NHL Rumor Mill – December 18, 2025

by | Dec 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 18, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup, we have the latest on Sabres winger Alex Tuch, Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton, and winger Ondrej Palat, plus updates on the Blues and Oilers.

ALEX TUCH SEEKS A CONTRACT LARGER THAN ADRIAN KEMPE’S DEAL

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal referenced a report claiming that former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams revealed that Alex Tuch seeks a contract bigger than that of winger Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings.

Kempe, 29, signed an eight-year extension with the Kings in November that was worth an average annual value of $10.625 million.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

During TSN’s Overdrive show, insider Darren Dreger said that the 29-year-old Tuch “is looking for money just beyond Adrian Kempe.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Tuch is actually seeking more than Kempe, he is overrating his value.

Since Kempe’s breakout performance in 2021-22, he’s been the Kings’ leader with 150 goals and 297 points in 351 games. He’s also their leader in shorthanded goals (10) and game-winning goals (26).

Over the same period, Tuch is second among Sabres scorers with 117 goals and third in points with 271 in 312 games. He also has a team-leading 10 shorthanded goals and 21 game-winning goals.

Kempe has played more games than Tuch, but he’s far more important to the offensively starved Kings than Tuch is to the Sabres. 

That said, Tuch can make a case for $10 million annually, but the Sabres were reportedly unwilling to go that high. If that remains the case after their management change, he’ll be playing elsewhere before the March 6 trade deadline.

THE LATEST ON DOUGIE HAMILTON AND ONDREJ PALAT

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat addressed recent rumors claiming the club was trying to move them in cost-cutting trades.

Hamilton repeated what he said during training camp when asked about rumors that surfaced during the summer, saying he signed with the Devils because he believes he can help them win the Stanley Cup. He brushed off a question about whether he’d waive his no-trade clause, saying it’s not something he thinks about.

Palat was more direct when he was asked about the rumors. He said that general manager Tom Fitzgerald hasn’t approached him about a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those rumors about Hamilton and Palat surfaced in the aftermath of the Vancouver Canucks trading Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild last Friday. The Devils were among the clubs that made a legitimate offer, but they had to clear cap space to absorb Hughes’ $7.85 million cap hit. When they couldn’t, the Canucks jumped at the offer from the Wild.

Having lost out on the Hughes sweepstakes, it’ll be interesting to see what Fitzgerald does to bolster his roster and whether Hamilton or Palat would be part of it in one way or another.

BLUES READY TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is willing to consider all his options regarding his roster, including the possibility of trades.

Armstrong remains hopeful that his struggling team will go on a run to secure a playoff position. However, he’s realistic about his club’s current situation, saying he’s starting to field calls from other clubs that he wouldn’t entertain otherwise, admitting teams are kicking tires.

The Blues GM isn’t ruling out a December trade, but he’s most likely to be preparing for moves later in the season, either before the Olympic roster freeze in February or the March 6 trade deadline.

Some of the Blues mentioned in trade rumors (goaltender Jordan Binnington, center Brayden Schenn, defenseman Justin Faulk) are players Armstrong could have an incentive to move because they’re in their thirties with term left on their contracts.

Armstrong is open to offers for those players, each of whom has some form of no-trade protection. However, he stressed that he’ll want full value in any trade, hoping to add to his younger core of players rather than adding draft picks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong could start peddling players by mid-January if the Blues haven’t reversed their fortunes by then. Binnington has a 14-team no-trade list, while Schenn and Faulk have 15-team no-trade lists.

Teams could also be interested in some of the Blues’ younger players. Jordan Kyrou has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since June. However, he now has a full no-trade clause, and Armstrong would likely prefer hanging onto him.

THE OILERS MIGHT NOT BE DONE ADDING TO THEIR ROSTER

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports Oilers insider Bob Stauffer believes the Oilers aren’t done making moves after trading goalie Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh for netminder Tristan Jarry.

Stauffer thinks the Oilers could pursue a top-nine forward. He felt they could consider adding a player comparable to Vasily Podkolzin, who wasn’t initially considered a “sexy” addition but has since become a valuable role player.

Staples pointed out that the Oilers are in desperate need of offense from their third line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As with the swap of Skinner for Jarry, salary-cap space will be an issue for the Oilers. It’ll have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out move, or a separate cost-cutting deal to free up room for that third-line forward.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2025

by | Dec 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2025

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl reaches 1,000 points, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon continues his high-scoring ways, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini moves up in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl collected four assists to surpass 1,000 career NHL regular-season points as his Edmonton Oilers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4. Connor McDavid scored two goals and set up two others for the 16-12-6 Oilers. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist for the 14-9-9 Penguins, who are winless in their last six games (0-2-4).

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are the only team in NHL history to have five players reach the 1,000-point plateau as Draisaitl joined McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri. Meanwhile, McDavid continues his surge in this season’s scoring race, sitting second with 56 points.

This was the first game between the two clubs since they swapped starting goaltenders last Friday. The Oilers’ Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for the win, while the Penguins’ Stuart Skinner turned aside 17 shots.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied twice and collected an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Cale Makar, Martin Necas, and Valeri Nichushkin each had two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves as the league-leading Avalanche (24-2-7) picked up their third straight win. Shane Wright, Jordan Eberle, and Chandler Stephenson replied for the Kraken (12-13-6) as they’ve dropped nine of their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all NHL scorers with 28 goals and 58 points. He’s on pace to reach 70 goals. The last players to reach that milestone were Hall of Famers Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny, who each had 76 goals in 1992-93.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had two goals and two assists to lead his club over the Calgary Flames by a score of 6-3. Barclay Goodrow scored twice and had an assist, and winger Tyler Toffoli the 300th regular-season NHL goal for the 17-14-3 Sharks, who’ve won three straight contests. Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, and Nazem Kadri scored for the 13-17-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is third in this season’s scoring race with 51 points. Earlier in the day, the Sharks deemed forward Philipp Kurashev as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild got a 25-save performance from Filip Gustavsson to shut out the Washington Capitals 5-0. Vladimir Tarasenko and Danila Yurov each had three points, and Quinn Hughes collected an assist in his second game with the Wild, who picked up their fifth straight win and improved to 20-9-5. Charlie Lindgren stopped 27 of 32 shots for the 18-11-4 Capitals, who drop to 1-3-2 in their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marcus Foligno returned to action after being sidelined since Nov. 26 with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie scored twice in a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth. David Pastrnak had two assists for the 20-14-0 Bruins, who’ve won five of their last six games. Barrett Hayton replied for the Mammoth, who dropped to 16-16-3 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie sits second among league scorers this season with 24 goals. Before this game, the Bruins placed defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (upper body) on injured reserve, and claimed blueliner Vladislav Kolyachonok off waivers from the Dallas Stars.

The Philadelphia Flyers downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. Trevor Zegras scored to extend his goal streak to four games, and Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist for the 17-9-6 Flyers, who extended their points streak to five games (2-3-0). Alexandre Texier scored for the Canadiens, who dropped to 17-12-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. They also sent goaltender Sam Montembeault to their AHL affiliate on a two-week conditioning stint. Meanwhile, Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen made his season debut after recovering from triceps surgery in March

Two goals in eight seconds by Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua late in the third period rallied the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Matthews and William Nylander finished with two points each, and Joseph Woll stopped 23 shots for the 15-12-5 Maple Leafs. Wyatt Kaiser and Jason Dickinson scored for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost three straight games and slipped to 13-14-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov was scratched from this game after being late for practice on Monday.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat netted two goals in the third period as his club nipped the New York Islanders 3-2. Lucas Raymond collected three assists for the Red Wings (19-12-4). Emil Heineman and Scott Mayfield replied for the Islanders (19-12-3) as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Red Wings regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 41 points.

An overtime goal by Adam Fantilli gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Zach Werenski had two goals and an assist as the 14-13-6 Blue Jackets snapped a five-game losing skid. Mikael Granlund and Ryan Poehling each had two points for the Ducks (20-12-2), who have dropped three of their last four games (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 42 points, the Ducks cling to first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Vancouver Canucks blanked the New York Rangers 3-0. Thatcher Demko kicked out 23 shots for the shutout while Evander Kane, Liam Ohgren, and Conor Garland scored for the 13-17-3 Canucks. The Rangers (16-15-4) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings placed goaltender Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve and recalled netminder Pheonix Copley.

The St. Louis Blues claimed winger Jonatan Berggren off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings.

THE TENNESSEAN: Former US college football coach Nick Saban purchased a minority stake in the Nashville Predators.

TORONTO SUN: Former NHL forward Paul Gagne passed away at age 63 after battling cancer. Gagne spent eight seasons 1980-81 to 1989-90) with the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders. He had 110 goals and 101 assists for 211 points in 390 games.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Veteran TSN broadcaster Michael Whalen passed away earlier this week at age 82. Whalen was TSN’s bureau reporter for Montreal and Quebec from 1986 to 2007.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to the family and friends of Gagne and Whalen.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 14, 2025

by | Dec 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 14, 2025

The Sharks’ five-goal comeback win, Tristan Jarry’s debut with the Oilers, and Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s return to action highlight the recaps of Saturday’s action in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The San Jose Sharks rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the third period to upset the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-5 on an overtime goal by John Klingberg, who finished the game with two goals. Tyler Toffolli scored twice and assisted on two others while Macklin Celebrini and Alexander Wennberg each had three points as the Sharks improved to 16-14-3. Bryan Rust and Anthony Mantha each had a goal and two assists for the Penguins (14-8-8), who are winless in their last four games (0-1-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev left this game with upper-body injuries. Earlier in the day, the Sharks provided an update on center Michael Misa, saying he was not injured as originally reported and will report to Canada’s training camp for the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship.

Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba cleared waivers and was sent to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Tristan Jarry made 25 saves to win his first game with the Edmonton Oilers as they downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Connor McDavid scored two goals and set up another, Leon Draisaitl had three assists, and Vasily Podkolzin tallied twice for the 15-11-6 Oilers. Steven Lorentz had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who sank to 14-12-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you missed it, the Oilers acquired Jarry from the Penguins in exchange for Stuart Skinner in a multiplayer trade on Friday.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots in his return from knee surgery to defeat the Washington Capitals 5-1. Gabriel Vilardi scored two goals while Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Adam Lowry, and Alex Iafallo each had two points for the 15-15-1 Jets, snapping a three-game losing skid. Jakob Chychrun tallied for the Capitals (18-10-4), who have lost two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are a different team with Hellebuyck in the lineup. They were 12-7-0 before his surgery, and 2-8-1 during his absence. Meanwhile, the Capitals took goalie Charlie Lindgren off injured reserve.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche picked up their 11th straight home win with a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who improved to 23-2-7 (53 points). Jonathan Marchessault and Tyson Jost replied for the 12-15-4 Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads the league this season with 26 goals and 55 points in 32 games.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb snapped a 2-2 tie as his club nipped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Mitch Marner had three assists as the Golden Knights (16-6-9) extended their points streak to seven games. Charlie Coyle and Yegor Chinakhov scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost five straight and dropped to 13-13-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Golden Knights hold first place in the Pacific Division with 51 points.

The Carolina Hurricanes overcame an early 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jackson Blake scored the winner in the shootout while Shayne Gostisbehere picked up two assists for the Hurricanes (20-9-2), who collected their third straight win. Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist for the 16-9-5 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 42 points.

New York Islanders forward Emil Heineman scored the winning goal in the shootout to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves while Matthew Schaefer and Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders (19-11-3), who have won three straight games. Darren Raddysh and J.J. Moser scored for the Lightning (18-11-3) as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie the game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders inducted Pat LaFontaine into their Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. LaFontaine began his 15-season NHL career with the Islanders in 1983-84, spending eight seasons with them and netting 566 of his 1,013 regular-season points with them. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

An overtime goal by J.T. Miller gave the New York Rangers a 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens. It was the second of two goals for Miller, and teammates Will Cuylle and Noah Laba each had a goal and an assist for the 16-13-1 Rangers, who ended a three-game winless skid. Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson each had two assists for the Canadiens (16-11-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, it was announced that former Canadiens forward Bobby Rousseau had passed away at the age of 85. He spent 10 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Canadiens from 1960-61 to 1969-70, winning four Stanley Cups. Rousseau also played for the Rangers and Minnesota North Stars. He had 245 goals and 458 assists for 703 points in 942 regular-season games, and 84 points in 128 playoff games.

My condolences to Rousseau’s family, friends, and former teammates.

The Minnesota Wild squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on a goal by Joel Eriksson Ek with 24 seconds left in the third period. Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves while Tyler Pitlick and Ryan Hartman scored for the 18-9-5 Wild, who picked up their third straight win. Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens scored for the Senators (14-13-4) as they overcame a 2-0 deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quinn Hughes will make his debut with Minnesota on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. The Wild acquired the superstar defenseman from the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen stopped 30 shots in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, ending a five-game losing streak. Ondrej Palat, Colton White, and Juho Lammikko each had two assists for the 18-13-1 Devils. Troy Terry replied for the 19-12-1 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Simon Nemec missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to miss some time, though no details have been provided yet as to how long he’ll be sidelined. He joins a growing list of injured Devils, including Jack Hughes, Brett Pesce, Arseny Gritsyuk, Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, and Johnathan Kovacevic.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane tallied his 498th career regular-season NHL goal as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. John Gibson turned in a 26-save shutout while Alex DeBrincat scored twice and had an assist for the 18-12-3 Red Wings. Arvid Soderblom made 20 saves on 23 shots for the 13-13-6 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks called up top prospect Nick Lardis for some offensive support. Meanwhile, Blackhawks center Connor Bedard missed this game with an upper-body injury. More information on his status is expected on Monday.

The Florida Panthers got a 15-save shutout from Sergei Bobrovsky to defeat the Dallas Stars 4-0. Brad Marchand had two goals and an assist for the Panthers, who improved to 16-13-2. Jake Oettinger made 19 saves on 22 shots for the 21-7-5 Stars.

Calgary Flames forward Morgan Frost scored in overtime for a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Blake Coleman also scored, and Dustin Wolf turned aside 20 shots for the 13-16-4 Flames, who’ve won four of their last five contests. Adrian Kempe scored, and Darcy Kuemper kicked out 36 shots for the 14-8-9 Kings.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2025

by | Dec 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2025

The Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to the Wild, Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is injured against the Blues, Lightning captain Victor Hedman is sidelined until February, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CANUCKS SHIP QUINN HUGHES TO THE WILD IN A BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

NHL.COM: The Vancouver Canucks traded defenseman Quinn Hughes on Friday to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Marco Rossi, left wing Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The retooling of the Canucks roster is underway. Management reportedly knew for some time that Hughes wouldn’t sign a contract extension next summer.

Vancouver Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild (NHL Images).

The fault lies not with Hughes, one of the greatest players in Canucks history, but on a front office that failed to build a stable, winning roster around him. This move seemed inevitable following the drama between centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, resulting in the latter’s trade to the New York Rangers in January.

The Canucks didn’t get full value from the Wild in this return, but no team ever does when they trade a superstar. What they got was three players who could have a positive long-term effect on their roster.

Rossi will fill the second-line center position and has the skills to become a reliable two-way forward. Ohgren and Buium are promising youngsters who could blossom into stars. They also get an unprotected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which they can keep for themselves or use as a trade chip to add another NHL-ready player to their roster.

Meanwhile, there’s no question that Minnesota is the immediate winner of this trade. General manager Bill Guerin has signaled his intent to turn the Wild into a Stanley Cup contender.

Hughes is a superstar, a Norris Trophy winner who brings a high level of skill to the Wild’s already deep defense core. He’ll also provide a significant measure of offense from the blueline, especially on the power play. His playmaking talent should mesh well with scoring stars Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.

Guerin also hopes that Hughes will agree to a contract extension before his eligibility for unrestricted free agent status on July 1, 2027. The earliest he can sign it is next July, when the Wild would have an opportunity to sign him an eight-year, front-loaded, bonus-laden deal before the rules change for those types of contracts on Sept. 15, 2026.

At the very worst, the Wild have Hughes for two playoff runs. If he helps turn them into a Stanley Cup champion, or at least a Cup Finalist, they will consider it a worthwhile investment.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Chicago Blackhawks lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues, and they also lost franchise star Connor Bedard in the final second of the game.

Bedard injured his right shoulder after being checked by Blues captain Brayden Schenn off the faceoff in what Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill called “a freak accident”. Bedard left the ice immediately, gripping his shoulder in obvious pain.

Before the injury, Bedard assisted on both Blackhawks’ goals. He won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, and an update on his condition is expected on Monday. Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux scored his first of the season, and Robert Thomas set up two goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard is tied for third in league scoring (44 points) with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. His performance this season is the biggest reason why the rebuilding Blackhawks are jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. A lengthy absence could send them into a tailspin. It could also jeopardize Bedard’s chances of playing for Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Utah Mammoth picked up their third win in their last 10 games by downing the Seattle Kraken 5-3. Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Mason Marchment scored twice for the Kraken, who’ve lost seven of their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken played without winger Jared McCann, who is sidelined for three weeks with a lower-body injury. He’s only appeared in 11 of his club’s 29 games this season.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman will undergo a procedure on his elbow that will sideline him until early February. The 34-year-old defenseman missed 12 games with the injury, returning to action last Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hedman is expected to be ready when the 2026 Winter Olympics begin in February. He will be playing for Sweden.

SPORTSNET: New York Islanders center Bo Horvat is expected to miss one to three weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Ducks, they activated goaltender Lukas Dostal off injured reserve on Friday.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Jets winger Nino Niederreiter will become the first Switzerland-born player to appear in 1,000 NHL regular-season games when his club faces the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Arseny Gritsyuk will be sidelined this weekend with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed defenseman Matt Dumba on waivers Friday. The move is a result of their acquisition of blueliner Brett Kulak as part of the return in yesterday’s trade that sent goaltender Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers for netminder Stuart Skinner.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Oilers in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers added Stastney to fill the gap left by Kulak’s departure to Pittsburgh.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Sharks rookie center Michael Misa is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. It’s the second time he’s been sidelined in just over a month. He will miss the start of Canada’s training camp for the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes signed rookie defenseman Joel Nystrom to a four-year, $4.9 million contract extension.










Oilers Trade Stuart Skinner to the Penguins for Tristan Jarry

by | Dec 12, 2025

Oilers Trade Stuart Skinner to the Penguins for Tristan Jarry

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded goaltender Tristan Jarry and minor-league forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round draft pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It figures that the biggest trade thus far of this regular season occurs when I’m out Christmas shopping.

The main components of this deal are the goaltenders. Jarry and Skinner frequently surfaced in trade rumors in the past, but it was only recently that speculation emerged suggesting they be swapped for each other.

Edmonton Oilers trade  Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL Images).

Skinner backstopped the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025. However, his inconsistent play became an issue too big to ignore, especially with the Oilers struggling to stay in the Western Conference playoff race. He is in the final season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.6 million, and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

Jarry had been the Penguins’ starter since 2021-21. Like Skinner, inconsistency plagued his performance, partly because of injuries. He was waived last January and briefly spent time with their AHL affiliate before returning with a solid effort down the stretch. He’s under contract through 2027-28 with an AAV of $5.375 million.

There was no salary retention by either side in this deal.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he felt it was time for something different between the pipes. Time will tell if swapping one erratic starting netminder for another leads to significant improvement for his club.

The Oilers include Kulak in this deal to balance out the salary-cap dollars. He’s a good defensive blueliner, but was struggling a bit this season in Edmonton. He carries a $2.75 million cap hit. Like Skinner, he is UFA-eligible next July.

The Penguins could emerge as the winners in this deal. Moving out Jarry without having to retain any of his salary is a win in itself.

Skinner could fit in well alongside promising Arturs Silovs, allowing them to give Sergei Murashov more seasoning with their farm team. Moving away from the harsh spotlight in Edmonton could do him good.

If Skinner plays well, he could be an affordable re-signing for the Penguins. If he intends to test the market next summer, they could peddle him elsewhere at the March trade deadline for a decent return. The same goes for Kulak.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 11, 2025

by | Dec 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 11, 2025

Are the Devils interested in Ryan O’Reilly? Are the Oilers still interested in Tristan Jarry? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,” Elliotte Friedman said he believes Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly remains a legitimate trade target for the New Jersey Devils.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

However, as with the Devils’ rumored interest in O’Reilly’s teammate Steven Stamkos and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, salary-cap space would be an issue, especially if the Predators didn’t want to retain salary in the deal. That means the Devils must make a separate cost-cutting trade with another team before attempting to add O’Reilly.

Friedman also noted that O’Reilly lacks a no-trade clause, but the Predators are treating him as though he does. He would have to agree to go to New Jersey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Until this season, the Devils could attempt a three-team trade that would spread O’Reilly’s cap hit around. However, that’s no longer possible. A second salary retention on the same contract can only happen 75 regular-season days later.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently acknowledged the Edmonton Oilers’ rumored interest in Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. He reported that Penguins sources claimed the Oilers had inquired about the 31-year-old goaltender, who is enjoying a bounce-back season thus far.

However, Yohe doesn’t expect the Penguins to be sellers if they remain in the playoff race this season. He’d be surprised if Jarry, forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and defenseman Erik Karlsson are moved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins continue to rebuild…er, sorry, retool their roster by transitioning younger players into the lineup. However, a chance at reaching the playoffs is a great way to keep your players motivated and your fans invested. Another shot at the postseason for future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is great for ticket sales.

If the Penguins collapse over the next couple of months, then Jarry could be available by the March 6 trade deadline. However, that might be too late to save the Oilers’ season. They must look elsewhere for goaltending help.