NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 3, 2025
The postseason salary cap will be implemented for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, plus the latest on Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Canucks winger Evander Kane, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle reports the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) have agreed to a rolling implementation of the new rules in the four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that they signed in June.
League sources claim the postseason salary cap will be implemented for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams will be limited to playing with a 20-man roster that is cap-compliant for each playoff game.
The rule brings an end to the practice of teams stashing players on long-term injury reserve and using the salary-cap savings to add players before the playoffs. It also means a player’s full-season salary will be used to calculate if a team is cap-compliant for the playoffs, even if they were only on the team for a short period during the regular season.
This change means accruing salary-cap space becomes a less-effective tool because it won’t benefit a team in the playoffs.
Teams can still retain salary to facilitate a trade, but the new rules also affect most double-retention deals where a third team is involved. That will make freeing up salary-cap space before the trade deadline more complicated.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mirtle points out that these changes will make it more difficult for general managers to make trades during the season. Some will be forced to become more creative to find a loophole.
Mirtle also noted that the rise in the salary cap to $95.5 million provides most clubs with more cap flexibility to make moves compared to the pandemic-induced flat cap in recent years.
PUCKPEDIA: Other notable rules that will be implemented this season include no deferred salary compensation (effective Oct. 7, 2025) and a restriction on paper loans, which is when a player is assigned to a club’s minor-league affiliate but doesn’t actually report there.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Jeff Jackson’s appearance on “Oilers Now” to address the rumors about the Oilers’ contract negotiations with Connor McDavid.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
Jackson is the CEO of Hockey Operations for the Oilers. He told “Oilers Now” host Bob Stauffer that they remain confident of getting a deal with McDavid. He indicated the term of the contract is still an issue.
“It’s not as straightforward sometimes as people would like to be,” Jackson said. “He’s just taking his time.”
The Oilers captain is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He recently raised eyebrows by saying he wouldn’t have a problem with starting this season without a contract extension.
Jackson stated that McDavid wasn’t looking to break the bank to make as much money as he could. “He wants to find the razor’s edge where he gets paid for the star player that he is, that allows the team to surround himself with the best players that we possibly can, gives us options to do that beyond next year, so all that comes into his thinking.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples believes McDavid is taking his time to study all the details and approach this from all angles for a deal that benefits him and the team.
The Oilers are willing to accommodate whatever contract terms McDavid desires. If he seeks a league-leading average annual value of $20 million on an eight-year deal, he’ll get it. However, Jackson’s comments suggest McDavid could seek a little less than top dollar on a shorter term.
Bold prediction: McDavid signs a five-year extension before the start of this season with an AAV of $18 million. Feel free to weigh in with your predictions in the comments section below.
NESN: David Pastrnak said he and the Boston Bruins teammates expect improvement over last season’s disappointing performance.
“Expectations are always the same here. You play for an Original Six, they are always high and they always will be,” said Pastrnak. “We won’t accept what happened last year. The team that’s going to dress in October is going to be very competitive.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Being more competitive is a good thing, but the depletion of their roster depth in recent years could make it difficult to bounce back as a playoff contender this season.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma wonders if the addition of Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks’ roster will help center Elias Pettersson regain his high-scoring form. Kane is “big, fast, and nasty”, whose style of play could create more time and space for the playmaking Pettersson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is 34 and was hampered by injuries during the last two seasons. He also has a reputation for wearing out his welcome with his teammates. Kuzma pointed out that Kane is in his contract year and expects it to provide the veteran winger with additional motivation to play well this season.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames have brought back former captain and assistant coach Dave Lowry. He’ll replace former assistant coach Brad Larsen.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Former Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere is reportedly joining the New York Islanders as a pro scout. Laperriere had been moved from the Phantoms coaching job in an advisory role with the Flyers earlier this year.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed young goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $841,667. It’s a two-way deal for the first two seasons, becoming a one-way deal for 2027-28.
RE the salary cap for the playoffs:
Yes. Finally!
“This change means accruing salary-cap space becomes a less-effective tool because it won’t benefit a team in the playoffs.”
No, but accruing salary cap space during the regular season still allows teams to improve their roster leading into the playoffs. Don’ think the comment holds much water.
There’s a catch with how that cap hit of an acquired player calculates when there is retention. Expect a very dead trade deadline.
I think you will see teams continue to keep more cap space so they have flexibility at the TDL.
This year might be a bit lame, but IMO it should improve over time as teams adjust.
Like those new changes and I like that they are implemented this year.
Lyle, re McD and $18 M * 5 signed before season starts. No challenge in AAV; but I’d suggest a 4 year, same AAV. The 5 year has him starting the contract AFTER that (likely his last contract) at 34; and then it would likely be a 6 year; having him end his career at 40. Signing a 7 year the year earlier, still finishing at 40); would likely have same AAV; so 7 years at that very high rate (when cap is astronomical) vs 6!
Penguins:
We’re still waiting on ANY moves Kyle
Any!!!!
Media keeps posting interest in Karllsson from a handful of teams.
Early last week it was a multi-player flip with Leafs (key players flipped being EK and O’Reilly; NOTE: both with full trade protection).
Yesterday I read Wegman’s (of “The Score”) proposal from here:
https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/08/proposed-trade-sends-penguins-karlsson.html
:
EK (30% retained) for:
Ghost
1st ‘26
3rd ‘27
Unger Sorum (small RW taken 62nd in ‘23)
No thank you on Ghost!!!
Counter :
EK @50% retention; (instead of 30%);
and we’ll give them a 2nd;
and we’ll give them Novak
For
Kotkaniemi
Nadeau
Ryabkin
Love the changes.
In terms of predicting McDavid’s term 5 is the magic number imo as well.
8 unlikely as he likely wants some options open if things turn poorly in a few seasons
7 unlikely as it has both him and Leon potentially going to market at the same time
3 unlikely as he and Bouchard could be on market same off season
4 less concerning than Bouchard or Leon but Nurse and Mcdavid could be on the market the same time. Different dynamic here as my concern is their friendship and as such still one I would want to avoid if I was a GM.
1 is unlikely as the circus is on again next summer lol
So that leaves 2, 5 and 6.
2 kinda falls into the category of 1…circus is revisited too soon.
So 5 or 6 seems most likely in my eyes. And we’ll 5 is just a nicer number lol
Probably put too much thought into that
Hope springs eternal, I just Don t see Boston as a playoff team with that lineup as it stands today. Who is going to score for them?
Training camp openings are less than a week away and the possibility of significant trade activity is, for hapless trade freaks like us, hopefully magnified to some degree by looking at the combination of the considerable cap space available to some, the absolute lack thereof by others, and specific needs by most.
Those with cap space $6 mil and up, most of which are in various stages of re-building:
SAN JOSE $19,740,832 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
COLUMBUS $15,567,501 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
PITTSBURGH $13,053,571 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
ANAHEIM $20,538,811 with C Mason McTavish still to sign – should still have anywhere from $12 to $13 mil in reserve once that is finalized giving them 23 13F 7D 3G;
CHICAGO $18,662,024 with LD Wyatt Kaiser still to sign – should still have around $13.5 mil once that is finalized giving them 23 12F 8D 3G;
CALGARY $15,412,500 – with C Connor Zary still to sign – should have about $12 mil once that is finalized giving them 23 14F 7D 2G;
DETROIT $11,992,461 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
CAROLINA $10,644,291 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
UTAH $6,682,143 – 23 13F 7D 3G;
Those with moderate space ranging from roughly $3.5 to $6 mil – a mix of re-building teams and those with predominantly set rosters
NASHVILLE $9,341,039 with RW Luke Evangelista still to sign – should still have around $6 mil once that is finalized giving them 23 13F 8D 2G;
BUFFALO $5,190,319 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
SEATTLE $4,599,287 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
MINNESOTA $4,411,835 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
OTTAWA $4,294,286 – 22 13F 7D 2G;
WASHINGTON $4,125,000 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
WINNIPEG $3,963,810 – 23 13F 8D 2G);
VANCOUVER $3,270,000 – 22 13F 7D 2G;
Those with between $1 and $2 mil and with set rosters
LOS ANGELES $2,668,333 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
BOSTON $2,081,667 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
TORONTO $1,919,722 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
NYI $1,625,000 – 23 15F 6D 2G;
COLORADO $1,330,000 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
TAMPA $1,180,001 – 23 15F 6D 2G);
Those with less than $1 mil or actually OVER the cap, just one of which could be considered in the re-building stage, and 5 of which will be utilizing LTIR relief:
NYR $777,976 – 23 13F 8D 2G;
ST. LOUIS $625,151 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
DALLAS $405,084 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
PHILADELPHIA – $370,238 – 23 12F 8D 3G – Ellis LTIR $6.25 mil;
EDMONTON $225,834 – 23 14F 7D 2G;
FLORIDA $4,500,000 OVER – 23 14F 7D 2G – Tkachuk LTIR $9.5 mil;
MONTREAL $5,931,667 OVER – 23 14F 7D 2G – Price LTIR $10.5 mil.
VEGAS $7,638,571 OVER – 22 13F 7D 2G – still with RW Alexander Holtz to sign – Pietrangelo LTIR $8.8 mil.
NEW JERSEY $6,131,667 in cap reserve now – 23 14F 7D 2G – but sure to be over when LD Luke Hughes is signed – Kovacevik LTIR $4 mil;
They’re going to create a league where no trades happen anymore. Especially at the trade deadline. It sucks that revenue generating teams have to suffer because the league decides they need a team where no fans actually care about hockey. I miss the old days. Funny thing is even when there was no cap you still couldn’t buy a Stanley cup no matter how much money you spent. This only benefits the weaker revenue teams. Socialism really doesn’t belong in professional sports.
“Funny thing is even when there was no cap you still couldn’t buy a Stanley cup no matter how much money you spent.”
The 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings would like a word…
Yep but how many times did they lose and keep trying. You can always find 1 or 2 exceptions but for the most part they still didn’t win.
If I were Connor McMuffin, I’d sign 2 years for 12 million (let’s face it he doesn’t need the money)…and tell them, I just save you 6 million a year… go get the players for me to win a cup, if you can’t do it, I’m walking in 2 years.
WTH, do you even know what socialism means?
In case you don’t have google I pasted it for you:
“any of various egalitarian economic and political theories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.”
What government owns the NHL or even an NHL team? The city of Green Bay owns the Packers, flippin’ commies!
I root for a higher revenue team – Boston – and live in Edmonton which is another. No idea who you cheer for.
For the big revenue teams, you may want to rethink having it be a truly competitive market, because if it was, anyone could start any team, or move any team, into any market they chose.
So if the small market Jets wanted to compete with my Bruins and move to the Boston area, they could. Or NY, Southern Ontario, Chicago, Philly, etc.
Almost seems like the big revenue teams are being protected? The NHL is an oligarchy!
Heh. my take on Socialism is very basic:
The equal sharing of unequal earnings.
Interesting that “socialism “ has led the league to be financially at its strongest ever.
The timing of the new salary cap rules will be especially troubling to Vegas, FLA and maybe Montreal and any competitor hovering very near the cap upper limit if they receive a significant long term injury. I am for this change, but the timing is suspect and clearly has caught some teams in a peril to adjust.
Socialism had nothing to do with it. Every major sports league has become financially stronger. Hockey is still near the bottom of the financial spectrum.
Fenway bought pens for under a billion and likely will sell for twice what they paid in only a few short years. The commie nhl is rocking it right now.
Chrisms, yep. A lot of it is about the valuation of the franchises.
And why do they want more financially successful teams with a higher valuation? Because they can borrow against that value to generate a return on capital without using their own, and use the banks $$ instead. Whatever other business ventures they have or to simply withdraw capital from the team by refinancing and putting $$ into their pocket. Just like real estate developers do.
Revenue, especially TV and streaming revenue, goes up when you increase the size of the market. Can’t do that in non traditional, new and smaller markets without a cap. No cost certainty, relative to revenue, makes it a riskier investment. If the overall market shrinks, revenue shrinks.
This isn’t about propping up or subsidizing other teams, it’s about all of them maximizing revenue and profit.
You know, socialism!
“Revenue Sharing” is, basically, identical to “equal sharing of unequal earnings” – one of THE main tenets of Socialism.
Revenue sharing is basically investment to maximize earnings which is a basic tenet of capitalism.
The rich get richer while the poor survive.
any Canuck fans here? are you optimistic with the changes and distractions?
Not a canuck fan but like to think i can have an opinion with minimal bias.
I see them threading water next season. I think holding them back is the offense. Kane should cover on Suter’s departure. The drop off after Pettersson is steep at center.
But a healthy Demko, with Hughes being Hughes and a rebound from Elias, and the energy of a new coach could be enough to scratch past masses for a WC spot. I dont see the roster as it stands being a serious threat for top 3 seeds in the pacific though.
Canuck fan since they entered the league. Cautiously optimistic that they will show improvement this year due to a very solid defense and goaltending, but very nervous about Pettersson. No idea what’s really been affecting him for the past season and a half, but if he can bounce back to the 95 point range I think they will surprise a few people.
Not saying they could be cup contenders, but if Petey comes back to form they should be a solid playoff team.
Of course the week before training camp every year I am “cautiously optimistic”.
I mean so much rides on health of Petey, Quinn and Demko.
Team could go from WC to lottery imho.
What I can’t figure, IWMCB, is why having gone through the most public teammate spat in living memory the Canuucks acquired Kane, the runner up for bad team mate in that category.
Maybe Oiler fans can weigh in on what Kane was like in Edmonton, but I can remember team mates throwing Kane’s clothes in the shower as a sign of their disdain for him.
LJ – Kane was fine while in Edmonton. Outside of a spat with him and Leon or him and Perry or some such that only got attention for a week or so because it included Kane.
He is still a character but whatever the reason, and they could be plentiful, it seemed fine and all came together well with him in edm.
I dont foresee any issue with him in Vancouver for a year.
I’m cautiously optimistic as a lot went wrong last year. But there’s a lot of uncertainty including EP performance, Demko health, new inexperienced coach Foote.
Should be the best team D they’ve ever had, though scoring will be an issue.