NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

Recapping the opening night of the regular season, Kyle Connor and the Jets are getting closer to a contract extension, an update on Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THE OPENING NIGHT GAMES

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists and Martin Necas scored twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Cale Makar also had two assists, and Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Kevin Fiala replied for the Kings.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon moved past Joe Sakic to become the Avalanche’s franchise points leader (1,017) since the club relocated to Colorado from Quebec City in 1995. Sakic remains the all-time leader in points (1,641), goals (625), assists (1,016), and games played (1,378).

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mackie Samoskevich collected two assists for the Panthers, who raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner in a pregame ceremony. Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight made 34 saves against his former team, while teammates Frank Nazar, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen each collected two points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers also signed forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got a 25-save shutout from goaltender Arturs Silovs to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Justin Brazeau scored two goals, and Evgeni Malkin had two assists for the Penguins. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal on 27 shots before being pulled for an extra attacker.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Silovs’ first NHL regular-season shutout. He had one in the 2024 playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks. This was Mike Sullivan’s first game as head coach of the Rangers, and his first against his former team.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Winnipeg Jets and winger Kyle Connor are moving closer to a contract extension. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. It’s believed the new deal will be a long-term one with an average annual value in the $12 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a substantial raise over Connor’s current AAV of $7.142 million. He’s earned it, sitting eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout performance in 2017-18.

Friedman also reported that the Vegas Golden Knights have announced that Alex Pietrangelo will not play during the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs. The 35-year-old defenseman is taking time away to deal with a nagging hip injury. The Golden Knights will be eligible for full salary-cap relief on his $8.8 million cap hit for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo had suggested last month that he wasn’t ruling out a possible return to the lineup this season. This news puts that possibility to rest.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they signed restricted free agent forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year contract with an AAV of $837,500.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Dallas Stars placed captain Jamie Benn on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). He suffered a collapsed lung last month and is expected to miss the first month of the season. They also recalled defenseman Lian Bichsel and signed free-agent forward Adam Erne to a one-year, two-way contract.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers placed winger Zach Hyman on injured reserve (IR) to start the season. He is still recovering from a dislocated wrist suffered during the 2025 playoffs.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Minnesota Wild placed winger Mats Zuccarello on IR with a lower-body injury. He could be sidelined until well into November.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. They also announced that forward Milan Lucic will remain in St. Louis to rehab an injury. The Blues haven’t ruled out signing the 37-year-old winger to another professional tryout offer (PTO).

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (groin injury) on IR and recalled defenseman Victor Mancini.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Anaheim Ducks goalie Ville Husso, and Utah Mammoth forward Kevin Rooney are among the five players placed on waivers on Tuesday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 7, 2025

by | Oct 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 7, 2025

The regular season opens on Tuesday, reaction to the Oilers re-signing Connor McDavid, the Oilers also re-sign Jake Walman, the Bruins will retire Zdeno Chara’s number, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2025-26 regular season opens with a triple-header on ESPN on Tuesday.

It begins with the Florida Panthers raising their second straight Stanley Cup championship banner in a pregame ceremony before facing off with the Chicago Blackhawks. New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan faces his former club as his team hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Los Angeles Kings welcome the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadian hockey fans can watch these games on Sportsnet1 or TVA Sports.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychowski believes Connor McDavid put his money where his mouth is when he signed a two-year contract extension with the Oilers worth an average annual value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

McDavid’s contract is remarkably low as he maintains the same AAV of his current deal, illustrating his seriousness about winning a Stanley Cup with the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most NHL pundits shared that opinion. With the salary cap set to rise significantly over the next two seasons, McDavid has provided the Oilers with the cap flexibility to maintain a Stanley Cup contender. It’s now up to general manager Stan Bowman to do so.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun believes some NHL teams will try to use McDavid’s new contract as an argument for why their best players should follow his example. However, it’s unlikely to have much of an effect.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been underpaid for years, partly because of his superstition about the number 87, but that didn’t prevent other superstars from seeking top dollar.

The McDavid contract wasn’t the only extension announced by the Oilers on Monday. They also signed defenseman Jake Walman to a seven-year deal worth an AAV of $7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can already see the positive effect that McDavid’s contract is having on the Oilers’ cap space for 2026-27. Had he taken a more expensive deal, they might have had more difficulty re-signing Walman.

Acquired by the Oilers at the March trade deadline, the 29-year-old Walman quickly established himself as an invaluable member of their blueline.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins will retire Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 in a ceremony before their game against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 15, 2026.

Chara becomes the 13th player in Bruins history to have their number retired. He spent 14 of his 24-season NHL career with the Bruins, captaining them to the 2011 Stanley Cup and the 2013 and 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A fitting tribute for one of the greatest defensemen in Bruins history.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller are good to go for their season opener against the Penguins on Tuesday. Both players were nursing injuries during the preseason.

TSN: The Rangers also signed forward Conor Sheary to a one-year contract on Monday. He joined the team in training camp and preseason on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

CALGARY SUN: Forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil will miss the Flames’ season opener on Wednesday. Both players are on injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer earned a roster spot for the start of the regular season. Schaefer, 18, was chosen first overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders can return Schaefer to his OHL’s Erie Otters after nine games without those contests counting against his entry-level contract. However, it’s expected he’ll be a full-time part of the Isles’ lineup this season.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs claimed goaltender Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes and forward Sammy Blais from the Montreal Canadiens.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators made promising defenseman Carter Yakemchuk their final roster cut on Monday. He’ll start the season with their AHL affiliate in Belleville, Ontario.

They also placed sidelined forward Drake Batherson (upper body) and defenseman Tyler Kleven (ankle) on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Veteran forward Luke Glendening is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Devils after attending their training camp on a PTO contract.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety suspended Tampa Bay Lightning forward Scott Sabourin for boarding Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad during their preseason game on Saturday. Lightning defenseman JJ Moser received a two-game suspension for roughing Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist during that game.

The Lightning was fined $100,000, and head coach Jon Cooper was fined $25,000 for their club’s actions during that game.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2025

by | Oct 6, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2025

The Flyers trade Ryan Ellis to the Sharks, an update on Jets forward Cole Perfetti, Matt Grzelcyk signs with the Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Ryan Ellis and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for winger Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Artem Guryev.

Former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Ellis (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ellis has been on permanent long-term injury reserve (LTIR) since November 2021. He has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $6.25 million.

The Sharks have taken on the entirety of Ellis’ cap hit, while the Flyers are adding Grundstrom’s $1.8 million cap hit. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next July.

This move frees up $4.45 million in cap space for the Flyers, leaving them with over $7.2 million available. It enables them to accrue cap room throughout the season. Grundstrom was placed on waivers shortly after this trade was announced.

Meanwhile, this trade leaves the Sharks with 48 of 50 NHL contracts, freeing up room to add promising center Michael Misa and defenseman Jason Dickinson to their roster for the upcoming season.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets winger Cole Perfetti is listed as week-to-week with a high ankle sprain. He suffered the injury during Friday’s preseason game against the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perfetti joins defenseman Dylan Samberg and center Adam Lowry on the sidelines. Samberg suffered a broken ankle during preseason, and Lowry is recovering from offseason hip surgery.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks. The 31-year-old defenseman earned the deal after attending training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates Grzelcyk will earn $1 million on this contract. He’ll provide experienced puck-moving ability to the rebuilding Blackhawks’ blueline. He’s coming off a career-best 40-point performance with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

DAILY FACEOFF: 43 players hit the NHL waiver wire on Sunday. Several goaltenders were among them, including Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins, Kaapo Kahkonen of the Montreal Canadiens, Nico Daws of the New Jersey Devils, Mads Sogaard of the Ottawa Senators, and Clay Stevenson of the Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see if DiPietro and Stevenson clear. Both were frequently mentioned as potential waiver targets in the rumor mill.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers lost goaltender Brandon Bussi to the Carolina Hurricanes via waivers.

SPORTSNET: Tampa Bay Lightning centers Carter Schmidt and Gage Goncalves were fined for cross-checking Florida Panthers forwards Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues during Saturday’s fight-filled preseason game.

Lightning winger Scott Sabourin will have a hearing for roughing Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Lightning defenseman JJ Moser will have one for boarding Panthers winger Jesper Boqvist.

CBS SPORTS: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kyle Burroughs (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 5, 2025

by | Oct 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 5, 2025

The Wild re-sign Filip Gustavsson, the Penguins placed Ryan Graves on waivers, the Stars are examining options for a new arena, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MINNESOTA STAR-TRIBUNE: The Wild and goaltender Filip Gustavsson agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract extension. Gustavsson, 27, will earn an average annual value (AAV) of $6.8 million.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates Gustavsson’s new contract also includes a full no-movement clause in the first two seasons, and a 15-team no-trade clause for the remainder of the deal.

After re-signing superstar Kirill Kaprizov last month, getting Gustavsson under contract was a priority for the Wild. He’s in the final season of his current deal with an AAV of $3.75 million, and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Gutavsson took over the starting goaltender role for the Wild during the last two seasons. He would’ve drawn considerable attention had he gone to market next summer.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers. If he clears, he’s expected to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 30-year-old Graves is in the third season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million and a 12-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins signed Graves in 2023 as a replacement for Brian Dumoulin. However, he struggled over the past two seasons and slipped down the Penguins’ depth chart, becoming a frequent healthy scratch last season.

The Penguins could try to trade Graves, but as Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski observed, he has no trade value given his declining performance and the remaining term on his contract. They could attempt to move him for another player on a bad contract, but that doesn’t help either team.

Kingerski expects Graves to be demoted to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for this season, freeing up $1.15 million of his $4.5 million cap hit. After that, he’ll likely become a contract buyout candidate next June.

THE ATHLETIC: The Dallas Stars are evaluating all options for a new arena when their lease with American Airlines Arena expires in 2031.

The Stars have shared American Airlines Arena with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks since it opened in 2001.

One option includes relocating to a new arena in Plano, Texas, approximately 20 miles outside of Dallas. They’re also in discussions with Arlington, Texas.

NHL.COM: Prospect winger Gavin McKenna scored a goal and collected two assists in two games during his NCAA weekend debut with Penn State University.

McKenna, 17, is projected to become the top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft. He made headlines this summer when he left the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to sign with Penn State.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 in a brawl-filled game that saw 16 players ejected as the two rivals combined for 322 penalty minutes. The Panthers also had a goal taken away because a player who had been previously ejected was on the ice when it was scored.

“It just got silly, got stupid,” Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. “By the end of it, it wasn’t really hockey out there.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fans of fight-filled preseason games should enjoy it while it lasts. Those antics are expected to decline when the preseason is shortened starting next year. Teams will play up to four preseason games, which is two to three games shorter than the current preseason schedule.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets lost defenseman Dylan DeMelo and forward Cole Perfetti to injuries during their 5-4 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.

DeMelo left the game in the first period after taking a stick to the throat/face area from Flames forward Blake Coleman. He was kept out of the rest of the game for precautionary reasons. Perfetti suffered a lower-body injury in the second period and will be re-evaluated.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Nick Jensen returned to the lineup for his club’s 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Jensen, 35, had been sidelined since undergoing hip surgery on May 19.

SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers forward Mattias Janmark is expected to be sidelined for one week with an undisclosed injury.

NHL.COM’s Brooks Bratten reports that Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (upper body) and forward Matthew Wood (lower body) have been placed on injured reserve. Hague is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks, while Wood remains week-to-week.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 4, 2025

by | Oct 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 4, 2025

The Oilers re-sign coach Kris Knoblauch, the Lightning reportedly extended coach Jon Cooper’s contract, the Predators sign Luke Evangelista, the Senators acquire Kurtis MacDermid, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed head coach Kris Knoblauch to a three-year contract extension. His new deal runs through the 2028-29 season. Knoblauch’s record is 94 wins, 47 losses, and 10 overtime losses in 151 games. He’s second in wins among NHL coaches over the period.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knoblauch’s solid record as head coach isn’t the only reason he got an extension. It can also be another way for the Oilers to entice captain Connor McDavid into signing an extension. Knoblauch’s ties to the Oilers’ superstar go back to their days with the OHL’s Erie Otters over a decade ago.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper quietly signed an extension several months ago. LeBrun isn’t sure how long the new deal is, but Cooper is signed beyond this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s odd that the Lightning wouldn’t announce Cooper’s new contract, especially after there was speculation over the summer that he might head to the Utah Mammoth at the end of this season. Nevertheless, it’s not surprising that they’re keeping him in the fold.

Under Cooper’s coaching, the Lightning have been the most successful team in the NHL since 2014-15. Over that period, they went to four Stanley Cup Finals (winning the Cup in 2020 and 2021), reached the Eastern Conference Final twice (2016 and 2018), and won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2018-19.

THE TENNESSEAN: The contract standoff between the Nashville Predators and winger Luke Evangelista ended Friday, with the two sides agreeing to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These negotiations dragged on longer than necessary. It was rumored that the Predators were offering $2 million annually while the Evangelista camp sought $3.25 million. It shouldn’t have taken up the entire training camp and preseason period to close that gap.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators acquired forward Kurtis MacDermid from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Zack MacEwen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators wanted more muscle after getting thumped by the Montreal Canadiens during a recent preseason game. Meanwhile, the Devils freed up some cap space by swapping MacDermid’s $1.15 million cap hit for MacEwen’s $775K.

The Devils remain above the $95.5 million salary cap by $2.895 million, but they could place sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and his $4 million AAV on long-term injury reserve to be cap-compliant when the regular season begins next week.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Devils, defenseman Brett Pesce could miss their season-opener with an undisclosed injury.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center Scott Laughton is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. They also placed forward David Kampf on waivers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kampf was among 12 NHL players placed on waivers on Friday. He’s expected to clear waivers given his $2.4 million AAV.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

TSN: Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer was fined over $2,200 for roughing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel during a preseason game on Thursday.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers claimed winger Cole Schwindt off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights. Schwindt was part of the package the Panthers sent to the Calgary Flames in 2022 to acquire Matthew Tkachuk.

THE ATHLETIC: The Minnesota Wild claimed defenseman Daemon Hunt off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had been part of the return sent to the Blue Jackets last season for defenseman David Jiricek.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Givani Smith earned a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after attending training camp on a professional tryout offer. He will be sent to their AHL affiliate in Chicago if he clears waivers on Saturday.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Former Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson was released from his PTO contract with the Wild on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could be the end of Johnson’s NHL career. The 38-year-old defenseman spent 19 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and the Avalanche, winning a Stanley Cup with the latter in 2022.

THE ATHLETIC: The Buffalo Sabres parted ways with director of player development Adam Mair following his September arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 3, 2025

by | Oct 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 3, 2025

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes joins his teammates after signing his new contract, the Ducks re-sign Jackson LaCombe, the Panthers re-up Niko Mikkola, the Flames re-sign coach Ryan Huska, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Luke Hughes joined his Devils teammates in practice after signing a seven-year deal. The 22-year-old defenseman missed most of training camp and preseason as a result of those contract talks.

Hughes said he appreciated the advice of his older brother Quinn Hughes (captain of the Vancouver Canucks) during his negotiations with the Devils.

“He said just stay patient, even keel, and get what you want,” Luke said. “As a family, we decided the deal, and we’re really happy with the outcome and really excited to be here for the next seven years.”

Like his brother and teammate Jack, Luke said that he’d like to play with Quinn one day, but added that his older brother loves living and playing in Vancouver. He also stated that his offseason shoulder surgery was successful and that he’s prepared for the upcoming season. “My body feels great, my shoulders are strong, and I’m ready to go.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes’ new contract ties him with veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton with the highest average annual value ($9 million) among his teammates. He will be under pressure to meet the expectations that come with his expensive new contract. Hughes could feel the effects of missing training camp and preseason play heading into the regular season. How long it takes him to adjust could be a factor for the Devils.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Jackson LaCombe to an eight-year, $72 million contract extension. The AAV is $9 million commencing in 2026-27, and is the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (NHL Images)

LaCombe, 24, is in the second season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $925K. He had a breakout performance with the Ducks last season, tallying 11 goals and 43 points in 75 games.

The AAV is the same as what Jack Hughes recently received from the Devils. However, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said it was coincidental, claiming Hughes’ contract had no bearing on LaCombe’s contract talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The significant pay raise received by LaCombe shows how much confidence the Ducks’ front office has in his development and the role he’ll play on their blueline as they emerge from their rebuilding process.

Unlike Mason McTavish, LaCombe got this contract without a long negotiation period. That’s because he had arbitration rights next summer.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers and defenseman Niko Mikkola agreed to an eight-year, $40 million contract extension. Mikkola, 29, was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The AAV on his new deal is $5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have locked up another core player to a long-term contract that might not age well in its final seasons. However, they’re willing to deal with that down the road if Mikkola can help them win more Stanley Cups.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed head coach Ryan Huska to a two-year contract extension. He has proven to be popular with his players, implementing a relentless forechecking style that maximizes the potential of a roster currently short on offensive talent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have performed well under Huska’s coaching, narrowly missing the playoffs last season.

The Flames also placed goaltender Ivan Prosvetov on waivers, meaning Devin Cooley will be the backup for starting netminder Dustin Wolf.

TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed goalie Pheonix Copley off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is an insurance move by the Lightning. Starter Andrei Vasilevskiy missed most of training camp with an undisclosed injury, and it’s uncertain if he’ll play in their final preseason game on Saturday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins winger Bryan Rust will be sidelined for the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany (lower body) will be out for six weeks.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Artemi Panarin participated in the club’s morning skate on Thursday but was not in the lineup for their 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He remains day-to-day for precautionary reasons with a lower-body injury.

Meanwhile, Islanders prospect Cal Ritchie suffered a lower-body injury in his club’s 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 20-year-old center is day-to-day.

RG.ORG: Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin was surprised by the value of his new three-year, $2.9 million contract extension. “I thought the number would be lower,” Podkolzin said, praising his agents for securing the deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: 22 players were placed on waivers Thursday. They included Utah Mammoth defenseman Scott Perunovich, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Danton Heinen, and Vancouver Canucks forward Vitali Kravtsov.

THE PROVINCE: A woman has filed a lawsuit against former NHL defenseman Willie Mitchell, claiming he sexually assaulted her at his Tofino, BC, home in 2022.