NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2025
The effect of Kyle Connor’s next contract on the Jets, the latest on Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, the wild cards on the Canadiens’ roster, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed that the Winnipeg Jets have had little difficulty getting core players like Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, and Josh Morrissey to accept less money to stay in Winnipeg. However, Kyle Connor could become an exception.
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).
Connor is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The 28-year-old winger currently earns an average annual value (AAV) of $7.14 million. Over five of the NHL’s last five full seasons, he’s never had less than 31 goals. Last season, he netted 41 goals and set career highs with 56 assists and 97 points.
If Connor is willing to accept between $9 million and $9.5 million on his next contract, it would be a significant win for the Jets. However, there’s no guarantee he will accept such a deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Connor has been a bargain for the Jets on his current contract. He’ll be seeking a substantial raise that will exceed $10 million, especially if he has another 40-goal campaign.
The salary cap will rise to $104 million for 2025-26, the first season of Connor’s next contract. Winnipeg has a projected $47.8 million in cap space, though that could shrink by around $5 million if they manage to re-sign Dylan Samberg to a contract. Nevertheless, they’ll have enough to re-sign Connor to a substantial raise if they want to.
Winnipeg lost Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer. They’ll do what they can to avoid the same fate with Connor, but that depends on his asking price.
BOSTON HERALD: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is eager to return to action after his 2024-25 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
McAvoy said he’s focused his offseason training on getting healthy and regaining his form. He indicated that he has accomplished a lot with his off-ice training and is starting to ramp things up on the ice.
The 27-year-old defenseman anticipates he’ll be ready for training camp in September. It’s expected he’ll be taking on a larger leadership role with the Bruins, along with teammate David Pastrnak.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins hope for a bounce-back performance in 2025-26 after an injury-ravaged season knocked them out of playoff contention last season. A healthy McAvoy will be crucial to their postseason hopes.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Brendan Kelly believes questions surround Canadiens forwards Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Patrik Laine for 2025-26.
The oft-injured Dach is trying to get his career back on track as he’ll again try to nail down the second-line center position. Newhook must bring more than speed to his game to improve the dynamic of the Canadiens’ forward group. As for Laine, Kelly believes the Habs will be almost guaranteed to become a playoff contender if the big Finnish winger can regain his high-scoring ways.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ core of young talent should be a contender if they continue improving and stay healthy. Nevertheless, getting better performances from Dach, Newhook ,and Laine will also be crucial to nailing down another postseason berth.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes promising Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki would benefit from another season with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
The 21-year-old right winger had 29 points in 36 AHL regular-season games and seven points in 16 Calder Cup playoff games. At times, however, the 5’11”, 172-pounder struggled and looked tired down the stretch as he adjusted to the North American pace.
Kuzma pointed out the Canucks are currently well-stocked on the right wing this season with Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Kiefer Sherwood. He believes it wouldn’t do Lekkerimaki any good to be skating on their fourth line.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lekkerimaki could force the issue if he has a strong training camp. Still, it wouldn’t hurt him to spend another season in Abbotsford. He’s waiver-exempt so there’s no fear of losing him to waivers this season.
CALGARY SUN: Flames prospect Zayne Parekh will skip the rest of Team Canada’s mid-summer camp for precautionary reasons related to a lower-body injury.
The 19-year-old defenseman has returned to Calgary to follow up with the Flames’ medical staff. He’s expected to be a full participant at their training camp in September.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan is being recognized for his work in hockey and with Canada’s Indigenous communities. On Oct. 29, Nolan will receive Canada’s Order of Sport Award, marking his induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Nolan coached the Sabres from 1995 to 1997, winning the Jack Adams Award in 1996-97 as NHL Coach of the Year. He coached them again from 2013 to 2015.
Things are so quiet in the NHL now that we’re resorting to debating Brendan Kelly’s columns.
Howard: We’re not commenting on anything written by that mope.
George, re Ted Nolan, you nailed it.
I’ve always thought Ted Nolan was an excellent coach and, in some ways, was unfairly squeezed out despite his ability to get the best out of a collection of otherwise under-whelming players. That was emphasized when he coached a Latvian team 11 years ago to an oh-so-close upset of Canada, with Latvian goalie Kristers Gudlevskis stonewalling Canada to the point where he stopped all but 2 of Canada’s 57 shots. His reward was all of 3 games over 2 seasons with Tampa where he posted a 1.36gaa and 0.959 save %. Still playing at age 32, this past season, playing for Bremerhaven in Germany, he finished 28gp with a 1.91gaa and 0.930 save %.
Nolan, meanwhile, who had won 3 Major Junior titles as coach of the Soo Greyhounds (twice) and Moncton Wilcats, and was named coach of the year in Buffalo in 1996-97, became the victim of some pretty horrendous GM decisions with the Islanders, and after being ignored by NHL teams from 2007-08 to 2013-14, was brought back by a Buffalo team whose equally-dismal GM decisions had them two years into what has become a 14-year playoff absence.
Congratulations, Ted, on your long over-due recognition.
Couldnt agree more on The Nolan front due to me hearing and reading the same thing over the years
Nolan was a great coach, wish he’d had more NHL opportunities. He did a ton for Indigenous hockey too. Much respect for Ted Nolan.
Agreed, George. Long overdue recognition for Ted Nolan. I had high hopes for the Sabres when they brought back Pat LaFontaine & Nolan mid-way through 2013-14. But Pat was fired within 3 months and the “Tank for McDavid” was on. It was shameful the way that Nolan was hung out to dry and sad to see his NHL coaching career end that way. But he persevered and found his real purpose in life (without the NHL). Good for him!
HarryO, yeah that “spiral down” approach to roster make-up in the off-chance they could strike gold by nabbing the 1st pick stuck out like a sore thumb, and poor Nolan became the scapegoat for a colossal management cluster-f^$k that has lingered to this day.
I hope that lesson hasn’t escaped those who think their team of choice should – or shouldn’t – make moves this coming season to put them within some long-shot % chance of getting in on this version of “the savior.”