NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 28, 2025
Oilers captain Connor McDavid talks about his contract status, plus the latest on Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov, Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Connor McDavid was asked about his contract status with the Edmonton Oilers during the opening day of Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old center didn’t reveal any details of those discussions, but stated his desire to win the Stanley Cup with the Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
“I have every intention to win in Edmonton,” McDavid said. “That’s my only focus, next to winning the gold medal with Canada.” He added that he was taking his time going through the contract talks, discussing it with his family, agent, and everyone involved.
McDavid didn’t rule out starting the season without an extension in place. “All options are on the table. I don’t have a preference either way. I want the group to be as focused and dialed in, and ready to roll as possible. We don’t need any distractions.”
TSN: Before McDavid spoke with the media, Ryan Rishaug reported that there hasn’t been any back-and-forth on dollars and terms between the Oilers captain and the team’s management. After taking time to regroup following last season, the McDavid camp is working through its options and what they’ll be seeking.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes McDavid is sincere about wanting to win the Cup with the Oilers after coming close during the last two years. He thinks everything the Oilers have done in recent years is about winning. “But, until McDavid signs, there’s something imperfect in his eyes, whether effective youth or strong enough goaltending or something else,” Friedman wrote.
Friedman takes McDavid at face value that he wants to win in Edmonton, but expressed surprise that the Oilers superstar had considered not signing before the start of this season. He doesn’t think this will be a distraction for McDavid, who is “laser-focused” on winning the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold this season. However, it could become a growing distraction for his teammates and the organization.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Oilers CEO (and McDavid’s former agent) Jeff Jackson talked to Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek about how patiently the organization is handling this situation. “I think that when Connor is ready, we’ll have the discussion and we’ll get a deal done.”
Nevertheless, the fact that McDavid could start the upcoming season without an extension could make Oilers fans nervous. As much as he doesn’t want his contract status to be a distraction, it will stoke speculation among pundits and fans about his future.
RG.ORG: Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov spent this summer in Montreal training for his first full NHL season. The 19-year-old winger has been training twice a day, slimming down to between 86-87 kg (192 pounds), and has been bonding with teammate Lane Hutson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ hopes of building on last season’s surprise run to the playoffs will depend in part on Demidov’s performance. The youngster is considered the favorite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy after his brief but promising NHL debut last season. His training regimen while living in Montreal indicates that he wants to be prepared for the pressure he will face in the upcoming season.
DAILY FACEOFF: Veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson is looking forward to a fresh start with the Boston Bruins this season after being traded by the Oilers on July 1. While he and the club went to the Stanley Cup Final, the 32-year-old admitted his role with the club was not what he had in mind, nor was it what the Oilers envisioned when they signed him last summer.
Both sides agreed that a change was needed, leading to his trade to the Bruins. He believes their defensive style and reputation as a hardworking team will work to his advantage.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Arvidsson underwent back surgery in 2023 while with the Los Angeles Kings, limiting him to 15 points in 18 games in 2023-24. He had 27 points in 67 regular-season games and seven points in 15 playoff contests with the Oilers last season. Arvidsson is in the final season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $4 million.
TSN: The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Oliver Kylington and forward Givani Smith to professional tryout offers (PTO).
And now, for a bit of fun.
Hockey podcaster, blogger, and good friend Scotty Wazz has come up with an interesting version of a Mt. Rushmore for every NHL team called a “Meh Rushmore”, involving four players from each franchise who had less-than-memorable tenures with those clubs. Today, Scotty focused on the teams in the Pacific Division. Enjoy!
I don’t know where McDavid could go where he would get max salary and the chance to win the cup. Even with the salary cap rising every year, adding McDavid’s salary to most teams bottom line would be difficult, not to mention the cost in talent to acquire him.
It would totally be the cut-throat Vegas way to let Eichel walk to free agency and then dump a max contract a McDavid’s feet.
Vega would 100% but that lineup is aging fast.
I wouldnt bet on this seasons Oilers winning the Cup either.He willed them twice in a row but the pixie dust is draining
Not to mention the % cap depletion for the bottom half of the line-up.
I can easily see Arvidsson being a 25G/25A guy in Boston, maybe even more if he can get some looks on the top PP.
I think that was a good, low-risk addition for the Bruins.
Foleyd7 why didn t Boston get more offensive players to support Pasternak and Geekie. If I were Ardvisson I would be concerned who is going to play with him 5/5.
Somewhat interesting that the 6 P.T.O.s arranged – so far – mostly involve UFAs who were not listed among the consensus “best available”
Milan Lucic – St. Louis
Givan Smith & Oliver Kylington – Carolina
Brendan Smith – Columbus
Jack Johnson – Minnesota
Only Connor Sheary (NYR) was among the consensus grouping at the start.
“People recognize him everywhere,” Gritsyuk said. “We were in a restaurant and someone came up: ‘Are you Ivan Demidov?’ Vanya answered, ‘No, sorry, you’ve got the wrong person.’ And this was in Ottawa!”
Montreal is starved for hockey with daily film clips of players training on ice, 12 of them together just this week.
Somehow they come up with “news” that is anything but, now there’s talk about Demidov winning the Calder and the Habs winning it two years in a row.
Whoop-de-doo
The kid had an impressive debut but he’s being anointed with mythical star power.
I wish folks would pump the breaks and let the kid play, let him become something special and then go ga-ga over him.
He seems to have the right personality, but this adulation is one of the things that makes it hard for players to succeed, the expectations, the pressure from a knowledgeable fan base that dissects every twitch on the ice.
Ryan Rishaug was pretty embarrassing at that press conference honestly. It’s too bad it wasn’t at the hospital for sick kids or something. I would have loved to have seen him kick some handicapped child out of the way to vomit his pressing contract question at McUnsigned.
What a goof.
Have some class.
Too much time on your hands Scotty?
Re Wazz’s Meh Rushmore and
“It’s not as if their tenure was the worst, but it wasn’t all that big or memorable”
He has Pissani (Oilers) on there
Wasn’t memorable? I kept hearing them play “Fernando” during the ‘06 playoffs; and some broadcasts after that
Oilers fans. Would you say that Pissani was “not memorable”?
The over analysing on what connor says and doesnt say and what it may mean or not mean is ridiculous.
Even as basic as we expect this to come down and be it is still a negotiation what more can he say to iterate he is staying without a signed extension.
It is getting to the level where Friedman is going to report on what connor had for breakfast and how that meal relates to last time he signed and why Friedman thinks it may or may not be relative meanwhile spector will report everytime mcdavid picks up or drops a pen and rishaugh will knock people over to ask if there an update on the contract for the 3rd time in a week.
I kid , i kid and Ok…maybe its just me that is annoyed.