NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 5, 2026

by | Mar 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 5, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s games and notable trades in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Nikolaj Ehlers tallied a hat trick as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-4. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Sean Walker each had a goal and an assist for the 39-16-6 Hurricanes, who are 11-1-2 in their last 14 games and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 84 points. Filip Hronek had a goal and two assists for the 18-36-7 Canucks.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, defenseman Tyler Myers waived his no-movement clause, accepting a trade to the Dallas Stars. In exchange, the Canucks received a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a fourth-rounder in 2029.

Myers will likely slot in on the Stars’ blueliner as the right-shot defenseman on their third pairing. The Canucks got a decent return for the 36-year-old Myers.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer made 34 saves to help his club hold off the Seattle Kraken by a score of 3-2. Brayden Schenn collected three assists, and Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist for the 23-29-9 Blues. Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn scored for the Kraken (29-23-9), who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues have a deal in place with the Buffalo Sabres that would reportedly send defenseman Colton Parayko to the Sabres in exchange for prospect blueliner Radim Mrtka and a first-round pick. However, they’re waiting for Parayko to decide if he’ll waive his no-trade clause. As of publication, they’re still awaiting his decision.

The New Jersey Devils got a shootout goal from Paul Cotter to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. Arseny Gritsyuk and Nico Hischier each had two points for the 31-29-2 Devils. Anthony Stolarz stopped 44 shots for the Maple Leafs, who dropped to 27-24-11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs held forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson out of the lineup for roster management purposes, which means that management is having trade talks involving those players. At least one of them could be on the move by Friday’s trade deadline.

McMann and Laughton are due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and lack no-trade protection. Ekman-Larsson has two years left on his contract and a 16-team no-trade list.

Before this game, the Maple Leafs announced that defenseman Chris Tanev is done for the season after undergoing core muscle surgery. He is expected to fully participate in training camp in September.

The Vegas Golden Knights overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on an overtime goal by Tomas Hertl. Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner scored in the third period to tie the game, with Marner finishing the night with three points. Alex DeBrincat and Simon Edvinsson each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (35-20-7), who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 77 points. The 29-19-14 Golden Knights remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings had a scare when team captain Dylan Larkin left the game late in the third period after being cross-checked in the ribs by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. He returned for the overtime period.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier tallied twice, and goaltender Ville Husso kicked out 42 shots in a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Beckett Sennecke had a goal and an assist to take over the lead among this season’s rookie scorers with 51 points as the Ducks (34-24-3) sit one point behind the Golden Knights. Anders Lee replied for the 35-22-5 Islanders, who are in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock missed this game with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Calgary Flames traded defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for blueliner Olli Maatta, prospect center Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no salary retention by the Flames, meaning the Mammoth takes on the full remaining value of the 32-year-old Weegar’s contract. He’s signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $6.25 million.

Weegar will bring valuable depth and experience to the Mammoth’s blueline as they jockey for a playoff berth in the Western Conference. He will likely skate on the right side of their second defense pairing, but can move up into a first-pairing role if required.

Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun believes the Flames got a good return for Weegar, considering that the blueliner’s production is down this season. One of those second-round picks belonged to the Rangers, meaning it’ll be near the top of that round. They also get a veteran replacement for Weegar in Maatta, who carries a more affordable $3.5 million AAV through 2027-28. Castagna brings more center depth to the Flames’ prospect pool.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for winger Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round pick (top-12 protected) in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports the Blackhawks retained half of Dickinson’s $4.25 million cap hit. He’s UFA-eligible in July.

The Oilers dealt with two needs with this trade. The underrated Dickinson should address their need for a reliable third-line center, and they got Mangiapane’s burdensome contract off their books. They also get a young forward in Dach, the younger brother of Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens. Colton played a fourth-line role in Chicago.

This move gives the Blackhawks two first-rounders in next year’s draft. As for Mangiapane, he gets another chance to see if he can regain the scoring touch he had with the Calgary Flames several years ago. He’ll have an opportunity for more playing time with the rebuilding Blackhawks.

The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blankenburg is a puck-moving defenseman who has 21 points in 49 games this season, averaging over 17 minutes of ice time per game. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he’ll get on the right side of the Avalanche defense corps.

Blankenburg is the third player traded by the Predators this week. They already shipped out forward Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round pick and Cole Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2028 third-rounder. General manager Barry Trotz could have more moves in store by tomorrow’s deadline, even though his team is battling for a playoff berth.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed winger Kiefer Sherwood to a five-year, $28.75 million contract. He’ll earn an average annual value of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood has cashed in well with this deal. His current AAV is $1.5 million. He’s also getting a full no-trade clause for next season, followed by a 16-team no-trade list for 2027-28, a 13-team list in 2028-29, a 10-team list in 2029-30, and a five-team list in 2030-31.

The Sharks can afford it, but it remains to be seen if Sherwood can maintain the level of performance from the past two seasons that earned him this deal.

TSN: The Washington Capitals signed forward Ethen Frank to a two-year, $4 million contract.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers placed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot on waivers and signed goaltender Louis Domingue to a one-year, two-way contract.










NHL Rumor Mill Update – March 3, 2026

by | Mar 3, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill Update – March 3, 2026

Check out the latest speculation on the Canucks, Islanders, Golden Knights, Oilers, and more in Part 2 of today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that teams are continuing to check with the Vancouver Canucks regarding center Elias Pettersson. He believes the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings are among those clubs.

However, LeBrun thinks it’s a stretch to expect Pettersson to be moved by Friday’s trade deadline, citing his expensive contract and inconsistent play. The Canucks aren’t feeling any pressure to move him by the deadline.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

The Canucks aren’t willing to retain any part of Pettersson’s $11.6 million average annual value. LeBrun doesn’t think it makes sense to retain any part of it for the next six years and still try to rebuild the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Six years is a long time to carry dead cap space. Some argue that it shouldn’t be an issue because the salary cap is rising significantly, but it must be remembered that salaries also rise with the cap. That will affect efforts to build and maintain a roster.

LeBrun said Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers and his agent are waiting to see how the trade market unfolds before Friday’s trade deadline.

The Canucks have an offer on the table for Myers from the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old defenseman has a full no-movement clause, so it’s up to him if he’ll agree to waive it to join the Red Wings. LeBrun believes it’s not out of the question that Myers ends up in Detroit.

So far, everyone involved in this has been amicable. The Canucks aren’t pressuring Myers to accept the Red Wings’ offer.

TSN: Farhan Lalji reports Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk hasn’t asked to be traded, but it sounds like he’s not interested in sticking around if the club intends to rebuild.

“Obviously, that is not something I would be okay with or accepting,” DeBrusk said. Lalji also cited Ben Kuzma of The Province, who wrote that the 29-year-old winger believes his game doesn’t fit a rebuild.

“I’ve said it since I’ve been here. I don’t care how I do as long as we’re winning and we haven’t been winning,” DeBrusk said. “I’ve learned a lot more about myself in some ways this year. Lots of ups and downs, and it’s a mental thing. I don’t think anybody in this room thought we’d be in this position. But that’s the reality.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk signed his seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Canucks in the summer of 2024, when the club was coming off its third-best season in franchise history and seemed poised to become a powerhouse in the Western Conference. The club’s rapid decline is not what he signed up for.

DeBrusk has a full no-movement clause, but he could be willing to waive it to join a better team.

UPDATE ON THE ISLANDERS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports the Canucks and the New York Islanders have been scouting each other ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.

Rosner said the Islanders have previously poked around regarding Canucks winger Conor Garland. The complication with the 29-year-old winger is his new six-year, $36 million contract (with a full no-movement clause), which begins on July 1. He also believes they’re interested in Canucks forward Drew O’Connor.

The Islanders previously were interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson, but that ship has sailed.

Meanwhile, Julian Gaudio reports the Islanders are also rumored to have made inquiries about St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas, with the focus on Kyrou.

According to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner, the Blues’ asking price for the 27-year-old Kyrou could include prospects Kashawn Aitcheson and Danny Nelson.

Kyrou is in the first season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause. There’s a belief he could be more of an offseason move rather than a deadline deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou hasn’t been mentioned as much in the rumor mill as Thomas, given the latter is a center and there’s a big market for those players. Nevertheless, he’s been linked to the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Kraken in earlier rumors.

WHICH CLUBS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN RASMUS RISTOLAINEN?

THE ATHLETIC: The recent trade rumors swirling around Rasmus Ristolainen prompted Kevin Kurz to speculate about which teams might be interested in the 31-year-old Philadelphia Flyers defenseman.

Kurz listed the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings as potential suitors. He believes the Flyers want a return comparable to what the Boston Bruins received from the Toronto Maple Leafs in last year’s Brandon Carlo trade. That deal fetched the Bruins a promising forward (Fraser Minten), a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen carries a $5.1 million cap hit through next season and lacks no-trade protection.

WHO COULD THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS TARGET IN THE TRADE MARKET?

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster reports the Vegas Golden Knights could use a center to replace the sidelined William Karlsson or a scoring winger. They lack the cap room to pursue top-tier talent such as Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames or Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues. Nevertheless, they have the room to add a second-tier forward.

Webster listed Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks, Evan Rodrigues of the Florida Panthers, Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators, and Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights made their big move when they acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames in January. They have $5.5 million in cap space if Karlsson remains out for the season, as some suspect. That would give them enough room to squeeze one of those players within their limited cap space. 

OILERS STILL TRYING TO TRADE ANDREW MANGIAPANE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers are still trying to find a new home for Andrew Mangiapane. The struggling 29-year-old winger was demoted to their AHL affiliate earlier this week to free up salary-cap space with the trade deadline approaching.

The Oilers are trying to move his contract, which has an average annual value of $3.6 million, through next season. They’re in the market for a top-nine forward, particularly a third-line center.

LeBrun believes Nicolas Roy of the Toronto Maple Leafs could be what the Oilers are looking for. There’s talk that he’s available in the trade market. The 29-year-old Roy is signed through next season with an AAV of $3 million.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2026

by | Feb 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2026

Predators forward Steven Stamkos denies he’ll waive his NMC, an update on Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers, several teams are interested in Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS DENIES REPORTS HE WOULD WAIVE HIS NO-MOVEMENT CLAUSE

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports Steven Stamkos is denying a report from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic that the 36-year-old Nashville Predators forward might be willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to a contender.

Stamkos said he’s never talked to Predators general manager Barry Trotz about it, adding that there was “zero chance” he’d be willing to waive his NMC.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

“Obviously, there’s stuff that gets reported,” Stamkos said. “But what I’ll say, with this group, we want to be together. I can only control what I control, but I love it here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Stamkos’ remarks, it’s probably safe to assume that he’s not going anywhere.

In fairness, LeBrun didn’t report that Stamkos was willing to waive his clause to join a contender. He stated that the veteran forward was happy in Nashville and didn’t want to be traded.

LeBrun claimed that the Stamkos camp provided Predators management with a list of potential destinations as a preparatory move in case management approached him about a trade.

TYLER MYERS REMAINS WITH THE CANUCKS AS RUMORS SWIRL

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reported Tyler Myers was absent from the Vancouver Canucks’ practice on Friday, but the 36-year-old defenseman remains with the team amid reports of the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars expressing interest in him.

Myers has a year left on his contract with a full no-movement clause for this season. He was held out of Wednesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets for “roster management reasons”, which usually means a trade could be imminent. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Canucks had an offer on the table from the Red Wings, but Myers and his agent were still deliberating.

A trade to the Stars could be more appealing to Myers. His mother is from Texas, and he lived there until moving to Calgary at the age of 10 to play hockey. The Stars also placed forward Tyler Seguin on season-ending LTIR, freeing up $6 million in cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Be it Detroit, Dallas, or elsewhere, Myers could be playing with a new team by the March 6 trade deadline. It’ll be interesting to see how long this plays out.

WILD, AVALANCHE, AND PENGUINS COULD BE PURSUING VINCENT TROCHECK

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports speculation tying Vincent Trocheck to the Minnesota Wild. There’s also talk linking the 32-year-old New York Rangers center to the Colorado Avalanche, but Friedman reports his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Friedman also mentioned that there was some speculation that the Pittsburgh Penguins might pursue Trocheck, who is a Pittsburgh native. He also mentioned the Detroit Red Wings, who attempted to sign him in 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Minnesota is west, but maybe not so far west that Trocheck might say no. We’ll see.

As for Pittsburgh, acquiring the 32-year-old center would pretty much go against everything that GM Kyle Dubas has been doing for the past two years, which is acquiring players in their twenties who can be part of the club’s long-term plans. Trocheck has three years left on his contract, but his effectiveness will diminish as he ages.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUES’ PLANS FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently reported on what he’s been hearing about Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington, and other St. Louis Blues players ahead of next Friday’s trade deadline.

Thomas, Binnington, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, Pavel Buchnevich, Justin Faulk, Brayden Schenn, and Cam Fowler all have some form of no-trade protection. General manager Doug Armstrong recently met with them to discuss the club’s trade deadline plans. As of Thursday, none of them had been asked to waive that protection.

It’s believed the Blues are willing to trade their older players, specifically those over 25. Thomas is 26, and Kyrou is 27, while the rest are over thirty.

Rutherford reports Armstrong’s asking price for Thomas is “three first-half-of-the-first-round assets”. That could mean an established young player, a prospect, and a draft pick who were all selected or could be chosen within the top 15 picks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also believes the Blues are setting high prices for some of those players. He claimed the asking price for Faulk is comparable to what the Calgary Flames received in the Rasmus Andersson trade. The Flames got an established player, a prospect, and a pair of draft picks.

LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

TSN: Craig Button took note of the recent speculation over whether the Florida Panthers might trade UFA-eligible goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old netminder has not yet signed a contract extension with the Panthers, resulting in trade conjecture.

Button believes a trade sending Bobrovsky to the Montreal Canadiens would make a lot of sense if the veteran netminder were open to it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky has a $10 million cap hit this season. The Canadiens have roughly $1.4 million in projected trade-deadline cap room. They’ll have to move out some salary to take on the remainder of his cap hit. He also has a 16-team no-trade list and might not want to go to Montreal.

Even if it were possible, it’s doubtful the Canadiens would do it, as it would go against what they’ve been trying to build with younger talent. While their goaltending has been questionable this season, they prefer to make trades for younger players who have term left on their contracts. They’ll likely stick with their current tandem for this season.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Montreal Canadiens have “poked around” about Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, but he isn’t sure how feasible it is.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not feasible. The Predators are pushing for a playoff spot, and O’Reilly wants to stay put.

Friedman also believes the Canadiens have looked into the availability of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports forward help remains a priority for the Canadiens, but they’re also looking at adding a depth defenseman. He indicated that the Canadiens made a brief call to the Flyers about Ristolainen to gauge their asking price, but there was no serious push.

D’Amico said the Canadiens are open to adding some toughness to their blueline, but only if the cost makes sense for where they are in their competitive window.

TVA SPORTS: The Canadiens have been trying to move Patrik Laine for some time. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported they allowed the winger’s agent to speak with other teams about a trade months ago.

MAPLE LEAFS PROJECTED TO BE SELLERS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Toronto Maple Leafs’ flat performance coming out of the Olympic break has GM Brad Treliving listening to offers for his players who are on expiring contracts.

That includes Bobby McMann, who appears all but certain to be moved. Murphy claimed the Edmonton Oilers are among several clubs interested in the 29-year-old winger. McMann wants to stay in Toronto, but there’s no sign of progress in contract negotiations.

Murphy acknowledged the trade speculation about Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz. However, sources suggest Joseph Woll as the more realistic trade chip. They also have Dennis Hildeby under contract, and Treliving could attempt to clear the club’s logjam in goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Woll and Stolarz are both signed beyond this season. Injuries in his brief NHL career have frequently sidelined Woll. He’s also easier to move than Stolarz because he lacks no-trade protection (Stolarz has an eight-team no-trade list) and a slightly more affordable cap hit than Stolarz’s $3.75 million AAV on his new contract that begins in July.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples indicated that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Oilers have a “real interest” in Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Oilers are trying to move Andrew Mangiapane to free up salary-cap space, but haven’t found any takers yet for the struggling winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekman-Larsson has a 16-team no-trade list. Assuming the Oilers aren’t on it, his $3.5 million AAV through 2027-28 could be a good fit if they can shed Mangiapane’s $3.6 million AAV through next season, and if the Oilers can meet the Leafs’ asking price.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2026

by | Feb 27, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2026

Check out the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers, Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS PROVIDES PREDATORS WITH A LIST OF TRADE DESTINATIONS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos has provided the team with a list of trade destinations.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Stamkos has two years remaining on his contract and carries a full no-movement clause. LeBrun said that the 34-year-old forward is happy in Nashville and isn’t asking to be traded. This is a preparatory move in case Predators management approaches him about a trade.

The list is topped by Stamkos’ former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are also believed to be on it. LeBrun also believes the New Jersey Devils could be there, as they attempted to sign Stamkos two years ago.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos recently said he’s not sweating the upcoming trade deadline because of his no-movement clause. The possibility of a trade seems unlikely at this point.

RED WINGS REPORTEDLY MAKE A TRADE OFFER FOR TYLER MYERS

TSN: Darren Dreger reported yesterday that the Vancouver Canucks received a trade offer from the Detroit Red Wings for Tyler Myers. That’s why they held the 36-year-old defenseman out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Myers is signed through next season with an average annual value of $3 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause for this season. The blueliner and his agent were reportedly deliberating their next move.

Dreger indicated other clubs, such as the Dallas Stars, are believed to be interested in Myers.

Chris Johnston reported Myers had not yet signed off on the deal. It remains to be seen how this plays out between now and the March 6 trade deadline. The blueliner wants time to decide where he wants to play.

Speaking of the Canucks, Dreger noted that forwards Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and Elias Pettersson have been mentioned in the rumor mill. However, he believes Evander Kane remains the most likely of their forwards to be moved.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche would also be interested in Myers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers had intended to finish his career in Vancouver. He and his family love the city and are well-established in the community. He probably wants to take their needs into account. We’ll find out soon enough what Myers intends to do.

WILL THE PANTHERS BECOME SELLERS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Florida Panthers’ remaining games leading up to next Friday’s trade deadline will determine if they become buyers or sellers.

LeBrun noted that goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is among their players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. He pointed out that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes indicated that the 37-year-old goaltender has not been signed to an extension, and wondered if he could be traded. LeBrun thinks he could be moved if the Panthers become sellers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky carries a salary-cap hit of $10 million, but he’s earning $5 million in actual salary this season. He has a 16-team no-trade list.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold for the Panthers in the coming days. Trading Bobrovsky would be a bold move, and it could send them into the offseason trade and free-agent markets for a suitable replacement.

THE LATEST ON MAPLE LEAFS FORWARDS BOBBY MCMANN AND SCOTT LAUGHTON

TSN: Chris Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will move forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton if they haven’t signed contract extensions by the trade deadline.

Both players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents by July 1. The Leafs aren’t going to carry them to free agency in a season that appears to be heading in the wrong direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann and Laughton have indicated they want to remain with the Leafs. However, that’ll only happen if they’re willing to accept less than market value, which for both players could be around $5 million annually on long-term contracts.

OILERS INTERESTED IN FAULK OR EKMAN-LARSSON?

NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes the Edmonton Oilers could be paying close attention to St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk and Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Both play right-side defense, something the Oilers are trying to address before the trade deadline. However, they’ll have to move Andrew Mangiapane first to clear sufficient cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are pressed against the salary cap. Mangiapane carries an average annual value of $3.6 million through next season with a full no-trade clause, but he’s believed to be willing to waive it to join a team where he’ll get more playing time.

Faulk’s AAV is $6.5 million through 2026-27 with a 15-team no-trade list, while Ekman-Larsson’s is $3 million through 2027-28 with a 16-team no-trade list. By moving Mangiapane, they would have more than enough for Ekman-Larsson, and should have enough to take on the remainder of Faulk’s salary for this season.

However, the Oilers have limited trade assets. The Blues have reportedly set a high asking price for Faulk, and the Maple Leafs could seek a first-round pick or a top prospect for Ekman-Larsson.

THE SHARKS COULD FLIP KIEFER SHERWOOD

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports a source informed him that the San Jose Sharks are open to trading Kiefer Sherwood if he hasn’t signed a contract extension by March 6.

The Sharks acquired the 30-year-old winger from the Vancouver Canucks last month. Given his $1.5 million cap hit, he could draw plenty of interest in the trade market.

LeBrun believes Sherwood would like to stay with the Sharks. However, it’s more likely than not that he gets moved by the trade deadline if he’s not re-signed by then.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2026

by | Feb 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov reaches an assists milestone, Artemi Panarin collects his first points with the Kings, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville gets his 1,000th win, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists, including his 700th career regular-season assist, as the Tampa Bay Lightning doubled up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Gage Goncalves also had a goal and two assists, and Brayden Point scored twice and picked up an assist for the Lightning (38-14-4), who have won six straight games and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 80 points. John Tavares and Matthew Knies replied for the 27-22-9 Maple Leafs, who remain six points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper missed this game due to the death of his father earlier this week. Kucherov also reached the 30-goal plateau for the ninth time in his NHL career and sits second in the scoring race with 94 points. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews picked up an assist in this game.

Artemi Panarin collected his first points with the Los Angeles Kings, but his new club fell 6-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals while Tanner Laczynski collected three assists for the Golden Knights (28-16-14), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 70 points. Quinton Byfield netted two goals for the 23-20-14 Kings, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights played without Olympians Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, and Shea Theodore. All five played in Sunday’s gold-medal game. Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said they were left behind to give them a break. It’s expected they’ll rejoin the team for Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

Anaheim Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville got his 1,000th regular-season win as his club nipped the Edmonton Oilers 6-5. Leo Carlsson had a goal and two assists, and Cutter Gauthier potted the game-winner with 1:14 remaining in the third period for the Ducks (31-23-3). Matt Savoie had a goal and two assists while Connor McDavid had two assists for the 28-23-8 Oilers, who have lost four straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quenneville is only the second coach in NHL history to win 1,000 games. Scotty Bowman is the leader with 1,244. Ducks forward Mikael Granlund missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche improved to 38-9-9 (85 points) with a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Martin Necas and Parker Kelly each had a goal and an assist while Brock Nelson tallied his 30th goal of the season for the Avalanche. Dylan Guenther tallied both goals for the Mammoth (30-24-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon missed this game because of maintenance, according to a team spokesman. MacKinnon appeared to be dealing with an injury during the Olympics. Mammoth center Logan Cooley picked up an assist as he returned to action for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 5.

An overtime goal by Cole Perfetti lifted the Winnipeg Jets over the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Mark Scheifele had two assists, and Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the 23-26-8 Jets. Drew O’Connor and Evander Kane scored for the Canucks (18-33-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks held Tyler Myers out of this game for “roster management purposes”, which means the 36-year-old defenseman could be traded if he agrees to waive his no-movement clause. He’s signed through next season with an average annual value of $3 million.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice, including his 30th goal of the season, in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to seven games for the Stars (35-14-9), who have won seven straight games. Ryker Evans replied for the 27-21-9 Kraken.

The Buffalo Sabres held off the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2-1. Tage Thompson and Peyton Kreb scored for the Sabres, who improved to 33-19-6. Timo Meier scored, and Jack Hughes collected an assist for the 28-28-2 Devils.

Third-period goals by Trevor van Riemsdyk and Aliaksei Protas lifted the Washington Capitals to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Protas also picked up an assist, and goaltender Logan Thompson made 23 saves for the 30-23-7 Capitals. Noah Cates replied for the 25-21-11 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Capitals placed forward Sonny Milano on waivers as they activated Connor McMichael off injured reserve.

HEADLINES

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during the Olympics. He’s been placed on injured reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a significant test for the retooling Penguins, who have exceeded expectations this season to sit second in the Metropolitan Division. They’ll look to long-time star Evgeni Malkin to step up as he’s done in the past whenever Crosby has been injured. This will also be an opportunity for young Penguins such as Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Avery Hayes, and recently-acquired defenseman Samuel Girard to show what they can do.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov remains upbeat and happy with the pace of his recovery from knee surgery last September. He was expected to miss the entire season, but he’s hoping to return for the playoffs.

Barkov’s recovery period also inspired him to make a donation exceeding $1 million to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which named its sports medicine program after him. Since 2019, the Panthers captain has regularly made annual donations totaling $420,000 to the hospital.

SPORTSNET: St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas has taken a leave of absence due to a personal matter. Out of respect for Thomas’ privacy, the club won’t provide any further comment at this time.

ESPN: Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight said a widely circulated comment from President Donald Trump about the US Women’s Olympic hockey team was a “distasteful joke”, and she is more focused on celebrating the women’s accomplishments at the Milan Games.

During the US men’s post-game dressing room celebration of their gold-medal win over Canada, Trump invited them to Washington for the State of the Union address. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, adding with a laugh that he could be impeached if he didn’t include the women’s team.

Several of the players laughed at Trump’s joke, generating criticism when the video went viral. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, and Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars subsequently insisted that they and their USA teammates respected the women’s team and had a great relationship with them.

Knight echoed that sentiment, saying she believed there was a genuine level of support and respect from the men’s team. “I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”

Boston Bruins goaltender and Team USA backup Jeremy Swayman said, “We should’ve reacted differently” to Trump’s joke. He added that he and his teammates were excited for the women’s team when they won gold. “We have so much respect for the women’s team.”

In a statement through a spokesperson, the women’s team declined the invitation to the State of the Union, citing logistics and scheduling concerns. The statement also said that they were honored to be included and grateful for the acknowledgement.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 11, 2026

by | Jan 11, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 11, 2026

Is Dougie Hamilton on the trade block? What defensemen could the Maple Leafs pursue? What’s the latest on the Canucks? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

DOUGIE HAMILTON’S DAYS WITH THE DEVILS APPEAR NUMBERED

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Saturday afternoon that Dougie Hamilton appears willing to work with the New Jersey Devils to find a suitable trade partner after being listed as a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, told LeBrun that he considered the decision to scratch his client a calculated one. He said the 32-year-old defenseman is willing to be flexible with his 10-team trade list. Barry indicated that the Devils had attempted to move Hamilton last summer.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).

In an interview with LeBrun, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said the decision to scratch Hamilton was made because their blueline is finally healthy, and they wanted to give young defenseman Simon Nemec some playing time after returning from an injury. Another reason is the return of defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic from a knee injury.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $9 million. However, his performance has been disappointing this season, with 10 points in 40 games.

Nichols also noted that there have been previous reports suggesting Hamilton rejected several attempts to trade him earlier this season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng referenced Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who reported that the Sharks attempted to acquire Hamilton last summer, but the blueliner blocked that deal.

SPORTSNET: Friedman said there are “hard feelings” between Devils management and Hamilton. He feels he’s being singled out for non-performance reasons. Hamilton has no intention of terminating his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton’s AAV, his injury history, and the recent drop in his production could concern some teams, but he has only missed four games this season before Sunday’s game against the Jets. He’s also a right-shot defenseman with superb puck-moving abilities, and there will be clubs willing to gamble on him returning to form with a more stable roster.

WHICH DEFENSEMEN COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TARGET?

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could be forced to shop for a right-shot defenseman if Chris Tanev’s groin injury turns out to be season-ending.

Koshan mentioned Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, and former Leaf Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets as possible trade options. Other possibilities include Tyler Myers of the Vancouver Canucks, Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, and Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The cost of acquiring any of them could be expensive for the Maple Leafs. They don’t have much trade capital apart from promising forward Easton Cowan and prospect defenseman Ben Danford. Koshan suggested that they may have already made their most significant acquisition when they plucked Troy Stecher off waivers in November.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel looked at what it could cost the Maple Leafs to acquire Andersson, Faulk, or Schenn.

He considered Andersson out of the Maple Leafs’ price range, and doesn’t think taking on the 34-year-old Faulk’s contract ($6.5 million through 2026-27) to be a good idea. Schenn would be the most affordable in terms of contract ($2.75 million for this season), as well as the potential cost of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have already sacrificed way too much of their future in deals that didn’t bring them any closer to ending their long Stanley Cup drought. It would be insane to part with what few significant assets they have left for players who won’t significantly improve their odds of winning the Cup.

THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION (NON-KIEFER SHERWOOD EDITION)

OILERS NATION: Zach Laing cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal’s appearance on Friday’s episode of Sportsnet’s Halford & Brough In The Morning, where he talked about the difficulty the Vancouver Canucks could face if they attempt to trade Evander Kane.

Moving Kane could be tough, with one team saying, “Have fun moving him.” The 34-year-old winger’s age, AAV ($5.125 million), 16-team approved trade list, injuries, and reduced production adversely affect his trade value.

Dhaliwal said two sources told him the Canucks tried trading Kane back to the Edmonton Oilers. However, his Edmonton source indicated that ship had sailed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems like Kane’s season, and perhaps his NHL career, will end in Vancouver. Too many factors make it difficult to move him now.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma recently wondered if Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers might consider waiving his no-movement clause to go to a contender before the March 6 trade deadline.

Myers turns 36 in February and has a year remaining on his contract with an affordable cap hit of $3 million. Kuzma believes the 6’8” blueliner would benefit a team needing second or third-pairing experience.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers and his family love Vancouver, which is why he’s stuck with the Canucks for six seasons. However, he’s nearing the end of his playing days, and his chances of winning the Stanley Cup are narrowing.