NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 14, 2024
Reaction from the Blues signing Oilers’ Broberg and Holloway to offer sheets, Jeff Vinik selling his majority stake of the Lightning, Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen to retire, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The St. Louis Blues signed Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway on Tuesday to offer sheets. Broberg’s is a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4,580,917 while Holloway’s is two years with an AAV of $2,290,457.
The Oilers have seven days from those signings to match those offers. If they don’t, they’ll receive the Blues’ 2025 second-round pick as compensation for Broberg and the Blues’ third-rounder for Holloway.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg (NHL Images).
They’re above the $88 million salary cap by $341, 667. They’re allowed to be over the cap by 10 percent during the offseason but must be cap-compliant before their season opener.
The Oilers could put Evander Kane (sports hernia issues) on long-term injury reserve if he requires surgery before the start of the season. That would provide them with $5.125 million in cap relief to sign one but not both without making another cost-cutting move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time a team has attempted to sign two players from a rival club at the same time. The Oilers cannot trade Broberg and Holloway during these seven days. If the Oilers match, the players cannot be traded for one year from the date the offers were matched.
The Edmonton Journal’s Bruce McCurdy pointed out the AAVs were designed in such a way as to maximize the respective cap hits while keeping each just below a specific threshold for compensation. Had each offer been a dollar more, it would’ve increased the compensation paid by the Blues.
It’s speculated Kane could undergo surgery with a recovery time of 8-12 weeks but that hasn’t been confirmed. Placing him on LTIR would be a short-term fix because they’ll have to clear sufficient cap space when he’s ready to return to action during the season.
STLTODAY.COM: Matthew DeFranks reports Blues general manager Doug Armstrong also reacquired his club’s 2025 second-round pick yesterday from the Pittsburgh Penguins, which had been dealt to the Penguins in the Kevin Hayes trade last month. They wouldn’t have been allowed to sign Broberg to that offer sheet without that pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As per the CBA, teams must use their own draft picks as offer-sheet compensation. They’re allowed to reacquire those picks to make this work.
Observers agree this move by the Blues puts the cap-strapped Oilers in a difficult spot. If they don’t match, they’ll lose two former first-round picks who showed promise last season, especially during their run to the Stanley Cup Final.
I’ll have more about the options facing the Oilers and the potential effect this move could have on other clubs with unsigned RFA players in today’s Rumors section.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Jeff Vinik is working on selling his majority stake of the Lightning.
The team will remain under Vinik’s control for the next several seasons and he’ll remain part of the new ownership group.
Doug Ostrover, the co-founder and CEO of Blue Owl Capital, is believed to be the purchase. The Lightning are valued at close to USD $2 billion.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That sale will make Vinik much wealthier and increase the estimated value of other NHL teams.
NEW YORK POST: Long-time Rangers play-by-play man Sam Rosen will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season. It will be the 40th season behind the mike for the 77-year-old Rosen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rosen called plenty of Rangers’ history during that period, including the club’s Stanley Cup championship run in 1994. He’s earned his place among the NHL’s greatest broadcasters.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW/NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins acquired center Cody Glass, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-rounder from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for minor league forward Jordan Frasca.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Glass, 25, was a former first-round pick (sixth overall, 2017) by the Vegas Golden Knights. He struggled to crack Nashville’s lineup last season.
This was a cost-cutting deal by the Predators, freeing up $2.5 million from their cap payroll for 2024-25.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas continues to stockpile draft picks. He’s also adding a young NHL depth player to his roster while giving up little in return.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed free-agent goaltender Magnus Hellberg to a one-year, two-way contract. The 33-year-old Hellberg appeared in 26 NHL games over the past six seasons with the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
I need some clarification from someone smarter than me, which is most if not all of you, but my understanding is that both Broberg and Holloway contracts now count against Edmonton’s cap which puts them at 7.5 million over the cap for the next 7 days. Also I thought Kane couldn’t be put on LTIR until the 2nd day of the regular season.
If so then Bowman has been put in a big trick bag dealing with the offer sheets, Kane, all the while trying to extend Leon and knowing that next year he’s facing the same situation with McDavid and Bouchard. Welcome back to the NHL Stan.
The Oilers are considered over the cap by $7.5 million. They are allowed to be over the cap by 10 percent ($8.8 million) during the offseason but must be cap-compliant for their season opener.
They can put Kane on LTIR for the offseason if they provide a doctor’s note stating he will remain injured at the start of the season for at least 10 regular season games and 24 calendar days.
https://canucksarmy.com/news/how-offseason-salary-cap-works-affect-vancouver-canucks-summer
Correct, Edmonton still owns the rights to both Broberg and Holloway, and if they decide to match those offers, then they accept those contract amounts.
A player can’t hit LTIR until the first day of the regular season.
A Team can be 10% over the salary cap until the first day of the regular season.
Would St Louis of done this if Bowman was not the GM? i dont think so
Army put Stan in a real pickle, and the vultures are gathering to pick off assets and a player or 2 if the Oil decide to match. The only thing that will delay a fleecing will be Kane going on LTIR. And then it just starts all over again when he comes back………
ds, absolutely wouldn’t have done it because Ken Holland is one of Armstrong’s closest friends and he was a mentor for Armstrong throughout his career. There are many great rivalries in the NHL and St. Louis vs Chicago is among them. Nice opportunity to stick it to Bowman and unfortunately Oilers and their fans got the raw end of it. Having said that make no mistake that the primary motivation is to improve the Blues which the addition of either or both players will do, especially Broberg.
Re; Oilers in a pickle
An other screw up by Ken holland not getting these 2 signed….. To go with his Nurse contract they cant afford to pay him $9.25M as there 4th d/man❗️
They have Leon & Bouchard to pay also at the end of the season
He should had these 2 signed before the UFA period
and his shopping spree but did nothing his last month as GM.
both dont have rights so they could have go them for $1.1M for DH and $1.3M for PB
Right now the oilers need to find $7.25M to sign them both and to clear the cap space of $345,000 they are over
They have 2 Options
#1/ Option
Evander Kane savings most of his Salary on long-term injury reserve. $5.12M
Then they Trade Cody Ceci, $3.25M use Broberg on his RD 2nd pairing thats $8.37M in total savings
Or
#2/ Option
they just Trade Nurse like the Oilers fans have been asking for since they signed him to the $9.25M deal……⁉️
#2 would make oilers fans very happy 😃
PS
if we lose both these good young kids….
New GM Bowman is not going to be a popular guy in Edmonton at ALL…..
“Just trade Nurse…” you make it sound like other teams are CLAMOURING to pay Nurse that ridiculous salary and Bowman would have that deal done in record time.
Sorry… Oilers are stuck with that horrible steaming pile of salary cap hell.
Ceci is also not exactly easily moved… lord knows as a Sens fan I still have no idea why he is getting the salary and regard that he is, but whatever.
I think Broberg is gone and there is nothing Stan can do about it. Holloway could stay…but who knows? Some cap gymnastics are on the way.
Holland may take some of the blame but the f/a signings of Henrique, Janmark, Skinner, Perry, Ardvisson, Brown, McLeod were all done by Jeff Jackson while he was interim gm. That’s what pushed them over the cap.
Why blame Bowman, it was Jackson that spent like a drunken sailor in July free agency. Should have dealt with these two before blowing the cap space. Bowman wasnt even there & shouldnt take the blame for the Oilers vulnerability.
It’s too bad a guy like Magnus Hellberg – a 6′ 6″ 220 lb goalie – can’t seem to land a permanent spot somewhere in the NHL as a back-up. He only appeared in 1 game for Ottawa, but turned in a solid effort that night, and seems to have done equally well in his brief stops with the NYR and Pittsburgh.
With so many teams struggling to make ends meet when it comes to cap management, you’d think some team would see him as a solid – but low-cost back-up.
His career stops sure seems to have earned him the frequently-used nickname “Suitcase”
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=128373
I worked with Sam Rosen at UPI Audio in 1976. Later on, I was living in California and would go to LA to see the Rangers. There was no press box at the Forum and the play-by play was done in the stands. When he started doing Rangers play-by-play I would stop by to say hello and he always took a couple of minutes before the game or between periods asking how I was doing. I remember during the 93-94 season he told me he thought the Rangers had a real shot at the Cup that season. A real gentleman.
Holland may take some of the blame but the f/a signings of Henrique, Janmark, Skinner, Perry, Ardvisson, Brown, McLeod were all done by Jeff Jackson while he was interim gm. That’s what pushed them over the cap.
Certainly a welcome development for August hockey news but one has to think the Oilers match both. This little flurry of action probably won’t amount to much beyond the Oilers doing some cap gymnastics and probably paying someone to take Ceci off their hands.
I like the offer sheets done.
Very very smart move by Army
Tough (but not impossible) for Oilers to match
I’m sure they don’t want to lose Broberg
Kane on LTIR a must now. Kane on LTIR; trade Ceci; their under the Cap…. Will he do it???
Finally two good moves by Dubas
One fell into his hands as Army needed his 2nd back; but by shifting what was a ‘25 2nd to ‘26 2nd; the trade netted Pens a conversion of a 5th in ‘26 into a 3rd in ‘25
Some consolation for the Hayes dump
Taking on Glass for $1.75 M (amount above league min they’d pay for any player) for a 3rd and a 6th is a good move
He’s a prime candidate for change of scenery rebound performance; is young ; has size; can play center
Put another way; 7 years younger; 5” taller; faster; stronger; far better than Accairi at just $0.5 M AND getting a 3rd and 6th. Good move.
Now Move Hayes (give up the 2nd and 3rd; so the Hayes mistake only cost Pens a 5th)
Move Eller for a 3rd
Take that 3rd; add a 2nd ; add Broz and Gruden and Grzlyk as assets in trade
To convert Accairi; Lizotte; and Nedjelkovic into Laine
Crosby Laine Rackell
Malkin Bunting Rust
Glass O’Connor Beauvillier
Poulin Pulljarvi Puustinen
Letang Pettersson
Karllsson Graves
?? (UFA) and Ludwig or Pickering
Jarry/Blomquist
That team makes playoffs for sure
Crosby signs the very second that deal is made
What in reality does this magical jump from bottom 7 finisher to playoff team (and immediate signature of Crosby) and yhen who knows?
Really just s 2nd, 3rd, 5th and Gruden and Broz
Very very very well worth it
Actually above moves would leave Pens in around $4 zM in space
Take on Ceci for a 3rd rounder sweetener
That provides the 3rd paring RD we need; still leaves space
And now cost of going from bottom feeder to playoffs is just 2nd, 5th, Broz, Gruden
Dubas, your on s roll; make the calls