NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 25, 2025
Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, updates on Connor McDavid and Jonathan Marchessault, the Islanders won’t part with the 2025 first-overall draft pick, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Hockey Hall of Fame will induct former NHL stars Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton in a ceremony in November.
Former Canadian women’s national team forward Jennifer Botterill and former United States women’s national team forward Brianna Decker will also be inducted into the players’ category.
Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Duncan Keith & Alexander Mogilny are part of the HHoF Class of 2025.(NHL.com)
Former Boston University coach Jack Parker and former Canadian women’s hockey coach, general manager and consultant Daniele Sauvageau will be inducted into the builders’ category.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the inductees for this well-deserved honor.
Regarding the NHLers, Chara was one of the dominant defensemen of his era. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and was a six-time finalist. Chara captained the Boston Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup. He is seventh all-time in games played (1,608) with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals.
Keith was one of the greatest players in Chicago Blackhawks history, helping them win three Stanley Cups between 2009-10 and 2014-15. He was a two-time Norris Trophy winner (2009-10, 2013-14), took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015, and won Olympic gold playing for Canada in 2010 and 2014.
Mogilny was finally inducted after 16 years of eligibility. Defecting from the Soviet Union in 1989 to play in the NHL, he had 1,032 points in 990 regular-season games (including a career-high 76 goals in 1992-93) with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1999-2000 and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2002-03.
Thornton was among the greatest playmakers in NHL history, sitting seventh overall with 1,109 assists and 14th with 1,539 points. He’s also sixth in games-played (1,714) with the Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. Thornton won the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2005-06.
TSN: Former Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price are among those who could be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next year. It will be Bergeron’s first year of eligibility and Price’s second.
It will also be the first year of eligibility for forwards Phil Kessel and Eric Staal. Patrick Marleau, Henrik Zetterberg and Ryan Getzlaf join Price among the recently eligible. Other potential candidates include Rod Brind’Amour, Sergei Gonchar, Jason Spezza, Curtis Joseph, Keith Tkachuk and Ryan Miller.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some Canadiens fans were surprised that Price wasn’t inducted into this year’s class. In my opinion, Chara, Keith, and Thornton were more deserving candidates, and Mogilny had been passed over for far too long.
Price stands a good chance of induction in 2026. Given the longstanding rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens, it would be fitting if he and Bergeron joined the Hall in the same year.
TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman and CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson travelled to Ontario to meet with Connor McDavid’s agent, Jeff Moldaver, on Tuesday. The meeting was intended to discuss the broader directions of the organization rather than focusing on contract numbers.
McDavid has a year left on his contract with a salary-cap hit of $12.5 million and will become eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have understandably made signing McDavid to an extension their top issue this summer. They’re also giving their captain some time to decide when he wants to start those discussions.
McDavid made it clear following the 2025 Stanley Cup Final that winning the Cup is his priority. He’ll want to know how the Oilers intend to remain a Cup contender before agreeing to an extension. The fact that management is already meeting with his agent is a positive step.
NASHVILLE POST: Predators GM Barry Trotz said there is no substance to recent rumors suggesting he’s trying to trade Jonathan Marchessault. He confirmed that all was good with the winger’s camp, saying the veteran winger will return with the Predators next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault was one of three major free-agent signings by Trotz last summer. His production dropped with the struggling Predators this season, prompting speculation that he might welcome a trade.
THE TENNESSEAN: Speaking of the Predators, they hired former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson as an assistant coach. He replaces Todd Richards, who won’t be returning with the organization.
THE SCORE: New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said he has no intention of trading the first-overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL’s Erie Otters is considered the top prospect in this year’s draft, but Darche declined to tip his hand on who he’ll select.
NEW YORK POST: Darche admitted that trading for a second first-rounder in this draft is a possibility. The dream scenario for Islanders fans is their club selects Schaefer and somehow acquires another high first-round pick to use toward drafting center (and Long Island native) James Hagens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be quite the coup if Darche can pull that off.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Islanders, long-time forward Matt Martin hung up his skates and moved into the front office as a special assistant to Darche. He played in 987 regular-season games over 15 seasons with the Islanders and the Maple Leafs, 13 of those with the Isles, finishing with 178 points.
NEW YORK POST: The New York Rangers will send their 2025 first-round pick (12th overall) to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had included that pick (top-13 protected) as part of the return to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade. The Canucks subsequenty flipped it to the Penguins as part of the return for defenseman Marcus Pettersson.
Mollie Walker reports that next year’s draft class is considered to have a much deeper pool of talent. It would also have more value in the 2026 trade deadline if the Rangers attempt to upgrade for next year’s playoffs.
THE PROVINCE: The Dallas Stars could be eyeing Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra to fill their vacant head-coaching position. Malhotra guided the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate to the 2025 Calder Cup.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Inspired by their previous Winter Classic jerseys, the Blues unveiled their new uniforms and primary logo.
THE ATHLETIC: Nationwide Arena owners are planning $400 million in upgrades to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 25-year-old home.
About bloody time Mogilny was recognized!
Indeed. Still can’t figure out why it took so long
Talking to McDavids agent is a no-brainer. How about both resigning and handing the reigns of power to some one else? Being an ex-player agent like JJ is, does not qualify him as a CEO of a hockey club. Multiple NMCs and the Broberg and Holloway fiasco.
Not much tonsay about the Hall of Dame inductees. A fine class and Mogilny finally gets in.
The whole McDavid thing is getting weird. What in pray tell can Jackson or Bowman say to alleviate the concerns. Their word to ensure they remain a top club?
Is it the switch from Holland to Bowman that has McDavid concerned? Is it the manner of coaching. It is something about the line up? Goaltending? All of the above? None of the above
Or is it simply to reason on his desire to take a shorter term ala Matthews and have fans ready for that vs an 8 year pact?
Seems more dramatic than it needs to be.
What could they say? How about this:
“We promise to get Skinner out of here and find a reliable goalie”.
He pitches shutouts, or he flops colossally. He is way to inconsistent to rely on for deep playoff runs and a Cup.
Could he pitch 4 straight shut outs? Yes.
Could he get pulled in 4 straight games and get bounced in the 1st round? Yes.
They need consistency in goal.
Easier said than done though; not sure who they can realistically get.
Could say the same about the perennial Vezina candidate Hellebuyck – amazing during the season … can’t stop a beachball in the playoffs.
If the Islanders wanted to get an additional pick in the top 5 this year, what would the trade equivalent be?
Starting point would have to be one of their 1sts next year, but what else? A 2nd as well? More?
The NFL has a nice “trade value chart” to help equate the value of picks. For example, the 4th overall pick in the NFL last year was valued at 1800 “points”, so you’d need to drum up the equivalent 1800 points in other pick combos to match that value. It could be the 20th overall pick (850 pts) + 33rd overall (580 pts) + 50th overall (400 pts).
It’s not an exact science, but is calculated based on prior historical trades.
Anyone ever seen anything like that for the NHL?
I would assume someone like Utah would want at least 1 ready player, maybe Dobson or Romanov/Pageau + some lower picks.
Don’t know anything about the NFL, but nobody in their right mind would change a top-4 pick for a 20th + 33rd + 50th in the NHL.
Dobson for#4 OA and Kesselring
As Darche has said he’s not trading Horvat or Barzal, Dobson is the only other player they have who’d bring in a high pick. And I doubt that Darche would trade him. He’s a solid young D-man, the type of player you need to keep around for a retool/rebuild.
I think they want to keep Dobson too, he’s a really good player, but some factors involved.
1 – They are likely drafting Schaefer. While not a sure thing to be better than Dobson, pretty darn likely. That includes offensively. He will get paid too in 3 or 4 years
2 – What can they sign him for? $11M seems too high, by quite a bit no? Does he want 8 years? Do they want to pay him and Schaefer, especially if Schaefer is running the #1 PP unit?
3 – What’s the return? Not sure I give up #4 OA and Kesserling, but it’s not totally crazy, and it will be good. Need to be able to sign him long term if you trade for him.
4 – What is Darche’s timeline to become a contender? Did that change when they won the lottery? Probably.
You would like to have both, but that might not make sense to Darche if Dobson is making $9 or 10M long term and the return is substantial.
Ray, Dobson is an RD and Schaefer an LD. So they’re better off keeping them both. Schaefer will be on ELD for three years,
Agree they would want to Howard, just not sure they will if he wants $11M per.
He blew up last year offensively, but that was the only season he would be considered in top tier of offensive D-men production wise.
In the end I don’t think he gets $11M, if that reported ask is even accurate.
Schaefer just makes it easier to move from him and take what should be a healthy return.
https://puckpedia.com/pickvalue
Is what you’re looking for.
Re “McDavid made it clear following the 2025 Stanley Cup Final that winning the Cup is his priority.”
I would think – and certainly hope – that that is the uktimate priority of every player in the NHL. That being said, out of 32 teams and some 800 players annually, just 1 team and 23 players reach that pinnacle.
The idea – or concept – of shopping around for some guaranteed and “better-managed” success location is a Fool’s Errand.
The Hall Of Fame is full of stellar players who never got their names engraved on the Cup – Bill Gadsby, Jarome Iginla, Marcel Dionne, Joe Thornton, Matts Sundin, Pavel Bure, Peter Stastny, Henrik Lundqvist, Gilbert Perreault, Brad Park, Borje Salming, Adan Oates, Cam Neely, Pat Lafontaine, Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Gartner and more
I find it laughable that his “priority” is winning the cup. Prove it. Take a 1 year deal for $2M so your team can load up. These guys are all about the money.
Yep, and for those names mentioned above, Oates played with 7 different teams, Gartner and Iginla 5 each, 3 each for Gadsby, Dionne, Thornton, Sundin, Bure, Stastny, Lafontaine and Park, 2 each for Neely, Salming and Dalfredsson.
Only Lundqvist (NYR) and Perreault (Buffalo) spent their careers with 1 team.
Medwards, your post is kind of laughable. No player will do that, as that would be stupid, and
2 things can be true at once.
Do I believe McDavid’s #1 priority when choosing to stay in Edmonton, absolutely. There is nothing he wants more professionally.
Will he give them a discount, yes, he did on his last contract. But not only does he have responsibilities to the team he signs with to perform, he responsibilities and obligations to his family.
He will consider both when making his decision.
These are people folks, c’mon now.
In the words of the great George Young of the NFL, “when they say it’s not about the money, it’s always about the money”
Your examples of that futility are good George but the flip side is Marian Hossa…who…picks one team. Loses in the cup final. Picks the winning team and loses to the team he was just on in the next final. He got it eventually but jeeze. I think there was a picture of him sitting there after the second cup loss….
I agree on Mogilny.
And I agree with Medwards on Price. He’ll get in, but he can wait. They made Tom Barasso wait, Carey can wait.
I feel the islanders will screw this up somehow like Draft Day. Trade all their picks away, get them all back – and still take the long island kid with the first over all pick.
Then there’s Claude Provost, winner of 9 Stanley Cups, famous for his defensive abilities, regularly shadowing and shutting down Bobby Hull.
Career average 17 G/season in the days that 20 was a 30 goal scorer.
Somehow this guy isn’t in , that’s a travesty.
100% – bow-legged Joe Provost was one of my all-time favourite players for his steady, consistent and rarely penalized top-star-checking performances – and often up and down the line-up when necessary – not to mention scoring a lot of his annual average goals in clutch situations. The perfect pro, instrumental; in every one of those 9 cups, and long overdue for recognition.
Price was a good goalie. He just didn’t do it very long. IMO, he belongs nowhere near the HOF.
Ozzie would be a better choice. 3 cups, 401 wins, a nice haircut……….
Medwards, Price put in 14 seasons … Lundqvist went 15 and he’s in the HofF, while for Joseph and Belfour it was 18 each.
Not huge differences.
Lundqvist had 887 games and 459 wins.
Price 712 games, 361 wins.
Those are big differences.
I think Price will get in, but might take a couple years.
I could also see some people withholding votes from him because he’s technically still under contract through the end of next year. He’ll neve play again, but he’s technically not officially out of the league.
The biggest difference between Price and Lundqvist is the amount of games played and wins.
Their regular and post season numbers are near identical. Small edge in numbers tilts to Lundqvist.
I think the biggest difference was the team in front of them. Lundqvist had a team of 2nd , 3rd or worse round draft picks in front of him. (Couple of exceptions)
If Lundqvist had the roster in front of him NY has iced the last 4-5 years, I think he would have been even better.
Here’s where I’m confused about this discussion.
Price is still under contract with Montreal. He has not retired from the game officially.
How would he even have eligibility to get into the Hall?
Lundqvist retired in 21 and got his hall call in 23. Why would Price be eligible before he even retires?
Players who’ve been on LTIR not officially retired but quite obviously never to play again have been chosen for the Hall even before their contracts expired and they retired. Weber just last year. Pronger several years ago.
Howard,
Interesting. I had no idea and didn’t clearly remember the 2 getting inducted before officially retiring.
All three mentioned, had fantastic careers. But imo, none of which deserve any type of special consideration and should not have been able to (or be able to in Prices case) jump the line.
You don’t need to be retired to qualify for HoF, it just has to be 3 years after playing your last game.
Player Eligibility:
Minimum Retirement Period: Players must have been retired for a minimum of three years before being considered for induction, according to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
No Recent Professional/International Play: They cannot have played in a professional or international hockey game during the three playing seasons prior to their election.
Active/Inactive Status: A player can be either active or inactive at the time of their election.
Copied and pasted.
“Retired for a minimum of 3 years”.
Again, I do believe Price belongs. But I don’t believe he’s done anything that gets him to jump the line.
The biggest difference between Price and Lundqvist was the team in front of them.
While there were some lean years, Lundqist had many seasons where his team had offense and one or two ppg players.
Price had 14 lean year teams in front of him, 1 ppg player in his rookie year and not even close after that.
Sad to say but one thing making Suzuki a big deal is that he was ppg last year, its been so long coming.
CO,
You argue just for the sake of arguing, what you feel or think is irrelevant as is your message of jumping the line.
Price was eligible this year, no ifs, buts or maybes.
Everything else is meaningless editorial.
He didn’t get the votes, maybe next year.
lol,
Actually I’m not arguing for the sake of arguing.
I’ve clearly pointed out my view. You not agreeing is irrelevant. I just copied and pasted the eligibility requirements. I didn’t make them up. 3 years after retiring… no ifs and , buts or maybes.
My point is the backlash of people being upset, surprised etc. over him not getting the call. And again, Price should get the nod. But first year eligibility? Putting aside the 3 year rule. No, no price isn’t or shouldn’t be a first ballot guy. And certainly shouldn’t jump the line.
Now you responding to your own response hours later seems like you want to argue for the sake of arguing. I checked out about 2 hours ago.
We disagree here. And that’s okay. Life does go on.
And for the record, I don’t think Lundqvist deserved a first ballot nod either.
Just so we’re clear. This isn’t me picking on Price or Montreal.
I disagree. Price definitely has a hall of fame resume.
And he played 14 seasons or so.
And keep in mind it’s more than simply the NHL as well. It’s the Hockey Hall of Fame so international accolades also are part of the equation.
The Only thing he did not win was a cup.
He was really best goalie for much of his career unfortunately it was spent on a club that could put together a winner around him.
Hall of famer next year for sure.
It’s always nice to read balanced – and accurate – assessments of players from fans of other teams, 1Oilerfan. Shows you are a hockey fan, not a homer.
LJ thanks man.
Medwards if the top tier nhl players valued at 10 million plus started signing 2 million dollar deals to win a cup it would be bad for the league. The salary cap has created great parity in the league. Furthermore, I would have to believe winning the cup wouldn’t feel the same if things like that started happening.
Having said that, in 2003 when Kariya and Selanne signed at a discount with Colorado to win a cup, they had the worst years of their careers and were bounced in the second round.
Hi Dave, I appreciate a little back and forth banter. Not sure I agree that it would be bad for the league. Obviously, he would be leaving money on the table. My point is, he will have made $100M on the contract he has 1 year left on. Far more than even a good NHL player will make in their lifetime. He has made money and could/would make plenty more money after said 1 year contract. You can’t tell me that his team wouldn’t benefit from adding 2 more $7-8M per year players because he decided to mostly take a year off from getting paid. I am no Oilers fan. In fact, they are top 3 least favorite teams in the league for me. So, it really looks like it is about the money. He isn’t the first and won’t be the last. It just is…
McDavid is thinking things through…just like all of us here, realize that the window for cup contention is open for a brief time when a team is good enough to be cup contenders like the Oilers are now. The question is, how much longer will it remain open and will this team put it together before this window of opportunity slams shut.
Personally I don’t feel they can, after all we are talking about a team not so long ago, had multiple years drafting in the top of the class and couldn’t make any progress until they finally drafted McDavid.
I can’t help but wonder if he is eyeing a way to play for the Leafs. I wonder if his move is to sign at a similar percentage of the cap as what his current contract is, which would be a haircut, but for only three years (my guess for the window to shut). Or maybe like most of us, I’m 100% wrong.
We all have our dreams, Ron. I hope Tavares signs with the Habs.
But that pipe dream is more likely than McDavid signing with the Leafs. He would only do that if he thought the Leafs were going to be closer than the Oilers to winning the Cup in the immediate future. And they aren’t.
I always liked Giggles but how in the world could Jason Spezza merit any kind consideration for the HHOF?
Just to add to who is in, who just got in, who will get in HHoF:
The 2nd overall (NHL history) in points; 2 cups; 5 Art Ross’; Hart; Masterton; 3 Pearson (Lindsay); 13 All star games; played 1,733 games for 9 NHL clubs, 15 30 goal campaigns; 15 70 point campaigns;
Last played 7 years ago
Can’t get in HHoF until 3 years AFTER last professionally playing. Played this year again (at 53) for the team he owns
Barring playing next year (don’t count him out); it’ll be first ballot walkaway; but 10 years after he played in the NHL
If he keeps playing; maybe Sid (15 years younger) gets in before him