NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2025
The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they await Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, updates on the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson spoke about the club’s return to the Stanley Cup Final and Connor McDavid’s next contract.
McDavid, 28, is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He and the Oilers can agree to a contract extension starting this July 1.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
“Look, Connor knows what he means to this organization and the city of Edmonton,” said Jackson. “And this organization and the city certainly know what Connor means to them. We’re very cognizant of that.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The approaching end to McDavid’s contract has some fans and pundits wondering if he’ll re-sign with the Oilers or test next summer’s UFA market. I believe that he will sign an extension this summer that’ll make him the highest-paid player in the league starting in 2026-27.
NHL.COM: Florida Panthers forwards Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and AJ Greer missed practice on Saturday. Luostarinen and Greer were injured in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Head coach Paul Maurice indicated Luostarinen and Lundell are fine, but Greer is considered day-to-day.
THE SCORE: Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn doesn’t plan on leaving the only NHL team he’s ever played for. The 35-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but he hopes to work something out with management.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benn is completing an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million. He’s been the Stars’ captain for years, but his performance declined noticeably over the past two seasons.
The Stars’ front office has indicated a desire for Benn to finish his career in Dallas. However, they have less than $5 million in cap space this summer. He must accept a significant pay cut to stay in Dallas.
Matt Duchene is also UFA-eligible on July 1 after finishing the second of the one-year contracts he’s had with the Stars. The 34-year-old center wants to stay in Dallas, but indicated he’ll be seeking term on his next contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duchene is unlikely to get more than a year from the Stars. They must ensure sufficient long-term cap room to re-sign winger Jason Robertson and defenseman Thomas Harley. Both players are restricted free agents next summer with arbitration rights.
SPORTSNET: Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and goaltender Jake Oettinger aren’t concerned about their working relationship going forward.
Eyebrows were raised when DeBoer pulled Oettinger early in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final after the latter gave up two goals on two shots. Following the game, the Stars coach didn’t exactly give a glowing review of his starter’s performance in that series.
Two days later, DeBoer insisted he is a big fan of Oettinger as a player and a person, calling him “the best young goaltender in the league,” suggesting he still has room to grow and improve. He also revealed that Oettinger was battling an upper respiratory illness, leading the coaching staff to debate whether to start backup Casey DeSmith in Game 4.
Meanwhile, Oettinger refused to use the illness as an excuse. He dismissed the idea that DeBoer’s comments following Game 5 had hurt their relationship. “I think for me, just the whole experience, I’m going to learn from it and it’s going to help me grow and be a better person and better goalie.”
DAILY FACEOFF: Stars center Roope Hintz said his foot was fractured by a slash from Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. Hintz missed Game 3 but returned for the final two games of the series. Nurse was initially given a five-minute major penalty but it was reduced on review to two minutes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nurse should’ve received supplemental discipline for his actions, but that’s not how things work in the erratic world of the NHL’s department of “player safety.”
STLTODAY.COM: Blues winger Dylan Holloway was heartbroken to miss the playoffs due to a lower-body injury that required season-ending surgery. He’s coming off a career-best 26 goals and 37 assists in 77 games this season.
Holloway completed the first season of a two-year contract and is eligible to sign an extension with the Blues on July 1. The 23-year-old could earn an average annual value of $7 million on his next contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway and teammate Philip Broberg were signed away from the Edmonton Oilers last summer via offer sheets. Their additions played a key role in the Blues reaching the playoffs this season, suggesting they could soon become core players for this club.
ESPN.COM: Thousands attended the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day on Saturday at Washington Lake Park in southern New Jersey. Roughly 1,110 people participated in person, along with more than 1,300 virtually in the United States, Canada, and around the world.
The event honored the memory of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died last August after being struck by an alleged drunk driver. The goal was to raise money for an accessible playground at Archbishop Damiano School, where their mother, Jane, and her daughter Kristen work.
The hockey world continues to do all the right things witnessed by the support of the Gaudreau Family 5 K run/ walk.
Hey Sweeney will you pick a HC already… Come On Man …
Joe, your also question popped up a week or so back – I think from Sr – and I’ll repeat what I asked then: what’s the rush? There’s nothing to “coach” at this time, and rarely – if ever – does a coach attend the entry draft. That’s the GM’s job with input from the scouting department. A coach’s job is to meld whatever the GM assembles into an effective force on the ice.
Sweeney started looking for a HC 6 weeks ago …
Sweeney last 3 HC of the Bruins were all Jack Adams award winners and he fired each one of them … just maybe he’s the one who should’ve been fired
Do you know what you’re talking about ? almost all HC attend the NHL entry drafts why wouldn’t they ?
Joe they will hire the cheapest coach they can. Check the assistant coaches contracts. If They are under contract the new head coach will keep them on rather than firing them.That s why Sullivan and To Chet wouldn t consider coaching in Boston.They gaveSweeney a 2 year extension so the new coach will have a 2 year contract.Most coaches get more than a two year contract.
Yeah, Joe, I do believe I know what I’m talking about.
Yes, an established coach who has already been with the team for at least one season, and is therefore familiar with the roster, will attend the entry draft if, for no other reason than to provide their perspective on how drafted players might fit into the team and their potential on the ice.
But it’s the GM, with concrete input from the scouting staff, who make the decisions.
I would assume that, whoever he eventually hires, will have no such intimate roster knowledge so again, what’s the rush?
Besides, Sweeney is already on record as saying a coach will be hired “well before the draft” – which isn’t until later this month. Do you want him to do it fast … or get it right?
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/05/21/bruins-don-sweeney-narrowing-coaching-search/
GeorgeO he has had it right with Montgomery and Cassidy. He has had it wrong because his rosters were not good enough.Cassidy goes to Vegas and with a better lineup,wins the cup. Monty turns St .Louis around and has a great second half season record. He was out of a job for less than a week,mid season.
I’m not disputing that, Sr, nor am I suggesting whoever he hires as his coach will turn out to be the right choice.
The issue is the misplaced angst over the fact he hasn’t made his decision yet. And my point was/is “what’s the rush?”
There’s nothing to coach at this writing, and he’s already on record as assuring that a coach will be hired before the draft.
And let’s face it, no matter who he hires the second-guessing will begin as soon as it’s announced.
As I’ve posted a couple of times … do you want him to get it done fast … or right?