NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2025
The NHL and NHLPA ratify the new CBA, the Oilers and Lightning swap top prospects, projected 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna explains why he’s heading to the NCAA, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The league and the NHL Players’ Association ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement more than a year before the expiration of the current CBA. The agreement begins in 2026-07 and runs through 2029-30.
THE SCORE: An 84-game regular-season schedule with less preseason play and the reduction of maximum-length contracts by one year are among the notable changes in the new CBA. There will also be a playoff salary cap, no mandatory dress code for players, and the creation of a full-time travelling backup goaltender to replace emergency backups (EBUGs).
THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger and Rob Rossi spoke with 10 NHL players around the league regarding the new CBA. Early reviews were mostly positive, but there were some dissenting opinions.
All agreed that it was best to avoid another lockout and get a deal done, though some questioned the speed at which the agreement was reached. Older players are pleased with the reduction in preseason play, but some younger players complained it made it harder to earn a roster spot.
Some players felt the reduction in contract lengths was a slight sacrifice, while others expressed concern. All of them were happy with the increase in the playoff fund.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of the significant changes were previously reported last month. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is expected to be released soon.
The playoff salary cap is the most significant as it addresses the contentious long-term injury reserve (LTIR) loophole that enabled teams to bolster their playoff rosters using injury relief cap space.
Reducing contract term (seven years for re-signings and six years for unrestricted free agents) will affect only the league’s top talent. Most players never see a contract longer than the league average of three years.
Changing the current EBUG system was a necessity. It robs us of entertaining scenarios when an amateur goalie occasionally gets an opportunity to play an NHL game, but the system was an embarrassment for a professional league.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning swapped a couple of promising prospects on Tuesday evening. Heading to Edmonton is left wing Isaac Howard, while the Lightning receive center Sam O’Reilly. The Oilers immediately signed the 21-year-old Howard to a three-year entry-level contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This trade occurred because Howard was reluctant to sign with the Lightning, preferring to choose which club he’d play with. He evidently felt that he’d have a quicker path to the NHL with the Oilers than with the Lightning, who reportedly preferred that he spend a season with their AHL affiliate in Syracuse.
It’s similar to Rutger McGroarty’s refusal to sign with the Winnipeg Jets last summer, resulting in his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Brayden Yager.
Howard won the 2025 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in US college hockey. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports he’s expected to be in the Oilers’ opening-night roster in October.
Seravalli stated that some scouts think O’Reilly is the better long-term prospect, but Howard is NHL-ready now. Time will tell how this move pans out for both clubs.
TSN: Gavin McKenna made his long-rumored move to the NCAA official on Tuesday. The 17-year-old winger is leaving the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to join Penn State University this season.
McKenna is the presumptive top prospect in the 2026 NHL draft class. He explained that his move enables him to play against “older, heavier, stronger guys” in the NCAA, which he believes will help prepare him for the NHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A smart decision by McKenna. Future top prospects in the Canadian Junior A ranks could follow the same path in the coming years.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the chaos that has dogged the Vancouver Canucks in recent years hurt their ability to attract free agents.
Multiple player agents cited issues like the team’s ownership, facilities, management, and off-ice drama. Travel and cost of living were also mentioned. It could also lead to team captain Quinn Hughes departing at the first opportunity.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before assuming that some of these issues are unique to Canadian teams, Johnston pointed out that the Winnipeg Jets don’t seem to struggle to retain or attract players, despite Vancouver being nicer than Winnipeg.
The Jets did lose Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer, but the winger stressed that it was a personal decision, going on to praise the team and the city of Winnipeg. Indeed, the Jets retained superstar Connor Hellebuyck and top center Mark Scheifele, building a team around them that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season.
While the Jets’ ownership was recently criticized for taking their fans for granted, they’ve provided top-down stability that doesn’t meddle in management’s affairs, resulting in a consistent, competitive on-ice product since 2017-18 and a better record than the Canucks over the same period.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Winger Jesse Puljujarvi has signed a two-year contract with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland’s National League.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This likely signals the end of a disappointing NHL career for the 27-year-old Puljujarvi. Chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 draft, he struggled to play up to expectations as a scoring forward.
From 2016-17 to 2024-25, Puljujarvi had 58 goals and 128 points in 387 NHL games with the Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers. He underwent double hip surgery in 2023, missing half of the following season.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche hired former Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol as their new assistant coach.
TSN: Former NHL player Riley Nash has retired after 13 seasons. From 2011-12 to 2023-24, Nash had 63 goals and 176 points in 628 regular-season games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes and the New York Rangers. He also had eight points in 42 postseason games.
This article claims the CBA to be a “capitulation” by the NHLPA
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/the-new-nhl-cba-is-a-capitulation-by-the-nhlpa/ar-AA1IdCoB?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=686e494e2d2e4898b4c9dc5f02af2b49&ei=92
Capitulation? That’s laughable. There’s very little that has changed.
What wasn’t mentioned is there are no more escrow clawback because of the increased revenue. That was the biggest sticking point for the players.
The significant increase in the cap over the next several years means more money to the players. Sure, they would’ve liked to have gotten a piece of the expansion fees, but getting rid of escrow for them is a fair trade-off.
They’re also playing international games again, which is a significant concession from the team owners.
If there’s any bitching, it’s probably coming from the player agents.
Those references to agents in the article had me wondering the same thing, probably the main source for the writers stance.
O’Reilly for Howard trade
Reasonable flip IMHO
Looked like it was a no-go for Howard with Lightning; BrisBoise gets a similarly drafted (31st and 32nd) but 2 years younger player; that’s bigger and a C (vs Winger) for a player not going to be on Lightning anyway.
Oilers give up a C; that is bigger that MAY have an overall better NHL future (but won’t be in NHL until 26/27 at the earliest) for a player who SHOULD be roster bound this year (25/26) and might very well provide depth offence this season; and should do so in the future (with a chance at eventually playing mid 6) . Oilers by having Howard on Roster; Jones down; also get a small Cap savings of $50 K
Reasonable flip
I read that OReilly’s upside is a responsible, 2-way 3rd line Center, and he’s projected to be a good bet to be a regular NHL’r. I think Howard is probably more in the boom/bust category. Higher upside for scoring in the top-6, but how will he transition to NHL game?
Rumors were that Edm was offering up a 1st rounder for Howard. I originally assumed the pick would be next year (deep 2026 draft) and that TB was stupid for passing on that….. but turns out Edm doesn’t have a 1st next year so it would have been a 2027. Seem TB preferred the certainty of OReilly rather than a late round 1st in 2 years. I wonder if TB would have taken the 1st if it was in the deeper 2026 draft, but we’ll never know.
IMO the expected value (down the road) comes down to C vs W; and size; thus the ling term expected value favors O’Reilly
Oilers get the “here and now”
8787 yep. All in all a fair trade.
Savoie/Howard/Tomasek – any one or combination of that makes the roster will likely see some time with McDavid and or Leon.
Knoblauch likes moving players up and down the line up…sure he may go to tried and true combinations mid game to pick up the win but most wingers get time on the top 6.
It can be irritating during the regular season and no doubt impacts some of the stats for those of us in fantasy leagues lol but obviously it’s it’s tactic to build comfort for the playoffs if/when injuries occur.
It should be fun seeing who makes the roster and tracking them during the season.
I can see a game here or there as an “experiment” of any of those 3 with McD; but hard to imagine any lengthy stay with him
Can anyone shed some light on playoff money for teams making the NHL playoffs. Would like to compare it to MLB,NFL,NBA.
https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-player-playoff-compensation/
Thanks George O,
Reports are that McKenna is getting $700k in NIL money from Penn State.
Well, those courses leading to a one-year degree in basket-weaving can be expensive!
Sorry, what’s “NIL money”?
NIL = “Name, Image & Likeness.” The NCAA has begun to allow colleges to pay athletes while they are in college for essentially making money off their participation. It is prevalent in college football, which generates huge revenue. Ohio State football allegedly spent $20m in payouts to their team last season. This is the first I’ve heard of that large of a payout in hockey.
Pulling the goalie,I wonder what effect the McKenna kid will have on hockey in Canada in general! With Canadian teams struggling in the NHL for players for reasons that have been dissected already. Why would kids play juniors in Canada if the money at the NCAA is being spread around .If I was a school like Arizona State playing Division 1 hockey I would jump all over this.
BTW, more of those Crosby to the Habs rumors floating around online. Now it’s Greg Wyshinsky, who’s normally on a level above Kypreos.
I’m beginning to miss those pre social media days when we’d be starved for hockey news during July and August.
Wyshynski was saying he’s long believed Crosby would finish his career in Montreal. He’s not saying that it’s going to happen like Kypreos did.
Slim difference.
Actually, a distinction without a difference.
Actually Sid’s cousins uncle brother in-law told me yesterday that this is a done deal.
Sid to Montreal please. this Rangers fan even wants to watch Sid in the playoffs again
Given the low probability of trading for a 2C at this point might it not be worthwhile picking up a bottom 6 center who was strong on faceoffs?
Jack Drury Colorado
Luke Glendenning UFA
That’s what Ottawa did with Lars Eller.
Kevin Hayes is good at faceoffs. Just sayin’
Make us ANY offer not including a sweetner; and he’s yours
As an aside; we absolutely accept “future considerations” (that never come to fruition, nudge nudge, wink wink)
What would the NYI was for JG Pageau, he’s UFA at the end of the year and their 3 C costing %5 million on cap.
Still there HF30?
Gorton was quoted in the Athletic saying that while teams have taken a pause and now will start looking at what they have, it is more likely that roster changes (principally trades) will occur about 20 games in. By then teams will have a better idea of what they have.
It’s fun and part of this site to speculate and play GM, but IMO the fixation for a 2C for the Habs needs to rest. Again IMO unless there is a clear upgrade in a trade, the Habs are best to see what comes out of training camp and how Dach starts the season.