NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 13, 2025
Notable points from the NHL/NHLPA CBA Memo of Understanding, teams vote to continue decentralized, the Canadiens pass on Evgeny Kuznetsov, and more in today’s morning coffee headlines.
NHLPA: released the link to download the 2025 NHL/NHLPA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding updates to their collective bargaining agreement. It goes into effect on September 16, 2026, and expires on September 15, 2030.
PUCKPEDIA: has a breakdown of the key changes, including playoff long-term injury reserve (LTIR), double-retained contracts, the reduction of contract term limits by one year, elimination of deferred salary on future contracts, revised limitations on front-loaded contracts and signing bonuses, maximum entry-level compensation, emergency backup goalie (EBUG) rules, and more.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the changes were reported late last month and summarized on this site on June 27 and June 28. The NHLPA link provides detailed information on the noteworthy updates, while the PuckPedia link is a worthwhile summary for quick reference.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the NHLPA was focused more on player lifestyle issues in this MOU.
The league gained on systemic issues, including contract lengths, bonus structure that affects hypothetical buyouts, deferred salary, and front-loading of contracts. However, the PA gained on more universal issues such as pension contributions, workman’s compensation, increasing the playoff fund, and accommodation for family members’ visits. They also codified the NHL’s participation in the 2030 Winter Olympics.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers felt the PA gave up too much in this MOU while gaining very little. However, most of their concessions affect only a minority of their membership (the highest-paid players) to a small degree, while the gains are for the good of the overall membership.
SPORTSNET: Sources confirm a two-thirds majority of the NHL’s 32 teams voted to keep the decentralized draft format for 2026. They intend to make changes to the production to shorten the length of the opening round, which lasted over four hours this year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like many of you, I’m no fan of the decentralized draft, but if they’re going to continue the format, they must improve their presentation and production. The opening round of this year’s draft was an embarrassment, overshadowing what was the biggest moment in the lives of the young players chosen in that round.
LA PAGE SPORTIVE: Louis-Andre Lariviere reported that the Montreal Canadiens won’t be offering a contract to Evgeny Kuznetsov.
The former Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes center spent last season in the KHL as a linemate with Montreal prospect Ivan Demidov. Kuznetsov was linked to the Canadiens, who need a second-line center this season.
Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, said his client is not currently in the Canadiens’ plans. “Evgeny would be a good fit. He wants to play in Montreal, but there’s no room,” Babaev said.
Babaev said as many as 10 teams are interested in Kuznetsov. He remains optimistic about landing an NHL contract for the 33-year-old center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Kuznetsov’s performance during his final two years in the NHL might have had something to do with the Canadiens’ reluctance to sign him.
TSN: Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick Pyotr Andreyanov signed a five-year contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow last week. The 18-year-old was selected 20th overall in this year’s draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Young Russian prospects often spend several years in the KHL before making the jump to the NHL. This will allow Andreyanov an opportunity to develop his skills against professional players, some of whom have NHL experience.
TSN: Former Olympic figure skating champion David Pelletier joined the Dallas Stars last week as an assistant coach. He spent the last 11 years as a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL players have trained with figure skaters to improve their skating ability since the early 1970s, when former US Olympian Laura Stamm pioneered power skating instruction.
Re: “They intend to make changes to the production to shorten the length of the opening round, which lasted over four hours this year.”
Sorry, but putting lipstick on a pig won’t disguise the fact that it’s still a pig. No cosmetic changes will address the underlying issues of the entire flawed process compared to the original format, which was the reason millions tuned in in the first place.
If they are not prepared to embrace “inconvenience” and promote fan interest and entertainment, why bother televising it all? Just conduct a draft and release a complete list when it’s completed.
I’d rather watch a re-run of Gilligan’s Island.
They’re dashing dreams of kids who envisioned themselves standing on the stage and accepting the sweater of the team that picked them, with their families in attendance.
“Sorry, kid.
Sorry, mom and dad.
Sorry, friends and coaches.
It’s just not in the budget.”
This is all very disrespectful and shortsighted, imo.
Maybe they’d rethink it if they could involve gambling somehow?
I was weary of that debacle as soon as it kicked off.
The draft will now be like the playoff format. Most fans hate it so the obvious answered is to double down.
Look at how the NFL draft is produced. The players are there. You have some team PR there or former players to announce the pick. Then the picks don’t talk to the team but they greet the commish then do a sit down interview right after being drafted if they are present.
Trades of picks don’t reset the pick clock. If they announce the trade , then do the pick
The issue is how do you time this out
If you set this at 5 min a team/ pick then 32×5=160 min or 2 hr 40 min.
Then you can add in some longer pieces around background of some of the top picks.
They also have stories around those announcing the picks like child fan fighting cancer/ bad medical story
Does anyone really watch the whole first round draft? Even with the previous format it was ponderous. I watched who got drafted first if there was any doubt, and then came back to watch my team’s draft pick. Otherwise it was a parade of kids with undetermined future.
I agree with SOP’s view about how important it is for the kids being drafted; but for the most part at its’s best the draft is a snooze fest.
Ginger or Mary Ann
Well, yeah … 🙂
Or? 🤦♂️
Mary Ann.
Chrissy or Cindy or Terri or Janet?
At my age I can’t afford to be choosy. LOL
100% Mary Ann.
I’ll give the NHL a chance to get it right this time. Agree with Dan, they have an example of it working with the NFL, model it after that.
Bruins can have a guy like Bourque hand the kid the jersey. Do a quick interview with him, and his family if they want to. Keep the call with the team private
Best Q and A in weeks.
Mary Ann and Betty
Best Q & A in weeks 🙂
Betty or Veronica?
I’m going off the board and choosing Midge.
Marge, did you mean?
It’s drafting like that which has dogged the Bs, SOP 😉
Yogi – Ron – Ken – Frank – admittedly without taking any particular notice of his game towards the end of the season & playoffs, I more or less figured Bobby McMann had solidified his spot on the team when looking at his seasonal stats of 20g 14a 34pts in 74gp, and career production in 140 gp of 35g 24a 59pts, for 82-game averages of 21g 14a 35pts.
Then I read this bit in Simmons’ column this morning where he writes “This is a big year for Bobby McMann, a contract year. The Leafs winger scored 20 goals in his first 63 games of the season, and then nothing after that. No goals in the final 11 regular season games and no goals in 13 playoff games. So the Leafs want to know who he is and what he is …”
Any theories as to what happened? Usage? Linemates? Or simply a prolonged slump of the type that has plagued a lot of players over the years?
In a way it’s sort of like the Zetterlund situation here in Ottawa. Prior to the trade he had 17g in 64gp with San Jose, but here he produced just 2 goals in 26 seasonal/playoff games despite regular ice time.
In his case, however, it could be related to problems adjusting to a new system, different linemates, etc.
On zetterlund…..it would br new linemates, how he is used (heavy off zone starts, being in top 6 vs 3rd line)
McNann— likely (1) line change anD usesge AND (2) slump/ tried from playing a full season
One of the changes in the CBA is health insurance for retired players, premiums will now be paid up to $10,000from what is now $3,500.
Lyle, it appears the NHL may have unwittingly created a problem. It doesn’t appear they closed the NCAA/UFA loophole with this new MOU. With players now allowed to go into the NCAA from the CHL, why would any player want to wait 7 years to become an UFA when they can get paid in college under NIL rules and be one in 4?
It’s not a loophole. It’s how every league should operate. It’s up to the chl now to modernize their abusive rules to keep up.
Which abusive rule are you talking about
Not allowing the players to turn pro when they could for starters. Not allowing them to make good money second. I think the ncaa finally letting them join will force an overdue reckoning for the chl.
https://www.classaction.org/news/nhl-chl-major-junior-hockey-leagues-hit-with-class-action-over-alleged-systemic-exploitation-abuse-of-young-players
And the CHL has needed a swift kick up the arse for a very long time. For many reasons, not the least of which is that mess in London, Ontario.
Another small example of their need for a shake-up was the pathetic team selection for the Canada junior team last December.
This year, whether Yakemchuk makes the Senators out of camp or starts the season in Belleville, if they come sniffing around to see if Ottawa would release him for this year’s tournament, I’d tell them to take a long walk off a short pier (assuming he’s still eligible).
I agree with you on that one and you might have noticed the US colleges just lost a similiar law suit. Like George said they did indeed a collective kick in the keester. Hockey is a business we all know that and whether it’s the CHL, NHL, USHL or US college, they will look after themselves first. Hopefully the changes benifits the kids.
With the Habs deciding to pass on Kuznetsov, and Veleno as well, it seems that the roster as it’s set right now will be the roster on opening night. Except for possibly a couple of depth signings. I don’t envision any trade for a center or even a top six winger. So Dach and Newhook will get another chance to grab the 2C and 3C positions. Let’s hope they step up to the task.
So if the the new BA goes into effect sept 16th 2026, would that mean that RFA/UFAs signing between july 1st and sept 15th would be eligible for the 7 and 8 year contracts?
If so, and this is for Lyle mostly, do you think we will see most of those players signing within that period, unlike some RFAs, specifically, dragging it on into the season/spring?
CBA of course
Kent, those eligible for RFA/UFA status in 2026 will be eligible for eight and seven year contracts until such time as the new CBA goes into effect.
A little bit of everything George, McMann was always a steaky goal scorer to begin with, but the guy always gets chances. At first he was just snake bit, then the TDL came and Laughton came and got off to a slow start, Berube started to shuffle the lines around looking for a fit for Laughton and it seemed to change what Berube wanted from his 3rd and 4th lines. McMann stopped going to the net as much. I think McMann got caught up with the changes Berube wanted from certain players, mainly getting in on the forecheck more and the grinding aspect of the game and McMann with his size and speed bought into that, maybe a little too much because he didn’t go to the net nearly as much. As the song goes, one thing leads to another. A slump, different linemates and a different role played into it. I think McMann will be ok, he seems to have the Tavares attitude
Well, if he needs a “push,” this being his contract year should do the trick. There’s certainly a history of that over the years.
Ron the Tavares comment refers to his mindset. If you listen to him, he knows what brought him to this level and what he needs to do to stay at it or improve upon it. I agree he’s not a driver or passenger on a line, he’s definately not a boom or bust player. I don’t see him as a 30+ scorer, but as a 20+ guy who can do a little of everything. He needs to work on his consistancy. I actually see him as a poor mans Hyman type
George I can’t tell you for sure but I do like McMann while keeping in mind, this is still a guy trying to figure things out. Some nights, he’s very on and others he’s invisible but not ever a liability like most players have while in the figuring it out stage.
The guy has all the tools to be successful including learning how to utilize his size and strength to his advantage. He’s not a passenger on a line but can’t drive it, he’s more of an opportunist type that will pounce and likely finish on his opportunities, which aren’t consistent enough. Maybe that’s due to being still an experienced player or he is what he is now…I don’t know what Yogi meant by the Tavares comment because I don’t see any similarities at all or how a comparison can be made other than point out the differences.
McMann is basically a project in progress which is a boom or bust player.
I find the entire draft thing to be all sizzle/no steak.
We get almost a whole year of hype about kids who rarely are able to live up to accolades.
List after list by pundits who don’t see the kids playing live games.
The production quality of the “draft” is questionable but to be honest I’d be happy with reading a list after.
What I DID enjoy in Montreal was the 2024 draft documentary. now that is interesting, seeing the scouts talking, how they chose etc etc.
At least then we (fans) hear real breakdowns of the players.
Silovs for Chase Stillman and a 4th. Dubas must be laughing at 8787 right now.
No kidding.
Taken in Round 1 – 29th overall – RW Stillman shows nothing outstanding – in terms of stats – either in Major Junior or the AHL, and has yet to make his NHL debut.
Silovs, meanwhile, just won a Calder with Abbotsford and is highly regarded.
With all the teams needing goaltending improvements, I’m surprised he went so cheaply.
Good move by Dubas,
In effect – and so far – it’s a minor league transaction and that’s the way Puckpedia is displaying it.
Pitts has no worries about losing a goalie to waivers. Makes it a lot easier to make the deal, but it also shows how little depth they have in the nets. Same little corner he painted himself into in Toronto.
I applaud the move due to cost. But goaltending is the one area the pens have depth (prospect depth) in. Ned was supposedly traded so musharev could get more starts in the ahl to continue his very promising development. Now it’s blom him and larsson fighting for time.