NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 16, 2025

by | Jul 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 16, 2025

The latest on Mika Zibanejad and Sidney Crosby, the Sharks hire Joe Thornton in a development role, and the latest contract signings in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW YORK POST: Where Mika Zibanejad plays under new head coach Mike Sullivan could determine the outcome of the 2025-26 season for the Rangers.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

Zibanejad struggled while playing at center for most of 2024-25. The 14-year NHL veteran’s performance improved when shifted to right wing alongside J.T. Miller late in the season. He was also employed as a right winger while playing for Sweden during the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring a significant improvement by Zibanejad at center, it likely won’t take Sullivan long to determine which position the 32-year-old is best suited for in the coming season.

What do you think, Rangers fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

THE ATHLETIC: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a hand in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ hiring of their new head equipment manager.

Paul DeFazio spent over 25 years in the Penguins’ organization. Crosby’s endorsement helped him land the job with Columbus. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said Penguins GM Kyle Dubas also backed DeFazio’s application.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It certainly doesn’t hurt to have Crosby and Dubas as recommendations on your job application. Classy move by the Penguins captain to help out his former equipment manager.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of hirings, the San Jose Sharks have brought in former star Joe Thornton as a player development coach and hockey operations advisor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thornton played 15 of his 24-season NHL career with the Sharks. He’s their single-season leader with 92 assists and 114 points, and their all-time leader with 804 assists. Thornton will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Utah Mammoth have brought back forward Michael Carcone, signing him to a one-year, $775,000 contract.

Speaking of the Sharks, they signed defenseman Jack Thompson earlier this week to a one-year, two-way deal worth $800,000 at the NHL level.

The Carolina Hurricanes inked forward Skyler Brind’Amour to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour, 25, is the son of Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour. He played two games with the Hurricanes last season, spending most of his time with their AHL affiliate in Chicago.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed center Anton Frondell to a three-year entry-level contract. Chosen third overall in this year’s draft, the 18-year-old Frondell is expected to spend this season with Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Hockey League.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed defenseman Radim Mrtka to a three-year entry-level deal. He was chosen ninth overall in this year’s draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

by | Jul 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

The 2025-26 season-opener is released, the Sabres avoid arbitration with Bowen Byram, an ownership group led by Mario Lemieux is interested in buying the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2025-26 regular season will kick off with a triple-header starting Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The first game of the season features the Florida Panthers raising their 2024-25 Stanley Cup banner at home as they host the Chicago Blackhawks.

The second game sees the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the evening concludes with the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings.

The full regular-season schedule will be released on Wednesday, July 16.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres avoided arbitration with defenseman Bowen Byram as the two sides agreed to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram, 24, will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status at the end of this contract. He was the subject of frequent trade speculation since last season. The Sabres could still move him, but for now, he’s part of their plans for this season.

The signing leaves the Sabres with over $7.3 million in cap space. Restricted free agents Devon Levi and Conor Timmins remain unsigned, with the latter awaiting the date for his arbitration hearing.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports that a group led by former NHL owner and superstar Mario Lemieux remains very interested in purchasing the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lemieux spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Penguins. He co-owned the club from 1999 to 2021.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) released a statement earlier this year indicating they have no interest in selling the Penguins. Nevertheless, the Lemieux group is considering its financial options and avenues to regain control of the club at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe’s source also stated that the Lemieux group expects the NHL will add two expansion teams over the next several years, resulting in a significant windfall for the existing 32 clubs.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: As the 2024-25 Panthers have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup (many for the second straight year), columnist Alan Greenberg reflected on his 17 seasons covering the team, and how far they’ve come from the first 12 years that he followed them.

During that period, they were among the league’s bottom feeders. Ownership didn’t provide the funds to add top free-agent talent, and the franchise was generally not a desirable place to play. The arena was less than half full for most games, media coverage was scarce, and there were rumors of relocating the franchise to Quebec City.

Things began to turn around when the Viola family took over in 2013. Former general manager Dale Tallon drafted core players like Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad, and signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Bill Zito, Tallon’s successor, built up the franchise by acquiring notable players like Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Gustav Forsling, and hiring head coach Paul Maurice.

Today, the Panthers sell out their home arena, receive more local and national coverage, and merchandise sales are booming. The players form a close-knit group, fostering a positive atmosphere within the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: From 1993-94 to 2019-20, the Panthers reached the playoffs six times over those 26 years. Since 2020-21, they’ve been a perennial playoff team, reaching the Stanley Cup Final three straight times and winning back-to-back championships since 2023-24.

The rise of the Panthers is primarily attributed to Zito’s appointment as general manager. In five years, he built upon the foundation left by Tallon, turning a laughingstock into a dominant franchise poised to become the first true Stanley Cup dynasty (three consecutive championships) since the 1980-82 New York Islanders.

THE ATHLETIC’s Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster continues to rehab an injured tendon near his elbow. He will undergo an MRI next week to check on the infection that developed following the injury.

The Flyers hope Foerster will be ready to start the season, but plenty of uncertainty remains.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets avoided arbitration with RFA forward Morgan Barron, signing him to a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.85 million.

Negotiations continue between Jets management and winger Gabriel Vilardi and defenseman Dylan Samberg. Like Barron, they filed for salary arbitration on July 5.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders signed forward Victor Eklund to a three-year entry-level contract. Eklund was chosen 16th overall in last month’s NHL Draft and was one of three first-rounders by the Isles.

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers have shifted Paul Coffey from an assistant coach to an advisory role in the front office. They added Paul McFarland as power-play coach, Peter Aubry as their goaltending coach, and Connor Allen as a skills development coach.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2025

by | Jul 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2025

Check out the latest on Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Sorokin, the Canucks trade Arturs Silovs to the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RG.ORG: Sergey Demidov reports Alex Ovechkin is denying reports claiming he decided to retire from the NHL following the 2025-26 season.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

In May, Ovechkin’s wife Nastasyia suggested the family might move back to Russia in 2026, after his contract with the Washington Capitals expires.

“She said maybe we’ll come and play in Russia,” Ovechkin told reporters. “But it was just a ‘maybe’. No one mentioned a specific date. It’s all nonsense that you guys are twisting and putting Nastasyia in a position where it sounds like she said I’m playing my last NHL season. Let’s just wait and see!”

Asked if he would consider continuing his NHL career beyond this season, the 39-year-old Ovechkin was noncommittal. “Anything is possible. I’m not saying no, but I’m not saying yes either.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin appears to be keeping his options open. He turns 40 in September and isn’t the player he once was. Nevertheless, he netted 44 goals in 65 games last season, setting the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring record. He also had five goals in 10 playoff games.

Another productive season that helps the Capitals remain a playoff contender could entice Ovechkin into extending his NHL career by another season or two.

Meanwhile, New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin shut down recent speculation suggesting he was a trade candidate during last month’s NHL Draft.

“I wasn’t surprised by the rumors – it’s part of the business,” Sorokin said. “What did surprise me, though, was how seriously people took them, even though everyone knows I have a no-trade clause. But overall – let them talk.”

Sorokin expressed his happiness over the new long-term contract signed by teammate Alexander Romanov and his surprise over Noah Dobson being traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

“That one surprised me,” he said, but admitted the salary cap meant the Isles couldn’t afford to keep Romanov and Dobson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sorokin’s agent, Dan Milstein, swatted down the speculation last Thursday, claiming his client had never been part of any trade talk involving the Islanders.

THE PROVINCE/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Vancouver Canucks traded goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for prospect forward Chase Stillman and a fourth-round draft pick in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen under long-term contracts, Silovs was the odd man out in the Canucks crease. His waiver-exempt status was a contributing factor behind this decision.

Silovs became a fan favorite in Vancouver during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Replacing a sidelined Demko and then-backup Casey DeSmith, he backstopped the Canucks into the second round before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. His struggles early last season led to his demotion to the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, where he became playoff MVP, carrying that team to its first Calder Cup championship.

The Penguins will be counting on a more consistent effort from Silovs as they attempt to shore up their shaky goaltending. Starter Tristan Jarry’s performance has been erratic, and promising Joel Blomqvist struggled in his 15-game NHL debut last season.

TSN: Former NHL forward Joe Pavelski won the American Century Golf Championship on Sunday at Tahoe. He closed with an eagle to defeat former MLB pitcher John Smoltz by nine points in the celebrity tournament.

“I don’t know what to say, actually,” said the 41-year-old Pavelski. “But just an amazing week. This place is incredible. It means the world to me.”

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former Red Wings forward Daniel Sprong appears to be out of NHL options. Known for his powerful shot, the 28-year-old winger has garnered a reputation in NHL circles for his uninspiring defensive play.

Sprong’s next stop could be in the KHL. He’s reportedly received interest from Avangard Omsk and CSKA Moscow.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In nine NHL seasons (2015-16 to 2024-25), Sprong has 87 goals and 79 points for 166 points in 374 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 13, 2025

by | Jul 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 13, 2025

Notable points from the NHL/NHLPA CBA Memo of Understanding, teams vote to continue decentralized, the Canadiens pass on Evgeny Kuznetsov, and more in today’s morning coffee headlines.

NHLPA: released the link to download the 2025 NHL/NHLPA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding updates to their collective bargaining agreement. It goes into effect on September 16, 2026, and expires on September 15, 2030.

PUCKPEDIA: has a breakdown of the key changes, including playoff long-term injury reserve (LTIR), double-retained contracts, the reduction of contract term limits by one year, elimination of deferred salary on future contracts, revised limitations on front-loaded contracts and signing bonuses, maximum entry-level compensation, emergency backup goalie (EBUG) rules, and more.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the changes were reported late last month and summarized on this site on June 27 and June 28. The NHLPA link provides detailed information on the noteworthy updates, while the PuckPedia link is a worthwhile summary for quick reference.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the NHLPA was focused more on player lifestyle issues in this MOU.

The league gained on systemic issues, including contract lengths, bonus structure that affects hypothetical buyouts, deferred salary, and front-loading of contracts. However, the PA gained on more universal issues such as pension contributions, workman’s compensation, increasing the playoff fund, and accommodation for family members’ visits. They also codified the NHL’s participation in the 2030 Winter Olympics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers felt the PA gave up too much in this MOU while gaining very little. However, most of their concessions affect only a minority of their membership (the highest-paid players) to a small degree, while the gains are for the good of the overall membership.

SPORTSNET: Sources confirm a two-thirds majority of the NHL’s 32 teams voted to keep the decentralized draft format for 2026. They intend to make changes to the production to shorten the length of the opening round, which lasted over four hours this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like many of you, I’m no fan of the decentralized draft, but if they’re going to continue the format, they must improve their presentation and production. The opening round of this year’s draft was an embarrassment, overshadowing what was the biggest moment in the lives of the young players chosen in that round.

LA PAGE SPORTIVE: Louis-Andre Lariviere reported that the Montreal Canadiens won’t be offering a contract to Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The former Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes center spent last season in the KHL as a linemate with Montreal prospect Ivan Demidov. Kuznetsov was linked to the Canadiens, who need a second-line center this season.

Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, said his client is not currently in the Canadiens’ plans. “Evgeny would be a good fit. He wants to play in Montreal, but there’s no room,” Babaev said.

Babaev said as many as 10 teams are interested in Kuznetsov. He remains optimistic about landing an NHL contract for the 33-year-old center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Kuznetsov’s performance during his final two years in the NHL might have had something to do with the Canadiens’ reluctance to sign him.

TSN: Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick Pyotr Andreyanov signed a five-year contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow last week. The 18-year-old was selected 20th overall in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Young Russian prospects often spend several years in the KHL before making the jump to the NHL. This will allow Andreyanov an opportunity to develop his skills against professional players, some of whom have NHL experience.

TSN: Former Olympic figure skating champion David Pelletier joined the Dallas Stars last week as an assistant coach. He spent the last 11 years as a skating coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL players have trained with figure skaters to improve their skating ability since the early 1970s, when former US Olympian Laura Stamm pioneered power skating instruction.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2025

by | Jul 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2025

The best remaining unrestricted free agents, the Sharks sign Jeff Skinner, the decentralized draft format could be here to stay, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forward Jack Roslovic, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and winger Max Pacioretty are among the best remaining players in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent class.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Roslovic has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there’s no indication thus far that the 28-year-old forward is close to a deal.

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

San Jose Sharks sign winger Jeff Skinner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the top remaining UFAs could end up signing low-cost, one-year contracts once the calendar flips to September and training camp approaches. Some will end up accepting professional tryout offers (PTOs) in the hope of earning a contract during training camp. And some will end up heading to Europe.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed winger Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract. Skinner, 33, had 16 goals and 29 points in 72 games last season with the Edmonton Oilers, and two points in five playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2010-11 as NHL Rookie of the Year. He is a 15-season NHL veteran who reached or exceeded 20 goals nine times and 50-plus points seven times. However, his performance has declined significantly from his career-best 82-point performance in 2022-23. He’ll likely skate at left wing on the Sharks’ third line, bringing an extra measure of experienced depth to this rebuilding club.

SPORTSNET: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league continues to see support for maintaining a decentralized draft among its teams.

Daly indicated they will continue to poll the clubs, process the information, and make decisions regarding what next year’s draft will look like. He said the efficiency of not having to travel to a central location each year remains “very appealing to a number of clubs.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: From an entertainment standpoint, this year’s decentralized draft was a dud.

However, The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell reminds us that the NHL Draft is not an event to entertain fans or the media. It’s the most important time of year for a hockey operations department as they conduct the important business of procuring young talent that will dictate the direction of their franchises.

If the NHL sticks with the decentralized format, they must improve the presentation if they intend to broadcast it as a much-anticipated event for the fans. Campbell believes a decentralized draft can work if the league can fine-tune the process. Let’s hope he’s right.

STLTODAY.COM: John Kelly, the television voice of the Blues for the past two decades, will no longer be calling games for the club after his contract was not renewed. Instead, the Blues, FanDuel Sports Network, and 101 ESPN will switch to a simulcast model with Chris Kerber on play-by-play and Joey Vitale providing analysis.

THE SCORE: Ryan Reaves said a fractured relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs led him to seek a fresh start elsewhere, resulting in his trade to the San Jose Sharks earlier this week.

Reaves claimed there was a “lack of trust” starting early last season, saying if he had a bad game, he’d be out of the lineup for several games, and if he had a good game, he’d still be out of the lineup for the next game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reaves has had a 15-season career, but time has caught up with him. He is a 38-year-old forward with limited skills whose effectiveness has been hampered by age and the changing pace and style of the NHL product.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2025

by | Jul 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2025

The Stars trade Matt Dumba to the Penguins, the Avalanche re-sign Josh Manson, Ilya Sorokin’s agent reacts to recent trade rumors, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins acquired defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Stars, who were sitting over the salary cap before this deal took place. It clears Dumba’s $3.75 million cap hit from their books, giving the Stars $1.955 million in cap space with 21 active roster players under contract for this season, with no notable players to re-sign.

The Dallas Stars trade Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL Images).

The Athletic’s Josh Yohe considers this move more about the second-round pick for the rebuilding Penguins, continuing management’s theme of taking on bad contracts in the short term to add solid future assets.

Dumba’s performance has declined in recent years, but he won’t make the Penguins’ defense corps any worse than it already is. He’s also in the final season of his two-year contract, and he could be dealt at the March trade deadline for another draft pick if he has a decent performance this season.

Yohe also suggests Dumba can provide depth on the right side of the Penguins’ blueline if they trade Erik Karlsson.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed defenseman Josh Manson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.95 million beginning in 2026-27. It’s a slight discount from his current AAV of $4.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Manson, 33, has been plagued by injuries in recent years. When healthy, however, he provides the Avalanche with a physical, right-shot presence on their blueline. It would cost them much more to replace him had he gone to market next summer.

TSN: Player agent Dan Milstein, who represents Ilya Sorokin, took to social media on Thursday to swat down recent trade rumors swirling around the 29-year-old New York Islanders goaltender.

Milstein reminded everyone that his client has a full no-trade clause, claiming Sorokin “has never been part of any trade discussions – not at any point.” He went on to scold those who originated the rumors. “There’s a difference between reporting facts and creating buzz about yourself.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before Milstein’s comments appeared, NYI Hockey Now’s Russ Macias dismissed the Sorokin speculation, citing his no-movement clause and why the Islanders have no reason to move him.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers signed restricted free-agent forward Mackie Samoskevich to a one-year, $775,000 contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal generated some buzz yesterday as some readers questioned why Samoskevich accepted less money than the AAV of his entry-level contract ($925,000).

The Panthers were already over the salary cap before re-signing Samoskevich, who had little leverage coming off his entry-level contract. Given their cap situation, it wouldn’t be surprising if management convinced the 22-year-old forward to accept this reduction with the promise of a more lucrative deal next summer, when the Panthers have over $23 million in cap space.

This signing leaves the Panthers sitting above the cap by $3.725 million. They’re allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must be cap compliant when they begin the regular season.

It’s been rumored that Matthew Tkachuk could miss the start of the season if he undergoes surgery this summer to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. In that case, the Panthers would place him on long-term injury reserve, enabling them to remain above the cap when the season begins. However, they’ll have to shed salary or find another way to become cap-compliant if he returns to action during the regular season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW/TORONTO SUN: The Sharks traded defenseman Henry Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs for winger Ryan Reaves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks cleared a logjam on defense following their recent acquisitions of Dmitry Orlov and Nick Leddy. Reaves hasn’t fit within the Leafs’ roster for the past couple of years.

Thrun, 24, will be a decent depth addition to the Leafs’ blueline. Reaves could provide the Sharks with some muscle to ensure rival clubs don’t take liberties against their promising youngsters like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

SPORTSNET: The new NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) contains a provision that will allow NHL teams to place one CHL player in the AHL per season. This would enable teams to transition a promising young prospect into professional hockey sooner. Players who are 18 years old would be ineligible for the new rule, which begins in 2026-27.

DAILY FACEOFF: London Knights head coach Dale Hunter has been selected by Hockey Canada to coach its 2026 World Junior team. His brother, Mark Hunter, will be part of the management group.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston weighs in on Sportsnet’s recent announcement that it is hiking its fees for its subscription-only service from $75.00 (Canadian) to $324.99.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t use Sportsnet’s subscription-only service, but if I did, this significant rate increase would probably have me considering other options. Johnston believes fans aren’t currently getting their money’s worth, citing on-air quality and the degrading of the Hockey Night in Canada brand.