NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2025
The Panthers defeat the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, the highlights of the Leafs and Jets end-of-season interviews, an update on the CBA talks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
PANTHERS TAKE GAME 1 OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves to backstop his club to a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist while Aaron Ekblad tallied the winning goal in the first period. Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho cut the lead to 2-1, but the Panthers put the game out of reach on goals by A.J. Greer, Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).
Game 2 is in Raleigh on Thursday, May 22, at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers only had a one-day break from eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday before facing the Hurricanes. Nevertheless, they opened the scoring, never relinquished the lead thanks partly to Bobrovsky’s solid goaltending, and made the most of their opportunities while adjusting to their new opponent.
The Hurricanes tried to get under Bobrovsky’s skin with frequent contact, but he shook it off and remained focused. Carolina captain Jordan Staal summed up the game by saying the Panthers capitalized on their scoring chances and the Hurricanes didn’t.
Florida’s Brad Marchand was tossed from the game in the third period for tussling with Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere after the latter appeared to shoot the puck intentionally at Marchand. The Panthers winger got a four-minute roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct, while Gostisbehere received a minor for roughing.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers is on Wednesday, May 21, in Dallas at 8 pm ET.
HEADLINES
THE ATHLETIC: Auston Matthews declined to disclose the specifics of an injury that plagued him throughout this season during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ end-of-season media availability. Matthews said he suffered the injury during training camp and wouldn’t require surgery, saying he believes he’ll be fully healthy next season.
Mitch Marner’s return to the Leafs remains in doubt. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He said he’ll talk with his wife in the coming weeks about his next steps. Marner tried to put an optimistic spin on what playing in Toronto meant to him, but his voice seemed to be a mix of resignation and disappointment.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have the latest Marner speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
John Tavares is also UFA-eligible on July 1. However, the 34-year-old center remains “very optimistic” that he’ll be back next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs head coach Craig Berube said he’d love to have Tavares and Marner return next season. He’ll likely get his wish with Tavares but not with Marner.
Max Pacioretty had a solid postseason with the Leafs, but seems to be considering retirement. Injuries have limited the 36-year-old winger to 37 regular-season and 11 postseason games with the Leafs.
Matthew Knies is slated to become a restricted free agent without arbitration rights on July 1. The 22-year-old winger could receive an offer sheet from a rival club, but he shot down that notion. “I want to be here, I want to play here, that’s all that really matters to me.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There has been recent speculation over which RFA players could get offer sheets this summer. That’s because of the rising salary cap and last summer’s successful signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg by the St. Louis Blues.
However, the player has to be receptive to signing an offer sheet. Knies doesn’t sound like he’s open to the idea.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz said he suffered a concussion in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Panthers. He missed Games 2 through 6, returning as a backup for Game 7.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stolarz said he suffered the injury after being struck in the head by the forearm of Panthers center Sam Bennett. He didn’t believe there was any ill intent on Bennett’s part.
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck believes the adjustments he made to his game may have resulted in a drop in his performance during the postseason.
Hellebuyck made the comments during his club’s end-of-season media availability. He struggled at times, getting pulled three times during their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues. Hellebucyk admitted he overthought the game at times.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey suffered a strained knee ligament in Game 6 of their second-round series with the Dallas Stars. He admitted he would’ve been out for the rest of the playoffs had the Jets forced a Game 7. Morrissey indicated that he wouldn’t require surgery.
Jets blueliner Luke Schenn said he suffered a couple of cracked ribs during the second game of their first-round series with the Blues.
THE ATHLETIC: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league and the NHL Players Association have made good progress in their current collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
According to Daly, the talks began last month and are well underway. He remains optimistic of a successful conclusion well before the September 2026 expiration of the current agreement.
Daly confirmed that future rules regarding the usage of long-term injury reserve have been a central part of the discussions, adding that there has been good progress in those talks. He also insisted the league isn’t looking to expand and hasn’t been soliciting bids, though there have been some conversations with various potential owners.
The deputy commissioner also indicated that there have been no discussions regarding a change to the playoff format.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what changes emerge in the next CBA, but it’s good news for fans (and those of us who cover the league) that a new agreement could be in place soon. We’ve enjoyed over 12 years of labor peace. Nobody wants another lockout.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t surprising given the Bruins’ overall record under Sweeney. Nevertheless, the reaction seems mixed among the club’s followers, some of whom believe it’s time for a change in the front office.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: New York Islanders center Bo Horvat suffered a lower-body injury playing for Canada in the World Championships. He’s left the team early and returned to Long Island to meet with the Isles’ team doctors.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Nick Jensen underwent surgery on Monday for a lower-body ailment. There is no timeline for his recovery.
The Cats had a dominating game against the favored Canes on their home turf and disrupting the Canes perfect playoff record at home!
The thing is that when the refs put their whistles in their pockets, FLA will have the advantage against these Canes every time!
Bruins….Sweeney gets extended 2 years
Sweeney is Still in the hunt for a HC…
Last 8 years his past HC ( Cassidy & Montgomery) had a combined 365-150-69 record yet Sweeney felt the need to fire both …. I very much doubt in his search for a HC he will find one as good as those two ……. Cassidy was fired because he was to hard on certain players …..Monty was fired because he was given a team that was to slow and couldn’t score goals
This is a mistake. Sweeney has not hit on a draft pick since Charlie MacAvoy. This Leturneau that was suppose to be Tage Thompson 2 looks more like Johnny Beecher 2 and he traed a Vezina Winning Goalie for him.
Big money free agents Matt Belieski, David Backus horrible and I don have much confidence in Zadorov and Lindholm.
He did a good job at the trade deadline but I have zero confidence he can turn those picks into anything.
We fired two good coaches who were the victims of his personnel decisions. One good coach turned the Bruins down because of Sweeney´s history with coaches.
He said in his press conference that you think there is a coach that will turn down the opportunity to coach the Boston Bruins. Yes there is and he´s the reason.
Cheese and EJ, you may have hoped Leturneau was going to be the next Tage Thompson, but that would put you in the minority and overly optimistic. Could he? Maybe, but unlikely.
If he turns into Beecher, then it was a good pick at the end of the 1st round. Just like what Frederic was. He’s huge, athletic with OK hands for a big guy. Also a risky pick because he was playing at a lower level and raw, and you never know with big guys like him anyway. They always take longer, and sometimes don’t pan out. But when they do, they have real value.
Maybe we can wait until he’s older than 19? He won’t see pro hockey for another 2-3 years, let alone the B’s. I would suggest 2-3 years after that. Say at 24.
Bruins traded many 1st round picks as they went for it, and they were always picking late when they did keep them. I think expectations for late rd 1 picks are a little high.
He hit on McAvoy, big time, Swayman in Rd 4 was good (not his contract). Poitras in the 2nd was a good pick, as he looks like an NHL player. Lohrei in RD 2 good, Beecher at 30th overall, good pick. Lauko in 3 good. Frederic, Carlo, Lindgren, Lauzon, Debrusk are all solid picks.
And yes, he missed on some too, especially in rd 1 2015, his first season. Too clever by half IMO.
Bottom line B’s missed the playoffs the year before he was hired and his first season, then made them every year until now. Their best players aged out. Also had some runs. Bergy and Krecji injuries were unfortunate heading into 2023 post season. I really thought we had a great shot.
I hope they don’t chase expensive UFA’s this year and continue to accumulate young assets and use their cap space to take some players other teams can’t afford and get some young assets to do it.
Problem is fewer teams in cap hell this year with the cap going up.
Getting high end players isn’t like shopping at the market, you can’t just go get what you need. The best players don’t just come available when young or in their prime, teams keep them.
Sweeney has been good, not great. Not sure what people expect?
Bruins ….against the cap
Have 5 forwards signed next season ..4 Dmen ……..2 goalies ( one or both could be moved ) for a total against the cap of around $54 million with around $26 million in cap space money left if no moves are made …they have $7 tied up with minor league players and a few will make the jump to the Big club this coming season
Bruins draft….if there I’m thinking Bruins take Porter Martone if he’s taken they go Center
Thinking Sweeney gets this coming year to right the ship or at least have it heading in right direction otherwise bye bye …
Bruins need to add a center ..at least 1 scoring forward maybe 2 to go with signing Geekie …get a Dman who can play both ends of ice ..go get the Merlot Line #2 to play like the way Paille..Campbell.. Thornton did .. physical and played offense when needed
Joe the Bruins have the following center prospects Zacha, Lindholm,Kastellac, Beecher,Minton,Poitras,the other guy they got from the Wild with Lauko,Farinacci,Locmelis.Let s get rid of all the trash and sign a legitimate one like Bennett.
RD Jensen’s surgery could result in his missing training camp this Fall, and so delay his EFFECTIVE return to the line-up until well into the season. At this stage, not definite …but enough of a possibility to prompt Garrioch into speculation that Staios might have to go RD shopping this off-season.
In that eventuality, there goes my idea that RD Artyom Zub and his $4.6 mil per cap hit could be involved in a trade this summer to free up additional cap space. No point in shopping a RD if you’re forced into searching for another one due to a potential long-term injury situation. On the plus side is the emergence of RD Nikolas Matinpalo, who not only fit in solidly this past season – with a few rookie gaffes – but who also was selected for Team Finland at the 4 Nation’s Tournament, and who’s playing now for Finland at the World’s, where he assisted on the late tying goal against Canada 2 nights ago in a game that Finland won 2-1 in OT.
As matters now stand, Staios has $42,230,714 committed to 8F: Tkachuk, Stutzle; Cozens; Batherson; Pinto; Amadio; Perron; Greig. – $25,575,000 to 5D: Sanderson; Chabot; Zub; Jensen; Matinpalo. – and $8,250,000 to 1 G: Ullmark
With an additional $1,875,000 of dead cap (buyouts-retention for Colin White and Korpisalo), he has $17,569,286 with which to sign 9. If Jensen were to start the season on LTIR, his $4,050,000 could factor into the cap surplus – at least until he’s ready to return.
He has 3 key RFAs to re-up: LD Kleven, coming off an ELC of $916,667, Goalie Leevi Merilainen, coming off his ELC of $820,000 (and sure to be the back-up to Ullmark with the UFA departure of Forsberg); and trade-acquisition LW Fabian Zetterlund, seeking an increase over his expiring $1,470,000 contract. I can see Kleven and Merilainen signing 2-year bridge deals at something like $2,400,000 for Kleven, and $1,250,000 for Merilainen, while Zetterlund will likely cost in the range of $4,000,000 for a longer period.
That $7,650,000 would leave Staios with $9,919,280 to sign 6. A chunk of that – probably around $4 mil – will go to UFA Giroux – IF he’s re-signed – with a portion of the rest to re-sign UFAs Nick Cousins (exp. $800,000) and Gaudette (exp. $775,000). That would leave him with 3 to sign – and not a whole lot to do it with.
So, no matter how you slice it, and aside from temporary use of Jensen’s cap hit IF he starts on LTIR, it would appear Staios will have to deal one of his term players to free up cap space. Either Perron and his $4 mil (unlikely) or Pinto and his $3,750,000. Stay tuned.
what are the exact details of Jensen’s injury? Are we assuming knee? MCL or ACL ?
Bobrovsky looked dominant….
Did Gretzky play for Minnesota North Stars or Dallas in a different life? Enters the ice on the American bench at 4 nations. Enters Dallas locker room to congratulate them on making it to the WCF. If there’s a statue in Edmonton of this guy it won’t be long before it’s defaced somehow.
Dark G, as usual details of the injury/surgery are as secret as were D-Day landing details. All it says in Garrioch’s column is
“The talk in league circles is that Jensen had a procedure on his hip or knee in New York City, but there has been no confirmation on either front, and the Senators have been tight-lipped on this injury.
After looking at all the options, the Senators and Jensen’s camp both felt surgery was the best route to take. The recovery time can be different for everybody, especially older players, so that’s why it’s hard to say just how long Jensen will be out.
A league executive said the timeline would depend on just “how invasive the surgery was for Jensen.””
As for Gretzky’s statue in Edmonton … it’s already been defaced
https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/feces-smeared-on-edmontons-wayne-gretzky-statue/
As ticked as I am with his open fawning of everything American – while at the same time openly avoiding anything Canadian – I don’t like that extreme sort of “statement.”
Ray…Beecher…remains to be seen if he stays a Bruin
Lauko left and came back and might leave again
Frederic..Carlo..Lindgren..Lauzon..DeBrusk were all solid picks not to long ago but none are Bruins anymore ….
My 2 cents …Bruins should’ve protected Lauzon….they should’ve never traded Lindgren and company for a 33 year old player
Would really like to have Lindgren and Lauzon back
Joe, not sure if you mean Beecher will get traded or sent down. Can’t comment on a trade, as who knows, but if he isn’t I’m confident he stays in Boston. He might need surgery in the off season though.
He just turned 23, played his first full NHL season, is 6’3″, 220 and can skate. Sounds like a quality energy/checker guy who can carve out a good career. The B’s knew what he was when they drafted him, and that’s what he is in the NHL too.
B’s need high end prospects almost always chosen at the top of the draft, and they need more than 1 IMO. Which means you need to struggle for a while, or get lucky.
But the B’s don’t like struggling for a while, not how they usually roll. That will come from ownership not Sweeney, which you get to do if you own a team. Whatever marching he gets he will try and execute.
If you google which NHL team has most points last 10 years Bruins come up at the top. You don’t stay on top unless you move draft picks and prospects for experience unfortunately it would have been better with another cup or two. They had their chances but didn’t succeed but can’t complain for trying. Sweeney in my opinion has done a great job nothing or nobody is perfect.
Well, tied with Tampa with the exact same number of points.
Obe my biggest complaint of many that I have with Sweeney is why hasn t he found a replacement for Bergeron or Krecji? He has had at least 5 years todo this.Lindholm is not the answer.