NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 28, 2025
The Islanders select Matthew Schaefer first overall in the first round of the 2025 draft, further details emerge in the new CBA extension, the Stars’ Jim Nill is GM of the Year again, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2025 NHL DRAFT
NHL.COM: An emotional Matthew Schaefer was chosen first overall by the New York Islanders in the opening round of the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles.
The 17-year-old Erie Otters defenseman overcame a broken clavicle this season and the loss of his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer and his billet mother, Emily Matson, to an apparent suicide last year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer was the consensus pick as this year’s top prospect among scouts and analysts. He has tremendous character and determination to match his skills as a potential first-pairing NHL defenseman.
First-overall pick Matthew Schaefer (center) is flanked by second-overall pick Michael Misa (left) and third-overall pick Anton Frondell (NHL.com).
The San Jose Sharks chose center Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit with the second-overall pick. Center Anton Frondell of SHL club Djurgardens IF went third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other notable selections included center Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats going fourth overall to the Utah Mammoth. He’s the first QMJHL player to be a top-10 pick since the New York Rangers chose Alexis Lafreniere first overall in 2020.
James Hagens of Boston College began this season projected to become the top prospect in this draft. He tumbled to seventh, not because he played poorly but because those ahead of him had better seasons. Comedy actor Adam Sandler reprised his Happy Gilmore character to announce the Bruins had chosen Hagens, much to the young center’s delight.
The Nashville Predators selected Brady Martin with the fifth-overall pick. However, the 18-year-old Soo Greyhounds center wasn’t in attendance in Los Angeles, preferring to remain at home helping tend his family’s dairy farm in Elmira, Ontario. Martin was surrounded by family and friends watching the draft on a big-screen TV in his backyard.
Analysts were caught by surprise when the Columbus Blue Jackets went off the board to select Russian goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov with the 20th overall pick. It wasn’t as bad as when they (and everyone else) were left scratching their heads over the Blue Jackets selecting Yegor Chinakhov 21st overall in 2020, but the move still raised some eyebrows.
You can see the complete list of first-round picks and analysis at NHL.com. Rounds 2-7 will be held on Saturday starting at noon ET.
Meanwhile, the reaction to the decentralized format of this year’s draft on social media was overwhelmingly negative. My friend Scotty Wazz of The Face Off Hockey Show has the details.
I felt sorry for the prospects. The best day of their young careers was spoiled by this lifeless, overly long event. It lacked the energy and excitement of the previous format in NHL arenas, with executives from all 32 teams in attendance to announce their selections. Hopefully, the league returns to the tried-and-true previous formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
MORE DETAILS EMERGE FROM THE NEW NHL CBA
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced they had agreed to a four-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). It will begin in 2026-27, pending ratification votes on both sides.
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun revealed some additional key points in the new agreement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can see the pertinent details originally reported (including an 84-game schedule beginning in 2026-27, reduction of contract terms, plugging the LTIR loophole) by following this link.
Training camp will be shortened from 21 days to 13 (18 days for rookies) to accommodate the 84-game schedule.
A salary cap will be introduced for the playoffs that applies only to the 20 players suiting up for each game. Teams will be able to shuffle their rosters between games, but the game-day lineup must be cap-compliant.
The minimum salary will be $850,000 in 2026-27, $900,000 in 2027-28, $950,000 in 2028-29, and $1 million in 2029-30.
Salary retention will still be allowed in trades, but a second retention on the same contract can only happen 75 regular-season days after the first one. That ends the use of a third-party broker in real time to facilitate a trade.
Neck protection will become mandatory beginning in 2026-27. Players with at least one NHL game before that season will be grandfathered and won’t be subject to this rule.
Fitness testing will no longer be permitted during training camp or the regular season.
Year-over-year increases on front-loaded contracts will be limited to 20 percent of the first year, down from 25 percent. The lowest year must be at least 71 percent of the highest year, up from 60 percent. For example, if the highest year’s compensation is $10 million, the lowest year’s compensation cannot be less than $7.1 million. The year-to-year differences cannot exceed $2 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow The Athletic’s link above for the entire list.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars is the 2024-25 winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. It’s the third straight year he’s received this honor, making him the first GM to win this award three times.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights officially announced the re-signing of winger Brandon Saad. He agreed to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $2 million. The 32-year-old receives a base salary of $1 million with a $1 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers officially announced the re-signing of forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year extension with an AAV of $3.85 million. This deal was initially reported several days ago, although the cap hit is slightly lower than the original report of $4 million.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken GM Jason Botterill intends to retain Philipp Grubauer rather than buy out the final two years of the struggling goaltender’s contract. “We believe that Philipp can bounce back from that situation,” said Botterill. “We think there’s an opportunity still for success here.”
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed forward Jack Quinn to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.375 million. Quinn, 23, was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports Austin, Texas, is tossing its hat into the NHL expansion ring. The league has informed interested parties that the expansion fee is $2 billion. Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis and New Orleans are also believed to be potential expansion markets.
I have watched every televised draft since its inception, and that one last night was a overly-gaudy colossal joke, replete with repeated “technical difficulties” and stupid questions.
A bloody great bore.
Agreed. All of the excitement and fun drained out of it. It was lifeless and impersonal.
the wasted time was the prospect being ushered to the back room to talk to his new team. that was never shown before and not necessary, let that happen offscreen.
seems like it was another bad idea from ESPN
one other thing to point out, I get it that Bettman has made some decisions that weren’t pro fan over his term, but the constant booing of him, wherever he appears, is just old and needs to end, especially with him hosting the draft
time to move on fans, and add a little bit of dignity and respect.
what a difference from the NFL draft where the NFL commissioner gets cheers from the crowd and seems like one big party. what a opposite effect last night’s draft was, purely soulless.
I get that the league tried, by having celebrities announce picks and all, but just wasted time
While I know TSN is not involved in the draft – they put on a better show than what we witnessed last night .Even sportsnet can do a better job.
Disgraceful
This Sun article sums it up perfectly
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/what-was-nhl-thinking-with-draft-format-that-set-leagues-entry-draft-back-decades
I’ve watched a ton of drafts one of my favourite nights this years was embarrassing. Bruins getting Hagens at 7 was awesome for me and this Schaefer kid is so easy to cheer for.
Hagens to 7 was a bit of a surprise Obe. Good for the Bruins.
There were a few other such “surprises”:
Kindel up to 11 from projected 21
Aitcheson dropping to 17 from projected 9
Columbus going off the board – again – for a Russian – this time a goalie
Hensler dropping to Ottawa at 23 from projected 10
Lakovic droping to 27 from projected 14
George O, glancing at Ben Kindel scouting report: past season 99 points with +39, appears high hockey IQ, good right handed shot, play maker, good skater, not speed demon, weakness needs to work on his strength. Victor Eklund another small forward yet projected much higher than Kindel. Yet he dropped to #16. What am I missing between these two players? Why was Kindel ranked not as high before the draft?
Good question, Speed Kills. Throughout the sequence of pre-draft assessments and re-assessments, he remained ranked anywhere from 15 to 25, and immediately before the draft he was finalized at 21 at Elite Prospects, 20 at Daily Faceoff, 21 by Button at TSN, and as low as 27 by FC Hockey.
Then you look at his performance with the Hitmen and scratch your head. The only thing that makes sense for where he was consistently ranked is reticence about his size. Which – much like Konecny a few years ago and St. Louis years before that – could turn out to be a huge mistake for all but Pittsburgh.
GeorgeO,Lyle is going to get all the Boston College people mad at him because he said Hagens played at BU.
Heh. He caught it and corrected it above.
I agree with all the above. I watch the draft but it was not an easy watch. I also believe that it cut down on the trade market in a big way. Teams that are discussing trades otherwise couldn’t just walk over to the other GM and say “git’r done”.
Agree … and no prospect of “technical difficulties” either! If the table-to-table phone gave out, the walk was a short one
Omg. Boring de entraized draft followed by a hỏrror movie in kyle what the bleeping draft day 1
Penguins have number #11 and #12 in round 1 and the oas in victor eklund and Aitcheson which woyld hace beên great
Oh no the take kindel ýe 99 pôints for calgary hỉtmen..projected 20-25.
Òc course islanders get both ò them at 16. And 17
Trade 12 to philadelphia.
We did get horcroff from michigan
Today got oeyton kettles round 2 and git d connor clifton from buffalo for Timmo s
C. So fat uuugghh
Islanders great draft
Zito/Bennet/Panthers…. Great job on 8*8
Hughes/Dobson/Habs… great move on trade and $9.5*8
Tre/Tavares/Leafs…4*$4.4 M… great move. Strange on the deferral though. Tavares has to wait several years for $2M only to save Leafs $110 K Cap for 4 years.
Great on you Jackets for bringing Meridith Gaudreau out for the picks; but the Andreyanov pick (20) was a stunner; was the 4th ranked goalie and consolidated ranking had him going in round 3. Is Wadell privy to something no one else knows about?
Will take some time to get used to that Draft format. Some of it was Schticky; but overall OK
I’m sure Bruins are happy to get Hagens at 7 and Flyers ecstatic that Martone slid into their hands at 6
Davidson picking West, who apparently committed to going back to QB football this fall to try and win state championship seemed to shock the panel. But some websites have West committing to play College hockey???
Now to the maniac/enigma known as”loosely” as the Pens GM:
We are sad that we were one ping pong ball drop from Schaeffer. Sad that we ended up only needing just 1 place slide last night to nab either of McQueen or Mrtka
Then the maniac sets to work and grabs literally the smallest player that went in round 1. Literally the smallest. He was rated (consolidated) to go at 20; some sites had him in early 2nd round. But no; Dubas wastes that pick to grab him at 11. Dough!
Then Dubas recovers a bit and trades 12OA for 22 and 31. 3 first rounders for the price of 2. Fair move. Two on the oanel said they would have picked at 12 “with a top 15 then a noted drop off”. I’m OK for gaining a 1st.
Picking Zonnon at 22; only good move on night by Dubas. Strong, rugged; picked where he was expected to
Then another move nightmare. Dubas forfeits a 2nd rounder, to add to the 31st (attained in earlier trade) to move up to 24 to pick a player that was forecasted to go mid/late 2nd round.
I do like the player (Horcoff) with his size and Pedigree; but he was almost a certainty to be available at 31. So Dubas wasted a 2nd rounder in that transaction.
Like the Zannon and Horcoff acquisitions, Hugely dislike taking the absolute smallest first rounder 10 spots AHEAD of where he was predicted to be picked; anc Very upset Dubas wasted a 2nd.
Fix things Dubas by retaining and punting EK for a young on the rise player (under contract) and an NHL ready prospect (also under contract) that is truly expected to play in NHL this year
Dubos interview claimed making offers move into the Top 10. Neither Penguins, Islanders or any other club able make trade into Top 10. Shocked that woman (don’t know her name) correctly predicted Flyers would trade up for either Penguins #11 or #12. Perhaps could of been deal before the draft?
Victor Eklund another small forward projected drafted higher than Ben Kindel. Yet Eklund fell to #16. Your opinion what’s difference between both players?
Bill Zonnon at #22 reading comparison to Wayne Simmons. He turns out to be similar player, say that’s good pick.
Penguins have holes on defense!
Hi Speed Kills
Agree; yes holes on D (still need to punt EK with 50% retention for max return; and we have a 6’5”, 230 lb immovable object)
Agree re Zonnon; I like his puck at right about where he was predicted
See my spiel below (to Hammer of the Gods) re first round and Kindell
Kindell v Eklund… to me flip of the coin
As you can see below; I’d in no way take either before VERY late round 1; and then I’d flip a coin to decide which of the two to take
If they were still available at say 31(where Pens had a pick for a second and a 1/2; I’d then likely flip that pick for a mid 2nd and late 3rd/early 4th than pick either tiny C
8787, Lyle didn’t have Horcoff anywhere in the 1st round, based on this mock draft published in the Bleacher Report last week.
Interesting to hear all the panel debate about the 2nd pick, as if it was a big question mark. Betting odds had Misa as the prohibitive favorite.
Hi HammerOfTheGods
All of the players below were available at 11; and I would have picked ANY/ALL of them in a heart-beat before the tiny Kindell; and in this order of preference for me:
Lankovic (C/W)-L; 6’4”, 190
Nesbitt (C) -L; 6’4”; 185
Bear (C/W)-L; 6’0”, 179
Cootes (C)-R; 6’; 183
Smith (D)-L;6’3”, 190
Aitcheson (D)-L; 6’1”, 200
Carbeneau (RW)-R;6’1”,192
Zonnon (RW) L; 6’2”, 190
Reid (D)-L; 6’,174
Reschny (C)-L; 5’11” ,183
Hensler (D)-R; 6’2”, 195
Re Eklund and Kendell; I’d only pick either if it was our 3rd pick of Pens in the 1st AND ONLY if in the late 20’s spot; AND all of the above are gone by then AND then if both available; I’d flip a coin to see which puny C we’d be FORCED to take.
Extremely dumb move taking Kendell at 11. Truly maniacal.
My favourite moment of a fleetingly watched draft was the “revelation” that the Habs traded their picks to the Isles. Says it all, the worst draft ceremony in the history of hockey.
No No No to 3-Peat in Atlanta
Houston should be the choice from those suggestions.
With climate change, both New Orleans and Houston are subject to destructive hurricanes for the first 3-4 months of the season. While they are potentially good market, why not focus on Peterborough or Quebec City, anyplace that would not be wiped out by the weather? How about a franchise for the fans rather than diluting the NHL more for the sake of more big money?
I don’t understand the New Orleans possibility- it’s a small town – and not a hockey town –
It’s one thing to support a football franchise- they play once a week – people come out from the underlying areas – hockey is different – games can be played on any given night – tickets prices will also be much more expensive .
Hi Rock
Good point re flooding/damage/hurricanes etc
I don’t know anything about Peterborough??? Looking it up it says 84,000 population. Not a chance
Quebec City or anywhere in Canada , under no circumstance, will get another franchise until Gary retires. He just won’t do it.
When he retires; you can count on more than a few groups willing to back a 2nd Toronto franchise bid.
The owners just can’t let Bettman make yet another franchise blunder in doing a 3-peat in Atlanta.
That would be a mockery and as laughable as Bettman keeping the Arizona nightmare alive for at least 2 decades too long
It isn’t even a basketball town … losing the Jazz to Utah just like Arizona lost the Coyotes (at least Utah didn’t retain the “Coyotes” nickname … somehow Utah and Jazz don’t seem like a mix.
It’s moments like last night I’m embarrassed to be a hockey fan. WWE wrestlers making selections. Whatever that Mammoth chant thing was? Happy Gilmore? Jesus Christ, just stop!
The entire format was just God awful. This was as embarrassing as the all star games / skill competition. Maybe they should have had the draft selections come out with sparklers on their helmets?
The NHL flat out sucks at marketing.
They experimented with change to the draft order format which turned out overwhelmingly successful.
So maybe that influenced their decision to go forward with this mess.
All those players didn’t have their “moment”.
It was like the NHL decided to invoke COVID Rules into this year’s Draft. Why?
Wouldn’t having ALL of it’s team executive reps being together for a weekend be a good thing for the NHL?
Why the separation?
I don’t get it.
There must have been many team executives very disappointed not to go this year. The League shouldn’t have taken this weekend away from it’s owners and their team executives. I’m sure all of them enjoyed seeing each other yearly at the draft, especially on the first night.
For all the good the NHL did with the draft order experiment, the complete opposite occurred last night.
Keeping us all separated, everybody loses. It’s not good, in my opinion.
The majority of NHL general managers voted 26-6 in favor of giving this a try. It was suggested by several GMs who didn’t want to travel to the draft when they’re still trying to negotiate contract extensions with their pending UFAs with the start of free agency around the corner. However, more than a few GMs (particularly Columbus’s Don Waddell and Los Angeles’ Ken Holland) were quite vocal in their opposition to this format, and said so again afterward.
The league will poll the general managers again to see if they want to keep this format or return to the previous one. I’m betting this is the last time we’ll see this decentralized draft.
Lyle perhaps they should poll the fans. They are in the entertainment business & these drafts have always been an important event to most of us fanatical hockey fans. If its this going forward, I’ll just go online & get the summary before going to bed. Id rather watch Back to the Future movies Ive seen hundreds of times than that fiasco last night.
If they were poker players they sure gave big tells of whether there was a trade, just needed to look for the red button when Bettman walked up instead of waiting for him to announce “We have a Trade” Lol.
Heh, Potlicker, as soon as pick was announced I soon kept flipping to get snippets of Ancient Aliens on the “History” channel which was a Helluva lot more interesting … waiting until they got to Ottawa at 21 – only to have them trade that for 23 … so a bit more flipping
I agree with most of the complaints about the except one.
While I like seeing all the management in the same room it in no way cut down or altered trade talk between teams.
It just kept us from hearing analysts saying they can see so and so walking over to so and so blah blah.
These guys phones are body parts in this day and age, they do everything on them……even trade talk, in fact all trade talk is done on the phone.
It does give us fans a different vibe though, seeing them breaks up the time and saves on the dull filler they came up with.
I don’t know if its a Canadian/American thing, glitz vs content. Sports is covered differently in both countries for what its worth consider CFL vs NFL coverage, commentators.
Lyle, you’re great.
Thank you for letting us know this wasn’t a Bettman/Daly decision or even an ESPN decision.
If the GM’s voted for this stupidity, then they deserve what they got.
Funny how the old timers (Holland and Waddell) knew it and lobbied to get together.
Another example of “it’s a young man’s world now”, (sorry ladies, its an expression, grow up, it’s not intended to offend), and the digital world works just fine for them.
So don’t be so sure next year’s vote changes anything. 26 to 6 in favor of digital this year, may be a hard hill to climb next year, no matter how many negative reviews this idiotic format gets, unfortunately we may see this again.
Thanks again, Lyle.
Yep. Blame the 26 who voted in favor of that debacle.
On a positive note, I haven’t been this excided about draft results since Pasta, Phil and Jumbo were selected.
And yet the Bs traded Phil and Joe, Seguin and Dougie. Was saying to my brother in law who is a Bruins fan (we make him eat outside), I can’t think of another team which has traded so many first round picks and yet remained competitive.
Sobering thought. Thanks, LJ.
Congrats to the “Wizard” Jim Nill….Holy crap, 3 years in a row. Although, I probably would have given it to Zito this year.
His team didn’t win their division and didn’t win the cup, so it seems like maybe he’s just the phone it in vote at this point.
There is always one in the bunch. Haha…but I quite enjoyed the change last night.
Hard for me to argue much of the cons mentioned but I should also point out that I enjoy pro wrestling (when done well). I like the cross over with celebs, former stars making selections. The tech glitch was embarrassing but that was bound to happen. I have zoom calls with colleagues every day and someone seems to always have a mic or speaker problem lol.
I also like Bettman. Does it mean I agree with all the moves that occurred under his watch…of course not but I feel in his tenure, he and the league did much more good than bad.
And finally. I am always so proud of our sport. There is just something seemingly different about the culture of hockey. From the kids looking genuinely happy while congratulating their peers being selected ahead of them, to the NYI adding a ribbon to Schaeffer’s jersey to a kid who decided to watch from home with his entire group of friends and family because not all would be able to attend and leaving would leave the farm short handed.
So many great stories.
After watching the NBA draft the other night and comparing it to the NHL draft last night it made me think of how genuine ,authentic and sincere hockey players are.
A couple of pending changes as a result of the new agreement that stand out:
with top players such as McDavid looking at new deal negotiations, the changes in the agreement will preclude 8-year deals – dropping to 7 max – and if any, instead, go to UFA talks, any term signed with a new club will be cut to 6 seasons.
As for the rising cap, when it goes to $113 million for 2027-28, any Canada-based team that spends to the limit – assuming the existing exchange rate is as it exists now – will be spending close to $154 mil in our currency.