NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 23, 2025
Chris Kreider talks about his move to the Ducks, the top available UFAs, the arbitration schedule is released, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE ATHLETIC: Former Rangers winger Chris Kreider is gradually adjusting to life with the Anaheim Ducks. He was traded to the Ducks last month after 13 seasons as one of the most productive players in Blueshirts history.
Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).
Kreider said he was intrigued by the Ducks’ recent hiring of Joel Quenneville as their new head coach. He also likes the club’s young core, especially at center.
The 33-year-old winger revealed he underwent surgery following last season to repair his injured left hand, which hampered his performance. He has recovered and is in training for the coming season.
While he hasn’t traveled to Anaheim since the trade, Kreider intends to make the journey soon. He indicated that he’s found a place where he can be close to his new teammates.
ESPN.COM: Forwards Jack Roslovic and Max Pacioretty, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Alexandar Georgiev are the notable players among the remaining unrestricted free agents.
Others include forwards Victor Olofsson and Robby Fabbri, defenseman Jan Rutta, and goaltender James Reimer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Roslovic has surfaced frequently in the rumor mill. The 28-year-old winger has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, but there’s no indication he’s close to signing with any club yet.
Some of the players available in the UFA market could sign short-term contracts with new teams before training camp opens in September. The rest will consider signing professional tryout offers (PTOs), continuing their playing careers in Europe, or retirement.
PUCKPEDIA: The arbitration hearing schedule was released on Monday for the remaining six restricted free agents who filed on July 5.
Nicolas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs: August 3
Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg Jets: July 30
Arvid Soderblom, Chicago Blackhawks: July 28
Jayden Struble, Montreal Canadiens: August 3
Conor Timmins, Buffalo Sabres: August 2
Maxim Tsyplakov, New York Islanders: July 29.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko’s hearing was set for July 25. However, he and the club avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.525 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Arbitration hearing dates are usually treated as a deadline for the player and the team to agree to a new contract. Don’t be surprised if the others end up following Kakko’s lead.
Kakko’s new cap hit is nearly double the $2.4 million of his previous deal. Traded to the Kraken from the New York Rangers last December, he fit in well with his new club. After managing 14 points in 30 games with the Rangers, he had 30 points in 49 games with the Kraken.
TORONTO SUN: New Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua will wear No. 81, which was formerly worn by Phil Kessel.
Like Kessel, Joshua is a survivor of testicular cancer. “I knew his story and looking forward to playing a long time here like Kessel did.”
TRIBLIVE.COM: Anthony Mantha has endured season-ending knee surgery and a lengthy rehab, aiming to be ready for training camp in September. On July 2, the 30-year-old winger signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW’s Sheng Peng reports player agent Mike Curran denied a recent report suggesting his client, Kevin Labanc, could be heading to the KHL. Current said Labanc has fully recovered from season-ending shoulder surgery and is “ready to go”.
You gotta figure that at least a couple of “feeler” /“preliminary” verbal offers have been made to Roslovic’s agent
Either they’re far too low for a negotiated response or Roslovic has little/no interest in that/those team(s)
The longer this drags on; the fewer the number of viable (cap wise) and/or interested teams there are; and the likelihood then becomes that of a diminishing (from what might have been right on/just after 7/1) expected contract $’s and/or term
He’s got some good skills; plays the right (key) position; but has had some consistency issues
C’s are in demand
Will be interesting to see how this plays out
Roslo has played mostly wing the few seasons.
he is streaky and shows flashes but was ok the Rangers did not bring back.
Where remaining UFAs are concerned, between now and the start of training camps I can only see perhaps these 14 – listed by position – being offered either NHL contracts, two-way depth contracts and destined for the AHL, or PTOs. The rest seem to have played their final NHL games:
C
Luke Kunin – last played with Columbus GP75 (SJ & Clb) G11 A7 18PTS coming off a cap hit of $2,750,000 – 27y/o 6’ 196lbs
Kevin Rooney – last played for Calgary GP70 G5 A5 10PTS coming off a cap hit of $1,300,000 – 32y/o 6’ 2” 200lbs
Jakub Lauko – last played for Boston GP38 G3 A3 6PTS – coming off a cap hit of $787,500 – 25y/o 6’ 196lbs
LW
Victor Olofsson – last played for Vegas GP56 G15 A14 29PTS – coming off a cap hit of $1,075,000 – 29y/o 5’ 11” 183lbs
Joel Kiviranta – last played for Colorado 79gp G16 A7 23PTS – coming off a cap hit of $775,000 – 29y/o 5’ 11” 185lbs
Nikolai Kovalenko – last played for San Jose GP57 (Col & SJ) G7 A13 20pts coming off a cap hit of $896,250 – turns 26 in Oct 5’ 10” 180lbs
Max Pacioretty – last played for Toronto GP37 G5 A8 13PTS coming off a cap hit of $873,770 – 36y/o 6’ 2” 216lbs
Noah Gregor – last played for San Jose GP52 (Ott & SJ) G4 A3 7PTS coming off a cap hit of $800,000 – 26y/o – 6’ 190lbs
RW
Jack Roslovic – last played for Carolina GP81 G22 A17 39PTS coming off a cap hit of $2,800,000 – 28y/o – 6’ 1” 195lbs
Brett Leason – last played for Anaheim GP62 G5 A12 17PTS coming off a cap hit of $1,050,000 – 26y/o – 6’ 5” 220lbs
LD – none
RD – Jan Rutta – last played for San Jose GP54 G3 A6 9PTS coming off a cap hit of $2,750,000 – 34y/o 6’ 3” 205lbs
G
Ilya Samsonov – last played for Vegas GP29 2.82gaa 0.891 save % coming off a cap hit of $1,800,000 – 28y/o 6’ 3” 205lbs
Alexander Georgiev – last played for San Jose GP49 (Col & SJ) 3.85gaa 0.875 save % coming off a cap hit of $3,400,000 – 29y/o 6’ 1” 180lbs
Georgii Romanov – last played for San Jose GP8 3.80gaa 0.877 save % coming off a cap hit of $910,000 – 25y/o 6’ 5” 207lbs
for LD above should read Matt Grzelcyk – last played for Pittsburgh 82GP 1g 39a 40pts – coming off a cap hit of $2,750,000 – 31 y/o 5′ 10″ 18lbs
lol – 180lbs
Aside from Roslovic,Pacioretty and maybe Grzelcyk, the rest are PTO material now. I think Patches is just putting the finishing touches on his gone fishing sign and Roslovic/ Grzelcyk are just realizing they might have to lower their demands. The rest as you said may have played their last games
“ 5′ 10″ 18lbs ”
Some sites have Grzelcyk at 5’ 9 1/2”, 177
Watching him walk beside Sid (5’ 11”, 203); I’d believe the second ht/wt estimate for Grzylcyk is more accurate
Sid looks like a chiseled tank casting shadows over Grzylcyk when they walk together
When he walks beside Graves it is much akin to Jon Snow walking next to Gregor “The Mountain” Clegorn
https://goterriers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/matt-grzelcyk/897
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/g/grzelma01.html
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/90350/matt-grzelcyk
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=130900
I guess they all forgot to verify with you
I’m being repetitive now but I don’t understand why the Habs don’t sign Jan Rutta to play RD.
It would solidify the D-corp, while Xhekaj, Struble, Engstrom fight for a spot.
Struble (once signed) is waiver eligible, Engstrom is in Laval, so Xhekaj would be 7th D.
Too many D never hurts and Rutta is a big experienced D who won a cup.
habfan30, not to mention at least 6 other teams mentioned in recent weeks as being in need of RD depth.
Turning 35 in a week, he can’t expect anything close to his expired $2,750,000 cap hit, but I think he might want to extend his NHL career by a year or two at $1.5 per.
While I like the size of Rutta, and of course the fact that he is a RH D, one of the current Habs D would have to go.
The logical one IMO is Struble, as Xhejak’s size is what the Habs need to keep. He won’t hurt the Habs on the third pairing.
The other consideration is that Matheson played on the right side last year and can do so again with Hutson. That so, the Habs have their D set and the 7th D can be used to give opportunities to Reinbachker and Engstrom. Or your fav, Trudeau.
Unless Ruuta comes cheap and is ok with sitting for stretches, I don’t think he would fit. For all we know, he may have rejected an offer from the Habs on that basis already.
LJ,
Struble is waiver eligible so he can be sent down to Laval, no loss of D.
Then again, I’d also try to trade Guhle plus ? for McTavish.
Hutson-Dobson
Matheson-Carrier
Xhekaj/Struble-Rutta
Engstrom and Reinbacher would keep maturing in Laval.
Laine-McTavish-Demidov would be quite a second line.
dog days of summer is my excuse
Guhle for McTavish, well, creative thinking. The Ducks don’t seem to have a deep D.
Moving Guhle out of the line up leaves them with few physical D. Who is the plus along with Guhle – that would be important.
But Hutson and Dobson are both puck movers, so putting them together doesn’t make sense to me.
LJ,
Matheson is physical as well just not noticed as much because of his beautiful skating.
In my opinion any combination of Hutson, Dobson, Matheson is an upgrade over last year.
Any combination of Xhekaj/Struble and Rutta is also an upgrade over last year.
I suggest Guhle +? because realistically I doubt McTavish would be traded unless it’s a serious hockey trade, not prospects and picks.
I don’t know if Guhle is on par value with McTavish but the difference is small, top4 D for a 2C who is probably playing 3C.
Guhle and Newhook?
If Reinbacher is close to making the Habs, ok, hold nose and Guhle and Newhook for McTavish.
HF30. Rutta may help for a year. I doubt that if you talk to Struble he would be keen on playing for the Rocket next year and I also doubt Xhekaj would be happy as a 7th D. Lots of changes already and the risk is upsetting team chemistry if players become disgruntled with their playing time. At this point I would let it rest and see what I have before making any more changes.
In rounding out rosters, carrying dead cap space can have an effect on depth or overall strength ranging from none to quite considerable. Right now, just 6 teams are not encumbered with dead cap, giving them a decided advantage in how they spread their cap: Vegas, Florida, NYR, Tampa, Colorado and Washington.
The remaining 26 run from a high of just over $10 mil to a low of only $33,000:
Nashville $10.23 mil; San Jose $9.69 mil; Philadelphia $6.83 mil; Chicago $5.73 mil; Vancouver $5.48 mil; Buffalo $4.44 mil; Minnesota $2.77 mil; Edmonton – $2.55 mil; Anaheim $2.5 mil; St. Louis – $2.15 mil; Detroit $1.93 mil; Calgary $1.88 mil; Ottawa $1.88 mil; Dallas $1.80 mil; Montreal – $1.75 mil; Winnipeg $1.62 mil; Columbus $1.43 mil; NJ – $ 1 mil; Pittsburgh $917,006; L.A. $813,000; Toronto $726,000; Utah $650,000; Boston $615,000; NYI $600,000; Seattle $379,000; Carolina $33,000.
The most “dead” of that list costs $0.9 M; but this is the last year of that; yeah!
Note: He’s still available ladies and gentlemen
Thanks Jim