NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 29, 2025

by | Jun 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 29, 2025

The Maple Leafs and Golden Knights discuss a sign-and-trade scenario for Mitch Marner, updates on Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Vladislav Gavrikov, and notable news from the second day of the draft in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LEAFS AND GOLDEN KNIGHTS DISCUSS “SIGN-AND-TRADE” FOR MARNER

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights were in ongoing talks regarding a potential “sign-and-trade” scenario for Mitch Marner. The 28-year-old right wing is expected to test the unrestricted free-agent market when it begins on July 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Dreger reported the talks could carry over into Sunday. He indicated there was more work to be done in terms of the return for Toronto. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said the Leafs would prefer to get something for Marner rather than lose him to free agency for nothing, but declined to comment about the speculation linking the winger to the Golden Knights.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported the Leafs were believed to be asking for forward Nicolas Roy and defenseman Nicolas Hague in return for Marner’s rights.

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger looks at what this trade would mean for the Golden Knights, particularly their salary-cap payroll.

Assuming Marner receives an average annual value (AAV) between $12 million and $14 million, the Golden Knights would have over $80 million invested in their top-10 player, leaving little room under the $95.5 million cap to fill out the rest of the roster.

Granger noted there were questions about the health of Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. If he lands on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), it would free up his $8.8 million cap hit, leaving the Golden Knights with around $17.4 million before acquiring Marner. It would be a tight squeeze adding Marner, another defenseman, and another forward, but it could be doable.

Nevertheless, this scenario would leave the Golden Knights’ roster more top-heavy and would come at the expense of their roster depth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Marner would make them a more powerful offensive team, but it would come at the expense of their defense. Their pursuit of big-name talent has hurt their overall depth, which explains why they haven’t repeated as Stanley Cup champions over the last two seasons.

As for the Leafs, getting two established NHL players for a star who is heading to free agency would be a good return that helps them defensively. However, it wouldn’t replace the offense that Marner brought to the club over the past nine years.

UPDATES ON MARCHAND, EKBLAD AND GAVRIKOV

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito remains focused on trying to sign pending UFAs Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad before the free-agent market opens on Tuesday. On Friday, the Panthers announced that center Sam Bennett signed an eight-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have $11 million in cap space with 17 active roster players under contract for next season. Marchand reportedly seeks a raise over the $6.13 million AAV of his previous deal. Ekblad could accept a pay cut from the $7.5 million of his former deal, but the contract term is reportedly the sticking point in his negotiations.

MAYOR’S MANOR: John Hoven reports Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland said it looks like Vladislav Gavrikov is heading to market on July 1. Holland said he’s had several talks with the 29-year-old defenseman’s agent over the past week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov has been linked to the New York Rangers in the rumor mill. I’ll have more about that in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

NOTABLE NEWS FROM THE SECOND DAY OF THE 2025 NHL DRAFT

THE SCORE: The San Jose Sharks chose Simon Wang with the 33rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, making Oshawa Generals defenseman the highest-drafted Chinese player in NHL history.

NHL.COM: Ten current or committed NCAA Division 1 players were chosen during the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. It’s the third-most in college hockey history and the most since 2016.

For the first time in 38 years, at least 20 Canadian-born players were chosen in the opening round.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for the complete list of every pick made in the 2025 NHL Draft.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning GM Julien BriseBois is trying to trade top prospect Isaac Howard but hasn’t found a deal yet that satisfies both sides.

Howard is the 2025 winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy as the top player in US college hockey. However, the 21-year-old Michigan State University winger hasn’t agreed to an entry-level NHL contract with the Lightning, preferring the option to choose which team he’ll sign with.

If unsigned by next August, Howard will become an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: BriseBois might have to wait until next year’s trade deadline to find a suitable offer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin recently underwent surgery for an upper-body injury. He could be sidelined for the start of the 2025-26 schedule in October.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues signed goaltender Joel Hofer to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.4 million. He was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for Hofer becoming an offer-sheet target this summer.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed defenseman Haydn Fleury to a two-year, $1.9 million contract extension.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: The Penguins acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick (39th overall) from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defensemen Conor Timmins and Isaac Beliveau.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th pick in this year’s draft from the Wild in exchange for blueliner Chase Priskie and pick No. 123.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 28, 2025

by | Jun 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 28, 2025

Are the Canadiens seeking another trade after acquiring Noah Dobson? What’s the latest on the Penguins? What’s going on with Rasmus Andersson, Bowen Byram, Darnell Nurse, and more? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANADIENS NOT DONE DEALING AFTER ACQUIRING DOBSON?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens aren’t done making trades after acquiring Noah Dobson on Friday from the New York Islanders. They want to add to their top-six forwards.

The Canadiens seek a second-line center, but are also open to adding a winger. LeBrun said they’re among several teams interested in Jordan Kyrou. The 27-year-old right winger has six years left on his contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $8.125 million.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (NHL Images).

Teams aren’t certain how serious Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is about moving Kyrou, whose no-trade clause begins on July 1.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports Armstrong declined to comment on the Kyrou speculation. He noted that the Blues are in the market for a center, but those options are dwindling with John Tavares and Sam Bennett off the free-agent market and the Avalanche trading Charlie Coyle to Columbus.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The asking price for Kyrou is likely a top-six center, but the Canadiens are also in the market for a similar player. It’s doubtful there’s a fit there.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels speculates the Canadiens’ acquisition of Dobson could make puck-moving blueliner Mike Matheson available. The 31-year-old has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.875 million and an eight-team no-trade list.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont also suggested Matheson as a trade chip in the Canadiens’ efforts to land a center. He also thinks they’ll try to move Carey Price’s contract ($10.5 million AAV for 2025-26) to a rebuilding team attempting to reach the $70.2 million salary-cap floor.

THE LATEST PENGUINS RUMORS

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman cited Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas telling NHL.com that there was no truth to a rumor that appeared on Friday suggesting Sidney Crosby was being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, also weighed in to shoot down the speculation, calling the chatter “baseless rumors”. Meanwhile, Avalanche center and Crosby’s friend Nathan MacKinnon tweeted the rumor was “fake news”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Someone suggested months ago that Crosby should take one more run at a Stanley Cup by joining his buddy MacKinnon in Colorado and it keeps resurfacing for some stupid reason. They can’t seem to grasp that the long-time Penguins superstar intends to finish his career in Pittsburgh.

Crosby signed a two-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 last September. If he truly wanted another shot at the Stanley Cup, he’d be going to market on Tuesday instead of sticking with the rebuilding Penguins.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying there was trade talk between Pittsburgh and the Buffalo Sabres regarding Penguins winger Bryan Rust. The 33-year-old forward has a no-trade clause until July 1.

Kingerski also indicated some Western Conference clubs have an interest in Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. He suggested keeping an eye on the Los Angeles Kings, who looked into Rakell’s availability at the March trade deadline.

TEAMS REMAIN INTERESTED IN RASMUS ANDERSSON AND BOWEN BYRAM

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Calgary Flames aren’t feeling pressure to move Rasmus Andersson. The Buffalo Sabres feel the same way about Bowen Byram.

Nevertheless, there are teams interested in the two defensemen. They include the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings. Dreger also thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs could be in the mix.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Columbus Blue Jackets lost out to the Montreal Canadiens for Noah Dobson. However, they still want a top-four right-shot defenseman and remain interested in Rasmus Andersson.

THE LATEST ON DARNELL NURSE, K’ANDRE MILLER AND JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU

TSN: Ryan Rishaug reported there was nothing to recent speculation over the future of Darnell Nurse with the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old defenseman is signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $9.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have been shedding salary to free up cap space to re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard and to improve their goaltending. The Nurse rumor was probably based on the wishful thinking of an Oilers follower hoping his club would ditch that hefty contract.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports that the uncertainty over the trade status of K’Andre Miller could complicate the Rangers’ offseason plans. The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights who has been a fixture in the rumor mill for months.

Walker noted that the Rangers have been tied to Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who is UFA-eligible on July 1. It could cost an annual average value between $7 million to $8 million to sign him. It would be challenging to fit Gavrikov and Miller within their salary cap without making other moves.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith report the New York Islanders have informed teams they don’t intend to trade Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The 32-year-old center has a year left on his contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2025

by | Jun 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2025

The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday evening. Check out the latest trade speculation on Noah Dobson, Bowen Byram, Rasmus Andersson, K’Andre Miller, Vladislav Gavrikov and more in today’s Rumor Mill.

ISLANDERS ENTERTAINING OFFERS FOR NOAH DOBSON

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports the New York Islanders are listening to trade offers for Noah Dobson. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights seeking a significant raise over the $4 million average annual value (AAV) of his previous contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dobson could become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next summer if he gets a new contract via arbitration this summer. Rumor has it his camp wants an AAV between $10 million and $11 million. Any club interested in acquiring him will want assurances that he’ll sign an extension.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (NHL Images).

Johnston claims the Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues are among the teams that have spoken to the Islanders about Dobson. The blueliner is also eligible to sign an offer sheet if he’s still unsigned on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team signing Dobson to a deal with an AAV between $10 million and $11.7 million would have to part with two first-round picks, a second-round pick and a third-rounder as compensation to the Islanders. Anything over $11.7 million costs four first-rounders.

The Canadiens could use an experienced top-four, right-shot defenseman to take some pressure off Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The Blues have Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk on the right side, but the former is 32 and the latter 33.

The Isles are gauging the market, but it doesn’t mean they’re actively shopping Dobson. If they don’t get any intriguing offers, they’ll continue negotiating a new contract with the blueliner.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias weighed in on the Dobson speculation. He believes Montreal makes little sense as a trade destination for the type of return the Isles would want for Dobson. He felt the Blues and San Jose Sharks might make the most sense, as could the Utah Mammoth if Sean Durzi and the 2025 fourth-overall picks were part of the return.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reports Canadiens executive VP of hockey ops Jeff Gorton maintained his club intends to stick with their rebuilding plan. “This is a big weekend for us, and it’s a big summer for us, but we’re not going to do anything that’s stupid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Taking on Dobson at $11 million annually could be a stupid thing, especially when the priority remains adding a top-six forward, preferably a second-line center. Dobson is a talented puck-moving defenseman entering his playing prime, but he’s currently not an $11 million AAV player. 

IS BOWEN BYRAM NEXT ON THE SABRES’ TRADE BLOCK?

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there’s a lot of interest in Bowen Byram. Like Dobson, the 24-year-old is an RFA defenseman with arbitration rights. The Sabres could look at avoiding a potential contract snarl by trading him, like they did earlier this week with winger JJ Peterka by sending him to the Utah Mammoth.

Dreger believes the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and perhaps the Toronton Maple Leafs could be interested in Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A left-shot defenseman, Byram was acquired by the Sabres from the Avalanche. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams prefers player-for-player swaps because his club already has a well-stocked prospect pool. The asking price for Byram could be a top-six forward.

THE LATEST ON ANDERSSON, MILLER, GAVRIKOV AND ARVIDSSON

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports Flames GM Craig Conroy confirmed he’d spoken with Rasmus Andersson, saying things were “all good” between them. The 28-year-old defenseman has been the subject of frequent trade rumors. “If he’s a Calgary Flame in September, he’s a Calgary Flame”, said Conroy.

However, Gilbertson believes there’s no guarantee that Andersson will still be around by then. He’s a year away from UFA eligibility and there are contending teams interested in the right-shot rearguard.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes the rest of the Rangers’ offseason plans depend on what they do with K’Andre Miller. Like Dobson and Byram, the 25-year-old left-side defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights who has been the subject of trade conjecture for weeks.

TSN: Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland said he increased the contract offer his predecessor made to pending UFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. So far, however, there’s still no deal in place. It’s projected he could get a long-term deal with an AAV of $7.5 million on the open market.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson speculates the Oilers could “sweeten the pot” to move Viktor Arvidsson in a cost-cutting trade. He proposed packaging the 32-year-old winger with the 2025 fourth-round pick they received from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this week in the Evander Kane trade.

LATEST ON THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell looked at some recent rumors regarding the Golden Knights.

She doesn’t believe they have any intention of moving forwards William Karlsson and Tomas Hertl. Kirkell also doesn’t buy into the rumors linking them to Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram because he doesn’t fit their preference for physical blueliners.

Kirkell also pointed out the Golden Knights’ limited cap space has shrunk with the re-signing of Reilly Smith (one year, $2 million) and could deplete further with the anticipated re-signing of Brandon Saad.

UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Vancouver Canucks hope to make more moves this week. Acquiring a center is on their priority list. One move that could be off the table is trading Thatcher Demko. The 29-year-old goaltender is a year away from UFA eligibility.

SEVERAL FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN PLAY

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Pittsburgh Penguins hold picks No. 11 and 12 in the first round. They’re willing to move one of them for a good, young NHL player. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens could move the No. 16 or 17 pick for a top-six forward.

The Philadelphia Flyers are holding onto their first-rounder (sixth overall) but are willing to entertain offers for picks No. 22 and 31. The Nashville Predators hold picks 5, 23 and 26 and are considering their options.

With the seventh-overall pick, the Boston Bruins haven’t ruled out moving that selection for a return that would provide immediate improvement to their roster.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 26, 2025

by | Jun 26, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 26, 2025

What’s next for the Sabres following the Peterka trade and the Oilers after the Kane trade? What’s the latest on Erik Karlsson, Jordan Kyrou, Rasmus Andersson, Aaron Ekblad and more? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SABRES AND OILERS

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington believes the Sabres must have bigger moves in store after the “flimsy return” they received in the JJ Peterka trade. They shipped Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan.

With defenseman Bowen Byram expected to be the next trade candidate, Harrington thinks they have to be getting back a top-six forward to replace Peterka.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll have our answer in the next several days as trade activity picks up before the start of the unrestricted free-agent market on July 1. Byram’s been a fixture in trade rumors for months, with the expectation that he’d fetch a top-six forward.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers aren’t done making cost-cutting moves after trading Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks. They must re-sign restricted free agent (RFA) defenseman Evan Bouchard, and Leon Draisaitl’s new contract kicks in on July 1.

LeBrun believes Viktor Arvidsson will be next on the trade block. The 32-year-old winger has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $4.4 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, but he met with Oilers management and both sides agree it would be best if he moved on. His agent is working with the Oilers to find a suitable trade partner, and LeBrun thinks a deal could occur within the next two to three weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Kane leaves the Oilers with $16.2 million in cap space with 19 active roster players under contract. That’ll go up to $20.6 million if Arvidsson is traded, leaving enough room to re-sign Bouchard and address other roster needs.

THE LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is believed to be open to waiving his no-movement clause to go to a contender. However, the Penguins might have to retain some salary to reduce his cap hit to $7.5 million per season.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

Karlsson, 35, is signed through 2026-27 with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value (AAV). He’s also entitled to a $5 million bonus on July 1. Other teams could prefer waiting until that’s paid, but the Penguins could be less inclined to trade him after that date unless they get an extra asset in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s contract, coupled with his declining performance, will make it difficult for the Penguins to find a trade partner this summer. It’s not impossible, but those factors will make it difficult.

Meanwhile, LeBrun’s colleague Scott Wheeler reports the Penguins are aggressively trying to move up in the first round of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. They spoke to the Chicago Blackhawks about the third-overall pick. He believes they really like prospect winger Porter Martone and centers James Hagens and Roger McQueen.

ARE THE BLUES PEDDLING JORDAN KYROU?

STLTODAY.COM: Matthew DeFranks was asked about the recent trade speculation involving Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. He cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli placing the 27-year-old winger at No. 2 on his latest trade targets list.

DeFranks said he hasn’t heard much on the Blues’ end, but they’re usually tight-lipped about these things. He noted that Kyrou has been the subject of trade rumors in the past. He’s a young, cost-controlled scorer who has improved his defensive deficiencies.

However, Kyrou’s trade value has never been higher. The Blues are deep in wingers and need help at center. They could also use another young defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou completed the second season of his eight-year contract. His salary-cap hit is expensive ($8.125 million), and he has a no-trade clause that begins on July 1. If the Blues are shopping him, they could be eyeing a trade before next Tuesday; otherwise, they’ll need Kyrou’s approval.

UPDATE ON RASMUS ANDERSSON

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Calgary Flames are taking trade calls on Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old defenseman is a year away from UFA eligibility. Contract extension talks last week reportedly didn’t go well.

D’Amico cited a source claiming the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins have looked into Andersson. One source believed the Blue Jackets make a lot of sense, given their $40.4 million in cap space and depth in draft picks and prospects to use as trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico cited another source claiming the Ottawa Senators were pursuing Andersson. However, recent reports claim they’re on his six-team no-trade list.

IS AARON EKBLAD HEADED TO THE UFA MARKET?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun considers Aaron Ekblad likely headed to the UFA market next Tuesday. The long-time Florida Panthers defenseman reportedly hasn’t had any contract extension talks with management since last summer, though he expects the Panthers will make an offer before July 1.

Contract term was the issue in last summer’s discussion. LeBrun thinks that will still be a factor as the Panthers could be reluctant to invest too long in the 29-year-old Ekblad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Panthers. It’s believed he’ll take a pay cut from his current $7.5 million. If the term remains the issue, he might have to accept a three-year deal to remain in Florida. We’ll know for sure by July 1.

COULD THE KINGS PART WITH ALEX TURCOTTE?

MAYOR’S MANOR: There’s plenty of chatter suggesting the Los Angeles Kings could move Jordan Spence and/or Trevor Moore this week. However, Alex Turcotte could also be worth watching. Multiple teams are said to be interested in the 24-year-old winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Turcotte is entering the second season of his three-year contract with an AAV of $775,000. He’s battled injuries in recent years but played a career-high 65 games this season, netting 23 points. The former first-round pick (fifth overall, 2019) could be part of a bigger trade package.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 25, 2025

by | Jun 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 25, 2025

Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, updates on Connor McDavid and Jonathan Marchessault, the Islanders won’t part with the 2025 first-overall draft pick, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Hockey Hall of Fame will induct former NHL stars Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton in a ceremony in November.

Former Canadian women’s national team forward Jennifer Botterill and former United States women’s national team forward Brianna Decker will also be inducted into the players’ category.

Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Duncan Keith & Alexander Mogilny are part of the HHoF Class of 2025.(NHL.com)

Former Boston University coach Jack Parker and former Canadian women’s hockey coach, general manager and consultant Daniele Sauvageau will be inducted into the builders’ category.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the inductees for this well-deserved honor.

Regarding the NHLers, Chara was one of the dominant defensemen of his era. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and was a six-time finalist. Chara captained the Boston Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup. He is seventh all-time in games played (1,608) with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals.

Keith was one of the greatest players in Chicago Blackhawks history, helping them win three Stanley Cups between 2009-10 and 2014-15. He was a two-time Norris Trophy winner (2009-10, 2013-14), took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015, and won Olympic gold playing for Canada in 2010 and 2014.

Mogilny was finally inducted after 16 years of eligibility. Defecting from the Soviet Union in 1989 to play in the NHL, he had 1,032 points in 990 regular-season games (including a career-high 76 goals in 1992-93) with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1999-2000 and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2002-03.

Thornton was among the greatest playmakers in NHL history, sitting seventh overall with 1,109 assists and 14th with 1,539 points. He’s also sixth in games-played (1,714) with the Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. Thornton won the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2005-06.

TSN: Former Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price are among those who could be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next year. It will be Bergeron’s first year of eligibility and Price’s second.

It will also be the first year of eligibility for forwards Phil Kessel and Eric Staal. Patrick Marleau, Henrik Zetterberg and Ryan Getzlaf join Price among the recently eligible. Other potential candidates include Rod Brind’Amour, Sergei Gonchar, Jason Spezza, Curtis Joseph, Keith Tkachuk and Ryan Miller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some Canadiens fans were surprised that Price wasn’t inducted into this year’s class. In my opinion, Chara, Keith, and Thornton were more deserving candidates, and Mogilny had been passed over for far too long.

Price stands a good chance of induction in 2026. Given the longstanding rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens, it would be fitting if he and Bergeron joined the Hall in the same year.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman and CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson travelled to Ontario to meet with Connor McDavid’s agent, Jeff Moldaver, on Tuesday. The meeting was intended to discuss the broader directions of the organization rather than focusing on contract numbers.

McDavid has a year left on his contract with a salary-cap hit of $12.5 million and will become eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have understandably made signing McDavid to an extension their top issue this summer. They’re also giving their captain some time to decide when he wants to start those discussions.

McDavid made it clear following the 2025 Stanley Cup Final that winning the Cup is his priority. He’ll want to know how the Oilers intend to remain a Cup contender before agreeing to an extension. The fact that management is already meeting with his agent is a positive step.

NASHVILLE POST: Predators GM Barry Trotz said there is no substance to recent rumors suggesting he’s trying to trade Jonathan Marchessault. He confirmed that all was good with the winger’s camp, saying the veteran winger will return with the Predators next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault was one of three major free-agent signings by Trotz last summer. His production dropped with the struggling Predators this season, prompting speculation that he might welcome a trade.

THE TENNESSEAN: Speaking of the Predators, they hired former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson as an assistant coach. He replaces Todd Richards, who won’t be returning with the organization.

THE SCORE: New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said he has no intention of trading the first-overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL’s Erie Otters is considered the top prospect in this year’s draft, but Darche declined to tip his hand on who he’ll select.

NEW YORK POST: Darche admitted that trading for a second first-rounder in this draft is a possibility. The dream scenario for Islanders fans is their club selects Schaefer and somehow acquires another high first-round pick to use toward drafting center (and Long Island native) James Hagens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be quite the coup if Darche can pull that off.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Islanders, long-time forward Matt Martin hung up his skates and moved into the front office as a special assistant to Darche. He played in 987 regular-season games over 15 seasons with the Islanders and the Maple Leafs, 13 of those with the Isles, finishing with 178 points.

NEW YORK POST: The New York Rangers will send their 2025 first-round pick (12th overall) to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had included that pick (top-13 protected) as part of the return to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade. The Canucks subsequenty flipped it to the Penguins as part of the return for defenseman Marcus Pettersson.

Mollie Walker reports that next year’s draft class is considered to have a much deeper pool of talent. It would also have more value in the 2026 trade deadline if the Rangers attempt to upgrade for next year’s playoffs.

THE PROVINCE: The Dallas Stars could be eyeing Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra to fill their vacant head-coaching position. Malhotra guided the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate to the 2025 Calder Cup.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Inspired by their previous Winter Classic jerseys, the Blues unveiled their new uniforms and primary logo.

THE ATHLETIC: Nationwide Arena owners are planning $400 million in upgrades to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 25-year-old home.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 24, 2025

by | Jun 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 24, 2025

Reaction to the Ducks trading Trevor Zegras to the Flyers, Blues GM Doug Armstrong on the possibility of an offer sheet for Joel Hofer, the latest notable contract extensions, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS/NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Anaheim Ducks traded forward Trevor Zegras on Monday to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras, 24, was the subject of frequent trade speculation over the past two seasons. Chosen ninth overall by the Ducks in the 2019 NHL Draft, he was once considered a foundation player for the rebuilding Ducks.

Anaheim Ducks traded forward Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL Images).

Zegras was runner-up for the 2022 Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year, earned a spot at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game skills competition, and shared the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 23 videogame with Sarah Nurse.

After back-to-back 60-plus point performances in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Zegras underwent contentious contract negotiations with Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, missing training camp before agreeing to a three-year contract in October 2023. Injuries limited him to 31 games in 2023-24 and 57 games last season.

Zegras’ critics cited his one-dimensional offensive game and weakness in the faceoff circle. He first surfaced in trade speculation in January 2024 and was a fixture in the rumor mill.

Verbeek said the move was made to retool his roster for the 2025-26 season. He also noted that Zegras wanted to play center and thinks the young forward will get that opportunity in Philadelphia.

Moving Zegras ($5.75 million average annual value for 2025-26) for Poehling ($1.9 million) freed up $3.85 million in cap space for the Ducks, leaving them with $36.03 million available and 17 active roster players under contract.

The reaction from Philadelphia suggests this is a low-risk move with high-reward potential if Zegras stays healthy and establishes himself as a reliable first or second-line center. The Flyers didn’t give up any of their three first-rounders in this year’s draft, and they didn’t part with a top prospect or a good young NHL player.

If Zegras doesn’t pan out, he’s only under contract for this season. If he pans out, the Flyers can extend him. Otherwise, they could let him walk next summer.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Blues GM Doug Armstrong isn’t concerned about the possibility of a rival club thinking of signing Joel Hofer to an offer sheet. The 24-year-old goaltender is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a two-year, $1.55 million contract.

Armstrong made it clear that the Blues have the cap space to match an offer from a rival club. “I guess this is my shot across the bow,” he said. “You can go after him. You’re not going to get him.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hofer came up as a possible offer-sheet target because the Blues successfully signed away defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers last summer. Some observers suggested that the Oilers might make a retaliatory signing, or another club seeking goalie depth could target Hofer.

Armstrong isn’t bluffing. The Blues have over $5 million in projected cap space for next season with 22 active roster players under contract. They could get an additional $6.5 million in cap flexibility by placing sidelined defenseman Torey Krug on long-term injury reserve (LTIR).

Armstrong also said he’s spoken with pending unrestricted free-agent (UFA) defenseman Ryan Suter. The Blues GM said he’d told Suter about the seven blueliners they already have and Suter understood the situation. NHL.com’s Lou Korac believes Suter won’t return unless the Blues move one of their current defensemen.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed defenseman Mason Lohrei to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.2 million. He had a career-best 33 points but still has room to grow defensively, finishing with a league-worst plus-minus of minus-43.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins’ injury-ravaged roster and the shaky performance of starting goalie Jeremy Swayman contributed to Lohrei’s poor plus-minus. His defensive game should improve with another season of NHL experience, healthier linemates and a better effort from Swayman.

SPORTSNET: The New York Rangers signed center Adam Edstrom to a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed forward Justin Kirkland to a one-year, one-way contract worth $900,000.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL has a Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. The hope was to have the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) extension in place for Board approval. However, a few outstanding issues remain to be resolved.

LeBrun says the NHL and the NHLPA are inching closer to an agreement, and the league will provide a CBA update to the owners on Wednesday.

THE PROVINCE: The Abbotsford Canucks are the 2024-25 AHL champions, defeating the Charlotte Checkers 3-2 in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Final. Abbotsford goaltender Arturs Silovs was named the playoffs’ most valuable player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Silovs was the Vancouver Canucks’ postseason hero last year when he replaced sidelined goalies Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith during their first-round series with the Nashville Predators. Silovs isn’t waiver-exempt next season, which could lead to a logjam in the Vancouver crease with Demko and Kevin Lankinen also under contract for 2025-26.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders named Rocky Thompson as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Thompson spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Flyers.