NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 26, 2025
Corey Perry looks forward to returning to Southern California, the Islanders avoid arbitration with Maxim Tsyplakov, the Rangers sign Conor Sheary to a tryout offer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Corey Perry is pumped about playing for a Southern California team again. The 40-year-old winger signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month.
Former Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry (NHL Images).
Perry began his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks in 2005-06, spending 14 seasons with them. He helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007 and won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2010-11.
“It’s another new chapter, and I’m excited,” Perry said. “And it’s an area I know very well.” He acknowledged his time with the Ducks, saying it was a significant part of his career and life, and would always be.
“Going back to California, we know it’s not the exact same place, but it’s still exciting to go back to Southern California. We’re looking forward to it.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perry is still searching for that elusive second Stanley Cup title. At this stage of Perry’s career, this season with the Kings could be his last.
NEW YORK POST: The Islanders avoided salary arbitration with Maxim Tsyplakov as the two sides agreed to a two-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $2.25 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tsyplakov’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 29. He was the Isles’ last remaining restricted free agent.
Meanwhile, the New York Rangers signed Conor Sheary to a professional tryout offer (PTO). The 33-year-old winger spent most of last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning terminated the final season of Sheary’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent (UFA). He won two Stanley Cups with Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan during their tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Speaking of the Rangers, forward Brett Berard revealed he suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder last November. The injury lingered throughout the 2024-25 season. Berard, 22, said he didn’t require surgery and is now healthy as he prepares for training camp in September.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche made a minor trade with the San Jose Sharks, shipping winger Oskar Olausson to the Sharks for winger Danil Gushchin.
Olausson, 22, was a first-round pick (28th overall) by the Avalanche in 2021. He appeared in only four games with the Avalanche since 2022-23. Gushchin appeared in 18 NHL games with the Sharks over the same period.
With pressure being put on the LA Kings to go deep into the playoffs why did they sign Corey Perry? Have they not seen his Stanley Cup Finals Record!
This is Holland being Holland. He likes older players.
How soon will he try to entice McDavid to L.A?
True, on the other hand any team with Perry on the lineup the last seasons have gone deep in the play off. Just a thought;-)
Of the 7 RFAs scheduled for arbitration, two (Kaapo Kakko and Maxim Tsyplakov) have settled before their sessions:
Kakko – 3 years @ $4,525,000 per after coming off a season of 79gp (NYR & Sea) 14g 30a 44pts and a cap hit of $2,400,000 – a 53% increase
Tysplakov – 2 years @ $2,250,000 per after coming off a season of 77gp 10g 25a 35pts and a cap hit of $950,000 – a 42% increase
That leaves these 5 and their scheduled hearings and, in comparison, some idea as to what the end results will be whether they sign beforehand or receive an arbitrator’s award:
July 28 – G Arvid Soderblom Chicago 6’ 3” 180lbs 36gp 3.18gaa 0.898 save % $962,500
July 30 – LD Dylan Samberg 6’ 4” 215lbs 60gp 6g 14a 20pts $1,400,000;
August 2 – RD Connor Timmins 6’ 3” 215lbs 68gp 3g 12a 15pts (Tor & Pitt) $1,100,000
August 3 – LW/RW Nicholas Robertson (FFA) 5’ 9” 180lbs 69gp 15g 7a 22pts $875,000
August 3 – LD Jayden Struble (FFA) 6’ 207lbs 56gp 2g 11a 13pts $867,500
2 days before his hearing, Chicago goalie Arvid Soderblom just signed for 2 years @ $2,750,000 per at the end of which he’s a UFA
That’s a 35% increase
These other 14 RFAs still to be settled either had no arbitration rights or chose not to go there. It will be interesting to see how theirs will come out compared to the arbitration ones:
LD Wyatt Kaiser – Chicago – 6’ 175lbs 57gp 4g 4a 8pts coming off a $916,667 cap hit;
C Mason McTavish Anaheim 6’ 1” 220-lbs 76gp 22g 30a 52pts coming off an $894,167 cap hit;
RW/C Sam Colangelo Anaheim 6’ 2” 210lbs 32gp 10g 2a 12pts coming off a $925,000 cap hit;
RW Mikael Pyyhtia Columbus 6’ 176lbs 47gp 4g 3a 7pts coming off an $897,500 cap hit;
C Connor Zary Calgary 6’ 178lbs 564gp 13g 14a 27pts coming off an $863,334 cap hit;
C Rasmus Kupari Winnipeg 6’ 2” 200lbs 59gp 5g 3a 8pts coming off a $1,000,000 cap hit (has signed with a team in Switzerland’s National League – Winnipeg still holds his NHL rights)
C Marco Rossi Minnesota 5’ 9” 182lbs 82gp 24g 36a 60pts coming off an $863,334 cap hit;
RW Luke Evangelista Nashville 6’ 183lbs 68gp 10g 22a 32pts coming off a $797,500 cap hit;
G Devon Levi Buffalo 6’ 192lbs 9gp 4.12gaa 0.872 save % coming off a $925,000 cap hit;
RW Alex Laferriere Los Angeles – 6’ 1” 205lbs 77gp 19g 23a 42pts coming off an $875,000 cap hit;
LD Ryker Evans Seattle 6’ 195lbs 73gp 5g 20a 25pts coming off an $897,500 cap hit
LD Luke Hughes New Jersey 6’ 2” 200lbs 71gp 7g 37a 44pts coming off a $925,000 cap hit;
LD Donovan Sebrango Ottawa 6’ 2” 220lbs 2gp 0pts coming off an $828,333 cap hit;
R W Alexander Holtz Vegas 6’ 200lbs 53gp 4g 8a 12pts coming off an $894,167 cap hit.
A bit higher than I thought for Tdyplikov. I was thinking $1.75 M – $2 M range.
Only one NHL year under his belt (as a “mature” [26 for last season] NHL freshman) going just 10-25-35 in 77 games and best year he had in KHL was 47 points in 65 games.
Since it’s doubtful he would have received that from an arbitrator, the fact the Islanders went that high must mean they see something encouraging in his overall performance.
Also, it’s 2 years only, after which he becomes a UFA.
Yeah
Not grossly overpaid but certainly more than I expected
They’d have gotten cheaper at Arb but I believe (?) that then is a 1 year?? Instead of 2; and then he’s UFA 1 year earlier
Still, that’s almost 140% increase (136.8 % actual); so damn good raise
LMAO … thanks for drawing my attention to the % increases I listed to the actual correct %s, 8787.
Mathematical brain-fart here.
For Tsyplakov it’s indeed 136.84%
For Kaako 66.54%
For Soderblom 185.7%
Re Danil Gushchin, it’s worth noting that San Jose dealt him to Colorado while still a negotiating RFA – it was Sakic who signed him to a 2-way one-year $775,000 deal, after which he becomes a UFA again.
Barring some eye-opening performance at training camp, he’s likely ticketed to their AHL team.
NHL draft picks whose rights are set to expire August 15
https://puckpedia.com/news/nhl-draft-pick-rights-set-expire-aug-15
Not much there to pick from, even Jack Hughes, LA 2nd rd pick isn’t much of a prospect. This is where a teams development program is given a project and let’s see what you can do with him
The highest pick was a 2nd-rounder 51st overall by L.A. in 2022 – 6″ 170lb Jack Hughes of Boston U.
Three others were taken in the 3rd round:
5′ 11″ 180lb LD Aiden Hrieschuk of Boston College by Columbus 94th overall in 2021
6′ 3″ 207lb LD Luca Munzenberger of U. of Vermont by Edmonton 90th overall in 2021
6′ 185lb RD Brent Johnson of Ohio State by Washington 80th overall in 2021
Interesting group,
I’d try to sign at least one of
Red Savage
Joel Määttä
Justin Janicke
This one for sure
Alex Gagne
Gagne’s huge – 6′ 4″ 210 LD. Somebody will take him on as a nothing-to-lose project, as Yogi suggests
Almost all of them George need to work on their skating. Size alone may get a minor league deal, but as you said projects nothing more