NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 12, 2025
The league will reinstate five former Hockey Canada players on Dec. 1, the latest on the Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen and the Jets’ Adam Lowry, the Sabres sign Alexandar Georgiev, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The five former Hockey Canada players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges will be suspended until Dec. 1.
Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod are eligible to sign with NHL teams as early as Oct. 15.
Following their acquittals, the league conducted in-person interviews with each player, who each expressed regret and remorse over the incident. The Dec. 1 date would bring their total time away from the league to two years.
THE CANADIAN PRESS (via COAST REPORTER): Sports lawyer Greg Gilhooly, who is a survivor of sexual abuse by infamous hockey coach Graham James, said NHL clubs must weigh talent against potential backlash when deciding whether to sign those players.
“I think what’s going to happen here is that there are going to be different amounts of justice and retribution kneaded out depending upon how good a hockey player you are,” said Gilhooly. He believes Hart will be the first to be signed, and the team that signs him will take some abuse for it. Gilhooly thinks teams will shy away from the marginal players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report received a mixed reaction on social media. Some considered the suspension a public relations move, while others believed the players should have been reinstated following their acquittals, and still others criticized hockey culture.
This situation puts the NHL in a difficult spot. Gilhooly thinks they’re doing their best to be seen as doing the right thing and sending the right message.
CBS SPORTS: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen skated Thursday in a non-contact jersey. He underwent surgery in March to repair a torn right triceps. His recovery timeline was six months, which could put him back in the lineup for the start of the season, though the Flyers won’t rush the process.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets captain Adam Lowry is hoping to return to action by the end of October or early November. The 32-year-old checking-line center underwent hip surgery on May 27, with a recovery timeline of five to six months.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract worth $825,000. Georgiev, 29, is a nine-year NHL veteran who split last season between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev is trying to get his NHL career back on track after leading the league in wins in 2022-23 (40) and 2023-24 (38) with the Avalanche. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the Sabres starter, meaning Georgiev will be jockeying with Alex Lyon for the backup job.
Speaking of the Sabres, they placed Adam Mair on administrative leave following his arrest for drunk driving last week. Mair is their director of player development.
SPORTSNET: Zayne Parekh was not on the Calgary Flames rookie-camp roster for precautionary reasons. The 19-year-old defenseman is still working through an injury suffered during the summer, but is expected to be a full participant in their main training camp that opens on Sept. 18.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights prospect Trevor Connelly is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered while playing for Team USA in the World Junior Summer Showcase in July. He will likely miss the Golden Knights’ training camp, which begins on Sept. 18.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers prospect center Jett Luchanko was held out of the club’s rookie camp for precautionary reasons stemming from a groin issue suffered in July. The 19-year-old is expected to be available for the start of the Flyers’ main camp next week.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Former Blues broadcaster John Kelly will be calling Los Angeles Kings games for FanDuel Sports Network this season. He will call 60 regular-season and two exhibition games, and the first round of the playoffs if the Kings qualify.
This is good news regarding the 5.
We (our family) believe they should have had the ban lifted within days of the Judge’s ruling.
Remember, Judge (like the extremely high majority of sexual assault trials’ Not Guilty findings) COULD have ruled “prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt….”
Instead the judge read out an extremely long summation and ruling that detailed out that her (Judge’s) conclusion was that consent was ACTUALLY GIVEN and that EM was NOT credible and her testimony was NOT reliable. This is not reading between the lines; this is actually what the judge ruled.
This is completely different from Virtanen (“failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt”) and Virtanen’s trial didn’t have the large amount of video evidence that was in the 5/EM trial that completely contradicted several of the accusers statements to Police and while on the stand.
Virtanen had a contract (albeit a PTO) in place, 7 weeks after his acquittal.
Mctavish killed someone; was convicted; spent a year in jail; then came on board with Oilers and played 7;seasons for them and won 3 cups (I believe he also won a cup with Rangers?).
The 5 can’t sign a contract until almost 3 months after the Judges ruling; and can’t play until almost 19 full weeks after the Judges ruling.
Regardless, good news that they can finally persue an NHL career again. Certainly not saying they all can get up to speed/in shape and make it back; but good that the finally have that right (to do so) again.
Per several media, there is no restriction on them actually meeting and/or discussing contracts and contract details with NHL teams, prior to October 15th. They just can’t put pen to paper until October 15th.
I suspect that Hart will be much in demand; and highly likely to be the first to play.
Bowman (Oilers) , if he has any sense, should have reached out last night (to Hart’s agent) right after the announcement.
Oilers would definitely benefit from Hart on team.
He’ll sign a low cost 1 year, prove-it deal; and he has everything to benefit from being in tip top shape and putting in a great year of performances; he costs nothing in assets to acquire; he’d be an improvement to Pickard and would nicely complement and push Skinner.
Oilers have already done several precedent setting signings/acquisitions/etc of people with varying levels of public push back against them: to name a few: Bowman, Kane, Perry, Virtanen.
And let’s not forget McTavish!!!!
A legal question that I have not seen discussed in the media. Prior to December 1st, can these players practice with an NHL club?
If so, a player could sign a contract Oct 15th, practice for six weeks and potentially be in a game lineup Dec 1st. IF not, then we likely won’t see any of them in an NHL game until 2026.
Something else to consider – it is my understanding that suspended players count towards the cap. Thus, teams with little cap room would want the contract start date delayed until the suspension is over.
Interesting point, Hammer_of_the_Gods, regarding suspended players’ cap hits counting against the team cap.
If that is indeed the case, these teams, with $0 or less than the cost of an ELC in cap reserve, would be hard-pressed to fit any of them in without making some other roster moves which would then leave them short on the 23-man roster until December:
Vegas – $7,638,571 OVER – RFA Holtz still to sign
Florida $4,500,000 OVER
Edmonton -$225,834
Philadelphia – $370,238
Dallas – $405,084
St. Louis – just $625,151
NY Rangers – $777,976
Of course, where Vegas, Florida and Philadelphia are concerned they have LTIRs to put in play – Pietrangelo $8.8 mil, Tkachuk $9,500,000 and Ellis $6,250,000.
Just going by what was said on TV
Can sign Oct 15
Can practise in Nov (some said mid Nov; some said Nov 1st)
First game actually played no sooner than Dec 1st
Re Cap and Suspension and counting
Again from TV;
They are not suspended as they are not under contract.
They are under a ban prohibiting signing/playing
ban has been lifted (just can’t sign before October 15; which is AFTER opening day of season (day before opening day; official 23 man roster due to NHL, teams CAN Have fewer than 23 names on list
so no Cap hit if not on official 23 man roster.
As soon as they are on 23 Man, they count
One analyst suggested teams could sign (on the same day) two concurrent contracts: PTO (that allows them to practise; some time in Nov) that ends November 30th; with actual NHL contract starting December 1st; thus then Cap hit starting December 1st at earliest
What I have not been able to find out is regarding waivers.
Does Formenton (still under Sens’ NHL rights) as an RFA ; have to clear waivers to be brought on to Sens? Anybody here know?
Re the other 4; if a team has already submitted 23 names for roster at beginning of season; then signs one of the other 4; do they then have to clear waivers to be brought onto the NHL team?
The trial and verdict is over for those 5 players. Their reputations will be tarnished the rest of their lives.Their future relationships may never happen.Let s hope that they turn their lives around and become good citizens. Being a professional hockey player should take a backseat to being good,responsible men.Time will tell.
JAYzus!
Everyone has opinions on these men. And their behavior. Many people just state things and believe their opinions to be facts. There’s a lot of that going on lately–on many different topics. A judge, in a court can only rule on what was presented, asked and answered. They weren’t there. They don’t know.
I’ve coached hockey – been around hockey for nearly 50 years. I’ve seen the mighty maple tree that is the perfect metaphor for Hockey Canada. And I’ve seen the rot at the center of that tree.
I could name another half dozen and bring the number to “horny 10-15” of men who’s behavior would have teams questioning their decisions to sign them. Heck…there’s one RFA right now getting ton’s of attention who’s a pos to women.
The evidence may haven’t been enough. And the judge my not have been convinced by a witness. And those are our laws. Court of opinion, will have it’s say too.
We shall see what happens.
They should be given a 2nd chance. Forgiveness is hard for a great number of people. I am glad that I know a loving God that has forgiven my transgressions and allowed me to move on in this flawed and often times hypocritical society. I am assured that God has forgiven these 5 if they are repentant, and it surely looks that most have been.
So, if God can forgive them and some people can’t, well maybe their standard are just so much higher than God’s.
Excellent points and I concur; but just for 4 of them.
Formenton did nothing wrong. Nothing. He does not need forgiving.
If you are in YOUR room (shared with McLeod), and you’re a teenager, and a woman 2 years older than you is lying on the ground without a stitch on, doing things to herself and is pleading and verbally taunting (that they are “pu@#%$&ies” if they don’t do what she is pleading with them to do) intimate relations with you, then LEADS you by the hand into YOUR room’s bathroom for private consensual acts; are you supposed to outright refuse and run out of YOUR own hotel room?
Re Gilhooly and assertion that teams interest in signing would be tied to the talent and “Gilhooly thinks teams will shy away from the marginal players.”
Formenton, who was not playing IN the NHL when charged (was signed overseas) would therefore by that loose definition now, “talent-wise”, be considered a “marginal” player. That’s now, at this very minute.
That said, of the 5 , he literally did nothing wrong. Nothing at all wrong.
I’m in no way saying give him a high 5. Just treat him as if you had never heard his name before. Judge his talent on the ice this fall in Europe. If Sens (they own his rights) see his talent displayed this fall as equal to or better than, their 14th forward; sign him to an NHL contract. I would believe that he should show better than their “average” forward on their AHL club so at least deserves an AHL contract; perhaps a 2-way contract. He’s got good size (6’3”, 198). He was (as at time of last playing in the NHL) a forward on the rise ( first season @21 only 20 games; but 79 games the next season, at 22 , he scored 18 goals). He is still only 25 years old!!!!
He absolutely should never have been charged.
With no charges, I fully believe that right now he’d be under contract and enjoying (at worst) a productive middle 6 NHL winger career. That is , at least.
I am hoping, for Formenton, that he does very well in Europe this fall; and enters back into the NHL right after this contract; which means as early as late December.
Pontificating aside, it will be interesting to see who among the 4 UFAs gets the first nibble. Formenton is still Ottawa “property” – a RFA – and, so far, Staios has been non-committal regarding his future in the organization, although it’s interesting that his deal recently signed in the Swiss League runs through to about the same time as the 5 can return to the NHL.
The obvious bet would be Hart, with so many teams scrambling around for goaltending.A REd 2 48th overall pick in 2016 by Philadelphia, he has a 2.94gaa and 0.906 save % over 227 career NHL gp.
After him I would think 5’11” 190lbs left-shot C Dillon Dubé would be a top target. Taken in Rd 2 56th overall in 2016 by Calgary, in 325 career gp he has 57g 79a 127 pts with additional 4g 2a 6 pts in 22 playoff gp. Twice he has potted 18 goals – in 79gp in 2021-22 and in 82gp in 2022-23.
The seemingly endless search for RD would also give 6′ 3″ 225lbs Cal Foote a better than even chance of getting a call. A Rd 1 14th overall in 2017 by Tampa, he has 145 NHL games under his belt with 5g 15a 20 pts.
And finally there is right-shot C 6′ 2″ 190lbs Michael McLeod, also a Rd 1 (12th overall) in 2016 by New Jersey, whose NHL production over 287gp amounted to 29g 56a 85pts, with 2g 4a 6pts added in 12 playoff games.
The REALLY interesting thing will be is if any are approached by their original team.
Per The Hockey News below; Flyers have interest in having Hart rejoin them . The article below was from BEFORE the announcement of the ban lift:
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/report-flyers-interested-in-carter-hart-reunion
8787, regarding Philly interest in Hart, according to the local media bloggers, it’s really unknown at this point because some in the Flyer front office want to sign Hart while others are wary of potential blowback from fans. At a news conference yesterday, prior to the reinstatement announcement, the Flyer president was completely non-committal about everything, essentially confirming that the organization would re-assess if the suspended players were allowed back into the league.
Since Philly was not permitted to qualify Hart, the Philly bloggers believe the Flyers should receive compensation should Hart land elsewhere.
Hammer_of_the_Gods, again that last paragraph raises a very interesting point. When all 5 were drafted the teams had no clue as to what was about to explode in the news.
I think they should somehow be compensated for something that was taken away through no fault of their own. since all were relatively high picks, including two being 1st rounders.
When I hear Bettman and the NHL say that the 5 players did not live up to the standards of morality the NHL upholds I am left to wonder what are those standards.
Assuming legal/consensual sexual acts are morally appropriate. That the players were Acquitted which means they were found not guilty of any illegal act.
Then take in the past sexual allegations the league itself tried to keep out of the public eye. The Chicago incident with Quinville comes to mind.
I’m left to understand that the moral compass of the NHL is “keep it on the bedroom”. As long as it isn’t public all’s good.
What’s the actually standard of behaviour the league feels the players did not live up to?
I’m honestly don’t know what it is?
Perhaps when at a league’s function don’t partake in anything like an Orgy?
This may sound funny and I may be clueless but it seriously asking?
Well, we are human, and All humans are hypocritical in some ways. I am not without fault, but am thankful I know the one and only one that walked this earth. And I am also fortunate to know this forum and the wealth of hockey knowledge that is shared here.
*the One and only one that is without fault. *
I made my case and point. 😁
That’s what I was wondering, Jeff.
At some point behaviour can be so egregious that there must be consequences. Imagine a player promoting white supremacy.
But as others have noted over the long stretch of discourse, there are so many examples of inconsistent responses by the league to controversial incidents it is inconsistent bordering on erratic. The NHL has damaged its credibility, and certainly blurred any lines it might seek to delineate on morality.
What 8787, Johnny, and Paul said.
George, I like your thoughts on Cal Foote. One wonders, did the 5 keep up their practicing? If not the long road back will be that much longer.
LJ, good question re their conditioning. I would imagine that, up to the point of their acquittal, anything of that nature would have been solo or with a close group of friends, since I doubt any organized team would have wanted to be associated with someone who could possibly be convicted of sexual assault – and if some team HAD allowed any of them to work out, you know some enterprising reporter looking for a story would have been sure to write about it in some medium.
Since the acquittals on July 24 that would naturally be less of a concern … but I haven’t heard or read anything to that effect – except that Formenton has re-signed with that Swiss team. When he reports to their camp is anybody’s guess, but the fact he will indicated they, at least, have no concerns about public reaction or team disruption.
Here in North America that may be more of a concern. We should soon see.
Here’s all I have to say about the five. If it had been you who had been accused and acquitted, wouldn’t you deserve a second chance?
On another, on the ice related topic:
George: Habs fans are nearly giddy with the team’s prospects this year, as you are only too well aware.
I’ve not seen the same level of neon hype over the Sens.
What are your thoughts about their playoff chances this year?
LJ, that Atlantic Division is probably THE toughest in the league, while the Conference, last season, didn’t have one team below a .463 points pace whereas the West had 3 – two of them below .400.
Ottawa’s 97 points put them within 1 of the eventual cup winner, 2 b/o Metro 2nd place holder Carolina, and 6 ahead of the Metro 3rd place finisher NJ.
But by the same token, none among non-playoff teams Columbus, Detroit and NYR finished so far behind Ottawa that it’s an automatic assumption that they cannot make up the differences. In short, if anything goes significantly wrong, the Senators could just as easily find themselves back among the also-rans as not.
I my view, however, I believe having the unflappable Merilainen as back-up will give them better consistency at that position, and that Ullmark will be his usual steady self. And getting Spence to shore up the RD position, and very good face-off C Eller for the 4th line will make positive differences.
But above all, just the playoff experience – and what it took to get there – attained by Tkachuk, Stutzle, Cozens, Batherson, Pinto, Zetterlund, Greig, Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Kleven, Matinpalo will make them hungry enough to repeat that they won’t falter. Barring crippling injuries of course – which applies to all teams in t he Atlantic.
Thanks.