NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2026

by | Mar 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2026

​Oilers captain Connor McDavid reaches two scoring milestones, the Blue Jackets, Senators, and Predators keep climbing in the playoff standings, the Panthers’ Paul Maurice reaches a coaching milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored twice to reach his 400th career regular-season goal and his 1,200th career regular-season point in a 5-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Jack Roslovic also tallied two goals while Evan Bouchard collected three assists for the 35-28-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 79 points. Alexander Kerfoot and Lawson Crouse replied for the Mammoth (37-29-6), who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 80 points.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the third-fastest player to reach the 1,200-point plateau, doing so in 784 games. Wayne Gretzky is the fastest (504 games), followed by Mario Lemieux (593 games).

As for the Mammoth, they signed prospect forward Caleb Desnoyers to a three-year entry-level contract on March 23. The 18-year-old center was chosen fourth overall by the Mammoth in last year’s draft. He’s hoping to earn a spot on their roster and one day play a top-six role.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (38-22-11) rose to second place in the Metropolitan Division (87 points) by holding off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Zach Werenski and Mason Marchment each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who are 19-3-4 since hiring Rick Bowness as head coach on Jan. 12. Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale replied for the 34-24-12 Flyers (80 points), who remain five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couturier, Denver Barkey, and Luke Glendening returned to the Flyers lineup after being sidelined by injuries.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Brady Tkachuk also had a goal and an assist, and Linus Ullmark stopped 32 shots as the Senators (38-24-9) have won 15 of their last 20 games to move into the final Eastern Conference wild card with 85 points. Dominik Shine and Dylan Larkin each scored for the struggling Red Wings (38-25-8), who’ve dropped two games in a row and sit one point behind the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin was returning from a seven-game absence with a lower-body injury.

The Nashville Predators widened their lead for the final Western Conference wild card by defeating the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists while Jonathan Marchessault collected three assists for the 34-28-9 Predators (77 points), who picked up their fifth straight win. Will Smith had two goals for the fading Sharks (32-31-6), who’ve lost five straight games.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice reached the 2,000-game coaching milestone in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Kraken. The Panthers (35-32-3) blew a 4-1 lead, but got the win on a shootout goal by Vinnie Hinostroza. Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist for the 31-29-10 Kraken (72 points), who sit five points back of the Predators.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche got two goals from Martin Necas to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves for the win while Nathan MacKinnon tallied his league-leading 46th goal of the season for the 47-13-10 Avalanche, who hold a seven-point lead over the Dallas Stars in the overall standings with 104 points. Egor Chinahkov and Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins (35-20-16), who slipped to third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang picked up an assist to reach 800 career regular-season points. He’s the highest-scoring blueliner in franchise history, sitting fifth among their all-time points leaders. Teammate Evgeni Malkin missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor made his season debut after being sidelined by offseason hip surgery and an undisclosed issue.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes kicked out 41 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov each had a goal and an assist for the 39-21-10 Canadiens, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes (45-20-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield tallied his 44th goal of the season, sitting two behind MacKinnon in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s top goal scorer.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Erik Cernak, Brandon Hagel, and Pontus Holmberg gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (44-21-5) as they sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist for the 40-20-12 Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 92 points.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored two goals as his club held off the Dallas Stars 6-4. Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist for the 36-32-2 Devils. Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson each had three-point performances for the Stars (43-17-11), who sit second in the West with 97 points.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish scored his first goal in 15 games to snap a 3-3 tie as his club went on to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Mikael Granlund tallied twice for the 40-27-4 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 84 points. Center Elias Pettersson and defenseman Filip Hronek each had two assists for the 21-41-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas returned to action after serving a five-game suspension for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who is out for the season as a result. Gudas expressed remorse for injuring Matthews, claiming he “felt terrible about the outcome.”

Actions speak louder than words, and Gudas’ actions definitely speak louder than his empty words. The fact that he got off with a five-game suspension remains a disgraceful decision by the league’s so-called “department of player safety”.

Meanwhile, the Canucks are raising ticket prices for next season by 10 percent. Teams charge what they believe their market will bear, but they might be unwilling to bear that increase when the team is coming off a dreadful season as they rebuild their roster.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the 30-29-12 Jets, as they sit five points back of the Predators with 72 points. Rasmus Andersson scored for the 32-26-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 78 points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (30-29-13) got two goals from Matthew Knies to double up the Boston Bruins 4-2. Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves in his return to action after being struck in the throat by a puck during warmups on Saturday. Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy replied for the 39-24-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern wild card with 86 points.

Chicago Blackhawks rookie Anton Frondell collected an assist in his NHL debut as his club upset the New York Islanders 4-3. Nick Lardis had a goal and two assists for the 27-31-13 Blackhawks. Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom, and Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders (40-27-5), as they slipped out of the final Eastern wild card with 85 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold that wild card with a game in hand. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer set an NHL record for the most single-game ice time by a teenager at 31:59. Isles defenseman Tony DeAngelo left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

A shootout goal by Yegor Sharangovich lifted the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 upset of the Los Angeles Kings. Olli Maatta and Zayne Parekh scored in regulation for the 30-34-7 Flames. Quinton Byfield netted both goals for the Kings (28-25-18), who set three points behind the Predators.

The St. Louis Blues got a 21-save shutout from Joel Hofer in a 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals. Jimmy Snuggerud, Otto Stenberg, and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues (29-30-11). Logan Thompson stopped 24 of 26 shots for the 35-28-9 Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois received a match penalty for a deliberate attempt to injure Blues center Robert Thomas. The two collided, and Dubois appeared to grab Thomas as they fell to the ice, with the latter’s head striking the ice. The Blues center left the game, but head coach Jim Montgomery said afterwards that Thomas was fine and had passed the concussion protocol.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 22, 2025

by | Aug 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 22, 2025

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has high expectations for the coming season, Stars winger Mikko Rantanen could face a fine in his native Finland, the Blackhawks sign Frank Nazar to a lucrative contract extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki acknowledges his rebuilding club faces higher expectations after reaching the playoffs for the first time in four years last season.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

“We all want the same goal at the end of the day – we want to be challenging for the Stanley Cup. So I think from now on, that’s pretty much going to be our goal,” said Suzuki.

The Canadiens captain said his teammates had higher expectations heading into last season than management, the media, and fans.

As captain, Suzuki has set an example by living in Montreal year-round. He and his wife have become part of the community and are involved in several local charities. It is also a big reason why a growing number of his teammates are spending more of their offseason time in the city.

FULL PRESS MEDIA: Jim Biringer believes Suzuki has silenced any lingering doubt about his ability as an elite NHL player. He has steadily improved during his career, establishing himself as the Canadiens’ first-line center. Suzuki also put the club on his back last season, playing a major role in their surge down the stretch to clinch a playoff berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans have known for years what Suzuki was capable of. His consistent improvement was overshadowed by the club’s struggles during the difficult seasons of their rebuild process. He garnered more recognition around the rest of the league when he reached a career-high 89 points last season.

Suzuki has risen to the challenge as captain of the Canadiens. Whatever the result of their rebuild, he will remain their leader and their best all-around forward.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars winger Mikko Rantanen could face a hefty fine for missing mandatory military service in his native Finland.

While a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, Rantanen was supposed to arrive for military service on Apr. 15. However, the Avalanche’s season hadn’t ended yet. He applied to change the start date for his mandatory service, which was approved two days later, but the Finnish military still considers him guilty of an unauthorized absence.

The penalty is a fine of 10 to 15 days’ salary, which at the time would’ve been 85,000 euros or $ 99,000 in US dollars.

Every Finnish man over the age of 18 is required to serve in the military. Rantanen’s teammate, center Roope Hintz, was exempt from his service due to his professional hockey career and a previous injury that prevented him from serving.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen has denied any wrongdoing. His case will be heard in a Finnish court soon.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed forward Frank Nazar to a seven-year, $46.1 million contract extension. His new $6.59 million average annual value will begin in 2026-27 following the completion of his entry-level deal.

Nazar, 21, steadily improved after being called up last December. He also had an impressive performance in the 2025 World Championship, tallying six goals and 12 points to help Team USA win the gold medal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant raise for Nazar, who showed promise during his first full NHL campaign with 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games last season. It’s a bit of a gamble inking him to this lucrative deal before he’s fully developed, but this contract could become a significant bargain if he reaches his full potential.

DNVR AVALANCHE: Logan O’Connor’s recovery from hip surgery has gone well, and the outlook is a positive one. The procedure was not as extensive as expected. He should miss between 10-16 games at the start of this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 29-year-old Avalanche winger underwent surgery in June and was projected to be sidelined for five to six months.

TSN: The Crown has decided not to appeal the acquittals of five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team. Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote had each been charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The five were NHL players when the charges were laid. The league issued a statement following the verdict that it still found their actions “unacceptable”. Those five remain ineligible to play in the NHL pending a review of the case by the league.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2025

by | Jun 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2025

The Panthers defeat the Oilers to tie the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars fire head coach Pete DeBoer, a plethora of other coaching moves, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

PANTHERS DEFEAT OILERS IN GAME 2 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

NHL.COM: A double-overtime goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at a game apiece.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

The goal was Marchand’s second of the game, making the 37-year-old winger the second-oldest player in Stanley Cup playoff history to score in multiple overtime periods. Hall-of-Famer Igor Larionov was 41 when he tallied for the Detroit Red Wings in triple overtime of Game 3 in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 42 shots, Seth Jones had a goal and an assist, and Nate Schmidt and Anton Lundell each collected two assists for the Panthers. Stuart Skinner made 37 saves, Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid each had three points, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist for the Oilers.

This contest was a see-saw battle with the Oilers holding a 3-2 lead after the first period, only to see the Panthers dominate the second period to go up 4-3. The Oilers battled back with Corey Perry sending it to overtime with 18 seconds remaining in the third period, but the Panthers maintained their poise and are heading home having earned a split in Edmonton.

Game 3 is Monday in Florida at 8 pm ET.

HEADLINES

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars fired head coach Pete DeBoer on Friday. The move comes just over a week after they were eliminated from the Western Conference Final for the third straight year, and days after team owner Tom Gagliardi shot down reports from Canada that DeBoer was out. He has a year remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBoer did a fine job coaching the Stars into a Western Conference powerhouse, but failed to guide them past the Conference Finals. He seemed to lose his cool during the final game against the Oilers, creating confusion among his players after pulling goaltender Jake Oettinger early in the game, and blaming his players afterward for the club’s elimination.

Candidates to replace DeBoer are already being floated by pundits, with the usual suspects (John Tortorella, Peter Laviolette, Gerard Gallant, Jay Woodcroft) popping up. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pursue a former NHL bench boss, hire away an assistant coach from another club, promote from within, or bring in a coach from the minor league or junior ranks.

Speaking of coaching moves…

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired former Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Dan Hinote left the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate to join the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach. He was the associate coach of the Colorado Eagles this season. He previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken fired assistant coach Dave Lowry and goaltending coach Steve Briere.

THE PROVINCE: On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks announced the hiring of Kevin Dean, Brett McLean and Scott Young as assistant coaches. They also announced assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky, defensive development coach Sergei Gonchar, and video coach Dylan Crawford won’t be back.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Svejkovsky is reuniting with former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia as part of the Flyers’ coaching staff.

THE DENVER POST: Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor is expected to be sidelined for the next five to six months after undergoing hip surgery for the second time in two years.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen also underwent hip surgery. There is no timetable for his recovery.

The Rochester Americans are mourning the death of former AHL and NHL winger Scott Metcalfe, who passed away on Friday at age 58.

Metcalfe spent most of his 15-year professional career in the minor leagues. A first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 NHL Draft, he played 19 games over three seasons (1987-88 to 1989-90) with the Oilers and Buffalo Sabres. Metcalfe spent nine seasons with the Americans, winning the Calder Cup in 1996. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2006.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Metcalfe’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Americans’ organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 19, 2025

by | Feb 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 19, 2025

The latest 4 Nations Face-Off updates, plus updates on Thatcher Demko, Evgeni Malkin, Jacob Markstrom and more as NHL teams return to practice in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

LATEST 4 NATIONS FACE-OFF NEWS

DAILY FACEOFF: Team USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy is listed as week-to-week following a procedure to address an infection stemming from a minor upper-body injury. He was ruled out of Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between the United States and Canada.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a big blow for the Americans and the Boston Bruins. His absence could jeopardize the latter’s efforts to secure a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

NHL.COM: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes was expected to join Team USA following the news about McAvoy’s condition. However, that doesn’t appear to be a certainty after Hughes practiced with his Canucks teammates in a non-contact jersey on Tuesday.

Hughes missed the Canucks’ final four games before the tournament with a lower-body injury. He said he “felt pretty good” during his skate on Tuesday. However, he acknowledged that tournament rules forbid him from joining Team USA unless another American defenseman was injured.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the situation remained fluid whether Hughes will join Team USA in Boston. Stay tuned.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson replaced McAvoy in the American lineup in Monday’s 2-1 loss to Sweden. If Hughes can’t join the roster, Sanderson will remain in that role for the championship game against the Canadians.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley joined Team Canada for Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Americans because Shea Theodore was injured earlier in the tournament and Cale Makar was sidelined by illness.

Makar returned to action for Canada’s 5-3 win over Finland on Monday, meaning Harley couldn’t play in that game and won’t play in the championship game unless another Canadian defenseman is sidelined by injury or illness.

OTTAWA SUN: The Tkachuk brothers and Auston Matthews are expected to play for Team USA on Thursday. Matthew Tkachuk and Matthews missed Monday’s loss to Sweden with injuries while Brady left that game for precautionary reasons after crashing into the Swedish net.

NHL HEADLINES

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

TSN: Speaking of the Canucks, they signed Drew O’Connor to a two-year, $5 million contract extension. The average annual value is $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks acquired O’Connor and defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 1. Five days later, Pettersson signed a six-year, $33 million extension.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust returned to practice with their teammates on Tuesday. Both are on injured reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could be taken off IR before Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is expected to return to the lineup after missing 19 games with a lower-body injury. The Avs’ next game is Saturday against the Nashville Predators.

ROTOWIRE: New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He’s expected to return to action by early or mid-March.

DAILY FACEOFF: Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler underwent a procedure to address a lower-body ailment. He will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators forwards Josh Norris and Shane Pinto remain sidelined by injuries as their teammates returned to practice on Tuesday. Both players skated on their own but it seems doubtful that they’ll be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres forward Jordan Greenway is set to return after being sidelined since Dec. 20 following surgery for a middle-body injury.

CALGARY SUN: Flames center Connor Zary and defenseman Kevin Bahl practiced with their teammates yesterday. A knee injury sidelined Zary since Jan. 7. Bahl had been out since Jan. 25 with an upper-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nashville Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season. He was sidelined since Dec. 31 by a lower-body injury.

TSN: Speaking of the Predators, they acquired minor-league forward Grigori Denisenko from the Vegas Golden Knights for future considerations.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 2, 2025

by | Feb 2, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 2, 2025

The latest on Elias Pettersson and the Canucks, the Rangers’ plans after acquiring J.T. Miller, and the latest on the Flames, Blues and Stars in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON ELIAS PETTERSSON AND THE CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the speculation around Elias Pettersson can calm down after the Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers on Friday. The Canucks are determined to see how things go for the 26-year-old center and hope that he returns to his high-scoring form.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Friedman also noted that the Canucks are eager to sign Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to contract extensions. The pair were acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance believes Pettersson is now off the trade block. However, he speculates the Canucks could revisit this in the offseason if Pettersson continues to struggle. His no-movement clause kicks in on July 1.

Drance also reports the Canucks are confident they can re-sign Pettersson and O’Connor and intend to open contract talks as soon as possible.

Following the Canucks moves on Friday, Drance believes their biggest priority is finding another credible first-line or top-six caliber center. He anticipates they’ll be shopping for an upgrade at center leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. Drance also thinks the club’s performance in the coming weeks will determine what they do by the deadline.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington doubts the Sabres will end their pursuit of Pettersson following the Miller trade. He speculates the Canucks could hang onto him as they push for a playoff berth and look to move him around the draft in June.

Trade rumors linked Sabres center Dylan Cozens and defenseman Bowen Byram to the Canucks as a potential return for Pettersson. Harrington thinks Cozens might jump at the chance to play in Vancouver as it would be closer to his family in Whitehorse, Yukon. Trading BC native Bowen Byram would be more troublesome for the Sabres given his chemistry with defense partner Rasmus Dahlin.

Harrington also believes the Columbus Blue Jackets could be interested in Pettersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s performance and that of the Canucks over the remainder of this season will determine if he pops up as an offseason trade candidate.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE RANGERS AFTER ACQUIRING MILLER?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers are projected to have $16.5 million of trade deadline cap space following Friday’s acquisition of J.T. Miller.

Brooks believes Rangers GM Chris Drury isn’t done making roster changes. He believes those moves will be “of the short-term variety” and will be dictated by the club’s performance before the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament and leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.

FLAMES NOT SHOPPING ANDERSSON, KADRI AND WEEGAR

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Calgary Flames are jockeying for a playoff spot, meaning they aren’t listening to trade offers for defensemen Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar and center Nazem Kadri.

Kadri and Weegar are on long-term contracts but Andersson has a year left on his deal and will be eligible for UFA status at the end of 2025-26. The Flames are telling teams that they’re confident they can re-sign him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri has a full no-movement clause until 2026-27 while Weegar has a full no-trade clause until 2027-28. Both maintained that they want to stay in Calgary and help the retooling Flames become a playoff contender.

Andersson has spent his entire NHL career with the Flames, but he has also said he wants to stay in the Stampede City.

UPDATE ON THE BLUES

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford looked at which members of the St. Louis Blues could be on the move after terminating Brandon Saad’s contract last week.

Blueliners Justin Faulk and Ryan Suter appear to be the most likely trade candidates. Rutherford doesn’t see them moving defenseman Cam Fowler and checking-line center Radek Faksa as he believes their current value to the Blues is higher than whatever return they might fetch in the trade market.

STARS COULD ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN GRANLUND AND CECI

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill intends to speak with forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci about contract extensions. The duo were acquired from the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and are UFA-eligible in July.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 15, 2024

by | Nov 15, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 15, 2024

Check out the latest on the Sabres, Predators and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Darren Dreger believes trade talk among NHL general managers is bound to heat up soon. Teams are reaching the 20-game mark in the schedule, American Thanksgiving is upcoming and the general managers recently concluded a meeting in Toronto.

Dreger is keeping an eye on three GMs who seem more eager to talk trade: Kevyn Adams of the Buffalo Sabres, Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators, and Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

According to Dreger, Adams is “willing to consider something bigger” but doesn’t want to trade away any of his top young talent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dreger also said he doesn’t think anything’s imminent for the Sabres. However, he pointed out that Adams has a good pool of prospects to draw on for trade bait. Dreger also mentioned that Bowen Byram has come up in the rumor mill but he doesn’t see Adams trading the defenseman unless it’s for a “can’t-miss” return.

Meanwhile, Jason Moser of Buffalo Hockey Now wondered if the St. Louis Blues might be a trade partner for the Sabres. He noted the Blues are struggling of late and GM Doug Armstrong isn’t afraid to make moves to shake things up. Moser suggested wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Brandon Saad as options who could help the Sabres.

Dreger noted the Predators have multiple first-round picks and a couple of second-rounders. Trotz wants to add long-term solutions in Nashville.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has three first-rounders in the 2025 NHL Draft. One is from the Vegas Golden Knights, the other from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Three guesses as to which pick rival GMs will be most interested in?

As for Dubas, Dreger said he wants young NHL players and draft picks to build for a better future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said almost the same thing but also included “already-drafted prospects”.

Penguins veteran center Evgeni Malkin recently told reporters he has no interest in getting traded amid rumors of a roster teardown. “It’s my second home here,” he said. “I’m glad to be here. It doesn’t matter if we win or we lost,” adding that he wants to be “always together” with long-time teammates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. The trio carry full no-movement clauses so don’t hold your breath expecting one of them to accept a trade.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols suggests the Devils keep an eye on Penguins wingers Drew O’Connor and Anthony Beauvillier in the trade market if Dubas becomes a seller.

The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal recently wondered if Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson would be a fit with the Vancouver Canucks.