NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 13, 2025

by | Nov 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 13, 2025

New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec sets a league record, Rangers winger Artemi Panarin has a four-point performance, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec became the youngest blueliner in league history to tally a hat trick and an overtime goal in the same game in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Nemec netted the winning goal on a heads-up play by goaltender Jacob Markstrom, as he caught Chicago on a line change with a long pass to his 21-year-old teammate. Blackhawks center Connor Bedard scored to extend his points streak to nine games.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Devils (12-4-1) widened their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings with 25 points, three more than the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks (8-5-4) picked up a point and hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 20 points.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin collected four assists as his club defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3. Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle each tallied twice, and Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves for the Rangers as they improved to 9-7-2. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy got the hook after giving up five goals on 13 shots as his club dropped to 8-6-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After netting seven points in his first 14 games of the season, Panarin has nine points in his last four contests. Meanwhile, the Rangers signed goaltender Spencer Martin to a two-year contract. He must pass through waivers before joining the team.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jack Roslovic scored in overtime for the second straight game in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Evan Bouchard also scored, and Stuart Skinner turned aside 20 shots for the Oilers, who improved their record to 8-6-4. Matvei Michkov scored, and teammate Dan Vladar stopped 30 shots for the Flyers (8-5-3) as they extended their points streak to four games (2-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers winger Tyson Foerster returned to action after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury.

The Utah Mammoth overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and JJ Peterka each had a goal and an assist as the Mammoth (10-7-0) ended a three-game losing skid. Isak Rosen tallied both goals for the 5-7-4 Sabres, who are winless in their last four contests (0-3-1).

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will be out two to three weeks with a lower-body injury. It is unrelated to his previous injury that sidelined him for three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Demko’s injury history, signing goalie Kevin Lankinen to a five-year contract extension in February remains a shrewd move by Canucks management.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Canucks also activated rookie forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (undisclosed) off injured reserve, and have assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is expected to miss some games after suffering a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin missed 21 games last season with a lower-body injury.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot is being evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game with the Dallas Stars. He won’t be suiting up for Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are hoping Chabot won’t be sidelined for long. They’re already missing winger and team captain Brady Tkachuk, who is sidelined due to surgery last month on his right thumb.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vegas Golden Knights placed center William Karlsson (lower body) on injured reserve.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Adam Erne will be sidelined for multiple weeks with a lower-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals promoted Patrick Wellar to assistant coach on a full-time basis. He replaced Mitch Love, who was relieved of his duties following a league investigation into past allegations regarding his conduct and behavior.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2025

by | Nov 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2025

The latest speculation on the Blues, Oilers, Rangers, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford confirmed a recent report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli claiming that St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has told his peers that he’s “open for business.” However, Rutherford points out that Armstrong has done that in previous seasons and made no significant subtractions from his roster.

A league source told Rutherford that one NHL club contacted the Blues about Jordan Kyrou after the winger was a healthy scratch against the Buffalo Sabres last week. It’s not known if the Blues are shopping the 28-year-old Kyrou, who was the subject of trade speculation last summer before his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1.

St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn (NHL Images)

Rutherford suggested Brayden Schenn as another trade possibility. He drew plenty of interest leading up to last season’s trade deadline, but told the Blues he wanted to stay. However, he might reconsider given the way this season is going.

Finding a suitable trade partner will be difficult at this stage of the season because most clubs are still settling into the season and aren’t sure what type of deals they want to make.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t expect Kyrou will be the first player out the door if the Blues become sellers. He believes it’ll be Schenn, based on the limited number of available centers in the trade market and the interest in the 34-year-old Blues captain at last season’s trade deadline.

Seravalli believes the Blues should bolster their defense corps if they make a foray into the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong is willing to listen to offers, but it’s still too early to consider him a seller. He’s seen this club dig itself out of deep holes in the standings before with many of the current players, and he’ll likely allow them to do so again. They’re only four points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

However, if the Blues continue to struggle and fall further out of contention, Armstrong could become more motivated to shake things up. Schenn could be easier to move than Kyrou, given the latter has full no-trade protection while the former has a 15-team no-trade list.

LATEST ON THE OILERS, RANGERS, AND MAPLE LEAFS

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli wondered how the Edmonton Oilers would improve their goaltending given their limited salary-cap space and trade capital. He noted that some observers have suggested that they attempt to acquire Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators.

However, Seravalli doesn’t consider Saros the answer for the Oilers. He pointed out that the 30-year-old Predators goalie carries an eight-year contract to age 38, his stats haven’t been good, and his size and ability to win in the playoffs remain a big question.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Saros suggestion is coming from some desperate Oilers followers. Some of them are the same group that thought Connor Ingram was the answer to their goaltending woes.

Seravalli made good points about why Saros is unattainable for the Oilers and why he’s not much of an improvement over their current starter Stuart Skinner. What’s overlooked is the fact that Saros has a full no-movement clause, which he probably doesn’t want to waive because he wants to stay in Nashville. He wouldn’t have signed that eight-year deal if he didn’t.

Seravalli believes the New York Rangers’ poor early-season home record is merely an aberration, pointing out that they have a strong road record. He indicated how much their defense has improved in front of goaltender Igor Shesterkin and believes they could become a Stanley Cup contender if they can boost their scoring and improve their depth among their bottom-six forwards.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a long season, and the Rangers are still adjusting to the system of new head coach Mike Sullivan. General manager Chris Drury has been tinkering with his roster since last December. He could become a buyer if the Rangers move up among the top-four clubs in the Eastern Conference when January rolls around.

Seravalli reports that David Kampf continues to evaluate his options. The Toronto Maple Leafs have given the 30-year-old center permission to seek a trade, terminate his contract to seek a deal with another NHL team, or terminate his deal and head to Europe.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 11, 2025

by | Nov 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 11, 2025

Check out the latest on the Oilers and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE OILERS SHOP FOR A GOALTENDER?

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell examined what a trade to shake up the struggling Edmonton Oilers might look like. He speculated it could take moving one or more of Matthew Savoie, their 2027 first-round pick, and a veteran such as Adam Henrique or Brett Kulak to bring in a goaltender who might be an upgrade over current starter Stuart Skinner.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).

Mitchell suggested Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators if the latter would agree to take on Henrique and Skinner and retain part of Saros’ $7.74 million average annual value. A more prudent move would be replacing struggling backup goalie Calvin Pickard, perhaps by targeting Sebastian Cossa of the Detroit Red Wings.

A wild card would be Marc-Andre Fleury. He retired at the end of last season, but it might be prudent to monitor his situation in case he changes his mind by midseason.

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the clock is ticking for the Edmonton Oilers to resolve their goaltending woes. He believes Stuart Skinner’s time as their unchallenged starting goalie is over, citing the 26-year-old’s ongoing inconsistency. Spector called on general manager Stan Bowman to find an upgrade.

Spector acknowledged the difficulty Bowman would face. Saros has seven years remaining on his contract with the Predators. The St. Louis Blues might not wish to part with franchise goalie Jordan Binnington (whose stats are worse than Skinner’s). He also noted that Bowman missed the opportunity to land Scott Wedgewood and John Gibson during the summer, though the latter may not have wanted to come to Canada anyway.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer defending Skinner’s record and questioning if there was much of a goalie market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There isn’t much of a goalie market right now, which is why the Oilers haven’t replaced Skinner or Pickard.

Saros is a pipe dream right now. The Predators are struggling, but they’re not tearing down the roster and rebuilding at this point. Saros has a full no-movement clause and could be unwilling to waive it.

Cossa is an interesting suggestion, but the Red Wings aren’t likely to move out the guy they see as their future starter. Mitchell mentioned Michal Postava, but he’s more of a wild card than Fleury.

As for Fleury, he’s not changing his mind about retirement. He said as much after his brief appearance in a preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring his NHL career full circle.

THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn wondered if Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams would make a move in the trade market with forward Jiri Kulich sidelined indefinitely with a blood clot.

Finding a willing trade partner when the Eastern Conference is wide open won’t be easy. Not many teams are in sell mode yet. Some players that might interest the Sabres could be difficult to acquire if they have no-trade clauses.

Fairburn doesn’t see Adams shaking things up in a big way, but he believes the Sabres GM should try to do something to help his banged-up roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could take several weeks for the trade market to improve. By then, it might be too late to help the Sabres. For now, they must explore internal options or keep an eye on the waiver wire.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 11, 2025

by | Nov 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 11, 2025

The Oilers stage a comeback win, the Rangers finally win at home, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, and Duncan Keith highlight the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame inductions, the 3 stars of the week are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored twice, Jake Walman netted the tying goal, and Jack Roslovic scored in overtime as the Edmonton Oilers overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4. Walman finished with three points (including two goals) for the Oilers, who snapped a three-game winless skid (0-2-1) and improved to 7-6-4. Adam Fantilli and Boone Jenner each had a goal and an assist for the 7-7-1 Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last four (0-3-1).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers placed center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve, moved winger Kasperi Kapanen (undisclosed) on long-term injury reserve, and activated forward Mattias Janmark off injured reserve.

The New York Rangers picked up their first home win of the season by beating the Nashville Predators by a score of 6-3. Artemi Panarin tallied twice, and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers (8-7-2). Rookie forward Matthew Wood scored all three goals for the Predators, who are winless in five games (0-3-2) and dropped to 5-9-4 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck collected two assists as he returned to action after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Wood is among the few bright spots for the struggling Predators. The 20-year-old rookie winger sits third among their scorers and fifth among NHL freshmen with 10 points in 11 games.

An overtime goal by Mathew Barzal lifted the New York Islanders over the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves as the Islanders, who improved their record to 8-6-2. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist for the Devils (11-4-1), who collected a point and sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 23 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Zack MacEwen returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with an upper-body injury.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand extended his goal streak to five games in a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Jesper Boqvist and Sam Reinhart also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots for the 8-7-1 Panthers. Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev replied for the Golden Knights (7-4-4), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Former NHL stars Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Duncan Keith, and Alexander Mogilny were among those officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday.

Former women’s stars Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker were also inducted into the Players’ category. Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau were inducted into the Builders’ category.

Chara thanked fellow Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom for inspiring him as a player. He also thanked several of his Boston Bruins teammates, including Patrice Bergeron, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Keith thanked his mother for taking him to practices when he was a child. He also thanked Trent Yawney, his first coach with the Blackhawks, his long-time defense partner Brent Seabrook, and his son, Colton Keith.

Thornton thanked several Hall of Famers for inspiring him as a child and during his NHL career, including Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, Eric Lindros, and Steve Yzerman. He got emotional as he thanked his wife and children.

Mogilny didn’t attend the ceremony, but sent a video message thanking the teams he played for and their fans. He also joked that he had a shot of Russian vodka to celebrate, as he was unable to return to sleep after getting the call from the Hall at three in the morning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the HhoF Class of 2025. You can watch the full induction speeches by following the link above.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson were the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 9.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will miss a significant period of time this season due to a blood clot issue that is described as serious. Head coach Lindy Ruff expects Kulich to return later this season, depending on how things go over the next several weeks.

NESN: Boston Bruins center Casey Mittelstadt is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: San Jose Sharks defenseman Nick Leddy has been activated off injured reserve. He’s been sidelined since late October with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has been named GM of Canada’s 2025 Spengler Cup team. Bergevin is currently an advisor with the Los Angeles Kings.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 9, 2025

by | Nov 9, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 9, 2025

The latest on the Oilers’ goaltending situation, David Kampf’s standoff with the Maple Leafs, and the Senators’ trade options in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the Edmonton Oilers are done with Stuart Skinner as their starting goaltender after watching the Oilers fall 9-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).

“Either they quit on him or they quit on themselves, but either way, what we saw Saturday tells us they are done with this netminder as their unchallenged No. 1,” wrote Spector.

Spector acknowledged the number of opposition goals scored by undefended players right in front of Skinner. Nevertheless, he believes Oilers general manager Stan Bowman must stage a full-court press in the trade market to find a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I understand cousin Mark’s frustration over the current status of the Oilers’ goaltending. However, finding someone who will do a better job than Skinner in this trade market is easier said than done. The pickings are slim and aren’t likely to improve as the season progresses.

That’s why Bowman acquired Connor Ingram last month from the Utah Mammoth, who is now toiling with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. The fact that he’s still there speaks volumes about his readiness to supplant Skinner.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports David Kampf has made it clear to the Toronto Maple Leafs that he doesn’t want to play in the AHL anymore.

There’s been talk of contract termination, but one of the issues is the 30-year-old center’s signing bonus for this season. If his contract is terminated, the question is whether he has to return some of his signing bonus. It’s hoped that this issue will be resolved by Monday.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Kampf and his agent are exploring their options and will decide by Monday. Technically, he remains suspended by the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If they agree to a contract termination, Kampf will be a free agent and can sign with another NHL team or perhaps a European club.

SPORTSNET: Alex Adams was asked if he thought the Ottawa Senators were calling around for help. He’s heard and seen reports that they’re aggressively seeking to bolster their roster, but they don’t have a first-round pick and limited prospects outside of Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler.

Adams believes Senators GM Steve Staios would like to add another winger and a right-side defenseman. He felt the Pittsburgh Penguins might have been a possible trade partner, but their strong start to this season may dash any trade chances for now.

Asked about possible trade candidates for the Senators, Adams thinks Fabian Zetterlund, Nick Jensen, or Dylan Cozens would make sense in a hockey trade to improve the team.

Zetterlund is in the first season of his three-year contract with an AAV of $4.275 million. He has one goal and three points in 15 games and isn’t a fit in Ottawa playing on the fourth line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A roster player like Zetterlund seems a more likely trade candidate than Cozens, Jensen, or one of the Senators’ top prospects. He’s a former 20-goal scorer who might flourish in a second-line role elsewhere. Whether he’d fetch something in a hockey trade to provide the Senators with immediate help remains to be seen.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 6, 2025

by | Nov 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 6, 2025

Check out the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON STEVEN STAMKOS

DAILY FACEOFF: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman appeared on the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast on Wednesday, where one of the topics discussed was Steven Stamkos’s slow start with the Nashville Predators, and the possibility that the two sides might consider a trade.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Friedman was asked if the Predators might be willing to retain part of Stamkos’ $8 million average annual value through 2027-28 to facilitate a trade. He believes if they can get an offer that makes sense, it will be considered.

Stamkos’ scoring has declined since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning to head to Nashville in July 2024. Friedman believes that may be due in part to the Predators lacking a set-up man comparable to the one Stamkos had in Tampa Bay with Nikita Kucherov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has had a career worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, but his performance has declined noticeably since leaving the Lightning. The 35-year-old forward’s age is also a contributing factor.

A rival club could take a chance on Stamkos if they believe they have a suitable passer who can set him up in the offensive zone. However, the Predators could end up having to retain up to half of his remaining cap hit to make it happen. If such a trade were to occur, it would be during the offseason.

AN UPDATE ON ARTEMI PANARIN

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli weighed in on recent speculation over Artemi Panarin’s future with the New York Rangers.

The 34-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and there is no sign of progress in contract extension talks between the two sides. That’s prompted rumors suggesting he could be traded.

Seravalli pointed out that there is still a lot of time between now and the March 6 trade deadline. He believes Rangers management is still determining what kind of team they have before making any drastic decisions, such as trading Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Rangers are in playoff contention and Panarin remains their offensive sparkplug by March, they’ll hang onto him for the rest of the season and hope to reach some common ground contract-wise before July. If not, then they could be open to trading him if he seems intent on testing the market or unwilling to accept a shorter, less-expensive contract.

KINGS GETTING OFFERS FOR BRANDT CLARKE

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports there are teams interested in Brandt Clarke, but the Los Angeles Kings aren’t interested in moving the 22-year-old defenseman.

Clarke is a right-shot defenseman with top-four upside who has seven points in 14 games thus far in this season. He’s due to become a restricted free agent next summer. The fact that he hasn’t signed an extension yet has prompted some speculation about his future.

Murphy believes the Kings’ focus on re-signing UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe has delayed contract extensions for other players, such as Clarke. Once the Kempe issue is resolved, management’s focus will shift toward re-signing Clarke.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings would be foolish to part ways with Clarke. He’s coming out of his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights, so they hold all the leverage in contract discussions. Regardless, he’s a promising part of their defense corps. It wouldn’t make any sense to move him unless they’re getting someone better to take his place, and that doesn’t seem likely.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman doesn’t know if there’s anything going on trade-wise with Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. However, he believes other teams may be calling after the talented youngster was benched for four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei’s had his difficulties defensively this season, but it’s unlikely the Bruins will part with the 24-year-old unless someone makes an eye-popping trade pitch. He’s also in the first season of an affordable two-year contract. The Bruins will continue to work with him to improve his overall game.

The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues were the most active in the trade market last week. Friedman believes they wanted to ensure that they weren’t missing out on any trade possibilities.

Friedman pointed out that the Seattle Kraken are still having trouble offensively. They have five first-round picks and four second-rounders in the next three drafts to draw on for trade bait if they want to add an impactful player.

The Edmonton Oilers could send players to the minors and through waivers to make room for players returning from injuries. Friedman said they’re trying to get Troy Stecher “a new opportunity”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, they’re trying to find a trade partner for Stecher.

The Carolina Hurricanes are carrying three goaltenders as Brandon Bussi has played his way into the rotation. Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov aren’t waiver exempt. Friedman said they were looking for defensemen, but some of their injured blueliners are close to returning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have little choice right now but to hang onto all three goaltenders, given veteran Frederik Andersen’s injury history.

The Buffalo Sabres are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev. They’re hanging onto Colten Ellis. Friedman would be surprised if they traded Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, as he’s still their best goalie when healthy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devon Levi recently surfaced in the rumor mill, but Friedman pointed out that the 23-year-old netminder is getting the bulk of the starts with their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Friedman claims the word on Adin Hill is that the Vegas Golden Knights netminder will be sidelined for a few months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would also explain why the Golden Knights moved so quickly to sign Carter Hart.