NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2025

by | Jun 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2025

The Panthers stage their Stanley Cup parade, the possibility of stars signing shorter-term contracts, an update on Claude Giroux, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers celebrated their second straight Stanley Cup championship with a beachfront parade culminating with a rally at Ft Lauderdale Beach Park.

They were also unapologetic toward those critical of their style of play and their hearty partying following Tuesday’s 5-1 series-clinching win on Tuesday over the Edmonton Oilers.

The Panthers also thanked their fans for their support throughout the season and expressed their hope for another parade at the same time next year.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle explored the possibility of NHL stars like winger Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and center Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers accepting shorter-term contracts.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner, 28, is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The 28-year-old McDavid is a year away from UFA eligibility.

With the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the coming years, those players could prefer short-term deals of two to four years, enabling them to return to the UFA market when the salary cap is much higher while still in their playing prime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors are already rampant suggesting Marner and McDavid could consider short-term contracts rather than the maximum of seven years on the open market or eight years if they re-sign with their current clubs before their UFA eligibility.

Marner will be the one worth watching if he goes to market as expected next Tuesday. His camp is expected to take several days evaluating offers and meeting with interested clubs before reaching a decision by mid-July.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators continue their contract negotiations with Claude Giroux. The 37-year-old forward is UFA-eligible next Tuesday and has been in daily discussions with Senators management.

They’re attempting to agree on a base salary and a bonus structure. The Giroux camp is believed to be using teammate David Perron’s $4 million average annual value as a comparable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s still enough time for the two sides to work this out. It could take until next Tuesday to get this done.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak believes the Colorado Avalanche must improve their late-round draft record if they hope to extend their Stanley Cup window. They haven’t drafted a player after the first round who reached 300 career NHL games since 2009, when they chose Ryan O’Reilly (33rd overall) and Tyson Barrie (64th overall).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Masisak points out, the Avs’ draft record beyond the first round hasn’t been great. They also haven’t had much recent success with their first-rounders. Bowen Byram (fourth overall, 2019) was their last notable selection, and he was traded last year to the Buffalo Sabres. Calum Ritchie (27th overall, 2023) shows potential, but they shipped him to the New York Islanders at the March trade deadline for Brock Nelson.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng cites speculation suggesting the Sharks could opt for center Anton Frondell of SHL club Djurgardens IF with the second-overall pick over Michael Misa of the Erie Otters.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a surprising development. Misa is considered the second-best prospect in this year’s draft class, with most mock drafts (including mine) having him going to the Sharks. We’ll find out for sure during the opening round of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday (June 27) in Los Angeles.

NHL.COM: The Avalanche, Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights released their preseason schedules.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 2025 NHL preseason begins on Sept. 21 and concludes on Oct. 4.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 22, 2025

by | Jun 22, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 22, 2025

In the latest Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on Jason Robertson, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Rasmus Andersson and Noah Dobson, plus an update on the Flyers.

STARS ENTERTAINING OFFERS FOR JASON ROBERTSON

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Dallas Stars aren’t actively shopping Jason Robertson, but they are listening to offers for the 25-year-old winger.

Robertson carries an average annual value (AAV) of $7.75 million and is slated to become a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights next July. LeBrun expects the Stars will take their time with this situation, whether he’s re-signed or traded at some point this summer.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars general manager Jim Nill isn’t wasting time taking care of business this offseason. He re-signed Matt Duchene, Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist, and traded Mason Marchment to Seattle in a cost-cutting move.

The Stars have $2.75 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 18 active roster players under contract. Nill is expected to re-sign team captain Jamie Benn to a short-term, cost-effective deal. However, he must clear more cap space to re-sign or replace pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) Mikael Granlund, Evgenii Dadonov, Brendan Smith, Cody Ceci and Colin Blackwell.

Robertson lacks no-trade protection. Moving him would free up a significant chunk of cap space, but it would also remove one of the top scorers from their lineup. It’ll be interesting to see what Nill has in store over the next several weeks.

THE LATEST ON MITCH MARNER AND JOHN TAVARES

LeBrun reports the “rumor de jour” is winger Mitch Marner could be considering a two-year contract for between $12 million and $13 million annually. He wasn’t able to confirm it, but said he’s heard it from a couple of teams now.

That would put the 28-year-old pending UFA in a position to hit the open market in two years, when the salary cap could reach $113 million or higher.

The Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings are among the teams LeBrun believes are high on Marner’s list. The cap-strapped Stars are a long shot, but “never say never”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We could see some of this summer’s top UFAs accepting short-term contracts, hoping to cash in again in two, three or four years from now should the salary cap keep rising significantly.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares still aren’t close in contract extension talks. LeBrun still thinks they could get this done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Score’s Josh Wegman cited LeBrun telling TSN’s Overdrive that there’s no way Tavares will sign for $5 million per season with the Leafs unless they’re willing to add term to the deal. That could mean four or five years instead of two to three.

Given the lack of quality centers in this summer’s UFA market, Wegman believes Tavares could be in high demand if he becomes available on July 1.

FLAMES ARE WILLING TO TAKE CALLS ABOUT RASMUS ANDERSSON

TSN: LeBrun cited sources indicating contract extension talks between the Calgary Flames and Rasmus Andersson didn’t go well this week. The 28-year-old defenseman is a year away from UFA status. He carries a cap hit of $4.55 million for 2025-26 and a six-team no-trade list.

LeBrun said the Flames are now ready to entertain trade offers for Andersson, suggesting there will be no shortage of interest in the right-shot blueliner. He could be a good fit with the Dallas Stars, but they’ve got salary-cap issues to sort out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames can afford to wait until next year’s trade deadline if they don’t get any suitable offers this summer for Andersson. Nevertheless, the limited number of available right-shot rearguards in this summer’s free-agent market could improve the chance of someone meeting the Flames’ asking price, which could be a right-shot, second-line center.

RED WINGS INTERESTED IN NOAH DOBSON?

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the Red Wings are showing interest in Noah Dobson. The 25-year-old New York Islanders defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights on July 1.

According to Duff, Friedman said forwards JT Compher and Jonatan Berggren were being offered as part of the return. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman could also part with draft picks in the deal to make it happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Compher and Berggren are third-line forwards. That would be a lowball trade offer for a skilled puck-moving defenseman like Dobson, who is rumored to be seeking a long-term contract with an AAV of $11 million.

UPDATE ON THE FLYERS

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reported last week that the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t in a position to make a major addition to their roster this summer. They have roughly $13 million in dead cap space, and while they could put Ryan Ellis ($6.25 million) on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), they prefer not to do that if possible, to accrue cap space during the season.

Di Marco believes the Flyers will look for stopgap measures to address their depth at center. They could look at someone like Adam Gaudette of the Ottawa Senators in free agency. The Flyers are well-stocked with wingers, making it unlikely they’ll pursue someone like JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres or Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2025

by | Jun 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2025

Check out the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad and Zach Werenski, the Kraken trade Andre Burakovsky to the Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he will decide over the next several weeks if he’ll require surgery to repair the injuries that sidelined him for the final 25 games of the regular season.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Following the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk admitted he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Surgery could sideline him for the entire training camp period in September and the start of the regular season in October.

“It’s going to take a few weeks to determine if I need it or not,” said Tkachuk. “It’s probably 50-50 right now. I don’t know if I’ll have a normal summer or not. I hope so. I’m not just going to jump into surgery without talking to everybody and going through everything. I have a few weeks here when I can figure it out.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers would miss Tkachuk’s offense and agitating style if he’s sidelined to start next season. They were 13-11-1 during his absence down the stretch in 2024-25.

TSN: Speaking of the Panthers, Aaron Ekblad said contract extension talks with the club have begun. “Conversations have been had,” he said. “Obviously, nothing material yet, but they’ll be working on it. Things seem to come down to the last minute here.”

The 29-year-old defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. He has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Panthers. “It’s home and I expect it to be home,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is coming off an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million. His performance has declined over the past couple of seasons.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space, with Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand, and blueliner Nate Schmidt also UFA-eligible on July 1. Ekblad might have to accept a pay cut on a shorter-term deal to stay in Florida.

THE ATHLETIC: Coming off a career-best performance, Zach Werenski is hoping to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to bigger and better things.

The 29-year-old joined the league’s elite defensemen this season with an 82-point performance. He was runner-up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy and named to this season’s Second All-Star Team.

Werenski’s efforts helped the Blue Jackets overcome the tragic death of winger Johnny Gaudreau. They exceeded expectations this season, narrowly missing the playoffs. He wants to be part of a winning culture in Columbus and is optimistic about their future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have a core of rising young forwards like Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitry Voronkov, and Kent Johnson. They also have up-and-coming defenseman Denton Mateychuk and a promising goaltender in Jet Greaves. With Werenski now at an elite level, his skills and leadership will be invaluable in helping this club take the next step.

The Jackets also have over $40 million in salary-cap space for 2025-26. Management has the room to make a couple of significant additions that could pay long-term dividends.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW/THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Chicago Blackhawks acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for center Joe Veleno.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Kraken, exchanging Burakovsky’s $5.5 million AAV through 2026-27 for Veleno’s $2.75 million for 2025-26. They have $18.6 million of cap space for 2025-26 with 17 active roster players under contract.

The rebuilding Blackhawks continue to add experienced short-term depth to take pressure off their promising young players.

Injuries hampered Burakovsky during his first two seasons with the Kraken. He played in 79 games this season but managed 39 points, which was a far cry from the career-best 61 points he had with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, which earned him his current contract.

The Kraken now have sufficient room to re-sign restricted free agents (RFAs) Kaapo Kakko and Tye Kartye. They acquired winger Mason Marchment last week from the Dallas Stars and should still have enough cap space to make another substantial addition to their roster.

This is the second time this season that Veleno’s been traded. The Blackhawks acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline. He could provide the Kraken with short-term depth at center for the coming season.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks placed defenseman TJ Brodie on unconditional waivers to buy out his contract.

They signed the 35-year-old defenseman last summer to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. However, Brodie’s performance noticeably declined and he was a healthy scratch during the final 22 games of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks won’t get much cap relief for 2025-26. This buyout counts as $3.233 million against their cap next season, dropping to $258,333 for the 2026-27 season.

THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo reports the Minnesota Wild are closing in on hiring former Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin as the new bench boss of their AHL affiliate in Iowa.

RDS: Jesse Puljujarvi scored the overtime winner for the Charlotte Checkers to defeat the Abbotsford Canucks 4-3 in Game 5 of the AHL’s Calder Cup Final. This was the third game in this series that required overtime. Abbotsford holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.










Roundup of Commentary on Some Recent NHL Stories

by | Jun 21, 2025

Roundup of Commentary on Some Recent NHL Stories

Once upon a time, I used this Soapbox to share my opinions on whatever NHL news I found interesting. Over time, however, my workload increased as I took on more freelance work, leaving me little time to devote attention to specific topics.

As I did more daily coverage of noteworthy NHL headlines, I offered up more commentary on the topics that caught my eye. The following is a roundup of viewpoints from stories that appeared in recent weeks.

Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.

McDavid’s Future In Edmonton Uncertain?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychowski reports Oilers captain Connor McDavid left just a little doubt over whether he’ll remain in Edmonton after next season. The 28-year-old superstar center has a year left on his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

McDavid talked about the hard work the organization has done to build toward being a Stanley Cup contender. He indicated that he would take some time to regroup, talk to his agent and family, adding there was no rush to sign a contract extension on July 1.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

However, McDavid made a remark that left just enough room for doubt.

“With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s how you have to take care of, first. But of course there is unfinished business here.”

McDavid was asked what would influence his decision.

“Winning would be at the top of the list, it’s the most important thing. If I feel there is a good window to win here, then signing is no problem.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton pundits, including Tychowski and Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, believe the odds favor the Oilers re-signing McDavid. They felt his comments were meant as a direct message to management that he’ll be closely watching their roster decisions over the next two weeks.

Nevertheless, a few observers around the league speculated about the possibility of McDavid becoming available in the trade market or via free agency next summer.

If McDavid becomes a trade candidate, several factors will determine potential destinations.

An interested team needs sufficient trade capital on its roster, which could include its most promising young player and a top-six veteran forward. They must be prepared to part with at least one first-round pick and at least one top prospect. Finally, and most importantly, they need sufficient cap space to sign McDavid to a long-term extension and still be able to ice a contending roster.

It would be cheaper to wait for free agency, but it could still cost up to 20 percent of a team’s cap payroll for 2026-27 to sign McDavid. If the cap reached $104 million as projected, the maximum contract is $20.8 million.

State Tax Follies

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the NHL must address what he considers the “glaring inequality” that six teams out of five states (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Washington and Tennessee) with no state income tax have had over the other 26 clubs over the past decade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap addresses that inequality. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup roster was swiftly depleted by the imposition of the cap in 2005. As well managed as the Lightning have been over the past 10 years, salary-cap constraints took their toll over the past three years, leading to three straight first-round eliminations.

Shrewd management played a significant role in the recent championship success of the Lightning, Panthers, and Golden Knights. The lack of a state tax may have made it easier to re-sign key players, but they were still expensive to retain, eating up valuable cap space at the expense of their overall roster depth.

The Panthers are a strong club and could repeat as champions this season. Nevertheless, cap constraints took their toll last season when top-four defenseman Brandon Montour departed via free agency. That trend will continue to affect their roster depth as it did to their rival in Tampa Bay.

Before their recent dominance, the Panthers were a laughingstock for decades. The lack of a state income tax didn’t help them during those grim years when they were mismanaged.

The Stars have done well since 2020 (four Conference Finals, one Stanley Cup Final) because of their management. Jim Nill won the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award in 2023 and 2024 and is a finalist this season. However, they missed the playoffs nine times between 2008-09 and 2018-19, with four of those under Gill’s watch. A lack of a state tax didn’t give them an edge during those lean years.

Despite the Golden Knights’ short history, management was a significant factor in their success. A lack of a state tax likely played a role in signing core players like Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo. However, the club’s impressive record was due to the efforts of former general manager George McPhee and his successor, Kelly McCrimmon.

Nevertheless, the salary cap also affected their roster depth. In recent years, limited space forced them to part with several core players, including 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault.

Strong management played a key role in the Predators maintaining a competitive roster under a cost-conscious ownership for years, including their march to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Their supposed tax advantage may have helped them land Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei via free agency last summer, but it didn’t help them reach the playoffs this season, nor has it helped them return to the heights of their 2016-17 season.

As for the Seattle Kraken, their tax advantage hasn’t given them any advantage thus far in their short history, missing the playoffs in three of the four seasons of their short existence.

SPORTSNET: The NHL and NHLPA indicated there will be no changes in the upcoming CBA to address any perceived advantages for teams located in no-tax states.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there are many reasons why a player chooses to play in a certain location, a particular team or a particular coach that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market.

NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey pointed out that clubs in higher-tax states like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston dominated the league between 2008 and 2020. He noted that superstars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara could’ve made more money playing elsewhere, but stayed put because they were playing for contenders, they liked where they lived, and didn’t want to move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to Hainsey for pointing out the blatantly obvious to punch holes in this “issue”.

The notion of teams in no-tax states having an advantage over other clubs has been recently trotted out by critics of the Florida Panthers, insinuating it’s the main reason behind their recent success. It’s the same excuse being used to explain why a Florida-based team has reached the Stanley Cup Final in every season since 2020.

That critique, of course, is nonsense.

The Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning before them, were built by smart general managers and guided by shrewd coaches. To suggest otherwise is insulting to the hard work that those franchises have done to become champions.

NHL To Address LTIR Loophole

THE ATHLETIC: Hainsey confirmed that the league and the PA are working to address the long-term injury reserve loophole in the next CBA. He didn’t get into the details, but said they continue to discuss finding a mechanism to put into place to manage that issue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LTIR is legalized salary-cap circumvention because there is no salary cap during the postseason. Every team has used it at one time or another, but some clubs have used it to bolster their rosters in preparation for the playoffs.

The Panthers are the most recent example. Matthew Tkachuk suffered an injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off that sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular season. The Panthers used the salary-cap savings to acquire Seth Jones before the trade deadline. Tkachuk returned to action for the start of this postseason, able to rejoin the roster because the salary cap only applies to the regular season.

The Panthers operated within the rules as laid out in the CBA. They did nothing wrong, and they aren’t the only team to have used LTIR to their advantage. Nevertheless, this loophole allowed them to bolster their roster for the playoffs in a way that they wouldn’t have had if Tkachuk had been healthy.

Podkolzin A Big Miss For The Canucks?

THE PROVINCE: Former Vancouver Canucks forward Vasily Podkolzin is in the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers. Ben Kuzma believes drafting Podkolzin 10th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft was a “big miss” by the Canucks.

Kuzma points out they could’ve had Matt Boldy, who was chosen two picks later by the Minnesota Wild. Boldy has gone on to become a first-line forward with the Wild, netting a career-best 73 points this season.

Podkolzin struggled in his three season with the Canucks, who traded him to the Oilers last summer. The 23-year-old winger had 24 points in 82 games as a depth forward this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reviewing NHL Central Scouting’s final 2019 rankings, Boldy was ninth among North American skaters while Podkolzin was second among International skaters. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman had Boldy eighth overall among his top prospects and Podkolzin 12th. The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy had Podkolzin eighth and Boldy 11th, and McKeen’s Hockey and Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino had Podkolzin 11th and Boldy 12th.

Hindsight is 20-20. The NHL Draft is often a crapshoot, with some players meeting or exceeding expectations while most fail to do so.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 21, 2025

by | Jun 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 21, 2025

Check out the latest on Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, Rasmus Andersson, JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Noah Dobson and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT COULD CONNOR MCDAVID’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman speculated on what Connor McDavid’s next contract will look like. The 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers superstar is a year away from unrestricted free-agent (UFA) eligibility, with an average annual value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Friedman doesn’t believe McDavid intends to leave Edmonton, but he thinks the Oilers captain might pursue a two-year contract instead of the maximum eight years. That would ensure the Oilers remain sharpest in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. He also thinks the AAV could be between $15 million and $17 million, but not as high as it could be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman stressed that this is only his opinion as to what McDavid might do. I agree with him that McDavid is unlikely to leave the Oilers, but could opt for a short-term deal to give himself some wiggle room in case the club falls out of contention over the next several years.

COULD RASMUS ANDERSON LEAVE THE FLAMES?

Friedman reports that the feeling around the league is that Rasmus Andersson is ready for something new. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is a year away from UFA status. The Flames are willing to move him, but only at the right price.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Flames general manager Craig Conroy said he’s had talks with Andersson’s agent. He indicated they have some clarity on where things are headed, but didn’t elaborate about the direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames could still re-sign Andersson. If not, they could hang onto him for the coming season and perhaps shop him at the trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then. They could trade him this summer and avoid the unnecessary distraction of speculation about his future hanging over him and the club next season.

NO SHORT-TERM DEAL FOR MITCH MARNER?

Friedman said he received pushback on his suggestion that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner could opt for a four-year contract via free agency. However, he said a few teams had heard about it.

The Marner camp is expected to meet with teams (probably virtually unless they come to Toronto) on July 1, and then he could meet with a team or two before reaching a decision. However, that plan could backfire if he takes too long, as interested clubs could become impatient and make other plans.

Friedman thinks the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will be among Marner’s suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are better-positioned cap-wise than the Golden Knights to make a lucrative offer. Vegas will have to shed considerable salary to make it happen, and that could hurt their overall depth.

Friedman again mentioned the possibility of Alex Pietrangelo starting the season on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), which would free up the cap room to pursue Marner. However, the Golden Knights already have an elite playmaker (Jack Eichel). What they need is a sniper, something Marner isn’t.

THE LATEST ON THE PANTHERS

Friedman reports the brakes are being pumped on the Sam Bennett extension talk. The 29-year-old Conn Smythe Trophy winner raised eyebrows by telling partygoers on Thursday that he wasn’t leaving the Florida Panthers. Friedman thinks Bennett wouldn’t have made that public declaration without knowing where the talks are going, but there hasn’t been an agreement yet.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards cited Panthers GM Bill Zito saying he’d like to bring everybody back, referring to his UFAs like Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Nate Schmidt.

Bennett is the priority, with Richards speculating his next contract could be in the range of $7.5 million and $8 million annually. He might get more on the open market, but he wants to remain with the Panthers.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space for 2025-26. Richards considers it unlikely that Zito can pull it off without making some cost-cutting moves.

SPORTSNET: Brad Marchand is open to re-signing with the Panthers. “Give me a contract,” he said with a laugh when talking to reporters.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett will be re-signed. Ekblad could be if he agrees to a pay cut. Schmidt should also be an affordable re-signing.

Marchand reportedly wants a raise on a short-term deal, which is understandable because he was underpaid throughout his current contract. Unless he has a change of mind or Zito makes a cost-cutting trade, he’ll hit the open market on July 1

UPDATE ON THE SABRES

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn reported that trade rumors are getting louder regarding JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that the 23-year-old winger isn’t happy in Buffalo and the Sabres are fielding calls from other clubs.

Peterka is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. Fairburn said the Sabres aren’t keen on trading him. However, given the interest and demand, they need to hear what’s out there. Any return for Peterka must include pieces that can help the Sabres end their playoff drought next season.

Fairburn and colleague Shayna Goldman pondered the possibility of the Sabres trading Bowen Byram. They acquired the 24-year-old defenseman before the 2024 trade deadline. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights seeking a raise over his current AAV of $3.85 million.

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks were interested in Peterka.

CANUCKS ARMY: Tyler Kuehl cited Seravalli also saying the Canucks had some interest in Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s also speculation Peterka and/or Byram could become offer-sheet targets if the Sabres fail to sign one or both before July 1. However, the Sabres have over $23 million in cap space, giving them plenty of room to match any offers.

The Sabres could trade one of them, but it won’t be for picks and prospects. As with the deal that brought Byram to Buffalo last year, it could be a player-for-player swap.

ISLANDERS LISTENING TO OFFERS FOR NOAH DOBSON

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias cited Elliotte Friedman, saying that the Islanders are quietly testing the trade market for Noah Dobson during his Friday podcast. The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights.

This comes in the wake of Frank Seravalli claiming the Dobson camp sought a long-term deal with an $11 million AAV. Friedman indicated nothing’s set in stone, suggesting three options. They could sign him long term and perhaps trade him later if it doesn’t work out, risk a potentially contentious arbitration process, or trade him now.

Macias believes the Islanders will want a significant return. He noted Seravalli linked them to Buffalo’s JJ Peterka.

Friedman also mentioned the trade rumors about Isles blueliner Alexander Romanov, but he thinks they’ve set a high asking price for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Dobson camp is seeking far more than what their client is worth. He deserves a raise over the $4 million AAV he earned this season, and has a promising 70-point season in 2023-24 on his resume. However, the decline in his production this season to 39 points makes it difficult to justify $11 million annually. A raise to between $8 million and $9 million would be reasonable.

This situation is an interesting early test for new GM Mathieu Darche. How he handles it will be a significant indicator of which direction he intends to take the Islanders in the coming years.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2025

by | Jun 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2025

An update on the Oilers’ offseason plans, Jonathan Toews signs with the Jets, the latest on Joe Pavelski, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said Friday that signing team captain Connor McDavid to a contract extension is the team’s top offseason priority.

Bowman said McDavid has earned the right to determine the timeline for negotiations, but said the Oilers will be ready once he’s ready to begin. The Oilers superstar is eligible for unrestricted free-agent (UFA) status next July, but he can sign an extension as early as this July 1.

The Oilers GM indicated that the Oilers’ defense corps will remain largely intact. That includes Evan Bouchard, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.

Bowman will focus on making modifications to the forward lines and the goaltending. He said he’s not singling out the goalie tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but the club will explore changes to that position.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Based on Bowman’s comments, Robert Tychkowski believes the Oilers GM plans a mid-level change or two to his roster.

Tychkowski expressed concern over the Oilers’ aging roster and its thin prospect cupboard. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that their priority is winning the Stanley Cup next season.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, Jim Matheson wondered if Skinner returns next season as the Oilers’ starting goalie, or will he be sharing the crease in a “1 and 1A scenario” without Pickard.

Matheson wondered if the Oilers might target Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues with an offer sheet. If they sign him to no more than an average annual value (AAV) of $4,680,076, it’ll only cost them a second-round pick in 2026 as compensation, which is a pick they have.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming Hofer is open to signing an offer sheet, the Blues are in a good position to match it. They have roughly $5 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 22 active roster players under contract. They could get $6.5 million in additional cap flexibility if Torey Krug (ankle) remains on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) next season.

Bigger names that have surfaced in the rumor mill include Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Jordan Binnington of the Blues, and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman will play a key role in the Bruins’ plans for a bounce-back performance next season. Trading him would leave them with Joonas Korpisalo as their full-time starter, and history has shown he’s best suited as a backup.

Binnington’s fortunes have rebounded following a strong performance in the 4 Nations Face Off tournament and the Blues’ memorable first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets this spring. He’s not going anywhere.

Saros struggled along with his Predators teammates last season. They could trade him before his new contract (with its full no-movement clause) begins on July 1, but it’s doubtful the Oilers would be comfortable with his $7.7 million AAV through 2032-33.

Besides, Predators GM Barry Trotz signed Saros to that hefty contract. It’s unlikely he’ll put the netminder on the trade block this summer.

Smaller names that could be available via trade or free agency include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not much to choose from there, but Gibson might be worth the risk. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.5 million, but the Ducks might be willing to retain some salary to facilitate a trade for the right return. Allen is a reliable backup while Jarry’s inconsistency is a significant concern.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has agreed to a one-year contract with the Jets. The 37-year-old center is staging a comeback after being sidelined for the last two seasons by long COVID symptoms and chronic immune response issues.

Toews will earn a base salary of $2 million. With bonuses for games played, that number will more than double if he suits up for at least 50 games in 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a low-cost gamble by the Jets. If it pays off, Toews could fill their second center position. If it doesn’t, they’ll have sufficient cap space to address that position later in the season.

RG.ORG: Former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski admitted he had a moment where he felt the itch to return to the NHL during this season. However, it passed quickly as he confirmed that he is retired for good.

Pavelski played 18 seasons in the NHL, establishing himself among the greatest American-born players in league history.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Eric Robinson to a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.7 million. Robinson, 30, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

TSN: The Dallas Stars signed restricted free agents Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist to one-year contracts. Bourque will earn $950,000 while Lundkvist will earn $1.25 million.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed depth forward Dryden Hunt to a two-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $825,000 at the NHL level.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken inked defenseman Cale Fleury to a two-year contract with an AAV of $890,000.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils are reportedly not qualifying the rights of restricted free agent Cody Glass, making him a UFA on July 1.