.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak collected three assists in his return to action in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Fraser Minten and Mark Kastelic each tallied twice for the 18-13-0 Bruins, extending their win streak to three games. Robert Thomas had two goals for the Blues, who slipped to 11-13-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist to reach his 500th career NHL point in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Christian Dvorak also had a goal and an assist for the Flyers as they improved to 16-9-3. Collin Graf replied for the 14-14-3 Sharks, who have dropped three of their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov missed this game due to an illness, forcing them to turn to former collegiate netminder Justin Kowalkoski to back up Alex Nedeljkovic.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Cody Glass broke a 3-3 tie in the third period for New Jersey (17-12-1) as they ended a five-game losing skid. Connor Brown and Arseny Gritsyuk each had three points for the Devils. Drake Batherson had two goals for the 13-12-4 Senators as their losing skid reached three games.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is expected to return to action against the Sabres on Thursday after missing 12 games with a groin strain. That’s good news for the struggling Canucks, who are 2-7-1 in their last 10 contests.

TORONTO SUN: The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann for one game for high-sticking Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand on Monday.

ESPN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league projects the revenue for this season could reach $6.8 billion. He claimed it’s what the league was expecting and won’t change the salary cap figures for the next two seasons, as was agreed upon earlier this year by the NHL and the NHL Players Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap is $95.5 million for this season. It will rise to $104 million for 2026-27 and $113.5 million for 2027-28.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 8, 2025

by | Dec 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 8, 2025

Recaps of Sunday’s games and injury updates in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 4-1. Alexander Wennberg and John Klingberg each had a goal and an assist, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves as the Sharks improved to 14-13-3. Jordan Staal replied for the Hurricanes (17-9-2).

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini played his 100th career NHL regular-season game. It was also his 28th multipoint game, sitting seventh among NHL players for the most multipoint games through their first 100 games as teenagers. Wayne Gretzky is the all-time leader with 53 multipoint games.

The Colorado Avalanche held off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots, including a penalty shot by Trevor Zegras in the third period. Brent Burns, Brock Nelson, and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche (21-2-6), who hold first place in the overall standings with 48 points. Sean Couturier and Travis Konency scored for the 15-9-3 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon collected an assist as he holds first place in the scoring race with 49 points. Macklin Celebrini is second with 43 points.

Washington Capitals netminder Logan Thompson picked up his 100th career NHL regular-season win by shutting out the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0, sitting eighth on the list of fewest games to reach 100 wins by undrafted goalies (167 games). Jakob Chychrun and Aliaksei Protas were the goal scorers as the Capitals (18-9-3) opened a three-point lead over the Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference with 39 points. Jet Greaves stopped 36 of 37 shots for the 13-10-6 Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Capitals placed forward Ryan Leonard and goalie Charlie Lindgren on injured reserve with upper-body injuries.

The Dallas Stars nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on a shootout goal by Mikko Rantanen. Jamie Benn and Miro Heiskanen scored for the Stars (20-5-5), who collected their seventh win in their last eight games. Connor Dewar and Tommy Novak scored for the Penguins (14-7-6).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Stars center Matt Duchene and defenseman Nils Lundkvist returned to action after being out since mid-October with injuries.

St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn scored twice and picked up an assist to lead his team to a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Dylan Holloway had a goal and two assists for the Blues, who improved to 11-12-7. Cole Caufield scored to extend his points streak to 11 games, and Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (15-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues winger Jordan Kyrou missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Florida Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe scored his fourth goal in his last three games in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who improved to 14-12-2. Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders (16-11-3) as their three-game win streak ended.

An overtime goal by Jack Eichel lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the New York Rangers 3-2. Eichel, Mark Stone, and Brett Howden each had two points, and Carter Hart made 21 saves for the Golden Knights (14-6-8) as they picked up their fourth straight win. Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and an assist for the 15-12-3 Rangers.

The Anaheim Ducks crushed the Chicago Blackhawks 7-1. Leo Carlsson tallied twice while Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Chris Kreider, and Ryan Strome each picked up two points for the Ducks (18-10-1), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 37 points. Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the 12-11-6 Blackhawks, who’ve lost three of their last four contests.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 3, 2025

by | Nov 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 3, 2025

A history-making performance for Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin faces league discipline, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer made league history as his club overcame a 2-1 deficit to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Schaefer scored twice (including the tying goal) to become the youngest defenseman to have a multipoint game. Simon Holmstrom scored the winning goal at 19:22 of the third period for the 6-5-1 Islanders. Miles Wood and Denton Mateychuk scored for the Blue Jackets (7-5-0) as their three-game win streak ended.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer has had an impressive opening month. He was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October.

The Tampa Bay Lightning collected their fifth straight win with a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Jake Guentzel scored the winning goal and collected an assist for the Lightning as they improved their record to 6-4-2. Lawson Crouse and Kailor Yamamoto replied for the 8-4-0 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports of the Lightning’s demise as a playoff contender after their franchise-worst 1-4-2 start to this season were greatly exaggerated.

Anaheim Ducks forwards Beckett Sennecke and Cutter Gauthier each had a goal and an assist to lead their club over the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Lukas Dostal made 32 saves as the Ducks improved to 7-3-1, moving into first place in the Pacific Division. Jack Hughes scored for the Devils (9-4-0), who remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division.

A shootout goal by James van Riemsdyk lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider also scored for the Red Wings (9-4-0) as they’ve won three of their last four games. Rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson scored his first NHL goal for the 4-6-3 Sharks.

Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau scored two goals as his club held off the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Dustin Wolf stopped 17 shots for the 3-9-2 Flames, who remain last in the overall standings with eight points. Travis Konecny scored for the Flyers, who dropped to 6-5-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh was in the lineup for his 10th NHL game, which means this season counts as the first year of his three-year entry-level contract. There was speculation they would return Parekh to his OHL club before that game.

Flyers forward Tyson Foerster missed this contest after suffering a lower-body injury while blocking a shot during Saturday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s expected to miss the next several games.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for slashing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley on Saturday.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators placed team captain Roman Josi (upper body) on injured reserve. He has not played since Oct. 23. His injury is not related to his POTS diagnosis. They also announced that forward Cole Smith will be out three to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev returned to Toronto on Sunday after spending Saturday night under observation in a Philadelphia hospital. He was stretchered off the ice during Saturday’s game against the Flyers with a suspected second head injury in less than two weeks.

RG ORG: Former NHL goaltender Ilya Samsonov recently signed a two-year contract with KHL club HC Sochi. The deal enables him to return to the NHL in 2026.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 2, 2025

by | Nov 2, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 2, 2025

Check out the latest on Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Senators center Shane Pinto, and Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

COULD THE PENGUINS MOVE MALKIN AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox believes Evgeni Malkin could be a hot commodity by the March 6 trade deadline. The 39-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins center is among the league’s leading scorers with 18 points, and is among the biggest reasons why his club is off to a surprisingly strong start.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

Fox observed that there were rumblings that this season could be Malkin’s last. He also had a good start to last season before his production declined.

Despite the Penguins’ early-season performance, it’s unlikely they can maintain their current pace. Even Malkin could regress again. Nevertheless, he could remain in high demand at the trade deadline if he’s willing to accept a move to a contender.

Fox suggested the Florida Panthers could be a suitor for Malkin. They could be in the market by the deadline for a replacement for Aleksander Barkov, who is out for the season recovering from knee surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin was the subject of similar trade speculation during training camp and preseason. When asked about it, he said he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, but wasn’t sure how he’d react if management asked him to waive his no-movement clause.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he would meet with Malkin during the Olympic break in February to discuss his future. He won’t be going anywhere if his club remains in playoff contention, but it’ll be interesting to see how many suitors he attracts if the Penguins are out of the playoff race by the deadline.

AN UPDATE ON PINTO’S CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch wondered if Shane Pinto and the Senators are at a crossroads in their contract extension talks. The 24-year-old center’s hot start to this season has raised speculation about how much he might get on his next contract.

Pinto is in the final season of a two-year deal with a cap hit of $3.75 million. He will be eligible to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.

Senators GM Steve Staios hopes to sign Pinto to a long-term extension. Sources told Garrioch that the club offered the young forward an eight-year contract worth $52 million back in September.

That offer has an AAV of $6.5 million. However, the Pinto camp could be holding out for something between teammate Dylan Cozen’s $7.1 million AAV and Tim Stutzle’s $8.35 million. The center also has to decide if he wants to stay in Ottawa for eight years or on a shorter deal between three-to-six years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These negotiations could drag on throughout the season. Staios could be waiting to see if Pinto can maintain his current rate of production before deciding on his next step.

COULD SHERWOOD INTEREST THE OILERS?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer suggesting that power forward Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks would be a good fit with the Oilers.

Sherwood, 30, is in the second season of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million. He had a career-best 19 goals and 40 points in 2024-25 and has nine goals in his first 12 games of this season.

Stauffer suggested the Oilers target Sherwood as a middle-six forward if the Canucks are unable to sign him to an extension. He believes the gritty winger will attract plenty of interest if he becomes available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples pointed out that this was speculation by Stauffer as the Oilers could have different ideas on which possible trade targets would fit well within their roster.

It’s too early to determine what the Canucks’ intentions are for Sherwood or other pending UFAs on their roster. Nevertheless, he could be a player worth watching once the calendar flips to 2026, especially if the Canucks are outside the playoff picture as the trade deadline approaches.