NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2026

by | Oct 6, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2026

Recapping Monday’s games, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will retire after this season, the three stars of the week are revealed, the NHLPA responds to league commissioner Gary Bettman’s comments about no-trade and no-movement clauses, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle scored two goals and added an assist to lead his club to a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Michael Amadio had a goal and an assist, and Drake Batherson scored on a breakaway for the 2-0-0 Senators. James Hagens replied for the Bruins (2-2-0) as they dropped their second straight game.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark left this game after the second period for precautionary reasons after suffering what appears to be an undisclosed minor injury. Ullmark will be reevaluated on Tuesday.

Before the game, the Senators announced that defenseman Jake Sanderson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger made 13 saves to shut out the San Jose Sharks 5-0. Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen scored their first goals of the season, and team captain Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist as the Stars picked up their first win of the season (1-2-0). Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini missed this game after suffering a lower-body injury during warmups and will be reevaluated on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks (2-1-0) are a very different team without Celebrini. They cannot afford to have their two-way superstar sidelined for long.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1, leaving the latter winless in their first four games (0-2-2). Ilya Mikheyev and Pontus Holmberg each had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Kucherov collected two assists for the 2-1-0 Lightning. Tyson Foerster replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov has 1,128 career regular-season points, leaving him 10 away from breaking Steven Stamkos’ franchise record of 1,137.

Third-period goals by Alex Iafallo, Adam Lowry, and Cole Perfetti powered the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Backup goaltender Clay Stevenson made 30 saves for the 2-0-1 Jets. Declan Carlile and Ben Kindel each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (2-1-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are off to a better-than-expected start without starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who remains suspended without pay by the club for not reporting to training camp last month. If they keep exceeding expectations, it’ll make it easier for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to remain patient in his search for a suitable trade offer for Hellebuyck.

HEADLINES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Long-time Washington Capitals superstar winger Alex Ovechkin announced that he intends to retire at the end of this season.

In a statement, the 41-year-old Capitals captain said he and his family decided this summer that this season would be his last in the NHL. “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929. He is 11 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most combined goals (regular season and playoffs) in league history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer in NHL history and the greatest player in Capitals history, taking that franchise to its greatest heights and turning it into one of the league’s most popular teams. However, critics believe his legacy has been tainted by his affiliation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, and Vancouver Canucks center Paul Cotter are the league’s three stars for the week ending Oct. 4.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports NHL Players’ Association assistant executive director Ron Hainsey blasted NHL commissioner Gary Bettman over his recent remarks regarding no-trade and no-movement clauses.

In a recent interview, Bettman said that some players were using no-trade and no-movement clauses to force trades to specific teams, suggesting that the league might discuss changes to those clauses with the PA if it became a trend.

Hainsey said the PA believes the no-trade, no-movement clauses are being used as originally intended. “It’s a player’s right to negotiate salary, salary structure, term, as well as a no-move or no-trade with their club if they’re able to do so and bargain in good faith,” Hainsey said. “It’s pretty simple if you’ve negotiated a no-trade. Whether it’s 10 teams or 15 or 32, the club isn’t able to trade you to those teams without your consent.”

“The beginning of this conversation about no-move and no-trade clauses, we do take as an attack on players’ CBA-negotiated rights,” Hainsey said. “And we will treat it as such.”

Player agent J.P. Barry was among several player agents LeBrun spoke with who rejected Bettman’s suggestion about possible changes to those clauses.

“Players give up significant compensation demands to obtain a no-trade clause,” Barry said. “They are ‘purchased’ by the player. If they’re going to try to eliminate no-trade clauses, then we should also discuss elimination of the buyout and the hard cap at the same time.”

Barry pointed out how much the players have given up in previous collective bargaining. “We have no performance bonuses outside of rookie contracts, no player or club options, no renegotiation clauses, and the maximum length of contracts has been ratcheted down to six or seven years.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I knew there would be pushback from the PA but I wasn’t expecting it this quickly.

This topic began this summer because Brady Tkachuk forced a trade from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin requested a trade, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is staging a holdout to try and force the Winnipeg Jets to trade him.

To be fair to Bettman, he said that one summer of such activity doesn’t constitute a trend. He also said that if it became a trend, the league might have to discuss it with the PA in the next round of collective bargaining.

Nevertheless, Bettman’s comments were considered a shot across the bow to the NHLPA, prompting it to return fire.

This could be a tempest in a teapot if other players do not emulate Tkachuk, Larkin and Hellebuyck. Considering the blowback that Larkin’s trade request has generated from Detroit fans and media, and Hellebuyck’s ongoing suspension without pay for not reporting to training camp, it could discourage other players from considering that tactic.

NHL general managers don’t have to wait for the next round of CBA talks to address this issue. In any current or future contract negotiations with players who want no-trade/no-movement clauses, they can simply negotiate what those clauses will look like. It’s what they currently do, as a quick look at the terms of Larkin’s no-trade clause and Hellebuyck’s no-movement clause on PuckPedia can attest.

If a GM doesn’t want a player on a full NTC or NMC to request a trade, he can negotiate that the NTC/NMC be voided or that the player must submit an agreed-upon number of preferred trade destinations.

As I’ve said before, this isn’t a hill the NHL wants to die on in the next round of collective bargaining. I can’t see doing anything that would jeopardize the stunning growth of hockey-related revenue over something that can already be addressed within the current CBA.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice downplayed speculation that team captain Aleksander Barkov could be sidelined 10-to-12 weeks with a left-knee injury. “Do not bet your hard-earned money on that,” Maurice said, indicating that they’ll have “a more solid answer” on Tuesday.

TSN: The Calgary Flames placed forward Connor Zary and defenseman Brayden Pachal on waivers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zary’s appearance on the waiver wire raised eyebrows given his status as a first-round draft pick by the Flames. Injuries have hampered his once-promising career, but some observers wonder if another club (like the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks) might be tempted to claim the 25-year-old forward.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram has returned to the club after returning to Chicago over the weekend to be with his wife as she gave birth to twin girls.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Blackhawks, forward Andrew Mangiapane is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (shoulder) is expected to make his season debut on Friday.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg is expected to miss a week with an undisclosed injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

by | Oct 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s games, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has a new contract, Golden Knights center William Karlsson and Stars goalie Casey DeSmith get new deals, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon led the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Makar had two assists, becoming the first defenseman in league history to record multiple points in five straight season openers, while MacKinnon scored two goals and got into a third-period fight with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

Artturi Lehkonen also tallied twice, and Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche. Alex Laferriere collected two assists, and Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings.

Before this game, the Avalanche announced that head coach Jared Bednar signed a four-year contract extension. Bednar was in the final season of his current deal. He is the longest-tenured head coach in franchise history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the offseason rumors that the front office was losing confidence in Bednar after the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. What do you think about this signing, Avalanche fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 in the latter’s home-opening game. Arturs Silovs turned in a 19-save shutout, Nick Robertson scored two goals, and Filip Hallinder had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Flyers goalie Dan Vladar gave up seven goals on 38 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang won their 494th game together, setting the league record for the most by a trio. The Penguins also activated forward Blake Lizotte from injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan scored the winning goal and collected an assist on Colton Sissons’ game-opener in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the win. Emil Heineman scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (lower-body injury) missed this game, but he could return to the lineup this weekend. Before this game, the Maple Leafs placed sidelined forwards Max Domi and Dakota Joshua on long-term injured reserve.

HEADLINES

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights signed center William Karlsson to a two-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $6.75 million. Karlsson, 33, is in the final season of an eight-year deal with a $5.9 million AAV.

Karlsson’s been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons. When healthy, he’s a solid two-way center and invaluable core player. He’s also one of the three remaining players from their 2017-18 expansion roster.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeSmith has been a reliable backup for Stars starting goalie Jake Oettinger.

Speaking of the Stars, center Matt Duchene is doubtful for Friday’s season-opener against the St. Louis Blues with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson has returned to Sweden and is practicing with Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda. The 22-year-old restricted free agent awaits a new contract with the Red Wings.

“It takes as long as it needs to take,” Edvinsson’s agent Peter Werner said. “It is an ongoing negotiation that is ongoing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan Lambert (my colleague at The Hockey News) summed this up best: the Red Wings are completely mishandling Simon Edvinsson’s situation.

This is just another chapter in the Red Wings’ decade-long decline, a maddening decline for their fans with no end in sight.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Red Wings were a once-proud franchise that became a laughingstock because of incompetent ownership, mismanagement, and a revolving door of coaches, earning them the derisive nickname of “The Dead Things”.

They are now The Dead Things 2.0. Their front office doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. They haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. They’re bungling negotiations with their second-best defenseman. Their former captain wants out, and they can’t find a replacement for former GM Steve Yzerman.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Connor Brown will miss his club’s first two games of this season with a lower-body injury.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets will not have a captain this season. They will have six alternate captains, with Zach Werenski serving as permanent alternate. The decision is due to the departure of former captain Boone Jenner and uncertainty over Werenski’s future.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL center Ryan Spooner has retired. He spent seven seasons in the NHL (2012-13 to 2018-19) with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. In 325 games, he had 48 goals and 167 points, and two points in four postseason contests. He spent the past seven seasons in the KHL, the Swiss National A League, and the Slovakian Extraleague.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 26, 2026

by | Sep 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 26, 2026

Recaps of Friday’s preseason action, the salary cap could rise significantly in 2028-29, Macklin Celebrini is the Sharks’ new captain, the Hurricanes re-sign Pyotr Kochetkov, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche prospect T.J. Hughes tallied a hat trick and collected an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Jaden Schwartz had a goal and two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov each had a goal and an assist for the Jets.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (NHL Images).

The New York Rangers thumped the New York Islanders 6-1. Adam Fox had three assists, Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller each had a goal and an assist, and Pavel Dorofeyev collected two assists. Pierre Engvall scored, and Semyon Varlamov gave up six goals on 27 shots for the Islanders.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley snapped a 1-1 tie for a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Joel Eriksson Ek replied for the Wild, who also lost defenseman Brock Faber after being struck by a puck off the left side of his helmet in the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Faber was kept out of the remainder of the game for precautionary reasons and will be reevaluated on Saturday. The clubs combined for 86 penalty minutes, most of which occurred in the game’s fight-filled final minutes. Tyler Seguin made his preseason debut in his first game since suffering a knee injury on Dec. 2.

An overtime goal by Jordan Kyrou lifted the Washington Capitals over the Boston Bruins 3-2. Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist, and Pierre-Luc Dubois picked up two assists. David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie scored, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin missed this game with a lower-body injury. He’ll also miss Washington’s final preseason game on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, but he’s expected to be ready for their season-opener on Oct. 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that multiple sources claimed the salary cap for 2028-29 is estimated to reach $127.5 million. That’s $23.5 million more this season’s $104 million cap and $14 million more than the $113.5 million cap for 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The final cap number for 2028-29 will likely be announced at the end of this season. Regardless, it’s a substantial increase that continues the cap’s sharp rise since the end of the COVID-induced flat-cap era earlier in the decade.

The effect of that increase was felt this summer, when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet worth a then-record $18 million average annual value. That set the bar for other young talent, with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini signing a then-record AAV ($18.8 million) on his contract extension in July. It also affected extensions for established superstars with Cale Makar’s record-setting $20.4 million deal in August.

Expect more AAV records over the next two years. Assuming $127.5 million is confirmed for 2028-29, the maximum salary will be $25.5 million.

Players eligible for UFA status on July 1, 2028, include Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Los Angeles Kings winger Artemi Panarin, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller. RFAs include New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke.

One of them will become the NHL’s first $25 million player, and there will likely be more than one by the end of July 1, 2028.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks named Macklin Celebrini as their new captain during a dressing-room ceremony on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 20-year-old superstar is the youngest captain in Sharks history. He takes over from Logan Couture, who held the role from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.95 million.

TSN/THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. They also placed center Filip Chytil (shoulder) on injured reserve.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract. This move is a result of the Sabres losing blueliners Mattias Samuelsson (lower-body, week-to-week) and Olen Zellweger (concussion protocol) to injuries.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers center Jason Dickinson might not be in the lineup for the Oilers’ season opener next week. He’s still feeling the effects of a broken foot suffered late last season.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed forward Alex Nylander to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

DAILY FACEOFF: 61 players were placed on waivers on Friday. The notables included Utah Mammoth forward Brandon Tanev, San Jose Sharks goaltender Eric Comrie, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2026

by | Sep 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s preseason games, injury updates, plus the latest on Dylan Larkin, Logan Cooley, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S PRESEASON ACTION

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the Ottawa Senators in split-squad games on Wednesday.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and two assists, leading the Maple Leafs to a 6-1 win over the Senators in Toronto. Tim Stutzle replied for the Senators.

Anthony Stolarz stopped 19 shots, and Ryan Tverberg snapped a 2-2 tie as the Leafs doubled up the Senators 4-2 in Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Callum Fraser reported Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk had a “disaster performance” in the 6-1 loss, which didn’t help his efforts to clinch a roster spot this season. Fraser felt the same about Sens goalie Leevi Merilainen, who didn’t get much help from his defense, but still could’ve played better.

Senators defenseman Artem Zub remains sidelined and is expected to miss the start of the regular season. Maple Leafs forward Nick Paul left this game with an undisclosed injury. It’s not expected to be serious, but he will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg made 24 saves to hold off the Anaheim Ducks 2-1.

Alex Laferriere and Joel Armia scored for the Kings. Ethan Procyszyn replied for the Ducks.

The Dallas Stars blanked the Minnesota Wild 2-0. Remi Poirier made 24 saves for the shutout, and Matthew Seminoff and Esa Lindell scored for the Stars. Jesper Wallstedt turned aside 22 shots for the Wild.

HEADLINES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Dylan Larkin returned to the ice with his Red Wings teammates on Wednesday. He’d been sidelined for a week with an upper-body injury.

Larkin won’t be playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres in Detroit. He could be in their preseason finale at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico interviewed Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, who discussed his club’s push to become a true Western Conference contender.

Cooley said that making the playoffs last year, and the realization of how difficult it is to win a postseason series, has raised the intensity level in training camp for the Mammoth. He’s also thrilled with the addition of fellow Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth’s improvement last season didn’t result in increased coverage of the team. Despite having established talent like winger Clayton Keller and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, rising stars like Cooley and Dylan Guenther, and a deep prospect pool, they don’t receive the same attention as other up-and-coming clubs in Anaheim and San Jose. People should pay attention to the Mammoth because they could make some noise in the West this season.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers prospect forward Adam Sykora will miss the next four to five months with a lower-body injury suffered during Monday’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s preseason match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blueline Olen Zellweger is in concussion protocol from a hit he received later in that game.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro will likely miss the start of the season with an undisclosed injury that could sideline him for weeks. Meanwhile, blueliner Damon Severson hasn’t been cleared to play yet as he works his way back from the shoulder surgery he had in April. He’s been skating in practice with a “no-contact” jersey.

THE SCORE: Philadelphia Flyers starting goalie Dan Vladar is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s preseason game against the Boston Bruins. Head coach Rick Tocchet said Vladar “dodged a bullet” and is in good spirits.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers fans are exhaling in relief as there was concern that Vladar may have been seriously hurt.

DAILY FACEOFF: Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury but is expected to be in the lineup for their season-opener. It’s uncertain when Tkachuk was hurt.

TSN: Hall of Famer and ESPN hockey analyst Mark Messier said he’s “horrified” and “shocked” by the Edmonton Oilers hiring Mike Babcock as head coach.

Messier believes there must be a separation of powers on the structural level of the team, suggesting the players had too much of a say in the decisions being made at the management level, including the hiring of management and coaches.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Messier makes a good point, but as some on social media noted, he’s not in the best position to level criticism over players influencing coaching hires. After Messier signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997, he was reportedly directly responsible for the club hiring Mike Keenan as head coach.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. died on Tuesday at age 87. He was owner of the club from 2001 until 2009.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gillett purchased the Canadiens and their arena at a time when no potential Canadian owner could be found. That led to concerns that the American owner might have designs on relocating the storied franchise to the United States, but he instead brought stability to the club during a period of uncertainty that included the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

My condolences to Gillett’s family, friends, and the Canadiens organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2026

by | Sep 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2026

Check out the latest on Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko and Stars winger Jason Robertson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: During Monday’s episode, Johnston and co-host Julian McKenzie weighed in on winger Kirill Marchenko ducking questions last week about his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).

Marchenko, 26, reportedly isn’t interested in signing a contract extension with the Blue Jackets. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.

Johnston doesn’t believe those reports were misinterpreted or misconstrued. He thinks the Blue Jackets and the Marchenko camp will keep the peace for this season. However, he anticipates the Blue Jackets will see how things unfold, suggesting they could look at the trade market to see what Marchenko’s value could be.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline noted that Marchenko’s deflating comments did nothing to explain or dispel the reports about his unwillingness to sign an extension when his current deal expires.

Portzline pointed out that Marchenko’s status as a restricted free agent gives the Blue Jackets more leverage than if he were unrestricted. They’ll still own his rights when his current contract expires. He also stated that Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness has had no issues with Marchenko’s attitude in training camp, nor have his teammates.

TSN 1050: During an appearance on “FirstUp”, Darren Dreger noted the offseason trade rumors linking Marchenko to the Montreal Canadiens. However, the problem for any club interested in the scoring winger is finding sufficient salary-cap space to sign him.

According to Dreger, it’s bad enough that a team must give up significant assets to acquire Marchenko. On top of that, his new club would have to come up with a significant salary to re-sign him. Dreger suggested it could be around $12 million per season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, it’s fun to speculate about what teams might be interested in Marchenko and what the Blue Jackets’ asking price might be. However, paying the winger will be expensive.

The Canadiens have projected salary cap space of over $29 million, with 14 active roster players under contract. They must re-sign or replace UFA-eligible players like Chris Kreider, Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, Alexandre Carrier, Kirby Dach, and Samuel Montembeault.

Oliver Kapanen, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble will be RFAs who must be signed or traded. Promising prospects Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky could also sign their entry-level contracts next year.

Assuming Dreger’s correct that it’ll cost $12 million annually for Marchenko, that’ll blow a big hole in the Canadiens’ cap space, potentially complicating efforts to retain some of those UFAs and RFAs, and could be an additional complication when trying to fit Hage or Zharovsky into the roster for next season.

That’s not to suggest that the Canadiens won’t make any significant additions. However, their preference could be a player with a contract that fits more comfortably within their salary-cap payroll.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill considers re-signing Jason Robertson to be a priority this season.

Robertson, 26, signed a one-year, $12 million contract following contentious negotiations. At one point, he seemed on the verge of being traded to the Seattle Kraken, but that deal fell through when he refused to sign with the Kraken.

Nill said he met with Robertson and his family to mend the relationship. He remains hopeful of re-signing Robertson within the Stars’ salary-cap constraints.

The earliest the two sides can start extension talks is Jan. 1. LeBrun speculated the idea of reaching UFA status could weigh heavily on Robertson by then. It doesn’t make sense for the Stars to move him at the March trade deadline if they expect to be a Stanley Cup contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars have a projected $39.2 million salary-cap space for 2027-28 with 12 active roster players signed. They have sufficient room to re-sign Robertson, though the asking price could jump to $18 million if he has another 90-point season.

How this season unfolds could determine Robertson’s future in Dallas. If they’re still in Stanley Cup contention, they’ll likely hang onto him for the playoffs and try to work something out before July 1.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2026

by | Sep 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2026

Recaps of Monday’s preseason action, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: Defenseman Bowen Byram made an impressive debut with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring in overtime to complete a hat trick and defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3. Byram was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 23, signing a six-year, $75 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value) on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram’s performance in this contest bodes well for what the Blackhawks expect from him as their new No. 1 defenseman.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Lane Hutson had the primary assists on both goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield also scored in overtime during the Canadiens’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in split-squad action on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Bryan Rust scored and collected two assists for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins sophomore forward Ben Kindel left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. He was still being evaluated post-game. Before this game, the Penguins announced forward Blake Lizotte is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes snapped a 2-2 tie for a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Rangers prospect Adam Sykora left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period.

Washington Capitals forward Jonny Brodzinski tallied two goals as his club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Flyers forward Denver Barkey left his contest early in the second period with a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blanked the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Jet Greaves turned in a 16-save shutout, and Conor Garland scored the winning goal. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro left this game with an upper-body injury.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner kicked out 31 shots in his debut with the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Gabriel Vilardi scored and added an assist, and Josh Morrissey collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner joined the Jets as a free agent this summer. He’ll be their starting goaltender, with Connor Hellebuyck likely having played his final game for the Jets. Hellebuyck requested a trade and is currently suspended without pay for not reporting to training camp.

The Dallas Stars nipped the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Casey DeSmith stopped 30 shots, and Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist scored for the Stars. Jonatan Berggren replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker missed this game with an injured knee suffered during practice on Sunday.

HEADLINES

THE SCORE: Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour wouldn’t mind if the NHL abolished preseason play.

“Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real,” Brind’Amour told TSN’s “Overdrive” on Monday. “They don’t like practicing – nobody does.”

Brind’Amour said he’d be fine with the league going to 86 regular-season games and no preseason. He pointed out that players are already well-conditioned and there are few available roster spots compared to previous years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL isn’t likely to take Brind’Amour’s advice, but it would be interesting to see how many players, coaches, and general managers share his view.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Sam Steel signed a four-year contract extension worth $14.8 million ($3.7 million AAV).

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua’s status for the season opener is uncertain after battling an injury through the opening days of training camp.

TSN: Former NHL forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement after playing five games with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan.

Hayes, 35, spent 12 seasons in the NHL from 2014-15 to 2025-26 with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 185 goals and 261 assists for 446 points in 805 regular-season games, and 26 points in 56 playoff contests.

OTTAWA SUN: Former NHL coach Jacques Martin, 73, is considering retirement. Martin was part of the Senators’ front office, but confirmed on Friday that he’s no longer with the organization.

Martin coached 18 seasons as an NHL head coach from 1986-87 to 2023-24 with the St. Louis Blues, Senators, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens. He holds the Senators record for wins (367) and won the Jack Adams Award in 1998-99. Martin won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

RG MEDIA: Marco D’Amico interviewed University of Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato on his plans for the upcoming season with one of the NCAA’s most talented hockey rosters.

Promising youngsters Landon DuPont, Cam Reid, and Henry Mews will join Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff, and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jayden Perron this season.