Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

by | Apr 12, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 12, 2026

Check out the latest on the Rangers and Red Wings, plus updates on the Predators’ and Devils’ search for new general managers in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE RANGERS IN THE OFFSEASON?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers general manager Chris Drury will continue to retool his roster during the offseason.

Walker estimated the Rangers would have over $33.3 million in cap space if they trade center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Braden Schneider this summer. That would leave enough to add a backup goaltender, a top-four defenseman, a top-six winger, and a fourth-line center.

Current backup Jonathan Quick hasn’t revealed his plans, but a source close to the 40-year-old netminder believes this season will be his last.

It’s hoped that at least one NHL player will be part of a trade return for Trocheck. If Drury can’t find the return he wants for Schneider, exploring a Will Borgen trade could become another route.

Adam Crane reported Schneider remains proud of being a Ranger, and he hopes something will work out to keep him with the team long-term.

Schneider, 24, is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He saw what happened to former teammate K’Andre Miller last year when he was in the same boat. Miller was tendered a qualifying offer and then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing an eight-year deal.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (NHL Images).

Crane also reported last week that there are lingering concerns about the future of Adam Fox with the Rangers. They are a better team with the 26-year-old defenseman in the lineup, but his cryptic comments in February about whether he wants to remain through the next stage of the rebuild raise questions about what happens if he decides he wants out.

At the time, Fox said he felt a little helpless about the club’s public commitment toward a retool. When asked about staying with the Rangers, he felt that it was a discussion for after the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck has three more years on his contract with an affordable average annual value of $5.625 million. He has a 12-team no-trade list until July 1, when it drops to a 10-team list. He’s also indicated his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

There was interest in Trocheck and Schneider before last month’s trade deadline, but Drury declined to lower his asking prices. As I’ve mentioned before, clubs that were reluctant to meet Drury’s prices in March could be more willing to do so in June or July, especially with the salary cap rising to $104 million for 2026-27.

Fox is under contract through 2028-29 with an AAV of $9.5 million and a full no-movement clause through next season. Despite his struggles and injuries this season, the 28-year-old right-shot defenseman (and 2021 Norris Trophy winner) would draw plenty of attention if he becomes available this summer.

However, Fox’s desire to discuss his future with Drury may be little more than determining the club’s direction and his role within it. Drury is under no pressure to move Fox unless he wants out. For now, there’s no indication that’s the case.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RED WINGS AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON?

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman commented on the Detroit Red Wings extending their playoff drought to a 10th consecutive season. He believes this year’s miss hurts the most because the team now feels stuck after several seasons of promising progress.

Bultman indicates that the Red Wings remain a flawed team, particularly at five-on-five scoring, which will be one of the areas the club attempts to address during the offseason. He also wondered how the Wings can continue to bank on their promising young players as their main driver for improvement.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff also cited the Red Wings’ struggles to score at even strength. He also believes their lack of a winning culture contributed to their inability to close out a win. Duff suggested they must also reconstruct their bottom-six forward group.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been speculation and suggestions (including from yours truly) that general manager Steve Yzerman could be fired or will be on the hot seat after this season. However, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported last week that Yzerman remains aligned with team owner Chris Illich. If there’s a management change, it would be because Yzerman feels his time is up, but Dreger said that’s unlikely.

Yzerman’s critics believe he is reluctant to draw on his prospect pool to bring in more immediate help. However, he might not have much choice now. The fans are restless, his players are frustrated, and there’s a growing sense that the Red Wings are spinning their wheels.

That doesn’t mean he must make quick-fix deals. If an opportunity arises to land an impact player in his prime with term remaining on his contract, Yzerman must act. Otherwise, he risks extending the Wings’ postseason drought to 11 seasons, which could cost him his job.

LATEST ON THE PREDATORS AND DEVILS AS THEY HUNT FOR A NEW GM

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Nashville Predators prefer someone who has recently served as an NHL general manager or assistant GM to replace outgoing general manager Barry Trotz.

Former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been added to that list. Fitzgerald has a history with the Predators as he was their first team captain from 1998-99 to 2001-02. It’s believed he’s either already been interviewed for the job or will be soon.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports the Devils are interested in Jamie Langenbrunner as a candidate to replace the departed Fitzgerald. Langenbrunner is currently an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 12, 2026

by | Apr 12, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 12, 2026

Four more teams clinch playoff berths, the Red Wings are eliminated again, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators clinched a playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders. Linus Ullmark turned in a 23-save shutout while Ridly Greig, Jake Sanderson, and Michael Amadio were the goal scorers for the 43-27-10 Senators, who have won four straight and sit in the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 96 points. Ilya Sorokin stopped 13 of 15 shots for the 43-32-5 Islanders (91 points), who are three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk left this game in the second period after being struck in the neck/head area by the stick of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock. There were no postgame details regarding his condition, other than head coach Travis Green saying Tkachuk wasn’t feeling well. It’s unlikely that Tkachuk will be playing against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

The Islanders are five points out of the final Eastern wild card, but they can make the playoffs if they overtake the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Both clubs have two games remaining in their schedules.

Speaking of the Flyers, they improved their chances of securing a playoff berth by crushing the Winnipeg Jets 7-1. Sean Couturier and Noah Cates each had three points, and Dan Vladar made 27 saves for the 41-27-12 Flyers (94 points). Haydn Fleury scored for the 35-32-12 Jets (82 points), who are five points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

Meanwhile, the Kings nipped the Edmonton Oilers 1-0, but the Oilers clinched a playoff berth because the Flyers beat the Jets. Anton Forsberg made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season while Artemi Panarin scored the only goal for the 34-26-19 Kings (87 points). Connor Ingram stopped 20 of 21 shots for the Oilers (40-30-10), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Kings’ final home game of the regular season. After this contest, team captain Anze Kopitar thanked the fans for supporting him during his 20-season career. He announced in September that he would be retiring at the end of this season. Kings fans could get a chance to see him play again at home if the team makes the playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

The Vegas Golden Knights secured a postseason spot with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Jack Eichel tallied the winning goal, and Carter Hart turned aside 30 shots as the Golden Knights (37-26-17) hold first place in the Pacific Division with 91 points. Devon Toews and Nick Blankenburg replied for the 52-16-12 Avalanche (115 points), who clinched the Presidents’ Trophy earlier in the week with the best regular-season record.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar left this game in the third period after being struck on the right cheek by a shot from Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar. Following the game, a team spokesman said Bednar was “fully alert and fully conscious”, but he was taken to a hospital for a CT scan and further evaluation.

Earlier in the day, the Avalanche announced the signing of top college prospect T.J. Hughes to a one-year entry-level contract for 2026-27. Hughes will join the Avs’ AHL affiliate for the remainder of this season on a professional tryout. The 24-year-old forward is considered the best unsigned college free agent from this year’s crop.

Shifting back to the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning got a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins, but the latter clinched a playoff berth. Brandon Hagel and Emil Lilleberg scored for the 49-25-6 Lightning, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Morgan Geekie scored his 38th goal of the season for the 43-27-10 Bruins, who hold the final Eastern wild card with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators and Bruins have identical records with 80 games played, but the Sens have 37 regulation wins to the Bruins’ 31 wins.

The Bruins clinched a playoff spot because the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 to eliminate them from the postseason chase. Jesper Bratt scored two goals and collected an assist for the 41-36-3 Devils, while Emmit Finnie had a goal and an assist for the 41-30-9 Red Wings (91 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings were booed off the ice by their fans following this game. This is the third straight season that the Red Wings missed the playoffs after entering March holding a postseason berth. Their postseason drought has lasted a decade.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle scored twice in a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli each had two points for the 40-28-12 Blue Jackets (92 points), who kept their playoff hopes alive as they sit two points behind the third-place Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. Cole Caufield sniped his 51st goal of the season for the Canadiens (47-23-10), who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield sits one goal behind Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (52 goals) in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy as this season’s top goal scorer, but MacKinnon has a game in hand over Caufield.

The Canadiens also lost defenseman Noah Dobson to a thumb injury from blocking a shot. His absence will be felt keenly if he’s sidelined for the opening round of the upcoming playoffs.

They also learned that top prospect Michael Hage will return to the University of Michigan next season. His agent, Pat Brisson, said Hage wants to spend another season working on his physical and mental strength. He also wants another shot at winning a championship next season after Michigan was eliminated from the Frozen Four last week.

Washington Capitals rookie Ilya Protas had a goal and two assists while his brother Aliaksei Protas had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ryan Leonard tallied two goals for the 41-30-9 Capitals (91 points) as they sit three points behind the Flyers. Anthony Mantha scored his 32nd goal of the season for the 41-23-16 Penguins, who are second in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin received a standing ovation from Penguins fans in what may be his final game in Pittsburgh. Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Rasmus Sandin left this game with injuries. There was no postgame update regarding their conditions.

The Penguins scratched seven players, including Sidney Crosby, from this game. Crosby is expected to be in the lineup for today’s game between the two clubs in Washington.

The St. Louis Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from being eliminated from postseason contention. Cam Fowler scored what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Blues (34-33-12). Ilya Mikheyev tallied twice for the 28-38-14 Blackhawks.

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time since 2015-16 in a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth. Staal also collected an assist while Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho also scored for the 52-22-6 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 110 points. Dylan Guenther netted his 40th goal of the season for the playoff-bound Mammoth (42-31-6), who hold the first Western wild card with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes scratched eight regulars from this game. Among them were Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and K’Andre Miller.

The Dallas Stars clinched the second seed in the Central Division by blanking the New York Rangers 2-0. Jake Oettinger turned in a 22-save shutout, and Jason Robertson scored both goals for the 48-20-12 Stars (108 points). Igor Shesterkin stopped 17 of 18 shots for the 33-38-9 Rangers.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos tallied his 40th goal of the season and collected an assist in a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Matthew Wood also scored for the 38-32-10 Predators (86 points), who sit one point behind the Kings for that final Western wild-card berth. Michael McCarron scored for the Wild (45-23-12), who are third in the Central Division with 102 points.

A shootout goal by Linus Karlsson lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, leaving the latter’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Jake DeBrusk scored his 20th goal of the season for the 23-48-8 Canucks. Igor Chernyshov scored twice, and Macklin Celebrini had two assists to reach 110 points this season for the 37-34-8 Sharks (82 points), who are five points behind the Kings for that final Western wild card.

The Seattle Kraken scored four unanswered goals to beat the Calgary Flames 4-1, but it didn’t prevent them from being eliminated from the playoff race. Rookie goalie Nikke Kokko stopped 26 shots to win his first NHL game while Matty Beniers scored his 20th goal of the season for the 34-34-11 Kraken. Hunter Brzustewicz scored for the 32-38-9 Flames.

Florida Panthers forward Tomas Nosek scored his first two goals of this season in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mackie Samoskevich and Eetu Luostarinen each had three points for the 38-38-4 Panthers. William Nylander scored both goals for the 32-34-14 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Maple Leafs announced that goaltender Anthony Stolarz, defenseman Brandon Carlo, and forward Dakota Joshua have been shut down for the rest of the season due to injuries.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 8, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 8, 2026

The Avalanche clinch first place in the Western Conference, the Hurricanes clinch top spot in the Metropolitan Division, the Stars and Wild will meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche clinched first place in the Central Division and the Western Conference with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Valeri Nichushkin scored twice for the 51-16-10 Avalanche (112 points). Robert Thomas replied for the 33-32-12 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche center Nazem Kadri left this game midway through the game with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Jaccob Slavin (his first of the season) lifted the Carolina Hurricanes over the Boston Bruins 6-5. Andrei Svechnikov and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (50-22-6), who have clinched first place in the Metropolitan Division with 106 points. Morgan Geekie snapped a 17-game goalless drought by tallying a hat trick for the 43-26-10 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 96 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes hold first place in the Eastern Conference. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield left this game during the second period with a lower-body injury.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the Stars (46-20-12), who overcame a 3-1 deficit for the win. Adam Klapka collected two assists for the 32-36-9 Flames (73 points), who were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars sit second in the Central Division and in the Western Conference with 104 points. They will face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs. Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Minnesota Wild, they got their fourth straight win by downing the Seattle Kraken 5-2. Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and two assists while Matt Boldy and Marcus Johansson each had a goal and an assist for the 45-21-12 Wild, who are third in the Central Division and the Western Conference with 102 points. Brandon Montour and Adam Larsson scored for the 32-34-11 Kraken, who have lost five straight.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored the winning goal in a shootout in a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki tied the game with 21 seconds left, and Juraj Slafkovsky had two assists for the 46-22-10 Canadiens, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 102 points. Carter Verhaeghe tallied his 25th goal of the season for the 37-37-4 Panthers.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are tied in points with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres. However, the Lightning have 48 wins, and the Sabres have 47. Meanwhile, Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov left this game with a broken finger.

Speaking of the Lightning, they dropped a 6-2 decision to the Ottawa Senators. Brady Tkachuk collected four assists, Tim Stutzle had a goal and two assists, and Jake Sanderson scored twice for his first NHL multipoint game as the 41-27-10 Senators hold the final Eastern wild-card spot with 92 points. Nick Paul and Corey Perry scored for the 48-24-6 Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to practice on Tuesday after suffering a broken right forearm two weeks ago. Head coach Travis Green said Chabot could be back in action sooner than expected.

The Columbus Blue Jackets kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in a shootout. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist and scored the winning goal in the shootout. Adam Fantilli scored the tying goal with 17 seconds left for the Blue Jackets (39-27-12), who are two points behind the Senators for that final wild card. Justin Faulk scored twice while Dylan Larkin had a goal and an assist for the 40-29-9 Red Wings, who are one point behind the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are also two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division. This loss by the Red Wings may have all but sealed their fate as they’ve won only three of their last 10 games. The Wings also lost center Michael Rasmussen late in the second period with a season-ending lower-body injury.

Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras tallied twice and added an assist in a 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, eliminating the latter from postseason contention. Tyson Foerster scored two goals, and Matvei Michkov had two assists for the surging Flyers (40-26-12), who’ve won seven of their last 10 games to hold third place in the Metropolitan Division. Cody Glass scored for the 40-35-3 Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the league fined Michkov $2,000 for embellishment during a March 24 game against the Blue Jackets.

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen kicked out 43 shots to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 5-0. Erik Haula had a goal and an assist while Ryan O’Reilly and Joakim Kemell each had two assists for the 37-31-10 Predators, who hold the final Western wild card with 84 points. Lukas Dostal stopped 20 of 25 shots for the 41-32-5 Ducks, who slipped to third place in the Pacific Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Predators announced they’ve reached a multiyear broadcasting deal with Scripps Sports.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Keller and Alexander Kerfoot each had a goal and an assist while Nick Schmaltz tallied twice for the Mammoth (41-30-6), who hold the first Western wild card with 88 points. Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist for the Oilers (39-29-10), who sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: During this game, the Mammoth unveiled “The Zammoth”, a Zamboni outfitted to look like a Mammoth.

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up their fourth straight win under interim coach John Tortorella by nipping the lowly Vancouver Canucks 2-1. Braydon McNabb and Cole Smith scored for the 36-26-16 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 88 points. Max Sasson scored for the 22-47-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers hold the top spot over the Golden Knights based on wins.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 7, 2026

by | Apr 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 7, 2026

Recapping Monday’s games, the Devils fire general manager Tom Fitzgerald, the three stars of the week, an update on Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings regained the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Adrian Kempe scored the winning goal in a shootout, and Anton Forsberg stopped 29 shots for the 32-26-19 Kings (83 points). Roman Josi had a goal and an assist, and Steven Stamkos tallied his 39th goal of the season for the Predators (36-31-10), who sit one point behind the Kings.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).

San Jose Sharks winger William Eklund had a goal and an assist as his club nipped the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. Will Smith scored what proved to be the game-winning goal while Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves for the 37-32-7 Sharks, who are two points back of the Kings. Frank Nazar had a goal and an assist for the 28-36-14 Blackhawks.

The Winnipeg Jets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Mark Scheifele had three assists, Kyle Connor tallied twice, and Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist for the Jets (34-31-12), who are three points behind the Kings in the race for the final Western wild card. Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann replied for the 32-33-11 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer left this game after the second period with a lower-body injury. The Jets got a boost with the return of forwards Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov from injuries, but center Morgan Barron missed this game as he’s listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Buffalo Sabres winger Jason Zucker had a goal and an assist as his club doubled up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. Bowen Byram collected two assists while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 23 shots for the 47-23-8 Sabres, who are tied with the Lightning with 102 points. Nikita Kucherov tallied his 400th NHL regular-season goal while Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist for the 48-23-6 Lightning, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand and one more win than the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league is looking into the circumstances that led to Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg injuring his left arm after crashing into an unlatched penalty box door. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper believes the penalty box attendant should be fired for leaving the door open.

HEADLINES

TSN: The New Jersey Devils parted ways with team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald. This decision was reached after Fitzgerald met with Devils managing partner David Blitzer on Monday.

Fitzgerald had been in the role of general manager since July 2020. During his tenure, the Devils reached the playoffs twice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Under Fitzgerald, the Devils had the best regular-season performance in franchise history with a record of 52-22-8 (112 points) in 2022-23. It seemed like they had finally broken through as a potential Stanley Cup contender.

However, the Devils struggled in subsequent years. Injuries to key players such as superstar center Jack Hughes and puck-moving defenseman Dougie Hamilton were a factor. The acquisitions of goaltender Jacob Markstrom, wingers Ondrej Palat and Timo Meier, and defenseman Brett Pesce didn’t pan out as hoped. Another issue was Fitzgerald’s inability to find a suitable replacement for winger Tyler Toffoli after trading him to Winnipeg in 2024.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reports hearing that former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has already been mentioned as a potential replacement for Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald is believed to be on the Nashville Predators’ list of candidates to replace outgoing GM Barry Trotz.

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas are the league’s three stars for the week ending Apr. 5.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl could miss the start of the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s been sidelined since March 15 with a knee injury. He’ll be returning to the ice later this week, but it will be a long, careful process as they don’t intend to rush him back into action before he’s fully recovered.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov could return to action before the end of the regular season. The 26-year-old blueliner has been sidelined since Nov. 18, recovering from shoulder surgery.

TSN: Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen was fined $5,000 for high-sticking Penguins forward Rickard Rakell.

THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE: The Wild signed top prospect Charlie Stramel to a three-year entry-level contract.

TSN: Travis Yost reports NHL save percentages have reached their lowest point in 30 years. Save percentages have been in a decade-long decline, and are currently under 90 percent (89.6). If it remains that way, it’ll be the first time that’s happened since 1993-94.

Various factors account for this, including the increase in skilled offensive players, the modernization of the defense position, the reduction of goalie equipment sizes, and the elimination of the workhorse goaltender as teams prefer to balance the workload of their netminders.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars have banned a fan from their arena after video emerged showing a group of fans engaging in what appeared to be a Nazi salute during a Stars home game in December. The team was able to identify the fan who bought the tickets, but not the other individuals in the video.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2026

by | Apr 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2026

The Sabres and Lightning clinch a playoff berth, the Panthers are eliminated from postseason contention, a milestone game for Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and more from a busy Saturday in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Despite a 6-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres (46-23-8) clinched their first playoff berth for the first time since 2011 when the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 earlier in the day.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought was the longest in league history. Their long-suffering fans can finally rejoice as this long nightmare is finally, mercifully over. Anyway, back to the recap of this game…

Logan Thompson kicked out 37 shots while Jakob Chychrun, Connor McMichael, and Aliaksei Protas each had a goal and an assist for the 39-29-9 Capitals (87 points), who sit one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 100 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not to rain on the Sabres’ parade, but they have struggled over their last seven games. They were the hottest team in the league from mid-December to mid-March, riding that momentum from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings to challenging the Carolina Hurricanes for first overall in the conference. However, they’re 2-3-2 in their last seven contests.

Meanwhile, the Red Wings’ late-season slide continues with their loss to the 32-36-9 Rangers, who sit last in the Eastern Conference. Gabe Perreault sniped his first NHL hat trick while Jonathan Quick turned aside 32 shots for the Blueshirts. David Perron replied for the Red Wings (40-28-8), who sit just outside the final Eastern wild-card spot with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have dropped three of their last four games and have only seven wins in their last 18 contests. They can still clinch a playoff spot, but they’re jockeying with the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Capitals for that berth.

Speaking of the Senators, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Ryan Hartman tallied twice while Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves for the 43-21-12 Wild, who remain in third place in the Western Conference standings with 98 points. Drake Batherson scored for the Senators (39-27-10) as they cling to that final Eastern wild card with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold that berth because they have 33 regulation wins this season. Defenseman Jake Sanderson returned to their lineup after missing 13 games with a shoulder injury. However, they played without blueliner Tyler Kleven, who is out indefinitely with a facial injury.

The Tampa Bay Lightning scored three unanswered goals to beat the Boston Bruins 3-1, clinching a playoff berth for the ninth straight season. Darren Raddysh set a single-season franchise record for defensemen by scoring his 21st of the season for the Lightning (48-22-6) as they hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 102 points. Casey Mittelstadt scored for the 43-26-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 94 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

There will be a new Stanley Cup champion as the Florida Panthers were officially eliminated from the 2026 postseason race after being thumped by the Pittsburgh Penguins 9-4. Evgeni Malkin netted a hat trick and collected an assist, and Erik Karlsson had a goal and three assists for the 39-22-16 Penguins, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points. A.J. Greer had a goal and an assist for the 37-36-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a milestone game for Malkin and teammate Sidney Crosby. Malkin crossed the 1,400 NHL regular-season point plateau, while Crosby collected two assists to surpass Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman and move into seventh on the all-time points lead with 1,756.

The Montreal Canadiens blew a 3-0 lead but recovered to nip the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on a shootout goal by Oliver Kapanen. Cole Caufield collected two assists for the red-hot Canadiens (45-21-10), who picked up their eighth straight win to move into second place in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. Jack Hughes and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist for the 39-34-3 Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Canadiens reached the 100-point plateau since 2016-17. They only need a point to clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, Ivan Demidov scored in this game to become the first rookie this season to reach the 60-point plateau.

Speaking of promising young players, Canadiens prospect Michael Hage is set to return from an injury and rejoin the Michigan Wolverines for the upcoming NCAA Frozen Four tournament in Las Vegas. Once that tournament ends, he’s expected to sign an entry-level contract and join the Canadiens for the remainder of this season.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored twice and added an assist in a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. K’Andre Miller collected two assists for the 49-21-6 Hurricanes, who have won three straight games, and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 104 points. Marc Gatcomb, Max Shabanov, and Anders Lee replied for the Islanders (42-31-5), who have lost four straight but still cling to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders rookie defenseman collected an assist to record his 58th point, surpassing Phil Housley for the most points by an 18-year-old NHL defenseman.

The Colorado Avalanche are the first team to reach the 50-win plateau this season as they blanked the Dallas Stars 2-0. Scott Wedgewood made 17 saves for the shutout, Martin Necas had a goal and an assist, and Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 51st goal of the season for the 50-15-10 Avalanche, who sit first in the overall standings with 110 points. Casey DeSmith stopped 21 of 22 shots for the Stars (45-20-12), who hold second place in the overall standings with 102 points.

Two goals by Kyle Connor lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mark Scheifele collected two assists for the 33-31-12 Jets (78 points), who moved within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Ivan Provorov scored for the struggling Blue Jackets (38-27-12), who have dropped three straight games, and sit behind the Senators for that final Eastern wild card with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets held a players-only meeting following this game. They’ve cooled off significantly from that hot streak that saw them rise from the bottom of the conference in mid-January to jockeying for second place in the Metropolitan Division by early March.

The Vegas Golden Knights extended their points streak to five games by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1. Carter Hart stopped 31 shots, and Jack Eichel collected three assists for the Golden Knights (35-26-16), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points. Evan Bouchard replied for the 39-29-9 Oilers as their five-game win streak ended, leaving them clinging to first place in the Pacific Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers played without winger Zach Hyman, who could miss the remainder of the regular season with a nagging injury.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller had a hat trick to lead his club to a 7-4 thrashing of the Vancouver Canucks. Dylan Guenther and Lawson Crouse each had a goal and an assist for the 40-30-6 Mammoth, who picked up their third straight victory and hold the first Western wild card with 86 points. Linus Karlsson scored two goals for the 22-46-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and forward Jack McBain missed this game with injuries. Weegar (upper body) is day-to-day, while McBain (lower body) is week-to-week. Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen was a late scratch from this game.

The Nashville Predators regained possession of the final Western wild card by defeating the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Filip Forsberg had two goals and an assist for the 36-31-9 Predators (81 points). Nick Leddy had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (36-32-7), who are two points behind the Predators.

An overtime goal by Quinton Byfield gave the Los Angeles Kings a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Adrian Kempe had two goals and two assists while Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists for the Kings (31-26-19), who sit behind the Predators with 81 points. Matthew Knies had two goals and two assists for the 32-31-14 Maple Leafs.

The Calgary Flames upset the Anaheim Ducks 5-3. Morgan Frost scored twice, Joel Farabee had a goal and an assist, and Devin Cooley made 36 saves for the 32-36-8 Flames. Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson, and Mason McTavish replied for the Ducks (41-31-5), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers lead the Ducks in the division with 30 regulation wins.

The Chicago Blackhawks doubled up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Rookie forward Sacha Boisvert scored his first NHL goal, while Ilya Mikheyev had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks (28-35-14). Jaden Schwartz had a goal and an assist for the 32-32-11 Kraken.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2026

by | Apr 4, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2026

A list of RFA players ineligible for offer sheets, an update on the Predators’ search for a new general manager, and the latest on the Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LIST OF RFAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE OFFER SHEETS THIS SUMMER.

PUCKPEDIA: recently released their list of Group 2 restricted free agents classified as 10.2(C) players, making them ineligible for offer sheets or arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The article linked above explains the criteria players must meet to avoid becoming 10.2(C) RFAs.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The notable players this year include Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf, and Philadelphia Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m linking to this because a few readers have mentioned Gauthier, Nikishin, and Graf as potential offer sheet targets.

There are two ways these players change teams this summer. One is if their respective teams don’t qualify their rights, and they become unrestricted free agents. The other is trading them. I don’t foresee either situation occurring for Gauthier, Nikishin, Graf, and Grebenkin.

PREDATORS

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty recently reported on the Nashville Predators’ search for a new general manager to replace Barry Trotz, who intends to step down as soon as his replacement is found.

The Predators sought permission from the Toronto Maple Leafs to speak with assistant general manager Brandon Pridham. Former Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has also been linked to the Predators.

Florida Panthers assistant general manager Brett Peterson and Oilers assistant GM Bill Scott are believed to be on the Predators’ search list. Former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has also been mentioned as a candidate.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Predators could be about to begin in-person interviews with the candidates. He believes that Peterson and Scott are among them, along with Dallas Stars assistant general manager Scott White and possibly former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka.

Friedman believes Predators current assistant GM Jeff Kealty could be in the mix. He also thinks they reached out to player agent Matt Kater. Friedman brought up Tom Fitzgerald, given the uncertainty about the New Jersey Devils general manager this season.

CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger addressed recent rumors suggesting the Vancouver Canucks could make a management shakeup, saying that Patrik Allvin has no intention of leaving as general manager. Dreger said Allvin remains “highly regarded” as GM of the team.