NHL Rumor Mill – April 14, 2026

by | Apr 14, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – April 14, 2026

Check out the latest on the Red Wings, Islanders, and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan looked at what led to the latest collapse by the Detroit Red Wings, and how they can remedy it.

Topping the list is the Red Wings’ need for an elite scoring forward. Khan believes they should be aggressive in this summer’s trade market. He suggested pursuing a center such as Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues or Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks.

Should the Detroit Red Wings pursue St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas? (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have over $30 million in projected salary-cap space for 2026-27 with 18 active roster players under contract. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson is their only core player in need of a contract. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

The Wings have sufficient cap space to re-sign Edvinsson, add a scoring forward, and still have enough to fill out the roster.

Thomas and Pettersson were linked to the Red Wings in the rumor mill before last month’s trade deadline. Of the two, Thomas would be the more desirable. He’s been a more reliable point producer over the past three seasons and carries a more affordable contract than Pettersson. However, Pettersson might be more willing to accept a trade given his struggles in Vancouver.

Khan believes they must upgrade their bottom-six forwards. He also recommends finding a reliable second-line center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring a first-line center such as Thomas could resolve that need for a second-line center. They could drop team captain Dylan Larkin into that role.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff believes the Red Wings must move away from signing free agent veterans as they’ve done in recent years. He feels they should give more playing time to their promising youngsters.

Duff believes goaltender Sebastian Cossa, defenseman William Wallinder, and forward Amadeus Lombardi are locks to start next season with the Red Wings because they are no longer exempt from waivers after this season. He would also like to see youngsters such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Nate Danielson, and Curtis Mazur given more opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those decisions rest with Red Wings management. Whether it’ll be Steve Yzerman or someone else remains to be seen. 

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau offered up his post-mortem of the New York Islanders following their recent elimination from playoff contention.

Proteau singled out their popgun offense as the main factor that prevented them from clinching a postseason berth. They have the eighth-fewest goals-per-game average (2.81), with only three players (Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer) having more than 42 points.

The Islanders have $14.3 million in projected cap space for next season. If GM Mathieu Darche re-signs captain Anders Lee, they won’t have enough to be major players in the free-agent market. Proteau believes Darche will have to make trades to improve their scoring punch for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Proteau pointed out that the Islanders have promising young talent in their system, and they have their own first-round picks in each of the next three drafts. While that bodes well for their long-term future, Darche might have to use some of those picks and prospects as trade chips to address his club’s more immediate needs.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Matt Calkins believes the Kraken have little choice but to stage a rebuild. Five years after their inaugural season, they reached the playoffs in their second season, but have struggled to return to the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Kraken are being overshadowed by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the improving Seattle Mariners, and the possibility of a returning NBA franchise. The Kraken lack a star player, and they’re among the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams, which forces them to play a less-exciting defensive style.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calkins noted that Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke has called for an organization-wide audit while Ron Francis recently stepped down as team president.

General manager Jason Botterill has only been in his job for a year, but he was Francis’ right-hand man from 2021 until last year. He was also the Buffalo Sabres GM from 2017 to 2020, so he has plenty of experience. It remains to be seen if Leiweke will entrust Botterill with a rebuild.

The Kraken aren’t a horrible team. In fact, their defensive style kept them in the playoff hunt for most of this season before fading down the stretch. Like the Islanders, their lack of scoring punch is their Achilles heel.

With over $28.7 million in projected cap space for 2026-27 and 21 active roster players signed, the Kraken have the room to add to their roster. They could re-sign recently-acquired winger Bobby McMann to a new contract, but they’ll still need to shop around to find more scoring.

The lack of depth in the free-agent market could see them turn to the trade market for an offensive star. They have the trade capital to get it done, with two first-round picks in the next two drafts and a prospect pipeline ranked seventh overall by The Athletic. There’s enough there to use some for trade chips without sacrificing most of their future.










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 11, 2026

by | Apr 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2026

Five teams can clinch playoff berths on Saturday, the Ducks sign GM Pat Verbeek to an extension, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominees are announced, the latest on Alex Ovechkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: After taking a break on Friday, the schedule resumes with 15 games on Saturday, with five teams facing playoff-clinching scenarios.

The Boston Bruins face several clinching scenarios in the Eastern Conference, with the most direct being to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in any fashion.

The Ottawa Senators can punch their ticket to the postseason if they defeat the New York Islanders in any fashion and if the New Jersey Devils defeat the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion.

In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers need one point against the Los Angeles Kings, or with any result in the Winnipeg Jets-Philadelphia Flyers game other than a Jets regulation win.

Like the Bruins, the Vegas Golden Knights face several clinching scenarios. The most direct is defeating the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion.

The Anaheim Ducks aren’t playing today, but they can clinch if all of the following occur: the Vancouver Canucks defeat the San Jose Sharks in any fashion, the Flyers defeat the Jets in regulation, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators in regulation.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed general manager Pat Verbeek to a multiyear contract extension.

The Ducks hired Verbeek in Feb. 2022. He’s conducted most of the franchise’s roster rebuild, putting them on the verge of reaching the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Under Verbeek’s management, the Ducks drafted center Leo Carlsson and rookie winger Beckett Sennecke, acquired winger Cutter Gauthier from the Philadelphia Flyers, defenseman Jacob Trouba and winger Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers, and blueliner John Carlson from the Washington Capitals. He also hired Joel Quenneville as head coach last year.

SPECTOR’ S NOTE: The Ducks still have room for improvement, but there’s no denying the steady progress they’ve made thus far under Verbeek.

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin are among the 32 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. It is presented annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Other notable nominees include Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is looking forward to facing long-time rival Sidney Crosby for what might be the final time this weekend when his club meets the Pittsburgh Penguins in a home-and-home series. The two games will be in Pittsburgh on Saturday and in Washington on Sunday.

Speculation is growing that this could be the 40-year-old Ovechkin’s final NHL season. Earlier this week, he said he’d decide on his future during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin once said that he and Crosby saved the NHL when it emerged from a season-killing lockout in 2005. His remarks sparked some criticism, but his assessment was correct. The rivalry between those two (especially during the early years of their NHL careers) renewed the interest of fans disillusioned over years of labor strife while also attracting a new generation of fans.

Today, the rivalry between Ovechkin and Crosby isn’t as heated as it once was, having mellowed into a mutual respect. Nevertheless, we could be watching history if this weekend’s games are indeed the final time they’ll face each other. Sean Gentille of The Athletic reports uncertainty over Ovechkin’s future has sent ticket prices surging for the Capitals’ final home game.

TORONTO SUN: Hall of Famer Chris Pronger has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the job of Maple Leafs general manager. However, he’s taking a cautious approach as he wants to know what the job parameters will be.

Pronger said he hasn’t been contacted by the Maple Leafs yet, but he’s interested in talking to them.

Other potential candidates include Florida Panthers assistant general managers Sunny Mehta and Brett Peterson. The Panthers have reportedly permitted the Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils to speak with Mehta.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pronger is likely low on their list of candidates. Based on recent reports, it appears the Maple Leafs are focused on current and former management types who will fill their main requirement of a “data-driven” general manager.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Devils, they’ve shut down goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the remainder of the season due to an array of nagging injuries.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars are expected to be without sidelined defenseman Miro Heiskanen and center Roope Hintz for what’s left of the regular season.

Heiskanen underwent an MRI on Friday for a lower-body injury suffered on Thursday. Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan is hoping the blueliner will return during their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Hintz has been sidelined since late February with a lower-body injury and remains week-to-week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having those two core players sidelined for their first-round series will test the Stars’ roster depth against the Wild. The sooner they can return, the better the Stars’ odds of winning that round.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is the winner of the Steve Chiasson Award. Named in honor of the late defenseman, the award is given out annually to the Hurricanes player “that best exemplifies determination and dedication while proving to be an inspiration to his teammates through his performance and approach to the game.”

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Hurricanes, they assigned goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to their AHL affiliate in Chicago for conditioning. He’s been sidelined since Dec. 20 with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings prospect Max Plante is the 2026 winner of the Hobey Baker Award, honoring the most outstanding player in NCAA men’s hockey. Plante, 20, is a left winger with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. He’s the first Red Wings prospect to win this award.

DAILY FACEOFF: Another Red Wings prospect, Trey Augustine, won the Mike Richter Award as this season’s top goaltender in NCAA men’s hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are potentially facing another disappointing season if they fail to make the playoffs. However, they have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which should continue to provide a measure of hope for Wings fans.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed prospect Abram Wiebe to a three-year entry-level contract. The 22-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the return in the Rasmus Andersson trade.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2026

by | Apr 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2026

The Avalanche clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Penguins and Mammoth clinch playoff berths, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield joins the 50-goal club, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. Martin Necas also had a goal and two assists for the 52-16-10 Avalanche, who sit first overall with 114 points. Rookie Tyson Gross tallied his first NHL goal for the Flames (32-37-9).

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon sits third among the points leaders with 126, but holds the lead in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy with 52 goals.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022 after beating the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Egor Chinakhov had a goal and two assists, and Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Erik Karlsson each had two points for the 41-22-16 Penguins (98 points), who clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division, assuring them of home-ice advantage in the upcoming postseason. Paul Cotter and Jack Hughes replied for the Devils (40-36-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes missed this game as he’s been shut down for the remainder of this season, as he will undergo a season-ending procedure on his injured shoulder.

Utah Mammoth forwards Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther each had a goal and an assist for a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators that clinched a playoff berth for the franchise just two years after its relocation from Arizona. Team captain Clayton Keller collected three assists for the Mammoth (42-30-6), who hold the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Erik Haula scored for the 37-32-10 Predators (84 points) as they dropped one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the first time the Mammoth have reached the playoffs, but it’s the first time this franchise has reached the postseason since 2019-20, when they were in their earlier incarnation as the Arizona Coyotes. It’s also the first time they’ve done it in a non-COVID season since 2011-12, when they were still known as the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Predators played without team captain Roman Josi, who was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of the Kings, they regained that wild-card spot by downing the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Adrian Kempe tallied two goals, Artemi Panarin had two assists, and Anton Forsberg stopped 24 shots for the 33-26-19 Kings (85 points). Marcus Pettersson scored for the Canucks (22-48-8).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Juraj Slafkovsky broke a 1-1 tie with his 30th of the season and had an assist on Caufield’s goal, and team captain Nick Suzuki had the primary assists on both goals for the 47-22-10 Canadiens, who moved ahead of the Lightning into second place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Darren Raddysh replied for the 48-25-6 Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield becomes the seventh player in Canadiens history to reach the 50-goal plateau, and the first to do so since Stephane Richer in 1990. He’s in second place in the race for the Richard Trophy, two behind Nathan MacKinnon.

Meanwhile, Slafkovsky became the first Slovakian player to score 30 goals in a season since Marian Hossa in 2013-14. With 98 points, Suzuki surpassed Pierre Turgeon for the most points in a season by a Canadiens captain. He’s poised to become the first Hab to reach 100 points in a season since Mats Naslund in 1985-86.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis made 37 saves for his first NHL shutout to blank the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0. Josh Doan scored twice for the 49-23-8 Sabres, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 23 shots for the Blue Jackets (39-28-12), who sit four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 90 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This loss likely spelled the end of the Jackets’ hopes of securing a playoff spot. After being red hot from mid-January to mid-March, they’re 2-7-1 in their last 10 and fading fast. Meanwhile, Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon could miss the start of the playoffs with a lower-body injury.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson broke a 4-4 tie to lift his club to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild in a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff series. Miko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Colin Blackwell each had a goal and an assist for the 47-20-12 Stars, who sit second overall in the Western Conference with 106 points. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, Mats Zuccarello had three assists, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Wild (45-22-12), who sit third in the Conference with 102 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period. He’s questionable to play in Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers.

The New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, giving new head coach Peter DeBoer the win in his first game behind their bench. Calum Ritchie and Tony DeAngelo each had two points, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer netted his 23rd goal of the season for the Islanders (43-31-5), who ended a four-game slide to sit one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 91 points. Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan, and Morgan Rielly scored for the 32-33-14 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer has tied Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman. The Isles must overtake the Flyers if they hope to clinch a playoff berth.

Speaking of the Flyers, they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Larkin had a hat trick and an assist, Moritz Seider scored and collected four assists, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Alex DeBrincat scored his 40th goal of the season for the 41-29-9 Red Wings (91 points). Rookie winger Porter Martone had a goal and an assist for the 40-27-12 Flyers (92 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings sit three points behind the Ottawa Senators, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild card with 94 points. Wings goaltender John Gibson left this contest midway through the second period with an undisclosed injury. There was no update on his condition following the game.

Meanwhile, the Senators maintained their three-point lead over the Red Wings by defeating the Florida Panthers 5-1. Fabian Zetterlund scored twice, and Jake Sanderson collected two assists for the 42-27-10 Senators. Jesper Boqvist scored for the 37-38-4 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Panthers announced that defenseman Seth Jones is done for the season after fracturing his foot during Tuesday’s loss to the Canadiens.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson scored his first career hat trick in a 6-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Troy Terry, Beckett Sennecke, Mikael Granlund, and Pavel Mintyukov each had two assists for the Ducks (42-32-5), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points. Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the 37-34-7 Sharks (81 points), who are four points out of the final Western wild card.

The Carolina Hurricanes thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2. Logan Stankoven had two goals and an assist while William Carrier collected three assists for the Hurricanes (51-22-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 108 points. Rookie Anton Frondell scored twice for the 28-37-14 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes sat out Jalen Chatfield, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov from this game.

A shootout goal by Berkly Catton gave the Seattle Kraken a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots as the Kraken (33-34-11) overcame a 3-1 deficit. Mark Stone tallied twice for the 36-26-17 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 89 points.

The Winnipeg Jets kept their playoff hopes alive by nipping the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Mark Scheifele had two assists while Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, and Jonathan Toews scored for the 35-31-12 Jets (82 points), who sit three points behind the Kings for the final Western wild card. Dylan Holloway had a goal and an assist for the 33-33-12 Blues.










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.