NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 13, 2025

by | Sep 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 13, 2025

Marc-Andre Fleury to have a last hurrah with the Penguins, Kings winger Corey Perry injured, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Marc-Andre Fleury is returning to the Penguins on a professional tryout contract.

The 40-year-old goaltender will appear in a training camp practice on Sept. 26 and in a preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 27 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Retired NHL goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

That will be the extent of Fleury’s comeback with his original NHL team. He announced his retirement earlier this year. Fleury confirmed that he will be playing one period against the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A future Hall-of-Famer, Fleury was drafted by the Penguins first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, spending 13 of his 21 seasons in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups. This is a last hurrah as he completes his long career where it began.

MAYOR’S MANOR: Los Angeles Kings winger Corey Perry suffered a possible injury while skating with his teammates on Friday. It’s uncertain if he caught a rut or collided with another player. The 40-year-old Perry was taken off the ice in a wheelchair for further medical evaluation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perry signed with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent earlier this summer. An update on his status could come as early as Saturday.

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn reports that an injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the reason why the Buffalo Sabres signed free-agent goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract.

Luukkonen reported to the Sabres earlier this week, nursing an injury that was described as a “tweak”. The club is unsure of the severity of the injury and is uncertain how long the 26-year-old netminder will be sidelined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Luukkonen has been the Sabres’ starting goalie for the past two seasons. Losing him for a significant period could be an early setback to their hopes of snapping their league-record 14-year playoff drought.

CBS SPORTS: Calvin de Haan signed a one-year contract with the Swedish Hockey League’s Rogle BK on Friday.

The 34-year-old defenseman spent the past 13 seasons in the NHL, collecting 149 regular-season points in 679 games with the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Rangers.

DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Rangers signed defenseman Andrej Sustr to a professional tryout offer.

Sustr, 34, spent the past three seasons in Europe. Before that, he spent eight seasons (2012-13 to 2021-22) with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 12, 2025

by | Sep 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 12, 2025

The league will reinstate five former Hockey Canada players on Dec. 1, the latest on the Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen and the Jets’ Adam Lowry, the Sabres sign Alexandar Georgiev, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The five former Hockey Canada players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges will be suspended until Dec. 1.

Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod are eligible to sign with NHL teams as early as Oct. 15.

Following their acquittals, the league conducted in-person interviews with each player, who each expressed regret and remorse over the incident. The Dec. 1 date would bring their total time away from the league to two years.

THE CANADIAN PRESS (via COAST REPORTER): Sports lawyer Greg Gilhooly, who is a survivor of sexual abuse by infamous hockey coach Graham James, said NHL clubs must weigh talent against potential backlash when deciding whether to sign those players.

“I think what’s going to happen here is that there are going to be different amounts of justice and retribution kneaded out depending upon how good a hockey player you are,” said Gilhooly. He believes Hart will be the first to be signed, and the team that signs him will take some abuse for it. Gilhooly thinks teams will shy away from the marginal players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report received a mixed reaction on social media. Some considered the suspension a public relations move, while others believed the players should have been reinstated following their acquittals, and still others criticized hockey culture.

This situation puts the NHL in a difficult spot. Gilhooly thinks they’re doing their best to be seen as doing the right thing and sending the right message.

CBS SPORTS: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen skated Thursday in a non-contact jersey. He underwent surgery in March to repair a torn right triceps. His recovery timeline was six months, which could put him back in the lineup for the start of the season, though the Flyers won’t rush the process.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets captain Adam Lowry is hoping to return to action by the end of October or early November. The 32-year-old checking-line center underwent hip surgery on May 27, with a recovery timeline of five to six months.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract worth $825,000. Georgiev, 29, is a nine-year NHL veteran who split last season between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev is trying to get his NHL career back on track after leading the league in wins in 2022-23 (40) and 2023-24 (38) with the Avalanche. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the Sabres starter, meaning Georgiev will be jockeying with Alex Lyon for the backup job.

Speaking of the Sabres, they placed Adam Mair on administrative leave following his arrest for drunk driving last week. Mair is their director of player development.

SPORTSNET: Zayne Parekh was not on the Calgary Flames rookie-camp roster for precautionary reasons. The 19-year-old defenseman is still working through an injury suffered during the summer, but is expected to be a full participant in their main training camp that opens on Sept. 18.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights prospect Trevor Connelly is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered while playing for Team USA in the World Junior Summer Showcase in July. He will likely miss the Golden Knights’ training camp, which begins on Sept. 18.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers prospect center Jett Luchanko was held out of the club’s rookie camp for precautionary reasons stemming from a groin issue suffered in July. The 19-year-old is expected to be available for the start of the Flyers’ main camp next week.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Former Blues broadcaster John Kelly will be calling Los Angeles Kings games for FanDuel Sports Network this season. He will call 60 regular-season and two exhibition games, and the first round of the playoffs if the Kings qualify.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 31, 2025

by | Aug 31, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 31, 2025

Some suggested goalie targets for the Oilers, and a Sabres prospect could be a trade candidate. Details in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle was recently asked if he saw any legitimate goalie trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers this season.

Mirtle admitted the goalie market is thin this season. Many teams are opting for inexperienced options as backups, making it less likely they’ll move a starter. There aren’t a lot of teams carrying two veterans that would be considered potential No. 1 netminders.

The best option could be targeting teams that had hoped for a better season but ended up struggling out of the gate and shed talent aggressively, like the Boston Bruins did last season.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).

Mirtle suggested the Detroit Red Wings could move John Gibson or Cam Talbot if they struggle this season. Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth could become available, but Mirtle questions if they’d be improvements for the Oilers.

Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets could be shopped. However, their significant struggles make them questionable as improvements over the Oilers’ current tandem.

Mirtle believes it will take something unexpected for the Oilers to find a suitable goalie upgrade this season. It could take a good team falling out of the playoff chase early, or the Oilers getting desperate enough to part with prime assets to acquire a premium goalie from a club with a solid two-goalie tandem, like the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: None of those individual options is an upgrade over the Oilers’ current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. As for those two-goalie teams, they’re playoff contenders that are unlikely to risk breaking up their tandems.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Rachel Lenzi was recently asked what might be in store for Sabres prospect Isak Rosen this season. The 22-year-old right winger was their first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Rosen has been productive at the AHL level but not impactful in 15 games over the last two seasons. That’s because he wasn’t used properly during those short stints, where he saw checking-line duty. He might’ve benefited more from playing alongside playmakers.

Lenzi believes the Sabres have a decision to make with Rosen, who will have a difficult time cracking their roster this season. She thinks a trade to a team that needs a young forward who needs a change of scenery could benefit him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rosen isn’t the only first-rounder from the 2021 draft to surface in the rumor mill this summer. Boston Bruins winger Fabian Lysell (21st overall) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (eighth overall) also popped up in recent trade conjecture.

Two others were traded for each other earlier this summer. On July 1, the St. Louis Blues traded winger Zach Bolduc (17th overall) to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux (31st overall).










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2025

by | Aug 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2025

Check out the latest on Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: On Monday, the NHL announced that Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk will be on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL26 videogame.

Tkachuk is the second Panther to be on the cover of EA Sports’ hockey game. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck graced the cover of NHL97, following Florida’s surprise run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link to see the complete list of every EA Sports NHL cover star.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said he’s fully recovered from his knee injury and is looking forward to the coming season.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (NHL Images).

“I’m 100 percent back to normal after the surgery,” Heiskanen said. “I’ve been able to practice all summer as usual.”

The 26-year-old defenseman said his knee got some rest following last season, adding that his confidence has returned to where it used to be now that he can practice as he used to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the article suggests, that’s good news for the Stars and Finland’s 2026 Men’s Olympic hockey team. Heiskanen is currently participating in Finland’s Olympic orientation camp.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer signed his three-year entry-level contract on Monday. The 17-year-old defenseman was chosen first overall by the Isles in the 2025 NHL Draft.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: cited a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicating the bid by a group led by Mario Lemieux to repurchase the Pittsburgh Penguins is well below what the current ownership group wants.

Lemieux and his business partners sold the Penguins in 2021 to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for a reported $900 million. Friedman speculates their asking price would be around $1.8 billion.

TSN: Former NHL forward Jimmy Vesey signed a two-year contract with Geneve-Surette HC in Switzerland.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported last week that Vesey was considering offers from several teams in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. The 32-year-old forward spent last season split between the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. He has 101 goals and 194 points in 626 NHL regular-season games.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed 23-year-old forward Sam Colangelo to a two-year contract extension. It’s a two-way deal for the coming season and a one-way deal in 2026-27 with an average annual value of $850,000.

NEW YORK POST: Seattle Kraken forward John Hayden and team mascot Buoy were filming a promotional video while fishing in Alaska when a grizzly bear charged them and the film crew.

“I want to blame it on Buoy,” joked Hayden. “They (the bears) were pretty interested in his whole look. We got out of it OK, but it was a close call.”

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Speaking of the Kraken, they announced the hiring of Ryan Jankowski as their new assistant general manager. Jankowski has spent several years with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Utah Mammoth in various front-office roles, including four seasons as assistant GM with the Islanders.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: recently reported that the Sabres hope to stage an outdoor game at Highmark Stadium. One date they could consider is Jan. 1, 2028, which would be the 20th anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic, held at what was then Ralph Wilson Stadium between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

by | Aug 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

The Bruins could play without a captain this season, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk hopes to build on his career-best goal performance, the latest on the Flames contract talks with Connor Zary, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy doesn’t expect his club will have a team captain for 2025-26.

In an interview with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, McAvoy said he and winger David Pastrnak will be alternate captains for this season, adding that they’re fine with that arrangement.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (NHL Images).

New Bruins head coach Marco Sturm hinted back in June that the club could play this season without a captain. He wants to get to know the players as people before he and management decide which player should have the captaincy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A wise decision by Sturm. The Bruins are retooling the roster for this season. It’s best to identify the leaders in the room and on the ice before naming a captain.

THE PROVINCE: Jake DeBrusk had a career-high 28 goals in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks. However, he needs to be more consistent with his scoring, especially on home ice, where he scored only nine times last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk, 28, has been a streaky scorer through his eight NHL seasons. The Canucks are hoping to rebound from this disappointing performance last season. If they are to reach the playoffs, DeBrusk must find a way to beat the inconsistency that has dogged him throughout his career.

CALGARY SUN: Flames general manager Craig Conroy remains confident he’ll get a deal done this summer with restricted free agent forward Connor Zary.

Zary is coming off his entry-level contract. The Flames reportedly prefer signing him to a short-term contract, while the 23-year-old center seeks something longer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games, Zary was on track to exceed his 34-point rookie performance in 2023-24. However, a knee injury in January sidelined him for six weeks, and another in March ended his season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed goaltender Devon Levi to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $812,500. It’s reportedly a one-way deal for both seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi, 23, is expected to spend this season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester. They will continue to work on his game, hoping to develop him into a starting goalie.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Sabres, their home arena will continue to be called the KeyBank Center after the two sides agreed to a 10-year extension of the naming rights on Wednesday.

The deal begins next season and runs through 2035-36.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Mike Brophy received a kidney donation on Thursday. He was the senior writer at The Hockey News for 17 years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Brophy for a full recovery.

MLIVE.COM: Former NHL defenseman John Miszuk died this week at age 84.

Miszuk spent six seasons in the NHL, from 1963-64 to 1969-70, with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Minnesota North Stars, netting 46 points in 237 games. He also spent three seasons in the World Hockey Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Miszuk’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 31, 2025

by | Jul 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 31, 2025

Check out the latest on Wild center Marco Rossi and Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: cited a report by The Athletic indicating the contract negotiations between the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi remain at a stalemate.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

Joe Smith and Michael Russo claimed the two sides haven’t spoken since early June. With no sign of an offer sheet from a rival team, the impasse could drag on into the start of training camp in mid-September.

Rossi appeared in trade rumors before the 2025 NHL Draft, with the Vancouver Canucks reportedly offering the 15th overall pick in the draft for the 23-year-old center.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a trade. However, he’s also not pushing to move Rossi, who reportedly rejected a five-year, $25 million offer last season.

Smith and Russo report that the Rossi camp seeks between $6 million and $7 million on a long-term contract. They suggest that a short-term deal at $5 million annually might be the best solution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring a significant trade offer or an offer sheet from a rival club, this situation could drag on throughout the rest of the offseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello believes the Buffalo Sabres must find a top-six winger to replace JJ Peterka, who was traded last month to the Utah Mammoth.

Yegor Chinakhov could be an option. The 24-year-old forward recently requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, citing a series of misunderstandings with head coach Dean Evason.

Augello doubts the Sabres would offer up someone from their roster, and doesn’t think the Blue Jackets have much leverage to seek a player of comparable age. He suggested the Sabres offer up prospect Isak Rosen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Augello suggests Chinakhov’s presence could be a distraction for the Blue Jackets this season. They might have to wait until training camp and preseason to find a suitable trade partner. Whether the Sabres will be among them remains to be seen.