NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 6, 2025
The latest on the Oilers and Panthers on the eve of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Sean Monahan wins the Masterton Trophy, the latest coaching hires, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK
EDMONTON JOURNAL: A healthy Evander Kane has made his presence felt in this postseason, with five goals and 11 points in 16 games.
Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).
Injuries hampered the 33-year-old Oilers winger in the 2024 playoffs, limiting him to just two games in last year’s Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. After missing the 2024-25 regular season recovering from surgeries, he’s been a physical force in the Oilers’ current playoff run.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several Oilers were playing through significant injuries during last year’s playoffs, but Kane’s performance suffered the most. His current postseason play could make the difference in this rematch against Florida as the Oilers attempt to counter the Panthers’ physical style.
ESPN.COM: Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said his club hopes to improve in the neutral and offensive zones after squandering a 3-1 lead to fall 4-3 to the Oilers in Game 1. Teammate Matthew Tkachuk agreed, saying the Panthers could be more consistent on the forecheck and earn more zone time to thwart the Oilers’ counterattack.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers acknowledged that Edmonton is a different team compared to the one they faced in last year’s Cup Final. As a result, those adjustments they hope to make could be difficult to achieve.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers rallied around forward Tomas Nosek after his delay-of-game penalty in overtime of Game 1 led to Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl’s game-winning power-play goal.
Nosek inadvertently fired the puck over the glass as he attempted to avoid Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin. Panthers coach Paul Maurice called it a “tough break”, alluding that Nosek could stay in the lineup for Game 2.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Jake Walman taunted Nosek as he skated to the penalty box. Some observers suggested it was poor sportsmanship that the Panthers could use for motivation in Game 2. Others felt it was the kind of swagger the Oilers needed to counter the Panthers’ “in your face” style.
THE SCORE: Kaspari Kapanen is happy to be playing a pivotal role with the Oilers after his NHL career appeared to be in jeopardy a year ago.
The Oilers claimed Kapanen off waivers in November. He had a modest 13 points in 57 games in Edmonton and was a healthy scratch in the first round of the playoffs. Since then, he scored the series-clinching goal in Round 2, collected two assists in Game 1 of the Final, and is filling in for the sidelined Zach Hyman on their second line.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kapanen made the most of his opportunity, with five points in his eight postseason games. He’s part of the improved depth that carried the Oilers back to the Final this season.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan is the 2024-25 winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Monahan dedicated this season to his best friend Johnny Gaudreau following the latter’s tragic death in August. Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, made a surprise visit to Monahan’s home in Toronto to present him with the trophy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Monahan had previously overcome career-threatening hip and groin injuries, signing a multi-year contract with the Blues Jackets last summer to reunite with Gaudreau. He finished tied for third among the Jackets with 57 points in 54 games.
YARDBARKER: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper shot down speculation that he was considering leaving the club or was on the verge of getting fired. “Contrary to rumors and whatever’s going on out there, I’m never leaving you guys,” he told the Sports Club of Tampa Bay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cooper’s comments were a response to a recent rumor claiming he could be heading to the Utah Mammoth to take over the operation of the club. It’s been noted that he has a year left on this contract, so we’ll likely hear more talk about Cooper’s future around this time next year.
NEW YORK POST: Former Rangers head coach David Quinn is returning to the club as an assistant coach to new bench boss Mike Sullivan. Joe Sacco and Ty Hennes round out the coaching staff.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers added Yogi Svejkovsky to their coaching staff. He worked with new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet in Vancouver.
RG.ORG: Sergey Demidov reports Igor Larionov hopes to speak with the Montreal Canadiens about bringing back winger Ivan Demidov to KHL club SKA St. Petersburg for one more season.
Larionov was recently named their new head coach, and believes the youngster would benefit from another season in the KHL, followed by returning him to the Canadiens in time for the 2026 playoffs. However, sources say neither the player nor the Canadiens are considering such an option.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nor should they. Demidov made a promising debut with the Canadiens. He joined them for their last two regular-season games and collected two points, followed by two assists in five playoff games. The only way he returns to the KHL is if he fails to stick with the Canadiens next season.
NHL.COM: Center Michael Misa of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and Boston College center James Hagens are confident they can make the jump to the NHL next season. They are among the top prospects in this year’s draft class and could be among the top-five picks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Misa said he’s had dinner or will be dining with the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Utah Mammoth and Nashville Predators. The Isles hold the first-overall pick, with the Sharks second, the Mammoth fourth, and the Predators fifth.
TORONTO STAR: Rogers Communications received all necessary league approvals to buy out Bell’s 37.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. It will increase Rogers’ stake to 75 percent.
TSN: Former NHL forward Sergei Kostitsyn announced his retirement this week. He played six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators from 2007-08 to 2012-13, scoring 67 goals and 176 points in 353 regular-season games and 15 points in 40 playoff contests. He spent the remainder of his professional career overseas.
Well – now that we’re all agreed on the absurdity of the over-the-glass, mandatory delay of game penalty, the misuse and abuse of LTIR, and the fact no-state-tax teams have an unfair advantage, what contentious issue can we tackle today?
LOL. Hey, when you get right down to it, that was fun. And. I have to admit, some of the points have me re-thinking my stance on two of them anyway … but not when it comes to over-the-glass …
No, just kidding. Habfan30, Icebear, Yogi, Whalercane, Ron, Kevjam, 1Oilerfan, Pullingthegoalie, JohnnyZ, Howard … great observations that will at least have me paying closer attention to the circumstances the next time it happens.
But, hey, I don’t look forward to the day we’re all agreed on everything … and I’m reasonably certain Lyle doesn’t either … because that would make this an awfully dull site.
LJ, now I have to search around for my next hobby-horse. Hmmmm … about that Rogers initiative …
Hobby-horses are fun, until they buck you off…😉
Yeah .. still can’t sit properly after yesterday … lol
Thanks for the flowers and note of contrition that arrived this morning, Lyle. All good.
Lyle, not for reposting unless you want, but you’re a good sport for letting that little tease go through. I appreciate the spirit.
👍
George, I enjoy a good debate, especially ones that don’t end in name calling.
Until the next one, cheers!
That is one of the best things about this group. Debates 9 times outta 10 are thoughtful and not spurred simply by emotion.
We will give you the weekend for a new hobby horse George O. 😉
George, for your reading pleasure, here is an excerpt from a Q & A in the Athletic with Bill Daley:
“It is my understanding that finding a potential solution or tweak for LTIR (long-term injured reserve) and the fact that there’s no salary cap in the playoffs has been discussed as part of these CBA talks. I know you can’t get into specifics, but is that accurate that both sides are looking for a potential tweak in that area?
Yes, that’s been discussed across the table (with the NHLPA).
Is it your sense that it will happen? Or just that it’s been discussed?
Nothing’s done until it’s done, but I would tell you that I think we’ve made progress toward getting to a good resolution on that issue.
I guess there’s no point asking what that will look like?
No.”
LJ, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, as they say.
The fact that enough team executives probably raised the issue as a concern to have it reach that level, and the NHLPA is willing to discuss it further, suggesting – maybe – that players are also questioning it, leads me to believe something in the nature of a tweak could come out of it.
What that could be I have no clue.
You mean like … 😉
Would you like one of my hobby horses, George? I have a stable of well fed and watered stallions ready to go. Pick a letter in the alphabet
The non state tax one is taking the day off today to be re-shoed.
By the way, there were 69 posts yesterday, what’s the record?
Lyle would probably know that – but I think I recall getting into triple digits
Bizarre… That is the only way to describe the return of David Quinn to the NYR as an assistant coach. He was dismissed as head coach. A head scratcher.
So many coach”s on the carousel are head scratchers. If you failed for one team, how is it that you will succeed with another. Should not new blood be hired instead?
Alan Pinder-Moss, in all the years I have been following hockey, the recycling of coaches has been one constant.
You might be interested in this March article by Scott Stinson of TheScore on that every subject
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3251526
This is Sturm’s first go as an NHL head coach, as is with Adam Foote in Vancouver.
Lj,I wonder if Boston would have waited on Sturm if Deboer was fired a couple of days ago.
Whether you’re winning or losing as a coach your learning ad gaining experience.
It also isn’t the only coaching job Quinn has ever had, and he has had some success.
Failure is the greatest teacher.
Experience is a good thing in every profession isn’t it? I haven’t won every contract with every customer, but I learn every time and am better at my job than I was previously.
He was a good player too, 13th overall who had to retire due to Haemophilia.
I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t make a good AC.
Sr. the last thing Swayman needs is a coach who will openly and publicly toss you under the bus.
There’s a reason, obviously, why this guy has been with 5 teams (Florida, New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas and Dallas) despite a winning record of 662-447-152 and a .585 points %.
A couple of months ago, a Habs fans website had, as its lead story, the news that Demidov had signed a three year contract extension in the KHL. At the conclusion of the article, the writer reminded readers of that day’s date. That’s right. April 1.
Today’s post on Demidov seems like April Fools Day all over again.
Bogdan Konyushkov has been invited to Hab development camp in July as announced this past week.
Larionov was his coach past couple of years and sees him as being a sure thing.
Sounds like a roundabout way to get one of his players some attention.
You are ahead of me on this, HF30. Did you see this from the Hockey Writers:
“He is heading to Montreal for the Canadiens’ development camp in July. This is abnormal as KHL players normally do not participate in these types of camps.
But, his development has drawn attention and has likely led to general manager (GM) Kent Hughes pushing for his arrival, even for just a short development camp which can help to assess the player and judge where he belongs on the overall depth chart, maybe high enough to make other prospects expendable to trade for a missing piece.”
It’s the last sentence that caught my eye.
There have been good reports about this kid all year but not much attention on account of his size. 6’00 170.
Larionov had been singing his praises at Torpedo, giving him tons of ice time, the polar opposite of the way Demidov was treated.
I haven’t seen him play but I hope to get a look at development camp.
You know how I feel about the prospects in Laval.
i know that Schaeffer seems to have the overall talent to be the 1st overall talent, but I wonder if his injuries (only 17gp) might cause him to slip in the draft. Misa that would go first. I wonder if the Isles trade down to take hometown boy Hagens and get another #1 in the deal
Don’t see any team offering 2 it’s for this years 1st
I wouldn’t be surprised, mikep, if the Islanders are already thinking about Misa, just hoping someone like the Sharks throw more assets into the picture by trying to acquire the number 1 pick to get Schaeffer. I’d sure be careful about that if I were Mike Grier.
Searching around I came across this quite by accident and thought it was an interesting tidbit to share:
“(LW) Victor Ivan Lynn (January 26, 1925 – December 6, 2010) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1943 to 1954. He is the only player to play for each of the Original Six teams.”
With 4 it was minimal – 1 for NYR, 2 for Montreal, 3 for Detroit. He played the most with Toronto (213), Boston (68) and Chicago (40). In 327 total NHL games he scored 49g and added 76 assists. In 47 playoff games (35 with Toronto, 5 with Boston and 7 with Chicago, he has 7g 10a 17 pts.
Prediction for tonight: Edmonton 3 Florida 2 … again in OT.
Agree it will be tight George, and I think the Panthers will bring their best in the first period.
Oil being down after 1 wouldn’t shock me, but they have been coming from behind and winning all playoffs.
3-2 is as good a guess as anything I can come up with, and hope you’re right.
Florida relied much less on their physical forecheck out of respect for the Oilers speed game, trying to tie up center ice. to slow them down.
The strategy didn’t take Evander Kane and Corey Perry into account or how Oilers 4th line would take a page out of Fla book and bang down low all night long.
I look forward to a beautiful game.