NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2025

by | May 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2025

The Eastern Conference Final begins on Tuesday, the ongoing fallout from the Leafs’ second-round elimination, an update on Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2025 NHL Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers begins in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 20, at 8 pm ET.

TSN: The Hurricanes are pushing back against the perception that their style of play is “boring”.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (NHL Images).

“You read it everywhere now and you’re like, ‘OK, we play a high-paced, puck pressure game with a lot of shots,” said Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin. “So if people find that boring, then I don’t know. I don’t think it’s a boring game. I think it’s hard to play against.”

Slavin’s teammate, Seth Jarvis, also weighed in. “I feel if this was Toronto or a different team shutting teams down, they’d be getting praised out of this world.” Sebastian Aho, tied for the lead among Hurricanes scorers, said it came down to the hard work necessary to win hockey games.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Panthers don’t consider the Hurricanes’ style to be dull. “It’s really hard to play against these guys and they know it and we know it,” said Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. “It’s going to be a really fun, hard series. Looking forward to that.”

Barkov’s teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, called the Hurricanes “a great team” and felt the upcoming series would be “another great showdown” between the two clubs, calling them “a tough team to play against and they make it hard every game.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anyone who thinks Carolina plays dull hockey didn’t suffer through the Dead Puck Era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many games from that time remain a great cure for insomnia. I’m not kidding. I dozed off at times while watching the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes have had some exciting postseason series, especially against the Capitals in 2019 and the Bruins and Rangers in 2022. The quality of their opponents in this postseason thus far might give some fans the perception that they’re boring. Their upcoming tilt with the Panthers should be entertaining.

TORONTO STAR: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice cautioned the Toronto media not to be too harsh on the Maple Leafs following their second-round elimination to Florida on Sunday. Panthers winger Brad Marchand said the Leafs didn’t deserve to be “crucified” by critics, claiming the pressure from Toronto fans is beaten into the team.

SPORTSNET: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was sympathetic toward the Leafs players because of the pressure they face in Toronto. “Sometimes you feel bad for them because they have some unbelievable players and a great team,” said Tkachuk. “I was actually saying this the other night to some of the guys. If this team was not in Toronto, dealing with all the crazy circus stuff outside of it, they’d be an unbelievable team and such a hard team to play.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toronto is a hockey-mad market, and their fan base is desperate for the club’s 58-year Stanley Cup drought to end. However, playing in another market wouldn’t detract from the fact that this version of the Leafs is top-heavy, with too much money invested in a handful of players, leaving little to address the depth issues throughout its roster. It’s doubtful they’d be more successful in another market.

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin and Frank Seravalli point out that Toronto isn’t the only pressure-cooker market, but stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers rise to the occasion.

Rick Vaive was a high-profile player for the Leafs in the 1980s when the franchise was not very good. He pointed out that there was nowhere to hide from the media back then and the players always had to be accountable. Vaive believes some players, like Mitch Marner, aren’t cut out to handle it and might benefit from a change of scenery.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins benefited from the outcome of the Toronto-Florida series. The conditional second-round pick in 2027 they received from the Panthers in the Brad Marchand trade became a first-rounder because the Panthers won two playoff series and the 37-year-old winger played in at least half of their postseason games.

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited sources saying Rick Tocchet passed on becoming the Bruins’ head coach because of general manager Don Sweeney’s status with the club and Sweeney’s track record with Bruins coaches. Tocchet signed on with the Philadelphia Flyers last week as their new coach.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm skated with his teammates on Monday in his first full practice since suffering a suspected groin pull weeks ago. He could return to the lineup for Game 5 of their upcoming Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev was arrested for public intoxication in Clarendon, Virginia, on Saturday. He was booked at Arlington County jail and later released.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2025

by | May 19, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2025

Check out the latest on the Leafs and the Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE LEAFS?

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin believes the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot return with the same core next season following another disappointing playoff meltdown.

Larkin doesn’t think Auston Matthews and William Nylander are going anywhere because they’ve just commenced their long-term extension. However, forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and face uncertain futures.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby expects changes among the “Core Four” forwards. He doubts the Leafs will break the bank to keep Marner in Toronto. Meanwhile, Tavares will be 35 when next season starts, and his idea of a hometown discount could differ from management’s.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Hornby pointed out that winger Matthew Knies is coming off his entry-level contract, becoming a restricted free agent unless he signs an extension before July 1. The 22-year-old power forward could also receive a lucrative offer sheet from a rival club.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle doesn’t see the Leafs retaining team president Brendan Shanahan. After 11 years at the helm, his contract is up at the end of this season.

Mirtle doesn’t expect Marner will be back, pointing out his unwillingness to negotiate a contract during this season and the club’s attempt to move him at the trade deadline. They could retain Tavares at a deep discount, but that might not make sense given he had only three even-strength points in this postseason.

Chris Johnston believes the clock is ticking on Marner’s days with the Leafs. He could become the highest-profile player in this summer’s UFA market. Shouldering a disproportionate share of the blame for the Leafs’ playoff failures could make free agency more alluring to him.

Jonas Siegel sees this as the end of the “Shanaplan” and the “Core Four” era in Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve expected changes from Toronto since they blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to the underdog Montreal Canadiens in 2021. This time, however, it feels like significant change is finally coming. They have to. The patience of Leafs Nation is finally tapped out.

Shanahan, Marner and Tavares are on expiring contracts. It’s time for a change in oversight, and it’s time for a shakeup among their core players.

Letting Marner and Tavares walk enables the Leafs to put the dollars they would’ve invested in those two into players who might better suit their needs.

They have a projected cap space of $26.8 million with 16 active roster players (including Matthews, Nylander, and Morgan Rielly) under contract for next season.

That’s enough to make a significant addition or two via trade or free agency and have enough to re-sign Knies to a long-term deal.

THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS

SPORTSNET: Alex Adams was asked about possible offseason targets for the Ottawa Senators.

He thinks pending UFA winger Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets would be a perfect fit alongside Tim Stutzle. Adding a right-shot defenseman like Florida’s Aaron Ekblad or Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames would be nice, but Adams wondered if they could make a move for a Nick Jensen-type player like Michael Kesselring of the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have $17.5 million available with 14 active roster players under contract, with UFA-eligible forward Claude Giroux and pending RFAs Fabian Zetterlund and Tyler Kleven to re-sign. They’ll also need a backup for Linus Ullmark if Anton Forsberg departs via free agency.

Assuming those players are affordable re-signings, the Senators won’t have much wiggle room to pursue guys like Ehlers and Ekblad. Andersson has a year left on his contract but could sign an extension with the Flames this summer. If he becomes available, the Flames will set a high asking price. Kesselring is also under contract for another year. Utah has no reason to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie was asked if the Senators might go the offer-sheet route this summer.

McKenzie is keeping his expectations low, pointing out the Senators are keeping their 2025 first-round pick, meaning they’ll forfeit their 2026 pick because of the Evgenii Dadonov trade debacle three years ago. He also pointed out they don’t have their 2026 second-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators only have the necessary offer-sheet compensations for deals worth an average annual value of between $1.544 million and $2.34 million. That will cost a 2026 third-rounder. Anything under $1.544 million has no compensation penalty.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2025

by | May 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2025

The Panthers eliminate the Maple Leafs and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Check out the recap and the fallout in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final by thumping the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round series.

Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen each had a goal and two assists, Seth Jones and Aleksander Barkov each collected two points, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for the win. Max Domi scored the lone Leafs goal.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

Marchand became the first player in NHL history to defeat the same team in five Game 7 appearances. He also has the most points (10 in 13 games) in Game 7s among active players.

Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues returned to action after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies also played after leaving Game 6 in the first period with an injury.

Referee Chris Rooney left the game early in the second period after being accidentally clipped in the face by the stick of Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. He received a cut above the eye that required stitches and missed the rest of this contest. Standby official Garrett Rank replace him.

The Panthers will appear in their third straight Eastern Conference Final. They face off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, May 20, in Raleigh at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers reminded everyone in this game why they’re the defending Stanley Cup champions. They weren’t rattled by losing Game 6, came out strong to start this game and were relentless as this contest progressed. They set the tempo early and never let up, squeezing away what little will to win the Leafs had.

Florida coach Paul Maurice tried to downplay his club’s dominance, claiming the puck just went their way. He’s just being kind toward an opponent that has consistently shown since 2018 that they can’t rise to the occasion when it matters most.

Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who appeared to be hampered by an injury in this postseason, felt there were “too many passengers” among his teammates in this game. He believes they came out strong and had a good start, but struggled after falling behind 2-0 and couldn’t get back into the game.

Toronto coach Craig Berube believes the memory of previous failures hurt his club in this series. “For me, it’s all between the ears. It’s a mindset,” he said. Berube wasn’t part of those previous failures, but he has a lot of work ahead to help his mentally fragile team.

As expected, there are plenty of opinions in the Toronto media over what’s next for the Maple Leafs after another disappointing playoff exit. I’ll have the highlights in today’s Rumor Mill.

IN OTHER NEWS…

ROTOWIRE: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey required further evaluation after suffering a knee injury during Game 6 of his club’s second-round series against the Dallas Stars. Jets coach Scott Arniel said the injury “wasn’t good.” The Jets were eliminated in that game.

SPORTSNET: Hockey fans donated over $46K to the Jets’ charitable foundation to support Mark Scheifele, whose father died suddenly hours before Game 6 against the Stars. Many fans made $55 donations in honor of Scheifele’s jersey number.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The hockey community rallied around Scheifele, with a number of donations from Dallas fans.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 18, 2025

by | May 18, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 18, 2025

Who could the Bruins target with an offer sheet? Should the Flyers attempt to acquire Bowen Byram? What could be in store for the Kings under new GM Ken Holland? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

98.5 THE SPORTS HUB: Ty Anderson alphabetically listed seven restricted free agents that he felt the Boston Bruins could target with an offer sheet.

The list includes wingers Will Cuyelle of the New York Rangers, Luke Evangelista of the Nashville Predators, and Kaapo Kakko of the Seattle Kraken, centers Ryan McLeod of the Buffalo Sabres and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, winger Dmitri Voronkov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect the Bruins (or anyone else) to offer up more than $7 million annually to these players listed by Anderson. The compensation for a successful signing between $4.68 million and $7 million is a first and a third-round pick. Anything between $7.020 million and $9.36 million would cost a first, a second, and a third-rounder, plus the risk of overpaying any of those players.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (NHL Images)

Scratch McTavish and Helleson from this list. Anaheim has a projected cap space of $36.8 million and can easily match offers for those two.

The same goes for Voronkov, as the Jackets have over $41 million in projected cap space. The 24-year-old winger is with a good group of young players in Columbus and unlikely to consider moving on.

Kakko’s career was rejuvenated after being traded to the Kraken in December. He might not be interested in moving to another club. They have the cap room ($21.7 million) to match.

The Predators have over $17 million in cap room and 21 active roster players under contract for next season. Evangelista has some difficulties this season, but the Preds will be reluctant to part with one of their younger players unless someone overpays to get him.

McLeod could be pried away from the Sabres if they use a big chunk of their $21 million cap space re-signing JJ Peterka and Bowen Byram. However, if they trade Byram, they’ll have plenty of room to match an offer for McLeod.

Cuyelle is the most likely on this list to get an offer sheet if he’s willing to sign one. The Rangers have a projected $8.4 million of cap space with 19 active roster players under contract and defenseman K’Andre Miller is also a restricted free agent. They would have a difficult time matching an offer sheet unless they make a cost-cutting trade before July 1.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently suggested the Flyers should attempt to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres.

James cited the 24-year-old defenseman’s youth, offensive skills and special team play as factors that would make him a good fit alongside Travis Sanheim on the Flyers’ top defense pairing. He acknowledged Byram’s injury history but felt he’d be worth the risk.

James suggested the Flyers offer up left wing Owen Tippett in return. The 26-year-old is still young, has top-six potential, and has an intriguing skill set. They also have the cap space to take on his $6.2 million average annual value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers need skilled blueline depth while the Sabres seek more offense. If the latter were to trade Byram, they’d likely want an established young scoring forward in return.

Tippett production slipped a bit this season with 20 goals and 43 points, but that could be attributed more to the Flyers’ overall struggles. He reached a career best of 28 goals and 53 points last season. However, they could find his cap hit too expensive for their liking.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens looked at what might be in store for the Los Angeles Kings under new general manager Ken Holland.

A front-burner issue is whether to re-sign UFA-eligible defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. In March, former Kings GM Rob Blake expressed confidence in signing Gavrikov to an extension, but that could change under Holland.

Stephens pondered if Holland might make a trade to shake up the roster. He noted that winger Adrian Kempe is a year away from UFA status, Kevin Fiala has a full no-movement clause until July 2026, Phillip Danault has a 10-team no-trade clause, and Trevor Moore lacks no-trade protection.

He also wondered if Holland would consider moving defenseman Drew Doughty. He has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $11 million and must submit a seven-team list of preferred trade destinations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what Holland has in mind for the roster. He could keep the roster intact for the most part to get a better handle on its performance and needs. Gavrikov might be the only significant change if the two sides fail to agree to an extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2025

by | May 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2025

The Stars advance to the Western Conference Final amid a heartbreaking personal loss for Jets center Mark Scheifele, the Panthers and Maple Leafs prepare for Game 7, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final for the third straight year with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 6 of their second-round series.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (NHL Images)

Thomas Harley scored the game-winner on a power-play goal at 1:33 of overtime. Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for the win and Sam Steel tallied the tying goal for the Stars, who will face the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in the Conference Final.

Harley’s goal came with Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele in the penalty box for tripping late in the third period. Scheifele opened the scoring in this game, opting to play despite his father passing away suddenly the night before.

Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game with a lower-body injury after getting tangled with Stars winger Mikko Rantanen late in the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a heartbreaking defeat for Scheifele and his teammates. Following the game, Jets coach Scott Arniel said Scheifele told him he would play because that’s what his father would’ve wanted.

The Stars players and coaches took the time to offer condolences to Scheifele in the postgame handshake lineup, especially Mason Marchment, who lost his father three years ago.

The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus reported that Marchment said he was trying to help Scheifele with some kind words that helped him back following his own father’s death. He also praised the Jets center for deciding to play despite his loss. “At the end of the day, we’re all just people. And when you treat someone with respect, I think it means a lot,” said Marchment.

The hockey community rallied to support Scheifele, raising more than $30K in $55 donations (honoring Scheifele’s No. 55) to the Jets’ charitable fund, True North Youth Foundation. Many of the donations came from Dallas Stars fans.

NHL.COM: The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are feeling the pressure heading into Game 7 of their second-round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. They’ll try to draw on their experience in these situations (eliminating Boston in their 2023 first-round series, defeating Edmonton in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final) to help them advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

TORONTO SUN: The status of Leafs winger Matthew Knies remains uncertain for Game 7. He suffered an undisclosed injury during the Leafs’ 2-0 victory in Game 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Game 7 is in Toronto on Sunday, starting at 7:30 pm ET.

NHL.COM: The Western Conference Final between the Stars and Oilers begins in Dallas on Wednesday, May 21, at 8 pm ET.

The Eastern Conference Final opens on Tuesday, May 20 at 8 PM ET. If the Leafs win, the series starts in Toronto against the Carolina Hurricanes. If the Panthers win, the series begins in Carolina.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin confirmed he will return next season. He’s coming off a historic 20th NHL season where he broke the all-time goal-scoring record while helping the Capitals finish first in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin turns 40 in September and has one year remaining on his contract. It could be last in the NHL, depending on how next season unfolds.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOWS: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon acknowledged a lack of scoring against the Edmonton Oilers led to his club’s second-round elimination. However, he chalked that up to the Oilers’ strong defensive play during that series.

McCrimmon acknowledged several players (Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad and Ilya Samsonov) are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. He praised their performances, suggesting a good case can be made to re-sign them.

The Golden Knights GM indicated “a couple of guys” played through injuries, but none will require offseason surgery.

LAS VEGAS SUN: McCrimmon also hopes to sign Jack Eichel to a contract extension this summer. The 28-year-old first-line center is UFA-eligible next July.

ROTOWIRE: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury ahead of the Eastern Conference Final.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks are reportedly close to an agreement to remain at the SAP Center until 2050.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 17, 2025

by | May 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 17, 2025

Check out the latest on the Wild, Islanders and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith speculated the Minnesota Wild could attempt to land Brock Nelson this summer. The 33-year-old Colorado Avalanche center is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

Smith pointed out that Wild general manager Bill Guerin indicated his priority is to improve his club’s depth at center. They could use a second-line center if Guerin decides to trade Marco Rossi.

Agent Ben Hankinson recently told KFAN that his client (a Minnesota native) was intrigued by the idea of playing at home and he could see a fit. However, Hankinson also expected the Colorado Avalanche will attempt to re-sign Nelson.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other center free-agent options could include Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Nelson could be the Wild’s main target if he goes to market on July 1, depending on what happens with Rossi, who’s coming off his entry-level contract.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner believes Minnesota’s Marco Rossi and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi could be offer-sheet targets for the New York Islanders.

The Islanders are currently searching for a new general manager. Rosner believes that GM could attempt to improve the roster while getting younger, suggesting an offer sheet could be a great way to do it.

Rosner suggested offering Rossi a deal similar to the seven-year contract (with a $6.5 million average annual value) that Matt Coronato recently signed with the Calgary Flames. For Vilardi, it could cost just over $7 million annually on a three to five-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming either player would entertain offers from rival clubs once they become restricted free agents on July 1.

Rossi could be the more likely candidate, reportedly rejecting an offer from the Wild earlier this season. The oft-injured Vilardi could prefer the stability he enjoys in Winnipeg, but that will also depend on his contract talks with Jets management.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes landing a top-four, big-minute defenseman is among the Detroit Red Wings’ priorities to address this offseason. Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings would be the most intriguing name on the free-agent market.

Bultman was asked if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would consider pitching his first-round pick (13th overall) to acquire prospect Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning. He doesn’t think so, suggesting that it would be too much for the Hobey Baker Award winner.

“Howard is still a 5-foot-11 wing who isn’t an explosive skater, “ he wrote, predicting the youngster could become a middle-six NHL winger.