NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 3, 2025
Connor Bedard’s contract extension talks are underway, Brock Boeser explains why he returned to the Canucks, the Stars introduce Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
BEDARD’S CONTRACT TALKS, BOESER’S RETURN TO CANUCKS, STARS HIRE GULUTZAN
TSN: Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson confirmed his club has opened contract extension talks with Connor Bedard.
Davidson declined to go into detail, but said the 19-year-old center remains committed to the Blackhawks and wants to be in Chicago long-term.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images).
The rebuilding Blackhawks’ struggles during Bedard’s first two NHL seasons saw him at times admit his frustration over the club’s performance. That sparked rumors that he wanted out of Chicago, which he denied several times last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard is in the final season of his entry-level contract and is the foundation for the Blackhawks’ rebuild. They’ll open the vault to keep him and will undoubtedly try to lock him up for the maximum term.
Bedard isn’t the only notable Blackhawk eligible to sign a contract extension this summer. Forward Frank Nazar and goaltender Spencer Knight are also due to become restricted free agents (RFA) next summer. Like Bedard, Nazar is in the final season of his entry-level contract and will lack arbitration rights. Knight is in the final season of his second NHL contract and will be arbitration-eligible next July.
THE SCORE: Brock Boeser told NHL.com that he was prepared to sign with a new team when free agency began on July 1. However, a last-minute call from the Vancouver Canucks led to his return on a seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.25 million.
Boeser said the phone call from the Canucks came as a shock, but it convinced him to instruct his agent to get a deal done. “I think my heart was still in Vancouver,” said the nine-year Canucks veteran.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser’s love of Vancouver must run deep. He seemed certain to depart, especially after they attempted to move him at the March trade deadline.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars introduced Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach. It’s the second time he held the job, having served in that role 12 years ago.
Gulutzan addressed the concerns among some Stars fans about his return. He said GM Jim Nill was right to fire him back then, adding that he’s improved as a bench boss after eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nill didn’t win the GM of the Year award three straight times by making rash decisions. He’s put a considerable amount of thought into this hiring.
THE LATEST NOTABLE CONTRACT SIGNINGS
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year contract with a $1 million base salary and $2 million in bonus clauses.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Burns is 40 and well removed from his peak years with the San Jose Sharks. Nevertheless, he’s the NHL’s active Ironman (925 consecutive games played) and netted 29 points last season with the Carolina Hurricanes. He’ll provide experienced depth on the right side of the Avs’ blueline.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed forward Gustav Nyquist for a one-year, $3.25 million contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move suggests that forward Nikolaj Ehlers won’t be returning with the Jets. The 29-year-old wing remains the top player available in the UFA market. He could decide on his next destination by today.
STLTODAY.COM: The Blues inked center Pius Suter to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.125 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues were seeking additional depth at center. The 29-year-old Suter is coming off a career-best 25-goal performance with the Canucks.
The Blues also placed defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed RFA center Morgan Frost to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.375 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Jan. 30, the Flames acquired the 26-year-old Frost and forward Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers. He put up 37 points in 81 games last season, split between Philadelphia and Calgary. The Flames hope he’ll find a more consistent offensive form that has eluded him thus far in his six-season NHL career.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights signed defenseman Kaeden Korczak to a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.25 million.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Ottawa Senators signed forward Arthur Kaliyev to a one-year, two-way contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A once-promising forward with the Los Angeles Kings, the 23-year-old winger struggled with injuries and consistency. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers, putting up four points in 14 games with the Blueshirts.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders signed coveted Russian free-agent forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, entry-level contract. He had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 KHL games last season.
TSN: The NHL, NHL Players’ Association, IOC and IIHF finalized an agreement allowing NHL players to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics next February.
THE BEARD returns for a 22nd season (would have been 23rd if not for the ‘04/‘05 lockout)
He’ll be 2nd in Ironman some time in March; then only chasing Hot Dog Phill.
I can see him signing another 1 year “$1M + PBs” at the end of this year and ending up 1st in Ironman
$1M + PBs; fair contract.
As at now; until/if Suter gets a contract; he’ll be the oldest in the NHL and only 1 of 2 (3 if/when Suter signs) left of that amazing ‘03 draft class.
Still chasing the cup!
Burns might gain a step if he shaved off that idiotic beard! Has to weigh 5 lbs.
Lol. It ain’t pretty that for sure
He can’t. There’s a protected species of bird nesting in it.
That reply actually made me laugh out loud! Well done! 😂
LOL
Boom.
Nice one Some Old Guy
Me being mostly a lurker, that was the best comment of the year!
Sweeney … wake-up & why is Korpisalo still a Bruin
Because nobody wants him, Joe.
Looking more and more like their only option is to buy him out. THEN some team will grab him for depth at a rock-bottom price.
I wouldn’t buy him out George, just prolongs the problem as you are still paying him, just a little less, but for longer. Plus you are paying his replacement.
Get it over with ASAP so you have the cap space when you need it down the road, when they are hopefully more competitive.
Or if they want to have DiPietro with the big club, send Korpi to Providence. Works out basically the same cap wise. DiPietro has been good down there, but plenty of goalies look good in the AHL, then not so much when they graduate. Like Korpisalo.
His #’s were actually slightly better than Swayman’s, but almost identical. Faced easier competition I would think, or at least backups usually do.
Ray, with 3 seasons left at $3 mil per off the cap – at the end of which he’ll be 34 – if the Bruins put Korpisalo on waivers for the purpose of burying him in the AHL, their “savings” – insofar as his deal is concerned – over the 3 seasons would be $1.15 mil per.
But they’d still have $1.85 mil counting against the cap – in addition to the cap hit of whoever they bring in to replace him. If that was DiPietro, his cap is $812,500 for 2 more seasons so – combined – you’re figuratively paying DiPietro $2,662,5000 for 2 seasons – after which he becomes a UFA -and you still have 1 more season to go with Korpisalo!
What would a flat buy-out cost and for how long?
Here ya go. This is the total contract. How it impacts OTT, I dunno.
Season Initial Savings Cap hit
2025-26 $4,000,000 $3,277,778 $722,222
2026-27 $4,000,000 $2,277,778 $1,722,222
2027-28 $4,000,000 $1,777,778 $2,222,222
2028-29 -$1,222,222 $1,222,222
2029-30 -$1,222,222 $1,222,222
2030-31 -$1,222,222 $1,222,222
All for Burns. Good signing by Avalanche. Why not, need some more snarl on that back end, too soft. Only Manson brings it. Wonder what this means, if anything re: necas or Girard or ehlers?
Turning 41 next March, unfortunately the “snarl” has become more of a lip-twitch.
Hey I still got my snarl
He has lips 🫨
Looks like Sweeney got his guy Viktor Arvidsson & Neely got his guy Tanner Jeannot .. Nice Work
Joe man after Sweeney emptied the bucket on UFA s and how things turned out,last year he went the opposite this year.The problem is where are they going to fit their young players in with all those 4th line players?Arvidson I m ok with on an expiring deal.He has had some offensive success in his career.But all the rest of them Jeannot,Essiymont,K man,Beecher,Kuraly,,Tufte,Can only play 4th line minutes.That means Zacha,Arvidson,Middlestadt,Minton,Poitras,Lysell,Merkulov ,Locmelis will be auditioning for middle six minutes.Looks like a big Cluster F to me.
I don’t agree. I watched him in playoffs and he appeared to be one of the hurricanes best players out there. Also, I think he can still bring the snarl. I sense some jealousy from people’s reaction to this signing. If Dallas or Vegas signed him, it would be like this is more heavy stuff or grit? Something along those lines. The Avalanche need more size on b/e. He will provide. He looked like he was still skating well too in playoffs.
You think jealousy is driving people’s responses? Over a 40 year old d man? That being said chelios was bringing snarl well into his 40’s.
So did Perry last season at 40. Even a couple scraps.
We’re just having fun with the Beard talk
I think it’s a good signing
$1M + PBs
Yes, still has ability to play and worthy of roster spit without a doubt
Still making an impact; albeit nowhere near his former “impact” days
Avs now have 4 Righties, 3 Lefties listed on Puckpedia
Middleton is 3rd Leftie on depth chart
Righties more in demand
Is Malinski a trade candidate to swap for a Leftie (that is better than Middleton)?
Middleton has size but 27 and only 44NHL games under his belt; 10 min/game… keep or trade Malinski for an LD improvement?
8787: Canucks have signed PO Joseph. I can’t remember if you loved him or hated him. Any thoughts you can share?
8787 Tell Burns when he gets to Denver I have a good DENTIST to recommend him to!
8787 are you asking me IDK? The Avalanche seems to really like malinski. I can see why. He did have some rough moments against Dallas : penalties and turn overs from my recollection but he has a great shot , can skate and moves the puck quickly. Girard, they love too but as much as I love Sammy G, he would be the guy I would move. But what do I know? The reason they love those guys is because the speed the Avalanche generated from both. So, that to me is why. The flip side of that coin is the size, they can have trouble. That is why I welcome Burns. Middleton to me is more an AHL caliber guy but he plays hard. The Avalanche could improve on size both up front and back end but so dosen’t every other team