NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2025
The Florida Panthers are within one game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Check out the details in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers are on the verge of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Brad Marchand scored twice and Sam Bennett tallied his playoff-leading 15th goal as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first period and went up 3-0 by 5:12 of the third period.
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).
Oilers captain Connor McDavid cut the lead to 3-1 just over two minutes later, but Sam Reinhart made it 4-1 less than a minute later. Corey Perry would make it 4-2, but it was too little and too late, as Eetu Luostarinen scored an empty-netter for the Panthers.
Marchand and Bennett became the sixth pair of teammates to score at least five goals in the Stanley Cup Final, and the first to do so since Yvan Cournoyer and Frank Mahovlich with the Montreal Canadiens in 1973. Marchand is the sixth player to tally at least five goals in multiple Cup Finals (2011, 2025), and the first since Mario Lemieux with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.
The Panthers tied a Stanley Cup playoff record with their 10th road victory. Bennett extended his postseason record with his 12th goal on the road.
This series returns to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand and Bennett must be considered the front-runners for the Conn Smythe Trophy, especially if the Panthers win the Cup. Eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, they have performed as though they have something to prove.
Marchand has silenced critics who believed he was past his prime. He can justify seeking a raise over the $6.13 million average annual value of his previous contract, potentially ending his short (but successful) tenure with the Panthers.
Bennett wants to remain with Florida, and they want to keep him. However, the cost of doing so could rise regardless of the Panthers playing in a no-tax state. He earned an AAV of $4.425 million on his current contract. That could jump to between $7.5 million and $8 million annually.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic praised Florida’s defensive masterclass in Game 5, pointing out the transformative influence of head coach Paul Maurice. The commitment of all four forward lines to playing two-way hockey has them poised to repeat as champions.
The Oilers continue to struggle in the first period, giving up at least two goals in the opening frame in each game of this series. Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal pointed out that the Panthers have played just over 200 minutes of this series with the lead, while the Oilers have held it for less than 34 minutes. If that trend persists in Game 6, they’ll be watching the Panthers hoist the Cup for the second straight time.
It’s worth acknowledging that the Oilers have staged comebacks throughout this postseason. Nevertheless, as Leavins’ colleague Robert Tychowski observed, they can’t spot the Panthers two or three goals every game and expect to get away with it.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch put on a brave face in his postgame interview. He admitted his club faces a difficult situation, but remains confident they can overcome it. However, they can’t come out and play tentative hockey as they did in two of their last three games.
Another great game in a fantastic series! Marchand with 2 fantastic goals and McDavid with a beauty as well! Well done! Bravo!!
Whether or not Edmonton goes on to win or lose this series, one thing has become quite clear – at least to this “non-affiliated” observer … and that is, they absolutely need to somehow make the necessary moves to improve their goaltending tandem.
After being outscored 23 – 16 over the first 4 games, and their # 1 pulled a couple of times – despite holding an average-shots-per-game average of 40 – 36 (including 3 OTs) – they bear down defensively in game 5 (with their back-up in net sporting a perfect won-loss record so far in these playoffs) to hold Florida to 18 shots, at the same time sacrificing their own offense to 21 shots, only to see their keeper relinquish 4, for a pathetic save % of .778 – and all of them 5 on 5.
Bottom line: you don’t win the Stanley Cup with mediocre goaltending, no matter how much offensive firepower you may possess.
George O,Edmonton is desperate to fill the one hole that a cup winner has a goalie.They need to swing for the fence to acquire one.As you look at the league there are only a couple of choices. If Boston would consider trading Swayman that would solve their problem. Boston could reload at a time when they need young,quality players and draft choices. Boston is trying to convince their fan base and ownership that they can retool in a hurry with a couple of trades or FA signings. I just don’t t see it being that easy or that short.
Sr, someone like Swayman could make a huge difference to the Oilers fortunes.
But their GM would need to make several moves to clear the way and, of course, there’s the question as to what Sweeney would want in return.
Bowman has just under $12 mil in cap reserve coming up with 19 committed to for next season – including both current goalies Skinner ($2.6 mil) and Pickard ($1 mil) – and although they have just the one RFA, it just so happens to be RD Evan Bouchard who has arbitration rights and is coming off an expiring $3.9 mil cap hit. You know he’s going to take up a major chunk of that reserve.
Then there are his 6 UFAs – Perry, Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, Kapanen, Frederic and Klingberg. Most won’t be re-upped, but he still has to fill 3 spots, including an adequate back-up to Swayman if that isn’t filled by one of the 2 there now (while finding a taker for the other one).
Bowman would also need to move out one of his big-ticket players in order to accommodate Swayman’s $8,250,000 cap hit and fill out his 23-man roster.
I just don’t see that move as a viable option.
Why on Earth would I trade the guy on a good deal who can backstop a team to the cup? Sweeney can far more easily go out and get the other pieces than replace Swayman. Not gonna happen.
GeorgeO not as difficult as you think. Swayman for Bouchard,eventually close in Age, salary and length of contract when you slice it up.
Edmonton is NOT giving up Bouchard for a goalie. You can put that in the bank.
And you more or less make my point with your question below to Azhockeynut – “how many playoff rounds has Swayman won without Ullmark?”
Improving their goaltending – at least from a more consistent performance standpoint – does not have to involve dealing for a goalie costing over $8 mil off the cap.
There are several teams out there either in or fast approaching re-build status who could be enticed to give up an otherwise good – and cost-friendly – goalie for the right return not named Bouchard.
This is where Bowman either earns his stripes or is exposed as a GM casing in on his name.
George O in a couple of years Edmonton will look like TML. Instead of a core 4 it will be a core 3. How did that work out for TML ?Bouchard being the third member.
Sr, you’re forgetting Nurse and his $9,250,000 cap hit. So, it’ll be a Core 4.
Cup champs PAY for goalies. Agents and players who want a cup but are not goalies need to learn the only way is to stop being greedy. After your first contract you are set for life. After your second so is your family. Leave plenty on the table so the team can win. Unless you don’t deserve the cup
Azhockeynut,how many playoff rounds has Swayman won without Ullmark. The Bruins are not even close to a cup with or without Swayman. Have you seen what their roster looks like?
To my eyes George, it’s a lack of depth that is biting the Oil. Marchand used an outside in move twice to score his goals, and Pickard was left out to dry. Secondary scoring is lacking, and their bottom 6 D is mediocre.
But that is the result of top heavy investment in two players. If McDavid and Draisaitl don’t dominate…..
And it’s not going to get better with Bouchard’s impending cap hit.
LJ, lack of depth on the Oilers is certainly factoring into this series, and it’s not confined to just McDavid’s and Draisaitl’s top heavy cap hit – Nurse and his $9,250,000 deal has to be considered as well. In total that’d $35,750,000 on 3 players – or 37% of NEXT season’s $95.5 mil cap.
But even there, the stats show that both teams are almost identical in terms of Top-half vis-a-vis Bottom-half production.
The BIG separation is in goaltending. While Knoblauch has to rely on his best guess as to who should start, Maurice automatically pencils in “Bobrovsky” when submitting his starting line-up.
Mr. Knoblauch should ask his boss Stan Bowman, how come Florida has no problem deciding who should be in net?
Little early to be writing the Oilers obituary isn’t it?
They dug themselves a hole, and deserve to be in it, and Florida is rolling, but there is a reason they play the games.
I wouldn’t bet my truck on it, but the Oil can still win this.
The Conn Smythe should go to Florida’s GM for picking up Marchand at the deadline.
as Lyle quoted -‘transformative influence of head coach Paul Maurice. The commitment of all four forward lines to playing two-way hockey has them poised to repeat as champions.’
Some of their Dmen were castaways from other teams and one is now a top guy imho (forsling).
Marchand gets 13 minutes and always looks FRESH. he blew around younger players on both goals. Maurice and the staff as well as Marchand for only wanting to go to Florida for pennies on the dollar
Ds
Marchand ice time last night is an outlier. He is averaging closer to 17-18 per game top 6 mins for forwards on Florida. Florida playing style when they are on their toes is perfect playoff hockey just wave after wave
That was marchands call and Sweeney accommodated his request. Thus that is why return was small. Class act by Bruin management IMHO
As hard as it was. It was the correct move for both parties
@BCLeaf fan
I couldn’t agree more ..
And Seth Jones’s
I was going to comment on Zito on here , but you summed it up perfectly !
Leafs should have picked up Marchand along either way Brandon Carlo , but maybe Marchand requested Florida as an alternative ??
I am a passionate leaf fan , but also , Huge either way Marchand and Bennett
Zito is a brilliant GM , as is Armstrong in St.Louis
last note….
both teams overall looked tired and sloppy…. surprised the shot totals were so low
Oilers vs Panthers last night:
Nervous and tight vs energized, confident, gritty, and loose
Credit where credit is due : hate him or love him; Marchand has been clutch and with great hands. Zito for the ultimate GM
Above said; re:
“Marchand is the sixth player to tally at least five goals in multiple Cup Finals (2011, 2025), and the first since Mario Lemieux with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.”
Who would have ever thought Mario and Marchand would have ever been mentioned in the same sentence let alone referencing comparative offensive stats.
A more likely sentence with both names in it could have been:
“Mario and Marchand are two names of players who have win the Stanley Cup”
Congrats Mr. Marchand
Care to consider signing to play with someone 9 months younger than you and born less than 30 minutes from where you were born (Halifax vs Hammonds Plains)?
8787 pretty sure I read over 200 posts about the pens and Dubas signings with getting older slower smaller and now you want Marchand ? Pot please call kettle.
Heh, Swany … right on the mark.
The worse the Pittsburgh situation becomes it seems the dreams only get weirder – just Google “the worse the situation the bigger the dreams” and you’ll see a perfect description of at least some among their fan base.
Hi Swany,
Was definitely joking re Marchand to Pens
Just following up on the praise I was giving him (rightfully earned BTW) and making a joke re another (only other) thing he’d then have with Mario
Gladly, Not a chance even the dolt Dubas would make a bid on Marchand. We should (🤞) be safe there.
I was surprised as well! I felt the Oilers were either nervous/ or reluctant at times to get it going? Whether that has to do with travel or anything I am not sure. But they squandered a huge opportunity . Now, they are up against it and are going to have to pull off a miracle because Florida has got it going on . Even though he is not scoring, what a pass by barkov on that Reinhart goal?
A thing that Edmonton must face while they have 87 and 28 under contract. They have 18 UFA s on their roster this year and next,including their 2 goalies. They have no first round pick until 2027.Things can come apart quickly.
A Little off topic
It will be Interesting to See How Anaheim does this upcoming season !!
They are moving the landscape
I wouldn’t categorize getting Kreider as “moving the landscape” – let’s at least wait and see what other additions they make.
George – They are in a mission
They have only started !
New coach as well !
Just not an ordinary coach either !!
Well, you’re bang on about the coach. He is indeed not “ordinary” – he’s a monumental pr*#k.
What is going to be interesting is to see how his players respond to his presence behind the bench – not to mention crowds in other rinks.
Ken buyer or shopper beware of veteran players. Boston and Nashville went big last off-season and look where they ended up? Both picking in the top 7 of this years draft.Finishing in the bottom 5 of the league.
Quenneville has been out of hockey for 4 years and a lot has changed.
it remains to be seen how effective he will be now, how he edjusts to a different game mot to mention how he deals with such a young team.
As per the Ducks – New and Improved Mighty Ducks
“Moving the “Landscape”
If it doesn’t pan out – as per my train of thought ??
It’s just a “hunch”
Making the playoffs would be a huge leap !
As per Marchand , it will be a Pleasure to see him in Blue and White next year !!! 😜
Montembault to the oilers, Nuge to the Habs. Sammy is an upgrade on Skinner and the Nuge fills the 2C the Habs need. Just need the Nuge to waive his no trade.
I would like the Habs to acquire Nugent but trading him for Montembeault solves one problem and creates another.
My top 5 Cup Final takeaways
1- Marchand best player in series
2- Oilers will pay Bouchard 10 million and regret it
3- Sam Bennett is the ultimate warrior every team needs a Bennett
4- Connor McDavid needs to shoot more
5- Kanes antics are not worth the return.