NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2025
Recaps of Tuesday’s games, Gary Bettman talks about the playoff format and the All-Star Game, seven NHL prospects among this season’s Hobey Baker Award candidates, and more in today’s morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: An accidental interference by referee Kelly Sutherland resulted in Steven Lorentz’s game-winning goal in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Sutherland stumbled and fell when he caught a rut, accidentally blocking a clearing attempt by Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit. The puck remained in the neutral zone, where Lorentz picked it up and beat Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the faceoff circle.
Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll kicked out 38 shots and Auston Matthews tallied his 27th goal of the season. Valeri Nichushkin replied for the Avalanche as their nine-game points streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs move into a tie with the Florida Panthers with 85 points, but the latter holds first place in the Atlantic Division with 35 regulation wins to the Leafs’ 33. Colorado holds third place in the Central Division with 85 points. The Avs announced before the game that defenseman Josh Manson will miss three to four weeks with an upper-body injury.
Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy (NHL Images)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 34 shots to shut out the Seattle Kraken 4-0. Matt Boldy scored twice for the Wild, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 83 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marco Rossi left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury after being accidentally struck by a shot from Boldy. Kraken center Chandler Stephenson departed in the second period for undisclosed reasons and didn’t return. There was no postgame update on either player.
HEADLINES
TSN: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took questions from reporters yesterday following the final day of general managers’ meetings.
Bettman gave an emphatic “no” when asked if the league would consider changes to the playoff format, saying he liked the current setup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman appears to be in the minority as there are growing calls from fans and pundits for changes to the playoff format. Don’t expect any tinkering while he remains in charge.
He said the league remains committed to staging an All-Star Game hosted by the New York Islanders next season. However, he said they’re reevaluating the format after last month’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament “raised the bar.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 4 Nations tournament gave the fans a meaningful event with hockey played at the highest level by many of the world’s top players who were fully invested. Fans don’t want a gimmicky skills competition followed by All-Stars going through the motions because they don’t want to risk injury on a nothing game.
The commissioner declined to speculate about the discussion between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week about a United States-Russia hockey series featuring NHL and KHL stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Russia’s war with Ukraine prompted the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to ban them from participating in international tournaments. The NHL has honored that ban.
Bettman said the 2025-26 season will open on Oct. 7. He also indicated that talks with the NHL Players’ Association regarding a new collective bargaining agreement will begin the first week in April. “I’m hoping we can do this quickly, quietly and painlessly,” said Bettman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The atmosphere between the league and the PA has been free of the animosity and distrust that hung over previous negotiations, leading to work stoppages that hurt the game’s momentum and upset its fans. Here’s hoping things go smoothly this time around.
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals prospect forward Ryan Leonard and Minnesota Wild prospect defenseman Zeev Buium are among the 10 candidates for the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which annually honors the top US men’s college hockey player.
Leonard plays for Boston College while Buium skates for the University of Denver. Other candidates with NHL ties include Michigan State forward Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning), University of Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), University of Denver winger Jack Devine (Florida Panthers), Penn State winger Aiden Fink (Nashville Predators), and Clarkson winger Ayrton Martino (Dallas Stars).
The three finalists will be revealed on Apr. 3 and the winner will be announced on Apr. 11.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is optimistic that sidelined defenseman Colton Parayko might return before the end of this season. Parayko underwent a scope of his left knee on March 6 with a recovery timeline of six weeks. Montgomery said the defenseman’s rehab is progressing well.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers coach Paul Maurice said defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (right arm injury) is expected to be sidelined for two weeks. He’s expected back before the playoffs begin next month.
ROTOBALLER: Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Dmitry Orlov is expected to return to action tonight against the San Jose Sharks. He missed the last five games with an upper-body injury.
TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is expected to be named GM of Canada’s team at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in May.
Why…WHY…would they consider naming Kyle Dubas to lead Canada???? What has he shown at the NHL level that shows he’s “the guy”??
Pete, being Canada’s GM for this tournament is much different than being GM of a team. It basically amounts to convincing players from non playoff teams to play in the tournament after a long and disappointing season.
Well. Apparently Dubas is good at convincing non playoff players to play cause the pens have been winning way to much since the deadline.
Go Pens Go
Not sure of the logistics,but I would love to see the playoff format changed!Seed both conferences separately by points 1-16!Tiebreakers would be wins and then head to head completion! A third tiebreaker could be least goals against!Wonder how you guys feel about this?
I’ve always wished they would have a second tournament going on with the non-playoff teams, winner gets 1st overall pick, etc. No idea how you would have to change the trading draft pick system since it would screw that up but would make money and give all fans something to look forward to.
Lets see:
Florida thumps a very quiet (everyone is injured) Ottawa team.
Toronto done in four to Tampa
Montreal’s speed pushes Washington to 7 but goaltending inexperience sinks the Habs
Carolina out works the Devils.
Round 2
Washington v. Tampa
Carolina v. Florida
Tampa v. Florida
Probably Florida back to the Cup final.
in the west…meanwhile:
Winnipeg crushes Vancouver
Colorado and Dallas have a “take the over” slug fest with Colorado winning.
Vegas makes quick work of Minny.
Kings upset Oil with better goaltending.
round 2
Winnipeg v LA
Vegas v. Colorado
Winnipeg v. Vegas
Winnipeg v. Florida
Florida back to back champs.
So the worst team plays in a tournament and because they are the worst team they get crushed and have no chance at the top pick. Whereas the 16th to 20th worst teams may have missed the playoffs by just a couple of points and could be 25-30 points better than the bottom team. These teams would be the favourites to win the tournament for 1st overall. How does giving them 1OA make the league better?
Hey Gord, yes that would happen but personally I’m fine with that. How many 1st overall picks have to spend their best years on nowhere teams? Edmonton had a bunch of 1st overall picks, not until their newest batch did things work out. How much better would some of those players, plus ones currently on Buffalo and Chicago have been if they had better opportunities? I’m not a fan of rewarding incompetence, but if you miss the playoffs you can earn your pick. I also think there’s an argument to be made that teams close to the middle like those that just miss should have a chance at a player that will push them over.
Heh. Ottawa’s gotta GET there first Dark G. And that’s no guarantee. Look at their schedule … starting tonight
The Current Playoff matchups would be as follows right now.
East
3 Florida vs. 7 Ottawa
4 Toronto vs. 5 TB
1 Washington vs. 8 Montreal
2 Carolina vs. 6 NJ
West
1 Winnipeg vs. 8 Vancouver
2 Dallas vs. 4 Colorado
3 Vegas vs. 6 Minnesota
5 Edmonton vs. 7 LA
For the most part it’s not far off from a straight 1-8 seeding format. BUT the big miss comes in the West. How is it fair to Dallas to be a 2 seed and draw 4 seed Colorado in the first round? Meanwhile, Edm at 5 gets to draw #7 LA.
Not sure why Bettman wants to keep the random chaos of his current seeding system. Does not seem fair. (Though I’m not sure why I continue to think Bettman will do rational, logical things.)
I think Dallas rado might be best matchup. I’d watch Vegas sota too.
From a viewing perspective I agree. Dallas Colorado matchup will be a great watch with a lot at stake.
But its still not fair to either team from a bracket perspective. As 2 and 4 seeds, they should both have lesser matchups.
Well, teams like Dallas and Colorado have an end goal of winning the cup, or they will be disappointed. To do that you need to beat everybody, so not sure how much it matters, to them, if they play each other in RD 1 or 2.
Yes, an easier opponent in RD 1 has an obvious advantage, but you may also prefer playing them in RD 1 due to injury if you are healthy. If Manson is still out in RD 1, doesn’t help the Avs and helps the Stars vs playing them in RD 2. Reverse it if Hieskenen is in or out.
Tons of variables and unknowns, plus the benefits of rivalries. Geographic or historical.
How do they matchup? Dal is 3 & 2 against COL and 1&2 vs LA. So is COL a better matchup? Totally different styles between LA and COL.
I dunno, plusses and minuses, like most decisions. Not a world ending crisis or chaos IMO.
I would want to know what the players think. Their stock answer is “you need to beat everybody to win the cup”. Is that honest or media training?
Ratings are UP Revenue is UP… why would they change the format… however you slice it, some good teams will be out in the first round…. if Dallas plays Colorado first round, don’t you think that tertiary fans will watch those games and then keep a vested interest throughout the playoffs?
If they did it 1-8 in each conference, Colorado and Edmonton would play each other… one good team out…
Bettman makes decisions on revenue, not because he’s a fan of a certain team or what country a team is from…Bettman has been nothing short of spectacular for hockey during his tenure.
Agreed. You’ll have a few blips here and there during such a long tenure but he has been awesome for the league.
100%
I think Dallas and Colorado could be considered favorites to come out of the West… and they could be first round opponents.
And I’m not a fan of Bettman. He has been involved in 3 work stoppages, including an entire season. His TV/Network dealings have been suspect at best (remember OLN?). And I think there are a lot of scheduling issues that he just lets slide (on top of the playoff bracket alignment, I hate that the Stanley Cup Finals drag on into almost July (they should be wrapped up in May) and I hate the daily variation in the schedule (2 games last night, 14 tonight, 1 game on Friday, etc). Bring some balance to the schedule.
Bruins fans: One TSN analyst just compared Suzuki to Bergeron.
Patrice said he was flattered!
Once the playoffs start its a whole new game.
The stretch run hardens the wild card teams and out west the 3 spot, so upsets in round 1 need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Opposite case for president cup winners who somewhat coast into the end of year.
Atlantic stretch run is prepping Sens, Habs, NYR, NYI, CBJ,they are in playoff hockey mode already and will be till the end of season.
Whichever team gets in wii be ready for bear and I can see them beating higher seeds.
Re “Bettman gave an emphatic “no” when asked if the league would consider changes to the playoff format, saying he liked the current setup.”
Notice “He” , and “emphatic no” in the above
The question raised to him was if the League would consider
Again, little Napoleon is dictating
Playoff format needs to change
High majority of players and fans want it changed
Most of the GMs want to change it
Gary is once again refusing to back down even when he knows he’s wrong.
He never admits his mistakes (he’s still murmuring about a ridiculous 3 peat in Atlanta)
Can’t wait for him to retire
Re
“Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is expected to be named GM of Canada’s team at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in May.”
That announcement brought warmth to our sprits.
Can’t believe the Canadian decision makers are going that route.
We’ll happily take it though.
Hoping he loads up their team with a ton of sub 5’ 10”; sub 180 lb players.
8787,Boston went bigger and where did that get them!