NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 16, 2025

by | Dec 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 16, 2025

A notable hat trick by Predators winger Filip Forsberg, the Ducks’ Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba return to New York, the Sabres make a management change, the three stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: A hat-trick performance by Filip Forsberg carried the Nashville Predators to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly each collected two assists for the 13-15-4 Predators, who have won seven of their last 10 games. Dalibor Dvorsky netted both goals for the Blues, who dropped to 12-15-7.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forsberg picked up his 11th career hat trick, tying Markus Naslund for the second-most NHL hat tricks by a Swedish player. Kent Nilsson is the leader with 14.

Before this game, the Blues announced that winger Dylan Holloway would miss at least six weeks with an ankle injury.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier scored twice, and goalie Lukas Dostal stopped 26 shots to defeat the New York Rangers 4-1. Ryan Poehling had two assists for the Ducks (20-12-1), as they ended a two-game losing skid. Matthew Robertson replied for the Rangers (16-14-4), who have dropped four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the first game back in New York for former Rangers Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, who received ovations from the fans at Madison Square Garden during tribute videos for both players. Both were traded to the Ducks in separate trades last season.

Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad was benched from this game for missing a team meeting.

Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart tallied two goals in a 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots for the 17-13-2 Panthers, who’ve won five of their last six contests. Brayden Point had two assists for the Lightning (18-12-3), who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 39 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning forward Brandon Hagel left this game in the third period after a questionable hit by Panthers defenseman Seth Jones. Earlier in the day, the Lightning announced that defenseman Emil Lilleberg will miss several weeks with an injury, while sidelined goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy could return to the lineup before Christmas.

The Dallas Stars beat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-1. Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist, and Casey DeSmith made 27 saves for the 22-7-5 Stars. Andrei Kuzmenko scored for the Kings (14-9-9), who are 0-1-2 in their last three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury following a collision with Rantanen.

An overtime goal by Brady Tkachuk gave the Ottawa Senators a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Tim Stutzle had three assists, and Jake Sanderson scored the tying goal late in the third period for the Senators (15-13-4). Neal Pionk and Logan Stanley replied for the 15-15-2 Jets, who have three wins in their last 10 games.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Buffalo Sabres fired general manager Kevyn Adams, replacing him with Jarmo Kekalainen on a full-time basis.

Adams was in his sixth season as the Sabres’ general manager. He was criticized for mismanaging the team’s assets, his inability to secure a franchise goaltender, and his failure to address a lingering leadership void within the team.

In June, Adams hired Kekalainen as a senior advisor. He spent 10 seasons as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A recent report in The Athletic indicated the Sabres were internally discussing replacing Adams. During his tenure, the Sabres’ postseason drought stretched to a league-record 14 seasons and counting. His two biggest blunders were trading Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights and Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers. Both players flourished with their new teams, becoming Stanley Cup champions.

Adams lacked management experience when he was hired for the job. He did his best, but he had no business being in that role. It was yet another example of the ineptitude of the club’s ownership, which has gone through five general managers, eight head coaches, 28 goaltenders with more than one game played, and seven team captains since 2011.

Kekalainen has considerable management experience. He guided the Blue Jackets through their most successful period in franchise history from 2016 to 2020, reaching the playoffs in four straight seasons. However, things fell apart soon afterward, leading to his firing last year. Whether he fares better than his four predecessors remains to be seen.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek are the league’s stars for the week ending Dec. 14, 2025.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks placed center Connor Bedard (upper body) on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 12.

DAILY FACEOFF/DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane will miss the next two games with an upper-body injury. The Wings also placed forward Jonatan Berggren on waivers.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Brett Kulak joined the Pittsburgh Penguins’ active roster after resolving their immigration status over the weekend. On Friday, the Oilers traded Skinner and Kulak to the Penguins for goalie Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks placed forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks agreed to a two-year contract extension with center Max Sasson. He will earn an average annual value of $1 million.

RG.ORG: Prospect winger Gavin McKenna is hoping for redemption at the 2026 World Junior Championship. He was part of Canada’s junior team that failed to medal last season.

McKenna believes his move from the CHL to the NCAA with Penn State University this season has improved his decision-making, defensive play, and physical growth. He thinks those attributes will help his performance in this year’s tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna said his focus is on winning gold, and he’s not looking at this tournament as an opportunity to elevate his status in the 2026 NHL Draft. Nevertheless, he has slipped from the top spot in some recent draft rankings. A strong performance at the WJC could help him regain that placement.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2025

by | Oct 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2025

Milestone games for the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, and Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Panthers winger Brad Marchand returns to Boston, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S NHL ACTION

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored to pass Mario Lemieux for the most regular-season and playoff points (1,896) in franchise history in a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Kris Letang collected two assists to reach 600 for his career, and Justin Brazeau had a goal and two assists for the 5-2-0 Penguins. Conor Garland replied for the injury-depleted Canucks, who are 4-3-0 in their first seven games.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were missing Filip Chytil, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Teddy Blueger, and Derek Forbort. The four remain sidelined by injuries. Winger Brock Boeser also missed this game as he’s on a leave of absence for personal reasons.

New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer scored and collected an assist as his club nipped the San Jose Sharks 4-3, handing the latter their sixth straight loss (0-4-2). Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal, and tied the record for the longest points streak to begin a career for a defenseman (six games). The Islanders have won three straight after losing their first three games. Collin Graf had a goal and an assist, and rookie forward Michael Misa picked up an assist for his first NHL point.

Brad Marchand collected two assists to help the Florida Panthers defeat his former club, the Boston Bruins, by a score of 4-3. During the first period, the Bruins honored Marchand with a video tribute, garnering a standing ovation from Boston fans that moved the winger to tears. Carter Verhaeghe scored with 26 seconds left for the Panthers, snapping a four-game losing skid. Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who’ve lost five straight after winning their first three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins held defenseman Hampus Lindholm out of this game as he continues to be hampered by a nagging lower-body injury.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes’ hat trick powered his club to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jesper Bratt collected three assists for the Devils, who have won five straight games after dropping their season-opener. John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Matias Maccelli scored his first goal for the Leafs as their record dropped to 3-3-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is off to a hot start, with six goals in his last three games. Meanwhile, Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Jake Walman lifted the Edmonton Oilers (3-3-1) over the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-2, snapping a three-game losing skid. Oilers captain Connor McDavid and rookie forward Isaac Howard scored their first goals of the season. Dylan Cozens and Thomas Chabot replied for the 2-4-1 Senators, who have one win in their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Kasperi Kapanen missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

The Utah Mammoth got an overtime goal from Dylan Guenther to upset the Colorado Avalanche 4-3. Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots and Mikhail Sergachev had a goal and two assists as the Mammoth (5-2-0) extended its win streak to four games. Cale Makar, Jack Drury, and Martin Necas scored for the Avalanche, whose points streak has reached seven games (5-0-2).

Columbus Blue Jackets forwards Boone Jenner, Adam Fantilli, and Kent Johnson each had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 upset of the Dallas Stars. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 22 shots for the Blue Jackets, improving their record to 3-3-0. Tyler Seguin replied for the Stars, who have lost three straight after winning their first three games of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Matt Duchene missed this contest as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Washington Capitals forward Nic Dowd had a goal and an assist as his club defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1. Aliaksei Protas collected two assists for the Capitals, who have won five of their last six and are 5-2-0 on the season. Jaden Schwartz scored for the Kraken, whose record dropped to 3-2-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken played with winger Mason Marchment, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The Anaheim Ducks got a goal and two assists from winger Ross Johnston in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who are 3-2-1 in their first six games. Tyson Jost and Filip Forsberg scored for the 2-3-2 Predators, who have dropped four straight (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault missed this game with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Adrian Kempe lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1. Alex Laferriere also scored for the Kings as they ended a four-game winless streak (0-2-2). Justin Faulk replied for the 3-2-1 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kings placed captain Anze Kopitar (foot) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Corey Perry made his season debut with the Kings after being sidelined by knee surgery before training camp.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane will miss his club’s next two games with a lower-body injury.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild placed defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) on injured reserve.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres are sending goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to their AHL affiliate for conditioning.

DAILY FACEOFF: Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will miss his team’s next two games with an undisclosed injury.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they and the Colorado Avalanche will wear Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques jerseys for two matchups this season.

THE SCORE: The NHL has cancelled an Olympic sendoff event scheduled for February at the New York Islanders’ arena (UBS Arena), and will instead hold All-Star Weekend festivities there in 2027.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 27, 2025

by | Aug 27, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 27, 2025

Some updates on the new CBA, plus the latest on Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, Jets captain Adam Lowry, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: During an interview with Michael Russo, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly shed some light on some of the changes in the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the NHL Players’ Association.

Daly explained the rationale behind the reduction of maximum term contracts to six years for an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and seven when re-signing, saying both parties recognized that a player won’t be worth what the contract pays him during its out-years. “So, the most purely monetary benefits of longer-term contracts are kind of scaled back a little bit. That’s really the benefit.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The shorter term could also make it easier to move those contracts in a trade.

As for when the changes in the new CBA go into effect, Daly indicated they will be rolled out in different stages, rather than everything being implemented on Sept. 16, 2026.

“One bucket of items will go into effect as early as this year,” Daly said. “One bucket of items will go into effect as of July 1 of next year – so, the league year, the full league year (July 1 to June 30). And then there’s a list of items that don’t go into effect until Sept. 16 of next year.”

Russo noted that NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey has indicated that the changes in contract term limits go into effect on Sept. 16, 2026. That means players eligible for UFA status on July 1, 2026, will be eligible for contracts at the current maximum term of seven years if they go to market and eight years when re-signing with their current teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The notable UFA-eligible players next July include Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel. Those three could be among the last to sign new contracts under the current term limits.

Daly also said the league had a meeting with a group from Atlanta interested in an NHL expansion franchise. He claimed there are “multiple entities within multiple markets” talking to the league about expansion. They haven’t said no to anyone, but none have reached the level of a full proposal yet. “One of those could happen in the future,” he said. “I semi-expect it to happen in the future, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict there will be two new NHL franchises by the end of this decade in Atlanta and Houston. Those cities have the ownership groups most likely to be able to afford the $2 billion expansion franchise fee.

NHL.COM: Patrick Kane hopes to make the United States 2026 Men’s Olympic hockey team. The 36-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward is among the 44 players invited to their orientation camp.

“The one thing that’s kind of missing is a gold in best-on-best, right?”, Kane said. “It would be fun to have that opportunity.”

Kane won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for Team USA in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He won a silver medal in the 2010 Games.

CBS SPORTS: Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry was on the ice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing hip surgery on May 27. He was projected to be sidelined for five to six months. His presence on the ice nearly three months following the surgery is a positive sign.

RG.ORG: Colorado Avalanche prospect Mikhail Gulyayev hopes to make the jump to the NHL in 2026. The 20-year-old defenseman plays for KHL team Avangard Omsk.

The Avalanche chose Gulyayev in the 2023 NHL Draft (31st overall) but has yet to sign his entry-level contract. He’s recently taken some shifts as a forward to add new tools to his development as a blueliner. His KHL contract expires at the end of this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche remain in contract with Gulyuyav, but Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now believes it’ll be harder for him to crack their lineup if Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard continue to make up half of their defense corps.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The San Jose city council voted unanimously to keep the Sharks in San Jose through 2051, and to approve funding for renovations at the SAP Center. They will also agree on a new arena site in 2027.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025

by | Apr 23, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025

The latest on the Canucks, Flyers and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BROCK BOESER HEADING TO FREE-AGENCY & QUESTIONS OVER QUINN HUGHES’ FUTURE

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser appears headed to free agency in July. However, management is willing to leave the door open if the 28-year-old winger doesn’t find any suitable offers from other clubs.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Finding a replacement for Boeser won’t be easy. The Canucks would not be dealing from a position of strength in the free-agent market.

Johnston also cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reporting Canucks president of hockey ops Jim Rutherford won’t be disciplined by the NHL for his quip on Monday about team captain Quinn Hughes hoping to one day play with brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Some observers wondered if Rutherford violated the league’s anti-tampering rules. According to Dhaliwal, the league believes Rutherford’s remark was made in jest.

DAILY FACEOFF: Rutherford may have been joking about Hughes’ desire to play with his brothers, but Frank Seravalli believes the possibility could be out of the Canucks’ hands.

Seravalli thinks Hughes’ future in Vancouver could be tied to whatever happens with head coach Rick Tocchet. The club hopes to sign him to a contract extension, as Tocchet is taking some time to consider his options.

Hughes has been vocal about Tocchet being the best coach he’s played for. If he doesn’t return, it could open the door for Hughes’ potential departure when his contract expires in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given all the drama the Canucks have endured this season, it’s hard to believe they were considered an emerging power in the Western Conference a year ago.

Since then, J.T. Miller has been traded, questions have arisen over Elias Pettersson’s role as their first-line center, Boeser and Tocchet could sign elsewhere, there are growing concerns about oft-injured goaltender Thatcher Demko, and now there are questions about Hughes’ future in Vancouver. 

WILL THE FLYERS MAKE BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at the potential offseason plans of Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.

The Flyers GM wants to add a difference-maker (preferably a top-six center) to his lineup. It’s unlikely he’ll bring in a big-ticket free agent, meaning he’ll have to get creative.

They have seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft to draw on for trade bait. Briere could also go the offer-sheet route.

A goaltending upgrade is also necessary. Barring some sort of blockbuster move, Samuel Ersson will return next season. They’re stuck with Ivan Fedotov, who has a year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $3.75 million.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James suggests Briere target Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks via trade or offer sheet, or attempt to acquire Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken or Elias Pettersson of the Canucks through the trade market.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco expects the Flyers will be moderate spenders during the offseason. He doesn’t expect they’ll get into the bidding for someone like Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Instead, he suggested signing Brock Nelson to a three-year contract as a stop-gap solution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere has made bold moves in the past and could do so again this summer. However, if the intent is to be moderate spenders, that could put the kibosh on pursuing any of James’ suggested targets.

THE LATEST RED WINGS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman recently reported that Patrick Kane indicated that he believes there is mutual interest in returning with the Detroit Red Wings. He intends to discuss his situation with his family, his agents and Wings management, but he has enjoyed his time in Detroit.

Bultman also believes the Red Wings’ biggest offseason question is whether they can add a legit top-four defenseman to skate with Moritz Seider on the top pairing or to lead the second pairing if Simon Edvinsson moves up.

Another priority is finding a top-line winger to skate alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Mitch Marner could be the top player in this summer’s free-agent market, but Bultman doesn’t expect the Wings could win a bidding war for the Toronto Maple Leafs winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings could pursue a UFA winger like Brock Boeser or Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets.

Meanwhile, the market for UFA blueliners is thinner after the Jets re-signed Neal Pionk. Vladislav Gavrikov would be a good option but Bultman noted the Kings are confident they can re-sign him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2025

by | Apr 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2025

Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in league history, Patrick Kane sets a scoring record for American-born players, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored twice to tie Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in league history (894) in a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. John Carlson collected three assists and Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (107 points), who moved within one point of the league-leading Winnipeg Jets in the overall standings. Blackhawks rookies Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore and Landon Slaggert each had two points.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a stellar game for Ovechkin, who tied the record with Gretzky in attendance. The Washington captain tallied his 894th goal in his 1,486th regular-season game, one game fewer than when Gretzky concluded his 20-season NHL career in 1999. His next opportunity to break the record is Sunday against the New York Islanders.

Ovechkin also set the record for the most 40-goal seasons (14) and the most career game-winning goals with 136, moving past Jaromir Jagr. The 39-year-old Capitals superstar is the second-oldest player to score 40 goals in a season. Gordie Howe holds that record, doing so at age 40 in 1968-69.

Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson missed this game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss at least the next two games.

The Detroit Red Wings kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3. Patrick Kane scored his 20th goal of the season while Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin each had two points. Jaccob Slavin picked up two assists for the Hurricanes, whose three-game win streak ended. The Wings (77 points) are four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth while the Hurricanes sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane reached the 20-goal plateau for the 17th time, passing Mike Modano for the most 20-goal seasons by an American-born NHL player. Meanwhile, Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-4-2). Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots for the Islanders (76 points), who moved within five points of the Canadiens in the wild-card race. Mats Zuccarello replied for the Wild, who’ve dropped four straight (0-2-2) but remain in the final Western Conference wild card with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild are five points ahead of the Calgary Flames but they’ve been slumping for weeks, causing them to slide in the standings. They’re in danger of being overtaken by the Flames before the end of the regular season (April 17).

HEADLINES

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl will miss Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to be sidelined short term but there’s no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are also without captain Connor McDavid, defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: On Thursday, Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers suffered a lower-body injury against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, he could return to action on Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Pete DeBoer listed team captain Jamie Benn (undisclosed) as doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

STLTODAY.COM: St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway played a crucial role in the Blues’ recent surge in the standings. He should be ready to return before the playoffs start on April 19.

SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf and Jake McCabe will miss Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with injuries.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky will be the bench boss for Team USA at the 2025 World Championships.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2025

by | Mar 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2025

A milestone performance by the Red Wings’ Patrick Kane, a record-setting game for the Kraken’s Brandon Montour, Mikko Rantanen explains why he chose the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane scored twice and collected three assists in a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and three assists and Marco Kasper tallied two goals for the Red Wings (68 points), who snapped a six-game losing skid and sit two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Tage Thompson and Zach Benson each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who’ve dropped seven of their last eight games.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: At 36 years and 113 days, Kane became the fourth-oldest player in Red Wings history to record a five-point game, joining Brett Hull (37 years, 170 days), Alex Delvecchio (37 years, 27 days) and Brendan Shanahan (36 years, 324 days).

The Seattle Kraken overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Brandon Montour scored four seconds into overtime to complete a two-goal, four-point performance. Jordan Eberle had three assists for the Kraken. Juraj Slafkovsky scored two goals for the Canadiens, one point behind the Blues Jackets in the Eastern wild-card race.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montour set the league record for the fastest overtime goal. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson had two assists to become the first rookie to reach 50 points this season.

A shootout goal by Conor Garland lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Canucks center Elias Pettersson scored the tying goal and team captain Quinn Hughes had an assist in his return from a lower-body injury. Jonathan Huberdeau netted two goals for the Flames. Both teams have 71 points but the Flames hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames captain Mikael Backlund left this game after the first period with an upper-body injury. Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson left the game during the first with an undisclosed injury.

The Utah Hockey Club nipped the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 as Dylan Guenther snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period, finishing the game with two points. Utah sits two points behind the Flames in the Western wild-card race. Alex Killorn and Mason McTavish replied for the Ducks.

HEADLINES

THE SCORE: Mikko Rantanen explained why he felt the Dallas Stars were a better match than the Carolina Hurricanes. He was dealt to Dallas at the trade deadline after informing the Hurricanes that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension. He inked an eight-year extension with the Stars.

Rantanen explained that he felt the Stars’ style of play was the best match for him. “Dallas was a better fit on the ice, a style of play similar to Colorado,” he said. The 28-year-old winger spent nearly 10 seasons with the Avalanche, where he blossomed into a scoring star.

He also felt the Hurricanes would get a better return for him in the trade market if he did a sign-and-trade, making it better for them rather than staying as a rental player and departing as a free agent on July 1. “But I want to make it clear I was open-minded in Carolina and really thought about staying there.”

SPORTSNET: New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Dougie Hamilton will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season and possibly the playoffs with a lower-body injury. He didn’t rule out the possibility of the 31-year-old defenseman returning in the second round if the Devils get that far, but he wasn’t planning for it.

Hamilton suffered the injury late in the first period against the Stars on March 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second devastating blow the Devils have received within a week. On March 5, superstar center Jack Hughes underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

TSN: The New York Rangers signed backup goaltender Jonathan Quick to a one-year, $1.55 million contract extension.

AZCENTRAL.COM: Former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is suing the Arizona Board of Regents for a $3.5 million security deposit paid to Arizona State University.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meruelo believes it’s not his fault he had to break his three-year lease with Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena. He pocketed nearly $1 billion after selling off the team last year.