NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 16, 2025

by | Nov 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 16, 2025

Multi-point games by the Stars’ Jason Robertson and Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl highlight a busy Saturday in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A natural hat trick by Jason Robertson powered the Dallas Stars to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Roope Hintz collected three assists as the Stars (12-4-3) won their fifth straight game. Christian Dvorak scored for the 9-6-3 Flyers.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Thomas Harley missed this game as he’s out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored twice and collected an assist, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists (including the winning goal in overtime) to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Stuart Skinner made 33 saves as the Oilers improved to 9-7-4. Eric Robinson, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Jordan Staal scored for the 12-5-1 Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis returned to action after being clipped in the eye by a stick in Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi remains sidelined with an ankle injury suffered in the same game. Oilers winger Zach Hyman collected an assist in his season debut after recovering from a dislocated wrist.

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 4-1 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 5-4, snapping a five-game losing skid. Tage Thompson and Josh Doan had a goal and an assist for the 6-8-4 Sabres. Alex DeBrincat tallied twice and Lucas Raymond picked up three assists for the Red Wings (10-7-1), who’ve dropped four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had two assists as he rejoined his teammates after returning from a leave of absence to spend time with his fiancee, who is recovering from a heart transplant during the summer. Sabres blueliner Michael Kesselring left this game at the end of the second period with a lower-body injury.

Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 28 shots for his second straight shutout in a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who improved to 8-7-4. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves for the Ducks (11-6-1), who’ve lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko missed this game with a lower-body injury.

The Los Angeles Kings blanked the Ottawa Senators 1-0, picking up their fourth straight victory. Anton Forsberg made 17 saves for the shutout, and Alex Laferriere tallied the only goal as the 10-5-4 Kings picked up their fourth straight win and vaulted over the Ducks into first place in the Pacific Division with 24 points. Linus Ullmark turned aside 17 shots for the 9-6-4 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had two assists, and goalie Jeremy Swayman made 26 saves to hold off the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. Viktor Arvidsson scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as the Bruins (12-8-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 24 points. Cole Caufield netted his 13th goal of the season as the 10-6-2 Canadiens dropped their third straight game, slipping into second place behind the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston went seven-for-seven on the penalty kill, including two 5-on-3 situations. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy left the game in the second period after being struck in the jaw by a shot from Montreal defenseman Noah Dobson.

Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Jack Finlay’s first NHL goal was the game-winner in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 shots for the Lightning (9-6-2), who’ve won eight of their last 10 games. Brad Marchand scored to extend his points streak to 10 games for the 9-8-1 Panthers.

A shootout goal by Simon Nemec lifted the New Jersey Devils over the Washington Capitals 3-2. Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist for the 13-4-1 Devils, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 27 points. Alex Ovechkin and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist as the Capitals (8-8-2) overcame a 2-0 deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Devils announced that center Jack Hughes will miss the next eight weeks following successful finger surgery. Hughes slipped and fell and cut himself on some glass during a recent team dinner. The Devils also announced that forward Cody Glass is week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 24 shots, and J.T. Miller scored in a shootout to squeak past the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Mika Zibanejad scored in regulation for the Rangers, who have won four of their last five and improved to 10-7-2. Jet Greaves made 31 saves and Kirill Marchenko collected an assist to extend his points streak to 11 games for the Blue Jackets (9-7-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Will Borgen missed this game with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Blue Jackets placed sidelined captain Boone Jenner (upper body) on injured reserve.

Third-period goals by Teuvo Teravainen and Colton Dach lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Spencer Knight kicked out 31 shots for the Blackhawks (9-5-4), who’ve won four of their last five contests. Joseph Woll made 29 saves in his season debut with the Maple Leafs, who slipped to 8-9-2 and are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno left this game in the second period after injuring his hand blocking a shot. He’s expected to be sidelined for four weeks. Earlier in the day, the Maple Leafs claimed defenseman Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers and placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) on injured reserve. Meanwhile, center David Kampf signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, one day after his contract with the Maple Leafs was terminated.

The Vegas Golden Knights downed the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Rookie Braeden Bowman’s first NHL goal was the game-winner while Pavel Dorofeyev and Reilly Smith each collected two assists for the 8-4-5 Golden Knights, snapping a four-game winless skid. Philip Broberg replied for the Blues, who’ve dropped three of their last four games and slipped to 6-9-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have assigned goaltender Carter Hart to their AHL affiliate in Henderson, Nevada, for a conditioning stint.

A shootout goal by Gabriel Vilardi gave the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 31 shots while Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey each collected two assists for the 11-7-0 Jets. Matt Coronato had a goal and an assist for the 5-12-3 Flames.

Seattle Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 19 shots in relief of an injured Matt Murray to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1. Jaden Schwartz tallied two goals and Chandler Stephenson had three assists for the 9-4-5 Kraken. Alexander Wennberg replied for the 8-8-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murray left the game toward the end of the first period with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Kraken placed winger Kaapo Kakko (lower body) on injured reserve and activated forward Frederick Gaudreau.










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 – November 6, 2025

by | Nov 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 6, 2025

Check out the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON STEVEN STAMKOS

DAILY FACEOFF: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman appeared on the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast on Wednesday, where one of the topics discussed was Steven Stamkos’s slow start with the Nashville Predators, and the possibility that the two sides might consider a trade.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Friedman was asked if the Predators might be willing to retain part of Stamkos’ $8 million average annual value through 2027-28 to facilitate a trade. He believes if they can get an offer that makes sense, it will be considered.

Stamkos’ scoring has declined since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning to head to Nashville in July 2024. Friedman believes that may be due in part to the Predators lacking a set-up man comparable to the one Stamkos had in Tampa Bay with Nikita Kucherov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has had a career worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, but his performance has declined noticeably since leaving the Lightning. The 35-year-old forward’s age is also a contributing factor.

A rival club could take a chance on Stamkos if they believe they have a suitable passer who can set him up in the offensive zone. However, the Predators could end up having to retain up to half of his remaining cap hit to make it happen. If such a trade were to occur, it would be during the offseason.

AN UPDATE ON ARTEMI PANARIN

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli weighed in on recent speculation over Artemi Panarin’s future with the New York Rangers.

The 34-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and there is no sign of progress in contract extension talks between the two sides. That’s prompted rumors suggesting he could be traded.

Seravalli pointed out that there is still a lot of time between now and the March 6 trade deadline. He believes Rangers management is still determining what kind of team they have before making any drastic decisions, such as trading Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Rangers are in playoff contention and Panarin remains their offensive sparkplug by March, they’ll hang onto him for the rest of the season and hope to reach some common ground contract-wise before July. If not, then they could be open to trading him if he seems intent on testing the market or unwilling to accept a shorter, less-expensive contract.

KINGS GETTING OFFERS FOR BRANDT CLARKE

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports there are teams interested in Brandt Clarke, but the Los Angeles Kings aren’t interested in moving the 22-year-old defenseman.

Clarke is a right-shot defenseman with top-four upside who has seven points in 14 games thus far in this season. He’s due to become a restricted free agent next summer. The fact that he hasn’t signed an extension yet has prompted some speculation about his future.

Murphy believes the Kings’ focus on re-signing UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe has delayed contract extensions for other players, such as Clarke. Once the Kempe issue is resolved, management’s focus will shift toward re-signing Clarke.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings would be foolish to part ways with Clarke. He’s coming out of his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights, so they hold all the leverage in contract discussions. Regardless, he’s a promising part of their defense corps. It wouldn’t make any sense to move him unless they’re getting someone better to take his place, and that doesn’t seem likely.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman doesn’t know if there’s anything going on trade-wise with Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. However, he believes other teams may be calling after the talented youngster was benched for four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei’s had his difficulties defensively this season, but it’s unlikely the Bruins will part with the 24-year-old unless someone makes an eye-popping trade pitch. He’s also in the first season of an affordable two-year contract. The Bruins will continue to work with him to improve his overall game.

The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues were the most active in the trade market last week. Friedman believes they wanted to ensure that they weren’t missing out on any trade possibilities.

Friedman pointed out that the Seattle Kraken are still having trouble offensively. They have five first-round picks and four second-rounders in the next three drafts to draw on for trade bait if they want to add an impactful player.

The Edmonton Oilers could send players to the minors and through waivers to make room for players returning from injuries. Friedman said they’re trying to get Troy Stecher “a new opportunity”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, they’re trying to find a trade partner for Stecher.

The Carolina Hurricanes are carrying three goaltenders as Brandon Bussi has played his way into the rotation. Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov aren’t waiver exempt. Friedman said they were looking for defensemen, but some of their injured blueliners are close to returning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have little choice right now but to hang onto all three goaltenders, given veteran Frederik Andersen’s injury history.

The Buffalo Sabres are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev. They’re hanging onto Colten Ellis. Friedman would be surprised if they traded Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, as he’s still their best goalie when healthy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devon Levi recently surfaced in the rumor mill, but Friedman pointed out that the 23-year-old netminder is getting the bulk of the starts with their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Friedman claims the word on Adin Hill is that the Vegas Golden Knights netminder will be sidelined for a few months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would also explain why the Golden Knights moved so quickly to sign Carter Hart.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 5, 2025

by | Nov 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 5, 2025

Check out the latest on the Penguins, Flames, Hurricanes, Capitals, Sabres, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RUMOR MILL GOES QUIET ON SIDNEY CROSBY

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the trade rumors about Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby have quieted down since the start of the regular season. Their surprisingly strong start to the season is largely responsible for that.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

General manager Kyle Dubas said he had “very clear communications” since the end of last season with Crosby and his agent about the club’s plans going forward. While attempting to build for the long term, the Penguins also intended to be competitive this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun wonders whether the Penguins can maintain that strong start throughout the season, but for now, it has stopped the media chatter about possible trade destinations for Crosby.

They’re not the only Penguins who aren’t featuring as prominently in the rumor mill as they once did. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos pointed out that it’ll take Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell out of the trade-rumor talk if the Penguins can sustain their winning ways.

THE LATEST ON NAZEM KADRI

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy could move Nazem Kadri if he gets a suitable offer. The 35-year-old center has been linked to multiple teams, but Kypreos suggested the Carolina Hurricanes as a possible destination because they’ve been relentlessly pursuing a top player in the trade market. However, they’re believed to be on Kadri’s 13-team no-trade list.

The Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens have been mentioned as destinations for Kadri, and they’re not on his list. They’ve also been linked to the Bruins’ Pavel Zacha.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams can ask for permission to speak to the player or his agent to see what it would take to convince them to waive their no-trade list.

The Canucks have a more pressing need for help at center than the Canadiens. It’s also been frequently pointed out that acquiring the aging Kadri would go against the Canadiens’ habit of acquiring younger talent.

Zacha would probably be more to the Canadiens’ liking. However, it’s rare for the Habs and Bruins to make deals together, given their longstanding rivalry.

BLEACHER REPORT: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Frank Seravalli reports they’re seeking stop-gap defensemen to replace their injured blueliners.

UPDATE ON THE CAPITALS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there is no quick fix for the Washington Capitals to replace sidelined center Pierre-Luc Dubois. He won’t be out for the season, but is expected to miss a significant period of time.

Dreger believes the Capitals will explore the trade market, but must be careful when moving out current or future assets, being mindful of when the post-Alex Ovechkin era begins.

For now, they’ll attempt to address Dubois’ absence internally. It’s expected that Connor McMichael will get a long look in the second-line center role.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals would be joining a long list of NHL clubs that are believed to be in the market for second-line center help. However, there isn’t much available, and they are either aging and expensive (hello there, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames) or playing on struggling clubs that aren’t giving up on the season, like Pavel Zacha with the Boston Bruins.

THE LATEST ON THE SABRES AND MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos believes this season could be Lindy Ruff’s last as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. He’s in the final season of his contract, and could move to a different role within the organization if he doesn’t retire.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would like to add a scoring winger. However, they don’t have many assets that would entice rival clubs. Many teams are calling about Easton Cowan, but that suggestion is a non-starter for now.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 2, 2025

by | Nov 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 2, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee, we recap a busy Saturday schedule, plus the three stars and the Rookie of the Month for October are revealed.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets got two goals from Kyle Connor to down the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had two points for the 9-3-0 Jets as they picked up their third straight win. Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte replied for the 8-3-2 Penguins as their points streak ended at eight games (6-0-2).

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheifele took over the scoring lead, becoming the first player to reach 20 points this season. Penguins winger Justin Brazeau missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

A shootout goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Marchand also scored in regulation, as did teammates Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett for the Panthers, who improved to 6-5-1. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, and Sam Steel had three assists for the 6-3-3 Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand returned to the Panthers’ lineup after taking a leave of absence to be with his friend and trainer, J.P. MacCallum, following the death of his daughter. Marchand immediately pointed skyward after he opened the scoring. Reinhart’s goal was the 300th regular-season goal of his NHL career.

San Jose Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Macklin Celebrini scored to extend his points streak to seven games while Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 37 shots for the 4-6-2 Sharks, who’ve won three of their last four contests. Nathan MacKinnon netted his 10th goal of the season for the 7-1-5 Avalanche, who picked up a point to sit atop the overall standings with 19 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren left this game with an upper-body injury after being struck by a puck while sitting on the bench. Avalanche call-up Taylor Makar made his debut, marking the first time he and older brother Cale Makar played together in the NHL. Taylor was returned to Colorado’s AHL affiliate after this game.

The Montreal Canadiens got an overtime goal from Alex Newhook for a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki extended his points streak to 11 games with two assists, and Cole Caufield scored his 10th goal of the season for the Canadiens (9-3-0), who sit first in the Atlantic Division with 18 points. Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who dropped to 6-5-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Batherson ended up being the goat in this game, as his errant pass in overtime was picked off by Newhook, who made no mistake on the breakaway.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom turned in a 43-save performance to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Dawson Mercer has two goals for the 9-3-0 Devils as they move into first place in the Metropolitan Division with 18 points. Andrei Kuzmenko had the only goal for the Kings as they dropped to 5-4-4 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils winger Connor Brown was ruled out for this game with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, the Kings placed winger Warren Foegele (upper body) on injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson had a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs got their first road victory of the season with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Rookie Easton Cowan tallied his first career NHL goal, and John Tavares had two assists as the Maple Leafs improved to 6-5-1. Christian Dvorak and Tyson Foerster replied for the 6-4-1 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was stretchered off the ice with a suspected head injury in the third period after being inadvertently hit from behind by Flyers winger Matvei Michkov. After the game, Leafs coach Craig Berube said they will know more about Tanev’s condition after he undergoes more tests, but added that the defenseman was moving. Berube thinks Tanev will be okay.

An overtime goal by Evan Bouchard lifted the Edmonton Oilers (6-4-3) over the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 3-2. Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and an assist, and Connor McDavid assisted on all three Oilers goals. Andre Burakovsky had a goal and an assist for the 5-4-3 Blackhawks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots to backstop his club over the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Casey Mittelstadt had a goal and an assist as the Bruins improved to 7-7-0. Alexander Nikishin scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last four games and dropped to 7-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis returned to action in this game after leaving Thursday’s 6-2 win over the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist as his club nipped the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Jet Greaves made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets as they improved to 7-4-0. Justin Faulk and Nick Bjugstad scored for the Blues, who dropped to 3-7-2.

A shootout goal by Bowen Byram gave the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each netted their fifth goals of the season, and rookie Isak Rosen scored his first NHL goal for the 5-4-3 Sabres. Aliaksei Protas potted his fifth of the season for the Capitals (6-5-1), who are winless in their last four (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

New York Rangers winger Will Cuylle scored in overtime to give his team a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Cuylle finished with two points, and teammate Adam Fox collected two assists for the 6-5-2 Rangers as they picked up their third straight win. Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist as the 5-2-4 Kraken extended their points streak to four games (2-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko was held scoreless against his former team in his season debut after suffering a broken hand in a preseason game.

Minnesota Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists as his club snapped a five-game winless skid to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots for the 4-6-3 Wild. Drew O’Connor tallied twice as the Canucks slipped to 6-7-0.

The Nashville Predators ended a three-game losing skid by doubling up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Michael Bunting had a goal and two assists in the first period for the 5-6-2 Predators. Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee scored for the Flames, who sit last in the overall standings with a record of 2-9-2.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes are the three stars for October 2025. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named Rookie of the Month.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2025

by | Nov 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos and Sabres goaltender Devon Levi, and updates on the Wild and Blues.

COULD THE PREDATORS TRADE STEVEN STAMKOS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested trade speculation could arise about Steven Stamkos if the Nashville Predators don’t improve. They’ve started the season 4-6-2, and the 35-year-old forward has just two points in those 12 games.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Proteau noted that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently said he could see a scenario where both sides meet to consider their options. Stamkos is in the second season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.

If Stamkos is willing to accept a trade, Proteau believes it’ll be to a veteran-laden Stanley Cup contender. He suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs as possible trade destinations.

THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman referenced a report by CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, where the latter claimed the Canucks had poked around on Stamkos.

Chapman observed that Stamkos is a shell of his former self. Given the Canucks injury status, however, it makes sense to kick tires on everyone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ production has declined noticeably since his final season with the Tampa Bay Lightning two years ago. He’s getting plenty of playing time among the Predators’ top lines, but his scoring touch is no longer there.

A move to a better club might help Stamkos regain his form, but his contract makes him an expensive gamble. Interested teams could insist that the Predators retain up to half of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

As for the proposed destinations, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky is expected to make a big swing for a superstar this season. However, he has pursued superstars in their late-20s who are in the prime of their careers, such as Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner. Tulsky is unlikely to go after a declining star in his mid-thirties with an expensive contract.

Stamkos might welcome a trade to the Kings or the Maple Leafs, but they don’t look like Stanley Cup contenders. They lack salary-cap space, which is also an issue for the Canucks.

THE WILD ARE SHOPPING FOR HELP

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports a team source claiming that Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is in the market to bolster his club’s middle-six forward group.

Injuries to Mats Zuccarello and Nico Sturm have hurt the Wild’s depth among those forwards. Guerin’s priority is to add offensive depth to their middle six regardless of the position.

Di Marco suggested Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and Boston Bruins centers Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt as possible trade targets.

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Michael Russo also weighed in on the Wild’s early-season struggles. They don’t see an impact trade available that could provide immediate help.

Smith and Russo pointed out that it’s difficult to make in-season trades, especially with the salary cap rising and most teams wanting to improve, not sell. They also don’t see acquiring fourth-line players, such as Toronto’s Nick Robertson, as providing a jolt to their lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The problem is that the few players mentioned as trade candidates aren’t being moved yet, if at all. The Flames and Bruins haven’t given up yet on their seasons.

By the time the trade market improves, it could be too late to help the Wild. Smith and Russo believe it’s up to the current Wild players to get themselves out of the hole they’ve dug.

IS SABRES GOALIE DEVON LEVI AVAILABLE?

SABRES NOISE: Tim Daniels linked to a report from the Sabres podcast “After The Whistle” (hosted by former Sabres Craig Rivet and Andrew Peters) claiming that goaltender Devon Levi requested a trade.

“Rumor has it that Devon Levi asked to be moved prior to returning to Rochester,” Rivet and Peters reported.

RATINGS: James Murphy reported that requests from the Sabres and Levi’s agent to confirm the report were not returned. Nevertheless, he cited a source claiming the 23-year-old goalie’s name was out there in the trade market after he failed to crack the Sabres lineup following training camp.

Murphy’s source mentioned the Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes as clubs seeking goalie depth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are overloaded at the goalie position right now. Levi was once seen as their future starter, but his inability to secure a place among their goalie tandem is one reason why they loaded up with more experienced options.

Levi won’t fetch much of a return if the Sabres peddle him. He could bring in at most a third-round pick.

LATEST ON THE BLUES

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently pondered what St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong would do to help his struggling team. They have a 3-6-2 record after 11 games, and as of Oct. 31, they were winless in their last six contests (0-4-2).

Whatever Armstrong has in mind, it’s unlikely to involve the roster core. That includes Jordan Kyrou, Richard Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, and Colton Parayko. He observed they’re all under long-term contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would mean peddling depth players on short-term deals, but such moves likely won’t do much to change their fortunes.