The latest on Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Martin Necas, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Men’s Olympic hockey schedule begins on Wednesday with Slovakia playing Finland (10:30 AM ET) and Sweden taking on Italy (3 PM ET).
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber reports KHL president Alexei Morozov intends to touch base with Alex Ovechkin this summer regarding the Washington Capitals captain’s plans.
Ovechkin’s contract with the Capitals expires at the end of this season. However, the 40-year-old left winger hasn’t made any decisions regarding his future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has indicated that he’d like to finish his playing career back home in Russia with Moscow Dynamo. The NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader, his production is down from last season’s 44-goal pace, but he’s second among Capitals scorers with 22 goals and 48 points in 59 games.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons wonders if Auston Matthews can lead the United States to Olympic gold in the 2026 Olympics despite a lack of big-game history. The 28-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs center was named captain of Team USA.
Team USA captain Auston Matthews (NHL.com).
Since Matthews made his NHL debut in 2016-17, he has led all scorers with 427 regular-season goals, but his production dries up in the playoffs. Simmons also noted he had the opportunity to win last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA, but failed to score in overtime.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leading the Americans to Olympic gold won’t fully silence Matthews’ critics, but it would turn down the volume.
TSN: William Nylander missed Sweden’s practice on Tuesday and is questionable for their game against Italy on Wednesday. Head coach Sam Hallam said it was a “maintenance thing,” adding that Nylander already participated in two practices with the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nylander missed some time last month with a groin injury before returning to the Maple Leafs on Jan. 31.
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas hopes he can be part of a new golden era for Czechia. The country has medaled in each of the last four World Junior Championships and won gold at the 2024 World Championships.
THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus reports that the 2026 Olympics are an opportunity for some former NHL players to earn one more chance to return to the big league.
Those former NHLers include Dominik Kahun (Germany), Dominik Kubalik and Ondrej Kase (Czechia), Tomas Tatar (Slovakia), and Rudolfs Balcers (Latvia).
DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis reports sources indicating that 2026 NHL prospect Gavin McKenna is expected to play for Penn State when they face off against the University of Michigan on Saturday.
McKenna, 18, was allegedly involved in an off-ice incident in State College on Jan. 31. He was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. However, the felony assault charge was withdrawn by prosecutors.
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes James Hagens could be the best Boston Bruins prospect since Tyler Seguin. The 19-year-old center was named tournament MVP as he led Boston College to victory in the 2026 Beanpot Tournament. The Bruins chose Hagens seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seguin won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, but they traded him to Dallas two years later as he was poised to become a scoring star. Hopefully, the current management will handle Hagens differently.
THE PROVINCE: Long-time Vancouver Canucks broadcaster Jim Robson passed away on Monday at age 91. Robson was the Canucks first play-by-play man from their first game in 1970 until his retirement in 1999.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robson was the voice of the Canucks through the 1970s, 80s, and 90s on radio and television. He belongs among the greatest hockey broadcasters of all time. My condolences to Robson’s family, friends, and the Canucks organization.