NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 19, 2025

by | Jun 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 19, 2025

The league continues to examine the Oilers’ use of LTIR with Evander Kane, the Blackhawks re-sign Ryan Donato, the Devils trade Erik Haula to the Predators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli cited sources claiming the NHL plans to continue examining the Edmonton Oilers’ use of long-term injury reserve salary-cap relief (LTIR) with winger Evander Kane.

The league may require more information to confirm that Edmonton complied with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) when Kane returned for the second game of the Oilers’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old winger missed the entire 2024-25 regular season due to injuries.

Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).

Seravalli indicated that no NHL team has been punished for LTIR usage. The Oilers could face retroactive punishment if the league finds they violated the spirit of the CBA. He indicated that sources say the Oilers have complied with the league’s requests for information and medical opinions.

Kane is under contract through 2025-26 with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.125 million.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports that Seravalli’s report sparked outrage in Edmonton, citing several local pundits and broadcasters questioning why this is happening now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is puzzling why the league continues to monitor this nearly two months after Kane returned to action. They could simply be conducting due diligence and nothing further may come of it.

We saw a similar situation with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber in 2021, when the league kept an eye on his status after being placed on LTIR for 2021-22. In Weber’s case, the severity of his injuries ended his playing career.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Oilers, they’re expected to sign forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of between $3.5 million and $4 million. John Matisz indicated the deal also comes with a modified no-movement clause.

Seravalli stated the deal isn’t expected to be officially announced just yet as they’re engaged in contract talks with other players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frederic, 27, is a checking line power forward who can play center or wing. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.3 million.

Frederic would likely get a similar AAV elsewhere in the free-agent market on July 1. However, inking him for eight years seems excessive. Given his style of play, that deal might not age well.

The Oilers currently have $11.9 million of salary-cap space for 2025-26. Frederic’s new contract would reduce it to between $8.4 million and $8.9 million. That leaves no room to re-sign or replace their other free agents.

That includes Evan Bouchard. The 25-year-old defenseman is slated to become a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights on July 1. It could cost over $9 million annually to re-sign him.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks re-signed forward Ryan Donato to a four-year, $16-million contract with an AAV of $4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Donato was among the few bright spots this season for the rebuilding Blackhawks. The versatile 29-year-old forward had a career-best performance with 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 points, putting him among their leading scorers. He’s coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $2 million.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators acquired forward Erik Haula from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and minor-league defenseman Jeremy Hanzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now indicates this move cleared $3.15 million from the Devils’ salary-cap payroll for 2025-26. They now have over $14.3 million in cap space with RFAs Luke Hughes and Cody Glass and UFA Jake Allen to re-sign. This could also give them some flexibility to make an addition via trade or free agency.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed forward Matt Rempe to a two-year contract with an AAV of $975,000.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks re-signed winger Nikita Nesterenko to a two-year, one-way contract with an AAV of $775,000.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL forward Nick Bonino has ended his playing career and is joining the Penguins as an assistant coach.

Bonino, 37, spent 15 seasons in the NHL from 2009-10 to 2023-24 with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins (helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017), Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. He had 159 goals and 199 points in 358 regular-season games and 19 goals and 48 points in 105 postseason contests.

SAN JOSE SHARKS: announced former TV and radio color analyst Chris Collins passed away. Collins covered the team from 1992 to 1997.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Collins’ family, friends, broadcast colleagues and the Sharks’ organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

by | Jun 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

What’s next for the Oilers after another Stanley Cup Final defeat? Has Aaron Ekblad played his final game for the Panthers? What’s the latest on Mitch Marner? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE OILERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Daniel Nugent-Bowman looks ahead at the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason after losing in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.

Team captain Connor McDavid has a year left on his contract and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1. It’s assumed he’d re-sign since his longtime agent, Jeff Jackson, took over the Oilers’ hockey operations in 2023. Teammate and friend Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension last fall heightened those expectations, but nothing has been finalized yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, either this summer or before his UFA eligibility next July. It’s doubtful Draisaitl would’ve re-signed if he felt McDavid wouldn’t do the same.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).

Defenseman Evan Bouchard is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who will seek a substantial raise over the $3.9 million average annual value of his recent contract. The Oilers have $12 million in salary cap space next season and Bouchard could take up three-quarters of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some Oilers fans believe Bouchard should be traded given his defensive deficiencies. However, moving him would leave the Oilers lacking offense from the blueline. They’ll likely re-sign Bouchard for between $9 million and $10 million annually, and try to find a suitable stay-at-home defense partner for him.

The Oilers must free up cap space once Bouchard is re-signed. Nugent-Bowman noted that players who could be moved for performance or cap reasons have full no-movement protection (Adam Henrique, Viktor Arvidsson) or partial no-trade clauses (Evander Kane).

Goaltending remains a big question mark. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard each have a year left on their contracts with cheap salary cap hits. However, Nugent-Bowman wondered if management would bring them back. The pickings are slim for replacement goalies in this summer’s free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Journal also wondered about the Oilers’ goaltending, specifically Skinner. He suggested the possibility of an offseason trade exists, but Skinner’s consistency could make him a tough sell. There’s also the question of finding a suitable replacement in the trade market.

HAS AARON EKBLAD PLAYED HIS FINAL GAME WITH THE PANTHERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed the Florida Panthers have $19 million in salary cap space with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad UFA-eligible on July 1. They also need a new backup goalie for Sergei Bobrovsky.

Proteau doubts the Panthers can afford to re-sign all three, leaving Ekblad as the odd man out. They acquired right-shot defenseman Seth Jones in March, and he’ll only cost $7 million annually against the Panthers’ cap. They also have blueliner Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, and Dmitry Kulikov under contract next season, making Ekblad a luxury they cannot afford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has frequently said he wants to stay with the Panthers. He might have to accept a pay cut from his current $7.5 million AAV to do so.

THE LATEST ON MITCH MARNER

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Mitch Marner could delay his signing a new contract this summer into the middle of July as he and his representatives review offers and meet with the interested teams.

The 28-year-old winger has not informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that he doesn’t intend to sign with them. They could still be part of the bidding once the UFA market opens on July 1.

Multiple teams appear set to make offers to Marner on July 1. The question remains how much he’ll earn and whether he’ll become the highest-paid player in the league. He’s coming off a six-year contract with an AAV of $10.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl is currently set to become the highest-paid player for 2025-26 when his contract extension begins on July 1. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is second at $13.25 million.

It will be interesting to see how long the Marner camp takes before deciding on a suitable destination. I wouldn’t mind if he takes two or three weeks, as the speculation would help this site’s offseason traffic (hey, I gotta make a living), but I can understand why some fans would prefer he get it done and over with quickly.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2025

by | Jun 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2025

The Florida Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions as Sam Reinhart ties an NHL playoff scoring record, Sam Bennett wins the Conn Smythe Trophy, Predators captain Roman Josi reveals a medical condition related to a concussion, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS WIN STANLEY CUP, BENNETT NAMED PLAYOFF MVP

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 to win the best-of-seven Final in six games.

Sam Reinhart tied a Stanley Cup playoff record by scoring four goals in the Cup-clinching game, becoming the first player to do so since Babe Dye with the Toronto St. Pats in 1922.

2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (NHL.com).

Matthew Tkachuk also scored, Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves, Carter Verhaeghe had three assists and Aleksander Barkov had two helpers for the Panthers. Vasily Podkolzin scored for the Oilers and Stuart Skinner stopped 20 of 23 shots.

Panthers forward Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, leading all scorers in this postseason with 15 goals.

DAILY FACEOFF: Following the game, Tkachuk shed light on the lower-body injury that sidelined him from the end of the 4 Nations Face Off tournament in February to the end of the regular season. He said he tore an adductor muscle “off the bone”, adding that he’s also dealing with a sports hernia.

Barkov sliced his hand in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and ripped the sutures out twice before the wound was glued. Reinhart was dealing with a Grade 2 MCL tear that he suffered during the Eastern Conference Final.

This was the first Stanley Cup championship for Panthers defenseman Seth Jones. Acquired in early March, this was the first time in his 12 NHL seasons that he played for a team that advanced beyond the second round.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Florida Panthers. This series had the air of inevitability since their lopsided victory in Game 3.

The Oilers tried their best, but the Panthers did an outstanding job of smothering their offense. They also picked apart Edmonton’s defense and received superb goaltending from Bobrovsky.

Bennett’s clutch scoring and agitating style earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy, but the case could’ve also been made for trade-deadline acquisition Brad Marchand. Bennett praised Marchand’s performance, leadership, and work ethic throughout the postseason.

After the game, Oilers captain Connor McDavid gave credit to the Panthers, praising their forecheck and shutting down his club’s momentum. “We kept f**king trying to do the same thing over and over again, just banging our heads against the wall.” He also cited the Panthers’ roster depth as a difference-maker in the series.

McDavid also praised his teammates for overcoming adversity and injuries to return to the Final. “I don’t think people thought we were gonna make it this far,” said McDavid. “We obviously believed. We just came up a bit short again.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more about the Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

Corey Perry’s stretch of Stanley Cup futility continued. He appeared in five Stanley Cup Finals since 2020 with the Oilers (2024, 2025), Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s quite a stretch of Cup Final disappointment, but he can draw consolation from the Stanley Cup he won with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

PREDATORS CAPTAIN JOSI REVEALS MEDICAL CONDITION

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi told a Swiss publication that he’s dealing with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It’s a condition that typically causes someone’s heart rate to increase quickly when standing up from sitting or lying down.

The 35-year-old defenseman hasn’t played since suffering a concussion on Feb. 25. He indicated he was scared that he may have suffered brain damage. Josi underwent tests and an MRI that revealed nothing wrong with his brain, but he was subsequently diagnosed with POTS.

Doctors acknowledged that his condition could be related to his past concussion injuries. The condition could also explain the fainting spells he suffered as a child.

Josi is preparing to return to action next season, having undergone intensive therapy over the last eight weeks, which also includes taking beta blockers. He said he’s been feeling much better and believes he’ll be 100 percent fit to rejoin the Predators and to play for Switzerland in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Josi is crucial to the Predators’ hopes of bouncing back quickly from their disappointing 2024-25 performance.

IN OTHER NEWS…

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Ken Holland expects trade activity will increase around the league leading up to the NHL Draft on June 27-28 in Los Angeles. He was hired as the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings on May 14.

Holland said the success of the Florida Panthers will affect other teams’ offseason decisions. He hasn’t ruled out making trades if they make sense for the Kings. Holland also indicated he’ll begin talking soon with Anze Kopitar’s agent regarding a contract extension. The 37-year-old Kings captain has a year remaining on his current deal.

TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed forward Joona Koppanen to a one-year, $775K contract.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken announced the hiring of assistant coaches Chris Taylor and Aaron Schneekloth and goaltending coach Colin Zulianello.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets have revealed their 25th anniversary patch.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 17, 2025

by | Jun 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 17, 2025

Updates on Rangers forward Mika Zibenejad and Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, plus the latest on the Flyers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

ZIBANEJAD STAYING PUT?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Mika Zibenjad’s wife revealed some telling information amid speculation the Rangers are looking to move on from him.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

Irma Zibenajad told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that Mike Sullivan, the Rangers’ new head coach, recently flew to Sweden to meet with Mika. She also pointed out they have a new home in New York, expressing shock over how newspapers were spreading rumors without considering the source.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The speculation picked up recently following the trade of Zibanejad’s friend and now-former teammate Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. The 32-year-old center has a full no-movement clause and there’s no indication he has any intention of waiving it.

UPDATE ON PIETRANGELO

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell reports that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman expressed concern again about the health of Alex Pietrangelo. He recently speculated the 35-year-old Golden Knights defenseman might not be ready for the start of 2025-26.

Appearing on The Fan 590 in Toronto, Friedman said he felt the Golden Knights could be among the teams that attempt to sign winger Mitch Marner when he becomes UFA-eligible on July 1. He mentioned that a lot of teams are wondering what they’re going to do, especially with what might happen with Pietrangelo.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have less than $10 million in cap space for 2025-26. However, if Pietrangelo goes on long-term injury reserve, it frees up another $8.8 million, which could give them enough room to make a competitive bid for Marner on July 1.

So far, there’s no word from Pietrangelo or the Golden Knights regarding his status for next season.

LATEST ON THE FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz recently reported a team source rejected a recent rumor claiming the Philadelphia Flyers were interested in acquiring Golden Knights defenseman Nic Hague. He also cited multiple sources saying they had no knowledge of the Flyers having any deal in place with Russian forward prospect Maxim Shabanov.

Kurz cited a team source reiterating the Flyers won’t be pursuing any big-money free agents this summer. He thinks they might have been interested in Sam Bennett, but his recent playoff run will likely put him out of their price range.










NHL Late Afternoon Headlines – June 17, 2025

by | Jun 17, 2025

NHL Late Afternoon Headlines – June 17, 2025

Next season will be Evgeni Malkin’s last with the Penguins, the latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Canada and the USA are among the nations to reveal their starting six players for the 2026 Olympics, and more in today’s NHL Afternoon Headlines.

PENGUINS NOT EXPECTED TO OFFER AN EXTENSION TO EVGENI MALKIN

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reported the 2025-26 season will be Evgeni Malkin’s last with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The club is not expected to offer the 38-year-old center a contract extension.

Malkin has one season remaining on his four-year contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He has repeatedly stated that the Penguins are the only NHL team he wants to play for.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

Yohe noted that Malkin remained a productive player this season, with 50 points in 68 games. However, he’s a far cry from the dominant player he was a decade ago.

In his prime, Malkin helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2015 and 2016. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009 as playoff MVP, the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012, and the Art Ross Trophy in 2009 and 2012.

Yohe also pointed out that Malkin hasn’t been the same skater since undergoing two reconstructive surgeries to the same knee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was perceived when Malkin signed his current contract that it would be his last in the NHL. Whether he wants to continue his NHL career elsewhere is unknown. He could conclude his playing career in his native Russia or hang up his skates for good.

Malkin’s future could be determined by his performance this season. Another 50-plus point effort could entice him to continue his NHL career. If his production declines again, he could decide his playing days are over.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers hope their Stanley Cup nerves are behind them when they face off on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Cup Final. Last year, the Panthers held a 3-0 series lead over the Oilers but struggled to contain their nervousness, losing the next three games before winning Game 7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was different last year because the Panthers were poised to win their first-ever Stanley Cup. This time, they’re defending champions and in a better place mentally to deal with the nerves.

SPORTSNET: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he’s at the best he’s felt since returning from the lower-body injury he suffered in the 4 Nations Face Off tournament in February. He missed the remainder of the regular season, returning to action in the Panthers’ opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk admitted he’s had some “ups and downs” during this postseason, but he’s tied with Sam Bennett as the Panthers’ points leader with 22 points. He has the same number of points as he had at the end of last year’s playoffs.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he’s not letting the pressure of trying to lead his team to the Stanley Cup get to him. “I don’t think about it that way,” he said. “If you think about it that way, you’d probably be pretty crippled in terms of how you prepare and how you play.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Panthers, the Oilers have been in this position before. Nevertheless, it’s still a hefty burden for McDavid as his team’s captain and being the NHL’s biggest star. They’ll need him at his absolute best if they hope to overcome the 3-2 series deficit.

TSN: Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wasn’t on the ice for Monday’s practice with his teammates. He’s been battling an injury in this series. Meanwhile, goaltender Stuart Skinner was in what was the starter’s net the last time the Oilers practiced in Florida.

IN OTHER NEWS

IIHF: Canada, the United States, and Germany were among the nations that qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey tournament to reveal their first six players named to their respective rosters.

Canada’s “starting six” includes Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers).

Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins) were revealed for the United States.

Germany’s first six players include Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Tim Stutzle (Ottawa Senators), Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), Nico Sturm (Florida Panthers) and Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks).

Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets), Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes), Lars Eller (Washington Capitals), Oliver Bjorkstand (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Jonas Rondbjerg (Vegas Golden Knights) are among the NHL players named to Denmark’s Olympic squad.

Slovakia’s six players include Juraj Slafkovsky (Montreal Canadiens), Martin Fehervary (Washington Capitals), Erik Cernak (Tampa Bay Lightning), Tomas Tatar and Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils) and Martin Pospisil (Calgary Flames).

St. Louis Blues forward Alexandre Texier and former NHL player Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are among the first six named to France’s roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “starting six” for Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland and Latvia was revealed earlier on Monday and duly noted in yesterday’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Winger Andrew Mangiapane won’t be signing a contract extension with the Washington Capitals and will become a UFA on July 1.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings signed goaltender Pheonix Copley to a one-year, $775K contract.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders hired Ryan Bowness as assistant general manager and director of player personnel.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames named Peter Hanlon as their new assistant GM. He was vice-president of communications for years.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Long-time NHL player agent Steve Reich died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was 64.

Reich’s former clients included Hall of Famers like Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Tom Barrasso, Chris Chelios, Luc Robitaille and Scotty Bowman. He also represented Scott Gomez, Daniel Briere, Kevin Stevens, and Brad Stuart, and was the signing agent on Vincent Trocheck’s current contract with the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Reich’s family, friends, colleagues and clients.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2025

by | Jun 16, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Mitch Marner appears headed to market, the Sabres are entertaining offers for JJ Peterka, and the latest on the Rangers

NO TALKS BETWEEN MITCH MARNER AND THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs appear headed for a breakup.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

The 28-year-old right wing is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Friedman claimed the Marner camp has not engaged in contract discussions with the Leafs. He believes the winger will head to market and sign with a new team.

FanDuel Sports Network’s Andy Strickland reported on Friday that Marner wouldn’t return with the Maple Leafs. Friedman didn’t contradict Strickland’s claim, suggesting the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights could be interested in talking to the winger.

Friedman believes Marner could take his time deciding where to sign. He could also decide on a shorter-term deal (perhaps four years) rather than the full seven-year term, enabling him to return to the UFA market while still in his playing prime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one should be surprised that Marner and the Maple Leafs will part company. It’s been expected for some time. He’s probably had enough of being the scapegoat in Leafs Nation for the club’s recent postseason failures.

The Ducks, Hurricanes and Kings have the cap space to sign Marner this summer to a short-term contract with an average annual value of what could be $14 million. However, the Golden Knights cannot afford him without shedding salary through a cost-cutting trade or if one of their high-salaried players ends up on long-term injury reserve for next season.

How long it takes for Marner to decide where he’ll sign will affect the market for other notable UFA forwards like Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser and perhaps Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand if those two don’t re-sign with the Florida Panthers.

SABRES ENTERTAINING TRADE OFFERS FOR JJ PETERKA

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Buffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka could be on the trade block. The 23-year-old winger is coming off a career-best 68-point performance. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights.

The Sabres had been rejecting the interest that rival clubs have in Peterka, but they’ve lately begun listening to offers. Friedman believes the young forward is unhappy and wants to play elsewhere. He thinks the Sabres still don’t want to move Peterka, but are now at least considering it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They won’t give away Peterka or trade him just for the sake of it. They’re well-stocked with prospects, so they don’t want a return of draft picks and prospects. The Sabres will prefer a player-for-player swap, like when they shipped Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for Josh Norris at the March trade deadline, or when they sent Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado in 2024 for Bowen Byram.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reported the Rangers shipping Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks last week cleared his $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27 from their salary-cap payroll. It ensures that general manager Chris Drury has cap flexibility and cost certainty heading into the NHL Draft (June 27-28) and the start of free agency on July 1.

The trade left the Rangers with nearly $15 million in cap space for 2025-26. It ensures they can match any offer sheets from rival clubs, and gives Drury the freedom to explore different options to improve the Rangers for next season.

Walker believes K’Andre Miller won’t be playing for the Rangers next season. He’s an RFA with arbitration rights on July 1. Drury will have to find someone who can replace the minute-munching defenseman.

Walker’s colleague, Larry Brooks, shares her take that Miller could be traded. He also thinks there’s no guarantee Alexis Lafreniere will still be a Ranger when next season begins, as Drury seeks to make multiple moves that change the mix on the ice under new head coach Mike Sullivan.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple believes Drury could consider offer sheets among his offseason options to shake up his roster.

Sabres winger JJ Peterka is among the offer-sheet options. However, the Rangers lack their own 2026 second-rounder, which would be required as part of the compensation to Buffalo if Peterka signed a deal with an annual cap hit between $7 million and $9.3 million.

Any significant offer-sheet signing by the Rangers would include their 2026 first-round pick. That would mean Drury would relinquish the conditional 2025 first-rounder sent to the Vancouver Canucks (and subsequently flipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins) in the JT Miller trade in January.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are in a position to match that type of offer sheet for Peterka, and no one’s going higher than $9.3 million to get him. Drury will have to swing a trade to get him, and the Sabres likely aren’t keen to send him to a nearby Eastern Conference rival.