NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 18, 2025
Mark Scheifele on Jonathan Toews joining the Jets, the Red Wings face a crucial season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE SCORE: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele is excited that center Jonathan Toews has chosen his club for his comeback attempt. The 37-year-old former Chicago Blackhawks star hasn’t played since 2022-23 as health issues have sidelined him for the past two seasons.
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).
Scheifele acknowledged that the Winnipeg-born Toews is a legend in the city and the province of Manitoba. He said he was hoping the Jets would be the front-runners to sign him, and is looking forward to playing with Toews after speaking with him several times during this summer.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen observed that the Red Wings’ current playoff drought is the worst in franchise history, eclipsing that of the “Dead Things” era of the late-1970s and early-1980s.
The Wings have missed the postseason for nine straight seasons. If they fail to qualify this season, they’ll become only the fourth team in NHL history to do so in 10 consecutive seasons, joining the Buffalo Sabres (2012 to present), the Florida Panthers (2001-11), and the Edmonton Oilers (2007 to 2016).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season could be make or break for Steve Yzerman’s tenure as general manager of the Red Wings. While their postseason drought began three seasons before he became GM, the past six seasons have been under his watch.
During the last two seasons, the Red Wings entered March holding a playoff berth, only to collapse down the stretch. Yzerman must find a way to prevent a third straight late-season stumble, or he could be out of a job by the end of April 2026.
NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas recently said he doesn’t require surgery to address a nagging knee injury. The 35-year-old blueliner stated that he was able to address the issue through rehabilitation.
TORONTO SUN: Former NHL center Mark Kirton died at age 67 of ALS. He spent six seasons in the NHL with the Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks, netting 57 goals and 56 assists for 113 points in 266 games from 1979-80 to 1984-85. He became a spokesman for expanded treatment for ALS patients and their families.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Kirton’s family, friends, former teammates, and coaches.
Lyle,
correction
“the Winnipeg-born Scheifele is a legend in the city”
Toews not Scheifele.
Fixed, thanks.
If I were Winnepeg,I would draft or trade for any prospects or established players with Manitoba roots to try to keep their team as strong as it has been.They lose to many good players who leave with the line that they just need a change of scenery.
With less than a month to go before training camps get under way, these as yet unsigned UFAs have to be wondering if, perhaps, they’ve seen the last of their NHL careers (note that the position shown is that cited for each at NHLdb.com):
C
Luke Kunin 27y/o 6’ 196lbs 75gp (SJ & Clb) 11g 7a 18pts – exp. cap hit $2,750,000;
Michael McLeod 27 y/o 6’ 2” 190lbs NJ 2023-24 45gp 10g 9a 19pts – exp. cap hit $1,400,000;
Robby Fabbri 29 y/o 5’ 11” 185lbs Anaheim 44gp 8g 8a 16pts exp. cap hit $4,000,000;
Kevin Rooney 32y/o 6’ 2” 200lbs Calgary 70gp 5g 5a 10pts exp. cap hit $1,300,000;
Evgeny Kuznetsov 33 y/o 6’ 1” 200lbs Carolina 2023-24 20gp 2g 4a 6 pts exp. cap hit $7.8 mil
Dillon Dubé 27y/o 5’ 11” 185lbs Calgary 2023-24 43gp 3g 4a 7pts exp. cap hit $2,300,000;
LW
Victor Olofsson 29y/o 5’ 11” 183lbs Vegas 56gp 15g 14a 29pts expired cap hit $1,075,000;
Nikolai Kovalenko 26 y/o 5’ 10” 180lbs 57gp (Col & SJ) 7g 13a 20pts expired cap hit $896,250;
Max Pacioretty 36y/o 6’ 2” 216lbs Toronto 37gp 5g 8a 13pts expired cap hit $873,770;
Noah Gregor 26y/o 6’ 190lbs 52gp (Ott & SJ) 4g 3a 7pts expired cap hit of $800,000;
Connor Sheary 33y/o 5’ 8” 182lbs Tampa 5gp 0pts – 59gp w. Syracuse AHL 20g 41a 61pts expired cap hit $2,000,000 (has a P.T.O. from NYR but could still be offered a contract by anyone);
RW
Jack Roslovic 28y/o 6’ 1” 195lbs Carolina 81gp 22g 17a 39pts exp. cap hit $2,800,000;
Brett Leason 26y/o 6’ 5” 220lbs Anaheim 62gp 5g 12a 17pts exp. cap hit $1,050,000;
LD
Matt Grzelcyk 31 y/o 5′ 10″ 180lbs Pittsburgh 82gp 1g 39a 40pts exp. cap hit $2,750,000;
Jack Johnson 38y/o 6’ 2” 225lbs Columbus 41gp 0g 6a 6pts exp. cap hit $775,000 (has a P.T.O. from Minnesota but could still be offered a contract by anyone);
Marc-Edouard Vlasic 38y/o 6’ 1” 205lbs San Jose 27gp 1g 2a 3pts – buy-out of his last season $7 mil per cap hit
RD
Jan Rutta 34y/o 6’ 3” 205lbs San Jose 54gp 3g 6a 9pts exp. cap hit $2,750,000;
Cal Foote 26 y/o 6’ 3” 225lbs New Jersey 2023-24 4gp 0g 1a 1pt exp. cap hit $800,000;
G
Carter Hart 27y/o 6’ 2” 200lbs Pha 2023-24 26gp 2.88gaa 0.906 save% exp. cap hit $3,979,000;
Ilya Samsonov 28y/o 6’ 3” 205lbs Vegas 29gp 2.82gaa 0.891 save% exp. cap hit $1,800,000;
Alexander Georgiev 29y/o 6’ 1” 180lbs 49gp (Col & SJ) 3.85gaa 0.875 save% exp. cap hit $3,400,000;
Georgii Romanov 25y/o 6’ 5” 207lbs San Jose 8gp 3.80gaa 0.877 save% exp. cap hit $910,000.
I understand the “feel good” aspect of signing Toews and the Winnipeg connection. Beyond that I have to think this is a marketing ploy at Toews’ expense. Away from the game very ill for two years and now 37, what do the Jets really expect?
Nothing ventured seems like a weak reason.
I don’t mind the signing, but it comes with expectations.
At this point, Toews upside is probably a 40 point, 3C who can win faceoffs and provide leadership. Maybe even pitch in on the PP as a facilitating, steady presence.
If anyone is expecting more than that, they will likely be disappointed.
Out of all those UFA’s Roslovic is the mystery guy. 4 or 5 teams are supposidly interested and yet, he’s still unsigned. Why is the mystery, does he see himself as a 7 mill per player. That would explain some of it, I guess. But he seems to be a problem everywhere he’s been. Not sure I’d sign him to more than a 1 year show me deal
I wonder if the “years” are the issue.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he has several 1 year offers for decent $ to consider, but given how much he’s been traded/moved around recently, he might want some term security on his next deal (2-3 years with some level of trade protection).
I don’t think he’s a top 6 guy (though he can fill in here and there) but he definitely be a solid, versatile 3rd liner that can play on most teams.
Stevie Y should have already been gone. The only reason he’s still there is based on previous accomplishments a player.
Sort of reminds me of Bobby Clark in Philadelphia which spanned two terms – 1984-1990 and 1992-2006 – or 19 seasons in all, and there are many who say any successes the Flyers enjoyed in those years were in spite of Clark and not due to any great abilities as a GM.
It’s almost tragic when you consider how the job he’s done will deeply tarnish his Red Wings’ legend.