NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2025

by | Sep 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2025

Hall of Famer Bernie Parent passes away; the Predators and Luke Evangelista remain apart in contract talks; Islanders fans serenade prospect defenseman Matthew Schaefer in his first preseason game, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Hall of Famer goaltender Bernie Parent passed away Sunday at age 80.

Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent

Parent backstopped the Philadelphia Flyers to Stanley Cup championships in 1973-74 and 1974-75, becoming the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in consecutive seasons. He also won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender during those seasons.

In 13 NHL seasons (1965-66 to 1978-79) with the Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, Parent had a record of 271 wins, 198 losses, and 119 ties in 608 regular-season games, with a 2.55 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage, and 54 shutouts. He also had a record of 38-33 in 71 playoff games with a 2.44 GAA, a .916 SP, and six shutouts.

Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury during a game against the New York Rangers in 1979. The Flyers retired his No.1 in October 1979, and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. He spent several years with the Flyers as a goalie coach and was later employed by the team as a hockey ambassador.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Parent’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Flyers’ organization.

The Flyers’ image as the Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s garnered a lot of headlines, but the play of stars like Parent, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Reggie Leach, and Rick MacLeish made them winners.

Of those stars, Parent shone the brightest during their championship years. Few goaltenders dominated a game the way he did at that time. He was one of the greatest goalies I ever saw.

TSN: The Nashville Predators and winger Luke Evangelista remain far apart in contract talks. Discussions are ongoing, but money is the sticking point on a two-year term. While the talks proceed, the 23-year-old winger has returned to Canada to continue training.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Evangelista popped up last week in trade rumors, but Predators general manager Barry Trotz reportedly has no intention of trading the young winger.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders fans chanted Matthew Schaefer’s name during his first NHL preseason game on Sunday. Chosen first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old defenseman played over 24 minutes and collected an assist in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flyers.

“Definitely got shivers,” Schaefer said. “We thought it was for (Scott Mayfield), but I guess it was for me. Obviously, you get chills.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer has an opportunity to earn a roster spot with the Islanders this season. The youngster is facing high expectations, but seems to be handling it well so far.

THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo reports Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello has a doctor’s appointment out of town to determine if he’ll require surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zuccarello is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

NHL.COM’s Walt Ruff reports Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said defensemen Jaccob Slavin and Jalen Chatfield might not play any preseason games for precautionary reasons. The duo is nursing minor injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slavin and Chatfield are expected to be in the lineup when the regular season begins next month.

CBS SPORTS: Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven left Sunday’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an undisclosed injury. There was no postgame update regarding his status.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Kaedan Korczak is getting a long-awaited opportunity as a regular defenseman with the Golden Knights. With Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve and Nic Hague traded to Nashville this summer, the 23-year-old Korczak is expected to see more playing time.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2025

by | Sep 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2025

The Stars defeat the Blues as preseason action begins, plus the latest on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko, Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A shootout goal by Sam Steel lifted the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues as preseason play began on Saturday.

Justin Carbonneau opened the scoring for the Blues 50 seconds into the second period, but Mavrik Bourque tied it for the Stars later in the period. Jordan Binnington and Colten Ellis combined to make 33 saves in regulation and overtime for the Blues, while Stars goaltenders Remi Poirier and Antoine Bibeau made 14 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: 15 preseason games are on tap for Sunday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy skipped practice on Saturday to undergo treatments. Head coach Jon Cooper wasn’t concerned, saying it was “player management” and he’d likely miss a few days.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko credits fatherhood with giving him a new outlook on life. After struggling with a rare knee injury during a tumultuous season for his teammates, the 30-year-old netminder is healthy and looking forward to the coming campaign.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A return to the form that made Demko a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2023-24 will be crucial to the Canucks’ plans to rebound from last season’s disappointing performance.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW’s Aarif Deen reports Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Brent Burns won’t play in any of the club’s two preseason games on Sunday. The veteran defenseman tweaked something, but it’s not considered serious.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders captain Anders Lee doesn’t expect to have a contract extension in place before the start of the regular season. The 35-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides appear willing to wait and see how the season unfolds.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour is impressed by Logan Stankoven’s willingness to learn and adapt to the center position. The 22-year-old forward was part of the return from the Dallas Stars in the Mikko Rantanen trade last March.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour is trying to find a suitable second-line center. He’s previously used Seth Jarvis in that role, but could prefer keeping him at right wing alongside center Sebastian Aho on the first line. Stankoven had nine points in 19 regular-season games and eight points in 15 playoff contests for the Hurricanes.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames hired Marcus Nilson as a European pro scout. He spent the final four seasons of his NHL career (2003-04 to 2007-08) with the Flames.

THE ATHLETIC: The Chicago Blackhawks settled a second lawsuit filed by a former player who sued them for failing to act when informed of sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Alrich.

The club previously settled a case with former player Kyle Beach when similar accusations were made against Aldrich and the organization stemming from the 2010 playoffs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2025

by | Sep 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2025

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin reveals his fiancée underwent a heart transplant, Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl hopes to be in the Selke Trophy conversation, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin revealed that his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, underwent heart transplant surgery earlier this summer while the couple was on vacation in France.

Dahlin said Matovac suffered “major heart failure” requiring life-saving CPR. She was placed on life support “for weeks” before undergoing a heart transplant, and is currently recovering in Sweden.

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (NHL Images).

“I see my fiancée work hard every day, and that makes me very motivated,” Dahlin said. “I’m good right now.” He went on to thank the club and his teammates for their support, as well as the medical staff in France and Sweden who saved Matovac’s life.

Dahlin continues to train with his teammates in preparation for the upcoming 2025-26 season. He asked for privacy as Matovac continues her rehab in Sweden before joining him in Buffalo.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Dahlin and Matovac as she continues her recovery.

THE SCORE: Leon Draisaitl said he hopes to be in the running for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which honors the NHL’s top defensive forward. The 29-year-old Edmonton Oilers center finished sixth among Selke voters last season, the highest finish of his career.

Draisaitl acknowledged there are aspects of his game that need improvement to win the Selke, but he also pointed out that there are parts of it that he does well. “Just looking to chip away at it and get even better,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl is already among the league’s elite offensive forwards. Improving the defensive side of his game will not only make him a more well-rounded forward but also improve the Oilers’ chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

Draisaitl is drawing inspiration from Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who announced this week that the coming season will be his last. Kopitar is considered among the NHL’s top two-way forwards, winning the Selke Trophy twice in his long career.

NEW YORK POST: Adam Fox hopes to get his game back on track after struggling through the worst season of his career.

Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2020-21, the 27-year-old Rangers defenseman is considered to be among the league’s best blueliners. However, he seemed a step slower in 2024-25 and was prone to losing ice battles. Those issues affected his performance with Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off, resulting in a reduction of his playing time during the tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A bounce-back effort by Fox will be crucial to the Rangers’ hopes of rebounding from last season’s disappointing effort. He’s projected to be paired with offseason acquisition Vladislav Gavrikov, who could be a steadying influence.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Kevin Hayes is expected to miss the start of the upcoming season after suffering an upper-body injury during the opening day of training camp. The injury occurred after being hit by defenseman Ryan Graves, sidelining him for at least one month.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Mammoth forward Alex Kerfoot is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks center Macklin Celebrini missed practice during the second day of training camp due to an illness. However, it’s not considered serious and he should return soon.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach was absent from training camp on Friday, but is expected to play preseason games. The 24-year-old underwent his second knee surgery in February and is hoping to be ready for the start of the season next month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens envisioned Dach as their second-line center when they acquired him three years ago, but knee injuries have hampered his development. Nevertheless, they intend to give him another opportunity to establish himself in that role.

OTTAWA SUN: Contract extension talks have begun between the Senators and center Shane Pinto. However, those discussions could be shelved if an agreement isn’t reached when they open their season next month. The 24-year-old Pinto is in the second season of a two-year deal with an average annual value of $3.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pinto is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July. He’s indicated that he wants to focus on his play during the upcoming season and not have his contract situation become a distraction.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero is the 2025 winner of the Lester Patrick Trophy. The award is given to a person based on their outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States.

Shero passed away in April at age 62. He served as an assistant GM with the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators. He went on to become the GM of the Penguins from 2006 to 2014, building the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2009.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved posthumous honor for Shero, who also drafted several players (Jake Guentzel, Matt Murray, Bryan Rust, and Olli Maatta) who went on to play key roles in the Penguins’ two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2025

by | Sep 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2025

Kings captain Anze Kopitar to retire, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin uncertain if this season is his last, and the latest on Predators captain Roman Josi, Panthers winger Brad Marchand, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: King captain Anze Kopitar announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The 38-year-old center is entering his 20th NHL season, all of them spent with the Kings. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2011-12 and 2013-14, and is a three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and a two-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time leader in games played (1,454). He can surpass Marcel Dionne as the franchise points leader (1,307) with a 30-point performance this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kopitar became one of the best two-way forwards in the league over the past 25 years. He was chosen in the first round (11th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft, becoming their foundation player as they rose from being an also-ran into a two-time Cup champion and one of the dominant teams in the league between 2010 and 2015.

Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty are the only players from those championship years still with the Kings.

DAILY FACEOFF: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said he doesn’t know yet if this season will be his last in the NHL. The 40-year-old is in the final season of his five-year contract. He believes there’s plenty of time to discuss that with Capitals management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin left practice during the opening day of training camp with a lower-body injury, but the move was for precautionary reasons and is considered to be a minor ailment.

TSN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi was among the first players on the ice for training camp on Thursday. The 35-year-old defenseman had been sidelined since Feb. 25, and in June was diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Following a long rehab, Josi doesn’t believe that his health will be an issue now that he has the tools to manage the issue. “I’m more so relieved and really excited just having a plan,” Josi said. “I feel great. I feel 100 percent. I feel good on the ice and so I’m not concerned at all.”

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Brad Marchand said contract term was one factor that led to his departure from the Boston Bruins. He indicated he wasn’t interested in a short-term deal, while the Panthers were willing to give him a long-term contract.

According to Marchand, being in a non-tax state played a significant role in the Panthers’ efforts to retain some of their key players. “If we were not in a non-tax state, it probably wouldn’t have worked out for two guys,” he said.

Marchand added that the Panthers’ no-tax advantage wouldn’t have been as big a factor if they weren’t as competitive or well-run.

“That is the main thing. You care about the hockey. You care about the organization. You’re not going to walk into a non-tax state if the team’s not run well or if they’re a bad team. That’s just not the case anymore. These non-tax state teams are some of the best-run teams in the league.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have had a non-state tax advantage since their inception in 1993-94, but it didn’t help them during their first 25 years. They were a laughingstock during that period, reaching the playoffs only five times while going through 10 general managers and 15 coaches.

It wasn’t until they hired Bill Zito as general manager in 2020 that they finally turned things around. Stability in the front office is the primary reason behind their current success and why players like Marchand want to play for them now.

CONTRACT UPDATES

THE ATHLETIC: Artemi Panarin said he’s focusing on hockey and won’t publicly discuss his contract situation with the New York Rangers. The 33-year-old winger is in the final season of his seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.6 million.

Panarin declined to comment about a report by The Athletic claiming he and Madison Square Garden Sports paid financial settlements to a Rangers employee in August 2024 after she alleged he sexually assaulted her.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said contract extension talks have begun with Jacob Markstrom. The 35-year-old goaltender is in the final season of his six-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million.

Fitzgerald also said that he’s disappointed the contract talks with Luke Hughes remain unresolved. The restricted free-agent defenseman seeks a five-year contract, while the Devils prefer a bridge deal or a long-term contract. The two sides continue to negotiate.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Alex Tuch said he loves Buffalo and hopes to stay with the Sabres for the long term. The 29-year-old forward is in the final season of a six-year deal with an AAV of $4.75 million.

THE SCORE: It was recently reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz are in talks about a contract extension. However, the 31-year-old goalie is unwilling to continue negotiations during the regular season. He’s in the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been reported that the two sides could have a deal in place before the start of the regular season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Alexander Holtz still lacks a contract for this season, but the restricted free agent forward will attend Vegas Golden Knights training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO) until a deal is reached or the two sides part ways.

INJURY UPDATES

TSN: Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman will remain sidelined by a wrist injury until early November.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel left practice yesterday for precautionary reasons. Head coach Bruce Cassidy said Eichel “tweaked something” but remains hopeful that he could return to practice on Friday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin said winger Mats Zuccarello (undisclosed) could miss the start of the regular season.

TSN: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit remains sidelined long-term following offseason hip surgery. He missed all of last season after undergoing knee surgery in August 2024.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Forward Stefan Noesen is expected to miss some time with a groin injury stemming from a pre-existing one that he suffered last season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 18, 2025

by | Sep 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 18, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines: the Bruins’ David Pastrnak and the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk are among the notable sidelined players as training camps open, and the latest contract signings.

LATEST INJURY UPDATES AS NHL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: David Pastrnak will miss the start of Bruins training camp while dealing with tendonitis. The 29-year-old winger is expected to return to full practice next week.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek will be sidelined for the upcoming start of the regular season. He’s expected to be out at least through December.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Tkachuk is recovering from surgery in August to repair a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle. Nosek suffered a knee injury during offseason training and is expected to be out for months.

THE ATHLETIC’s Jeremy Rutherford reports St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug failed his medical and there is no expectation he’ll play this season. The Blues are expected to place him on in-season long-term injury reserve (LTIR).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Krug missed all of last season following surgery last September to address pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle. His contract runs through 2026-27, but his playing career is over. He’ll likely remain on LTIR for the remainder of his contract.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Zach Hyman is no longer wearing a cast on his right arm. He underwent season-ending surgery after dislocating and tearing ligaments in his wrist during the 2025 Western Conference Final.

Hyman is skating on his own, but he isn’t ready to join his teammates for the start of training camp. It’s uncertain if he’ll play in any of the Oilers’ eight preseason games. His goal remains their season opener on Oct. 8.

DAILY FACEOFF: Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour is out one to two weeks following the removal of a bursa from his ankle.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche players Logan O’Connor, Samuel Girard, and Mackenzie Blackwood will all miss the start of training camp with injuries. Girard (lower body) and Blackwood (undisclosed) are expected to be back at or around the beginning of the regular season next month, but O’Connor (hip surgery) isn’t slated to return until early November.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson will miss training camp and the entire preseason with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to return around the start of the regular season.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning forward Nick Paul underwent surgery last Friday for an upper-body injury. He’s expected to be sidelined until early November.

TSN: Ottawa Senators forward Lars Eller will miss the start of training camp following a minor abdominal procedure.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway underwent core surgery in July and could miss most of training camp. Teammate Alex Tuch is day-to-day with a minor injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Rutger McGroarty and Noel Acciari will be in attendance at training camp, but aren’t yet medically cleared to participate. McGroarty and Acciari were shut down late last season due to injuries. General manager Kyle Dubas is expected to provide more details on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the grueling offseason training regimens of most players, some of the injuries listed above may have been the result of overtraining. Proper rest and recuperation are just as important.

LATEST NOTABLE CONTRACT SIGNINGS

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed captain Mikael Backlund to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.25 million. “That’s the goal and the dream – I don’t want to play for another team,” Backlund said.

Speaking of his family, the 36-year-old center said he and his family love living in Calgary. “This is where our heart is at.” He also believes the Flames have a bright future and he wants to be part of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backlund has spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Flames. He’s second all-time among their franchise leaders with 1,066 games played. If he stays healthy, he will break Jarome Iginla’s record of 1,219.

Backlund is in the final season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million. His new contract comes with a full no-movement clause through December 31, 2027, followed by a 10-team no-trade list.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed defenseman Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.7 million. Kaiser, 23, completed his entry-level contract last season.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: The Blues signed fourth-line forward Nathan Walker to a two-year extension with an AAV of $887,500.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout offer (PTO).










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2025

by | Sep 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2025

An update on Connor McDavid’s contract talks with the Oilers, the Rangers name their new captain, plus the latest on the Flyers, Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports Connor McDavid will not have a contract extension in place with the Edmonton Oilers before training camp opens this week.

McDavid, 28, is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Oilers captain has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Johnston reports contract talks remain consistent and cordial between the two sides, with no disconnect on terms or structure. League sources believe McDavid’s biggest point of contention is the Oilers’ aging roster. He thinks the club can still contend this season, but they don’t appear to be constructed for long-term contention.

McDavid isn’t chasing a specific number on his contract, and remains open about the length of the deal. Meanwhile, Oilers management remains confident that a deal will be reached.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid could end up signing a three or four-year contract worth around $18 million annually. If the Oilers decline significantly over that period, he can move on to another contender as a free agent while still in his prime as a player.

McDavid could seek the league maximum ($20.8 million for 2026-27), but he could leave some money on the table to help the Oilers maintain a contender. Some observers believe McDavid should accept significantly less than that, but he remains the best player in the league and should be compensated fairly. He’d also get a lot of grief from the NHL Players’ Association if he accepted well below market value, as it would potentially drive down the value of other stars.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers named J.T. Miller as their new team captain. Miller rejoined the club in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks in January. The 32-year-old center becomes the 29th captain in franchise history.

Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, and Artemi Panarin are the alternate captains.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller is an intense, vocal player who leads by example. He faces the challenge of captaining the Rangers back into playoff contention following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said there won’t be a reunion with Carter Hart. The goaltender’s agent contacted the Flyers to rule out that possibility.

Hart, 27, was among the five former Hockey Canada players who were found not guilty of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2018 in London, Ontario. The Flyers did not issue him a qualifying offer when his contract expired in 2024.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli ruled out the possibility of Hart, an Edmonton native, signing with the Oilers. He suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and possibly the Nashville Predators as potential destinations given the uncertainty over their goaltending situations.

DAILY FACEOFF: Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the first one or two months of the regular season as he continues to recover from a triceps injury suffered in March.

Forward Tyson Foerster (elbow) will be in a non-contact jersey when training camp opens for about a week.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks have reportedly signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a professional tryout offer (PTO).

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES’ Ben Pope reports Blackhawks backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit remains sidelined by injury as training camp opens and could remain sidelined for a while.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks have signed winger Oliver Wahlstrom to a PTO.

THE PROVINCE: Manny Malhotra will remain head coach of the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate for the next two years. The Canucks picked up the option year (2016-17) of his contract with Abbotsford. Malhotra coached them to the 2025 Calder Cup.