NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 11, 2026

by | Jan 11, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 11, 2026

The Bruins score 10 goals in a game for the first time since 1988, Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning over the Flyers, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini extend their points streaks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins crushed the New York Rangers 10-2, marking the first time they scored 10 goals in a game since doing so against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 16, 1988. Marat Khusnutdinov had four goals and an assist, Pavel Zacha scored a hat trick, and David Pastrnak tied a team record with a career-high six assists for the 24-19-2 Bruins. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers (20-19-6), who are 1-3-2 in their last six contests.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger Morgan Geekie left this game to attend to a family matter. Center Elias Lindholm suffered a lower-body injury and didn’t return.

Nikita Kucherov had two goals and two assists to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kucherov extended his points streak to nine games while Gage Goncalves tallied twice and Brayden Point collected three assists as the Lightning (27-13-3) picked up their ninth straight win. Garnet Hathaway and Owen Tippett replied for the 22-13-8 Flyers.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored the tying goal to extend his points streak to 18 games, but his club fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on a shootout goal by Adrian Kempe. Brandt Clarke had two assists, and Corey Perry picked up his 10th goal of the season for the 19-15-10 Kings. Leon Draisaitl tallied twice for the Oilers (22-16-7).

San Jose Sharks winger Tyler Toffoli scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to nip the Dallas Stars 5-4. Macklin Celebrini had three assists to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Sharks (23-18-3) rallied from a 4-2 deficit to pick up their third straight win. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the 26-10-9 Stars, who have one win in their last eight games (1-3-4).

The Colorado Avalanche got a 29-save shutout from goaltender Trent Miner for his first NHL win as he blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0, extending his club’s home points streak to 21 games (19-0-2). Brent Burns scored two goals for the 33-4-7 Avalanche, who hold first place in the overall standings with 73 points. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (18-19-7), who are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).

Goals from Jordan Martinook and William Carrier lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Jordan Staal had two assists as the Hurricanes (28-14-3) picked up their fourth straight win and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 59 points. Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton scored for the 20-15-8 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with an upper-body injury. The Kraken activated forward Jaden Schwartz from injured reserve.

Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson made 27 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (27-15-4), who took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 58 points. Jacob Fowler stopped 20 of 23 shots for the 25-14-6 Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle returned to action for the first time since suffering an abductor injury on Oct. 16 against the Nashville Predators.

The Vegas Golden Knights doubled up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Mark Stone scored for the seventh straight game while Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (20-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 52 points. Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist for the 17-21-8 Blues, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced defenseman Philip Broberg signed a six-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $8 million. He left the game early in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore scored in his first game since being sidelined with an upper-body injury on Dec. 13. Meanwhile, the club announced that goaltender Carter Hart is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Winger Brandon Saad missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Quinn scored two goals in a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 31 shots as the Sabres (24-15-4) won 13 of their last 14 games for the first time in franchise history. Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist for the struggling Ducks (21-21-3) as their winless skid reached nine games (0-8-1).

The Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Vancouver Canucks 5-0. Joseph Woll turned in a 29-save shutout, and William Nylander returned to action with a goal and two assists for the 22-15-7 Maple Leafs, extending their points streak to nine games (7-0-2). Canucks starting goalie Thatcher Demko left this game after the first period with a lower-body injury as his club dropped to 16-23-5.

An overtime goal by Simon Holmstrom gave the New York Islanders a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Holmstrom finished with two goals and an assist while Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves for the Islanders, who improved to 25-15-5. Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Wild (26-11-9).

The Florida Panthers nipped the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-2. Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the 23-18-3 Panthers. Fabian Zetterlund and Drake Batherson replied for the Senators (20-19-5), who have lost four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk spoke out against social media rumors regarding teammate Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence for personal reasons, calling the rumors “f**king bulls**t”. The club released a statement late last week condemning the unfounded speculation.

Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley kicked out 27 shots as his club downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Matt Coronato snapped a 1-1 tie just 42 seconds into the third period for the Flames (19-22-4), ending a four-game losing skid. Yegor Chinakhov replied for the Penguins (21-13-9) as their six-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Bryan Rust missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks netminder Drew Commesso got his first NHL win with a 36-save shutout to blank the Nashville Predators 3-0. Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist, and Connor Bedard picked up two assists for the Blackhawks, who improved to 19-19-7. Predators goalie Juuse Saros gave up two goals on 20 shots as his club dropped to 20-20-4.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2025

by | Nov 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2025

A milestone game for Stars captain Jamie Benn as the Oilers suffer another lopsided loss, a brief look at league attendance thus far this season, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his 400th career NHL regular-season goal in an 8-3 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers in the only game on Tuesday’s schedule. Benn finished with two points, Wyatt Johnston had a goal and three assists, Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists, and Nate Bastian tallied twice for the 14-5-4 Stars, who’ve won seven of their last 10 games.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn (NHL Images).

Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled in the first period after giving up four goals on eight shots. Backup Calvin Pickard allowed four goals on 22 shots as the Oilers dropped to 10-10-5 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were booed off the ice in their first home game in two weeks. After the game, Leon Draisaitl admitted his club’s ongoing defensive woes were “very concerning.” With 25 points, the Oilers are two points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. They still have time to sort out their issues and rise in the standings, and they have rebounded before from poor early-season performances. However, there’s a feeling that a bounce-back effort could be more difficult this time.

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and James Mirtle examined the NHL’s attendance through the first third of this season’s schedule.

They found that half the league’s 16 teams are hitting 98 percent capacity or higher. Topping the list are the Vegas Golden Knights (102.3 percent), followed by the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dallas Stars, all at or above 100 percent.

Other clubs among that group include the New Jersey Devils (99.9 percent), Vancouver Canucks (99.6), Edmonton Oilers (99.6), Detroit Red Wings (99.4), Montreal Canadiens (99.3), Toronto Maple Leafs (98.7), New York Rangers (98.2), and Carolina Hurricanes (98.1).

The Pittsburgh Penguins are among those below 90 percent capacity (89.9 percent), followed by the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Buffalo Sabres.

Compared to this time last season, the Sharks have seen the most significant improvement in attendance, with an average increase of 2,056. They’re followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets (1,079) and the Buffalo Sabres (1,072).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that most of those teams with the highest attendance are those that are among the most successful, while those below 90 percent are rebuilding teams or those that missed the playoffs last season.

Notably, the Predators remain well-supported despite their poor performance since last season. The Kraken’s improved play this season likely accounts for their full houses thus far.

Keep an eye on the Sharks as this season progresses. Led by young superstar Macklin Celebrini, they’ve improved significantly through the opening quarter, drawing more fans as a result. Their attendance could keep rising if they maintain that current pace and remain in playoff contention throughout the season.

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot was fined $5,000.00 by the department of player safety for butt-ending New Jersey Devils blueliner Simon Nemec during Monday’s game between the two clubs.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen didn’t travel with the team for their upcoming California road trip. He is staying at home for personal reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were already without sidelined starter Thatcher Demko. They’ve recalled Jiri Patera, who will join fellow call-up Nikita Tolopilo.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry and winger Bryan Rust are expected to be available for Wednesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Jarry’s been out since Nov. 3 with an undisclosed injury, while Rust missed two straight practices with an illness.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Minnesota Wild forward Vinnie Hinostroza is out for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle) was placed on injured reserve.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta is returning to the lineup after missing 17 games with a lower-body injury.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers placed forward Juuso Parssinen on waivers.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL goaltender Alexandar Georgiev signed a two-year contract with KHL team Spartak Moscow. His contract with the Buffalo Sabres was terminated on Monday, allowing him to make the move to the KHL.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues released winger Milan Lucic from his AHL professional tryout contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 13, 2025

by | Nov 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 13, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, the Sabres are reportedly getting calls from teams interested in acquiring Tage Thompson, plus the latest on the Penguins and Senators.

SABRES GETTING CALLS ABOUT TAGE THOMPSON

RG. ORG: Marco D’Amico reports teams are calling the Buffalo Sabres about Tage Thompson. However, general manager Kevyn Adams insisted that the star forward isn’t available.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson (NHL Images).

The Sabres are once again struggling in the standings. That has prompted some teams in the market for depth at center, such as the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens, to inquire about Thompson’s availability.

Part of the reason for the Sabres’ struggles is that several key players are sidelined by injuries (Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson) or illness (Jason Zucker). Meanwhile, defenseman and team captain Rasmus Dahlin is on a leave of absence for personal reasons.

However, the organization is holding off on making major roster changes, turning instead to younger players in the hope of sparking a turnaround.

TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie claimed the Canadiens never contacted the Sabres to see if Thompson was available. He considers Thompson and Dahlin as the club’s foundation players, “the cream of the crop”, adding that they weren’t going anywhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams is under pressure to end the Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought. However, he’s not going to rush into things and make a panic deal. Besides, there are few sellers currently in the trade market, so there’s not much available that could help the Sabres at this time.

Thompson has a five-team no-trade list, giving Adams a lot of leeway in the trade market if he wanted to move the high-scoring forward. Nevertheless, the Sabres GM won’t move Thompson unless he wants out, or a rival club makes a substantial offer that would significantly improve his club.

THE LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently wondered if the Pittsburgh Penguins’ surprisingly solid start to this season has affected their trade plans for Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell.

As long as the Penguins are playing well, those veterans won’t be moved. It’s unlikely that general manager Kyle Dubas would spoil an opportunity for Sidney Crosby to participate in the postseason again.

Yohe also doesn’t see the Penguins being big buyers at the March 6 trade deadline if they’re in playoff contention by that point. Dubas doesn’t want to lose sight of his ultimate goal of turning the Penguins into a championship contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas stated earlier this season that the goal was to continue retooling the roster with younger talent, but also to remain competitive. If the Penguins are in playoff contention by March, Karlsson, Rust, and Rakell will be staying put.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported Senators GM Steve Staios continues working the phones in search of an impact player, but that’s easier said than done at this early stage of the season.

The Senators are also trying to trade the rights of winger Alex Formenton, who was among the five players on the 2018 World Junior Team that were found not guilty of sexual assault in July in London, Ontario.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2025

by | Oct 25, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2025

Check out the latest on the Flames and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE FLAMES SOON PEDDLE KADRI AND ANDERSSON?

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco looked at whether Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson would be trade casualties if the Calgary Flames fail to turn their season around.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Di Marco cited TSN’s Chris Johnston indicating Andersson was open to an eight-year contract extension with the Flames. However, management wanted to see how the season unfolded before committing.

The 28-year-old defenseman has been the subject of trade rumors since the summer. He was linked to the Vegas Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson sits atop Johnston’s list of early NHL trade candidates. He believes the blueliner is the Flames’ biggest trade chip.

The Golden Knights could squeeze the remainder of Andersson’s $4.55 million cap hit within their limited cap payroll by the March 6 trade deadline. However, they have limited trade capital, which could hurt their efforts to outbid rival clubs.

Kadri, meanwhile, is signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million. The 35-year-old center also had a 13-team no-trade list. Di Marco targeted the Montreal Canadiens as a landing spot, but two NHL executives he spoke with felt that the Vancouver Canucks were an ideal fit given their need for a reliable No. 2 center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming Montreal and Vancouver aren’t on his no-trade list.

THE LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted that the Penguins’ surprisingly strong start to this season puts them in a more powerful position when it comes to their trade chips. The Penguins are considered a confirmed seller, with forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson considered the players most likely to be moved.

Kingerski listed the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs as potential trade partners for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski’s column appeared before the Canucks acquired forward Luka Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Nevertheless, they could return to the trade market if Reichel fails to pan out.

The Hurricanes are believed to be interested in making a big addition this season. A few observers wondered if they might take a swing at acquiring Karlsson, but Kingerski suggested that Rust or Rakell might be more enticing to them.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have been auditioning Easton Cowan, Nick Robertson, and Max Domi as first-line wingers with little success. However, the Leafs lack sufficient trade capital in draft picks and prospects, and are unlikely to part with the promising Cowan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are in a much better position than the Leafs in terms of cap space and trade assets to make a big addition to their roster. Whether they’ll pursue Rust or Rakell remains to be seen.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they’ve been linked to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov. He’d be a more affordable option than Rust or Rakell, but his inconsistent play suggests he wouldn’t be much of an upgrade.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau noted Justin Brazeau’s strong start to this season. He has 5 goals and 8 points in his first eight games.

Proteau wondered if the Penguins view the 27-year-old forward as a long-term fit or if general manager Kyle Dubas might try to capitalize on his improving trade value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brazeau had 22 points in 76 games last season between the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins. He’s in the first year of a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million.

Dubas probably isn’t in any rush to shop Brazeau, but he could be open to offers if he continues playing well. Given his age, however, he could be a player that the Penguins GM prefers to retain.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

by | Oct 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

A hat trick performance by the Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko, Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer netted his first goal, the Ducks downed the Sharks in a wild, high-scoring contest, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko’s hat trick powered his club to a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 48 shots, and Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner each had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and collected an assist, and Zeev Buium tallied his first NHL goal and picked up an assist for the Wild.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jenner’s goal was the 200th of his NHL career, joining Rick Nash and Cam Atkinson as the only players in franchise history to reach that milestone.

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL goal, but his club dropped a 4-2 decision to the Washington Capitals. Aliaksei Protas scored two goals and added an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer was the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He collected his first NHL assist in his first game on Thursday.

An overtime goal by Leo Carlsson lifted the Anaheim Ducks over the San Jose Sharks 7-6. The Ducks erased a 6-4 deficit in the third period. Carlsson also had two assists, Mason McTavish had three assists, and Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier each scored twice for the Ducks. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith each picked up three assists, but Celebrini’s turnover led to Carlsson’s winning goal.

A shootout goal by Mikko Rantanen gave the Dallas Stars a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Jake Oettinger made 35 saves, and Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist for the Stars. Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Avalanche announced that defenseman Samuel Girard would miss this game and is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele tallied two goals as his club rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for the Jets. Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury left this game in the second period after blocking a shot by Kempe.

Three straight power-play goals by Aaron Ekblad, Anton Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich powered the Florida Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Ekblad, Lundell, and Brad Marchand each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, extending their season-opening win streak to three games. Senators center Shane Pinto scored twice for the second straight game.

The Boston Bruins extended their season-opening win streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Mark Kastelic had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Jason Zucker replied for the Sabres, who have only one goal in their first two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that sidelined center Josh Norris is expected to miss a significant amount of time with an upper-body injury. Norris is still undergoing evaluation, and it’s uncertain how long he’ll be out of action.

Detroit Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat each had three points as their club overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond scored twice, including his 100th career NHL goal. Morgan Rielly and Nicolas Roy each had two points for the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz exited this game in the first period with a suspected head injury. The Leafs appeared to have difficulty at times adjusting to the Red Wings‘ speed in this game.

The New York Rangers thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1, giving head coach Mike Sullivan his first victory against his former team. Adam Fox scored two goals and picked up an assist. Penguins rookie Ben Kindel tallied his first NHL goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Rangers announced center Vincent Trocheck is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy exited in the second period with an upper-body injury.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang left in the third period with an undisclosed injury and is undergoing evaluation. The Penguins activated forward Bryan Rust off injured reserve and sent forward Ville Koivunen to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown potted two goals, and Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Luke Hughes also had two assists for the Devils. Max Crozier picked up two assists for the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils announced that forward Evgenii Dadonov has been sidelined with a fractured hand. A timeline for his return has yet to be determined.

The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Bobby Brink had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who got a 35-save performance by Samuel Ersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brink appeared to have scored the winning goal in overtime, but it was overturned for goalie interference by teammate Travis Sanheim. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov saw limited ice time and was benched during overtime by head coach Rick Tocchet. “I just wanted the guys who I thought were skating,” Tocchet said.

It was a costly win for the Hurricanes as top defenseman Jaccob Slavin left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. His status for the remainder of their road trip remains unclear. Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced that goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is out for at least a week with a lower-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored with 15 seconds remaining in the third period to give his club a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Cole Caufield scored his first goal of the season, and Zach Bolduc tallied his third straight goal for the Canadiens. Sam Rinzel and Connor Bedard replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal captain Nick Suzuki collected three assists while Caufield and Bolduc finished with two points each. The Canadiens had 10 power-play opportunities but only scored on two of them.

Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp scored his first NHL goal, and Leon Draisaitl scored a shorthanded empty-netter in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Quinn Hughes collected an assist on a goal by Brock Boeser, becoming the Canucks’ all-time franchise points leader for defensemen with 410.

The Utah Mammoth got an overtime goal by Dylan Guenther to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Logan Cooley and Jack McBain also scored for the Mammoth. Filip Forsberg and Erik Haula replied for the Predators.

Third-period goals by Jake Neighbours and Pius Suter enabled the St. Louis Blues to double up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Neighbours finished with two goals, and Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist. Matt Coronato scored both goals for the Flames.

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann scored with four seconds remaining in overtime to upset the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken. Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his league-leading fifth goal of the season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 3, 2025

by | Oct 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 3, 2025

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes joins his teammates after signing his new contract, the Ducks re-sign Jackson LaCombe, the Panthers re-up Niko Mikkola, the Flames re-sign coach Ryan Huska, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Luke Hughes joined his Devils teammates in practice after signing a seven-year deal. The 22-year-old defenseman missed most of training camp and preseason as a result of those contract talks.

Hughes said he appreciated the advice of his older brother Quinn Hughes (captain of the Vancouver Canucks) during his negotiations with the Devils.

“He said just stay patient, even keel, and get what you want,” Luke said. “As a family, we decided the deal, and we’re really happy with the outcome and really excited to be here for the next seven years.”

Like his brother and teammate Jack, Luke said that he’d like to play with Quinn one day, but added that his older brother loves living and playing in Vancouver. He also stated that his offseason shoulder surgery was successful and that he’s prepared for the upcoming season. “My body feels great, my shoulders are strong, and I’m ready to go.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes’ new contract ties him with veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton with the highest average annual value ($9 million) among his teammates. He will be under pressure to meet the expectations that come with his expensive new contract. Hughes could feel the effects of missing training camp and preseason play heading into the regular season. How long it takes him to adjust could be a factor for the Devils.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Jackson LaCombe to an eight-year, $72 million contract extension. The AAV is $9 million commencing in 2026-27, and is the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (NHL Images)

LaCombe, 24, is in the second season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $925K. He had a breakout performance with the Ducks last season, tallying 11 goals and 43 points in 75 games.

The AAV is the same as what Jack Hughes recently received from the Devils. However, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said it was coincidental, claiming Hughes’ contract had no bearing on LaCombe’s contract talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The significant pay raise received by LaCombe shows how much confidence the Ducks’ front office has in his development and the role he’ll play on their blueline as they emerge from their rebuilding process.

Unlike Mason McTavish, LaCombe got this contract without a long negotiation period. That’s because he had arbitration rights next summer.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers and defenseman Niko Mikkola agreed to an eight-year, $40 million contract extension. Mikkola, 29, was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The AAV on his new deal is $5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have locked up another core player to a long-term contract that might not age well in its final seasons. However, they’re willing to deal with that down the road if Mikkola can help them win more Stanley Cups.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed head coach Ryan Huska to a two-year contract extension. He has proven to be popular with his players, implementing a relentless forechecking style that maximizes the potential of a roster currently short on offensive talent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have performed well under Huska’s coaching, narrowly missing the playoffs last season.

The Flames also placed goaltender Ivan Prosvetov on waivers, meaning Devin Cooley will be the backup for starting netminder Dustin Wolf.

TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed goalie Pheonix Copley off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is an insurance move by the Lightning. Starter Andrei Vasilevskiy missed most of training camp with an undisclosed injury, and it’s uncertain if he’ll play in their final preseason game on Saturday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins winger Bryan Rust will be sidelined for the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany (lower body) will be out for six weeks.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Artemi Panarin participated in the club’s morning skate on Thursday but was not in the lineup for their 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He remains day-to-day for precautionary reasons with a lower-body injury.

Meanwhile, Islanders prospect Cal Ritchie suffered a lower-body injury in his club’s 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 20-year-old center is day-to-day.

RG.ORG: Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin was surprised by the value of his new three-year, $2.9 million contract extension. “I thought the number would be lower,” Podkolzin said, praising his agents for securing the deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: 22 players were placed on waivers Thursday. They included Utah Mammoth defenseman Scott Perunovich, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Danton Heinen, and Vancouver Canucks forward Vitali Kravtsov.

THE PROVINCE: A woman has filed a lawsuit against former NHL defenseman Willie Mitchell, claiming he sexually assaulted her at his Tofino, BC, home in 2022.