NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2026

by | Jan 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2026

The Oilers get a shutout in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 1,000th career game, reaction to the Flames trading Rasmus Andersson to the Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers center forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game to help his club blank the St. Louis Blues 5-0. Zach Hyman tallied twice and collected an assist while Connor Ingram turned in a 27-save shutout for the 25-17-8 Oilers. Jordan Binnington stopped 23 shots for the Blues, who dropped to 19-22-8.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nugent-Hopkins is only the second player in Oilers history to play 1,000 games for the franchise, and the only one to play his entire career in Edmonton. He needs 38 more games to pass Kevin Lowe as the franchise leader. Nugent-Hopkins is also the 10th player in NHL history to score in his first NHL game and in his 1,000th.

Blues winger (and former Oiler) Dylan Holloway returned to action after missing the last 15 games with an ankle injury. His teammate, Oskar Sundqvist, left this game in the third period with an injured left leg.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1. Jake Guentzel and Dominic James each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (30-13-4), who extended their points streak to 13 games (12-0-1) and regained first place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points. Oskar Back scored for the slumping Stars (27-13-9), who are 2-6-4 in their last 12 contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy reached the 20-win plateau for the 10th consecutive season. Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist is the all-time leader with thirteen 20-win seasons.

An overtime goal by Alex DeBrincat lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. DeBrincat and Andrew Copp each had two points as the Red Wings (30-16-4) have won six of their last seven games. Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer made 30 saves for the struggling Senators (22-19-7), who are 4-6-3 in their last 13 games.

HEADLINES

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW/CALGARY SUN: The Golden Knights acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames in exchange for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a conditional second-round pick in 2028.

PUCKPEDIA: The Flames retained 50 percent ($2.275 million) of Andersson’s $4.55 million cap hit. The conditional second-rounder becomes a first-round pick if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights did it again, willingly sacrificing futures to acquire a talented player who can help them right away. It also helped that the player they wanted was interested in joining them.

Andersson is the second defenseman the Golden Knights have acquired from the Flames since 2024. That was the year they obtained Noah Hanifin, eventually signing him to a contract extension.

The salary retention by the Flames was necessary to make the dollars fit for the Golden Knights, who moved Whitecloud and his $2.75 million cap hit in this deal. The 29-year-old blueliner is in the fourth year of a six-year contract. This move leaves the Golden Knights with $3.865 million in trade deadline cap space.

It’s a bit of a gamble contract-wise for the Golden Knights, as Andersson would not agree to sign a contract extension. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t re-sign before his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. It wouldn’t be surprising if he does.

As noted in the links provided, the Golden Knights needed an experienced top-pairing defenseman on their right side to replace the sidelined Alex Pietrangelo, who is on long-term injury reserve and whose playing days may be over. This move signals that Pietrangelo won’t return for the playoffs, meaning he’ll be moved to season-ending LTIR at some point, probably at the end of the regular season.

Andersson is a solid all-around defenseman whose puck-moving skills will provide more offense from the blueline for the Golden Knights.

Whitecloud provides the Flames with an experienced shutdown defenseman who can play top-four minutes. He will buy them time to develop promising blueliners Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. The Brandon, Manitoba native said he’s happy and excited about joining the Flames and playing in a Canadian market, so that’s a promising sign going forward.

How well this deal works out long-term for the Flames depends on the development of college prospect Wiebe and the prospects they select with those draft picks.

NHL.COM: Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos was fined $2,500 for unsportmanlike conduct against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon on Saturday.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

SPORTSNET: The San Jose Sharks placed defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers.

NHL.COM: Former NHL forward Phil Goyette passed away on Jan. 17 at age 92.

He spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Buffalo Sabres from 1956-57 to 1971-72. In 940 regular-season games, he had 207 goals and 467 assists for 674 points, along with 46 points in 97 playoff games.

Goyette won four Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1956-57 to 1959-60. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy with the St. Louis Blues in 1969-70.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Goyette’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

by | Jan 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

A record-setting game for winger Mika Zibanejad and a milestone one for head coach Mike Sullivan in a win over the Flyers, the Hurricanes regain first place in the Eastern Conference, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad tallied a hat trick, Artemi Panarin scored twice and collected an assist, and Brennan Othmann netted his first NHL goal in a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Zibanejad set the Rangers’ power-play goal record with 117, while head coach Mike Sullivan earned his 500th career NHL win. Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Sanheim each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers (21-22-6) snapped a five-game winless skid (0-4-1), while the Flyers’ skid reached six games (0-5-1). Flyers center Rodrigo Abols left the game in the first period with an injured right leg. Before the game, the Flyers placed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov had a hat trick to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Sebastian Aho had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots for the 30-15-4 Hurricanes, who took over first place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points. Timo Meier replied for the Devils (24-22-2).

Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt scored twice (including the game-winner) and collected two assists in a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Lawson Crouse had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who have won three straight and improved to 25-20-4. Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (21-17-9), who have dropped three straight games and are 1-3-2 in their last six contests.

The Calgary Flames doubled up the New York Islanders 4-2. Adam Klapka had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf made 28 saves for the 21-23-4 Flames. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer picked up two assists for the Islanders (26-17-5) while team captain Anders Lee scored his 300th career NHL regular-season goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was named the game’s third star and was loudly cheered by Calgary fans in what may have been his final game with the club as trade rumors intensify.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his points streak to 11 games in a 7-2 drubbing of the Nashville Predators. Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore, Keegan Kolesar, Alexander Holtz, and Cole Reinhart each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (24-11-12), who lead the Pacific Division with 60 points. Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg scored for the 23-21-4 Predators.

The Edmonton Oilers blanked the Vancouver Canucks 6-0, with all six goals coming in the second period. Tristan Jarry turned in a 31-save shutout, while Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen each tallied twice for the 24-17-8 Oilers. The Canucks are winless in their last 10 games (0-8-2) and slipped to 16-27-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl missed this game as he’s on a leave of absence to return home to Germany due to a family illness.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as his club overcame a 5-3 deficit for a 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Caufield finished with three points, Juraj Slafkovsky tallied two goals, and Lane Hutson collected three assists for the 27-15-7 Canadiens. Jake Sanderson had a goal and three assists for the Senators, who slipped to 22-19-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens center Jake Evans returned to action after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Max Domi lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Domi and Auston Matthew each had a goal and an assist while Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a goal and two assists for the 24-16-8 Maple Leafs. Vladislav Namestnikov collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots for the Jets (19-22-6) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Boston Bruins picked up their sixth straight win by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Mason Lohrei scored two goals while David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and Casey Mittelstadt each had two assists as the Bruins improved to 28-19-2. Ryan Greene and Wyatt Kaiser replied for the 19-22-7 Blackhawks, who’ve dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins activated defenseman Hampus Lindholm off injured reserve after missing six games with an undisclosed injury.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello scored in overtime to give his team a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Kirill Kaprizov had three assists for the 27-13-9 Wild as they picked up their third win in their last nine games (3-3-3). Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (26-16-5).

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals. A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (25-19-3). Jakob Chychrun scored both goals for the 24-19-6 Capitals.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their fourth straight win by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on a shootout goal by Charlie Coyle. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 29 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have won four straight and improved to 22-19-7. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (22-14-11).

An overtime goal by Mikael Granlund gave the Anaheim Ducks a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Mason McTavish also scored for the Ducks (24-21-3), who picked up back-to-back wins over the Kings (19-16-13), who got 31 saves from Anton Forsberg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2026

by | Jan 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak, the Lightning set a franchise record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists to extend his points streak to 20 games, but his club dropped a 4-3 decision to the Nashville Predators on an overtime goal by Roman Josi, who finished the game with two goals. Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots for the 22-20-4 Predators. Zach Hyman tallied twice, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two points for the Oilers (23-16-8).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry made 23 saves and defenseman Jake Walman logged over 17 minutes as both returned from lengthy absences due to injuries. Meanwhile, Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault missed his 13th straight game with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve.

The Tampa Bay Lightning won a franchise-record 11th straight game by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on a shootout goal by Nikita Kucherov. J.J. Moser scored in regulation, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots for the Lightning (29-13-3), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 61 points. Evgeni Malkin replied for the Penguins (21-14-10), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs were missing a key player in this contest. Lightning center Brayden Point is week-to-week with an injured knee. It is not considered season-ending, but his participation in next month’s Winter Olympics for Canada’s men’s hockey team is in question. Meanwhile, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson missed this game with an undisclosed ailment that has landed him on injured reserve. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman turned aside 24 shots as his club picked up its fourth consecutive win, and the second straight by shutout, as they blanked the Detroit Red Wings 3-0. Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minten, and Mark Kastelic were the goal scorers for the 26-19-2 Bruins. Cam Talbot stopped 38 of 40 shots for the Red Wings (28-16-4) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their first win under new head coach Rick Bowness by defeating the Calgary Flames 5-3. Boone Jenner snapped a 3-3 tie while Zach Werenski and Charlie Coyle each had a goal and two assists for the 20-19-7 Blue Jackets. Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund each had a goal and an assist as the Flames dropped to 19-23-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman missed this game with an undisclosed injury and was placed on IR. The Flames sent forward Martin Pospisil to their AHL affiliate in Calgary for a conditioning stint as he works his way back into the lineup from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him from this season. Blue Jackets defensemen Denton Mateychuk (upper-body injury) and Damon Severson (illness) missed this game.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer collected his fourth shutout of the season with a 33-save performance to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Nick Bjugstad, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for the Blues (18-21-8) as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Brandon Bussi turned aside 28 shots for the 28-15-4 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 60 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced the signing of defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension. Hurricanes blueliner Jaccob Slavin missed this game due to injury rehab protocol, meaning they want him to avoid playing back-to-back after returning from a lengthy injury on Monday.

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Ethan Frank tallied twice to tie the game in regulation before Connor McMichael won it in overtime for the 24-17-6 Capitals. Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher scored for the Canadiens (26-14-7), who are 4-1-1 in their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens scratched Kaiden Guhle from this game. Like Slavin, they wanted him to avoid playing in back-to-back games so soon after returning from a long absence due to an injury.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist as their club held off the New York Islanders 5-4. Mark Scheifele collected two assists for the 18-22-5 Jets as they picked up their third straight victory. Emil Heineman had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (25-16-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders got a scare when rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer was injured twice during this game, including taking a Luke Schenn slapshot off his right knee in the second period. He’d also been taken off the ice by a concussion spotter in the first period, but was cleared to return. Schaefer missed the post-game interview because he was having his knee evaluated by team doctors.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 10-game points streak ended with a 6-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Dylan Guenther tallied two goals and an assist, and Jake McBain had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who improved to 23-20-4. Calle Jarnkrok replied for the 23-16-7 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal made 24 saves as his club snapped a nine-game winless skid (0-8-1) by downing the Dallas Stars 3-1. Chris Kreider, Beckett Sennecke, and Jacob Trouba scored for the 22-21-3 Ducks. Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars (27-11-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks were already short on forwards as Frank Vatrano and Tory Terry were sidelined with upper-body injuries. Center Leo Carlsson (upper-body injury) and winger Cutter Gauthier (illness) also missed this game. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen was absent due to a personal family matter.

First-period goals scored 15 seconds apart by Artem Zub and Jordan Spence lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, snapping a four-game losing streak and improving their record to 21-19-5. Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (16-25-8), who are 0-6-2 in their last eight games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 13, 2026

by | Jan 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 13, 2026

The Red Wings honor Sergei Fedorov, the Lightning extend their win streak to 10 games, while the Maple Leafs’ points streak hits double digits, Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak to 19 games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: On the night the Detroit Red Wings retired Sergei Fedorov’s number 91, they nipped the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on an overtime goal by Andrew Copp. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings opened a 3-0 lead, but the Hurricanes forced overtime on goals by Jackson Blake, Seth Jarvis, and Shayne Gostisbehere. The Red Wings (28-15-4) hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. The Hurricanes (28-14-4) also have 60 points, but hold first place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand over the Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings retire Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings retired Fedorov’s number in a classy pregame ceremony. He thanked the team and their fans, singling out the Illich family, former Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman, former captain Steve Yzerman, and his “Russian Five” Red Wings teammates, including Vladimir Konstantinov, who attended the ceremony along with Yzerman.

Fedorov admitted he made “a huge mistake” for leaving Detroit as a free agent in 2003. However, he said that the decision also set him on the path toward meeting his wife, Karina, who attended the ceremony with their two children.

One of the greatest two-way players in NHL history, Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. This retirement of his number by the Red Wings was long overdue, reflecting the tension between the Illich family and Fedorov that led to his departure. Thankfully, time heals all wounds, and Fedorov received this well-deserved honor from the team with which he’d had his greatest success.

The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their win streak to 10 games with a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist to push his multipoint streak to nine games for the 28-13-3 Lightning. Christian Dvorak replied for the Flyers (22-14-8), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper became the second-fastest coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win plateau. The only head coach to reach it faster was Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman. It was a costly win for Cooper and his team as center Brayden Point left the game with an apparent knee injury. There was no postgame update on his status.

An overtime goal by William Nylander lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-3, snapping the latter’s home win streak at 17 games. Nylander and Auston Matthews each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (23-15-7) as they extended their points streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for the Avalanche (33-4-8) as they remain in first place in the overall standings with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists to extend his points streak to a career-high 19 games in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Evan Bouchard scored twice and collected an assist for the 23-16-7 Oilers. Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who slipped to 19-20-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid became the fifth player in NHL history to record 10 straight 50-assist seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Dale Hawerchuk (all with 13 seasons), and Bernie Federko (10). Meanwhile, the Oilers signed forward Quinn Hutson to a two-year, $1.75 million contract extension.

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard missed this game with an illness, and winger Teuvo Teravainen left the game after the first period for undisclosed reasons.

The Dallas Stars defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Jason Robertson snapped a 1-1 tie while Sam Steel and Esa Lindell each had two assists for the Stars, who improved to 27-10-9. Quinton Byfield tallied for the 19-16-10 Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars captain Jamie Benn returned to action after missing three games with an injured nose.

Florida Panthers winger A.J. Greer scored two goals in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Carter Verhaeghe had three assists for the 24-18-3 Panthers. Jacob Bryson, Zach Benson, and Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres. (24-16-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the 1,900th career game for Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. Scotty Bowman is the all-time leader with 2,141, followed by Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice with 1,975. Speaking of the Sabres, they will host the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 and 27.

The New Jersey Devils got two goals within 21 seconds by Jesper Bratt to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2. Ondrej Palat also scored twice for the Devils (23-21-2), and Dougie Hamilton had two assists in his return to the lineup as their club snapped a four-game losing skid. Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno replied for the 26-12-9 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton was a healthy scratch from Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, prompting trade rumors as his agent said his client was willing to expand his 10-team trade list to facilitate a deal that benefits both sides. I’ll have the latest Hamilton trade speculation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier scored twice within 20 seconds in a 6-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov each had three points for the 26-14-6 Canadiens. Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo stopped 35 shots as his club is 0-5-2 in its last seven games.

The Seattle Kraken scored four straight goals to double up the New York Rangers 4-2. Berkly Catton snapped a 2-2 tie as the Kraken (21-15-8) are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games. Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, who slipped to 20-21-6 and have one win in their last eight games (1-5-2).

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 11, 2026.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy. Veteran NHL coach Rick Bowness takes over as bench boss for the remainder of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are struggling this season to build on their promising 2024-25 performance. Mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and seven points out of a wildcard berth, they’re hoping that the coaching change will vault them back into playoff contention.

Bowness is expected to be in this role for the remainder of the season, as management will search for a full-time replacement in the offseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association are “pleased” with the progress of rink construction for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. They expect the work necessary to address the remaining issues will be completed in time for the men’s hockey tournament.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson could miss the remainder of this season with a lower-body injury. He’s been ruled out for the Winter Olympics, and it’s unlikely he’ll return when the league resumes play following the Olympic break.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins signed forward Blake Lizotte to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.25 million.

RG.ORG: A heart condition has forced former NHL coach Gerard Gallant to step down from his role as head coach of the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons. He’s been away from the club since Dec. 30.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 11, 2026

by | Jan 11, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 11, 2026

Is Dougie Hamilton on the trade block? What defensemen could the Maple Leafs pursue? What’s the latest on the Canucks? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

DOUGIE HAMILTON’S DAYS WITH THE DEVILS APPEAR NUMBERED

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Saturday afternoon that Dougie Hamilton appears willing to work with the New Jersey Devils to find a suitable trade partner after being listed as a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, told LeBrun that he considered the decision to scratch his client a calculated one. He said the 32-year-old defenseman is willing to be flexible with his 10-team trade list. Barry indicated that the Devils had attempted to move Hamilton last summer.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).

In an interview with LeBrun, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said the decision to scratch Hamilton was made because their blueline is finally healthy, and they wanted to give young defenseman Simon Nemec some playing time after returning from an injury. Another reason is the return of defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic from a knee injury.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $9 million. However, his performance has been disappointing this season, with 10 points in 40 games.

Nichols also noted that there have been previous reports suggesting Hamilton rejected several attempts to trade him earlier this season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng referenced Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who reported that the Sharks attempted to acquire Hamilton last summer, but the blueliner blocked that deal.

SPORTSNET: Friedman said there are “hard feelings” between Devils management and Hamilton. He feels he’s being singled out for non-performance reasons. Hamilton has no intention of terminating his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton’s AAV, his injury history, and the recent drop in his production could concern some teams, but he has only missed four games this season before Sunday’s game against the Jets. He’s also a right-shot defenseman with superb puck-moving abilities, and there will be clubs willing to gamble on him returning to form with a more stable roster.

WHICH DEFENSEMEN COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TARGET?

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could be forced to shop for a right-shot defenseman if Chris Tanev’s groin injury turns out to be season-ending.

Koshan mentioned Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, and former Leaf Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets as possible trade options. Other possibilities include Tyler Myers of the Vancouver Canucks, Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, and Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The cost of acquiring any of them could be expensive for the Maple Leafs. They don’t have much trade capital apart from promising forward Easton Cowan and prospect defenseman Ben Danford. Koshan suggested that they may have already made their most significant acquisition when they plucked Troy Stecher off waivers in November.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel looked at what it could cost the Maple Leafs to acquire Andersson, Faulk, or Schenn.

He considered Andersson out of the Maple Leafs’ price range, and doesn’t think taking on the 34-year-old Faulk’s contract ($6.5 million through 2026-27) to be a good idea. Schenn would be the most affordable in terms of contract ($2.75 million for this season), as well as the potential cost of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have already sacrificed way too much of their future in deals that didn’t bring them any closer to ending their long Stanley Cup drought. It would be insane to part with what few significant assets they have left for players who won’t significantly improve their odds of winning the Cup.

THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION (NON-KIEFER SHERWOOD EDITION)

OILERS NATION: Zach Laing cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal’s appearance on Friday’s episode of Sportsnet’s Halford & Brough In The Morning, where he talked about the difficulty the Vancouver Canucks could face if they attempt to trade Evander Kane.

Moving Kane could be tough, with one team saying, “Have fun moving him.” The 34-year-old winger’s age, AAV ($5.125 million), 16-team approved trade list, injuries, and reduced production adversely affect his trade value.

Dhaliwal said two sources told him the Canucks tried trading Kane back to the Edmonton Oilers. However, his Edmonton source indicated that ship had sailed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems like Kane’s season, and perhaps his NHL career, will end in Vancouver. Too many factors make it difficult to move him now.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma recently wondered if Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers might consider waiving his no-movement clause to go to a contender before the March 6 trade deadline.

Myers turns 36 in February and has a year remaining on his contract with an affordable cap hit of $3 million. Kuzma believes the 6’8” blueliner would benefit a team needing second or third-pairing experience.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers and his family love Vancouver, which is why he’s stuck with the Canucks for six seasons. However, he’s nearing the end of his playing days, and his chances of winning the Stanley Cup are narrowing.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

by | Jan 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane reaches a notable scoring milestone, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reclaims the lead in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Patrick Kane scored twice to become the fifth U.S.-born NHL player to reach 500 career regular-season goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks (16-22-5), who are winless in their last five games (0-3-2). The Red Wings improved to 26-15-4.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane joined Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513), and Joe Mullen (502). He’s also the first to reach that milestone since Tkachuk in April 2008.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to reclaim the lead in the NHL scoring race (78 points) as his club thumped the Ottawa Senators 8-2. Brock Nelson and Josh Manson each tallied two goals for the league-leading Avalanche (32-4-7, 71 points) as they snapped a two-game losing skid. Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk replied for the 20-18-5 Senators, who have only two wins in their last eight games (2-7-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators signed free-agent James Reimer in an effort to shore up their struggling goaltending. Reimer, 37, could join the club this weekend.

Earlier in the day, the Senators released a statement expressing extreme disappointment with social media posts regarding starting goalie Linus Ullmark. This is in response to what the club called “fabricated and false stories” regarding the reason behind Ullmark’s leave of absence for personal reasons.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid extended his points streak with a goal and an assist to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3, leaving the latter winless in their last 11 games (0-7-4). Evan Bouchard snapped a 3-3 tie midway through the third period for the Oilers (22-16-6). Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who dropped to 15-22-5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Evgeni Malkin scored in his first game since being sidelined by an upper-body injury on Dec. 4, and Sidney Crosby had two assists to push his points streak to eight games for the 21-12-9 Penguins, extending their winning streak to six games. Luke Hughes scored for the Devils (22-20-2), who are 2-6-1 in their last eight contests.

Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier netted his first NHL hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Oliver Kapanen had a goal and two assists as the Canadiens (25-13-6) picked up their third straight win and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points. Sam Bennett tallied both goals for the 22-18-3 Panthers, who have dropped seven straight games to the Canadiens since the 2023-24 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Brad Marchand missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. Meanwhile, TSN’s Chris Johnston said the chances were pretty high for sidelined Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (knee) to return to action this season, most likely during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped 28 shots to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. Sean Kuraly had a goal and an assist for the 23-19-2 Bruins, who have three wins in their last four games. Connor Zary scored for the Flames (18-22-4) as their losing skid reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Flames announced that rookie defenseman Zayne Perekh is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during the recent World Junior Championship.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their 12th win in their last 13 games by dropping the New York Rangers 5-2. Mattias Samuelsson, Jason Zucker, and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the 23-15-4 Sabres. Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers (20-19-6).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain J.T. Miller returned to action after missing the last two weeks with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Easton Cowan lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Scott Laughton scored against his former club, and Dennis Hildeby made 22 saves for the Maple Leafs (21-15-7) as they extended their points streak to eight games (6-0-2). Travis Konecny scored for the 22-12-8 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Konecny left the game at the end of the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes picked up their third straight win by downing the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. Jalen Chatfield, Logan Stankoven, and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (27-14-3), who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 57 points. Ryan Poehling and Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks (21-20-3), who are 0-7-1 in their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks winger Troy Terry missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his goal streak to six games in a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stone finished with three points, and Reilly Smith tallied twice for the Golden Knights (19-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 50 points. Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan each had two points for the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 18-18-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, they placed defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets defenseman Brendan Smith will be sidelined for three to four months after undergoing knee surgery on Jan. 6.

The Minnesota Wild got an overtime goal from Mats Zuccarello to defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Kirill Kaprizov had two assists for the 26-11-8 Wild. Adam Larsson and Matty Beniers scored for the Kraken (20-14-8), who extended their points streak to 10 games (8-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jordan Eberle missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros stopped 30 shots, and Filip Forsberg scored in the shootout for a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Ryan O’Reilly scored in regulation for the Predators (20-19-4). Simon Holmstrom tallied for the 24-15-5 Islanders.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Seven NHL players will be part of Slovakia’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s hockey tournament. Forwards include Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens, Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues, Martin Pospisil of the Calgary Flames, and Pavol Regenda of the San Jose Sharks. Defensemen include Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Martin Fehervary of the St. Louis Blues, and Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils.

THE ATHLETIC: St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery denied that starting goalie Jordan Binnington refused to be pulled from their 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. He also denied that backup Joel Hofer appeared to be hiding in the tunnel behind the Blues’ bench.

Montgomery explained that he attempted to pull Binnington after Chicago scored its seventh goal, and Binnington was waiting for Hofer to replace him before heading to the bench. However, Hofer was not fully dressed because he had to watch the game from the dressing room due to a lack of room on the St. Louis bench. Play had resumed by the time Hofer was ready to go.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks acquired backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit, depth defenseman Nolan Allen, and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the contract of permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis, minor-league defenseman Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth-round pick.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Jack McGregor, a former Pennsylvania state senator who founded the Pittsburgh Penguins, died on Tuesday at age 91. He was the team’s first president and chief executive officer from 1967 to 1970.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to McGregor’s family, colleagues, and the Penguins’ organization.