NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2025
The Panthers eliminate the Maple Leafs and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Check out the recap and the fallout in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final by thumping the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round series.
Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen each had a goal and two assists, Seth Jones and Aleksander Barkov each collected two points, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for the win. Max Domi scored the lone Leafs goal.
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).
Marchand became the first player in NHL history to defeat the same team in five Game 7 appearances. He also has the most points (10 in 13 games) in Game 7s among active players.
Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues returned to action after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies also played after leaving Game 6 in the first period with an injury.
Referee Chris Rooney left the game early in the second period after being accidentally clipped in the face by the stick of Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. He received a cut above the eye that required stitches and missed the rest of this contest. Standby official Garrett Rank replace him.
The Panthers will appear in their third straight Eastern Conference Final. They face off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, May 20, in Raleigh at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers reminded everyone in this game why they’re the defending Stanley Cup champions. They weren’t rattled by losing Game 6, came out strong to start this game and were relentless as this contest progressed. They set the tempo early and never let up, squeezing away what little will to win the Leafs had.
Florida coach Paul Maurice tried to downplay his club’s dominance, claiming the puck just went their way. He’s just being kind toward an opponent that has consistently shown since 2018 that they can’t rise to the occasion when it matters most.
Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who appeared to be hampered by an injury in this postseason, felt there were “too many passengers” among his teammates in this game. He believes they came out strong and had a good start, but struggled after falling behind 2-0 and couldn’t get back into the game.
Toronto coach Craig Berube believes the memory of previous failures hurt his club in this series. “For me, it’s all between the ears. It’s a mindset,” he said. Berube wasn’t part of those previous failures, but he has a lot of work ahead to help his mentally fragile team.
As expected, there are plenty of opinions in the Toronto media over what’s next for the Maple Leafs after another disappointing playoff exit. I’ll have the highlights in today’s Rumor Mill.
IN OTHER NEWS…
ROTOWIRE: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey required further evaluation after suffering a knee injury during Game 6 of his club’s second-round series against the Dallas Stars. Jets coach Scott Arniel said the injury “wasn’t good.” The Jets were eliminated in that game.
SPORTSNET: Hockey fans donated over $46K to the Jets’ charitable foundation to support Mark Scheifele, whose father died suddenly hours before Game 6 against the Stars. Many fans made $55 donations in honor of Scheifele’s jersey number.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The hockey community rallied around Scheifele, with a number of donations from Dallas fans.
Maple Leafs – is this the end of Big 4? Mitch Marner plays where next season? Same for John Tavares? Will another team make offer for restricted free agent Matthew Knies?
With the departures of Marner and Tavares that’s $22 mil off the books just for those two alone, to go along with freed up cap elsewhere plus the cap increase to $95.5 … they’ll have plenty match any offer sheet.
George I don’t think anyone thinks Tavares is coming back at 11mil including Tavares. However with numerous teams looking for a reliable 2 way number 2 center and him still being one of the best options why wouldn’t the Leafs want him back. I’d he leaves then you can add the Leafs to the list.
Snold 49, while I agree with your position, the one reason why the Leafs might decide it’s time to say goodbye to Tavares – regardless of the ultimate new cap cost – is that someone in charge not named Shanahan decides it’s time to purge at least half the core that has repeatedly failed to get the job done when it counts.
And, right or wrong, that appears to be the chatter all over the map. Just check out some of Lyle’s links in the Rumor thread to that end.
Leafs have 26 mil in cap space with 16 players signed. Signing Knies & Tavares won’t leave much for free agency & filling out the roster unless they make other moves.
I think Tavares will be back
Marner will sign with the Canes
Tavares might be back – but nowhere near the $11mil off the cap he’s costing now.
Panthers have to start the ECF with the Canes tomorrow night! It seems like it is a bit “soon” to start another series with only one day’s “rest” which is also a travel day.
It was a game 7. You want to send them on a vacation?
Johnny: The Panthers could’ve avoided that and enjoyed several days of rest had they defeated the Leafs on Friday. That’s on them.
I don’t care, there should be at least 2 days before starting another series! These men are not robots!
Again, they had the chance to get several days off by winning Game 6 and didn’t. That’s the slog of playoff hockey. It’s not the first time they’ve faced it nor are they the only team to do so.
Florida cried at the start of the playoffs about getting extra time. The NHL gave them a couple of extra days, their series was the last to start. Now you want another favour. Like Lyle said they had their chance in game 6
The first half of the 1st period Florida controlled the play with something like 21 scoring chances to zero for the Leafs. Then the Leafs started to get it together over the second half of the 1st, and when Lorentz got that breakaway with about 5 minutes to go I thought, OK, maybe they get the opening goal here … but with nothing between him and Bobrovsky but open ice, he shoots from umpteen feet out and there’s absolutely NO way you’re going to beat him from that distance unless your name was Al MacInnis … and that ain’t the way you spell Lorentz.
When the period ended I was thinking, OK, they’re 0-0 – same as game 6 – now come out in the 2nd and take control as you did in that game. Instead they came out like the San Jose Sharks and it was soon evident Florida was on their way. Hard to understand.
When it was over, a couple among the talking heads were yammering about “tweaking” the line-up for next season. With that so-called “core 4” playoff record … and I stress “playoff record” … in the time they’ve been together, they need to do more than tweak. Where Marner and Tavares are concerned, the best way to look at their situation is that they now have close to $22 mil just from those two alone to spend elsewhere … including, maybe, a couple of key offer sheets, in addition to trying to attract a couple of the better UFAs.
I really ponder if trading Matthews and signing JT (for about $7.5M x3) and Marner ($13.25M x 8) would be the right move. Trade him for a very good C+++. The record has shown us that Toronto wins slightly more than loses when Matthews is on IR!!!!
Example: Barzal + Duclair and the Avs 2026 1st and Danny Nelson for Austin. Of course, AM is in full control of where he goes……..
And, of course, there’s also the possibility that neither Colorado … nor any other contender … wants any part of a $13,250,000 cap hit “fair-weather” scorer.
When you start the game and a period with supposedly your best players and they stink, hard to get the next line to come out and be better when Florida has the momentum already. You`re coming off the bench already behind the 8 ball. Toronto needed Marner and Matthews to come out firing on all cylinders, instead they stunk. Marner first bad turnover in their own end 9 seconds into the game. When your supposedly best players stink on the opening shift of the game, makes it hard to recover when you`re playing a team as good as Florida
Berube’s right. It’s a mindset with the Leafs. A mentality that they just can’t win the big ones and that harms their chances from the start. That’s why there has to be a culture change, with some of the core being moved out. Yeah Mitch Marner, were talking about you.
Reminds me of a line from one of my favorite movies. Greedy from 1993, starring Kirk Douglas, Michael J Fox and several other well known names. “When they lose this long, they don’t know how to win”.
Howard, this clip from Dave Feschuk’s article in the Toronto Star sums things up
“Sunday was the fifth time in six tries the Leafs have scored precisely one goal in a Game 7 loss. Add in Toronto’s 3-0 loss in a winner-take-all Game 5 against Columbus in 2020, and a 2-1 elimination loss to the Capitals in 2017 and that’s seven times in the nine-year playoff history of the Shanaplan Leafs that the season has ended with a loss in which Toronto scored one or zero goals.”
That, considering their undeniable seasonal scoring prowess, is startling. Sigmund Freud would be hard-pressed to come up with answers. Is it because the key players can’t solve the increased checking attention of the playoffs? Is it because those same players fold under the intense pressure and attention that goes hand-in-hand with playing in the media glare of Toronto?
I don’t think near enough blame is put on Matthews (and I know he gets a bit). He never elevates his game – was also largely invisible at the 4 Nations. People very justifiably blaming Marner, but hard for him to rack up points when his linemate is also invisible.
As the captain, Matthews should lead by example. And he has… by not committing to the increased rigours of playoff hockey. When he’s not scoring, what, exactly, is he doing? And then he claims his team had “too many passengers”, when he had an abysmal playoffs, start to finish.
I watch Lowry for the Jets and think: Dude is a *captain*!
Would I rather have Matthews than Lowry? Of course! Matthews is an elite talent. But in terms of captaincy skills alone, I would probably put Matthews as a bottom 5 captain right now.
Paddy I agree with everything you`ve said except one thing. Matthews is not an elite talent. Elite players elevate their game and raise above the rest.Elite players play with heart and passion, Marner and Matthews have never done that yet and games 5 and 7 kinda show that they are uncapable or unwilling to do it. Marner nad Matthews maybe talented, but they`re definitely not elite. Unless you`re referring to them being elite no shows
Fist bump, Yogi. You and I are definitely on the same page!
As a neutral fan with no dog in the fight. That is the best playoff version of the Maple Leafs I have seen and Berube has only been there 1 year.
They didn’t play this hard under Keefe…never
Toronto fans are throwing sweaters, jumping off bridges, and the world is over.
They one their division, they took the defending Stanley Cup champs 7 games and were one game from the eastern conference finals.
Did the core 4 lose again yes but , did lay an egg in games 5 and 7 yes, but they also went to Florida and won game 6 2-0 !!
My only concern in Matthews and Marner seem to disappear when the lights are the brightest. Matthews had a chance to win at four nations vs Canada point blank couldn’t get it done.
That’s why Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, McKinnon, Ovechkin, Yzerman, Messier, Bossy, Potvin, Sackic, Forsberg, Nick Lidstrom all the greats showed more often than not.
Look did the core 4 fail yes to some degree they didn’t win a cup but this is the best they have looked as a team.
Blackngold: I don’t want to pile on, but …
… yes this is the best team the Leafs have had in a while. And they still got kicked badly in their own barn twice. And failed to advance.
I read an excuse here that the Leafs have lost to the Stanley Cup champions, implying that they were oh so close. Well, what about the teams that lose in rounds three and four?
You say your only concern is that Matthews and Marner disappear when the lights are brightest. Were that the only concern, that’s still quite a concern. And what about Nylander? Or Reilly?
Piling on is unsportsmanlike but so are faint praise and excuses. The only way forward for the Leafs is substantial change based on acknowledging uncomfortable truths.
This off-season looks like there will more player movement than in years. Many big names could be changing teams. Teams like Boston,NYR ,Toronto in for major culture shifts.This will be good for the NHL and it s fan base.Trades,UFA s and RFA s take your pick.
Sr… Bruins could end up with Bruins could have 32 million in cap space if the can move goalie Kop … Bruins could go in a few different directions on how they want to build this team this year and next … I sure hope Sweeney has a plan but I’m not confident … you think Sweeney reads this stuff ?
Few from me … looks like the Bruins are getting another 1st rd draft pick … late in 1st rd but I’ll take it
In print in several locations …Rick Tocchet Didn’t take the Bruins HC job because he didn’t trust Don Sweeney ….
Sweeney needs to lose his GM job he isn’t very good at it
Joe, The Bruins Don t spend big money on coaches. That s why Sullivan and Tocchet went to NY and Philly.Cassidy and Montgomery both came cheap. Cassidy up from Providence and Monty after an alcohol episode in Dallas and getting straight in St Louis.Their next coach might have a little NHL experience but will come cheap.Sweeney should have started to trade off pieces 3-4 yrs ago.That might have saved them for this rebuild,retool that they are going through.He was to loyal to veterans on his roster.
Bruins gave Claude Julian $3 million to HC the Bruins 8 years ago…Cassidy was paid $4.5 million per to HC the Bruins …….Tockett is getting $5.2 million ….to say the Bruins
don’t pay is incorrect
Don’t buy that Joe. He signed with Philly and briere has been atrocious.
Chrisms,he got a 5 year deal, Boston never gives out that length.Plus Keith Jones is a buddy of his.
Have Canes/Stars in the SC finals $$$$… but if the Panthers play their checking and attacking game they will be very hard to beat
The Core Four
Is No More
If You Don’t Believe Me
Look At The Score
And Shanahan, who had a plan
That sought to right the ship.
Saw that plan fall in the can
And gave the throngs a fit
Lol
Bradley Kevin Marchand has slid into the top 5 of the remaining scorers in this playoffs.
All from the 3rd line.
Nice showing thus far.
Every serious team will be all over Bennett he is the ultimate warrior if I’m Leafs I let Marner go make sure to sign Knies unless of course he wants over 8 million and I sign Tavares on a team friendly deal. Leave plenty of cap room for trade deadline day and add some playoff warriors.
Marner will get a new contract, of course, but he surely has hurt himself by his playoff performances. One question to be asked is, is he hurt by playing with Matthews in the playoffs, does he hurt himself, or both?
I agree with George’s comment above, that neither player took responsibility for the loss. We all saw the video of Marner yelling at the bench to ” wake the f up” while scoring no goals himself.
I also wonder what the impact is on the rest of the Leaf players hearing Matthews say they had too many passengers, while he too failed to score.
When you combine that with the observation that even others teams’ players see the amount of negativity that exists in Toronto you have to wonder about the effect on signing free agents. What impact player with options would want to come to Toronto?
I’ve been watching hockey for a half century and cannot remember so many issues around a team.
And I mean that Marner will get a new contract I don’t mean in Toronto.
LJ, what player in their right mind would sign as a UFA in Toronto?
The media environment is toxic, and the fans (the ones throwing jerseys and full beer on the ice) are a bunch of whiny cry babies. Poor me, if feel so bad my team lost I’m gonna throw crap on the ice. Get your sh*t together people, ever play a real competitive sport? Only 1 team out of 32 wins the cup. When did we start accepting that type of BS behavior?
There were 5 teams left when the Leafs lost. FIVE.
So blow it up, they suck, world is coming to an end.
Are Winnipeg fans ranting to trade, Scheiffele? Connors? Morrisey? Blow it up the core sucks!!
What if Detroit had given up on Yzerman after all those years of failure? Colorado with Sakic and Forsberg?
No they will try and make the team the best they can and give it another go next year. And if Leaf MGT is focused on anything other than that they are fools and deserve to get fired, regardless of what the fans and local media say.
If I was Marner I wouldn’t even look at an offer from the Leafs and get the hell out of that town and as far away as possible.
The Panthers are really good, the best until somebody beats them, and they beat the Leafs in 7. The Leafs are still a good team.
The blow it up fans will likely get what you wish for. I would be shocked if Marner stays. It will be interesting to see how that works out for ya.
To your question, Ray, yes, what player indeed? Not one with other appealing options.
That`s right Ray, no other NHL city has a handful of people that do stupid things. Never in the history of the NHL has anybody ever thrown a jersey on the ice or a beer. Only in Toronto according to you. The media is player friendly in 31 NHL cities, never toxic. Just in Toronto right Ray. Most Leaf fans aren`t pissed because they lost to Florida, they`re pissed because the Leafs didn`t show up for games 5 and 7. You make it sound like all the Leaf fans are like the handful of idiots that throw things. Not sure where you`re getting that Leaf fans want to trade every player. The only debate really is whether Toronto should offer contracts to Marner and Tavares. Marner has created most of the criticism that`s been directed towards him. He seems to crave that circus atmosphere surrounding his contract negotiations. His last contract was a gong show with his dad involved. This one he says that he doesn`t want to negotiate during the season, ok fine, but then he didn`t want to negotiate last summer. He was even asked about his contract status becoming a distraction and he knew it would be. Did he care, doesn`t look like it. I realize Boston fans never whine about the Bruins or their management. I grew up in Edmonton, I even played against and with Messier in the K of C organization. So, I know what Edmonton`s like. Ray if you really wanna see what the fans are like try coaching a while, makes the jersey tossers look like angels. Better still ref a few games that`ll open your eyes. A friend of mine played a game against a bunch of Russians when he was 16 (midget age). The Edmonton kids lost 1-0 against the Russians who were as old as 23 we found out later. But that didn`t stop the Edmonton media from roasting my friend and a couple of the other kids. Only in Toronto Ray only in Toronto
Ray, I was living in BC in 2011. You remember what happened there after Boston beat Vancouver.
Yogi, I did coach, 3A bantam, and yes some of the parents got out of hand (at the refs) and I said the same thing to them. Didn’t go over great with them either. I played the game for over 40 years, been in a lot of rinks and in a lot of rooms.
And yes, my Bruins have had plenty of fans who acted stupid like that, I said the same thing about them. But this pity party and disgust at their own team in Toronto is something I have never seen before. I don’t get it.
And yes I played against players who made it to the NHL, played with one too growing up. None as good as Messier.
I even got in a scrap with a guy after a game who won 2 cups with the Pens outside a Saskatchewan rink when I was a teenager. I lost, but hey, gave it a go.
I get the players getting that emotional, and frustrated because of all the work that went into it. But the fans. C’mon man.
Maybe Tre will pull it off and the Leafs get to the promised land without Marner and Tavares, call me skeptical. But I’m just a fan, not an expert on building a cup winner.
Ya I remember the riots in Vancouver BCLeaf Fan, not sure how many actual true Nuck fans were responsible for the worst of that, but yes embarrassing. But different than what I am referring to.
Ray I understand you getting pissed at the stupidity of a handful of fans, but those handfuls are in every city that has sports. You made it sound like it`s exclusive to Toronto and Toronto fans, I apologize for my rant Ray, you`re usually one of the better posters on here
All good Yogi, my rant started it.
Leaf fans would you do either of these deals?
Matthew’s for Aho?
Matthew’s for Byfield ?
Matthew’s for Tage Thompson ?
Personally I would do two of them I don’t think Matthew’s is the answer in Toronto
1) Matthews has a no movement clause.
2) What team wants a 13 million player who doesn’t score in the playoffs?
3) Why on earth would Carolina trade Aho for anyone?
4) Why would Aho wave his NMC to go to Toronto?
5) What player waives a NMC to go to Buffalo?
You might do those deals, Obe … but the other teams won’t.
What if Matthew’s wants out ? Gretzky was traded Mikko was traded twice last year never say never. Matthew’s is better than all three but all three have better contracts.
Hoo, boy.
A year ago I suggested TML not consider trading Marner and Tavares, just let them be UFSs and let them go, addition by subtraction while using all the freed up money to reshape the team.
I feel the same way now, both players would be great additions elsewhere but their value in Toronto has run its course.
Marner to Chicago and Utah would be easy landing places, young teams with little pressure and have nowhere to go but up.
Tavares to any team hungry for a 2C would be an easy landing spot such as Montreal, Vancouver, Minnesota or maybe even back to NYI.
NYI need to replace Nelson, Vancouver needs to replace Miller, Minnesota seems intent on moving Rossi and Montreal needs a 2C
TML then has the money to sign any suitable defenseman and character players Berube wants with Nylander and Kneis being the face of the team.
You say Tavares can sign with a team that`s hungry for a second line centre. If Toronto lets Tavares walk, they become one of those teams hungry for a second line centre and that makes sense to you. Another dent in your opinion, Berube loves Tavares. I`m kinda hoping Marner signs with either Montreal or Buffalo
It’s as good a plan as any. Except …
… I do believe that Toronto has now become an even harder market to attract free agents. What NHL team has more negativity around it? When players on opposing teams comment on how angry the media and fans are and then you know this is a wide spread issue.
The obvious response is trades, but then that might involve trying to persuade players with NT/NM clauses to waive them. Good luck with that.
And … if Nylander and Knies are the face of the team, what does that mean for Matthews?
Yogi.
As a UFA Tavares can sign anywhere that works out for him and obviously TML would be in the running.
Having lost his captaincy, now would be offered a cut in pay and term I found no reason to put them on the list of teams he could play on.
Obviously they are in play along with 28 other teams that I didn’t mention.
The three I pointed out are what I think would be best fits.
We’ll see in the coming months.