NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

by | Jan 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

Recapping Sunday’s action, the Sharks re-sign Alexander Wennberg, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi netted a hat trick, including the winner in overtime, to lift his club to a 3-2 upset of the Vegas Golden Knights. Andre Burakovsky collected two assists as the Blackhawks are 3-0-1 in their last four games, improving their record to 17-18-7. Brandon Saad and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights (17-11-12), who are winless in five games (0-3-2), but hold first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi (NHL Images).

The Florida Panthers nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Daniil Tarasov stopped 27 shots while Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad scored for the 22-16-3 Panthers. Scott Wedgewood made 23 saves, and Artturi Lehkonen replied for the Avalanche (31-3-7), who lead the league with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury after crashing into the Panthers’ net. After the game, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog is going to miss some time. The Avs played without defenseman Devon Toews, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Lane Hutson gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky each finished with a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (23-13-6), who completed their seven-game road trip with a record of 4-1-2. Wyatt Johnston tallied twice for the 25-9-8 Stars, who are winless in their last five contests (0-2-3).

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime. Sidney Crosby tallied the winning goal, finishing the game with two points as his Penguins (20-12-9) extended their win streak to five games. Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko each scored a goal and an assist for the 18-16-7 Blue Jackets.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for the 25-14-3 Hurricanes as they ended a three-game losing skid. Dawson Mercer replied for the Devils (22-18-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes was dejected after being booed by Devils fans for a pair of costly mistakes that ended up in his own net. However, his teammates (especially goaltender Jake Allen) defended the young blueliner following the game.

HEADLINES

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed forward Alexander Wennberg to a three-year, $18 million contract extension. The average annual value is $6 million, and comes with a full no-trade clause through the first two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move indicates a shift for the Sharks. They’ve been rebuilding over the past several seasons, which would’ve meant trading a veteran on an expiring contract (such as Wennberg) to a playoff contender for draft picks and prospects. Instead, they’ve opted to re-sign the 31-year-old center, who has played a key role as the Sharks challenge for a postseason berth in the Western Conference, sitting fifth among their scorers with 26 points.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev could miss the remainder of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. He’s slated to meet with a surgeon soon, and could be sidelined until late April or early May.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries limited the 36-year-old Tanev to just 11 games this season. His recent return to action was among the reasons behind the Maple Leafs’ improvement in late December.

CBC.CA: The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Calgary Flames forward John Beecher and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley one game each for separate roughing incidents on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incidents referred to were Beecher’s sucker punch of Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron and Stanley doing the same to Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has been hired by Hockey Canada to lead a review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 24, 2025

by | Oct 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 24, 2025

Macklin Celebrini leads the Sharks to their first win, Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller lead the Mammoth to victory, the Lightning’s early-season woes continue, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Macklin Celebrini tallied a hat trick and added two assists as his San Jose Sharks got their first win of the season (1-4-2) by nipping the New York Rangers 6-5. Will Smith scored in overtime and in regulation to finish the night with four points, and William Eklund had three assists. Tayler Raddysh had a hat trick for the Rangers, who dropped to 3-4-2 and remain winless at home (0-4-1).

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers also lost center Matt Rempe to an upper-body injury following a first-period fight with Sharks forward Ryan Reaves.

Sharks defenseman Nick Leddy left this contest in the first period with an upper-body injury. Teammate Timothy Liljegren returned to action after being sidelined on Oct. 14 with a lower-body injury.

A natural hat trick by Logan Cooley powered the Utah Mammoth to a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Cooley finished with four points, and teammates Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, and JJ Peterka each had three points for the 6-2-0 Mammoth. Jordan Binnington replaced Joel Hofer after the Blues’ backup allowed three goals on six shots. The loss drops the Blues to 3-3-1.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Ryan Donato tallied twice, including the winning goal, as his club upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Nikita Kucherov and Ryan McDonagh each had two points for the Lightning, who are off to the worst start in franchise history (1-4-2). The Blackhawks improved to 4-2-2.

Anaheim Ducks center Mikael Granlund netted a career-high five points (two goals, three assists) as his club rolled to a 7-5 win over the Boston Bruins. Nikita Nesterenko picked up four assists as the Ducks improved to 4-2-1. Morgan Geekie scored two goals for the struggling Bruins, who have dropped six in a row (3-6-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period.

The Edmonton Oilers blew a 3-1 lead but overcame a 5-3 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 on a late goal by Vasily Podkolzin. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored power-play goals to set the stage for Podkolzin’s game-winner, and Connor McDavid collected three assists for the 4-3-1 Oilers. Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook each scored twice for the 6-3-0 Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were furious over those two penalty calls that led to the Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins’ goals. Pundits in both cities considered those calls questionable. Still, the Habs were guilty of sloppy defensive play and some shaky goaltending from Sam Montembeault.

Speaking of the Canadiens, center Kirby Dach returned to action after missing three games with a lower-body injury. Earlier in the day, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said sidelined winger Patrik Laine’s lower-body injury isn’t related to the sprained knee he suffered last season.

Meanwhile, the Oilers announced that winger Kasperi Kapanen (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored twice and collected an assist to lead his team to a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell each had two points as the Penguins collected their fourth straight victory and improved to 6-2-0. Brad Marchand tallied two goals for the 4-5-0 Panthers, who have dropped five of their last six contests

The New York Islanders got two goals from Emil Heineman as they thumped the Detroit Red Wings 7-2. Anders Lee had three assists, and David Rittich stopped 31 shots as the Islanders improved to 4-3-0. Dylan Larkin and Jonatan Berggren replied for the Red Wings, who slipped to 5-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer’s six-game season-opening points streak ended, but he played a team-leading 25:14 of ice time and finished with a plus-minus of plus-2. Earlier in the day, the Isles announced they’ve placed defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body) on injured reserve.

A shootout goal by Seth Jarvis lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Jarvis also had a goal and an assist in regulation for the Hurricanes, who improved their record to 6-1-0. Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin tallied twice, and Trent Miner made 20 saves after Scott Wedgewood was pulled after giving up four goals on 11 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs honored their heritage in this game with the Hurricanes wearing Hartford Whalers jerseys and the Avalanche sporting Quebec Nordiques jerseys. Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day with a lower-body injury.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord kicked out 32 shots for a 3-0 shutout of the Winnipeg Jets. Jaden Schwartz scored two goals, and Jordan Eberle also tallied for the Kraken, who improved to 4-2-2. Connor Hellebucyk stopped 25 of 26 shots for the Jets (5-2-0) as their five-game win streak ended.

An overtime goal by Adrian Kempe gave the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars, handing the latter their fourth straight loss (3-3-1). Kempe finished with two points, and Quinton Byfield picked up two assists for the 3-3-1 Kings. Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz each had two points for the Stars.

The Ottawa Senators got a 22-save performance from Linus Ullmark to nip the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Michael Amadio and Olle Lycksell scored for the 3-4-1 Senators, and Tyson Foerster replied for the Flyers (3-3-1).

Nashville Predators winger Cole Smith snapped a 1-1 tie to give his team a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Juuse Saros turned aside 21 shots, and Ryan O’Reilly also scored for the Predators (3-3-2) as they snapped a four-game losing skid. Max Sasson replied for the 4-4-0 Canucks.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SPORTSNET/DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Chris Tanev (upper body) on injured reserve. Goaltender Joseph Woll (undisclosed)was placed on long-term injury reserve. This comes a month after Woll took a leave of absence to deal with a personal matter.

TSN: Former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is joining the NHL hockey operations department. He left the Maple Leafs this summer after 11 years when the club opted not to renew his contract.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights placed captain Mark Stone on long-term injury reserve.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres recalled goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from his conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals have accommodated Sheldon Rempal’s request for contract termination as he explores other opportunities overseas.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

by | Jul 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

Five members of Canada’s WJC team found not guilty in sexual assault trial, the Florida Panthers could be on the verge of a dynasty, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London, Ontario courtroom on Thursday.

Former NHL players Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton were each acquitted of a sexual assault charge. McLeod was also found not guilty of a second charge of being a party to an offense.

In her ruling, Justice Maria Carroccia said she didn’t find the evidence of the complainant to be credible or reliable. She also stated that the Crown didn’t meet its burden to prove the five men’s guilt on any of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

SPORTSNET: The NHL released a statement indicating the five players remained ineligible to play in the league while it reviews the judge’s findings. The league stated that the allegations in the case were “very disturbing”, even if not deemed criminal. The league also described the players’ actions as “unacceptable.”

The NHL Players Association responded that the five players should “have the opportunity to return to work,” claiming the NHL’s decision doesn’t align with the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A court of law found the players not guilty, but the court of public opinion could impede their return to the NHL. The league is handling this issue very carefully. Even if the players are allowed to return, teams could be reluctant to sign them.

Critics of the NHLPA’s position must realize that they’re doing their job by looking out for their members’ employment rights as per the CBA.

Since the allegations of sexual assault were revealed in 2022, Hockey Canada came under intense criticism for its handling of the situation, including a civil settlement paid in part from players’ registration fees. It led to changes within the organization’s leadership, a series of reforms regarding player conduct, and a loss of sponsors, though some of the latter have since returned.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (NHL Images).

Some observers are concerned that the trial’s outcome could stall those changes to address sexual abuse, as well as hazing, racism, discrimination, and homophobia. It will be up to the current leadership of Hockey Canada to determine how far they will continue on their path of reforms.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45 million contract extension.

The listed average annual value is $5.65 million, but Elliotte Friedman reports the actual AAV is $5.1 million due to deferred money.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The son of former NHL forward Jason Blake, Jackson had a promising debut last season, finishing with 17 goals and 34 points in 80 games, and six points in 15 playoff contests. The 21-year-old is a speedy, hardworking, energetic forward whose play made an obvious positive impression on Hurricanes management.

Blake is the third member of the Hurricanes to have deferred salary in their contracts, joining Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis. This tactic remains allowable under the current CBA but will be banned when the new agreement takes effect next September. It’ll be interesting to see if other players end up with similar contracts before then.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg believes the Panthers could be on the verge of creating something once considered impossible: creating a Stanley Cup dynasty in the salary-cap era.

The last true Cup dynasty was the New York Islanders of the early 1980s. They were the last team to win three straight championships, going on to capture four straight Cups from 1980 to 1983.

Greenberg thinks the Panthers could pull it off, citing their ability to keep most of their roster core intact. The significant increases in the salary cap for 2025-26 and the following two seasons improve their chances of maintaining a championship roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Betting against the Panthers winning three in a row could be hazardous to your pocketbook. However, two factors could derail their dynasty dreams.

The first is the amount of hockey they’ve played. They’ve been to three straight Stanley Cup Finals since 2023, meaning they’ve had less recovery time than other teams. Many of their core players will also be participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics next February.

It’s impressive that they’ve been able to maintain their current pace, but it could catch up with them next spring.

Age is another factor. The Panthers enter 2025-26 with the fourth-oldest roster (29.49) in the league. Granted, that’s skewed with greybeards like the 37-year-old Brad Marchand and 36-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky in the lineup, but it’s still a reason for concern.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell recently examined the 10 worst moves the Buffalo Sabres have made during their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

Trading away Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in 2018, Sam Reinhart to Florida, and Jack Eichel to Vegas were among those moves. They went on to bigger and better things (including Stanley Cup championships) with their new clubs.

Their first-round draft record was another significant factor. Apart from Eichel, Reinhart, and Rasmus Dahlin, they’ve done poorly between 2011 and 2022, with most of their choices being middle-of-the-road players or fringe NHLers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the draft record that’s the most surprising. While the Sabres have had some good picks in the later rounds (Linus Ullmark, Brandon Hagel, JJ Peterka), they eventually traded them away.

TORONTO SUN: The Rosedale, Ontario home of former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is up for sale. If you have around $14 million, the property can be yours.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Damn, it’s just out of my price range.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2025

by | May 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2025

The Panthers take a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference Final, plus the latest on Roope Hintz, Reilly Smith, Brendan Shanahan and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS TAKE 3-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Florida captain Aleksander Barkov tallied twice as his club scored five goals in the third period. Niko Mikkola also scored two goals and Jesper Boqvist had a goal and two assists. Logan Stankoven had a goal and an assist for Carolina.

Panthers forward Sam Reinhart missed this game with a lower-body injury suffered in Game 2. He’s listed as day-to-day. Forward Eetu Luostarinen was ejected for boarding Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake.

Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov got the start for the Hurricanes. Teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 2.

The Panthers can finish this series with a win in Game 4 on Monday, May 26, at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina made this interesting in the first two periods, keeping the game close and tying it in the second period after Florida took an early lead. However, they couldn’t contain the Panthers’ offense in the third and were quickly beaten down on five goals in just over nine minutes within the first half of the period.

This loss extended the Hurricanes’ losing skid in the Eastern Conference Final to 15 games since 2019. They’re on the verge of getting swept again if they cannot find a way to neutralize the Panthers’ aggressive forecheck.

ROTOWIRE: Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz remains uncertain for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers. Hintz suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2 when he was slashed on the leg by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan won’t be joining the New York Islanders. Pierre LeBrun reports the Isles interviewed Shanahan and had a good conversation, but decided he’s not a fit for them at this time.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Reilly Smith hopes to remain with the Golden Knights. They reacquired him from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. The 34-year-old winger can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but he’s hoping the two sides can work something out.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports the Maple Leafs will explore ways to enhance fan support for their home games. Keith Pelley, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, was thrilled with the fan engagement during the playoffs, but believes it could be louder and is looking at ways to address this.

Hornby blames it on “a few things, led by the Leafs’ corporate season ticket base that opens their wallets but closes their mouths during play, especially in the lower bowl.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Part of the problem is that the Leafs charge the league’s highest ticket prices ($260 per ticket on average). Their fan cost index of $444 (includes tickets, parking and concessions) is the second-highest.

That’s well out of the range of most Leafs fans, who end up watching their playoff games on big-screen television in Maple Leaf Square outside Scotiabank Arena. That’s where all the noise can be found.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2025

by | May 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2025

The Panthers take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final, the Maple Leafs part ways with Brendan Shanahan, the Blackhawks officially hire Jeff Blashill as head coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS DOMINATE HURRICANES IN GAME 2 OF EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final by blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 17-save shutout while Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe each had three points. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen gave up four goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov to start the third period.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers have won six straight postseason games against Carolina, dating back to the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes have lost a record 14 games in the Eastern Conference Final since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

It was a costly win for the Panthers. Scoring winger Sam Reinhart left the game in the first period favoring his right leg after being tripped up by Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. Reinhart will be evaluated on Friday.

TSN: Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch, replaced by Mark Jankowski. Kotkaniemi has three assists in 11 games during this postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers controlled this contest from start to finish. They opened the scoring just 1:17 into the game, built it to 3-0 by the end of the first period, and squeezed the life out of the Hurricanes’ offense.

The Hurricanes made it easy for the Panthers. They were dominated so thoroughly that team captain Jordan Staal called it “an ass whooping”. It was an embarrassing effort on their part.

This series shifts to Florida for the next two games, with Game 3 on Saturday at 8 pm ET. The Hurricanes’ season will end soon if they don’t find a way to get back into this series.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced they would not re-sign team president Brendan Shanahan to a new contract. He’d been in the role since 2014-15.

Earlier this week, Shanahan was granted permission to speak to the New York Islanders, who seek a new team president after parting ways with Lou Lamoriello last month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is the end of an era for the Leafs. The next significant change could be on their roster when Mitch Marner can depart as a free agent on July 1. John Tavares is also a UFA this summer, but he could be re-signed to a shorter deal with a considerable pay cut from his current average annual value of $11 million.

Shanahan leaves behind a mixed legacy. During his tenure as Leafs president, the club rebuilt into a perennial playoff club, reaching the postseason in nine straight seasons since 2016-17. They selected William Nylander in the 2014 NHL Draft, Marner in 2015, and Auston Matthews in 2016, who would form their “Core Four” forwards with Tavares. Six of the nine seasons in Leafs history when they reached the 100-point plateau occurred under Shanahan.

However, the Leafs only managed two playoff series victories during Shanahan’s tenure. Signing free agent Tavares to a seven-year, $77-million contract in 2018 hampered their efforts to properly build around the “Core Four”, leaving them with a top-heavy team that had no difficulty reaching the playoffs but lacked the depth necessary to win in the postseason.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: As expected, the Blackhawks formally announced Jeff Blashill will take over as their new head coach.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins are getting closer to finding their new head coach. They are expected to conduct their final in-person interviews with the candidates next week, with a decision coming soon afterward.

They’ve interviewed 15 candidates, including notables like former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love, former Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson, and Marco Sturm, the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

The Bruins are not speaking with coaching candidates on clubs still active in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hopefully, this news mollifies those Bruins fans who’ve taken to the comments section on this site recently to complain about a perceived lack of urgency by their team in finding a new bench boss.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers assistant coach Michael Peca will not return with the club. A source indicated Peca met with new head coach Mike Sullivan, and the two sides decided it was best he moved on. He’s reportedly going to join Jeff Blashill’s staff in Chicago.

TORONTO SUN: Denmark upset Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinal of the 2025 World Championship. Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Nick Olesen scored in the final 2:17 to send the star-studded Canadian squad packing. Denmark will face Switzerland in the semifinal, while the United States will meet Sweden.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A major upset by Denmark over a Canadian squad that may have taken their opponent too lightly. Nevertheless, this is good for international hockey. It shows that other countries continue to improve, which builds up the quality of the competition in these tournaments. This victory should also provide a big boost for Danish hockey, inspiring more of their citizens to take up the sport.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 22, 2025

by | May 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 22, 2025

The Stars rally to defeat the Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the Islanders get permission to speak with Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, the Blackhawks are poised to hire a former Red Wings coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE STARS TAKE GAME 1 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars scored five unanswered third-period goals to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in Game 1 of the 2025 NHL Western Conference Final.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (NHL Images).

Miro Heiskanen, Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene tallied three straight power-play goals to get the rally going. Tyler Seguin finished the night with two goals and an assist, while Heiskanen and Granlund each had a goal and an assist.

Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers. Draisaitl finished with a goal and two assists, Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, and Connor McDavid finished with two helpers.

Game 2 is Friday, May 23, in Dallas at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were in control of this game heading into the third period, but poor penalty killing was their undoing as the Stars took advantage of their undisciplined play.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reported the New York Islanders were granted permission to speak with Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan about their top hockey job. Shanahan’s contract with the Leafs expires at the end of June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed the Leafs won’t renew Shanahan’s contract. Giving the Isles permission to speak with him lends credence to that speculation.

Don’t expect a change of management for the Leafs. Johnston reported “a positive internal view” of Brad Treliving’s work as general manager over the past two seasons.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Seattle Kraken were permitted to speak with Leafs associate coach Lane Lambert. Before joining the Leafs, Lambert was the Islanders’ head coach from 2022 to 2024.

SI.COM: Former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill will reportedly become the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Blashill was the Wings’ bench boss from 2015-16 to 2021-22. He went on to become an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blashill might have better luck with the Blackhawks than he did with the rebuilding Red Wings, especially after working with well-respected Lightning coach Jon Cooper for the past three seasons.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff recently met with the agent for pending free-agent Nikolaj Ehlers. He intends to meet with the 28-year-old winger, hoping to make him “a unique Jet-for-life type player.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. Most pundits believe he intends to test the market. However, Cheveldayoff has a recent history of re-signing core players, inking Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele to extensions two years ago.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield remains questionable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. He’s been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since Game 4 of the Hurricanes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals.

DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis reports Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini are meshing well as linemates on Team Canada in the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Crosby has 11 points and Celebrini six through the round-robin of the tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could become a preview of a Crosby-Celebrini line at next year’s Winter Olympics.

RG.ORG: Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov admitted he was disappointed not to be a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, but the 20-year-old felt he should’ve played better. He praised Lane Hutson’s performance, saying he believed the young Montreal Canadiens defenseman would be a star since he first saw him play in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson is among the finalists and considered the favorite to win the Calder.

Michkov has a good head on his shoulders, taking responsibility for why he didn’t make the Calder shortlist. He’ll likely use that as motivation to improve his game, which will only benefit the Flyers moving forward.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Former Flyers interim head coach Brad Shaw is reportedly joining the New Jersey Devils’ coaching staff.

97.3 ESPN: Ian Laperriere reportedly won’t be back as head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley. It’s believed he could work in the organization in a different role.

NHL.COM: The 4 Nations Face-Off was named the Sports Event of the Year at the SBJ Sports Business Awards in New York. The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were named Sports Team of the Year.