NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 16, 2025

by | Jun 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 16, 2025

The latest on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the countries that qualified for the 2026 Olympics Men’s Hockey tournament begin to announce the top-six players for their preliminary rosters, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski looks at several troubling issues facing the Oilers heading into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.

Down three games to two, the Oilers have proven capable of coming back throughout this postseason. However, they seemed overwhelmed by the Panthers’ aggressive forechecking in Game 5. They’ve also been plagued by slow starts in this series, playing as though they were fearful of taking penalties.

The Oilers have yet to reveal their goaltender for Game 6. However, Tychkowski believes it doesn’t matter because Panthers starter Sergei Bobrovsky has been better than the Oilers tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been an air of inevitability to this series since the Panthers’ lopsided 6-1 victory in Game 3. The Oilers’ two overtime wins were victories in games that could’ve just as easily gone Florida’s way, while two of the Panthers’ three wins were dominating performances. They seemed well on their way to another overwhelming victory in Game 4, but took their foot off the gas, enabling the Oilers to play their way back.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

Panthers forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand are the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Still, Bobrovsky deserves recognition for his solid performance in this postseason, burnishing his resume for his future induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers’ ability to learn quickly from their mistakes has them on the cusp of winning their second-straight Stanley Cup.

Their win over the Oilers in Game 5 was the fifth straight time that they’ve been victorious following a loss.

Panthers forward Brad Marchand said they learned in the opening game of this series that they needed to be prepared, especially in the early going. They also know that the Oilers can take over a game, and must be ready to match their skill level and scoring ability.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have opened the scoring in every game in this series except Game 1, and built two and three-goal, first-period leads in the last three contests. They’ve put the Oilers on the back foot early, knocking them off their game plan and forcing them to play catch-up. If that trend continues in Game 6, the Panthers will hoist the Stanley Cup for the second straight year.

IN OTHER NEWS…

IIHF: The 12 countries that qualified for the 2026 Olympics Men’s Hockey tournament are announcing the six players of their preliminary rosters today. Here are the notable NHL players for each preliminary roster (as of 7 am ET):

Sweden: William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs), Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning), Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres), and Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche).

Finland: Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars), Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes), Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers), Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators), Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars), and Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars).

Czechia: David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins), Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche), Pavel Zacha (Boston Bruins), Radko Gudas (Anaheim Ducks), Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks), and Ondrej Palat (New Jersey Devils).

Switzerland: Roman Josi (Nashville Predators), Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils), Timo Meier (New Jersey Devils), Kevin Fiala (Los Angeles Kings), Nino Niederreiter (Winnipeg Jets) and Jonas Siegenthaler (New Jersey Devils).

Latvia: Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets), Uvis Balenskis (Florida Panthers), Teodors Blugers (Vancouver Canucks), Arturs Silovs (Vancouver Canucks), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Rodrigo Abols (Philadelphia Flyers).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Italy has also released their preliminary six, but none of them are NHL players. The remaining countries (Canada, United States, Denmark, France, Germany and Slovakia) will release their “Olympic Six” throughout Monday.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Victor Soderstrom to a one-year, two-way contract. They acquired his NHL rights last week from the Chicago Blackhawks.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators are bringing Lassi Thomson back from Europe, signing the 24-year-old Finnish defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract. A first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, he spent last season playing for Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2025

by | Jun 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2025

The Florida Panthers are within one game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Check out the details in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers are on the verge of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Brad Marchand scored twice and Sam Bennett tallied his playoff-leading 15th goal as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first period and went up 3-0 by 5:12 of the third period.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

Oilers captain Connor McDavid cut the lead to 3-1 just over two minutes later, but Sam Reinhart made it 4-1 less than a minute later. Corey Perry would make it 4-2, but it was too little and too late, as Eetu Luostarinen scored an empty-netter for the Panthers.

Marchand and Bennett became the sixth pair of teammates to score at least five goals in the Stanley Cup Final, and the first to do so since Yvan Cournoyer and Frank Mahovlich with the Montreal Canadiens in 1973. Marchand is the sixth player to tally at least five goals in multiple Cup Finals (2011, 2025), and the first since Mario Lemieux with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

The Panthers tied a Stanley Cup playoff record with their 10th road victory. Bennett extended his postseason record with his 12th goal on the road.

This series returns to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand and Bennett must be considered the front-runners for the Conn Smythe Trophy, especially if the Panthers win the Cup. Eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, they have performed as though they have something to prove.

Marchand has silenced critics who believed he was past his prime. He can justify seeking a raise over the $6.13 million average annual value of his previous contract, potentially ending his short (but successful) tenure with the Panthers.

Bennett wants to remain with Florida, and they want to keep him. However, the cost of doing so could rise regardless of the Panthers playing in a no-tax state. He earned an AAV of $4.425 million on his current contract. That could jump to between $7.5 million and $8 million annually. 

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic praised Florida’s defensive masterclass in Game 5, pointing out the transformative influence of head coach Paul Maurice. The commitment of all four forward lines to playing two-way hockey has them poised to repeat as champions.

The Oilers continue to struggle in the first period, giving up at least two goals in the opening frame in each game of this series. Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal pointed out that the Panthers have played just over 200 minutes of this series with the lead, while the Oilers have held it for less than 34 minutes. If that trend persists in Game 6, they’ll be watching the Panthers hoist the Cup for the second straight time.

It’s worth acknowledging that the Oilers have staged comebacks throughout this postseason. Nevertheless, as Leavins’ colleague Robert Tychowski observed, they can’t spot the Panthers two or three goals every game and expect to get away with it.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch put on a brave face in his postgame interview. He admitted his club faces a difficult situation, but remains confident they can overcome it. However, they can’t come out and play tentative hockey as they did in two of their last three games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2025

by | Jun 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2025

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers on the eve of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, long-time Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen to retire, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Corey Perry’s speech to his Oilers teammates following the first period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final may have saved the club’s season.

Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry (NHL Images).

Down 3-0 to the Florida Panthers on Thursday and on the verge of falling behind 3-1 in the series, Perry gave a pep talk that rallied the Edmonton players. They tied the game 3-3 in the second period en route to a 5-4 overtime victory, knotting the series at two games apiece.

Perry’s teammates didn’t elaborate as to what he said. Nevertheless, they credited him with helping them regain their focus, providing the motivation necessary for their comeback.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, “Perry’s Pep Talk” will go down in hockey lore as the turning point of this series.

TSN: Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch had yet to commit to any lineup changes on Friday, including their starting goaltender for Game 5. Starter Stuart Skinner got the hook in Game 4 after giving up three goals in the first period. Backup Calvin Pickard got the win with a 22-save performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner can be inconsistent, but he got the Oilers this far since returning to the net midway through their second-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, showing the ability to bounce back. On the other hand, Pickard is a perfect 7-0 in this postseason, playing well in their Game 4 comeback.

THE SCORE: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice doesn’t seem troubled by how tightly-contested this Stanley Cup Final has been. If anything, he is enjoying it.

“This is as good as this thing gets,” he told reporters. “This is Christmas. This is the payoff. You want to be a good pro, but Tuesday on the road on the West Coast in November, not as much fun as you’d think. This is where you get the payback…this is truly the juice that you live for.”

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final is Saturday in Edmonton at 8 pm ET.

IN OTHER NEWS

TORONTO SUN: Long-time Maple Leafs play-by-play man Joe Bowen announced that the 2025-26 season will be his last. Known for his catchphrase “Holy Mackinaw!”, the 74-year-old Bowen has been broadcasting for nearly 44 years, 28 of those calling Leafs games on the radio, earning the title of “The Voice of the Maple Leafs.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be the end of an era for the Leafs. Bowen will be among a long list of notable long-time hockey broadcasters who’ve retired since 2020, joining Mike Emrick, Pat Foley, Sam Rosen, and the late Rick Jeanneret and Mike Lange.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins re-signed winger Boko Imama to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks traded the rights of defenseman Victor Soderstrom to the Boston Bruins for prospect defenseman Ryan Mast and a 2025 seventh-round pick.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Earlier this week, the Kraken parted ways with assistant coach Bob Woods.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2025

by | Jun 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2025

The Oilers rally to defeat the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck wins the Hart and Vezina trophies, Kings captain Anze Kopitar wins the Lady Byng Trophy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OILERS RALLY, DEFEAT THE PANTHERS IN GAME 4 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl’s overtime goal gave the Edmonton Oilers a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at two games apiece.

The Panthers dominated the first period, with Matthew Tkachuk scoring twice and Anton Lundell tallying to take a 3-0 lead, putting the Oilers on the verge of collapsing as they did in Game 3. After swapping out starting goalie Stuart Skinner for Calvin Pickard, the Oilers tied it on goals by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and Vasily Podkolzin.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Edmonton took the lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third period on a slapshot by Jake Walman. However, Florida pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for an extra attacker and cashed in as Sam Reinhart tied it with 20 seconds remaining in the period.

The Panthers nearly won it in overtime when Sam Bennett hit the crossbar. Moments later, Draisaitl hopped onto the ice, skated into the Panthers’ zone, and shoveled a one-handed backhander that deflected off Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola past Bobrovsky.

This series returns to Edmonton for Game 4 on Saturday, June 14, at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was one of the greatest Stanley Cup Final games I’ve ever seen. Edmonton seemed done like dinner after the first period, and Florida appeared on the verge of taking a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.

The Panthers completely controlled the first period, outplaying Edmonton to take what seemed an insurmountable three-goal lead. Skinner couldn’t be faulted for those goals, which were the result of his teammates’ sloppy play. Swapping him for Pickard felt like a desperation move, but it helped to settle the Oilers down. He was steady throughout the rest of the game, stopping 22 of 23 shots.

Draisaitl set an NHL record for the most overtime goals (four) in a single postseason. The Oilers shook up their lineup before the game, sitting forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenseman John Klingberg in favor of Jeff Skinner and Troy Stecher.

After the game, Draisaitl praised teammate Corey Perry for rallying his teammates following the first period. “Corey spoke up. When he speaks up, you listen, and you do what he says. We did a great job of grabbing it, grabbing some momentum and keeping it.”

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy for 2024-25. He’s the first goalie to win both awards since Carey Price in 2014-15, and the only active three-time winner of the Vezina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here, as a photo of Hellebuyck with both trophies was recently leaked on social media. Nevertheless, he was a deserving winner. He was the best goaltender in the league this season and was considered the front-runner for the Hart Trophy.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the third time in his career, taking only two minor penalties this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hockey followers often deride the Lady Byng Trophy because it rewards “gentlemanly play”, which is a quaint early 20th-century way of saying the winners play a strong, disciplined game. The 37-year-old Kopitar remains among the most respected two-way players in the game, whose play remains worthy of recognition.

Hellebuyck and Jets winger Kyle Connor were named to the 2024-25 First All-Star Team, joining Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, defenseman Victor Hedman, and winger Brandon Hagel were part of the Second All-Star Team. Joining them were Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens and 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks were among the players named to the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Team. They joined Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk.

Former NHL star and future Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr won a regional Emmy Award for his work as a producer and writer on last year’s broadcast of his jersey retirement ceremony by the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

by | Jun 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar wins the Norris Trophy, an update on the Rangers’ efforts to trade Chris Kreider to the Ducks, the latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Cale Makar is the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman for 2024-25. It’s the second time the 26-year-old Colorado Avalanche blueliner has taken home this award, having won in 2021-22.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar has been the NHL’s dominant defenseman since 2020-21. In addition to winning the Norris twice, he’s been a finalist three times (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24). He joins Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins as the only active multiple Norris Trophy winner.

Since Makar’s NHL debut in 2019-20, he leads all defensemen with 428 points and 24 game-winning goals, sits fourth in takeaways (295) and sixth in 5v5 puck possession (55.5 percent shot attempt percentage) among defensemen with 300-plus games played.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers have an agreement in principle on a trade that would send winger Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. Now, they await his blessing.

Anaheim is on Kreider’s 15-team no-trade list, but his camp permitted the Rangers to hold trade discussions with the Ducks. As of Tuesday night, the 33-year-old winger hadn’t signed off on the deal, but Brooks cited an Anaheim source saying it was a fait accompli.

Should the deal go through as expected, it will be a straightforward salary dump by the Rangers. The Ducks will take on Kreider’s full $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27, while the Rangers would receive prospect Carey Terrance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Rangers could also receive a third or fourth-round pick in the deal.

**UPDATE**

Kreider approved the trade. The Rangers send him and a 2025 third-round pick to the Ducks for Terrance and a 2025 fourth-rounder.

Brooks believes Rangers forward Miko Zibanejad could be amenable to waiving his no-movement clause if Kreider is traded, pointing out that the pair are close friends.

Moving Zibanejad might not be as easy as trading Kreider. He has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Leading the best-of-seven series 2-1, the Panthers have an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to reveal his starting goaltender for Game 4 until Thursday morning. Starter Stuart Skinner has a perfect 6-0 record in his previous Game 4s, while backup Calvin Pickard is a perfect 6-0 in this postseason.

NHL.COM: The Oilers could replace defenseman John Klingberg with Troy Stecher for Game 4. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. He had the same status in Game 3, but played 15:34 in that contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Game 4 is the pivotal contest. An Edmonton win ties the series, turning it into a best-of-three with the Oilers holding home-ice advantage if it goes the distance. A Panthers victory puts them in a position to win their second straight Stanley Cup in Game 5.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL and NHL Players’ Association are getting closer to a CBA extension.

They’ve been meeting in Florida during the Stanley Cup Final and, while issues remain, it’s expected a deal could be completed soon. LeBrun speculates it could be done in time to present to the Board of Governors meeting on June 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it reaches that stage, the CBA extension could supersede the current agreement, slated to expire in September 2026. James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested the deal would run to September 2030.

Reports suggest there would be few significant changes in the next CBA. The most notable would be adjusting the long-term injury reserve (LTIR) rules to address the issue of playoff contenders using LTIR to bolster their rosters at the trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former Penguins owners Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle and David Morehouse are reportedly interested in purchasing a minority stake in the franchise. They sold the club to Fenway Sports Group in 2021 for $900 million.

It was initially reported that the Lemieux group was investigating the possibility of buying back the Penguins. Still, FSG reiterated that they’re only interested in selling a minority share to raise capital as they develop the property around PPG Paints Arena.

THE SCORE: An Atlanta group eyeing NHL expansion has received agreements from the Forsyth County Commission for a $3 billion project that includes the construction of an NHL-ready arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors have swirled suggesting the NHL could soon return to Atlanta. The league has played coy on the matter, and building a new arena doesn’t guarantee the arrival of an NHL franchise. Nevertheless, it’s only a matter of time.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators revealed a new-look third jersey for 2025-26. It will be themed in red with metallic black and gold striping.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 11, 2025

by | Jun 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 11, 2025

The Ducks and Rangers are discussing a Chris Kreider trade, Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson wins the Calder Trophy, the fallout from Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RANGERS, DUCKS REPORTEDLY DISCUSSING A TRADE INVOLVING CHRIS KREIDER

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports sources indicate the New York Rangers are in discussions with the Anaheim Ducks regarding a trade that would send Chris Kreider to the Ducks.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Kreider, 34, has two years remaining on his contract. The Rangers winger carries an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list.

The two clubs intend to continue discussions on Wednesday. There is mutual interest between the parties, and a framework for a deal is in place. The recent talks involved Ducks prospect Carey Terrance being part of a return that would send Kreider to the Ducks.

NEW YORK POST: Andrew Battifarano cited a report claiming the Rangers would receive a prospect and a draft pick in return for the Ducks acquiring Kreider and his entire $6.5 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal could become the first involving an NHL player since the March trade deadline.

Kreider has been a fixture in the rumor mill since the Rangers included him on a list of available players that was sent around the league last November. This proposed trade would reunite him with Jacob Trouba, who was shipped to the Ducks last December.

The Rangers have been among the busiest teams in this season’s trade market as general manager Chris Drury attempts to retool his roster. His club currently has over $8.4 million in cap space, with 19 active roster players under contract for the 2025-26 season and restricted free agents Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller to re-sign. However, the latter is also considered a trade candidate.

Trading Kreider for futures would increase the Rangers’ cap space to almost $15 million. That gives them the wiggle room to re-sign Cuylle for sure and Miller if they wish. It also leaves enough to make a significant acquisition via trade or free agency.

HUTSON WINS THE CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is the 2024-25 winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s Rookie of the Year. He learned of his win during a surprise party arranged with his family.

Hutson, 21, is the seventh player in franchise history to win the Calder, and the first since Ken Dryden in 1971-72. Dryden congratulated the young blueliner via video.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson led all rookies this season with 66 points, tying Hall-of-Famer Larry Murphy’s single-season rookie assist record (60). Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf finished second among the voters, while San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini was third.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

THE ATHLETIC: The Florida Panthers aren’t getting ahead of themselves following their lopsided 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. They expect a stronger response from the Oilers in Game 4 on Thursday in Florida at 8 pm ET. Florida holds a 2-1 lead in the series. 

TSN: Oilers defenseman Jake Walman was fined $10,000 by the NHL department of player safety for roughing Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk and unsportsmanlike conduct during Game 3.

IN OTHER NEWS…

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed winger Adam Klapka to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.25 million.

RG.ORG: Reports claiming KHL free-agent forward Maxim Shabanov signed with the Philadelphia Flyers are premature. His agent said his client will make his decision which NHL team he will sign with after the NHL Draft (June 27-28) and when the free-agent market opens on July 1.

Shabonov had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games with Chelyabinsk Traktor and was a finalist for the KHL’s MVP award. Due to his age, his first NHL contract would be a one-year, two-way deal.

TSN: The verdicts in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Team will be announced on July 24.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The five (Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Callan Foote) went on to become NHL players, but have not played in the league or anywhere else since charges were filed against them in January 2024. They all pleaded not guilty.