NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2026

by | Jan 2, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2026

Are the Wild planning another big trade? What’s the biggest need for the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin isn’t done making moves following last month’s blockbuster acquisition of Quinn Hughes.

Russo and Smith believe Guerin wouldn’t have given up four huge pieces (Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, 2026 first-round pick) for Hughes if the Wild weren’t trying to win right now.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).

They believe Guerin will take another big swing in the trade market, “probably for a center”, drawing on their draft picks and prospects as bait. The Wild also has an estimated $12.9 million in trade-deadline cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild haven’t won a playoff round since 2015. The furthest they ever went in the playoffs was the Western Conference Final in 2003. Their current roster has the potential to become a Stanley Cup contender for the next few years, making this an opportune time to bolster their depth accordingly.

Finding a good center won’t be easy in the current trade market.

Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames, Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators are the most notable centers mentioned in trade rumors this season.

However, the Flames insist they’re not interested in moving Kadri, the decline in Schenn’s performance this season could make him less enticing than he was last season, and O’Reilly’s reported unwillingness to be traded could force Guerin to shop around.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes the Detroit Red Wings must bolster their defense before the March 6 trade deadline.

They have a strong first pairing with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Meanwhile, Ben Chiarot has played well this season on the second pairing along with rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

However, Sandin-Pellikka has been playing somewhat sheltered minutes. He might not be up to the task of being a second-pairing defenseman in postseason action when the play becomes more physical.

Bultman suggested adding an experienced No. 4 or 5 defenseman before the deadline. Possibilities could include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Brett Kulak of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rasmus Anderson of the Calgary Flames is the biggest name for defensemen in the trade market. However, the Red Wings aren’t likely to get into a bidding war for an expensive postseason rental player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are currently flying high in the standings, sitting first in the Eastern Conference. GM Steve Yzerman isn’t under any pressure right now to make a move, but he could go shopping for a blueliner by the deadline.

Yzerman caught flak from Detroit fans, pundits, and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin for his inactivity at last season’s trade deadline. It’s doubtful he’ll sit on his hands this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

by | Dec 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2025

A milestone win for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Predators forward Steven Stamkos poised to reach 600 goals, Islanders forward Mathew Barzal fined, the Blue Jackets trade Yegor Chinakhov to the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for his 446th career NHL regular-season win as he backstopped his club over the Washington Capitals by a score of 5-3. Sam Reinhart scored two goals (including his 20th of the season), and Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games for the 21-15-2 Panthers. Tom Wilson tallied twice for the Capitals (20-14-5), who have three wins in their last 11 contests.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky moved ahead of Terry Sawchuk into eighth place on the all-time goaltender wins list. He needs nine more victories to surpass Curtis Joseph, who is seventh with 454 wins, and 14 more to vault over Henrik Lundqvist (459) into sixth place.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored two goals and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who’ve won four of their last five games and improved to 17-17-4. Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the 18-19-3 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a slow start to this season, Stamkos has 17 goals and 25 points in 38 games. He’s also one goal away from becoming the 22nd player in league history to reach 600 career regular-season goals, and only the third active player to do so.

Before this game, the Mammoth placed starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their ninth straight victory by doubling up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Zach Benson scored the winning goal for the Sabres, who improved to 20-14-4 on the season. Brayden Schenn and Jimmy Snuggerud replied for the Blues, who dropped to 15-17-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are one win away from tying the franchise record of 10 straight victories. Team captain Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup after spending time with his fiancée in Europe as she continues her recovery from a heart transplant earlier this year.

Before the game, the Blues announced forward Pius Suter will miss approximately four weeks with an ankle injury.

An overtime goal by Jackson Blake lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (24-11-3) as they hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the 19-17-5 Rangers, who are 1-2-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov underwent surgery for a nagging lower-body injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. They also claimed center Noah Philp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got a 27-save performance from goalie Jet Greaves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Kirill Marchenko scored to collect his 30th point of the season while Charlie Coyle and Cole Sillinger each picked up two assists for the 17-15-6 Blue Jackets, who have won three straight games. Jake Sanderson replied for the Senators (18-15-3), who are 0-2-1 in their last three contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The start of this game was pushed back to 7:30 PM ET as mechanical issues with the Blue Jackets’ jet delayed their arrival into Ottawa. They played without forward Isac Lundestrom, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Before the game began, the Blue Jackets traded forward Yegor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Details and analysis below in the Headlines section.

Senators center Shane Pinto and defenseman Tyler Kleven returned to action after being sidelined by injuries.

Edmonton Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard kicked out 41 shots in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Connor McDavid collected an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Oilers (20-14-6) took over first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points. Adam Lowry scored for the struggling Jets (15-18-4), who are winless in their last six games (0-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane was a healthy scratch as trade rumors are swirling. I’ll have more about his situation in today’s Rumor Mill.

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon each had a goal and an assist for the 24-10-6 Wild. Vegas goalie Carter Hart gave up five goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid. The Golden Knights (17-9-11) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl was ejected in the first period for boarding Wild winger Ryan Hartman.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and two assists as his club held off the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the 19-17-3 Sharks. Troy Terry tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks (21-16-2), who have lost three straight and have two wins in their last nine contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (upper-body injury) and defenseman Radko Gudas (illness) missed this game, while forward Ryan Strome was a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, extending their winning streak to eight games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the 29-2-7 Avalanche, who lead the league with 65 points. Corey Perry and Joel Armia replied for the Kings (16-13-9).

An overtime power-play goal by Connor Zary lifted the Calgary Flames over the Boston Bruins 2-1. Dustin Wolf stopped 24 shots, and Blake Coleman also scored for the 17-18-4 Flames. Andrew Peeke scored for the Bruins (20-18-2), who are winless in their last six (0-4-2).

The Vancouver Canucks got 37 saves from Kevin Lankinen in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Liam Ohgren tallied the winning goal while Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson scored in regulation for the 16-19-3 Canucks. Jaren McCann and Ryan Winterton replied for the 16-14-7 Kraken as their four-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov, Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen, and Montreal Canadiens right winger Juraj Slafkovsky were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 28.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/THE ATHLETIC: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and a 2027 third-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 2020 first-round pick by the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov was projected to become a top-six forward. However, he struggled with injury and inconsistency over the past two seasons. During the summer, his agent requested a trade for his client, citing “misunderstandings” with head coach Dean Evason. He bounced around the Jackets’ forward lines this season.

It will be interesting to see if Chinakhov can get his NHL career back on track in Pittsburgh. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acknowledged Chinakhov’s issues, but indicated that his club conducted its due diligence before making this move. He stated that they liked the winger’s size, speed, and two-way skills.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Penguins, they placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have tapped Sam Montembeault as their starting goalie for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. Montembeault was recently recalled from a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Laval.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 29, 2025

by | Dec 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 29, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we catch up on recent speculation about the Flyers and the Predators.

THE LATEST ON THE FLYERS

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reported last week that his sources claimed the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild discussed a trade in which the Wild offered up center Ryan Hartman.

The Flyers are seeking a short-term replacement for Tyson Foerster, who could be out for the remainder of this season following surgery for an upper-body injury. Hartman, 31, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $4 million and a 15-team no-trade list.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Bobby Brink (NHL Images).

Wild general manager Bill Guerin has some salary cap flexibility after acquiring Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this month. Guerin is in no hurry to move Hartman, but could move the veteran forward if he’s looking to make another impact move this season.

Di Marco indicated the Wild have shown interest in Flyers winger (and Minnesota native) Bobby Brink. The 24-year-old Brink is eligible to become a restricted free agent in July and carries a $1.5 million cap hit this season.

According to Di Marco, the Flyers aren’t rushing to move Brink. However, given their depth on the wings, he might not fit into their long-range plans.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco wonders if the Flyers and Wild might revisit their discussions leading up to the trade deadline. Whether the Flyers want Hartman or the Wild remains interested in Brink by that point remains to be seen. That will depend on each club’s needs and their placement in the standings by that point.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James cited a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, where the latter indicated the Flyers are in contract extension talks with Christian Dvorak.

Dvorak, 29, signed a one-year, $5.4 million contract with the Flyers in July as a free agent. He has 24 points in 36 games, putting him on pace to exceed his career high of 38 points in 2019-20.

Because Dvorak is on a one-year contract, the earliest he can sign an extension is Jan. 1. Friedman said some teams don’t expect Dvorak to be available next summer.

James also mentioned Sunday’s report that Flyers defenseman Yegor Zamula has changed agents and could attempt to terminate his contract to sign with another NHL team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dvorak has fit in well with the Flyers this season. He’s among the reasons why they have exceeded expectations thus far by contending for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He could be inked to a multi-year deal soon after New Year’s Day.

UPDATE ON THE PREDATORS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last week that Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz’s patience with embattled head coach Andrew Brunette has paid off, with the club rising from the bottom of the Western Conference standings to within three points of a wild-card berth.

The heat is off the Predators for now, but his club’s recent improvement won’t force Trotz to deviate from his plan to integrate more youth into his roster. LeBrun believes he’s still open to listening to offers for veteran forwards such as Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as the March 6 trade deadline approaches.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz won’t be a seller if the Predators are in the playoff chase by March 6. However, a significant offer for Stamkos or Marchessault (provided they waive their no-movement clauses) could prove too tempting to pass up.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2025

by | Dec 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2025

Recapping Saturday’s games, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler turned in a 31-save performance for his first NHL shutout to blank the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. Josh Anderson scored two goals, Lane Hutson collected his 100th regular-season point, and rookie center Owen Beck tallied his first NHL goal as the Canadiens improved to 19-12-4. The Penguins are winless in their last eight games (0-4-4) and dropped to 14-11-9.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson returned to action after missing two games with an injury. Jayden Struble was a healthy scratch to make way for Matheson. The Canadiens placed defenseman Kaiden Guhle and center Kirby Dach on long-term injury reserve to free up salary-cap space for recently acquired center Phillip Danault, who will join the team for Tuesday’s game in Boston against the Bruins. Canadiens center Jake Evans won’t be traveling with the team on their road trip after leaving Saturday’s game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

The New York Rangers overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 on shootout goals by Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. Panarin tallied twice in regulation, and Mika Zibanejad had a goal and an assist for the 18-15-4 Rangers. Rookie Denver Barkey collected two assists for their first two NHL points for the Flyers (17-10-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly victory for the Rangers as team captain J.T. Miller left the game in the third period with an upper-body injury following a hit from Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler. Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar and center Christian Dvorak missed this contest with injuries and are listed as day-to-day.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel scored two third-period goals as his club overcame 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-4. Ryan McDonagh had a goal and an assist as the Lightning (19-13-3) snapped a three-game losing skid. Hurricanes rookie Bradly Nadeau scored his second career NHL goal for the Hurricanes (22-10-3), who blew a three-goal lead for the second straight game. They remain in first place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nadeau was called up as Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least a week. Meanwhile, Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (upper body) was placed on IR.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2. Moritz Seider had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 20-13-3 (43 points). Aliaksei Protas and Martin Fehervary replied for the Capitals (19-12-4), who’ve lost four of their last five contests.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle scored a shorthanded goal and picked up two assists in a 6-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Brady Tkachuk and David Perron each scored twice as the Senators have won three straight and improved to 17-13-4. Ilya Mikheyev tallied two goals for the Blackhawks (13-16-6), who dropped their fourth straight game and slipped into last place in the Western Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The news got worse for the Blackhawks as center Frank Nazar left the game in the first period after taking a puck to the face. After the game, head coach Jeff Blashill said Nazar will be sidelined for four weeks, joining superstar Connor Bedard on the sidelines.

Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to the lineup after missing 15 games with an oblique muscle injury. However, they lost blueliner Tyler Kleven day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy scored twice as the Minnesota Wild won their seventh straight game by downing the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 5-2. Mats Zuccarello and Vladimir Tarasenko each had two points for the surging Wild (22-9-5). Leon Draisaitl had two assists for the Oilers (17-13-6).

A shootout goal by Josh Norris lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. Tage Thompson scored to extend his goal streak to six games as the Sabres collected their fifth straight victory and improved to 16-14-4. Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (19-13-4), who’ve dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Sabres announced they’ve parted company with assistant general manager Jason Karmanos. They also recalled forward Isak Rosen from their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas scored twice and set up another goal in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, snapping the latter’s win streak at four games. Jake Neighbours tallied two goals, and Jonatan Berggren had a goal and two assists for the Blues (14-15-8). A.J. Greer and Sam Reinhart replied for the 19-14-2 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The Vancouver Canucks got a shootout goal from Liam Ohgren to upset the Boston Bruins 5-4. Linus Karlsson led the way for the Canucks with two goals and an assist as they picked up their fourth straight win and improved to 15-17-3. Morgan Geekie scored his 25th goal of the season and picked up an assist for the 20-15-1 Bruins.

Nashville Predators winger Luke Evangelista snapped a 3-3 tie as his club defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, handing the latter their fourth loss in their last five games. Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist for the 14-16-4 Predators. Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson each picked up two points for the Maple Leafs, who dropped to 15-14-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch for this game. He’s mired in a 22-game goal drought and has a team-worst plus/minus of minus-13.

The Calgary Flames upset the Vegas Golden Knights 6-3. Mikael Backlund scored twice and had an assist while MacKenzie Weegar and Connor Zary each collected three assists for the 15-17-4 Flames. Mark Stone had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (16-7-10).

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov scored the tie-breaking goal with 3:29 remaining in the third period to lift his club to a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mikael Granlund had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with a record of 21-13-2. Zach Werenski had two points, and Mason Marchment scored in his first game with the Blue Jackets, who dropped to 14-15-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski left the game with a leg injury late in the game. There was no postgame update on his status. Earlier in the day, the NHL’s department of player safety fined Ducks forward Frank Vatrano $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Dallas Stars on Friday.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord stopped 35 shots as his club doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Chandler Stephenson scored to extend his goal streak to four games and his points streak to eight as the Kraken (13-14-6) snapped a four-game losing skid. Adam Gaudette and Collin Graf scored for the Sharks (17-16-3) as they’ve dropped two straight.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren missed this game with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 19, 2025

by | Dec 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 19, 2025

Recaps of Thursday’s action and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored a shorthanded goal and picked up an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also had a goal and an assist for the 17-12-6 Oilers, who have won six of their last eight games. Pavel Zacha replied for the Bruins (20-15-0), who dropped two of their last three contests.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid has caught up with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for first place in the scoring race, with each player having 58 points. Calvin Pickard replaced Oilers starting goalie Tristan Jarry as the latter left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. There was no postgame update on his status.

The Minnesota Wild extended their win streak to six games by downing the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov each had a goal and two assists, and Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves as the Wild improved to 21-9-5. Zach Werenski scored both goals for the Blue Jackets (14-14-6), who have lost six of their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boldy join Kaprizov with his 20th goal of the season, making the Wild the only team thus far this season to have two 20-goal scorers.

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stopped 22 shots to shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0. Jakob Chychrun tallied twice, and John Carlsson had a goal and two assists for the Capitals (19-11-4) as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Dennis Hildeby made 25 saves for the Maple Leafs, who slipped to 15-13-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube pulled no punches about his team’s performance following this game, laying the blame for the loss at the feet of his players. He pointed out that the Capitals played with more passion and urgency. When asked why his players were so flat in this game, Berube replied, “Ask those guys, not me.”

Speaking of 4-0 wins, Ottawa Senators netminder Linus Ullmark made 24 saves to earn his shutout over the Pittsburgh Penguins, handing the latter their seventh straight loss (0-3-4). Brady Tkachuk netted two goals, and Drake Batherson collected two assists for the 16-13-4 Senators, who have won three of their last four games. Arturs Silovs stopped 22 shots for the Penguins as their record dropped to 14-10-9.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Senators announced that former head coach Jacques Martin will be inducted into their Ring of Honour in a pregame ceremony on Jan. 24, 2026. Martin coached the Senators from 1996 to 2004, following a brief return behind the bench in 2023-24. In 748 games with the Senators, his record was 367-261-96-24.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe scored two goals, and Anton Forsberg kicked out 31 shots for a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the win, the Kings (15-10-9) ended a four-game winless streak (0-2-2). Oliver Bjorkstrand replied for the Lightning (18-13-3), who are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defenseman Ryan McDonagh returned to action after missing time with injuries.

An overtime goal by J.T. Miller lifted the New York Rangers over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves, and Gabe Perreault also scored for the Rangers, who improved to 17-15-4. Jonatan Berggren tallied for the Blues (13-15-8).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers winger Artemi Panarin missed this game with an illness.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson scored to extend his goal streak to five games in a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Zach Benson and Mattias Samuelsson each had two assists for the Sabres, who won their fourth straight game and improved to 15-14-4. Bobby Brink had two points for the Flyers (17-10-6).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff picked up his 915th win to move into fourth place on the all-time list. Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring returned to action after missing a month with an injury. However, the Sabres lost defenseman Conor Timmins to a broken leg that will sideline him for six to eight weeks, while forward Tyson Kozak departed with an upper-body injury.

The Calgary Flames got two goals from Mikael Backlund to double up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist for the 14-17-4 Flames. Joey Daccord made 42 saves for the Kraken (12-14-6), who have lost four straight games and have one win in their last 11 contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Flames announced defenseman Jake Bean will be sidelined indefinitely as he will undergo surgery for an undisclosed injury.

Montreal Canadiens winger Zachary Bolduc tallied twice in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Lane Hutson had three assists for the 18-12-4 Canadiens. Frank Nazar scored, and Spencer Knight had 31 saves for the Blackhawks (13-15-6), who have lost four straight.

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston had two goals as his club held off the San Jose Sharks by a score of 5-3. Roope Hintz had a goal and an assist, and Jake Oettinger stopped 34 shots for the Stars (23-7-5). Chad Graf scored twice for the 17-15-3 Sharks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2025

by | Dec 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2025

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl reaches 1,000 points, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon continues his high-scoring ways, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini moves up in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl collected four assists to surpass 1,000 career NHL regular-season points as his Edmonton Oilers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4. Connor McDavid scored two goals and set up two others for the 16-12-6 Oilers. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist for the 14-9-9 Penguins, who are winless in their last six games (0-2-4).

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are the only team in NHL history to have five players reach the 1,000-point plateau as Draisaitl joined McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri. Meanwhile, McDavid continues his surge in this season’s scoring race, sitting second with 56 points.

This was the first game between the two clubs since they swapped starting goaltenders last Friday. The Oilers’ Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for the win, while the Penguins’ Stuart Skinner turned aside 17 shots.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied twice and collected an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Cale Makar, Martin Necas, and Valeri Nichushkin each had two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves as the league-leading Avalanche (24-2-7) picked up their third straight win. Shane Wright, Jordan Eberle, and Chandler Stephenson replied for the Kraken (12-13-6) as they’ve dropped nine of their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all NHL scorers with 28 goals and 58 points. He’s on pace to reach 70 goals. The last players to reach that milestone were Hall of Famers Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny, who each had 76 goals in 1992-93.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had two goals and two assists to lead his club over the Calgary Flames by a score of 6-3. Barclay Goodrow scored twice and had an assist, and winger Tyler Toffoli the 300th regular-season NHL goal for the 17-14-3 Sharks, who’ve won three straight contests. Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, and Nazem Kadri scored for the 13-17-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is third in this season’s scoring race with 51 points. Earlier in the day, the Sharks deemed forward Philipp Kurashev as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild got a 25-save performance from Filip Gustavsson to shut out the Washington Capitals 5-0. Vladimir Tarasenko and Danila Yurov each had three points, and Quinn Hughes collected an assist in his second game with the Wild, who picked up their fifth straight win and improved to 20-9-5. Charlie Lindgren stopped 27 of 32 shots for the 18-11-4 Capitals, who drop to 1-3-2 in their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marcus Foligno returned to action after being sidelined since Nov. 26 with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie scored twice in a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth. David Pastrnak had two assists for the 20-14-0 Bruins, who’ve won five of their last six games. Barrett Hayton replied for the Mammoth, who dropped to 16-16-3 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie sits second among league scorers this season with 24 goals. Before this game, the Bruins placed defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (upper body) on injured reserve, and claimed blueliner Vladislav Kolyachonok off waivers from the Dallas Stars.

The Philadelphia Flyers downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. Trevor Zegras scored to extend his goal streak to four games, and Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist for the 17-9-6 Flyers, who extended their points streak to five games (2-3-0). Alexandre Texier scored for the Canadiens, who dropped to 17-12-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. They also sent goaltender Sam Montembeault to their AHL affiliate on a two-week conditioning stint. Meanwhile, Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen made his season debut after recovering from triceps surgery in March

Two goals in eight seconds by Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua late in the third period rallied the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Matthews and William Nylander finished with two points each, and Joseph Woll stopped 23 shots for the 15-12-5 Maple Leafs. Wyatt Kaiser and Jason Dickinson scored for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost three straight games and slipped to 13-14-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov was scratched from this game after being late for practice on Monday.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat netted two goals in the third period as his club nipped the New York Islanders 3-2. Lucas Raymond collected three assists for the Red Wings (19-12-4). Emil Heineman and Scott Mayfield replied for the Islanders (19-12-3) as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Red Wings regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 41 points.

An overtime goal by Adam Fantilli gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Zach Werenski had two goals and an assist as the 14-13-6 Blue Jackets snapped a five-game losing skid. Mikael Granlund and Ryan Poehling each had two points for the Ducks (20-12-2), who have dropped three of their last four games (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 42 points, the Ducks cling to first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Vancouver Canucks blanked the New York Rangers 3-0. Thatcher Demko kicked out 23 shots for the shutout while Evander Kane, Liam Ohgren, and Conor Garland scored for the 13-17-3 Canucks. The Rangers (16-15-4) have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings placed goaltender Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve and recalled netminder Pheonix Copley.

The St. Louis Blues claimed winger Jonatan Berggren off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings.

THE TENNESSEAN: Former US college football coach Nick Saban purchased a minority stake in the Nashville Predators.

TORONTO SUN: Former NHL forward Paul Gagne passed away at age 63 after battling cancer. Gagne spent eight seasons 1980-81 to 1989-90) with the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders. He had 110 goals and 101 assists for 211 points in 390 games.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Veteran TSN broadcaster Michael Whalen passed away earlier this week at age 82. Whalen was TSN’s bureau reporter for Montreal and Quebec from 1986 to 2007.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to the family and friends of Gagne and Whalen.