NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 19, 2025
The league continues to examine the Oilers’ use of LTIR with Evander Kane, the Blackhawks re-sign Ryan Donato, the Devils trade Erik Haula to the Predators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli cited sources claiming the NHL plans to continue examining the Edmonton Oilers’ use of long-term injury reserve salary-cap relief (LTIR) with winger Evander Kane.
The league may require more information to confirm that Edmonton complied with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) when Kane returned for the second game of the Oilers’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old winger missed the entire 2024-25 regular season due to injuries.
Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).
Seravalli indicated that no NHL team has been punished for LTIR usage. The Oilers could face retroactive punishment if the league finds they violated the spirit of the CBA. He indicated that sources say the Oilers have complied with the league’s requests for information and medical opinions.
Kane is under contract through 2025-26 with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.125 million.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports that Seravalli’s report sparked outrage in Edmonton, citing several local pundits and broadcasters questioning why this is happening now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is puzzling why the league continues to monitor this nearly two months after Kane returned to action. They could simply be conducting due diligence and nothing further may come of it.
We saw a similar situation with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber in 2021, when the league kept an eye on his status after being placed on LTIR for 2021-22. In Weber’s case, the severity of his injuries ended his playing career.
THE SCORE: Speaking of the Oilers, they’re expected to sign forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of between $3.5 million and $4 million. John Matisz indicated the deal also comes with a modified no-movement clause.
Seravalli stated the deal isn’t expected to be officially announced just yet as they’re engaged in contract talks with other players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frederic, 27, is a checking line power forward who can play center or wing. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.3 million.
Frederic would likely get a similar AAV elsewhere in the free-agent market on July 1. However, inking him for eight years seems excessive. Given his style of play, that deal might not age well.
The Oilers currently have $11.9 million of salary-cap space for 2025-26. Frederic’s new contract would reduce it to between $8.4 million and $8.9 million. That leaves no room to re-sign or replace their other free agents.
That includes Evan Bouchard. The 25-year-old defenseman is slated to become a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights on July 1. It could cost over $9 million annually to re-sign him.
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks re-signed forward Ryan Donato to a four-year, $16-million contract with an AAV of $4 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Donato was among the few bright spots this season for the rebuilding Blackhawks. The versatile 29-year-old forward had a career-best performance with 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 points, putting him among their leading scorers. He’s coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $2 million.
THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators acquired forward Erik Haula from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and minor-league defenseman Jeremy Hanzel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now indicates this move cleared $3.15 million from the Devils’ salary-cap payroll for 2025-26. They now have over $14.3 million in cap space with RFAs Luke Hughes and Cody Glass and UFA Jake Allen to re-sign. This could also give them some flexibility to make an addition via trade or free agency.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed forward Matt Rempe to a two-year contract with an AAV of $975,000.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks re-signed winger Nikita Nesterenko to a two-year, one-way contract with an AAV of $775,000.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL forward Nick Bonino has ended his playing career and is joining the Penguins as an assistant coach.
Bonino, 37, spent 15 seasons in the NHL from 2009-10 to 2023-24 with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins (helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017), Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. He had 159 goals and 199 points in 358 regular-season games and 19 goals and 48 points in 105 postseason contests.
SAN JOSE SHARKS: announced former TV and radio color analyst Chris Collins passed away. Collins covered the team from 1992 to 1997.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Collins’ family, friends, broadcast colleagues and the Sharks’ organization.
Tell me why and how the Oil can hand out a lucrative contract to a checking line bottom-six forward when they are expected to woo Mitch Marner??????đ
Worse why are the Oilers going to sign Evan Bouchard to a 9-10 million contract loaded with NMC’s. A player who steps out of the way of an on rushing forward.
Marner coming to Edmonton is someones fantasy.
You are right Allan, especially about Mitch…..but there was some writing about Marner coming to Edmonton. I just had bring Mitchy into the discussion first today because he deserves all the attention!!!!!!!! đđ
(Is it too late to ask for forgiveness?)
Agree on Marner Alan, but Bouchard will get paid and it doesn’t matter what team he plays for. Every team with cap space without a high end offensive D man would too. 100% of them.
He was the Oil’s best d-man in the playoffs, and yes he made some mistakes as did every d-man on every team that played.
The team struggled against Florida, the D just had to bear the brunt of it, as that is their job. I put most of the blame on the forward group.
Bouchard is an elite offensive d-man, and his defence was above average until the the Florida series. Which Oiler D-man defended better than him?
Bouchard drove me crazy during the regular season too. But, he plays better in the playoffs on both ends of the ice and has for consecutive seasons. Frustrating, but also true.
I would be shocked if he didn’t re-sign in Edmonton, and if it $9M per, then good for the Oil.
You say good for the Oil, Ray. Unless there is a corresponding move – like trading Nurse and his 9.5 million per – that will start the downward spiral of the Oil.
I agree Bouchard brings offence, but as everyone saw the difference in the Cup final was depth. Where does the money come from to replace the UFAs at the bottom of the Oilers’ depth, let alone improve?
I guess Lou Lamoriello is now calling the shots in Edmonton.
Johnny Z – they cannot, not as the roster is structured.
But the team now will be notably different over the summer. Bowman didn’t construct this roster nor has he made his mark yet. I suspect a combination of guys like Kane, Arvidsson, hopefully Nurse (I know I know but stranger more challenging trades have been done), and possibly some of ekholm henrique janmark skinner or even Bouchard.
Also there were reports they were a team inquiring on rantanen and willing to sign him 12M+ and up but didn’t have the parts to satisfy the Cane’s. Make that make sense.
And if they were willing to go there for Mikko…Marner (or a trade for a Panarin perhaps or Boeser) isn’t that far off. Not saying it’s smart…not saying it’s my hope…not saying i have any idea how they pull it off..just don’t think the Oilers plan is to tweak around the edges this off season.
As for Bouchard…I have no problem with 10M. But they cannot do that and have Nurse and Ekholm imo. This D is decent but the group needs improvements as well.
So if you cannot move Nurse which is a huge hurdle…you have to then think do the Oilers need Bouchard? Do you sell high on him now?
The team tweaked last off season and came up short. Bigger changes are coming imo and the Oileds tend to be notoriously quiet and make moves out of left field often (good and bad ones).
As for Frederic. I don’t have an opinion. We have been more good than bad with longer extensions but I have not seen enough of him to form a fair opinion.
There was a writer that wrote on moving Nurse to Detroit……It was obvious click-bait and I did not read it. But many Oiler fans have openly hoped that Nurse find his way to a new home. I agree, but I don’t want it to be Detroit unless there is an ample sweetener involved. Detroit could benefit from Nurse’s toughness, and he is an upgrade, but that contract would be even tougher to trade in a couple years despite the cap going up
I agree 1Oilerfan, the Oil will free up cap space and make some changes.
If your thinking LD, I think Nurse is tradable, and Detroit is as good a guess as any. Question is will he agree to it, and I have heard nothing to suggest he would. Ekholm doesn’t have trade protection, and he struggled as much as anyone on the blue line. But, he came in late as he missed significant time due to injury. He is a good player.
Kane is the one I see moved for sure to clear space, what a deal like that looks like I have no idea. His ozone penalties in the SCF sure didn’t help his value for a contender that may have interest. Would a sweetener be required?
LJ, I addressed some of that below. They need to clear space. It is doable, some by dumping, some by sweetening if required. Kane, no idea what that looks like, but would bet $20 he isn’t on the roster next next year. Arvidsson will go too I would guess.
Nurse is a whipping boy here, but he is a good player and had a good playoff. But he has a NMC, and by all accounts likes it here and is part of the leadership group.
They have an abundance of LD’s, I see one getting shipped out. All of them are tradeable, only Nurse has a NMC. All will bring decent return. Puck moving, defense to offence guys on the blueline are the one thing every team that advanced in the playoffs has. All of them. I know that and the Oil do too. Points from the D-core is critical. Not grit, not stay at home guys. And that includes the Panthers. Why the heck would they trade a guy like Bouchard then?
They got to the SCF for the 2nd straight year and were missing a first line winger. Depends how the Oil react, I hope they take some time to calm down and let the emotion get out of them.
This is still a very good team, and will be next season.
Johnny Z, this contract looks like the Jeannot deal in Tampa.you saw how that worked out.
Senators pending RFA winger Fabian Zetterlund has agreed to a three-year extension with the club, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. The deal is worth $12.825MM with a cap hit of $4.275MM. Heâll be a UFA upon expiry in 2028.
A very nice raise!
Good signing for a versatile F who could get a lot of early-season work at RW on the 1st line with Tkachuk at LW and Stutzle at C.
That also reduces the cap reserve to $10,751,786 with 6 still to sign, the next priority likely being RFA G Leevi Merilainen who will become the back-up to Ullmark. Heâs coming off an ELC of $820,000 and will likely get a bridge deal at around $2.5 mil per, which would give Staios $8.2 mil to sign 5.
I believe theyâll retain pending UFA LW Nick Cousins (expiring $800,000) at a nominal raise to around $1.2 mil, leaving $7 mil to sign 4.
It looks, however, like UFA Claude Giroux has played his final game for Ottawa, with rumours of a possible signing in Montreal continuing to hang fire.
If that transpires it would not surprise me to see Staios make one more deal involving another of his big-ticket contracts. especially with the distinct possibility that RD Carter Yakemchuk earns a starting job out of training camp. He certainly showed that capability last training camp.
I think the Sens don’t go big name hunting this year. Next year, they have more cap space and the cap rises. If Giroux signs, top 9 is set. I suspect the hold up with Giroux is number of years. Sens may only want to do one year. Feel like they should only have one of Giroux or Perron, not both. And Giroux would have to sign for 3rd money to play 3rd line minutes. I like Zetterlund singing….assuming he can get back to 20 goals, and 5 on 5 scoring. Staios seems to be tempering expectations by saying we won’t spend to the full cap. And your math works out…with every signing, the ability to sign anyone else shrinks. Other than 4th line players and D depth, I don’t know if Sens are doing much, unless it is by trade.
More or less agree with everything you say , Grimm. Giroux, if re-signed, is looking at 3rd line RW on a line with Pinto at C and Greig at LW and probably on a 1-year deal. He can’t really expect longer term, turning 38 in January.
IF a term contract is to be dealt I would bet on it being RD Zub. if expectations are that RD Yakemchuk will make the training camp cut. The emergence of Matinpalo this past season, and the recent re-acquisition of Lassi Thomson gives them some flexibility at RD until Jensen’s return – now expected to be relatively early into the season based upon re-hab reports.
The league coming after Edmonton for LITR concerns is a major joke. Just because they dont like Kane?
Amazing how the league is investigating the Oilers and had investigated the Habs for LTIR abuses while seemingly doing nothing to investigate the Panthers and Knights. Maybe not a coincidence.
In Weberâs case, obviously the Habs didnât come anywhere near the playoffs in 2022 and his contract has long since been traded. But itâs quite obvious that even if they had made the playoffs, Weber would certainly not have played.
Might be Kane but seems more like a Canada thing only other team with a drawn out investigation Montreal. Really can’t be much different than Vegas and Tampa can it ?
I was waiting for someone to play THAT card…hahahaha
Actually Toronto was investigated too, for Robidas
Congrats on your career and enjoy your retirement Nick.
Investigating Oolers re Kane/LTIR?
Sounds definitely like a âscapegoatâ investigation to addressed a flawed part of the CBA
Kane is not the first player to sit out then return for the playoffs. Why werenât the others investigated?
Frederick:
Lyle if your term and Cap estimate on him are correct; I fully agree term too long; but AAV on high side as well IMHO
So, according to TNT the highest rating Florida got for the the finals was 3.2. People in S. Florida really must love their hockey
Well, we only have 6 fans( although there is a rumor it is up to 8 now,), what more did you expect?