NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2025
An update on the Oilers’ offseason plans, Jonathan Toews signs with the Jets, the latest on Joe Pavelski, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said Friday that signing team captain Connor McDavid to a contract extension is the team’s top offseason priority.
Bowman said McDavid has earned the right to determine the timeline for negotiations, but said the Oilers will be ready once he’s ready to begin. The Oilers superstar is eligible for unrestricted free-agent (UFA) status next July, but he can sign an extension as early as this July 1.
The Oilers GM indicated that the Oilers’ defense corps will remain largely intact. That includes Evan Bouchard, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.
Bowman will focus on making modifications to the forward lines and the goaltending. He said he’s not singling out the goalie tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but the club will explore changes to that position.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Based on Bowman’s comments, Robert Tychkowski believes the Oilers GM plans a mid-level change or two to his roster.
Tychkowski expressed concern over the Oilers’ aging roster and its thin prospect cupboard. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that their priority is winning the Stanley Cup next season.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).
Meanwhile, Jim Matheson wondered if Skinner returns next season as the Oilers’ starting goalie, or will he be sharing the crease in a “1 and 1A scenario” without Pickard.
Matheson wondered if the Oilers might target Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues with an offer sheet. If they sign him to no more than an average annual value (AAV) of $4,680,076, it’ll only cost them a second-round pick in 2026 as compensation, which is a pick they have.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming Hofer is open to signing an offer sheet, the Blues are in a good position to match it. They have roughly $5 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 22 active roster players under contract. They could get $6.5 million in additional cap flexibility if Torey Krug (ankle) remains on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) next season.
Bigger names that have surfaced in the rumor mill include Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Jordan Binnington of the Blues, and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman will play a key role in the Bruins’ plans for a bounce-back performance next season. Trading him would leave them with Joonas Korpisalo as their full-time starter, and history has shown he’s best suited as a backup.
Binnington’s fortunes have rebounded following a strong performance in the 4 Nations Face Off tournament and the Blues’ memorable first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets this spring. He’s not going anywhere.
Saros struggled along with his Predators teammates last season. They could trade him before his new contract (with its full no-movement clause) begins on July 1, but it’s doubtful the Oilers would be comfortable with his $7.7 million AAV through 2032-33.
Besides, Predators GM Barry Trotz signed Saros to that hefty contract. It’s unlikely he’ll put the netminder on the trade block this summer.
Smaller names that could be available via trade or free agency include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not much to choose from there, but Gibson might be worth the risk. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.5 million, but the Ducks might be willing to retain some salary to facilitate a trade for the right return. Allen is a reliable backup while Jarry’s inconsistency is a significant concern.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has agreed to a one-year contract with the Jets. The 37-year-old center is staging a comeback after being sidelined for the last two seasons by long COVID symptoms and chronic immune response issues.
Toews will earn a base salary of $2 million. With bonuses for games played, that number will more than double if he suits up for at least 50 games in 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a low-cost gamble by the Jets. If it pays off, Toews could fill their second center position. If it doesn’t, they’ll have sufficient cap space to address that position later in the season.
RG.ORG: Former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski admitted he had a moment where he felt the itch to return to the NHL during this season. However, it passed quickly as he confirmed that he is retired for good.
Pavelski played 18 seasons in the NHL, establishing himself among the greatest American-born players in league history.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Eric Robinson to a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.7 million. Robinson, 30, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
TSN: The Dallas Stars signed restricted free agents Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist to one-year contracts. Bourque will earn $950,000 while Lundkvist will earn $1.25 million.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed depth forward Dryden Hunt to a two-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $825,000 at the NHL level.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken inked defenseman Cale Fleury to a two-year contract with an AAV of $890,000.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils are reportedly not qualifying the rights of restricted free agent Cody Glass, making him a UFA on July 1.
Dallas smart moves protecting against OS
Great very low risk move by Jets re hometown Toews
The fact Nill got Lundqvist to re-up at the same cap hit and Bourque for the monumental increase of $56,000 is amazing. I mean, you have to figure the LEAST each would have received in terms of offer sheets was 2 or 3 times that.
Yeah, I thought that was a terrible signing BY Bourque. Surely he had potential greater offers coming via Offer Sheet. And even if not, that low-ball raise would have still been in play. No need to sign that now, when he’d have – at a minimum – the same standing offer a month from now. I’d be considering another Agent.
Sway isn’t going anywhere but the Bruins must do their best to move Joonas Korpisalo he wants to play and have seen in a few print articles he’s looking around a 50/50 split but at $3 million it might be a tough move … They have DiPietro who had a good year in Providence and is a RFA they need to make a decision with him .. it looks likes he don’t belong in the AHL anymore .. ideal situation move Korpisalo for a draft pick and sign DiPierto as the backup goalie to Sway
I agree 8787, such a smart contract for both Toews and the Jets. Protects both sides, so much unknown with how Toews return results will be. Everyone in the Peg is very happy about this. Hopefully Ehlers decides to return but the feeling is there’s too much more free agent $$ elsewhere. We shall see. Congrats to Paul Maurice and the Cats. Talk about a masterclass in not only team building but laser focus on Cup #2. They didn’t care about division or conference titles and played the long game knowing that they could skate into opponents barns and take their lunch money when it was all on the line.
George O said it best, yesterday….Jim Nill is a wizard!!!
Btw, not one person has mentioned that Borque’s low contract goes further in Texas with no taxes….C’mon conspiracy theorists, you’re not keeping up
Heh. He is that for sure, Starsfan. I’ve read, too, that he might have received marginally better offers for Marchment, including some from teams on his 10-team no trade list – who they might be is anyone’s guess – but out of deference to a player well-liked on the team, chose the offer from Seattle since Washington is also a no-tax state like Texas and so would not adversely affect his take-home pay.
I completely agree George O, the only thing I can think of is that he really wants to stay in Dallas and is betting on himself for a much larger payday next year. It would be hard to believe they have the money to re-sign Granlund, and with Marchment traded, he probably feels he will be in the top 6.
Lundkvist’s signing is another story, he definitely should have waited until July (especially since they will probably get rid of Dumba).
Dave, if there are no trade takers for Matt Dumba it looks he will be bought out, costing Nill $2,330,000 off the cap for 2025-26 and $1,160,000 for 2026-27.
Since that would absorb most of his current cap reserve of $2,755,084, and the fact he would then only have 17 committed to for next season, it would appear to us novices that he would need to move another big contract in order to be able to sign 6.
Can’t wait to see what rabbit he pulls out of the hat this time.
I hope the Sharks now feel free to retire Pavelski’s number and hang his name from the rafters.
I also hope they nab Jake Allen as a back-up for Askirov. Maybe they’ll even offer a two-year deal to Dumba, if it’s the right price, unless they want to get Burns for a year and let him retire as a Shark.
Rock, you are dead on.Similar stats to Thornton and Marceau both high first round picks. I believe Pavalski was drafted in the 7th round by legendary scout Tim Burke.