NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

by | Mar 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2026

Check out the recaps from a busy Saturday night of action in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league-leading Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Cale Makar scored two goals while Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon each collected two assists for the 39-10-9 Avalanche, who sit first in the overall standings with 89 points. Connor Bedard replied for the 22-28-9 Blackhawks.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

An overtime goal by Jason Robertson lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who extended their win streak to eight games. Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos tallied for the Predators 27-24-8 (62 points), who are three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby left this game with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederik Andersen made 27 saves for the Hurricanes (38-15-6), who picked up their fifth straight win and sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 82 points. Simon Edvinsson and Patrick Kane scored for the 34-20-5 Red Wings (74 points), who slipped into the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Buffalo Sabres got two goals from Josh Norris to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 36 shots for the 35-19-6 Sabres, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after giving up five goals on 14 shots for Tampa Bay’s first regulation loss since Dec. 18. The Lightning sit in first place in the Atlantic with 80 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward Zach Benson was activated off injured reserve after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied twice, and captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Jakub Dobes turned aside 27 shots for the 33-17-9 Canadiens, who moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 75 points. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin netted both goals as the Capitals (31-24-7, 69 points), who sit two points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Speaking of the Bruins, their points streak ended at eight games as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers. Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (27-21-11). Charlie McAvoy scored for the 33-21-5 Bruins.

The New York Rangers overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal, and Igor Shesterkin kicked out 31 shots for the 23-29-7 Rangers, who sit last in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Anthony Mantha and Ryan Shea scored for the Penguins (30-15-13), who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is reportedly upset over the lack of progress in his contract extension talks with general manager Kyle Dubas. It was reported that negotiations would be put on hold until the offseason, but Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports that Dubas intends to meet with Malkin this week.

New York Islanders winger Simon Holmstrom’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scott Mayfield and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each had a goal and an assist for the 34-21-5 Islanders, extending their win streak to four games to sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points. Zach Werenski had two assists for the 29-21-8 Blue Jackets (66 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

The Ottawa Senators defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Dylan Cozens scored twice and picked up an assist, and Drake Batherson netted two goals for the Senators (29-22-8), who are also five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Morgan Rielly and William Nylander scored for the 27-24-0 Maple Leafs, who have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Leafs management had any lingering doubts about becoming sellers before Friday’s trade deadline, this game likely quelled them.

A two-goal performance by Jordan Eberle powered the Seattle Kraken over the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Eberle also had an assist, while Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists for the 28-22-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 65 points. Liam Ohgren scored for the 18-34-7 Canucks, who sit last in the overall standings with 43 points.

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-4. Shakir Mukhamadullin snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period, and Michael Misa had a goal and an assist for the 28-25-4 Sharks (60 points), who sit five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each had three points for the Oilers (29-24-8), who sit third in the Pacific Division with 66 points.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg made 29 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames 2-0. Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings (24-21-14), who are three points behind the Kraken. Dustin Wolf stopped 35 shots for the 24-28-6 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Andrei Kuzmenko missed this game and is considered week-to-week following meniscus surgery.

The New Jersey Devils snapped a five-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who improved to 29-29-2. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the 21-29-9 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes returned to action for the first time since suffering a separated shoulder on Jan. 19. The Blues played without defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas, but they could be available for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – February 20, 2026

by | Feb 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 20, 2026

Check out the latest on the Sabres and Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: With the Buffalo Sabres holding the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, Matthew Fairburn examined some potential trade-deadline targets that could help them clinch their first postseason berth in 14 years.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).

Pursuing Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues would be a major move by the Sabres. The Blues are in seller mode, and it would take a major offer to land him. Fairburn suggests that it seems more like an offseason move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas carries a full no-movement clause. He might not want to waive it to join the Sabres.

Fairburn included Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, and Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs. All of them lack no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are reportedly trying to re-sign Jenner. They’re also trying to chase down a playoff berth and could be unwilling to sell if they’re still in the hunt by the March 6 trade deadline.

O’Reilly’s three-year tenure with the Sabres was an unhappy one. It’s doubtful he’ll want to return. Despite his lack of a no-trade clause, the Predators are treating him like he has one.

McMann seems a more realistic possibility if the Leafs become sellers. They reportedly seek a first-round pick for McMann, but will likely end up accepting a second-rounder by deadline day.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators will continue their search for the right fit on their blueline once the Olympic trade freeze is lifted at midnight on Feb. 22.

General manager Steve Staios is reportedly trying to find a right-shot defenseman and possibly a top-six forward. However, the trade market is thin, and prices for defensemen remain high.

Garrioch claimed the Senators expressed an interest in Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. The Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth have also been linked to Weegar.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Weegar is in the third season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. He also has a full no-trade clause, which limits the trade destinations he would find acceptable.

The Senators are also believed to be interested in Zach Whitecloud, who was acquired by the Flames from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Rasmus Andersson trade last month.

Other defensemen believed to be available include Brandon Carlo of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch noted the Senators’ lack of a first-round pick in this year’s draft to use as trade bait. They’re also not interested in moving top prospects Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. That could hamper their efforts to address their trade-deadline needs.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 14, 2026

by | Feb 14, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 14, 2026

A look at some proposed destinations for this season’s notable trade candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston and James Mirtle recently predicted where some of the top trade targets could go by the March 6 deadline.

Johnston suggested the Los Angeles Kings for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, while Mirtle suggested the Carolina Hurricanes.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both pundits agreed that it would take a significant haul to acquire Thomas. The Blues have reportedly set a high asking price for the 26-year-old center, and it could take until the off-season for a suitable deal to emerge. Thomas’ full no-trade clause complicates things.

The Montreal Canadiens were Johnston’s suggested destination for Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri. Mirtle suggested the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri is a better addition for the Wild, who are in “win-now” mode. The Canadiens have improved, but they’re not yet a Stanley Cup contender. The three years remaining on the 35-year-old Kadri’s contract don’t make him a good fit with this young team.

Johnston thinks the Carolina Hurricanes would be a good destination for New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Mirtle proposed the Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes’ last two major moves were for scoring forwards Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen. They could prefer going the same route this year. The Maple Leafs are sellers, not buyers, and it’s unlikely they can scratch together the type of return the Devils would want.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck could also be a fit for the Wild, while Mirtle proposed the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 32-year-old Trocheck carries a $5.625 million average annual value through 2028-29, making him a younger, more affordable option for the Wild or Canadiens than the 35-year-old Kadri with his $7 million AAV. However, he might not be keen to go to Montreal, and the Wild would be a better option if he wants to play for a contender.

Johnston believes the Ottawa Senators would be a good destination for Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. Mirtle countered with the St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild could seek a first-line center for Wallstedt. A swap for Robert Thomas could work, but the Blues would likely want a couple of other pieces in the deal. The Senators wouldn’t have what the Wild are seeking.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2026

by | Feb 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2026

The Olympic roster freeze is in effect, but that hasn’t stopped the trade speculation. Check out the latest on the Canucks, Senators, and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE CONOR GARLAND?

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance reported the Vancouver Canucks had been active in trade talks leading up to the implementation of the current Olympic roster roster (Feb. 4 – 22). However, the club didn’t feel any pressure to make a move before then.

The Canucks won’t execute a trade unless their price is met for one of their pending unrestricted free agents. They include Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, and David Kampf, or one of their veterans with term remaining on their contracts.

Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (NHL Images)

Of the latter group, Drance thinks Conor Garland and Brock Boeser should be considered the most likely who could be realistically traded by March 6. However, the Canucks aren’t proactively pursuing deals to move one of them.

THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman believes the biggest trade question facing the Canucks is whether they’ll move Garland at the deadline. The 29-year-old forward lacks no-trade protection on his current contract, but his new deal ($6 million annually with a full no-movement clause) begins on July 1.

Chapman indicated that teams like Garland’s style of play. However, they aren’t fond of the six-year term on his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garland seems more likely to be moved than Boeser, who is in the first year of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million with a full no-movement clause. However, that six-year deal could scare off contenders with limited cap space for next season.

SENATORS TO CONSIDER THEIR OPTIONS DURING THE OLYMPIC BREAK

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports league executives claim Senators general manager Steve Staios continues to seek a right-shot, top-four defenseman and a top-six winger.

Acquiring a right-shot defenseman and a scoring winger are difficult because of the asking prices and the number of teams seeking them. The list of sellers is short, with the Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames in the Western Conference, and only the New York Rangers thus far in the East.

Garrioch claimed the Senators have spoken with the Flames about defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. It’s believed they’d want a second-round pick and a top prospect in return. The Detroit Red Wings could also be pursuing Weegar.

The Senators are hoping to string some wins together coming out of the Olympic break to close the gap on the teams they’re chasing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. However, they could go from buyers to sellers if they fail to gain ground in the standings, meaning they’ll face decisions about pending UFAs such as Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Weegar, 32, is signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $6.25 million and a full no-trade clause. Assuming he’s willing to move, the Flames can afford to wait patiently for someone to meet their asking price, which could be higher than what Garrioch cited if enough teams get into the bidding. If they don’t find any suitable offers by March 6, they’ll wait until the offseason.

BLACHAWKS TRADE CANDIDATES

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers, Mark Lazerus, and Chris Johnston examined which Chicago Blackhawks players could be moved by the March 6 trade deadline.

Connor Murphy is considered their best trade chip. He’s eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1 with an affordable $4.4 million cap hit. While the Blackhawks don’t need to trade him, he has value as an experienced defenseman with a right-hand shot.

Like Murphy, Jason Dickinson is UFA-eligible with a cost-effective cap hit ($4.25 million). He can fill a third or fourth-line center role on a playoff team.

Winger Ilya Mikheyev, left-shot defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and team captain Nick Foligno could also become trade candidates. They’re also UFA-eligible players with affordable cap hits.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy would have the best value in the trade market, but he’s also made no secret of his desire to stay in Chicago. The Blackhawks could trade him and attempt to bring him back this summer as a free agent.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2026

by | Feb 6, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2026

Recapping the final games before the Olympic break, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is named to Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their fifth straight win by taming the Florida Panthers 6-1. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pontus Holmberg had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Kucherov picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games for the Lightning (37-14-5), who lead the Eastern Conference with 78 points. Mackie Samoskevich scored for the 29-25-3 Panthers, who have lost five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning-Panthers feud continued as multiple fights occurred in the third period, highlighted by a spirited tilt between Brandon Hagel of the Lightning and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers. Florida head coach Paul Maurice was ejected as the two teams combined for 114 minutes in penalties, with nine players receiving 10-minute misconducts.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Adin Hill made 32 saves, and Mark Stone had a goal and two assists for the 27-16-12 Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 68 points. Trevor Moore replied for the Kings (23-19-14), who are 1-3-1 in their last five games.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings captain Anze Kopitar picked up an assist on Moore’s goal, becoming the 39th player in league history to reach 1,300 career regular-season points. He needs eight more points to break Marcel Dionne’s franchise record of 1,307.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi made 16 saves to shut out the New York Rangers 2-0. Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes (36-15-6), who are 8-0-2 in their last 10, and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Jonathan Quick kicked out 41 of 42 shots for the 22-29-6 Rangers, who have lost seven of their last eight contests.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut in a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Rookie Ben Kindel also tallied two goals for the Penguins (29-15-12). Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres (32-19-6), who are 1-2-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins called up Hayes with forwards Blake Lizotte, Rickard Rakell, and Noel Acciari out of this game for various reasons.

Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois returned from a 47-game absence (abdominal surgery) with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators. Logan Thompson made 27 saves after missing four games with an upper-body injury as the Capitals (29-23-7) have won four of their last five contests. Jonathan Marchessault and Michael McCarron replied for the 26-24-7 Predators.

An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Nick Cousins also scored for the Senators, who have won five of their last six games to improve their record to 28-22-7. Jamie Drysdale tied the game late in the third period for the Flyers (25-20-11).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators’ backup goalie James Reimer filled in for starter Linus Ullmark, who was a late scratch due to illness.

Speaking of the Senators, top prospect Carter Yakemchuk remains focused on becoming a full-time member of their defense corps. He said that he was drafted to one day become a defense partner for Jake Sanderson. It’s expected that Yakemchuk could be called up from their AHL affiliate in Belleville following the Olympic break.

The New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Bo Horvat scored the winning goal and collected an assist while Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves for the 32-21-5 Islanders. Nico Hischier scored for the Devils (28-27-2), who have dropped five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL schedule is now on its’ Olympic break until Wednesday, Feb. 25.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis will replace Tampa Bay Lightning center Braydon Point on Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Point suffered a knee injury on Jan. 12 and hasn’t fully recovered in time for the Olympics. Jarvis played for Canada in last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Point is the second member of the Lightning forced to miss the Olympics due to an injury. Teammate Anthony Cirelli was also selected as a member of Team Canada, but he was replaced earlier this week with Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, who also played in the 4 Nations tournament.

THE SCORE: cited a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, claiming Artemi Panarin rejected a $56 million contract offer from the Seattle Kraken before agreeing to be traded to the Los Angeles Kings earlier this week, where he signed a two-year, $22 million deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited Friedman saying that Panarin’s agent was telling teams that his client was going to the Carolina Hurricanes, but that seemed to have been posturing to try and get other interested club to raise their offers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken have been seeking a scoring star for years, but offering up a 34-year-old winger a four-year deal worth $14 million annually is ridiculous. Panarin turns 35 in October, and his production has declined since his career-high of 120 points in 2023-24. That contract would’ve aged poorly for the Kraken.

SPORTSNET: Details are emerging regarding the incident that led to Penn State forward Gavin McKenna facing charges of aggravated and simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct.

A police affidavit stated McKenna was caught on video punching a man in the face twice, resulting in the victim requiring surgery for a fractured jaw that had to be wired shut.

The alleged assault occurred as McKenna and several of his teammates were coming from a pub after Penn State had hosted Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. He allegedly punched the victim after words were exchanged between the two men.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna, 18, is considered among the top prospects in this year’s NHL Draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

by | Feb 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

Recapping Monday’s action, Barry Trotz to step down as Predators’ general manager, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Steven Stamkos scored the tying and winning goals as the Nashville Predators erased a 5-1 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-5. Ryan O’Reilly also tallied twice, and Roman Josi collected four assists for the 26-23-6 Predators. Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and an assist while Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours each had three points for the Blues, who dropped to 20-27-9.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has 27 goals in 55 games, matching last season’s output in 82 games. He also moved into the top-20 among the all-time regular-season goal scorers with 609, sitting third among active scorers.

The Washington Capitals netted four unanswered goals in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Nick Dowd had a goal and an assist, and Clay Stevenson made 29 saves for the 28-22-7 Capitals, who picked up their third straight win. Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders (30-21-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had an assist to reach 1,670 career-regular-season points, putting him in fifth place among NHL players with the most points with one franchise. Gordie Howe is the leader with 1,809. Meanwhile, Capitals defenseman Matt Roy returned to action after missing three games with a lower-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz had a hat trick and collected an assist to lead his club over the Vancouver Canucks 6-2. John Marino had three assists for the Mammoth (29-23-4). Teddy Blueger had a goal and an assist as the Canucks have one win in their last six games (1-4-1), dropping to 18-32-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Filip Chytil left this game after the second period.

The Buffalo Sabres got 38 saves from Alex Lyon in a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Peyton Krebs had a goal and two assists for the Sabres (32-18-5), who’ve won six of their last seven contests. Sam Reinhart collected two assists for the 28-24-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Sam Bennett left this game with an upper-body injury. After the game, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk acknowledged his injury-ravaged club is in trouble as they try to remain in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. With 59 points, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are eight points out of a wildcard berth.

The Sabres didn’t emerge unscathed from this game, as forward Zach Benson departed in the third period with an upper-body injury.

Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux scored the winning goal to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Drake Batherson had two assists as the Senators (27-21-4) extended their win streak to four games. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves, and Egor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist for the 28-15-11 Penguins as their six-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins disputed Giroux’s goal, claiming it was goaltender interference as the Senators forward crashed into Silovs after the latter made the save, dislodging the puck and knocking the net off its moorings. Following a lengthy review, it was determined to be a goal, and Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was penalized for tripping Giroux.

The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Colorado Avalanche 2-0. John Gibson got the shutout with 21 saves while Marco Kasper and Lucas Raymond scored for the 33-18-6 Red Wings, who ended a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 36-9-9 Avalanche, who lead the league with 81 points, but have one win in their last four games.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Wild (33-14-10), who picked up their fourth straight win. Brendan Gallagher, Ivan Demidov, and Kirby Dach replied for the 31-17-8 Canadiens, who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.

An overtime goal by Thomas Harley lifted the Dallas Stars over the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 to extend their win streak to five games. Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, and Miro Heiskanen each had two points for the Stars (33-14-9). Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist for the 22-25-8 Jets.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev each had four points in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy each collected two points for the 22-25-9 Blackhawks as they ended a five-game winless skid (0-3-2). Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (27-23-4) as they’ve gone 0-2-1 in their last three games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the 26-21-9 Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist for the Flames (22-27-6) as they are 1-4-2 in their last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly missed this game with an upper-body injury and will also sit out their next game against the Edmonton Oilers.

HEADLINES

THE TENNESSEAN: Barry Trotz announced Monday that he will be stepping down as general manager of the Nashville Predators. He will remain in his position until a successor is chosen.

Trotz said he made this decision for family reasons and has no plans to return to coaching. He stated that he informed the Predators’ ownership that he was contemplating retirement when his contract expired at the end of next season.

Predators majority owner Bill Haslam said they were not pushing Trotz out of the job. “He came to us (in December) and said he wanted to retire after his contract,” Haslam said. “After some back and forth, we decided to go ahead and be transparent about it.” He also indicated that the decision was not a reflection of Trotz’s job performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has his priorities in order. Family should always come first.

Trotz is one of the greatest coaches in NHL history. He won the Jack Adams Award twice and coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. However, the Predators’ record since he took over as GM in 2023 has been uneven.

The Predators reached the playoffs in 2024 following a late-season surge but were eliminated in the opening round by the Vancouver Canucks. Trotz made a big splash in the 2024 free-agent market, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, but they failed to qualify for the postseason last year.

After stumbling through the opening two months of this season, they’ve moved to within three points of a wildcard berth in the Western Conference.

NHL.COM: Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny are the league’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 1, 2026.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard cleared waivers on Monday and will report to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

SPORTSNET: Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.