NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2025
Recaps of Wednesday’s action, the Oilers re-sign Mattias Ekholm and add Jack Roslovic, Cam Atkinson to retire with the Blue Jackets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Shootout goals by Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Vegas Golden Knights 6-5. Quinton Byfield and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who overcame a 5-3 deficit. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists, Pavel Dorofeyev tallied a hat trick, and Mitch Marner collected two assists for the Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Golden Knights re-signed Eichel to an eight-year extension with an AAV of $13.5 million, which may have provided a little extra motivation for his season opener. He and Marner are already showing some promising offensive chemistry. Meanwhile, Dorofeyev’s hat trick is the first one of this new NHL season.
The Calgary Flames overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on a shootout goal by Nazem Kadri. Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf stopped 32 shots for the win. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored his 400th career regular-season goal.
Before this game, the Oilers announced that defenseman Mattias Ekholm had agreed to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. They also announced the signing of unrestricted free-agent forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: When healthy, Ekholm is a solid defensive blueliner and an invaluable part of the Oilers’ defense corps. He will be 36 when his new contract begins in July. However, with the salary cap rising significantly over the next two years, and with Connor McDavid taking a discount on a two-year contract extension, the Oilers felt it was a worthwhile investment as they continue their quest for the Stanley Cup.
Roslovic reportedly rejected an offer from Edmonton when free agency opened in July. He recently changed agents, which led to his new deal with the Oilers. It’s uncertain what role he’ll play with his new club.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their 10th straight home opener with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Morgan Rielly snapped a 2-2 tie midway through the third period, and William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the Leafs. Oliver Kapanen and Zachary Bolduc replied for the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was closer than the score suggests, with the Leafs’ final two goals being empty-netters. Speaking of the Leafs, former defenseman Mark Giordano joined their AHL affiliate as a coaching advisor.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Washington Capitals 3-1, giving head coach Marco Sturm his first NHL victory. Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots for the Bruins. Tom Wilson scored for the Capitals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak has picked up from where he left off last season for the Bruins. Swayman also played well, getting off to a better start compared to last year, when he gave up four goals on 24 shots in his 2024-25 season opener after missing training camp and the preseason due to a contract dispute. He got the win in that game, but his performance was much sharper in this one.
Speaking of the Bruins, they named Pastrnak, Lindholm, and Charlie McAvoy as alternate captains, but intend to play this season without a team captain. The San Jose Sharks will also be without a captain this season, with sophomore center Macklin Celebrini among their five alternates.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE ATHLETIC: Cam Atkinson will end his 13-season NHL career where it began: with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Atkinson, 36, will sign a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 16 and simultaneously announce his retirement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Atkinson had 253 goals and 236 assists for 489 points in 809 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He also had 10 goals and 26 points in 35 playoff games. He spent 10 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets, including a career-best 41 goals and 69 points in 80 games in 2018-19. Atkinson is second all-time among Blue Jackets skaters with 213 goals and 402 points and third in games played with 627.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers will honor the memory of Hall of Famer Bernie Parent with a jersey patch and a preseason ceremony during their home-opener on Oct. 13. There will also be a celebration of his life at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Nov. 21.
The beloved Flyers goaltender passed away on Sept. 21 at the age of 80.
DAILY FACEOFF: Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome will miss the start of the season with an upper-body injury.
CBS SPORTS: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons will miss the first two games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Monday.
These 7 teams are over the cap by varying amounts – showing seasonal or shorter term LTIRs – for those expected back at some point during the season the teams will need to make roster moves to become cap compliant:
Vegas $8,480,720 over – seasonal LTIR Pietrangelo $8,800,000
Florida $6,100,000 over – Barkov $10,000,000 maybe expected back for the playoffs – Tkachuk $9,500,000 expected back January 2026 – Nosek $775,000 expected back mid-Dec
New Jersey $3,672,240 over – Kovacevic $4,000,000 not expected back until mid January
Edmonton $2,815,442 over – Hyman $5,500,000 expected to return November 1
San Jose $2,455,835 over – seasonal LTIR Price $10,500,000
Dallas $466,505 over – Benn $1,000,000 to miss first 4 weeks of the season
Tampa $369,999 over – Paul $3,150,000 expected to return “early November”
Here’s the latest cap situation for the remaining 25 teams – most to least:
Columbus $14,217,501;
Chicago $13,010,357 (Shea Weber $7,857,143 LTIR being counted to reach the cap floor);
Anaheim $12,877,821;
Pittsburgh $11,106,653;
Detroit $10,732,125;
Carolina $10,643,490;
Calgary $9,690,834;
Philadelphia $6,640,238;
Montreal $5,528,333;
Nashville $5,373,696;
Utah $4,532,143;
Minnesota $3,545,835;
Washington $3,310,833;
Buffalo $2,921,369;
Seattle $2,488,454;
Ottawa $2,369,286;
Boston $2,176,667;
Los Angeles $1,893,333;
Winnipeg $1,388,811;
Colorado $1,048,802 (Logan O’Connor $2,500,000 on LTIR until early Nov);
New York Rangers $824,643;
St. Louis $625,151 (Torey Krug $6,500,000 on LTIR – not expected to ever play again);
New York Islanders $573,242;
Vancouver $467,865;
Toronto $21,213 (Marshall Rifai $775,000 LTIR (wrist surgery late Sept – no date for his return);
I was surprised by the Roslovic signing.
They have more than a few ways to get under cap when Hyman returns so time will tell how all of this shakes out.
Low risk with possible high reward on Roslovic.
At $1.5 mil
1Oilerfan, no doubt they’ll work out how to eliminate the current $2,815,442 that constitutes their overdraft … but trying to figure that out looking at their roster raises some questions, since that is a significant amount, barring other serious injuries between now and then, of course – or a trade.
It’s safe to say none among Draisaitl, McDavid, Hyman, Nugwent-Hopkins, Frederick, Mangiapane, Henrique, Bouchard, Nurse, Ekholm, Walman, Kulak, Emberson, Skinner, Pickard are going anywhereW.
Which leaves a combination of Roslovic ($1.5 mil), Janmark ($1,450,000), Kapanen ($1,300,00). Tomasek ($1,200,000), Podkolzin ($1,000,000), Stecher ($787,000) and Regula $775,000) to make up the $2,815,442.
And no matter what combination of the above are the ones to be cleared to make way, it also has to leave room for the elevation of ELCs to keep the roster at 23 .. or as comfortably close to that as possible.
How do you see it unfolding?
I believe by late November Ingram will be called up and either Skinner or Pickard will be sent down. If it’s Skinner, then sending Lazar and Philp down as well, the Oilers will be $185k under the cap.
George O.
I am going to say via trade most likely. Just too many bodies along with needing to fix the cap
Maybe its Janmark when healthy, maybe Embersson, maybe its a bigger more radical pkg for an upgrade or maybe it is just bodies for futures.
The alternative is risking losing a notable.player on waivers and if they were comfortable with that they would have tried to sneak someone through when there 50 players to choose from.
Trade is the route I am thinking
Trade is the way I way I was looking at it too … but it would need to be either someone costing $1 more than the $2,815,442 over, or someone costing a bit less + a player coming the other way with term lower than the one being moved.
Complicated by finding a trade partner.
Kevjam & 1Oilerfan, I see we’re not the only ones to see tough decisions ahead for Bowman
https://oilersnation.com/news/tough-roster-decisions-inbound-edmonton-oilers-jack-roslovic-in-the-mix
Vegas traded Pietrangelo why would LTR affect them?
Vegas traded Pietrangelo? To who and when?
Good signings by Oilers
Good AAV for Ekholm; don’t know AAV for Roslivic
Saw game last night. Wolf definitely the difference maker.
BTW; to me, that WAS a high stick goal; so Oilers should have won in regulation.
Since it was called a goal on ice , refs need “definitive” proof to overturn. I guess they deemed “too close to overturn”. To me, contact looked like over the bar
Moot point though. Wolf shone.
Skinner did fine (weird deflection own goal and high stick goal cited above); but Wolf was very good.
Does he get to play in the Olympics?
Anything that keeps the Oil out of the SCF is good by me. 1 less point helps. 🙂
I think they have a fair shot at returning
I still can’t believe they are not pursuing Hart
Please lets not get into a Hart discussion.
If Ingram can return to the way he played in 2022/23 and 2023/24 he will be what the Oilers need in net. In those two season he had great advanced stats. He was just playing a crappy team.
Kevjam Ingram is no better than hedging your bets on Cayden Primeau. As far as anyone should be concerned, if you’re relying on either of them means only one thing, things have gotten ready bad. 😂
Too bad people are holier than thou and can’t forgive because they don’t share the mantra of, to error is human, to forgive is divine.
Ron, you should check out Ingram’s advanced stats. I posted some down below. They are not all that dissimilar to Stolarz. Cayden Primeau’s advanced stats don’t stack up to Ingram’s.
8787
“Skinner did fine” this has always been my lament or my summing up of Skinner in general.
I dont blame him for the loss at all, the gaft was bad, but it was the tying goal, not winning, and the team had ample opportunity to grab the winning goal but Wolf shut them down late.
But this is Skinner in a nutshell during his short career thus far. He is fine.
Nfl has system QBs, if there was a such thing as system goaltenders Skinner would be one. Fine until his suspect decision making comes forward.
It just seems every few games things like last night happens.
Note re Oilers $2.8 M over;
Looking on Puckpedia; that overage is artificial as it is showing 26 (instead of 23) players’ salaries : 14 F, 8 D, 2G PLUS 2 IR/LTIR
Hyman’s LTIR nixes any issue now anyway; but healthy Hyman and healthy Janmark makes 26 players, so 3 need to drop
If it was dropping lowest 3 Sals: Lazar, Philp, Regula—$2.3 M; so absolutely worst $500 K over (go with 22 on Roster)
However, Until Hyman is nearing return, they don’t need any “panic roster shiffling”
Yes we are but 7 games into the season but the below statements are factually true; and I can’t believe anybody , anywhere, EVER would have remotely considered uttering all four during the 25/26 season
“Penguins are outright first in their Division; tied for first place in the Eastern conference; tied for first overall in the entire League”
“Penguins have the best save percentage in the entire league”
“Not a single Penguin is a minus player”
“Justin Brazeau is tied for second (in the entire league) for goals scored”
I was very impressed by Tomasek last night. He looks to be a great addition to the Oilers top 6 forward group.
Howard look good. He had a couple really good chances. Savoie didn’t look bad, but I would like him to be more noticeable.
Skinner wasn’t bad with three fluke garbage goals against (the second one was a high stick goal. You can see the puck change direction above the crossbar), but that third goal was all on him. He needs to get that puck to Bouchard right away and not let Colemen come right down on him.
Ya KevJam, that goal was on him, no other way to spin it. I didn’t watch the game live, tuned into the baseball. How ’bout them Jays! Knocked out the “Evil Empire”, has to feel good.
Data suggests Oilers played a solid game, got outplayed in net. Skinner is getting good at taking blame after the game and owning it. Too much practice at it is the problem. Good guy, local kid, rooting for him to get it going. I think it’s in there, but not sure he can get out of his own way.
Data also suggests Bruins got caved pretty good, and Swayman stole it. Can’t expect him to do that every night, but if he can do that in most his starts, maybe, just maybe, they can score enough to sneak in. That would mean Swayman is in the Vezina conversation and Pasta in the Hart.
Never say never, just wouldn’t bet the house on on it.
I’m not a baseball fan. There just isn’t enough action to keep my attention and I get board. lol
Like I said above, if Ingram can return to the way he played in 2022/23 and 2023/24 he will be what the Oilers need in net. In those two season he had great advanced stats.
It’s a long season and plenty of time for the Bruins get their game going. Beside the consolation prize this year looks pretty good. McKenna would look great in a Bruins jersey and Pasta on his wing.
Ray Bark,theBruins will hang around if they avoid injuries. If anything happens to the Lindholm,Pasta,Geekie line they are in serious trouble. Swayman has to be lights out for them to even compete.
I actually have more faith in Skinner to get it going than Ingram, but hey it’s tending, so who knows from year to year other than a handful of guys. Better to have more options, no doubt.
Skinner was very good in 22/23 and better than average in 23/24, including the playoffs. Last season he hit the skids for extended periods, but also had some great stretches.
If neither does, Bowman has to find one. No choice. Who that is? I sure as heck don’t know. But I would bet a bunch of $$ he will be forced to overpay. When you look at the pending UFA tenders, other than Skinner, Markstrom kind of stands out, but NJ is probably a playoff team. So that leaves??
Baseball playoffs are great, just as stressful, just a different kind than NHL. Not saying as good as NHL playoffs, but still must see TV. I record it, start an hour late, shut off my phone so I don’t spoil the outcome. Can skip commercials, pitching changes etc. Pitch clock now, fewer pitching changes, so faster.
But I’ve been a Jays fan since faking an illness to stay home in April 1977 to watch their first ever game on TV. Snowed, Doug Ault hit 2 homers.
Ray Bark i tuned into the jays as well…man o man Schnieder’s and Walker’s approach to managing the rotation has me cursing like a sailor even when they win.
I’m with you Ray … I was at Jarry Park on April 14, 1969 (I was 31 y/o) when the Expos beat the Cardinals 8-7 thanks to a 3-run HR and a 2-run triple by left fielder Mack Jones, after which LW became known as “Jonesville.” Sat about 4 rows back of “the dancer.”
Baseball may not contain the continuous movement of hockey, but it’s a game where you can look ahead in innings to come and calculate pitching and/or batting changes in the offing based upon the score and hitting records and plate-side batters to come … and who each has in reserve … so much better BDH )before designated hitter) 🙂
Fuq you’re old George! I already knew that, but couldn’t help it.
Would be nice to see a return of the Expos. Had the best team in baseball when the season cancelled for a strike, moved to Washington. Crappy way to end it.
I still remember those teams from late 70’s early 80’s. In Humboldt, SK,1981, they actually let us watch the NL Champ series deciding game on TV during the school day.
I still Don’t Like Monday’s.
1Oilerfan, I was cursing the move to pull Lauer when he was rolling. Guy has been money all year, cool customer. But worked out, which is why they get to make the call and I get to b*tch from my couch.
Ray, this is why I’m on the Ingram band wagon.
In 2023/24 season at 5on5 the Coyotes gave up the 10th most HDCA at 5on5 with 756.
In 50 gp that season Ingram had a 5on5 HDSv% of 0.858 and HDGSAA of 6.48.
In that same season the Oilers 6th least HDCA at 5on5 with 671.
In 59 gp Skinner had a 5on5 HDSv% of 0.815 and a HDGSAA of 1.21
Last season when Ingram was struggling Utah gave up the least 5on5 HDCA with 621. In 22 gp Ingram still had a 5on5 HDSv% of 0.826 and a HDGSAA of 1.69. Compare that to the Oilers who gave up the 4th least 5on5 HDCA. In 51 games played by Skinner, he had a 0.791 HDSv% and a -0.3 HDGSAA at 5on5.
I like Skinner, but these poor decisions are getting old. With a clean Ingram all I see is an upgrade on Skinner.
With the Roslovic signing he becomes the 7th among the more “prominent” UFAs to have been signed to deals by NHL teams.
Here’s the list
C Robby Fabbri – still unsigned after attending Pittsburgh camp as a P.T.O.
C Kevin Rooney – signed to a 1-year $775,000 by Utah – on their AHL roster
C Evgeny Kuznetsov – signed in KHL
C Luke Glendening – signed 1 year @ $775,000 with New Jersey
C Dillon Dubé – can’t sign anywhere until Oct 15 & can’t play until Dec 1
C Michael McLeod – can’t sign anywhere until Oct 15 & can’t play until Dec 1
LW Max Pacioretty retired
LW Noah Gregor – signed 1 year @ $775,000 with Florida
LW Klim Klostin – still unsigned
RW Brett Leason failed a P.T.O. with Minnesota – still unsigned
RW Craig Smith still unsigned
LD Matt Grzelcyk signed a 1 year $1,000,000 deal with Chicago
LD Marc-Edouard Vlasic still unsigned
LD Jon Merrill still unsigned
RD Cal Foote can’t sign anywhere until Oct 15 & can’t play until Dec 1
G Ilya Samsonov still unsigned
G Alexander Georgiev signed a 1-year $825,000 contract with Buffalo – is on their AHL roster
G Georgii Romanov signed a 1-year $775,000 deal with St. Louis – is on their AHL roster
G James Reimer – failed a P.T.O with Toronto – still unsigned
G Carter Hart – can’t sign anywhere until Oct 15 & can’t play until Dec 1
Michael McLeod’s comeback bid to the NHL will prove unsuccessful. He will return to the organization where he played last season, as the KHL announced a three-year deal for McLeod with Avangard Omsk.
Bruins played some great hockey last night.Pasta is pasta that’s what he does Sway looked fantastic and Sturm gets his first HC win. This team will be a lot harder to beat than last year. Pk was fabulous too. D first hockey won’t be nearly as exciting as previous years but I’ll take wins over last years mess any day. They were getting pucks out the zone cleanly and played with heart.being underdogs definitely works in their favor. Gotta hand it to Sweeney Sturm is a good coach who pays attention to details. Runs his trading camp right unlike Monty did last year and has regular practice not just situational. Sturm also now’s how to motivate whether it’s vets or kids. They stay healthy and stick to the system they are not a lottery pick team