NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 13, 2026

by | Jan 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 13, 2026

The Red Wings honor Sergei Fedorov, the Lightning extend their win streak to 10 games, while the Maple Leafs’ points streak hits double digits, Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak to 19 games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: On the night the Detroit Red Wings retired Sergei Fedorov’s number 91, they nipped the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on an overtime goal by Andrew Copp. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings opened a 3-0 lead, but the Hurricanes forced overtime on goals by Jackson Blake, Seth Jarvis, and Shayne Gostisbehere. The Red Wings (28-15-4) hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. The Hurricanes (28-14-4) also have 60 points, but hold first place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand over the Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings retire Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings retired Fedorov’s number in a classy pregame ceremony. He thanked the team and their fans, singling out the Illich family, former Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman, former captain Steve Yzerman, and his “Russian Five” Red Wings teammates, including Vladimir Konstantinov, who attended the ceremony along with Yzerman.

Fedorov admitted he made “a huge mistake” for leaving Detroit as a free agent in 2003. However, he said that the decision also set him on the path toward meeting his wife, Karina, who attended the ceremony with their two children.

One of the greatest two-way players in NHL history, Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. This retirement of his number by the Red Wings was long overdue, reflecting the tension between the Illich family and Fedorov that led to his departure. Thankfully, time heals all wounds, and Fedorov received this well-deserved honor from the team with which he’d had his greatest success.

The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their win streak to 10 games with a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist to push his multipoint streak to nine games for the 28-13-3 Lightning. Christian Dvorak replied for the Flyers (22-14-8), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper became the second-fastest coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win plateau. The only head coach to reach it faster was Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman. It was a costly win for Cooper and his team as center Brayden Point left the game with an apparent knee injury. There was no postgame update on his status.

An overtime goal by William Nylander lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-3, snapping the latter’s home win streak at 17 games. Nylander and Auston Matthews each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (23-15-7) as they extended their points streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for the Avalanche (33-4-8) as they remain in first place in the overall standings with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists to extend his points streak to a career-high 19 games in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Evan Bouchard scored twice and collected an assist for the 23-16-7 Oilers. Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who slipped to 19-20-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid became the fifth player in NHL history to record 10 straight 50-assist seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Dale Hawerchuk (all with 13 seasons), and Bernie Federko (10). Meanwhile, the Oilers signed forward Quinn Hutson to a two-year, $1.75 million contract extension.

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard missed this game with an illness, and winger Teuvo Teravainen left the game after the first period for undisclosed reasons.

The Dallas Stars defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Jason Robertson snapped a 1-1 tie while Sam Steel and Esa Lindell each had two assists for the Stars, who improved to 27-10-9. Quinton Byfield tallied for the 19-16-10 Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars captain Jamie Benn returned to action after missing three games with an injured nose.

Florida Panthers winger A.J. Greer scored two goals in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Carter Verhaeghe had three assists for the 24-18-3 Panthers. Jacob Bryson, Zach Benson, and Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres. (24-16-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the 1,900th career game for Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. Scotty Bowman is the all-time leader with 2,141, followed by Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice with 1,975. Speaking of the Sabres, they will host the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 and 27.

The New Jersey Devils got two goals within 21 seconds by Jesper Bratt to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2. Ondrej Palat also scored twice for the Devils (23-21-2), and Dougie Hamilton had two assists in his return to the lineup as their club snapped a four-game losing skid. Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno replied for the 26-12-9 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton was a healthy scratch from Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, prompting trade rumors as his agent said his client was willing to expand his 10-team trade list to facilitate a deal that benefits both sides. I’ll have the latest Hamilton trade speculation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier scored twice within 20 seconds in a 6-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov each had three points for the 26-14-6 Canadiens. Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo stopped 35 shots as his club is 0-5-2 in its last seven games.

The Seattle Kraken scored four straight goals to double up the New York Rangers 4-2. Berkly Catton snapped a 2-2 tie as the Kraken (21-15-8) are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games. Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, who slipped to 20-21-6 and have one win in their last eight games (1-5-2).

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 11, 2026.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy. Veteran NHL coach Rick Bowness takes over as bench boss for the remainder of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are struggling this season to build on their promising 2024-25 performance. Mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and seven points out of a wildcard berth, they’re hoping that the coaching change will vault them back into playoff contention.

Bowness is expected to be in this role for the remainder of the season, as management will search for a full-time replacement in the offseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association are “pleased” with the progress of rink construction for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. They expect the work necessary to address the remaining issues will be completed in time for the men’s hockey tournament.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson could miss the remainder of this season with a lower-body injury. He’s been ruled out for the Winter Olympics, and it’s unlikely he’ll return when the league resumes play following the Olympic break.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins signed forward Blake Lizotte to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.25 million.

RG.ORG: A heart condition has forced former NHL coach Gerard Gallant to step down from his role as head coach of the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons. He’s been away from the club since Dec. 30.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

by | Jan 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2026

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane reaches a notable scoring milestone, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reclaims the lead in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Patrick Kane scored twice to become the fifth U.S.-born NHL player to reach 500 career regular-season goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks (16-22-5), who are winless in their last five games (0-3-2). The Red Wings improved to 26-15-4.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane joined Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513), and Joe Mullen (502). He’s also the first to reach that milestone since Tkachuk in April 2008.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to reclaim the lead in the NHL scoring race (78 points) as his club thumped the Ottawa Senators 8-2. Brock Nelson and Josh Manson each tallied two goals for the league-leading Avalanche (32-4-7, 71 points) as they snapped a two-game losing skid. Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk replied for the 20-18-5 Senators, who have only two wins in their last eight games (2-7-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators signed free-agent James Reimer in an effort to shore up their struggling goaltending. Reimer, 37, could join the club this weekend.

Earlier in the day, the Senators released a statement expressing extreme disappointment with social media posts regarding starting goalie Linus Ullmark. This is in response to what the club called “fabricated and false stories” regarding the reason behind Ullmark’s leave of absence for personal reasons.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid extended his points streak with a goal and an assist to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3, leaving the latter winless in their last 11 games (0-7-4). Evan Bouchard snapped a 3-3 tie midway through the third period for the Oilers (22-16-6). Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who dropped to 15-22-5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Evgeni Malkin scored in his first game since being sidelined by an upper-body injury on Dec. 4, and Sidney Crosby had two assists to push his points streak to eight games for the 21-12-9 Penguins, extending their winning streak to six games. Luke Hughes scored for the Devils (22-20-2), who are 2-6-1 in their last eight contests.

Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier netted his first NHL hat trick in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Oliver Kapanen had a goal and two assists as the Canadiens (25-13-6) picked up their third straight win and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points. Sam Bennett tallied both goals for the 22-18-3 Panthers, who have dropped seven straight games to the Canadiens since the 2023-24 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Brad Marchand missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. Meanwhile, TSN’s Chris Johnston said the chances were pretty high for sidelined Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (knee) to return to action this season, most likely during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped 28 shots to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. Sean Kuraly had a goal and an assist for the 23-19-2 Bruins, who have three wins in their last four games. Connor Zary scored for the Flames (18-22-4) as their losing skid reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Flames announced that rookie defenseman Zayne Perekh is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during the recent World Junior Championship.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their 12th win in their last 13 games by dropping the New York Rangers 5-2. Mattias Samuelsson, Jason Zucker, and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the 23-15-4 Sabres. Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers (20-19-6).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain J.T. Miller returned to action after missing the last two weeks with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Easton Cowan lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Scott Laughton scored against his former club, and Dennis Hildeby made 22 saves for the Maple Leafs (21-15-7) as they extended their points streak to eight games (6-0-2). Travis Konecny scored for the 22-12-8 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Konecny left the game at the end of the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes picked up their third straight win by downing the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. Jalen Chatfield, Logan Stankoven, and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (27-14-3), who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 57 points. Ryan Poehling and Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks (21-20-3), who are 0-7-1 in their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks winger Troy Terry missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his goal streak to six games in a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stone finished with three points, and Reilly Smith tallied twice for the Golden Knights (19-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 50 points. Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan each had two points for the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 18-18-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, they placed defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets defenseman Brendan Smith will be sidelined for three to four months after undergoing knee surgery on Jan. 6.

The Minnesota Wild got an overtime goal from Mats Zuccarello to defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Kirill Kaprizov had two assists for the 26-11-8 Wild. Adam Larsson and Matty Beniers scored for the Kraken (20-14-8), who extended their points streak to 10 games (8-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jordan Eberle missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros stopped 30 shots, and Filip Forsberg scored in the shootout for a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Ryan O’Reilly scored in regulation for the Predators (20-19-4). Simon Holmstrom tallied for the 24-15-5 Islanders.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Seven NHL players will be part of Slovakia’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s hockey tournament. Forwards include Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens, Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues, Martin Pospisil of the Calgary Flames, and Pavol Regenda of the San Jose Sharks. Defensemen include Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Martin Fehervary of the St. Louis Blues, and Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils.

THE ATHLETIC: St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery denied that starting goalie Jordan Binnington refused to be pulled from their 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. He also denied that backup Joel Hofer appeared to be hiding in the tunnel behind the Blues’ bench.

Montgomery explained that he attempted to pull Binnington after Chicago scored its seventh goal, and Binnington was waiting for Hofer to replace him before heading to the bench. However, Hofer was not fully dressed because he had to watch the game from the dressing room due to a lack of room on the St. Louis bench. Play had resumed by the time Hofer was ready to go.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks acquired backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit, depth defenseman Nolan Allen, and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the contract of permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis, minor-league defenseman Jake Furlong, and a 2028 fourth-round pick.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Jack McGregor, a former Pennsylvania state senator who founded the Pittsburgh Penguins, died on Tuesday at age 91. He was the team’s first president and chief executive officer from 1967 to 1970.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to McGregor’s family, colleagues, and the Penguins’ organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2025

by | Sep 27, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2025

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is sidelined for the season, Marc-Andre Fleury returns to the Penguins for a special weekend, an update on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov underwent surgery to repair injuries to ligaments in his right knee suffered during practice on Thursday. He is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Barkov’s absence leaves a big hole in their roster. “He is such an important piece in that locker room,” Maurice said. “What we’ll get to know now is some of the other leaders in the room.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were already dealing with winger Matthew Tkachuk recovering from offseason surgeries, but they knew that he would return by January. Barkov’s absence is a much bigger blow to their hopes for a Stanley Cup “three-peat.”

Barkov is one of the key reasons why the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final three straight times, winning the Cup twice in a row since 2024. They will miss his leadership and elite two-way play.

Depending on Barkov’s recovery, it’s unlikely that he will return later in the regular season. The earliest he could be back is for the first round of the 2025 playoffs, and even that’s not a certainty.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Marc-Andre Fleury joined the Penguins’ practice on Friday as part of a special weekend for the 40-year-old goaltender.

Fleury began his NHL career with the Penguins, spending 13 of his 21 seasons in Pittsburgh. He retired at the end of last season, but signed a tryout contract to practice with the Penguins on Friday and play one period of Saturday’s preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It was a special reunion for Fleury with his former teammates Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust. It felt like old times as he good-naturedly chirped his teammates and played some pranks on them, including putting decals of his jersey number (29) on their vehicles.

Fleury also clarified that he wants it to be known that he’s retiring as a member of the Minnesota Wild, with whom he spent his last four NHL seasons. He’s grateful to finish in Pittsburgh, where everything started for the future Hall of Famer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The usually buttoned-down Crosby couldn’t hide his joy over having his old teammate back for a final practice. Wearing his throwback yellow pads, Fleury made several saves that drew cheers from the fans in attendance, including a windmill save on a Crosby one-timer.

Speaking of the Penguins, goalie Joel Blomqvist will be sidelined for four weeks with a lower-body injury.

TSN: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to be ready for their season opener on Oct. 9. Vasilevskiy has been absent since Sept. 19 with an undisclosed injury.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Artemi Panarin returned to practice with his teammates on Friday. He’d spent the past week nursing a lower-body injury.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres winger Alex Tuch will be in the lineup when they face the Detroit Red Wings in preseason play on Saturday. He missed their first three preseason contests with an undisclosed injury.

Sabres starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) could return to play their final two preseason games.

TORONTO STAR: The Maple Leafs signed James Reimer to a professional tryout offer. The 37-year-old goaltender began his NHL career with the Leafs in 2010-11, becoming a fan favorite during his six seasons with the franchise.

The Leafs have brought back Reimer as insurance with Joseph Woll on a leave of absence for personal reasons and Dennis Hildeby an unproven rookie.

TSN: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, defenseman Marshall Rifai requires wrist surgery after suffering an injury during Thursday’s preseason win over the Montreal Canadiens.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander is listed as week-to-week with a sprained ankle.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher suffered a broken bone in his hand and will be sidelined for four weeks.

DAILY FACEOFF: Goaltender Ivan Fedotov, forward Liam Foudy, and defenseman Kevin Connauton are the notable players placed on waivers on Friday.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 2, 2025

by | Aug 2, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 2, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, Samuel Girard’s role on the Avalanche blueline and three bargain UFA goaltending options.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen wondered where the Avalanche intends to play Samuel Girard this season.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (NHL Images).

Deen believes the Avalanche could trade Girard at some point. He noted their failed attempt to re-sign Ryan Lindgren before his UFA eligibility on July 1, and their subsequent signing of Brent Burns.

Girard was the only other Avalanche defenseman besides Cale Makar and Devon Toews to average over 20 minutes per game during the regular season. However, that changed in the playoffs, when he was fifth in ice time (17:38).

Deen doesn’t see the Avalanche keeping Girard at $5 million per season playing third-pairing minutes. He believes they see less of a role for the 27-year-old blueliner than in years past, which is why he thinks they’re still trying to trade him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Girard has occasionally surfaced in the rumor mill over the past two seasons, but the speculation was often shut down quickly.

The Avalanche currently have over $3.3 million in cap space with 22 active roster players under contract, so they’re not in any hurry to make a cost-cutting deal. However, that could change if Girard sees third-pairing minutes this season.

Girard is signed through 2026-27 and has a nine-time no-trade list. He could be a player to monitor in the rumor mill this season, especially if the Avalanche struggles to remain among the top teams in the Western Conference.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau noted that goaltenders Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov, and James Reimer remain unsigned. They’re at different points in their careers, but Proteau suggests they have the potential to become bargain options for teams seeking goalie depth.

Samsonov isn’t far removed from his stellar 2022-23 performance with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Among goalies who played at least 15 games last season, there were 28 goalies with a worse goals saved above expected rating, according to MoneyPuck.

Georgiev could provide some value and support for a younger goalie tandem. Despite his recent struggles, he has demonstrated his ability to bounce back. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Reimer proved he still had something left in the tank with the Buffalo Sabres last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of the three, Reimer has a proven record as a reliable backup, but his age could hamper his efforts to land a new NHL contract. Samsonov and Georgiev are younger, but their inconsistencies over the past two seasons have hurt their value.

Nevertheless, the lack of quality goalie depth in the free-agent and trade markets could see this trio become affordable short-term options for teams in need of depth between the pipes.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2025

by | Jul 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2025

The latest on the top remaining unrestricted free agents and suggested destinations for several of them in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently looked at the latest buzz on some of the top remaining unrestricted free agents.

Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic (NHL Images).

Forward Jack Roslovic tops the list as the best player available. He enjoyed a productive 2024-25 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, netting 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games. Fox cited colleague Elliotte Friedman indicating that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in signing the versatile 28-year-old forward. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals could also take a long look at him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rising salary cap means most NHL clubs remain flush with cap space this summer. However, many of the remaining UFAs (like Roslovic) will likely get low-cost, short-term contracts that are easy to shed if they don’t pan out.

The Score’s Josh Wegman recently suggested the Leafs could be the best fit for Roslovic. While defensively inconsistent and a healthy scratch during the playoffs, he played alongside Leafs captain Auston Matthews in 2014-15 with the US National Team Development Program.

Winger Victor Olofsson is No. 2 on Fox’s list. He’s a power-play specialist with three 20-plus goal seasons on his resume.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman thinks the Boston Bruins would be a good landing spot for Olofsson. Their power play was among the league’s worst last season, finishing 29th overall.

Matt Grzelcyk is an undersized (5’10”, 180 pounds), left-shot defenseman who had a career-best 40 points last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Wegman, the Colorado Avalanche could use a puck-mover like Grzelcyk. They need an experienced No.3 left-shot defenseman.

Ilya Samsonov could be an intriguing option in a thin goalie market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman suggested the Pittsburgh Penguins as a destination. Since he published this piece four days ago, the Penguins acquired Arturs Silovs, making it unlikely that they’ll add a UFA netminder.

Oft-sidelined winger Max Pacioretty is still weighing all his options, including retirement. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving recently said the door remains open for the 35-year-old winger’s return.

Forward Luke Kunin recently changed agents and the physical forward reportedly garnered interest from multiple teams.

Winger Joel Kiviranta reached career highs in games played (79) and goals (16) last season. He could be a good addition to a team seeking depth among their bottom-six forwards.

Former Utah Mammoth Michael Carcone’s speed and edge could make him a cost-effective bottom-six forward.

Jan Rutta’s playoff experience and defensively responsible game could make the blueliner a good addition on a one-year contract.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev suffered a precipitous decline last season. However, Fox believes the workhorse netminder is better than his recent performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman suggests the Edmonton Oilers, who are beating the bushes in search of a goaltending upgrade. However, Georgiev would likely be a desperate last choice for them at this stage.

Wegman’s suggested destinations for other notable UFAs include Joe Veleno to the New York Rangers and James Reimer to the Calgary Flames.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 6, 2025

by | Jan 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 6, 2025

Could the Senators shop for a goaltender or claim Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev off waivers? Should the Leafs trade prospect Easton Cowan? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST SENATORS SPECULATION

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Bruce Garrioch believes the Senators should be scouring the trade market for a goaltender with starter Linus Ullmark sidelined indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

Ullmark departed during the Senators’ 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 22. There is no timetable for his return. The Senators are currently using backup Anton Forsberg and call-up Leevi Merilainen.

Garrioch cited sources claiming the market for goaltenders isn’t great. Those who could be available include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Cayden Primeau of the Montreal Canadiens, and James Reimer of the Buffalo Sabres.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list. If the Ducks were willing to retain part of his salary he might not accept a trade to Ottawa. It’s rumored the seven Canadian teams are on his no-trade list.

Primeau passed unclaimed through waivers last week. The Sabres claimed Reimer off waivers from the Ducks in November and will likely hang onto him for insurance.

A source told Garrioch the Detroit Red Wings would be willing to move Ville Husso. However, he carries a $4.75 million cap hit and the Wings aren’t willing to retain salary.

Garrioch also wondered if the Senators might claim Arthur Kaliyev off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. He pointed out that general manager Steve Staios has a long history with the 23-year-old winger as they won the 2018 OHL championship with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll find out after the noon ET deadline on Monday. Kaliyev had a promising rookie season with the Kings in 2021-22 but struggled afterward to maintain a regular roster spot. He fractured his clavicle on Oct. 6 and only recently came off injured reserve.

SHOULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE EASTON COWAN?

YARDBARKER: Nick Matthews of Maple Leafs Daily cited former Sportsnet personality Sid Seixeiro suggesting the Leafs should trade top prospect Easton Cowan following his disappointing performance for Canada at the 2025 World Juniors.

“Contrary to what a lot of folks are saying, (Cowan) still has a lot of value. But Toronto might have to cash that chip sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman doesn’t believe the Leafs should give up on Cowan because of a couple of bad weeks at the WJC.

“I see people saying, oh, they should trade him. Number one, his value will never be lower than it is now. “Number two, I think it’s bananas to give up on someone you really think highly of based on two bad weeks.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Friedman. The Leafs are already near the bottom third with their prospect pipeline. Cowan is among the few prospects they have with the skills to become an NHL player. They’re in win-now mode but must maintain an eye on the future.