NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 9, 2024
The Panthers shut out the Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, highlights from Gary Bettman’s latest “State of the League” press conference, and updates on Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
STANLEY CUP FINAL – GAME 1 RECAP
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers drew first blood in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final by blanking the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 in Game 1. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 32-save shutout, Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the postseason, and Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov collected two assists.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky flat-out stole this game for the Panthers, especially in the first period when they were outshot 13-4 and out-chanced 8-3 at five-on-five. The 35-year-old became the oldest goaltender in Stanley Cup Final history to record a shutout.
Edmonton controlled the play for most of this game, garnering plenty of quality scoring opportunities. At times, the ice seemed tilted in the Panthers’ zone as the Oilers pressed but couldn’t beat Bobrovsky.
Almost all of Edmonton’s quality scoring chances were to the bottom part of the net but Bobrovsky shut that area down. Hockey Night in Canada noted that most of the goals scored against him in this postseason were high glove or high blocker. The Oilers will have to work on that for the rest of this series.
Florida made the most of their few quality scoring chances but the Oilers would’ve won this game if Bobrovsky hadn’t been on top of his game. Expect a better effort defensively by the Panthers going forward in this series.
This game will likely be the last time in this series that the Oilers pair up defensemen Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci. They had been separated during the Western Conference Final but were reunited for this contest. They were on the ice for the first two Panthers goals.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM GARY BETTMAN’S LATEST “STATE OF THE LEAGUE” ADDRESS
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun highlighted the key points from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s latest “State of the League” press conference before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The league and the NHLPA announced the salary cap for 2024-25 will rise to $88 million, an increase of $4.5 million and the biggest jump in the cap since 2019. The cap had been flattened from 2020-21 to 2023-24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
Bettman predicted the cap will continue to rise in the coming years, anticipating robust growth in the salary cap.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The cap was projected to increase by $4.2 million to $87.7 million. Both sides agreed to round it up to $88 million, which is welcome news for cap-strapped clubs as well as players slated to become free agents on July 1.
More details were revealed regarding the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament in 2025 involving Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.
The league and NHLPA announced it will be held from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston instead of the All-Star Game. The four countries will play each other twice in Montreal before moving to Boston for the final game of the round-robin and the championship game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for further details on tournament scheduling.
Bettman said there is nothing new regarding expansion despite rumors of putting clubs in Atlanta and Houston and a possible return to Arizona. He acknowledged that the league continues to deal with expressions of interest, noting at least half a dozen cities are interested in the NHL product.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe we’ll see NHL franchises in Atlanta and Houston by the end of this decade at the latest. A return to Arizona depends on whether former Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo can secure funding to build an NHL arena in the Phoenix area.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he’s received feedback from many (but not all) NHL general managers regarding possible changes to long-term injury reserve rules. Under the current system, the salary cap doesn’t count during the postseason. While there is some appetite for change, Daly said it would have to be negotiated with the PA during the next round of collective bargaining in 2026.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL cannot adjust the current LTIR rules without the agreement of the NHLPA. I daresay we’ll see it tweaked in the next CBA.
Bettman and Daly were asked if the league had any advice for teams with players charged in the 2018 Team Canada sexual assault case regarding qualifying offers to retain their rights by June 30. The commissioner said it will be up to the individual clubs to decide if they’ll qualify those players based on the current rules outlined in the CBA.
The players involved are Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Alex Formenton of the Ottawa Senators was also charged. He’s on the Senators’ reserve list because they qualified his rights in 2022. He spent the past two seasons playing in Switzerland.
Bettman stated that former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and former head coach Joel Quenneville remain ineligible to apply for jobs in the NHL. This is a result of their failure to react responsibly in connection with the Kyle Beach sexual assault case. He said both have reached out seeking an opportunity to return, but it’s something he has to consider.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas isn’t providing any details or updates regarding contract extension talks with captain Sidney Crosby. “We want to keep that as quiet as possible and go through it,” he said, adding that this was being done out of respect for Crosby and what he means to the organization.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict Crosby will re-sign with the Penguins before training camp opens in September.
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson recently shot down any possibility of a reunion with Patrick Kane. He indicated that he was happy to see the former Blackhawks winger had a good year with the Detroit Red Wings. However, he doesn’t foresee them bringing him back to Chicago.
Out shot, out chanced, out hustled; still won
How? Two mistakes capitalized on; and one Russian 4’ x 6’ brick wall
If Panthers go on to win the series, Bobrovski a unanimous choice for Conn Smythe.
What a great performance.
Oilers threw everything they had at him and he stood strong, cool, collective
This victory certainly doesn’t win the series.
Continued dominance by Oilers should eventually crack the Russian wall; Oilers just need to limit costly mistakes (Ouch Ceci).
I still see this series as a long one
Series looked opposite of the series vs the Rangers games 2-4 where Florida dominated, Igor stood on his head and the Rangers scored timely goals
Re “ Bettman …and a possible return to Arizona”
This requires a Dickie Roberts response.
That’s just Nuckin Futz
3 Peat in Atlanta
Again from Dickie
That’s just Nuckin Futz
Houston . Absolutely.
I was stunned Salt Lake City got a franchise before Houston.
Bettman.
You are just Nuckin Futz
Expansion is not needed at this point. There are enough teams already. And returning to Atlanta would be a joke.
Gee, anti-Bettman – something else you share with Pengy. Give us a Nuckin Break!
Pengy is the only Bettman hater???
Are you serious?
Give me s Nuckin break George
Outside of Bettman’s family, is there anybody who likes him?
The team owners
Boom.
Anyone who loves the penguins being in Pittsburgh should love bettman. The cap saved them from moving.
So Florida fans were warned about throwing plastic rats on the ice and that it could result in a penalty. Here’s your chance passionate oiler fans! Get a good group together. Buy tickets. Buy panthers jerseys. Buy plastic rats. Go to the game and let er rip. Mcdavid scores on ensuing pp! It’s flawless!
Darnell Nurse can break Sam Reinhart’s fathers all time record of a -16 in a playoff year.
You can t win without a true no. 1 defensemen in the playoffs!Edmonton is lacking that! A stud goalie helps also!
their first pair was solid and was in Bob zone most shifts
Nurse paid like Trouba and similar situation. bottom pair D that can play physical but lack footspeed
Sr
Who on the panthers d is this true #1 d man , who is that much better than Bouchard or ekholm? The oilers generated 50 shots , giving up 14 attempts in bouchards minutes in game 1 . Everyone points to nurses -16, what about bouchards +13 . Or his 6-21-27 in 19 games . Ekhokm is playing through something, has been for the last handful of games , 7 minutes in first half of the game last night , but I’d love to know who on panthers d is that much better than either.
50 shot attempts* in bouchards minutes. Also should have added game 1 was the Bob show , he stole 1 , happens , like skinner stole 6 in Dallas. This wasn’t about lacking a number 1 d man in any way .
Montour is a no. 1,do you want to compare goalies now?
Craig,over a long series the team with the best group of defensemen and especially goalie wins out! Bouchard offensively is a 1,defensively I do. T think so!
Nurse has great footspeed.
If he isn’t the best skating big d-man in the NHL he’s close.
First goal was a bad read by both Nurse and Ceci on a 3 on 2.
The 2nd is on Nurse, he needed to block that pass as no one was in the low slot, that high trailer coming down wasn’t his man.
IMO
Are you drinking already sr ? It was you who said they can’t win without a #1, now your saying what’s needed is the best group 😂.. montour is no #1 if you don’t include Bouchard and ekholm for that matter as #1’s.
@ray
so is nurse -15 from his bad reads?
from what ive seen his positioning is bad and footspeed to my eyes doesnt let him fix mistakes
also i will take forsling any day of the week
ds, I was simply addressing the footspeed comment because it isn’t accurate, in fact the opposite is true. Next time the Oilers are in town, go watch him play and see for yourself.
IMO the high minus is a combo of a partner who is playing too high in the lineup, tough matchups and role with that partner, bad reads, soft goals and bad luck. Only the bad reads are his fault.
Has he been a big minus the rest of his career? The answer is no. So what changed?
Montour season
34 points , plus 10
Corsi for. 61.9%
Bouchard season
82 points , plus 34
Corsi for 64.8%
Before you say , Bouchard only produces on PP , he had 10-37-47 at 5v5.
I’m not criticizing any of the panthers D , I like Montour actually , but can’t say he is a #1 and Bouchard and ekholm aren’t .
Ekholm had 11-34-45 / +44.
Dallas dominated Edmonton in game 6 and lost.
Edmonton dominated Florida in game 1 and lost.
That’s hockey!
Exactly. It’s why the game requires a goalkeeper as part of the roster.
Spomgbob Stoll the game for the panthers last night…no use trying to go five hole he has been working on that all year….
An other Bruital game bye the Oilers 2nd paring d of Nurse & Ceci…..⁉️ on for both Goals..
Nurse needs to be traded out of Edmonton after the playoffs🤔
Oilers out played the panthers and out shot them
Spongbob was the diffrence there
williew, as Caper noted above, that’s hockey. In the deciding game 6 of the Dallas-Edmonton series, won by the Oilers 2-1, Skinner stopped 33 of 34 shots while Oetinger face a TOTAL of 10 shots for the entire game.
That 35 year old Stanley Cup shutout record is hard to believe. With all the low scoring and older goalies back in the day it’s questionable imo.
Just seems wrong
There have been chances, Isotopes with Vancouver (1994 & 2011). Calgary (2004), Edmonton (2006), Ottawa (2007) and Montreal (2021) all having been to the Cup finals in that span. Only the Jets and Leafs have never had the opportunity to win it since 1993.
Eleven of the current franchises (a full third) have never won a cup, 7 of them U.S.-based: Buffalo Sabres; Vancouver Canucks; San Jose Sharks; Florida Panthers; Arizona Coyotes (Utah ?); Nashville Predators; Winnipeg Jets; Minnesota Wild; Columbus Blue Jackets; Ottawa Senators (1992 incarnation); Seattle Kraken
34 or maybe 35 teams? NWDHL should be the new name then, National Watered Down Hockey League.
funy same.line everyome says every time they expand and yet here we are with amazing hockey and loads of amazing players yet again. Growing the game helps a lot
Seriously? Are there even 68 NHL level goalies in the world?
I like 32. Good number. Half the teams make the playoffs. 34? Meh. Not necessary but not a big deal either. The chl agreement would have to go. There might be 68 nhl level goalies. They are voodoo. You never know. Vancouver gets stellar goaltending from their third stringer. The current cup goalies are a guy long considered way overpriced and untradable. And a young fellow that got his job cause another goalie crapped the bed. Adin hill won Vegas a cup. There are valid arguments against expansion. But goalie talent I don’t think is one.
Great points chrisms.
If you wanna beat Bob, you have to get him moving laterally and bury it up top.
Royal road + high blocker. Problem is that Fla knows to occupy that ice with active sticks and forward support.
Bet McDavid picked up enough tells in game one to make the adjustments going forward.
I think the Oil just might do this.
Agree SOP, they should get their goals. On the other hand, I wouldn’t bet on FLA getting out chanced that badly moving forward. I think the Oil will still out chance them, it’s kinda what they do, just not so lopsided.
players also got back their full escrow i believe. right Lyle? that’s amazing because so many media, agents and others whined and whined about it, well it worked.
That’s correct, I’ll be posting that on tomorrow’s headlines (June 10). They get the full six percent of escrow back. That’s what happens when hockey-related revenue exceeds projections.
And it’s all Bettman’s fault, eh Pengy ?
“If you wanna beat Bob, you have to get him moving laterally and bury it up top.” is correct but it goes for most goalies, butterfly, spread post to post, stick covering the 5 hole and it’s hard for most to roof it when in tight and harder on the backhand.
Oilers will deal with it…..but Panthers have to take Ekblad off McDavid and Draisait as they make him look like a turnstile ,
The Oilers have just enough firepower to score those goals, habfan30.
Good thing they have Forsling with Ekblad for insulation.
How did he get so good? He closes gaps like an all-star.
Johnny bower had 2 shutouts in the Stanley cup finals:4-0 in game 7 of the 1964 finals and 3-0 in game 3 in the 1967 finals against Montreal. I believe this makes him the oldest goalie to get a shutout in a stanley cup final.
I believe what Lyle meant to impart was the fact that “Sergei Bobrovsky at 35 years, 262 days becomes the oldest goalie in NHL history to open the Stanley Cup Final with a shutout.”