NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

by | Jan 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2026

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

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

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

Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi (NHL Images).

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

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

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

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

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

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

HEADLINES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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










NHL Rumor Mill – December 22, 2025

by | Dec 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 22, 2025

Check out the latest speculation on the Avalanche, Islanders, and Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak believes the first-overall Colorado Avalanche will “almost certainly” add another defenseman before the March 6 trade deadline. However, adding a third-line center is a more pressing need.

The Avalanche could stick with Ross Colton in that role. Bednar recently praised Colton’s efforts in his first game in that role. They could stick with him if the cost of finding other options proves expensive.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

Masisak suggested former Colorado centers such as Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames as possibilities. However, the cost for both makes them unlikely trade targets for the Avalanche.

Other options include Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks, Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks, and former Av Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly reportedly isn’t considering a trade at this time. Kadri’s contract and the Flames’ asking price are too expensive. The Sharks won’t part with Wennberg if they remain in playoff contention.

Dickinson and Coyle could be more affordable if the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets go into sell mode. However, the Avs could be forced to overpay if other clubs get into the bidding, and they’ve already sacrificed future assets in recent years.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders have a steady, left-shot defenseman and a top-six winger near the top of their Christmas wish list to replace sidelined blueliner Alexander Romanov and winger Kyle Palmieri.

If the Islanders become buyers, they could get salary-cap relief by placing Romanov and Palmieri on long-term injury reserve. San Jose Jose Sharks defensemen Mario Ferraro and former Islander Nick Leddy could be blueline targets, while Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks or Matias Maccelli of the Toronto Maple Leafs might make sense as a replacement for Palmieri.

Sears doesn’t see general manager Mathieu Darche parting with a first-round pick to get any of those players.

For now, it’s too early to tell which path Darche might choose. Sears noted that a couple of bad weeks could knock them out of playoff contention in the tightly packed Eastern Conference.

If Darche buys early, he could be parting with future assets that he’ll need to recoup if things go sideways. If he waits too long, he’ll end up in sell mode with UFA-eligible forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Darche will remain patient for now, especially given how few sellers there are in the trade market. The Isles’ performance in January will likely determine which path he takes, especially if more teams become sellers.

The Sharks aren’t likely to part with Ferraro and Leddy if they remain in playoff contention. Sherwood is available, but the Canucks’ asking price could be too high for Darche. Maccelli should be an affordable addition, but his struggles this season don’t make him an enticing trade target.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes the Los Angeles Kings have more work to do after trading center Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. He noted they didn’t get a roster player back in the deal, and the club continues to struggle offensively.

Stephens pointed out that the draft pick they got in the Danault deal would look good if the Kings were rebuilding. However, the club is built to win right now, and they still believe they can reach the playoffs and make some noise.

That second-round pick will only be valuable if it can be turned into a player (like Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators or Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues) who makes the Kings better.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings GM Ken Holland probably isn’t done making moves. Stephens pointed out that they shed Danault’s $5.5 million cap hit for this season and next, giving the Kings $9.2 million in current cap space, and a projected deadline cap space of $26 million.

As mentioned earlier, O’Reilly isn’t prepared to consider a trade right now. Meanwhile, the Blues intend to seek full value for any player they trade, meaning they’ll want a young NHL player for Schenn instead of draft picks.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 31, 2025

by | Oct 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 31, 2025

Updates on where contract talks sit for the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin and the Stars’ Jason Robertson, a look at several centers drawing interest in the trade market, and the latest on the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATES ON PANARIN AND ROBERTSON

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the New York Rangers want to see how this season unfolds before opening contract extension discussions with Artemi Panarin. The 34-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Contract term could be the issue in those talks. LeBrun doubts that Panarin will be interested in a short-term deal, which would probably be the Rangers’ preference. The Panarin camp will seek the longest term possible, because this will be their client’s last big contract in his NHL career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers’ performance this season, and that includes Panarin’s, will determine whether he has a future in New York beyond this season. Given his age, the Blueshirts could be reluctant to sign him for longer than three years. They could consider it if he’s willing to accept a substantial pay cut, but he was reportedly unwilling to do so this summer.

LeBrun reports the Dallas Stars’ focus has shifted to Jason Robertson after signing defenseman Thomas Harley to an extension earlier this week. The 26-year-old winger is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July, and will be a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

Robertson surfaced in the offseason rumor mill. The Stars weren’t shopping him, but wanted to see what teams were offering when they came calling.

The two sides decided to wait to open contract talks. LeBrun speculated they might begin in January, or they could wait until the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson is no longer on the top line following the Stars’ acquisition of Mikko Rantanen at the March 2025 trade deadline. However, he’s settling in on the second line, scoring nine points in 11 games.

The Stars want to keep Robertson, but it’ll depend on his asking price. His arbitration rights and his UFA eligibility the following year give him leverage whenever the two sides finally begin negotiating.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the trade market for centers appears to be heating up ahead of the American Thanksgiving (Nov. 27).

The Calgary Flames’ poor start to this season has made Nazem Kadri the subject of growing trade conjecture. However, his status reflects the Flames’ uncertain direction. They’re trying to right the ship but face mounting pressure to rebuild if things don’t improve by December.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri no longer has full no-trade protection, but he does have a 13-team no-trade list. His age (35) and average annual value ($7 million) through 2028-29 could make him difficult to move if he wants to be traded. So far, all reports claim he loves living in Calgary.

Meanwhile, teams are eyeing Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks. He’s UFA-eligible next July, and multiple clubs see him as a good middle-six trade option.

In Boston, the Bruins remain undecided on Pavel Zacha’s future as they consider competing and retooling. The 28-year-old forward has a year remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently reported that the Bruins believe Zacha fits into their long-term plans. He suggested it wouldn’t be surprising if the versatile forward signs a contract extension next summer.

Bo Horvat has also surfaced in recent trade speculation. However, Murphy claims the 30-year-old New York Islanders center is untouchable unless the club collapses in the standings. Even then, it would take a significant offer to pry him away from the Isles.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Horvat is signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $8.5 million. He also has a full no-trade clause. If, and that’s a big if, he’s willing to waive that clause, it’s unlikely that sort of trade takes place during the season. That seems more like an offseason move.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to explore the idea of trading forwards David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

Kampf is now with the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, and they’d like to move his contract. The 30-year-old center is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $2.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause for this season.

The Leafs have time for the 24-year-old Robertson, but he’s been up and down the Leafs’ lineup. They’d move him if they could get back a player of a similar age, but that’s what makes moving him so difficult, so they’re not in a rush to move him out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s been a fixture in the rumor mill since the summer of 2024, and yet he remains with the Maple Leafs. As I’ve mentioned before, either the Leafs have set a ridiculously high asking price, or he’s not as valuable a trade chip as some observers seem to believe.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2025

by | Oct 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2025

Evaluating possible trade targets for the Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont weighed in on recent rumors linking the Canadiens to Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently indicated that Canadiens management has compiled a list of centers who might become available between now and the March 6 trade deadline, and Kadri is among them. He thinks the Canadiens might be interested because of their ongoing need for a second-line center.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Dumont noted the 35-year-old Kadri is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million and a 13-team no-trade list. He’s done a good job of bucking the usual decline for athletes in his age group, and his underlying numbers remain good despite the Flames’ poor performance this season.

Nevertheless, Kadri’s age is a concern, and the Canadiens tend to focus on youth to maximize their asset value in trades. They would also have to pay a premium for Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dumont believes acquiring Kadri would fly in the face of most of the decisions they’ve made during their rebuild. The Canadiens are likely to pursue younger options to address their second-line center needs.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston was recently asked which of the following players could be realistic trade targets for the Canadiens: Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken, Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders, or Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins.

Johnston considered Zacha as the most likely candidate, but he doesn’t see the Bruins moving him to a long-time rival like the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent reports suggest the Bruins aren’t in any hurry to move Zacha, who is signed through next season. He may sign a contract extension next summer.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols looked at four early-season trade targets for the Devils.

Nichols believes the Devils will need reinforcements if they intend to stage a deep playoff run this season. He listed Zacha, Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames, Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks, and Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres as potential options.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All four are on teams that are struggling early in this season. However, none of them are sellers yet. That could change in the coming weeks if they don’t soon turn their fortunes around. By that point, the Devils might find other options elsewhere.

Tuch and Wennberg are eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer. Zacha and Coleman are signed beyond this season. Tuch has indicated his willingness to stay in Buffalo, but he’s paused his contract extension talks.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2025

by | Oct 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2025

The latest on Flames center Nazem Kadri, Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov, and Sharks center Alex Wennberg in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KADRI ISN’T CONCERNED ABOUT TRADE RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports Nazem Kadri is brushing off recent trade rumors that arose during the Calgary Flames’ poor start to this season. The 35-year-old center acknowledged there would be questions about it, but he’s putting his focus on winning hockey games.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Kadri is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million and a 13-team no-trade list. Some pundits have mentioned him as a trade candidate if the Flames become sellers at some point before the March 6 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s far too early in the season for the Flames to go into sell mode. They need players like Kadri if they hope to turn things around in the coming weeks. However, that could change if they’re still mired in the basement by the New Year.

THE LATEST ON YEGOR CHINAKHOV

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Yegor Chinakhov has been a “good soldier” for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite seeing limited playing time on their fourth line, the 24-year-old forward is still working hard in practice and staying involved in team charity functions.

Chinakhov has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since making his trade request in July, something he has not rescinded. Portzline noted the difficulty he faces moving up in the Blue Jackets’ lineup. The Jackets aren’t moving Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov from the first line. Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson aren’t easy to move from the second line, while third-liners Cole Sillinger and Mathieu Joseph work better as penalty killers than Chinakhov.

The Jackets prefer a return for Chinakhov that addresses their immediate needs. Portzline wondered if struggling clubs, such as the New York Rangers or Calgary Flames, might become trade partners.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets will eventually find a suitable trade destination for Chinakhov. For now, it’s difficult to find a team willing to do a player-for-player deal that addresses their needs.

SHOULD THE CANUCKS PURSUE WENNBERG?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat cited reports claiming Alex Wennberg could be available in the trade market. The 31-year-old San Jose Sharks forward can play center or wing, and is in the final season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $5 million. He also has a 15-team approved trade list.

Kierszenblat wondered if Wennberg could become a trade target for the Vancouver Canucks to help address their center depth. He wouldn’t be surprised if the Sharks forward wound up in Vancouver before the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks won’t be moving Wennberg right now unless someone like the Canucks is willing to overpay for his services. They could peddle him later in the season, but that could come too late to help the Canucks.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2025

by | Sep 23, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Luke Hughes’ contract talks with the Devils, potential suitors for free-agent goalie Carter Hart, and Alex Wennberg’s future with the Sharks. 

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the wedge between the Devils and Luke Hughes is growing more concerning as training camp continues. 

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes, 22, is a restricted free agent completing his entry-level contract. He’s missed nearly the entire first week of Devils training camp. Both sides seek a long-term deal, but cannot find common ground on the dollars. 

Nichols cited recent speculation by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting general managers around the league are doing their best to hold their ground so as not to be taken advantage of with the rising salary cap. 

Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, sees his client as a future No. 1 defenseman and believes he should be paid accordingly. He also doesn’t want to see Luke’s contract land on the “best bargain” list, like his brother, Jack Hughes. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils also have $5.2 million in cap space, which would also explain why negotiations have stalled over money. 

They could get some short-term cap relief if sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovecevic ($4 million average annual value) lands on LTIR to start the season. However, they must be cap-compliant when the season begins, which could lead to a cost-cutting trade if the AAV on Hughes’ new contract exceeds their current cap hit. 

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports sources are claiming the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are among several teams still in the mix for free-agent goaltender Carter Hart. 

Hart won’t be returning to his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers. He seeks a destination where he’ll have a clear path to playing time on a team built for success. 

It’s expected he’ll sign a two-year contract and could play some tune-up games in the AHL in mid-November before his first NHL start in early December. 

The Utah Mammoth had internal discussions about bidding for Hart, but is out of the process. The Edmonton Oilers have decided not to pursue him. 

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports Alex Wennberg faces an uncertain future with the San Jose Sharks. 

The 31-year-old center is in the second season of a two-year contract with the rebuilding Sharks. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

Pashelka noted that the Sharks have promising centers such as Will Smith, Michael Misa, and Filip Bystedt on their roster or within their system.