NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 5, 2025
The Wild re-sign Filip Gustavsson, the Penguins placed Ryan Graves on waivers, the Stars are examining options for a new arena, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE MINNESOTA STAR-TRIBUNE: The Wild and goaltender Filip Gustavsson agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract extension. Gustavsson, 27, will earn an average annual value (AAV) of $6.8 million.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates Gustavsson’s new contract also includes a full no-movement clause in the first two seasons, and a 15-team no-trade clause for the remainder of the deal.
After re-signing superstar Kirill Kaprizov last month, getting Gustavsson under contract was a priority for the Wild. He’s in the final season of his current deal with an AAV of $3.75 million, and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Gutavsson took over the starting goaltender role for the Wild during the last two seasons. He would’ve drawn considerable attention had he gone to market next summer.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers. If he clears, he’s expected to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 30-year-old Graves is in the third season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million and a 12-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins signed Graves in 2023 as a replacement for Brian Dumoulin. However, he struggled over the past two seasons and slipped down the Penguins’ depth chart, becoming a frequent healthy scratch last season.
The Penguins could try to trade Graves, but as Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski observed, he has no trade value given his declining performance and the remaining term on his contract. They could attempt to move him for another player on a bad contract, but that doesn’t help either team.
Kingerski expects Graves to be demoted to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for this season, freeing up $1.15 million of his $4.5 million cap hit. After that, he’ll likely become a contract buyout candidate next June.
THE ATHLETIC: The Dallas Stars are evaluating all options for a new arena when their lease with American Airlines Arena expires in 2031.
The Stars have shared American Airlines Arena with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks since it opened in 2001.
One option includes relocating to a new arena in Plano, Texas, approximately 20 miles outside of Dallas. They’re also in discussions with Arlington, Texas.
NHL.COM: Prospect winger Gavin McKenna scored a goal and collected two assists in two games during his NCAA weekend debut with Penn State University.
McKenna, 17, is projected to become the top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft. He made headlines this summer when he left the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to sign with Penn State.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 in a brawl-filled game that saw 16 players ejected as the two rivals combined for 322 penalty minutes. The Panthers also had a goal taken away because a player who had been previously ejected was on the ice when it was scored.
“It just got silly, got stupid,” Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. “By the end of it, it wasn’t really hockey out there.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fans of fight-filled preseason games should enjoy it while it lasts. Those antics are expected to decline when the preseason is shortened starting next year. Teams will play up to four preseason games, which is two to three games shorter than the current preseason schedule.
WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets lost defenseman Dylan DeMelo and forward Cole Perfetti to injuries during their 5-4 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.
DeMelo left the game in the first period after taking a stick to the throat/face area from Flames forward Blake Coleman. He was kept out of the rest of the game for precautionary reasons. Perfetti suffered a lower-body injury in the second period and will be re-evaluated.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Nick Jensen returned to the lineup for his club’s 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Jensen, 35, had been sidelined since undergoing hip surgery on May 19.
SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers forward Mattias Janmark is expected to be sidelined for one week with an undisclosed injury.
NHL.COM’s Brooks Bratten reports that Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (upper body) and forward Matthew Wood (lower body) have been placed on injured reserve. Hague is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks, while Wood remains week-to-week.
I hope end up getting McKenna. I just couldn’t handle the Pens getting another one like the last two gifts.
We won’t be getting McKenna
We’ll pick in thr 7th-10th slot and pick a small player ranked in the 20th – 25th spot
It’s written in the stars already my friend. Acceptance is a virtue
Hoping and praying with you Chrisms
But willing to wager an XL Parma Pie that it ain’t happenin’
Re Graves demotion
Finally some dead weight moving to WBS
Yet Dumbas sent others packing that absolutely shouldn’t have been
Dubas couldn’t read the coach’s notes and mistakenly sent the wrong Hayes down (Avery instead of Kevin)
Dubas also continues wearing blinders regarding Accairi. Dumb Dumb Dumb
He also sent Pickering down instead of Shea or Jones … ouch!!
Re Graves and “After that, he’ll likely become a contract buyout candidate next June.”
Here I disagree
Dubas (in another dumb move) allowed Graves agent to structure contract in a way (heavy signing bonus right to end of contract) to almost preclude a buyout
I fully agree with Jim Rixner (Pensburgh from yesterday) where he says : “his contract structure with bonuses makes him practically buyout proof”
If he’s bought out next June, he’s on the books for 6 years and next 3 years Cap hits are:
$3.3 M
$3.3 M
$3.15 M
Then on books for 3 more years after
If they bury him , the Cap hit is:
$3.35 M
$3.35 M
$3.35 M
So in effect, the Cap difference between the two scenarios is almost nil ($50 K, $50 K, $200 K)
None of those 3 years will have Pens actually requiring an extra $50 K in space
The downside in the Graves buyout is that he’s on the books for 6 years; and takes up one buyout spot than later could be used on a more deserving/needed contract
In addition, for a measly $50 K in space (that they don’t need) ; he’s there for call up just in case
Watched the Habs-Senators game last night after watching the Blue Jays hammer the Yankees.
Looks like Arthur Kaliyev’s play in the pre-season has earned him a well-deserved spot in the line-up (he had a very good game last night, with an assist and earning one of the 3-stars.
Two others – Halliday and Lycksell – will likely start in Belleville, but both have impressed and will probably be among the first call-ups.
On the other side, what stood out for me was Dobson appearing to be constantly behind the play and struggling with the puck.
Surprised to some degree that Kampf cleared waivers.
Really classless move by Tampa with a bunch of ahl players out taking head shots. Will they take 8-0 losses in the regular season just to goon it up?