NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2025

by | Apr 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2025

The latest Predators speculation, a Sabres forward is suggested as an offer-sheet target, and Cam York’s future with the Flyers in today’s (no foolin’) edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.

WHO SHOULD THE PREDATORS MOVE THIS SUMMER?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli asked Carter Hutton which veteran player he would pick to trade this summer.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

Hutton thinks it should be Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault. Both players were signed to four-year contracts last summer. He doesn’t think they can move away from long-time Predators like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Hutton also sees them sticking with goaltender Juuse Saros now that Yaroslav Askarov is gone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutton acknowledged moving either player would be tricky.

Stamkos, 35, has a full no-movement clause and an average annual value of $8.5 million on his contract. The 34-year-old Marchessault has a more affordable AAV ($5.5 million) and a 15-team no-trade list. He also carries a no-movement clause that prevents him from being sent to the minors.

The Predators will likely hang onto both players and hope for a bounce-back performance next season. If they attempt to trade one of them, interested clubs could squeeze them to retain some salary in the deal.

COULD SABRES FORWARD JJ PETERKA BECOME AN OFFER-SHEET TARGET?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton discussed which player they would target with an offer sheet this summer.

Seravalli believes JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres would be a prime candidate. The 23-year-old forward is completing a three-year entry-level contract.

Hutton believes Peterka is someone the Sabres will have to pay a significant raise to prevent him from becoming an offer-sheet target.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peterka has steadily improved since his 2022-23 rookie campaign. He had 32 points in 77 games that season, 28 goals and 50 points in 82 games in 2023-24, and 23 goals and 59 points in 68 games this season.

The Sabres have a projected cap space for next season of over $22 million with 17 active roster players under contract. Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker are also restricted free agents.

They should have enough space to sign everyone if they spend to the cap ceiling. Otherwise, things could get interesting if a rival club makes Peterka a tempting offer.

DOES CAM YORK STILL HAVE A FUTURE WITH THE FLYERS?

SPORTSNET: Last week, Elliotte Friedman talked about Cam York’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers following the firing of head coach John Tortorella.

Friedman said Flyers management and York’s representatives discussed a contract extension earlier this season but it didn’t happen. There were times this season when the 24-year-old defenseman came up in trade talks, but Friedman doesn’t believe the Flyers made him available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: York was benched for part of last Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was Tortorella’s final game with the Flyers. He was also benched for Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Interim coach Brad Shaw said the benching for the Canadiens game was for “disciplinary reasons”. It was subsequently reported that there was a heated exchange between York and Tortorella during the Leafs game. The blueliner declined to discuss it, saying he took full responsibility for his actions.

York is part of a young core of players who were supposed to play significant roles for the rebuilding Flyers. However, two of them (Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee) were traded to the Calgary Flames in January, raising questions about his place with the club.

A restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, York has struggled this season with 15 points in 60 games, down significantly from last season’s career-high of 30 points. His situation could be worth monitoring during the offseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 29, 2025

by | Mar 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 29, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look ahead at the potential offseason plans for the Red Wings and Predators and what Matthew Knies’ next contract with the Maple Leafs might look like.

MORE SPECULATION OVER THE RED WINGS’ OFFSEASON PLANS

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman looked at general manager Steve Yzerman’s possible offseason plans as the Detroit Red Wings stumble down the stretch.

Bultman believes Yzerman must improve the Red Wings depth, but not by adding a third-line forward or third-pairing defenseman. He felt there must be more help for top forwards Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, more puck-movers among their defense, and more players who have a more consistent impact on the game.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL.com).

The Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues were fringe clubs in 2023-24 that made bold offseason moves that have improved their performance this season. The Capitals are jockeying with the Winnipeg Jets for first overall while the Blues have surged into a wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I’ve said before, this summer could be the most consequential of Yzerman’s tenure as general manager of the Red Wings. Another inconsistent season that extends their franchise-record postseason drought could cost him his job by this time next year.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff believes this season will be Alex Lyon’s last with the Red Wings. The 32-year-old is an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and has dropped to No. 3 on their goaltending depth chart.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wings goalies Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot each have a year left on their contracts with promising Sebastian Cossa waiting in the wings. Lyon will be hitting the open market on July 1. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PREDATORS?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun recently interviewed Barry Trotz about his first season as Nashville Predators general manager and what comes next following his club’s disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

Trotz made a series of trades this season partly to ensure his cap situation is as tidy as possible entering the offseason. However, he also wants to leave enough space for some of the organization’s top prospects if they’re ready to make the jump next season.

The Predators’ recent moves left holes on the blueline. They also need depth at center, which was partly why Trotz didn’t move Ryan O’Reilly despite interest from other clubs.

LeBrun believes the Predators are trying to remain competitive while bridging the gap to their next wave of talent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have over $18 million in projected salary cap space for 2025-26 with 20 active roster players under contract. Restricted free agent Luke Evangelista is their only notable player to be re-signed and he’ll likely receive an affordable bridge contract.

Trotz will have the cap room to address his roster issues this summer. However, it doesn’t sound like he’ll make big splashes like he did last summer when he signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.

The Predators have three first-round picks and two second-rounders in this year’s draft. He could use one or two picks as trade bait to add a young NHL-ready player to the roster.

HOW MUCH COULD MATTHEW KNIES GET ON HIS NEXT CONTRACT WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS?

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos recently looked at how much Matthew Knies could make on his next contract with the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old left wing is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. He’s having a solid sophomore season with a career-high 25 goals and 49 points in 68 games.

Kypreos noted that Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy is earning $7 million annually while Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes makes $7.42 million per season. Given the rising salary cap and Knies’ role as a power forward, he would see something north of $8 million per season.

It’s also unlikely that Knies will receive an offer sheet from another club. If it’s between $6 million and $9 million, the Leafs have the cap space to match. If someone wants to offer more than that, Kypreos recommends taking the four compensatory first-round draft picks and moving on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nobody will offer Knies over $9 million annually. Given the Leafs’ cap space, it’s a waste of time trying to sign him to an offer sheet.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 26, 2025

by | Mar 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 26, 2025

The Jets clinch a playoff berth, Alex Ovechkin moves closer to the all-time goals record, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff reach notable career milestones, the Capitals re-sign Jakob Chychrun, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth as they defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 on an overtime goal by Nikolaj Ehlers. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots for the Jets (102 points), who sit one point back of the league-leading Capitals. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 889th regular-season goal, putting him six away from breaking the all-time goal record held by Wayne Gretzky.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals signed defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year, $72-million contract extension earlier in the day. The average annual value is $9 million and is a considerable raise over his current AAV of 4.6 million.

Chychrun’s been a terrific addition to the Capitals blueline with 18 goals and a career-best 44-point performance (and counting) this season. The 26-year-old’s new contract reflects the cost of signing top-four defensemen with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the coming years. It will affect comparable blueliners like Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard who are due for new contracts this summer.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists to pass the 100-point milestone in a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Anthony Cirelli tallied twice for the Lightning as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 87 points. Bryan Rust replied for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov is the 21st player in NHL history to reach the 100-point plateau five times. It’s the most for a Russian-born player, with Washington’s Alex Ovechkin doing it four times and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin three times. Meanwhile, Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak left this game in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

Head coach Lindy Ruff collected his 600th regular-season win with the Buffalo Sabres as his club nipped the Ottawa Senator 3-2. Tage Thompson tallied the tie-breaker early in the third period for the Sabres. Brady Tkachuk and David Perron scored for the Senators, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ruff is the second coach in league history to have 600 wins with one franchise. Al Arbour holds the record (740) with the New York Islanders.

This was the first game between Buffalo and Ottawa since Dylan Cozens was shipped to the Senators for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker at the March 7 trade deadline. Bernard-Docker scored against his former club while Cozens picked up an assist. Norris has missed the Sabres’ last five games with an undisclosed injury.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel had a hat trick to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1. Mark Stone and Noah Hanifin each had two assists for the Golden Knights, who have won four straight games and hold first place in the Pacific Division with 94 points. Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild, who hold the first Western wild-card spot with 85 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore picked up an assist in his first game since Feb. 8. It was the 500th regular-season game of his career.

The St. Louis Blues got their seventh straight win with a 6-1 drubbing of the Montreal Canadiens. Robert Thomas and Philip Broberg each had a goal and three assists as the Blues (83 points) maintained a four-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card berth. Nick Suzuki replied for the Canadiens, who cling to the final Eastern wild card (75 points) but are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues are red hot and could overtake Minnesota for the first Western wild-card berth.

An overtime goal by Nazem Kadri gave the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Kadri finished the night with two goals while Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato each had two assists as the Flames (79 points) remain four points behind the Blues.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala tallied two goals to defeat the New York Rangers 3-1, extending their franchise-best home points streak to 15 games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 shots for the Kings, who’ve won four straight and sit second in the Pacific Division with 89 points. J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers (74 points), who remain one point behind the Canadiens.

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards William Nylander and John Tavares each scored twice to crush the Philadelphia Flyers 7-2. Nylander reached the 40-goal plateau for the third consecutive season as the Leafs moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with 89 points. Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Florida Panthers also have 89 points, but the Leafs have the edge with 42 regulation plus overtime wins compared to the Panthers’ 38.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his home points streak to 22 games in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Devon Toews had a goal and two assists to sit third in the Central Division with 91 points. J.T. Compher had a goal and an assist for the faltering Red Wings (72 points), who’ve dropped three of their last four to remain three points out of the final Eastern wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot sidelined, the Wings recalled goalie Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis to back up starter Alex Lyon.

The Nashville Predators upset the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Luke Evangelista scored twice and Juuse Saros turned aside 34 shots for the Predators. Taylor Hall scored for the Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty reported Monday that the Predators won’t release any information on sidelined Predators captain Roman Josi until after the season ends. “There is zero chance he plays any games the rest of this season.”

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is expected to be held on May 5 or 6, depending on the playoff schedule.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson will miss the remainder of the regular season with an injured wrist.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2025

by | Mar 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2025

The Blue Jackets, Red Wings and Canucks collect crucial points in the wild-card races, the three stars of the week are revealed, a roundup of injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets overcame 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3 on a shootout goal by Adam Fantilli. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 30 shots, Fantilli, Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko scored in regulation and Sean Monahan had two assists in his first game since being sidelined with a wrist injury on Jan. 7. Pierre Engvall, Kyle Palmieri, and Anders Lee scored for the Islanders.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (NHL Images).

The win snapped a six-game losing skid for the Blue Jackets (73 points), leaving them two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Islanders are one point behind the Canadiens with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Palmieri scored what would’ve been the game-winner with 9 seconds left in regulation. However, the goal was overturned on a controversial goaltender interference call that left the Isles fuming following the game.

Shootout goals by Jake DeBrusk and Jonathan Lekkerimaki gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Conor Garland scored with 36 seconds remaining in the third period to tie the game, Pius Suter had a goal and an assist, and Thatcher Demko made 22 saves after missing a month with a lower-body injury.

Timo Meier scored twice for the Devils, who’ve dropped four of their last five (1-3-1) and sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. The Canucks have 78 points, putting them three behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks played without forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander, who returned to Vancouver for evaluation after being injured in Saturday’s loss to the New York Rangers. They will miss the remainder of the Canucks’ six-game road trip.

The Detroit Red Wings managed only 14 shots against the Utah Hockey Club but scored five unanswered goals for a 5-1 victory. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist while Alex Lyon got the win in relief of Petr Mrazek, who left following a collision with Utah forward Dylan Guenther 90 seconds into the game. Guenther scored for Utah (75 points), who are six points behind the Blues in the Western wild-card race. The Red Wings (72 points) are three points behind the Canadiens in the Eastern race.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry logged almost 17 minutes of ice time in his return to action after missing 31 games with an undisclosed injury.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger made 32 saves to shut out the Minnesota Wild 3-0. Wyatt Johnston, Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment were the goal scorers as the Stars sit second in the Central Division with 94 points. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots for the Wild, who hold the first Western wild-card berth with 85 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars forward Mikko Rantanen briefly left this game after being struck in the face by the puck. He returned sporting protective face gear and finished the game. Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin missed this game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

The Wild should keep an eye on the Blues, who sit four points behind them in the second wild-card spot after winning six straight games.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, and St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 23.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will remain sidelined for the rest of this week. McDavid suffered a lower-body injury on March 20 while Draisaitl sustained an undisclosed injury on March 18.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is listed as week-to-week after suffering an upper-body injury on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl will be sidelined for at least a week as he undergoes evaluation of his injured right wrist. He suffered the injury during Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, defenseman Shea Theodore is traveling with the team and could return to action later this week. Theodore was injured during last month’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. He suffered a cut in the “wrist/hand area” during Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers that required stitches. Chychrun finished the game but didn’t participate in Monday’s practice.

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche defensemen Samuel Girard (undisclosed) and Erik Johnston (lower body) are listed as day-to-day.

Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. So is San Jose Sharks rearguard Vincent Desharnais.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle has joined his teammates on their four-game road trip. He missed the last 19 games with a lacerated quadriceps muscle but has been skating on his own for more than two weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No timeline yet for Guhle’s return but the fact he’s traveling with the team suggests he could play at some point later this week.

NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues forward Zack Bolduc was fined over $2,200.00 by the department of player safety for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg on Sunday.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Predators have extended their partnership with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals through 2028-29.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 23, 2025

by | Mar 23, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 23, 2025

The latest coaching speculation plus updates on the Wild and Sharks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

FOUR COACHES COULD BE ON THE HOT SEAT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes four current NHL head coaches could be searching for new jobs in the offseason.

Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators could be among the job hunters following his club’s disappointing performance after a summer of notable free-agent additions like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Barry Trotz deserves some of the blame, as he’s the one who made those big signings last summer. Nevertheless, the coach suffers for management’s mistakes and Brunette could take the fall here.

Lindy Ruff’s return to the Buffalo Sabres failed to reverse their fortunes. The Sabres are poised to extend their league-record playoff drought to 14 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bringing back Ruff was a mistake. His style isn’t suited for the type of team the Sabres have constructed.

Joe Sacco took over as Boston Bruins head coach on an interim basis following the firing of Jim Montgomery last November. The Bruins continued to slide on Sacco’s watch and are five points out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe also believes Sacco will be replaced as head coach. He expects he’ll be retained as part of the coaching staff if ownership retains Don Sweeney as general manager and Cam Neely as team president.

Mike Sullivan has been the bench boss of the Pittsburgh Penguins for a decade. However, they could decide to part ways with Mike Sullivan as they continue retooling their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sullivan has done the best he can with the rosters Dubas and his predecessor have given him. However, the Penguins are transitioning toward younger talent and Dubas could decide to shake things up behind the bench.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette could be added to this list. He guided the Blueshirts to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 but has sometimes looked lost seeking solutions for this season’s on-ice woes. It hasn’t helped that management has been shaking up the roster in the trade market since December. Nevertheless, they could decide that a coaching change is in order.

WILL THE WILD BE BIG SPENDERS THIS SUMMER?

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen reports Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin has his eyes on the offseason and what could be available to his club once the buyout charges for Ryan Suter and Zach Parise go down.

The combined cost of buying out Suter and Parise is over $14.7 million against the Wild’s cap. However, that cost drops to $1.66 million annually for the next three seasons, giving them a projected cap space of $21.8 million for 2025-26.

Rosen warns that doesn’t mean the opening of the 2025 free-agent market on July 1 will be like Christmas Day for the Wild. They must keep in mind the significant raise required to re-sign superstar Kirill Kaprizov before his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status next year. Young center Marco Rossi is a restricted free agent and will seek a significant raise coming off his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin could make a cost-cutting move to free up extra cap space if he wants to go big-game hunting this summer. If not, he could content himself with affordable depth signings to improve his club’s chances of a deep playoff run next year.

SHARKS MUST ADDRESS GOALIE DEPTH THIS SUMMER

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka observed the San Jose Sharks must improve their goaltending depth and defensive play. They have the league’s worst goals-against per game (3.64 as of March 23) while their .890 save percentage is 30th.

Rookie goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is the only Sharks goalie under contract next season. Veteran Alexandar Georgiev is UFA-eligible this summer and has been inconsistent this season, though he cannot bear sole responsibility for the Sharks’ defensive woes. Rookie Georgi Romanov is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pickings for goalies are slim in this summer’s free-agent market. The notables include New Jersey’s Jake Allen, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, former Sharks netminder Vitek Vanecek, Calgary’s Dan Vladar, Detroit’s Alex Lyon and Los Angeles’ David Rittich.

Trade options aren’t much better. John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks is the most noteworthy having frequently surfaced in trade rumors over the last two years. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million. Gibson also has a 10-team no-trade list, which could put the Sharks out of the running.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2025

by | Mar 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2025

Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl and Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lead their clubs to victory with hat tricks, six teams in wild-card races pick up wins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tomas Hertl tallied his second hat trick in a seven-game span to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists and Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as the Golden Knights sit atop the Pacific Division with 90 points. Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (70 points), leaving them five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have lost eight of their last 10 games. Barring a significant turnaround over their final 13 games, they’ll extend their postseason drought to nine seasons.

A hat trick by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins enabled the injury-depleted Edmonton Oilers to hold off the Seattle Kraken 5-4. Darnell Nurse and Mattias Ekholm each collected two points as the Oilers sit three points behind the Golden Knights in second place in the Pacific Division. Kaapo Kakko scored twice for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers won with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sidelined by injuries. Both players could return in a week, with Draisaitl reportedly closer to returning to action. Meanwhile, Kakko has rejuvenated his career since being traded to the Kraken in December. With 39 points, he’s one away from tying his career-high 40-point season in 2022-23 with the New York Rangers.

The Minnesota Wild got a 20-save performance from goaltender Filip Gustavsson for his third straight win as they downed the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist and Matt Boldy collected two assists as the Wild hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 85 points. JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin picked up an assist after missing nine games with a lower-body injury.

St. Louis Blues forwards Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker each had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues extended their win streak to a season-high five games and hold the final Western wild-card spot with 79 points. Ilya Mikheyev replied for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost seven in a row.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks forward Patrick Maroon played his final game against his former club after announcing he’ll retire at the end of this season. The St. Louis native received a standing ovation by Blues fans and was named the game’s first star. He helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019.

Maroon has spent 14 seasons in the NHL with the Blackhawks, Blues, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins, collecting 320 points and 1,076 PIMs in 840 regular-season games and 53 points in 163 playoff contests, winning three Stanley Cups, including two with the Lightning.

The Calgary Flames are two points behind the Blues following a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders. Nazem Kadri tallied the game-winner, Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and two assists, Matt Coronato scored twice and Rasmus Andersson collected three assists for Calgary as they’ve won three straight games. Noah Dobson and Maxim Tsyplakov each picked up two assists for the Islanders (73 points), who are two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar missed this game with a lower-body injury while forward Joel Farabee was sidelined by illness. Weegar is expected to return for Tuesday’s game against the Kraken.

New York Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski tallied two goals and J.T. Miller scored an empty-netter against his former club to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Igor Shesterkin kicked out 36 shots for the Rangers (74 points), who are one point out of the final Eastern wild card. Canucks forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander left this game with injuries as their club slipped three points behind the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks dominated the Rangers in this game but couldn’t put them away. It’s a costly defeat at a time when the Blues and Flames are surging. The loss overshadowed Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood breaking the league’s single-season record for hits with 384.

The Colorado Avalanche blew a 4-1 lead before defeating the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on a shootout goal by Brock Nelson, who had a goal and an assist in regulation play. Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice for the Canadiens, who cling to the final Eastern wild-card berth with 75 points. The Avalanche sit third in the Central Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite the loss, the Canadiens earned a valuable point to retain that wild card. They have points in 12 of their last 13 contests (8-1-4).

Ottawa Senators forwards Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson scored second-period goals within 33 seconds of each other to hold off the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Linus Ullmark stopped 25 shots for the win as the Senators hold a four-point lead over the Canadiens in the first Eastern wild-card spot. Luke Hughes collected assists on both goals for the Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 80 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators’ Thomas Chabot became the fourth defenseman in franchise history to reach the 500-game milestone, joining Chris Phillips, Wade Redden and Erik Karlsson.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley opened the scoring and ended the game with a two-goal performance in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Stars hold second place in the Central Division with 92 points. Travis Konecny and Ryan Poehling replied for the Flyers, who’ve lost four straight.

The Los Angeles Kings crushed the Carolina Hurricanes 7-2, winning for the seventh time in their last eight games. Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield, Andrei Kuzmenko and Tanner Jeannot each had a goal and an assist and Drew Doughty collected two assists as the Kings sit third in the Pacific Division with 85 points. Dmitry Orlov and Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes as they hold second place in the Metro Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis left the game in the third period with an apparent head injury when he crashed into the end boards after being hauled down by Kings winger Warren Foegele. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed optimism in his postgame press conference that Jarvis avoided serious injury.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin collected two assists in a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers, giving them their ninth win in their last 10 contests. Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist as the Capitals opened a two-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the overall standings with 102 points. Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 87 points.

The Utah Hockey Club kept their playoff hopes alive by upsetting the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4. Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot led the way with two goals each for Utah (75 points), who sit four points behind the Blues in the Western wild-card race. Brayden Point netted two goals and Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 85 points.

Five unanswered goals powered the Nashville Predators to a 5-2 upset of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Filip Forsberg scored twice and picked up an assist as the Predators snapped a four-game losing skid. John Tavares scored his 30th of the season for the Leafs, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs and Panthers have identical 42-25-3 records, but the latter holds the tiebreaker with 35 regulation wins compared to the Leafs’ 34.

The San Jose Sharks beat the Boston Bruins 3-1. Lucas Carlsson’s tiebreaker was his first goal with the Sharks and his first since 2021-22 with the Panthers. Carlsson and teammate William Eklund each finished with a goal and an assist. Casey Mittelstadt replied for the slumping Bruins, who’ve lost their fifth straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins played without forward Mark Kastelic, who returned to Boston for further evaluation of an upper-body injury and will miss the remainder of their five-game road trip.