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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 28, 2025

by | Jul 28, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 28, 2025

The latest on Nicklas Backstrom, Oilers GM Stan Bowman defends his lengthy contract for Trent Frederic, the Sabres avoid arbitration with Conor Timmins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is expected to resume his playing career where it began in Sweden.

Swedish Hockey League (SHL) club Brynas IF is expected to hold a press conference on July 28 to announce the signing of the 37-year-old Backstrom to a one-year contract.

Former Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (NHL Images).

Backstrom stepped away from the NHL eight games into the 2023-24 season amid complications arising from hip resurfacing surgery he underwent in 2022.

A first-round pick (fourth overall) by Washington in the 2006 NHL Draft, Backstrom played three seasons with Brynas IF from 2004-05 to 2006-07. He headed to the NHL in 2007-08, amassing 271 goals and 762 assists for 1,033 points over 17 seasons with the Capitals, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2018.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely that this will lead to a return to the NHL for Backstrom. It’s more of an opportunity to finish his career with his hometown team.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman defended his signing of forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value (AAV) of $3.85 million.

Bowman acquired the 6’3”, 220-pound Frederic before the March 2025 trade deadline. He praised the 27-year-old’s character, physical play, and scoring touch, citing in part his 18-goal, 40-point performance with the Boston Bruins in 2023-24.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The AAV in Frederic’s contract is affordable, especially with the salary cap rising significantly. However, the length of the deal still raised eyebrows.

As long as Frederic remains a decent checking-line forward, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. However, it could still become a burden for their salary cap payroll as his performance declines during the latter half of the deal.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres avoided salary arbitration with Conor Timmins, signing the 26-year-old defenseman to a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.2 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Timmins’ arbitration hearing was scheduled for Aug. 2. Three players – Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson, and Montreal Canadiens blueliner Jayden Struble – are slated for hearings.

Samberg’s is July 30, Robertson’s is August 2, and Struble’s is August 3. Like the other players who filed for arbitration, those three will likely sign new contracts with their respective clubs before those dates.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL defenseman Chris Chelios was named to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He spent nearly 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, helping win the Stanley Cup in 2002 and 2008.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 26-season NHL veteran and a three-time winner of the Norris Trophy, Chelios was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former NHL forward Peter Mueller announced his retirement at age 37.

Chosen sixth overall in the 2006 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, Mueller had a promising rookie season in 2007-08 with 22 goals and 54 points in 82 games.

However, injuries would hamper his performance during his five-season NHL career with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers until 2012-13. He finished with 63 goals and 160 points in 297 games.

Apart from one season in the AHL, Mueller spent the remainder of his professional playing career in Europe. He won a championship with Brno Kometa in Czechia last season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 27, 2025

by | Jul 27, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 27, 2025

The top remaining unrestricted free agents, the Blackhawks avoid arbitration with Arvid Soderblom, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin listed the notable players remaining on his list of the top unrestricted free agents.

Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic (NHL Images).

Forward Jack Roslovic, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and winger Max Pacioretty are the top three, followed by winger Victor Olofsson, goaltender James Reimer, winger Luke Kunin, goalie Ilya Samsonov, and center Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Other noteworthy players include goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, winger Robby Fabbri, defenseman Jan Rutta, and winger Conor Sheary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sheary signed a professional tryout offer with the New York Rangers last week. Nevertheless, he’s still a UFA and can sign a contract with another team.

Sheary is the first player in this summer’s UFA class to ink a PTO contract. Several of the players on this list could follow his lead before training camps open in September.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks avoided salary arbitration with Arvid Soderblom, as the two sides agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The average annual value (AAV) is $2.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Soderblom’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 28.

As of July 6, 11 players had filed for arbitration, and two (Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres and Jack McBain of the Utah Mammoth) were to be taken to arbitration by their teams.

Entering this week, nine of the players and their teams avoided arbitration by reaching agreements on new contracts. Four – Dylan Samberg of the Winnipeg Jets, Conor Timmins of the Sabres, Nicholas Robertson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jayden Struble of the Montreal Canadiens – remain scheduled for hearings.

Don’t be surprised if the remaining four end up re-signing with their teams before their scheduled hearings.

DAILY FACEOFF: Michael Remis of Winnipeg Sports Talk doesn’t expect the Winnipeg Jets to make any significant additions over the rest of this summer.

Remis believes the Jets will take a step back this season without Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this month. They added center Jonathan Toews and forward Gustav Nyquist on one-year contracts.

Toews is attempting a comeback after missing the last two seasons with health issues. Nyquist’s production declined with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild last season.

The Jets have lots of salary-cap space, but Remis said he’s heard that they’re not planning to add to the roster over the remainder of the offseason. They’ve set aside money for Toews’ bonuses and a new contract for Dylan Samberg, which could leave them with $4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could prefer letting that cap space accrue during the season to address any roster issues that arise before the March trade deadline.

The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. Losing Ehlers will hurt their offense, but the rest of the roster is mostly intact. They should remain among the top teams in the Western Conference this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 26, 2025

by | Jul 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 26, 2025

Corey Perry looks forward to returning to Southern California, the Islanders avoid arbitration with Maxim Tsyplakov, the Rangers sign Conor Sheary to a tryout offer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Corey Perry is pumped about playing for a Southern California team again. The 40-year-old winger signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month.

Former Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry (NHL Images).

Perry began his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks in 2005-06, spending 14 seasons with them. He helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007 and won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2010-11.

“It’s another new chapter, and I’m excited,” Perry said. “And it’s an area I know very well.” He acknowledged his time with the Ducks, saying it was a significant part of his career and life, and would always be.

“Going back to California, we know it’s not the exact same place, but it’s still exciting to go back to Southern California. We’re looking forward to it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perry is still searching for that elusive second Stanley Cup title. At this stage of Perry’s career, this season with the Kings could be his last.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders avoided salary arbitration with Maxim Tsyplakov as the two sides agreed to a two-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $2.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tsyplakov’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 29. He was the Isles’ last remaining restricted free agent.

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers signed Conor Sheary to a professional tryout offer (PTO). The 33-year-old winger spent most of last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning terminated the final season of Sheary’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent (UFA). He won two Stanley Cups with Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan during their tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Speaking of the Rangers, forward Brett Berard revealed he suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder last November. The injury lingered throughout the 2024-25 season. Berard, 22, said he didn’t require surgery and is now healthy as he prepares for training camp in September.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche made a minor trade with the San Jose Sharks, shipping winger Oskar Olausson to the Sharks for winger Danil Gushchin.

Olausson, 22, was a first-round pick (28th overall) by the Avalanche in 2021. He appeared in only four games with the Avalanche since 2022-23. Gushchin appeared in 18 NHL games with the Sharks over the same period.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

by | Jul 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

Five members of Canada’s WJC team found not guilty in sexual assault trial, the Florida Panthers could be on the verge of a dynasty, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London, Ontario courtroom on Thursday.

Former NHL players Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton were each acquitted of a sexual assault charge. McLeod was also found not guilty of a second charge of being a party to an offense.

In her ruling, Justice Maria Carroccia said she didn’t find the evidence of the complainant to be credible or reliable. She also stated that the Crown didn’t meet its burden to prove the five men’s guilt on any of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

SPORTSNET: The NHL released a statement indicating the five players remained ineligible to play in the league while it reviews the judge’s findings. The league stated that the allegations in the case were “very disturbing”, even if not deemed criminal. The league also described the players’ actions as “unacceptable.”

The NHL Players Association responded that the five players should “have the opportunity to return to work,” claiming the NHL’s decision doesn’t align with the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A court of law found the players not guilty, but the court of public opinion could impede their return to the NHL. The league is handling this issue very carefully. Even if the players are allowed to return, teams could be reluctant to sign them.

Critics of the NHLPA’s position must realize that they’re doing their job by looking out for their members’ employment rights as per the CBA.

Since the allegations of sexual assault were revealed in 2022, Hockey Canada came under intense criticism for its handling of the situation, including a civil settlement paid in part from players’ registration fees. It led to changes within the organization’s leadership, a series of reforms regarding player conduct, and a loss of sponsors, though some of the latter have since returned.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (NHL Images).

Some observers are concerned that the trial’s outcome could stall those changes to address sexual abuse, as well as hazing, racism, discrimination, and homophobia. It will be up to the current leadership of Hockey Canada to determine how far they will continue on their path of reforms.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45 million contract extension.

The listed average annual value is $5.65 million, but Elliotte Friedman reports the actual AAV is $5.1 million due to deferred money.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The son of former NHL forward Jason Blake, Jackson had a promising debut last season, finishing with 17 goals and 34 points in 80 games, and six points in 15 playoff contests. The 21-year-old is a speedy, hardworking, energetic forward whose play made an obvious positive impression on Hurricanes management.

Blake is the third member of the Hurricanes to have deferred salary in their contracts, joining Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis. This tactic remains allowable under the current CBA but will be banned when the new agreement takes effect next September. It’ll be interesting to see if other players end up with similar contracts before then.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg believes the Panthers could be on the verge of creating something once considered impossible: creating a Stanley Cup dynasty in the salary-cap era.

The last true Cup dynasty was the New York Islanders of the early 1980s. They were the last team to win three straight championships, going on to capture four straight Cups from 1980 to 1983.

Greenberg thinks the Panthers could pull it off, citing their ability to keep most of their roster core intact. The significant increases in the salary cap for 2025-26 and the following two seasons improve their chances of maintaining a championship roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Betting against the Panthers winning three in a row could be hazardous to your pocketbook. However, two factors could derail their dynasty dreams.

The first is the amount of hockey they’ve played. They’ve been to three straight Stanley Cup Finals since 2023, meaning they’ve had less recovery time than other teams. Many of their core players will also be participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics next February.

It’s impressive that they’ve been able to maintain their current pace, but it could catch up with them next spring.

Age is another factor. The Panthers enter 2025-26 with the fourth-oldest roster (29.49) in the league. Granted, that’s skewed with greybeards like the 37-year-old Brad Marchand and 36-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky in the lineup, but it’s still a reason for concern.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell recently examined the 10 worst moves the Buffalo Sabres have made during their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

Trading away Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in 2018, Sam Reinhart to Florida, and Jack Eichel to Vegas were among those moves. They went on to bigger and better things (including Stanley Cup championships) with their new clubs.

Their first-round draft record was another significant factor. Apart from Eichel, Reinhart, and Rasmus Dahlin, they’ve done poorly between 2011 and 2022, with most of their choices being middle-of-the-road players or fringe NHLers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the draft record that’s the most surprising. While the Sabres have had some good picks in the later rounds (Linus Ullmark, Brandon Hagel, JJ Peterka), they eventually traded them away.

TORONTO SUN: The Rosedale, Ontario home of former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is up for sale. If you have around $14 million, the property can be yours.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Damn, it’s just out of my price range.