NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2025

by | Dec 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2025

Are the Oilers planning to trade winger Andrew Mangiapane? Could the Bruins pursue Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OILERS COULD TRY TO MOVE ANDREW MANGIAPANE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman wondered if Andrew Mangiapane could become the odd man out on the Edmonton Oilers as their roster gets healthier.

Mangiapane, 29, signed a two-year contract with the Oilers on July 1 with an average annual value of $3.6 million. He has 11 points in 39 games, and his playing time has been reduced recently.

Edmonton Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, Mark Spector cited Friedman saying the Oilers and Mangiapane are exploring a path to move him to another NHL club. He noted that the winger was a healthy scratch for Monday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Spector pointed out that Mangiapane has a full no-trade clause for the remainder of this season. However, Friedman thinks the winger would waive it for a chance to go somewhere where he’ll get more playing time. Given his struggles and his cap hit, however, it might not be easy to move him.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson stated that Mangiapane skated among the Oilers’ top-six forwards during the first two months of this season. However, he’s been unable to regain the form that made him an effective middle-six forward during his tenure with the Calgary Flames.

Matheson believes Kasperi Kapanen would be a suitable replacement for Mangiapane on the third line once he finally returns from his knee injury. He suggested the Jets, Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins as possible trade destinations.

David Staples believes the Oilers’ scratching Mangiapane from Monday’s game against the Jets bodes well for their chances of trading him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Approaching the midseason point of the schedule, there is starting to be some separation between the contenders and pretenders in the tightly packed standings. There has also been a recent increase in trade activity, suggesting that more clubs are willing to make moves than they were through October and November.

Mangiapane’s production was declining during his final two seasons with the Flames. That slide continued last season with the Washington Capitals. Another change of scenery is unlikely to spark a return to his 40-plus form from earlier in his career.

The Flames are transitioning toward younger talent, so it’s unlikely that they’re interested in a reunion with Mangiapane. Ditto the Penguins. The Jets could be an option given their struggles this season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25.

BRUINS INTERESTED IN MATIAS MACCELLI

NESN: Victor Barbosa cited The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, who suggested the Boston Bruins attempt to acquire Matias Maccelli from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Shinzawa believes Maccelli, a 25-year-old left-shot winger, would provide the Bruins with some offensive help among their top-nine forwards.

Barbosa indicated that rumors linked the Bruins to Maccelli earlier this month. He also pointed out that they tried to acquire the winger from the Utah Mammoth before he was shipped to Toronto in an offseason trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli has struggled with the Leafs this season, but his production improved recently. They could hang onto him to see if he can build on that uptick, but could also decide to peddle him while he still has some value. Whether it’ll be to a division rival, such as the Bruins, remains to be seen.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

by | Dec 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

A milestone win for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Predators forward Steven Stamkos poised to reach 600 goals, Islanders forward Mathew Barzal fined, the Blue Jackets trade Yegor Chinakhov to the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for his 446th career NHL regular-season win as he backstopped his club over the Washington Capitals by a score of 5-3. Sam Reinhart scored two goals (including his 20th of the season), and Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games for the 21-15-2 Panthers. Tom Wilson tallied twice for the Capitals (20-14-5), who have three wins in their last 11 contests.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky moved ahead of Terry Sawchuk into eighth place on the all-time goaltender wins list. He needs nine more victories to surpass Curtis Joseph, who is seventh with 454 wins, and 14 more to vault over Henrik Lundqvist (459) into sixth place.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored two goals and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who’ve won four of their last five games and improved to 17-17-4. Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the 18-19-3 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a slow start to this season, Stamkos has 17 goals and 25 points in 38 games. He’s also one goal away from becoming the 22nd player in league history to reach 600 career regular-season goals, and only the third active player to do so.

Before this game, the Mammoth placed starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their ninth straight victory by doubling up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Zach Benson scored the winning goal for the Sabres, who improved to 20-14-4 on the season. Brayden Schenn and Jimmy Snuggerud replied for the Blues, who dropped to 15-17-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are one win away from tying the franchise record of 10 straight victories. Team captain Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup after spending time with his fiancée in Europe as she continues her recovery from a heart transplant earlier this year.

Before the game, the Blues announced forward Pius Suter will miss approximately four weeks with an ankle injury.

An overtime goal by Jackson Blake lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (24-11-3) as they hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the 19-17-5 Rangers, who are 1-2-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov underwent surgery for a nagging lower-body injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. They also claimed center Noah Philp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got a 27-save performance from goalie Jet Greaves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Kirill Marchenko scored to collect his 30th point of the season while Charlie Coyle and Cole Sillinger each picked up two assists for the 17-15-6 Blue Jackets, who have won three straight games. Jake Sanderson replied for the Senators (18-15-3), who are 0-2-1 in their last three contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The start of this game was pushed back to 7:30 PM ET as mechanical issues with the Blue Jackets’ jet delayed their arrival into Ottawa. They played without forward Isac Lundestrom, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Before the game began, the Blue Jackets traded forward Yegor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Details and analysis below in the Headlines section.

Senators center Shane Pinto and defenseman Tyler Kleven returned to action after being sidelined by injuries.

Edmonton Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard kicked out 41 shots in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Connor McDavid collected an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Oilers (20-14-6) took over first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points. Adam Lowry scored for the struggling Jets (15-18-4), who are winless in their last six games (0-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane was a healthy scratch as trade rumors are swirling. I’ll have more about his situation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for the 24-10-6 Wild. Vegas goalie Carter Hart gave up five goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid. The Golden Knights (17-9-11) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl was ejected in the first period for boarding Wild winger Ryan Hartman.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and two assists as his club held off the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the 19-17-3 Sharks. Troy Terry tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks (21-16-2), who have lost three straight and have two wins in their last nine contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (upper-body injury) and defenseman Radko Gudas (illness) missed this game, while forward Ryan Strome was a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, extending their winning streak to eight games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the 29-2-7 Avalanche, who lead the league with 65 points. Corey Perry and Joel Armia replied for the Kings (16-13-9).

An overtime power-play goal by Connor Zary lifted the Calgary Flames over the Boston Bruins 2-1. Dustin Wolf stopped 24 shots, and Blake Coleman also scored for the 17-18-4 Flames. Andrew Peeke scored for the Bruins (20-18-2), who are winless in their last six (0-4-2).

The Vancouver Canucks got 37 saves from Kevin Lankinen in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Liam Ohgren tallied the winning goal while Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson scored in regulation for the 16-19-3 Canucks. Jaren McCann and Ryan Winterton replied for the 16-14-7 Kraken as their four-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov, Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen, and Montreal Canadiens right winger Juraj Slafkovsky were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 28.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/THE ATHLETIC: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and a 2027 third-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 2020 first-round pick by the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov was projected to become a top-six forward. However, he struggled with injury and inconsistency over the past two seasons. During the summer, his agent requested a trade for his client, citing “misunderstandings” with head coach Dean Evason. He bounced around the Jackets’ forward lines this season.

It will be interesting to see if Chinakhov can get his NHL career back on track in Pittsburgh. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acknowledged Chinakhov’s issues, but indicated that his club conducted its due diligence before making this move. He stated that they liked the winger’s size, speed, and two-way skills.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Penguins, they placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have tapped Sam Montembeault as their starting goalie for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. Montembeault was recently recalled from a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Laval.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 28, 2025

by | Dec 28, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 28, 2025

The holiday roster freeze has ended, but the rumor mill didn’t sleep during that period. Check out the latest on Auston Matthews and Marc-Andre Fleury, plus updates on the Flames in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

On Dec. 22, SPORTSNET’s Nick Kypreos said he believed that the Toronto Maple Leafs could talk with Auston Matthews next summer about a possible trade.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Matthews is under contract with the Maple Leafs through 2027-28. Kypreos acknowledged that Matthews’ no-movement clause means it would be a joint effort between the player and management to find a suitable destination if one side or the other believes it’s time for a change. He felt that this would also be a move that occurs in the summer rather than during the season.

Despite the recent drop-off in Matthews’ performance, Kypreos doesn’t think that it’s permanent. He suggested that other clubs could share that view, speculating the Los Angeles Kings could see the Maple Leafs center as a replacement for the retiring Anze Kopitar.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings would undoubtedly be interested in Matthews if he became available next summer, and they have the cap space to absorb his $13.25 million average annual value for the next two seasons.

However, the Kings could lack the assets the Leafs would want in return. They’d want a good young center as part of the deal, meaning they will likely ask for Quinton Byfield. They’ll also want a first-round pick and a couple of other pieces as well.

The Kings wouldn’t be the only club getting into the bidding. Unless they are willing to include Byfield, they might not win a bidding war over other teams that Matthews might consider acceptable trade destinations.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that former NHL head coach Peter DeBoer reached out to Maple Leafs bench boss Craig Berube to address recent rumors suggesting he could replace him.

DeBoer sent a note to Berube telling him to ignore the speculation. He stated that he hasn’t been in discussions with the Maple Leafs and isn’t taking his job.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A classy move by DeBoer, who knows what it’s like to deal with speculation about being fired. He’s currently serving as an assistant coach for Canada’s men’s hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

COULD A TEAM TEMPT MARC-ANDRE FLEURY OUT OF RETIREMENT?

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli suggested the Edmonton Oilers should try to coax goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury out of retirement.

The 40-year-old netminder hung up his pads at the end of the 2024-25 playoffs following a 21-season NHL career. Seravalli noted that Fleury recently played in an outdoor game in Aspen, CO, with some NHL alumni, and before that, took some shots with some Minnesota Wild extras. He also played one period of a preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a way of bringing his long NHL career full circle.

Seravalli isn’t entirely convinced that Fleury is done, but admitted it would take a special circumstance or situation to convince the future Hall of Famer to come out of retirement.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports some teams have checked in with Fleury to see if there’s any chance he’d consider coming out of retirement. LeBrun isn’t surprised that teams with goalie needs would look into Fleury’s availability.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reports he’s heard that Fleury is open to the right opportunity for a comeback. He thinks the Oilers could be a team to watch, especially after the Tristan Jarry trade, pointing out that Jarry and Fleury were former teammates in Pittsburgh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It says something about the lack of quality goaltenders in the trade market when teams are checking with a recently retired netminder, especially what that goalie was in a backup role last season.

Fleury was asked about whether he’d reconsider retirement after his brief preseason appearance with the Penguins in September. “I am tired. My hip is sore,” he replied, prompting Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe of The Athletic to proclaim that Fleury’s career is over.

Some clubs with shaky goalie depth could be calling Fleury’s agent to see if his client might consider a comeback. The Oilers could be among them, but they’re likely to stick with backup Calvin Pickard and call-up Connor Ingram until Jarry returns from injury, which could take about the same amount of time that Fleury would need to get up to NHL speed if he were pondering a return.

By the way, Fleury and Jarry weren’t teammates for long in Pittsburgh. The latter played only one game with the Penguins during the former’s final season.

THE LATEST FLAMES SPECULATION

VICTORY PLUS: Before the holiday roster freeze, Frank Servalli reported there’s been “a lot of tire-kicking” on Rasmus Andersson. The 29-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Servalli acknowledged that the Flames received an increase in calls about Andersson following the Quinn Hughes trade earlier this month. He believes the interest in the Flames blueliner is genuine, but teams aren’t ready yet to start making offers, especially when they don’t know if he’s willing to consider a contract extension.

Andersson isn’t the only player on the Flames drawing attention in the trade market. According to Seravalli, his sources claim 20 clubs have expressed interest in Blake Coleman. The 34-year-old winger is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

Servalli said the Flames aren’t in a rush to move Coleman. He believes it will take “something good” to tempt them into moving the veteran winger.

Coleman is a Dallas native, which had Seravalli musing over the possibility of the Dallas Stars attempting to acquire Coleman and Andersson. However, he doubted they had sufficient trade assets to pull that off, suggesting they would likely target Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames clawed their way out of the bottom of the Western Conference standings to within five points of a wildcard playoff berth. If they fail to gain more ground, they’ll likely be sellers by the March trade deadline, or before the Olympic break in February.

However, if they keep rising in the standings, management might be less inclined to sell, preferring instead to keep Andersson as their own rental for the playoffs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2025

by | Dec 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2025

Sidney Crosby surpasses Mario Lemieux as the Penguins’ all-time points leader, Oilers captain Connor McDavid overtakes Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the lead in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby scored and collected an assist to surpass Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time points leader (1,724) in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Rickard Rakell also had a goal and an assist and tallied the game-winner as the Penguins (15-11-9) ended an eight-game winless skid (0-4-4). Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky each had two points for the 19-12-5 Canadiens.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby also moved past Lemieux into eighth place among the NHL’s all-time points leaders. He needs 32 points to surpass Steve Yzerman (1,755) for seventh. Crosby now needs 46 goals to break Lemieux’s all-time franchise goals record of 690.

Lemieux applauded Crosby’s achievement in a 30-second video message that was played later in the first period. Crosby was humble after the game, praising Lemieux for what he’s done for the Penguins. “I don’t think you can put a stat line or a number on what he means to this team and to hockey, so yeah, in my mind, he’s No. 1,” Crosby said.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens announced goaltender Sam Montembeault will rejoin the roster ahead of next Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montembeault was loaned to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval last week on a conditioning stint.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored for the fourth straight game and collected two assists as his club held off the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4-3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied twice and collected an assist, and Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman each had two points for the 18-13-6 Oilers, who’ve won seven of their last 10 games. Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin each had three points for the Golden Knights (16-8-10), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid has overtaken Nathan MacKinnon, sitting in first place in the scoring race with 62 points, one ahead of the Colorado Avalanche center.

Oilers forward Trent Frederic was a healthy scratch from this game. The club also announced that goaltender Tristan Jarry will be out for two weeks with an injury, and activated winger Jack Roslovic from long-term injury reserve.

Speaking of MacKinnon, he scored twice to become the first player to reach 30 goals this season in a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Cale Makar and Brock Nelson each had a goal and two assists for the 26-2-7 Avalanche, who’ve won five straight games and remain in first place in the overall standings with 59 points. Ryan Hartman replied for the Wild (22-10-5) as their seven-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon had led the points race for weeks and seemed poised to run away with the Art Ross Trophy. McDavid’s surge in recent weeks indicates this could be an exciting race over the second half of the season.

An overtime goal by Moritz Seider lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Washington Capitals 3-2. Cam Talbot made 31 saves for the Red Wings (21-13-3), as they hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 45 points. Ethen Frank scored both goals for the 19-12-5 Capitals, who have two wins in their last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss Tuesday’s match against the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, the Wings removed Mason Appleton from injured reserve after a 10-game absence.

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins 6-2. Fabian Zetterlund scored two goals and picked up an assist while Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and two assists for the Senators (18-13-4), as they collected their fourth straight win. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha tallied for the 20-16-1 Bruins, who are 1-3-1 in their last five contests.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 26 shots as his club extended its win streak to six games with a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Josh Norris, Zach Benson, and Peyton Krebs scored for the 17-14-4 Sabres. Jack Hughes scored for the Devils (20-15-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Hughes’ first game since missing 18 games with an injured hand. Speaking of the Sabres, it has been confirmed that they’ve added Marc Bergevin as associate general manager and Josh Flynn as assistant GM.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scored to extend his points streak to eight games as his club nipped the New York Rangers 2-1. Steven Stamkos also scored for the Predators (15-16-4), who have won five of their last seven contests. Jonny Brodzinski replied for the 18-16-4 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers were without team captain J.T. Miller, who is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The Dallas Stars picked up their fourth straight win by downing the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1. Jake Oettinger made 27 saves, and Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist for the 25-7-5 Stars. Scott Laughton scored for the Maple Leafs (15-15-5), who have lost four of their last five games.

An overtime goal by Clayton Keller gave the Utah Mammoth a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Keller and Mikhail Sergachev each finished with two points for the Mammoth, who improved to 18-17-3. Kyle Connor scored two goals for the (15-17-3) Jets, who have three wins in their last 16 games.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 21, 2025

by | Dec 21, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 21, 2025

Could the Oilers add another goaltender after the holiday roster freeze is lifted? Could a coaching change be coming for the Maple Leafs? Are the Sabres adding to their front office? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

COULD THE OILERS PURSUE ANOTHER GOALIE?

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers might have to go shopping for another goaltender when the current NHL holiday roster freeze is lifted on Dec. 28.

Recently-acquired goalie Tristan Jarry was injured during Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins and was placed on injured reserve. The Oilers called up Connor Ingram from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield to serve as backup to Calvin Pickard.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (NHL Images).

The Buffalo Sabres could become a trade target for the Oilers. Newly-hired Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen stated last week that he wanted to resolve his club’s three-goalie situation. They’re currently carrying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis.

During Friday’s edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said the Oilers looked into signing Lyon last summer before he joined the Sabres. He claimed they called the Sabres a couple of times this season about Lyon before Kekalainen took over as general manager last Monday. Friedman said he wouldn’t be surprised if they called the Sabres again on Friday before the roster freeze was implemented.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres called up Ellis earlier in the season when Luukkonen was injured. None of those three goalies are waiver-exempt, so the Sabres can’t risk demoting any of them because they’ll get plucked off waivers by another team.

Luukkonen is the Sabres’ starter, but he’s struggled at times this season. Ellis showed some promise before being sidelined by a concussion.

Lyon has been on a tear of late with five straight wins as the Sabres moved to within five points of a wild-card berth. It’s doubtful they’ll part with him as they try to claw their way back into contention.

MAPLE LEAFS COACH CRAIG BERUBE COULD BE ON THE HOT SEAT

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the speculation over Craig Berube’s future as head coach of the Maple Leafs will intensify unless the club can pull off an upset win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Koshan believes Berube could lose his job in the not-too-distant future, making him the fourth head coach for the Leafs with the core of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Berube seems to have lost the room. Following their 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals last week, he slammed the players for playing without urgency and passion. When he was asked to explain it, Berube replied, “Ask those guys, not me.”

The fault for this mess lies with the front office. They’re the ones who constructed this team. However, it’s unlikely that general manager Brad Treliving will take the fall. Barring a sudden turnaround, it’ll be Berube who gets the axe, perhaps before the calendar flips to 2026.

MORE FRONT OFFICE CHANGES FOR THE SABRES

DAILY FACEOFF: Multiple reports claim Marc Bergevin is expected to step down from his role as a senior advisor with the Los Angeles Kings to join the Buffalo Sabres as an associate general manager.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Sabres received permission from the Columbus Blue Jackets to speak with assistant general manager Josh Flynn. LeBrun pointed out that Flynn worked for Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen when the latter was GM of the Blue Jackets.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 20, 2025

by | Dec 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 20, 2025

Recaps of Friday’s games, the Kings send Phillip Danault back to the Canadiens, the Kraken trade Mason Marchment to the Blue Jackets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: A hat trick by Kiefer Sherwood powered the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Thatcher Demko made 22 saves, and Filip Hronek collected two assists for the 14-17-3 Canucks. Anders Lee replied for the 19-13-3 Islanders, who have dropped two straight games.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since trading Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild last Friday, the Canucks have won three straight games. Veteran defenseman Tyler Myers played his 1,100th career NHL regular-season game.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club to an 8-3 thrashing of the Anaheim Ducks. Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (24-7-5), who picked up their third straight win. Anaheim goaltender Petr Mrazek replaced starter Lukas Dostal after the latter gave up four goals on seven shots in the first period. The Ducks (20-13-2) have lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars activated forward Adam Erne from long-term injured reserve. He’d been out since Nov. 14 with a lower-body injury.

Earlier in the day, they announced forward Tyler Seguin underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ACL. He has not been ruled out for the season and will be reevaluated following the Olympic break in February.

The Florida Panthers overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on a shootout goal by Evan Rodrigues. Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (19-13-2), who have won seven of their last eight contests. Sebastian Aho scored twice for the 22-9-3 Hurricanes, whose five-game winning streak ended, as did goalie Brandon Bussi’s nine-game win streak.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes remain atop the Eastern Conference standings with 47 points, but it proved to be a costly victory as versatile forward Seth Jarvis is expected to miss some time after crashing into the Panthers’ net during overtime. They also played without forward Jordan Martinook, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

A third-period goal by Parker Kelly proved to be the game-winner for the Colorado Avalanche as they held off the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-2. Brent Burns and Martin Necas also scored for the 25-2-7 Avalanche, who remain in first place in the overall standings with 57 points. Morgan Barron and Mark Scheifele replied for the 15-17-2 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have won four in a row and seven of their last eight games. Meanwhile, the struggling Jets have won only three of their last 15 contests.

The New Jersey Devils nipped the Utah Mammoth 2-1. Stefan Noesen broke a 1-1 tie in the third period, and Nico Hischier had two assists for the 20-14-1 Devils. Daniil But scored his first career NHL goal for the 17-17-3 Mammoth.

HEADLINES

LOS ANGELES TIMES/MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Kings traded center Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Danault is returning to the club where he spent five seasons (2016 to 2021) before signing with the Kings as a free agent. The 32-year-old two-way forward is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.5 million. His addition pushed the Canadiens over the salary cap by $1.4 million, but they could demote Owen Beck and Jared Davidson to become cap-compliant. They could also place Alex Newhook on LTIR.

Danault has struggled offensively this season with five points in 30 games. However, he’s a left-shot center whose defensive skills will take pressure off top center Nick Suzuki and help to improve the Canadiens’ defensive game, especially on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle. He could skate on the third line between Josh Anderson and Alexandre Texier, or he could be reunited with former linemate Brendan Gallagher on their fourth line.

The Kings were reportedly seeking a player in return, and it was rumored their asking price from the Canadiens was Jake Evans. They instead settled for a second-round pick that the Canadiens received from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Patrik Laine trade in August 2024. The Kings could use that pick as a trade chip to pursue another player.

THE SEATTLE TIMES/THE ATHLETIC: The Kraken traded winger Mason Marchment to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken acquired Marchment from the Dallas Stars in June, giving up a third-rounder and a fourth-round pick. The gritty 30-year-old winger was used in a top-six role, but he wasn’t a good fit with the Kraken, making him the subject of recent trade speculation. He’s in the final season of a four-year contract with a cap hit of $4.5 million.

Marchment heads to a Blue Jackets club struggling to regain the form that had them challenging for a playoff berth last season. They’re hoping he can regain his 22-goal form and provide a much-needed jolt of physical energy to their lineup.

Both trades occurred before the annual holiday roster freeze went into effect at 11:59 pm ET on Friday, Dec. 19. The freeze is in place until 12:01 am ET on Sunday, Dec. 28.

LAS VEGAS SUN: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and defenseman Shea Theodore will not be joining their teammates during their weekend Canadian road trip. Eichel was suffering from an illness, but he’s now day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Theodore was listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but is now considered week-to-week.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers placed goaltender Tristan Jarry on injured reserve and called up Connor Ingram from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. They also placed winger Jack Roslovic on LTIR.

DAILY FACEOFF: Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: On Friday, the Penguins officially announced that the sale of the franchise to the Hoffman Family of Companies had been completed. It was reported earlier this week that the sale would soon be made official. Fenway Sports Group owned the Penguins for the past four years.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Former forward John MacLean will become the fourth member of the Devils’ Ring of Honor. He will be inducted during a pregame ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, when the club hosts the Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacLean spent 14 of his 18 NHL seasons with New Jersey from 1983-84 to 1997-98. During his tenure with the Devils, he scored 347 goals and 701 points in 934 regular-season games, and 75 points in 88 playoff contests. He won a Stanley Cup with them in 1995 as a player and another in 2003 as an assistant coach.