NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2026

by | Sep 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2026

Recapping Saturday’s preseason action plus the latest on Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, Rangers winger Pavel Dorofeyev, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PRESEASON GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in split-squad action in their preseason openers on Saturday.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

Cole Caufield scored in overtime and Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists to nip the Maple Leafs 4-3 in Montreal, while Phillip Danault tallied twice for a 4-1 victory in Toronto. In the latter contest, Darren Raddysh scored in his preseason debut with the Maple Leafs, while Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna was held scoreless in his first NHL preseason contest.

Edmonton Oilers superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist to down the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. Evan Bouchard collected four assists for the Oilers.

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on an overtime goal by Tyler Pitlick.

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jackson Hallum scored twice to double up the Los Angeles Kings 4-2.

The Seattle Kraken beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2. Prospect center Jake O’Brien scored and added an assist for the Kraken.

The Dallas Stars defeated the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on a goal by minor-league center Jack Becker.

HEADLINES

OTTAWA SUN: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark is refreshed, confident, and looking forward to his season after enduring a difficult 2025-26 campaign.

Ullmark struggled through the first half of last season and took a leave of absence for mental health reasons. He returned to backstop the Senators into the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Inconsistent goaltending nearly derailed the Senators last season until Ullmark returned to form in the second half. A more consistent effort on his part could push the Senators higher in the standings this season.

NEW YORK POST: Pavel Dorofeyev is looking forward to starting this season with the Rangers. They acquired the 25-year-old scoring winger from the Vegas Golden Knights last June and signed a seven-year, $77-million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is coming off two seasons with 35 or more goals. He’s expected to play a significant role on their first line and on the power play. How he adjusts to playing for an Original Six club in one of hockey’s biggest markets will be a factor in determining whether the Rangers will be a playoff contender.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Anaheim Ducks signed center Tim Washe to a four-year contract extension that comes with an average annual value of $2.25 million.

Washe, 25, had two goals and five points in 39 games with the Ducks last season. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Ozzy and Oasiz Wiesblatt took sibling rivalry to another level when the two Nashville Predators youngsters got into a tussle during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. Neither brother was injured during the scrap.

Both are battling for jobs with the Predators. Ozzy has 45 NHL games on his resume while Oasiz spent last season with the Preds’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

CBS SPORTS: San Jose Sharks winger Adam Gaudette is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

NESN: The Boston Bruins announced team executive Alex Gimenez’s death on Friday.

Gimenez spent more than a decade with MLB’s Boston Red Sox. He recently joined the Bruins as Director of Hockey Operations, Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was a newly created position within the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Gimenez’s family, friends, and the Bruins’ organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2026

by | Sep 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 2, 2026

Questions facing the Capitals this season, the Ducks retiring Ryan Getzlaf’s number, an update on Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau, the Predators trading Luke Evangelista to the Devils, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: How the defense holds up until Rasmus Sandin returns to action, where Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou play, and Alex Ovechkin’s role are the three big questions facing the Washington Capitals in 2026-27.

Sandin remains sidelined recovering from his April knee surgery, with a recovery timeline of six to nine months. The addition of Vincent Desharnais and re-signing of Timothy Liljegren should help, while promising blueliner Cole Hutson could play a significant role.

Tuch was acquired in a sign-and-trade move from the Buffalo Sabres, while Kyrou arrived in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. Given the Capitals’ depth on right wing, Tuch or Kyrou could shift to the left side.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Ovechkin turns 41 this month as he approaches his 22nd NHL season. His place as the league’s all-time goal-scoring leader is assured, but his ice time has declined in recent years, and he might not play the full two minutes on the power play this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals were among the league’s busiest teams during this offseason as they attempt to rebound from last season’s disappointing performance. How they answer those three questions will determine how successful their bounce-back efforts will be.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks will retire Ryan Getzlaf’s No. 15 during a ceremony on Jan. 30 before the club’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Getzlaf spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Ducks from 2005-06 to 2021-22. He’s the franchise leader in regular-season games played (1,157), assists (737), and points (1,019), and he holds the club’s single-season assist record with 66. He also helped the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup in 2007 and is their longest-serving captain, serving 12 seasons from 2010-11 to 2021-22.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved honor for one of the greatest players in Ducks history.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Jonathan Huberdeau might not be ready when the club’s 2026-27 regular-season schedule begins.

Huberdeau underwent season-ending hip resurfacing surgery in March 2026. Conroy said the 33-year-old winger suffered “a little bit of a setback” about two weeks ago with his skating. He added that they will give Huberdeau the time to fully recover.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Huberdeau’s production had been in steady decline since his career-best 115-point performance in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers. He played through pain last season before undergoing hip resurfacing in March, a procedure that few NHL players fully recover from.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded winger Luke Evangelista to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Colorado Avalanche’s conditional 2028 first-round pick, and their own second-round pick in 2028.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading a young winger like Evangelista for two draft picks prompted puzzled reactions on social media. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin acknowledged the Devils paid a high price for the 24-year-old winger, but wondered if this was a precursor to a bigger deal by the Predators, such as pursuing Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.

Predators general manager Chris MacFarland told Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean that he’s not ruling out using those two picks to acquire more immediate help. It remains to be seen who they might target in the trade market and when they’ll make that move.

The Predators are not among the teams on Larkin’s narrow list of preferred destinations. Unless that changes, they’ll have to look elsewhere for a top-six center.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin was back on the ice this week as part of the captain’s skate. The 34-year-old Seguin last played on Dec. 2, when he tore the ACL in his right knee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seguin is in the final season of his eight-year contract with a $9.85 million cap hit. Injuries have limited him to 20 games in 2024-25 and 27 games last season. His performance in 2026-27 could determine if he’ll continue his NHL career after his contract expires.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers are closing in on a one-year contract with winger Eeli Tolvanen worth $1.5 million. He completed a three-year deal worth $3.475 million annually with the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tolvanen, 27, was among the youngest players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. A versatile forward who can skate at either wing, he spent most of the last four seasons with the Kraken. He reportedly sought a multi-year contract, but had to settle for a significant pay cut on a one-year deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke and his ownership group have acquired a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.

CALGARY SUN: Tickets for the Flames’ final game at the Saddledome on April 10, 2027, sold out in minutes on Monday morning. The Flames are moving to the Scotia Place arena next season, and the iconic Saddledome is slated for demolition once the move is complete.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2026

by | Sep 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2026

The questions facing the Golden Knights this season, an update on Quinn Hughes’ contract talks with the Wild, the latest on the Flyers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: How the Vegas Golden Knights respond to new head coach Ryan Craig is among the three big questions facing the club in 2026-27.

Craig was promoted from head coach of the Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate after the team parted ways with John Tortorella, who replaced former Golden Knights bench boss Bruce Cassidy in late March. Tortorella guided the club to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Finding a way to replace the offense of departed winger Pavel Dorofeyev and sorting out their goaltending are other notable questions this season.

Limited salary-cap space forced the Golden Knights to trade the 25-year-old Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers in June. Meanwhile, Adin Hill and Carter Hart will jockey for the starting goalie role.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have one of the NHL’s oldest rosters entering 2026-27. That could become an issue as they attempt to maintain their place among the Stanley Cup contenders in the Western Conference against some of the rising young clubs.

DAILY FACEOFF: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin gave an update on his contract extension negotiations with superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes during a Monday appearance on The Chad Hartman Show.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).

Guerin acknowledged that Colorado Avalanche blueliner Cale Makar’s new contract, with its $20.4 million average annual value, creates a bar for Hughes, but suggested that the 26-year-old Wild blueliner “might be after different things.”

“He’s a different guy. He has a different personality and has different things in his life that are important to him. Who knows what he’s gonna do in the end,” Guerin said.

The Wild GM maintained that he has a good relationship with the Hughes camp. “There’s no tension. Communication has been good. I don’t have anything disheartening to say.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (especially some New Jersey Devils supporters) believe Guerin’s comments suggest Hughes won’t re-sign with the Wild. It’s no secret that the 2024 Norris Trophy winner hopes to play with his brothers Jack and Luke, who currently play for the Devils.

Hughes is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Plenty of time remains for the Wild to get him under contract, but speculation about his future will grow if he’s not signed before the regular season begins.

RG.ORG: Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere doesn’t believe that signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet reset the NHL market. Briere signed the 21-year-old Carlsson to a five-year offer ($18 million AAV) on July 3, but the Ducks matched it six days later.

Briere believes the market was trending higher because of the rising salary cap. He accused his critics of taking a simplistic approach by criticizing the Flyers.

“Someone’s going to get that money somewhere. It was just a matter of time,” Briere said. “Honestly, I don’t think some of the players that signed the big tickets would have signed for less without the offer sheet. So no, I don’t believe it played much of a factor (in the market).”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere is correct that the rising salary cap ensured some of those players would’ve received significant raises regardless of his failed attempt to sign Carlsson away from the Ducks.

Nevertheless, that offer sheet set the bar for what followed. San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier acknowledged as much after re-signing young superstar Macklin Celebrini to his five-year deal ($18.8 million AAV). Several projections had him receiving between $15 million and $17 million.

That was also the same range projected for Colorado Avalanche superstar blueliner Cale Makar before he signed his eight-year extension with its record-setting $20.4 million AAV last week.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Vancouver Canucks are rebuilding their roster, but that’s not discouraging Filip Hronek. Despite the club’s struggles over the last two years, the 28-year-old defenseman remains positive, pointing to their fan support.

“We like the city, and obviously the fans in Vancouver are great,” Hronek said. “They were supporting us even though we didn’t have a good year last year, and they still are showing up to the games, and it was sold out.”

Hronek indicated he likes the city of Vancouver overall, and that’s why he signed with the Canucks for eight seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are trending toward younger talent, but they’ll need a veteran presence on their blueline like Hronek to mentor their inexperienced defensemen.

TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs center Calle Jarnkrok signed a three-year contract with Swedish club Brynas IF, for whom he played four seasons from 2009-2013 before moving on to the NHL.

Jarnkrok, 34, spent 13 seasons in the NHL from 2013-14 to 2025-26. He began with the Nashville Predators and spent eight seasons with them. He did brief stints with the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames before spending the past four seasons with the Maple Leafs. In 774 regular-season games, Jarnkrok had 143 goals and 173 assists for 316 points, and 23 points in 105 playoff contests.

TRIBLIVE.COM: For the first time since 1999, Mario Lemieux is no longer part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ownership. Lemieux and his business partner Ron Burkle sold their minority stake in the Penguins when the Hoffmann Group purchased the franchise from Fenway Sports Group.

SPORTSNET: Houston mayor John Whitmore said his office is excited about the possibility of landing an NHL franchise. He told The Sporting News on Monday that his office is ready to do whatever it can to facilitate that process. “We’ll definitely be a better location than Austin.”

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Former goaltender Marty Turco and former team executive Les Jackson will be inducted into the Stars’ Hall of Fame in December.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2026

by | Aug 29, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: more proposed trade destinations for Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

BLEACHER REPORT: Joe Yerdon looked at eight potential landing spots for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winner publicly admitted this week that he requested a trade earlier in this offseason.

Yerdon’s list included the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those five clubs were also among the landing spots suggested by Murat Ates of The Athletic, Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News, and Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler. You can read my reaction to those selections by following this link.

Yerdon also included the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks on his list. He acknowledged the difficulty the Oilers would face in putting together a suitable offer and in getting Hellebuyck to waive his no-movement clause to join them. Still, the possibility of him on the same team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is incredible.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be amazing, but as Yerdon noted, the odds of it happening are low.

Hellebuyck returning to Michigan to backstop the Red Wings would also be an amazing, but unlikely story. The Wings aren’t making any moves until they hire a new general manager, and their first order of business is sorting out center Dylan Larkin’s trade request. And no, Larkin wouldn’t be swapped straight up for Hellebuyck because they’re not on his three-time trade list.

The Blackhawks are probably an unsuitable destination for Hellebuyck. They’re a rebuilding club, but he wants to play for a contender.

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger included the Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars on his list of potential destinations for Hellebuyck.

Granger noted the Mammoth have plenty of future assets and top-six forwards to compile an enticing trade package. He also suggested adding goalie Karel Vejmelka to the deal.

As for the Stars, Granger suggested a one-for-one swap of Hellebuyck for Jake Oettinger. However, he admitted that’s unlikely to happen because the latter also has a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth could be a dark horse in the Hellebuyck sweepstakes if he’s willing to go there and if they’re willing to make that investment. Forget about the Stars; they’re sticking with Oettinger, and he won’t want to move anyway.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon noted the Sabres were close to a deal that would’ve landed Hellebucyk in June. While it ultimately fell through, Dixon believes there’s a deal to be had between the two clubs.

Dixon proposed a deal that sends goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, forwards Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets would do that deal in a heartbeat. As for the Sabres, I’ll leave the last word with Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards dismissed the notion of the Panthers as a trade destination for Hellebuyck. Having acquired Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils to replace the departed Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers have moved on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of you might suggest the Panthers could pursue Hellebuyck if Markstrom has a poor start to this season. However, even if Hellebuyck is still available in the trade market later this season, the Panthers lack the cap space to absorb his contract and the tradeable assets to make a tempting offer.

No, the Jets won’t want Markstrom in return, and he probably has Winnipeg on his 20-team no-trade list. And no, the Jets won’t retain salary to facilitate a trade. If you want Hellebuyck, you’re taking on his full $8.5 million average annual value.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Jame Nichols doesn’t see the Devils getting into the bidding for Hellebuyck.

Nichols believes Sunny Mehta, the Devils’ new GM, already made his goaltending moves by sending Markstrom to the Panthers earlier this summer, adding free agent David Rittich, and re-signing Nico Daws to a two-year contract. He’s sticking with the trio of Rittich, Daws and Jake Allen, with Daws expected to push for the starter’s job this season.

Hellebuyck’s contract would also take up a significant chunk of the Devils’ salary-cap space. That could complicate efforts to acquire Quinn Hughes if the Minnesota Wild defenseman becomes available in this season’s trade market or next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is expected to re-sign with the Wild, but if he doesn’t, the Devils could be keen to bring him to New Jersey for a reunion with his brothers Jack and Luke. Adding Hellebuyck (assuming he’d accept a trade to New Jersey) would throw a spanner in the works.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James believes the Flyers shouldn’t attempt to acquire Hellebuyck. He believes the asking price would be too high, plus the Flyers signed current starter Dan Vladar to a five-year contract extension that begins next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers weren’t on the suggested trade destinations for Hellebuyck. However, they already signalled what their biggest need was by their failed attempt to land Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson with an offer sheet last month. They won’t waste their cap space and valuable trade assets on a need they believe they’ve already addressed.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2026

by | Aug 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2026

Check out the latest on the Ducks and Stars in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NHL.COM: How Leo Carlsson’s new contract will affect the Anaheim Ducks is among the big questions facing the club this season.

Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers last month worth an average annual value of $18 million. The Ducks matched the offer, but it was far more expensive than what they had been prepared to pay.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The most immediate effect will be on the cost of signing restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier. Like Carlsson, the 21-year-old winger is coming off his entry-level contract. Unlike Carlsson, he’s ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

After matching the Carlsson offer, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said the intent was to get Gauthier signed. However, he acknowledged he had work to do to fit everyone within their salary-cap space for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have just over $9 million in cap space for this season. It’s rumored Gauthier could seek as much as $15 million. Verbeek will attempt to get him signed for less than that, but he could still end up having to make a cost-cutting trade or two at some point during this season to free up enough cap room.

The Ducks could get some relief by placing sidelined winger Troy Terry ($7 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve before their regular-season schedule begins next month. However, they’ll have to free up room to become cap-compliant once Terry returns from hip surgery later this year.

Veteran forwards Alex Killorn ($6.5 million) and Frank Vatrano ($4.57 million) have been rumored as trade candidates.

NHL.COM: Jason Robertson’s future is among the three big questions facing the Dallas Stars this season.

Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract for this season. The 27-year-old Stars winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

The two sides can open contract talks on Jan. 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was the subject of trade rumors stretching back to last summer. Stars GM Jim Nill maintained his club wanted to keep the high-scoring winger in the fold, while Robertson insisted he wanted to stay with the Stars.

Nevertheless, the Stars had a deal in place to trade Robertson to the Seattle Kraken in late June, but the deal fell through when he declined to sign a contract extension.

The one-year deal buys time for both sides. It gives Robertson another season to prove his worth, while giving the Stars another opportunity to negotiate with him knowing they’ll have more salary cap flexibility with which to sign him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2026

by | Jul 31, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2026

The potential effect of Sharks center Macklin Celebrini’s new contract on future signings, the latest on Maple Leafs prospect Gavin McKenna, three teams face a salary-cap crunch, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle believes Macklin Celebrini’s new contract spells the end of long-term deals for young NHL talent.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

Celebrini, 20, signed a five-year contract extension with an NHL record average annual value of $18.8 million earlier this week. Mirtle believes those five-year deals, instead of the league maximum of eight years (dropping to seven years starting on Sept. 16), will become the norm for other rising young stars.

The NHL has only projected its salary cap to 2027-28, but Mirtle reports every league executive and player agent he’s spoken to believes the salary cap will rise dramatically starting in 2028. By 2031-32, the cap could reach between $150 million and $160 million.

That’s why Celebrini’s contract is five years long. By 2031-32, his new AAV will be only 12 percent of the salary cap, which will be a relative bargain historically.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sharp increase in the salary cap is starting to change the landscape for NHL contracts.

Players will prefer shorter-term deals over the league maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their teams and six years for unrestricted free agents. Their contracts won’t age out too quickly, ensuring they can still maximize their value in their playing prime to keep pace with the rising cap.

By the way, the league maximum salary under a $150 million salary cap is $30 million. Under a $160 million cap, it’s $32 million.

NHL.COM: Speaking of Celebrini, he’s been training this summer with Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Gavin McKenna, who came away impressed with the offseason training regimen of the Sharks superstar.

“My trainers probably won’t like to hear this, but there was a week where we were on the ice for 17 hours,” McKenna said. “So, yeah, max crazy, but every skate out there, you’re getting better, and it’s a competitive group. So, I had a lot of fun with it.”

McKenna, 18, was chosen first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs. He’s expected to make his NHL debut this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna is trying to follow in Celebrini’s footsteps. Training with the young superstar could give the Maple Leafs’ top prospect an edge as he begins his NHL career.

LA PAGE SPORTIVE: Louis-Andre Lariviere noted the Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights are feeling the pinch of their salary-cap crunch.

Because of the expensive contracts of stars such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the Maple Leafs are sitting above the $104 million salary cap by $2.75 million. They’re permitted to be above the cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must shed a salary or two to become cap-compliant when their regular season begins in late September.

The cost of re-signing Jason Robertson to a one-year, $12 million contract pushed the Stars over the cap by $1.36 million. Like the Maple Leafs, they must make a cost-cutting move before their regular season begins.

As for the Golden Knights, they’re over the cap by $8.66 million, but are expected to place defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve to start the season to become cap-compliant.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs will likely place Max Domi ($3.75 million) on LTIR to get under the cap. He suffered complications from back surgery, and there is no firm timetable for his return to action. Meanwhile, the Stars could send a low-paid player or two to the minors to address their issue.

Speaking of the salary cap, I raised a point in yesterday’s Morning Coffee Headlines regarding the use of signing bonuses and whether it would be a contentious issue in the next round of collective bargaining. It was subsequently brought to my attention that the issue was already addressed. Signing bonuses will be capped at 60 percent of the total contract value for future contracts starting on Sept 16, 2026. Stick tap to foleyd7 for the info.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Bryan McCabe is moving on from his long-time stint in player development with the Florida Panthers. The former defenseman started as a development coach with the Panthers in 2012, became Director of Player Development a year later, and was promoted to Director of Player Personnel in 2017.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets aren’t renewing the contract of Bob McElligott, who was their radio play-by-play broadcaster since 2009. It’s a cost-cutting measure for the club. They are expected to lose revenue by shifting to NHL Productions for TV broadcasts rather than contracting with a regional sports network.

RDS: Former NHL player Pierre Dagenais has become general manager of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks and the city of Vancouver are exploring the construction of a practice rink for the club.