NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

The latest on the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Chris Johnston said the Vancouver Canucks still want to add a center, but if they can’t fill that position immediately, they’d like to add another forward.

Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, likes to get the jump on the trade deadline. Johnston wondered if it would be wise to move pending unrestricted free-agent forward Kiefer Sherwood now or wait until the March 6 trade deadline, when he might fetch a first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood’s team-leading 12 goals have him on pace for a career-best 40. If he maintains that production, a contender could overpay for him by the trade deadline.

Johnston believes management is trying to make their changes as palatable as possible to put themselves in a good position to sell superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes on their long-term plans.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he has an excellent relationship with Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin. Despite management’s willingness to become a seller in the trade market, the Canucks captain isn’t giving up on this season. Whether he’s willing to sign a contract extension after this season remains to be seen.

The struggling Calgary Flames prefer to hang onto Nazem Kadri, but Johnston thinks the veteran center must decide if he wants to consider a move elsewhere at some point. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson is a pending UFA who will get increased attention in the trade market. Winger Blake Coleman has a year left on his deal, and he’s drawing some interest around the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coleman said he’s heard the trade rumors but shrugged them off as part of the job. His Stanley Cup pedigree and gritty two-way style could make him a valuable trade chip by the deadline, but the number of trade partners will be limited by his 10-team approved trade list.

Johnston also noted the rumors linking the Edmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. He acknowledged Jarry’s bounce-back performance this season and his ties to Edmonton.

Whether it’s Jarry or somebody else, Johnston believes the Oilers must address their goaltending situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That somebody else could be Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, who was also linked to the Oilers this week. However, there is no indication that the Blues are shopping him, and the Oilers could be on his 10-team no-trade list. The same can also be said of Jarry and the Penguins.

Even if Binnington were available and willing to go to Edmonton, the Oilers lack the cap space to take on his $6 million AAV through 2026-27. It would require a significant sweetener to get the Blues to retain half of Binnington’s cap hit, and to take on a salaried player from the Oilers in the deal.

Turning to the Canadiens, Johnston said they’re trying to add a top-six forward, but they’ve encountered difficulty in a trade market with little activity. Unless they can find some external help, they’ll have to look within.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TVA Sports’ Marc de Foy noted the recent rumors claiming the Canadiens are interested in Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, but he considers the reported asking price of a first-round pick and a top prospect to be too expensive. However, his colleague Jean-Charles Lajoie believes the Canadiens should overpay “a little” to get O’Reilly, suggesting they offer up defenseman Kaiden Guhle.

It’s been noted that O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but it’s also been reported that the Predators will treat him as though he does. All this chatter linking him to the Canadiens could be a moot point if he has no interest in going to Montreal.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has a well-earned reputation for being patient and not overpaying for talent. It would be surprising if he changed tactics now. Rather than pursue an aging veteran like O’Reilly, Hughes could have his sights set on Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 27, 2025

Are the Oilers interested in the Blues’ Jordan Binnington or the Penguins’ Tristan Jarry? What’s the latest on the Canucks, Predators, Flames, Stars, and Mammoth? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OILERS LINKED TO BINNINGTON AND JARRY

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples referred to a recent list of trade targets by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, where the latter claimed the “strongest speculation” tied the Oilers to St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.

Kypreos observed that the 32-year-old Binnington has one season remaining on his contract, and he’s unlikely to be part of any roster retooling by the Blues. He speculated the deal would see the Oilers ship their current starter, Stuart Skinner, to St. Louis in the deal. Kypreos said that they’re also seeing if they can pry a defenseman away from the Blues.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (NHL Images).

Staples pointed out that Binnington carries an average annual value of $6 million, while Skinner is on an expiring contract with an AAV of $2.6 million. He thinks they will have to include a significant sweetener in the deal to convince the Blues to retain part of Binnington’s cap hit.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted that Kypreos’ rumor about Binnington to the Oilers “stirred up a hornet’s nest”. He pointed out the Oilers can’t trade for the veteran netminder without his permission, even if the Blues were willing to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington has a 14-team no-trade list, and the Oilers could be on it. Even if he were willing to go to Edmonton, the cap-strapped Oilers can’t afford him without either moving out a lot of salary in the deal or giving up what few decent assets they have among their promising young players to make it happen.

Staples pointed out that Binnington’s stats are worse than Skinner’s this season. What’s also worth noting is that the Oilers’ sloppy defensive play this season has contributed to Skinner’s struggles, so Binnington probably wouldn’t fare much better.

Meanwhile, Staples noted that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is claiming the Oilers might be interested in acquiring netminder Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Weekes reminded everyone that Jarry played in Edmonton for the WHL’s Oil Kings during his junior days.

Friedman and Oilers insider Bob Stauffer believe the Jarry rumor makes more sense. The Penguins are carrying four goaltenders and are dealing from a position of strength. However, Stauffer noted the difficulty the capped-out Oilers would face trying to add to their roster.

Staples indicated that Jarry carries an AAV of $5.375 million through 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry’s cap hit isn’t as hefty as Binnington’s but has more term left on his contract. He also has a history of inconsistent play, spending several weeks playing for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate last season. He got off to a good start to this season before suffering an injury, but he picked up the win in his first game back last night against the Buffalo Sabres.

The same cap issues apply, not to mention Jarry’s 12-team no-trade list could also complicate things.

Trading for Binnington or Jarry would be risky for the Oilers. It could work out better than expected, or it could only make things worse. Given the few options available, they risk overpaying for either guy.

RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: In addition to the Binnington rumor, Elliotte Friedman touched on the Vancouver Canucks becoming sellers in the trade market.

He indicated that Quinn Hughes isn’t available, stating that several sources have pushed back hard on the notion that the 26-year-old superstar defenseman has already decided he won’t re-sign with the Canucks. Still, at some point, the Canucks and Hughes will have to discuss his future.

Pending UFA winger Kiefer Sherwood will garner plenty of interest. There is probably little desire by the Canucks to trade blueliner Filip Hronek, and Friedman doesn’t think Tyler Myers will waive his no-movement clause during this season. They also prefer to retain winger Conor Garland.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current theory regarding Hughes is that he could seek a trade as early as the March trade deadline if the Canucks haven’t improved by then.

The real issue is whether he’s willing to sign an extension. If he doesn’t, the Canucks will entertain trade offers. They could wait until the offseason, when teams will have more cap space and a willingness to make a big trade for a superstar such as Hughes.

Like the Canucks, the Nashville Predators are exploring the trade market. There are teams interested in Ryan O’Reilly, but he’s got a big say in any move. Friedman also dismissed the Filip Forsberg trade theories and doesn’t see the Predators being willing to retain salary in any deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are treating him as though he does. They’re not trading Forsberg unless he wants out, and there’s no indication that he does. He has a full no-movement clause.

The Calgary Flames won’t make any short-term moves to save their season. “If it’s a high pick, they will take it.”

Goalie-hungry teams will be watching Laurent Brossoit’s return from knee and hip surgeries that have sidelined him since April 2024. There’s no room for him with the Chicago Blackhawks now.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill remains confident he can afford to re-sign Jason Robertson when they already have an expensive Mikko Rantanen on their roster.

The Utah Mammoth would like to add to its roster. They have plenty of draft picks and prospects to draw on for trade capital.

Friedman believes free-agent forward Robby Fabbri could land with a new NHL club soon. The Ottawa Senators were among the rumored teams, but it won’t be with them.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2025

A milestone game for Stars captain Jamie Benn as the Oilers suffer another lopsided loss, a brief look at league attendance thus far this season, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his 400th career NHL regular-season goal in an 8-3 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers in the only game on Tuesday’s schedule. Benn finished with two points, Wyatt Johnston had a goal and three assists, Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists, and Nate Bastian tallied twice for the 14-5-4 Stars, who’ve won seven of their last 10 games.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn (NHL Images).

Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled in the first period after giving up four goals on eight shots. Backup Calvin Pickard allowed four goals on 22 shots as the Oilers dropped to 10-10-5 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were booed off the ice in their first home game in two weeks. After the game, Leon Draisaitl admitted his club’s ongoing defensive woes were “very concerning.” With 25 points, the Oilers are two points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. They still have time to sort out their issues and rise in the standings, and they have rebounded before from poor early-season performances. However, there’s a feeling that a bounce-back effort could be more difficult this time.

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and James Mirtle examined the NHL’s attendance through the first third of this season’s schedule.

They found that half the league’s 16 teams are hitting 98 percent capacity or higher. Topping the list are the Vegas Golden Knights (102.3 percent), followed by the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dallas Stars, all at or above 100 percent.

Other clubs among that group include the New Jersey Devils (99.9 percent), Vancouver Canucks (99.6), Edmonton Oilers (99.6), Detroit Red Wings (99.4), Montreal Canadiens (99.3), Toronto Maple Leafs (98.7), New York Rangers (98.2), and Carolina Hurricanes (98.1).

The Pittsburgh Penguins are among those below 90 percent capacity (89.9 percent), followed by the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Buffalo Sabres.

Compared to this time last season, the Sharks have seen the most significant improvement in attendance, with an average increase of 2,056. They’re followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets (1,079) and the Buffalo Sabres (1,072).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that most of those teams with the highest attendance are those that are among the most successful, while those below 90 percent are rebuilding teams or those that missed the playoffs last season.

Notably, the Predators remain well-supported despite their poor performance since last season. The Kraken’s improved play this season likely accounts for their full houses thus far.

Keep an eye on the Sharks as this season progresses. Led by young superstar Macklin Celebrini, they’ve improved significantly through the opening quarter, drawing more fans as a result. Their attendance could keep rising if they maintain that current pace and remain in playoff contention throughout the season.

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot was fined $5,000.00 by the department of player safety for butt-ending New Jersey Devils blueliner Simon Nemec during Monday’s game between the two clubs.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen didn’t travel with the team for their upcoming California road trip. He is staying at home for personal reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were already without sidelined starter Thatcher Demko. They’ve recalled Jiri Patera, who will join fellow call-up Nikita Tolopilo.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry and winger Bryan Rust are expected to be available for Wednesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Jarry’s been out since Nov. 3 with an undisclosed injury, while Rust missed two straight practices with an illness.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Minnesota Wild forward Vinnie Hinostroza is out for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle) was placed on injured reserve.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta is returning to the lineup after missing 17 games with a lower-body injury.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers placed forward Juuso Parssinen on waivers.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL goaltender Alexandar Georgiev signed a two-year contract with KHL team Spartak Moscow. His contract with the Buffalo Sabres was terminated on Monday, allowing him to make the move to the KHL.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues released winger Milan Lucic from his AHL professional tryout contract.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2025

The Flyers set a franchise record against the Devils, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached a points milestone, Lightning winger Brandon Hagel had a four-point performance, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers scored four first-period goals, including three in 26 seconds, in a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Tyson Foerster tallied twice in 17 seconds, and Noah Cates had a goal and two assists for the 11-6-3 Flyers. Nico Hischier scored two goals and set up another as the Devils (13-7-1) dropped their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers set a franchise record for the fastest three goals in one period.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for his 500th career multipoint game in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Montour scored in overtime, and Mason Marchment had a goal and an assist as the Kraken improved to 11-5-5. Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins (10-6-5), who have one win in their last six games (1-2-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is sixth on the all-time multipoint games list. Wayne Gretzky leads with 824 games, followed by Jaromir Jagr (540), Marcel Dionne and Mark Messier (513), and Gordie Howe (511).

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel scored two goals and collected two assists in a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists as the Lightning (12-7-2) extended their winning streak to three games. Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-2 Capitals as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov and teammate Brayden Point left this game with undisclosed injuries. There was no postgame update regarding their statuses. Meanwhile, Capitals forward Nic Dowd missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood made 35 saves to shut out the Nashville Predators 3-0. Nathan MacKinnon scored to extend his points streak to 12 games as the league-leading Avalanche (15-1-5, 35 points) extended its win streak to eight games. Juuse Saros stopped 23 of 24 shots as the Predators (6-11-4) have lost seven of their last eight contests (1-5-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators captain Roman Josi returned to action after being sidelined since late October with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Avalanche announced that forward Gavin Brindley is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings got an overtime goal from Alex DeBrincat as they overcame a 3-1 deficit to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Cam Talbot stopped 31 shots, and defensemen Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot each had a goal and an assist for the Detroit Red Wings, who improved to 13-8-1 and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 27 points. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets (11-8-3).

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington made 30 saves as his club held off the New York Islanders by a score of 2-1. Brayden Schenn and Pius Suter scored for the 7-9-6 Blues, who ended a four-game winless skid (0-1-3). Anders Lee replied for the Islanders (12-8-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues placed forward Alexandre Texier on unconditional waivers for contract termination. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are believed to be the front-runners, with the Canadiens considered the favorites to sign him. The 26-year-old winger is in his seventh NHL season. He’s a speedy two-way checking-line forward whose best season was a 30-point performance with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24.

Speaking of the Canadiens, they picked up their first win in two weeks with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Noah Dobson and Josh Anderson each tallied twice for the Canadiens, who improved to 11-7-3 after dropping seven of their previous eight games (1-4-3). William Nylander had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who dropped to 9-10-3 and have lost seven of their last eight contests (1-5-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Edmonton Oilers got two goals from Jack Roslovic to defeat the Florida Panthers 6-3 in their first game since facing each other in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Stuart Skinner kicked out 35 shots, and blueliners Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm each had three points for the 10-9-5 Oilers, ending their three-game losing skid. Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich each had a goal and an assist as the Panthers dropped to 11-9-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s expected to travel with the team on Sunday and play in Monday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle snapped a 2-2 tie to give his club a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. He also collected an assist to finish the game with two points as the Senators (11-6-4) picked up their third win in four games. John Klingberg and Barclay Goodrow replied for the 10-9-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to action after missing three games with an upper-body injury. However, he left this contest in the third period after reinjuring himself.

The Utah Mammoth nipped the New York Rangers 3-2 on a third-period goal by Nick DeSimone. JJ Peterka and Clayton Keller also scored for the 11-8-3 Mammoth, ending a four-game winless skid (0-1-3). Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who’ve lost four straight games and dropped to 10-11-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain J.T. Miller missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier scored in overtime in a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Gauthier, Troy Terry, and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist as the Ducks improved to 14-7-1, sitting in first place in the Pacific Division with 29 points. Jack Eichel had two assists for the Golden Knights (10-4-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitch Marner was the goat of this game as his turnover in front of his own net led to Gauthier’s game-winner.

The Calgary Flames upset the Dallas Stars 3-2 on a shootout goal by Nazem Kadri. Matt Coronato scored to extend his goal streak to four games for the 7-13-3 Flames. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the 13-5-4 Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars winger Mikko Rantanen received his second game misconduct in three games for boarding Coronato.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 16, 2025

Multi-point games by the Stars’ Jason Robertson and Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl highlight a busy Saturday in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A natural hat trick by Jason Robertson powered the Dallas Stars to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Roope Hintz collected three assists as the Stars (12-4-3) won their fifth straight game. Christian Dvorak scored for the 9-6-3 Flyers.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Thomas Harley missed this game as he’s out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored twice and collected an assist, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists (including the winning goal in overtime) to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Stuart Skinner made 33 saves as the Oilers improved to 9-7-4. Eric Robinson, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Jordan Staal scored for the 12-5-1 Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis returned to action after being clipped in the eye by a stick in Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi remains sidelined with an ankle injury suffered in the same game. Oilers winger Zach Hyman collected an assist in his season debut after recovering from a dislocated wrist.

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 4-1 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 5-4, snapping a five-game losing skid. Tage Thompson and Josh Doan had a goal and an assist for the 6-8-4 Sabres. Alex DeBrincat tallied twice and Lucas Raymond picked up three assists for the Red Wings (10-7-1), who’ve dropped four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had two assists as he rejoined his teammates after returning from a leave of absence to spend time with his fiancee, who is recovering from a heart transplant during the summer. Sabres blueliner Michael Kesselring left this game at the end of the second period with a lower-body injury.

Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 28 shots for his second straight shutout in a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who improved to 8-7-4. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves for the Ducks (11-6-1), who’ve lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko missed this game with a lower-body injury.

The Los Angeles Kings blanked the Ottawa Senators 1-0, picking up their fourth straight victory. Anton Forsberg made 17 saves for the shutout, and Alex Laferriere tallied the only goal as the 10-5-4 Kings picked up their fourth straight win and vaulted over the Ducks into first place in the Pacific Division with 24 points. Linus Ullmark turned aside 17 shots for the 9-6-4 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had two assists, and goalie Jeremy Swayman made 26 saves to hold off the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. Viktor Arvidsson scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as the Bruins (12-8-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 24 points. Cole Caufield netted his 13th goal of the season as the 10-6-2 Canadiens dropped their third straight game, slipping into second place behind the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston went seven-for-seven on the penalty kill, including two 5-on-3 situations. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy left the game in the second period after being struck in the jaw by a shot from Montreal defenseman Noah Dobson.

Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Jack Finlay’s first NHL goal was the game-winner in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 shots for the Lightning (9-6-2), who’ve won eight of their last 10 games. Brad Marchand scored to extend his points streak to 10 games for the 9-8-1 Panthers.

A shootout goal by Simon Nemec lifted the New Jersey Devils over the Washington Capitals 3-2. Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist for the 13-4-1 Devils, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 27 points. Alex Ovechkin and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist as the Capitals (8-8-2) overcame a 2-0 deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Devils announced that center Jack Hughes will miss the next eight weeks following successful finger surgery. Hughes slipped and fell and cut himself on some glass during a recent team dinner. The Devils also announced that forward Cody Glass is week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 24 shots, and J.T. Miller scored in a shootout to squeak past the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Mika Zibanejad scored in regulation for the Rangers, who have won four of their last five and improved to 10-7-2. Jet Greaves made 31 saves and Kirill Marchenko collected an assist to extend his points streak to 11 games for the Blue Jackets (9-7-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Will Borgen missed this game with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Blue Jackets placed sidelined captain Boone Jenner (upper body) on injured reserve.

Third-period goals by Teuvo Teravainen and Colton Dach lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Spencer Knight kicked out 31 shots for the Blackhawks (9-5-4), who’ve won four of their last five contests. Joseph Woll made 29 saves in his season debut with the Maple Leafs, who slipped to 8-9-2 and are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno left this game in the second period after injuring his hand blocking a shot. He’s expected to be sidelined for four weeks. Earlier in the day, the Maple Leafs claimed defenseman Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers and placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, center David Kampf signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, one day after his contract with the Maple Leafs was terminated.

The Vegas Golden Knights downed the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Rookie Braeden Bowman’s first NHL goal was the game-winner while Pavel Dorofeyev and Reilly Smith each collected two assists for the 8-4-5 Golden Knights, snapping a four-game winless skid. Philip Broberg replied for the Blues, who’ve dropped three of their last four games and slipped to 6-9-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have assigned goaltender Carter Hart to their AHL affiliate in Henderson, Nevada, for a conditioning stint.

A shootout goal by Gabriel Vilardi gave the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 31 shots while Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey each collected two assists for the 11-7-0 Jets. Matt Coronato had a goal and an assist for the 5-12-3 Flames.

Seattle Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 19 shots in relief of an injured Matt Murray to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1. Jaden Schwartz tallied two goals and Chandler Stephenson had three assists for the 9-4-5 Kraken. Alexander Wennberg replied for the 8-8-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murray left the game toward the end of the first period with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Kraken placed winger Kaapo Kakko (lower body) on injured reserve and activated forward Frederick Gaudreau.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 15, 2025

The Predators beat the Penguins in the first games of their Global Series, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer makes history with an overtime goal, and the latest injury updates in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Steven Stamkos lifted the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of their two-game Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden. The Predators (6-9-4) overcame a 1-0 deficit as Filip Forsberg scored late in the third period to send the game to overtime. Evgeni Malkin scored for the 9-5-4 Penguins.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).

New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer became the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal (18 years, 70 days) to nip the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin also scored for the Islanders (10-6-2), who picked up their fourth straight win. JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther scored for the 10-7-1 Mammoth, who have dropped four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer sits atop this season’s rookie scoring race with 15 points in 18 games.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Sebastian Aho. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice and collected an assist, and Shayne Gostisbehere picked up three assists as the Hurricanes improved to 12-5-0. Center Elias Pettersson had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (8-9-2), who are winless in their last three contests (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forwards Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi left this game with injuries. Jarvis was accidentally clipped in the eye by Svechnikov’s stick in the first period, but he’s not expected to miss much time. Kotkaniemi left after the first period with a lower-body injury.

Earlier in the day, the Canucks placed goaltender Thatcher Demko (lower body) on injured reserve.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras had two goals and an assist in regulation and tallied the only goal in the shootout in a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Blues. Owen Tippett had a goal and three assists, and Christian Dvorak also had two goals and an assist for the 9-5-3 Flyers. Richard Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Jimmy Snuggerud each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who dropped to 6-8-4.

INJURY UPDATES

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs recalled goaltender Joseph Woll from his AHL conditioning stint, and placed captain Auston Matthews (lower body) on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW/CBS SPORTS: Devils center Jack Hughes suffered a hand injury during a team dinner on Thursday when he slipped and cut his hand in a fluke accident. He’s not expected to play against the Washington Capitals on Saturday and will continue to be evaluated.

Meanwhile, the Devils placed forward Connor Brown (upper body) on injured reserve.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens winger Alex Newhook underwent surgery on Friday to repair a fractured ankle. He is expected to be sidelined for four months. The Canadiens also announced that defenseman Kaiden Guhle will be out for 8 to 10 weeks with a partially torn adductor muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will test the depth of the young Canadiens roster. Newhook was off to a terrific start before this injury with 12 points in 17 games. Guhle’s been out since Oct. 16.

TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings goaltender John Gibson returned to practice on Friday after leaving Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. He revealed he’d left due to a headache after being struck by two shots off his facemask.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed defenseman Troy Stecher on waivers and demoted winger Isaac Howard to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. The moves were made to create room for winger Zach Hyman and blueliner Alec Regula, who are both returning from injuries.