NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2025

by | Aug 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2025

A theory behind the lack of offer sheets this summer, Lane Hutson reportedly passed over for Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp, the Maple Leafs avoid arbitration with Nick Robertson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RG.ORG: James Murphy examined the lack of offer sheets thus far for this summer’s restricted free agents.

The rise in the salary cap to $95.5 million for 2025-26 left several clubs flush with cap space. Factor in the St. Louis Blues signing away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, and there was anticipation of more offer sheet signings this year.

However, one NHL player agent theorized that some team owners may be reluctant to drive up the market value by overpaying players with expensive offer sheets. Another factor is that there are clubs with plenty of cap room that can easily match any offer for one of their restricted free agents.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates 10 teams have over $10 million in cap space for 2025-26. Some of those teams, like the Carolina Hurricanes, could target another team’s RFAs to bolster their roster for a future Stanley Cup run.

However, there are also teams with the cap room to match an offer sheet. For example, Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is frequently mentioned as a possible target, but the Ducks have over $21 million in cap space. It’s a waste of time to target McTavish when his club can quickly and easily match it.

It’s been suggested that teams should test that theory by offering McTavish a contract with a cap hit of $9 million or more. However, all that accomplishes is driving up the value of comparable players, which is great for them, but not for the teams that have to pay them.

The compensation for signing a player like McTavish to a grossly inflated cap hit is also costly to the team making that signing. Anything between $9.36 million and $11.7 million costs two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick. Anything over $11.7 million is four first-rounders.

McTavish, 22, is a very good player with considerable upside, but he’s not worth over $9.3 million annually, nor is he worth the cost in futures a club would have to pay for a successful signing.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited a report by Tony Marinaro of “The Sick Podcast” claiming Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson will not be invited to attend Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp.

Hutson, 21, won the Calder Memorial Trophy last season as NHL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Canadien to do so since Ken Dryden in 1971-72. However, the Americans already have a defenseman of comparable size and skills in Vancouver Canuck captain Quinn Hughes, who also has more NHL experience than Hutson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson will get more opportunities to represent his country on the international stage in future tournaments, including the 2030 Winter Olympics. The Americans already have a deep, experienced defense core with Hughes, Zach Werenski, Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Jaccob Slavin, Charlie McAvoy, Noah Hanifin, and Jake Sanderson. Most of those blueliners were part of Team USA in February’s 4 Nations’ Face-Off.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs avoided salary arbitration with winger Nick Robertson. Both sides agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.85 million on Saturday.

The Robertson camp sought $2.25 million while the Leafs offered $1.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That concludes this summer’s arbitration period. The 11 players who filed and the two who were to be taken to arbitration ultimately agreed to new contracts before their scheduled hearings.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Center James Hagens looks forward to starting his NHL career with the Bruins as soon as possible. However, it appears he’s committed to returning to Boston College this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins selected Hagens with the seventh-overall pick in this year’s draft. It’ll do the 18-year-old center good to spend at least one more season in the NCAA to develop his skills before making the jump to the pro ranks.

RDS.CA: Anaheim Ducks prospect Roger McQueen is reportedly leaving Canadian junior hockey to join the NCAA’s ranks this season. Rather than return to the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, the 18-year-old center is expected to join Providence College.

McQueen was chosen 10th overall by the Ducks in this year’s draft. He’ll join Chicago Blackhawks prospect center Julius Sumpf, who has also joined Providence after spending the last two seasons with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2025

by | Aug 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2025

Hockey Canada invites 42 NHL players to their National Teams orientation camp, a list of the top remaining unrestricted free agents, the Kings re-sign Alex Laferriere, the latest on Leafs winger Nick Robertson, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Hockey Canada invited 92 players from its’ mens’, womens’, and para hockey teams to attend its National Teams Orientation Camp in preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The camp will be held from Aug. 26-28 in Calgary.

Forty-two NHL players (three goaltenders, 13 defensemen, and 26 forwards) were selected by Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong and his staff:

Goaltenders: Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues; Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights; Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens.

Team Canada center Connor McDavid celebrates his winning goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off (NHL.com).

Defensemen: Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers; Noah Dobson, Montreal Canadiens; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings; Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers; Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars; Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche; Brandon Montour, Seattle Kraken; Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets; Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues; Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers; Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights; Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche; MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames.

Forward: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks; Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers; Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings; Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks; Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning; Bo Horvat, New York Islanders; Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers; Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes; Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars; Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche; Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers; Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights; Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers; Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning; Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets; Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights; Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens; John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs; Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues; Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers; Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Many of these players were part of Canada’s gold-medal squad in last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off. Most of that 4 Nations group will be selected for the 2026 Winter Olympics team.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forward Jack Roslovic, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and winger Max Pacioretty remain among the noteworthy players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

Other notables include winger Victor Olofsson, goaltender James Reimer, winger Luke Kunin, netminder Ilya Samsonov, and center Evgeny Kuznetsov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of these players will be signed to low-cost, one-year contracts before training camp opens in mid-September. The others will get professional tryout offers (PTOs), or face the choice of retirement or continuing their playing careers in Europe.

MAYOR’S MANOR: The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.1 million.

Laferriere, 23, was a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract last season. He enjoyed a promising sophomore campaign in 2024-25, netting 19 goals and 42 points in 77 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have their full 23-man roster under contract for this season. Management’s focus will shift to signing first-line forward Adrian Kempe to a contract extension. The 28-year-old winger carries a $5.5 million salary-cap hit this season and is UFA-eligible next summer.

Team captain Anze Kopitar is also due to become a UFA next summer, but he intends to finish his career with the Kings.

TORONTO SUN: cited Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reporting there is a $1 million cap between Nick Robertson and the Maple Leafs as they prepare for his arbitration hearing on Aug. 3.

Friedman claims the Robertson camp seeks $2.25 million, while the Maple Leafs are countering with $1.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson is the last player scheduled for salary arbitration this summer. The others all reached agreements on new contracts before their hearings.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Former Oilers defenseman and captain Jason Smith was named the new head coach of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings on July 31.

Smith spent 15 seasons in the NHL, eight of those with the Oilers from 1998-99 to 2006-07. His previous head-coaching job was with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets from 2016 to 2019. He was also an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley.

THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline reported on July 31 that former NHL player Stefan Matteau has joined the coaching staff of the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

by | Aug 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

The Bruins could play without a captain this season, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk hopes to build on his career-best goal performance, the latest on the Flames contract talks with Connor Zary, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy doesn’t expect his club will have a team captain for 2025-26.

In an interview with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, McAvoy said he and winger David Pastrnak will be alternate captains for this season, adding that they’re fine with that arrangement.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (NHL Images).

New Bruins head coach Marco Sturm hinted back in June that the club could play this season without a captain. He wants to get to know the players as people before he and management decide which player should have the captaincy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A wise decision by Sturm. The Bruins are retooling the roster for this season. It’s best to identify the leaders in the room and on the ice before naming a captain.

THE PROVINCE: Jake DeBrusk had a career-high 28 goals in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks. However, he needs to be more consistent with his scoring, especially on home ice, where he scored only nine times last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk, 28, has been a streaky scorer through his eight NHL seasons. The Canucks are hoping to rebound from this disappointing performance last season. If they are to reach the playoffs, DeBrusk must find a way to beat the inconsistency that has dogged him throughout his career.

CALGARY SUN: Flames general manager Craig Conroy remains confident he’ll get a deal done this summer with restricted free agent forward Connor Zary.

Zary is coming off his entry-level contract. The Flames reportedly prefer signing him to a short-term contract, while the 23-year-old center seeks something longer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games, Zary was on track to exceed his 34-point rookie performance in 2023-24. However, a knee injury in January sidelined him for six weeks, and another in March ended his season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed goaltender Devon Levi to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $812,500. It’s reportedly a one-way deal for both seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi, 23, is expected to spend this season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester. They will continue to work on his game, hoping to develop him into a starting goalie.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Sabres, their home arena will continue to be called the KeyBank Center after the two sides agreed to a 10-year extension of the naming rights on Wednesday.

The deal begins next season and runs through 2035-36.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Mike Brophy received a kidney donation on Thursday. He was the senior writer at The Hockey News for 17 years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Brophy for a full recovery.

MLIVE.COM: Former NHL defenseman John Miszuk died this week at age 84.

Miszuk spent six seasons in the NHL, from 1963-64 to 1969-70, with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Minnesota North Stars, netting 46 points in 237 games. He also spent three seasons in the World Hockey Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Miszuk’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2025

by | Jul 31, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2025

Oilers GM Stan Bowman begins contract discussions with Connor McDavid’s camp, possible adjustments for the Maple Leafs and Rangers for 2025-26, the Jets avoid arbitration with Dylan Samberg, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he’s “very encouraged” by the early discussions he’s had with Connor McDavid’s agent about a contract extension.

The 28-year-old Oilers captain is in the final season of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent next July. Bowman indicated that they haven’t had detailed talks yet, but expects to have further conversations soon.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is in the prime of his NHL career. If he and the Oilers fail to agree to a new contract, he would become the biggest name in next summer’s UFA market. However, most observers believe McDavid will sign an extension with the Oilers, making him the league’s highest-paid player starting in 2026-27.

TSN: Travis Yost recently examined the potential effect of Mitch Marner’s departure on the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially team captain Auston Matthews.

Yost believes the Maple Leafs remain a very good team despite Marner’s absence. Matthews is a superstar who should continue to produce with just about anyone as his linemates.

Matthews will have power forward Matthew Knies at left wing. Finding a suitable fit on right wing could be challenging, but Max Domi and recently acquired Matias Maccelli should get significant opportunities.

The Leafs should continue doing well at even strength. However, their power play suffered a downturn midway through last season and into the playoffs. If it persists, it could become a problem.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner’s departure will put the Maple Leafs under a brighter spotlight this season. They could attempt to address any offensive concerns via the trade market, but they have few expendable assets to use as bait.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears looked at the issues the Rangers must address before the start of the regular season.

How well players like Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Alexis Lafreniere rebound from their disappointing performances last season is among the crucial factors. Their depth at center could be another, especially if Zibanejad remains on the wing. Fox’s season will depend on how quickly he and recent addition Vladislav Gavrikov can establish chemistry on the top defense pairing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Leafs, the Rangers will be among the more closely scrutinized teams this season. General manager Chris Drury has been retooling his roster since December, and he could end up on the hot seat if his efforts fail to pan out.

THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: The Jets avoided salary arbitration with Dylan Samberg, as the two sides agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a big raise from the $1.4 million AAV of Samberg’s previous contract. It’s also much closer to the $6 million cap hit he was seeking when he filed for arbitration, and well above the $2.5 million the Jets originally sought.

The Jets, however, had little choice. Samberg emerged last season as a solid top-four defenseman. Had this gone to arbitration, he would’ve become eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. They want to keep this roster intact as much as possible as they pursue the Stanley Cup.

This agreement leaves Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson as the only restricted free agent still scheduled for arbitration. His hearing will take place on August 3 unless he and the Leafs agree to a contract before that date.

CALGARY SUN: The Calgary Flames signed forward Martin Pospisil to a three-year contract extension beginning in 2026-27. PuckPedia indicates the 26-year-old will earn an AAV of $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pospisil is currently in the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $1 million. A versatile physical forward who can play center or left wing, his hard-hitting style has made him a fan favorite in Calgary.

RG.ORG: Jimmy Vesey is considering offers from KHL teams. SKA St. Petersburg is viewed as the front-runner for the 32-year-old forward’s services.

Vesey’s future in the NHL is uncertain after the Colorado Avalanche declined to re-sign him. He’s spent nine seasons with the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and the Avalanche.

THE ATHLETIC: Carter Yakemchuk is hoping to crack the Ottawa Senators’ roster this season. The Senators need depth among their right-side defensemen, something the 19-year-old Yakemchuk hopes to address. A skilled puck-mover, he’s been working on improving his defensive game since last season.

KARPAT.FI: Former NHL defenseman Markus Nutivaara is staging a comeback with Finnish team Karpat, signing a one-year contract with his hometown club. The 31-year-old retired two years ago due to hip surgeries. His last game was with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2025

by | Jul 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2025

The effect of Kyle Connor’s next contract on the Jets, the latest on Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, the wild cards on the Canadiens’ roster, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed that the Winnipeg Jets have had little difficulty getting core players like Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, and Josh Morrissey to accept less money to stay in Winnipeg. However, Kyle Connor could become an exception.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

Connor is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The 28-year-old winger currently earns an average annual value (AAV) of $7.14 million. Over five of the NHL’s last five full seasons, he’s never had less than 31 goals. Last season, he netted 41 goals and set career highs with 56 assists and 97 points.

If Connor is willing to accept between $9 million and $9.5 million on his next contract, it would be a significant win for the Jets. However, there’s no guarantee he will accept such a deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Connor has been a bargain for the Jets on his current contract. He’ll be seeking a substantial raise that will exceed $10 million, especially if he has another 40-goal campaign.

The salary cap will rise to $104 million for 2025-26, the first season of Connor’s next contract. Winnipeg has a projected $47.8 million in cap space, though that could shrink by around $5 million if they manage to re-sign Dylan Samberg to a contract. Nevertheless, they’ll have enough to re-sign Connor to a substantial raise if they want to.

Winnipeg lost Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer. They’ll do what they can to avoid the same fate with Connor, but that depends on his asking price.

BOSTON HERALD: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is eager to return to action after his 2024-25 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

McAvoy said he’s focused his offseason training on getting healthy and regaining his form. He indicated that he has accomplished a lot with his off-ice training and is starting to ramp things up on the ice.

The 27-year-old defenseman anticipates he’ll be ready for training camp in September. It’s expected he’ll be taking on a larger leadership role with the Bruins, along with teammate David Pastrnak.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins hope for a bounce-back performance in 2025-26 after an injury-ravaged season knocked them out of playoff contention last season. A healthy McAvoy will be crucial to their postseason hopes.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Brendan Kelly believes questions surround Canadiens forwards Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Patrik Laine for 2025-26.

The oft-injured Dach is trying to get his career back on track as he’ll again try to nail down the second-line center position. Newhook must bring more than speed to his game to improve the dynamic of the Canadiens’ forward group. As for Laine, Kelly believes the Habs will be almost guaranteed to become a playoff contender if the big Finnish winger can regain his high-scoring ways.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ core of young talent should be a contender if they continue improving and stay healthy. Nevertheless, getting better performances from Dach, Newhook ,and Laine will also be crucial to nailing down another postseason berth.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes promising Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki would benefit from another season with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

The 21-year-old right winger had 29 points in 36 AHL regular-season games and seven points in 16 Calder Cup playoff games. At times, however, the 5’11”, 172-pounder struggled and looked tired down the stretch as he adjusted to the North American pace.

Kuzma pointed out the Canucks are currently well-stocked on the right wing this season with Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Kiefer Sherwood. He believes it wouldn’t do Lekkerimaki any good to be skating on their fourth line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lekkerimaki could force the issue if he has a strong training camp. Still, it wouldn’t hurt him to spend another season in Abbotsford. He’s waiver-exempt so there’s no fear of losing him to waivers this season.

CALGARY SUN: Flames prospect Zayne Parekh will skip the rest of Team Canada’s mid-summer camp for precautionary reasons related to a lower-body injury.

The 19-year-old defenseman has returned to Calgary to follow up with the Flames’ medical staff. He’s expected to be a full participant at their training camp in September.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan is being recognized for his work in hockey and with Canada’s Indigenous communities. On Oct. 29, Nolan will receive Canada’s Order of Sport Award, marking his induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Nolan coached the Sabres from 1995 to 1997, winning the Jack Adams Award in 1996-97 as NHL Coach of the Year. He coached them again from 2013 to 2015.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

by | Jul 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

The latest on Mario Lemieux’s attempt to repurchase the Penguins, an update on Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg’s arbitration filing, the Canadiens avoid arbitration with Jayden Struble, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe provides more details behind the attempt to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins by a group led by Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux was co-owner of the franchise with partners Ron Burkle and David Morehouse from 1999 until 2021, when they sold the majority stake to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for $900 million.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins captain and co-owner Mario Lemieux (NHL.com).

The Lemieux group has not yet made an offer or discussed one with FSG. Yohe anticipates those talks could be coming soon.

FSG is reportedly only seeking a minority investor to join in its ownership of the Penguins. However, the Lemieux group prefers a majority stake in the team.

According to Yohe, expansion is one reason behind the Lemieux group’s interest in buying back the Penguins. The NHL is expected to add two new teams within the next couple of years, with Houston and Atlanta mentioned as potential destinations. Each team could pay as much as $2 billion in expansion fees, which would be evenly split among the existing 32 franchises.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe anticipates FSG’s asking price for the Penguins will be much higher than the $900 million they paid for the franchise.

Sportico had the Penguins’ value at $1.47 billion last October. Statistica has its current value at $1.75 billion.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Dylan Samberg and the Jets have filed their arbitration numbers for the 2025-26 season.

The Samberg camp set their number at $6 million, while the Jets settled at $2.5 million. His arbitration hearing is set for Wednesday, July 30.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant gap between the two sides. Nevertheless, they could reach an agreement before Wednesday’s hearing.

Samberg completed a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4 million. If this goes before an arbitrator, he will receive a one-year contract, making him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens avoided arbitration with defenseman Jayden Struble as the two sides agreed to a two-year, one-way contract worth an AAV of $1.412 million. Struble, 23, was slated to have an arbitration hearing on August 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samberg and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson are the only players with scheduled arbitration hearings. Robertson’s is slated for August 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Aaron Ekblad remains pleased that he and the Panthers were able to get a contract extension done. The 28-year-old defenseman was eligible to become a UFA on July 1, but the two sides agreed to an eight-year, $48.8 million extension on June 30.

Some insiders reported there was a sense that Ekblad and the Panthers were far apart in contract negotiations, sparking speculation he’d end up on the open market. He admitted the signing was a huge weight off his shoulders that he’d been carrying last season, but he wasn’t close to leaving the Panthers.

“It was always Florida,” Ekblad said. “I don’t think you guys understand; Florida is home.” He added that it meant the world to him to spend his entire NHL career with one team, adding that he has a lot of pride and expectations for his career over the next eight years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has been the linchpin of the Panthers’ defense corps. His contract could become burdensome to their salary cap over the final years of the deal, as could those of Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, who the Panthers also re-signed.

Nevertheless, the Panthers felt it was worthwhile to keep their Stanley Cup window open, especially with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the next several years.

RG.ORG: Anaheim Ducks prospect forward Beckett Sennecke had a big season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. Chosen third overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, he had 86 points in 56 regular-season games in 2024-25, followed by 32 points in 18 playoff games as the Generals reached the OHL Finals.

The Ducks have maintained close contact with Sennecke, helping him improve his strength and puck protection. He will remain patient, saying he’s open to whatever path they believe is best for his development.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sennecke, 19, could make the jump this season if he has a strong training camp and preseason.