NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

by | Jul 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

The latest on Mario Lemieux’s attempt to repurchase the Penguins, an update on Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg’s arbitration filing, the Canadiens avoid arbitration with Jayden Struble, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe provides more details behind the attempt to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins by a group led by Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux was co-owner of the franchise with partners Ron Burkle and David Morehouse from 1999 until 2021, when they sold the majority stake to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for $900 million.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins captain and co-owner Mario Lemieux (NHL.com).

The Lemieux group has not yet made an offer or discussed one with FSG. Yohe anticipates those talks could be coming soon.

FSG is reportedly only seeking a minority investor to join in its ownership of the Penguins. However, the Lemieux group prefers a majority stake in the team.

According to Yohe, expansion is one reason behind the Lemieux group’s interest in buying back the Penguins. The NHL is expected to add two new teams within the next couple of years, with Houston and Atlanta mentioned as potential destinations. Each team could pay as much as $2 billion in expansion fees, which would be evenly split among the existing 32 franchises.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe anticipates FSG’s asking price for the Penguins will be much higher than the $900 million they paid for the franchise.

Sportico had the Penguins’ value at $1.47 billion last October. Statistica has its current value at $1.75 billion.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Dylan Samberg and the Jets have filed their arbitration numbers for the 2025-26 season.

The Samberg camp set their number at $6 million, while the Jets settled at $2.5 million. His arbitration hearing is set for Wednesday, July 30.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant gap between the two sides. Nevertheless, they could reach an agreement before Wednesday’s hearing.

Samberg completed a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4 million. If this goes before an arbitrator, he will receive a one-year contract, making him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens avoided arbitration with defenseman Jayden Struble as the two sides agreed to a two-year, one-way contract worth an AAV of $1.412 million. Struble, 23, was slated to have an arbitration hearing on August 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samberg and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson are the only players with scheduled arbitration hearings. Robertson’s is slated for August 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Aaron Ekblad remains pleased that he and the Panthers were able to get a contract extension done. The 28-year-old defenseman was eligible to become a UFA on July 1, but the two sides agreed to an eight-year, $48.8 million extension on June 30.

Some insiders reported there was a sense that Ekblad and the Panthers were far apart in contract negotiations, sparking speculation he’d end up on the open market. He admitted the signing was a huge weight off his shoulders that he’d been carrying last season, but he wasn’t close to leaving the Panthers.

“It was always Florida,” Ekblad said. “I don’t think you guys understand; Florida is home.” He added that it meant the world to him to spend his entire NHL career with one team, adding that he has a lot of pride and expectations for his career over the next eight years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has been the linchpin of the Panthers’ defense corps. His contract could become burdensome to their salary cap over the final years of the deal, as could those of Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, who the Panthers also re-signed.

Nevertheless, the Panthers felt it was worthwhile to keep their Stanley Cup window open, especially with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the next several years.

RG.ORG: Anaheim Ducks prospect forward Beckett Sennecke had a big season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. Chosen third overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, he had 86 points in 56 regular-season games in 2024-25, followed by 32 points in 18 playoff games as the Generals reached the OHL Finals.

The Ducks have maintained close contact with Sennecke, helping him improve his strength and puck protection. He will remain patient, saying he’s open to whatever path they believe is best for his development.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sennecke, 19, could make the jump this season if he has a strong training camp and preseason.










Notable NHL Trades and Signings – June 30, 2025

by | Jun 30, 2025

Notable NHL Trades and Signings – June 30, 2025

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed winger Mitch Marner to an eight-year, $96 million contract ($12 million average annual value. They subsequently traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights for center Nicolas Roy. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: And with that, Marner’s nine seasons with the Maple Leafs come to an end. 

Marner was projected to receive between $12.5 million and $13 million annually. It’s a little less than market value, but it comes with long-term security. 

It’s a good deal for Marner, and he ends up in a preferred destination. The 28-year-old winger is coming off a career-best 102-point performance. He’s in his prime and considered among the league’s elite two-way forwards. Whether this is the right deal for the Golden Knights remains to be seen. 

Toronto Maple Leafs sign winger Mitch Marner and trade him to the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL Images).

Marner brings additional offense to the Golden Knights and should also help defensively. However, this leaves the Golden Knights top-heavy among their top-six forwards at the expense of their overall roster depth. That should be a familiar situation for Marner, having been part of a similar experience with the Leafs for years. 

Snark aside,  a lack of overall depth prevented the Golden Knights from repeating as Stanley Cup champions over the last two seasons. Marner’s monster contract will once again leave them with limited cap space, forcing them to try and get creative. 

One way is placing veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve for 2025-26, freeing up his $8.8 million AAV. However, that will be used up mostly for Marner’s cap hit, leaving little wiggle room to boost their depth. 

As for the Leafs, they at least get something for Marner rather than losing him to free agency for nothing. Roy, 28, is a big, physical middle-six forward who can play center or wing with two years on his contract at an annual cap hit of $3 million. He’ll provide size, versatility, and experienced skill to their checking lines. 

The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $10.5 million. Bouchard, 25, was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard’s getting a significant raise over the $3.9 million AAV of his previous contract. It’s not surprising given how he’s blossomed into a high-scoring puck-moving blueliner.

Bouchard netted a career-best 82 points in 2023-24. His production slipped to 67 points in 2024-25, but he was fifth among defensemen in scoring. He also led all blueliners in postseason scoring this year with seven goals and 23 points.

The Oilers had little choice but to pay Bouchard that much, though at four years it’s a manageable term if his performance drops off. However, they now have nearly $20 million tied up in two defensemen, with Darnell Nurse pulling in $9.25 million annually through 2029-30. It leaves the Oilers with around $550,000 in cap space, which means a cost-cutting trade is coming soon.

The Florida Panthers re-sign Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad made no secret of his desire to remain with the Panthers. It was assumed he’d have to accept a pay cut on a contract shorter than the eight years ($7.5 million AAV) of his previous deal. 

Instead, he gets another maximum eight-year contract with a pay reduction that wasn’t as severe as expected. 

The Panthers rewarded Ebklad for not only his loyalty but his years of hard work as the anchor of their defense corps, culminating in back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. However, this is a contract that probably won’t age well. 

Now 29, Ekblad has been hampered by injuries since 2020-21, and his performance declined a bit in 2024-25. If this persists, this deal could become a salary-cap headache down the road. 

The Detroit Red Wings trade winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tarasenko signed a two-year contract last summer with the Red Wings, but things didn’t work out for him in Motown. After netting 23 goals and 55 points in 2023-24 with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, the 33-year-old winger managed only 11 goals and 33 points with the Wings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquire winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A skillful playmaking winger, the 24-year-old Maccelli had a career-best performance in 2023-24 with 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points. However, his production dropped significantly last season as he tumbled down the Mammoth’s depth chart, becoming a healthy scratch in 26 regular-season games. This could turn into a steal for the Leafs if Maccelli regains his form.

The New York Islanders signed defenseman Alexander Romanov to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. Romanov, 25, was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a foregone conclusion after the Islanders traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Romanov’s deal makes him their highest-paid defenseman. He’s not a point-producer like Dobson, but he’s a physical shutdown blueliner who logged over 22 minutes of ice time per game last season.










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 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 22, 2025

by | Jun 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2025

Check out the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad and Zach Werenski, the Kraken trade Andre Burakovsky to the Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he will decide over the next several weeks if he’ll require surgery to repair the injuries that sidelined him for the final 25 games of the regular season.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Following the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk admitted he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Surgery could sideline him for the entire training camp period in September and the start of the regular season in October.

“It’s going to take a few weeks to determine if I need it or not,” said Tkachuk. “It’s probably 50-50 right now. I don’t know if I’ll have a normal summer or not. I hope so. I’m not just going to jump into surgery without talking to everybody and going through everything. I have a few weeks here when I can figure it out.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers would miss Tkachuk’s offense and agitating style if he’s sidelined to start next season. They were 13-11-1 during his absence down the stretch in 2024-25.

TSN: Speaking of the Panthers, Aaron Ekblad said contract extension talks with the club have begun. “Conversations have been had,” he said. “Obviously, nothing material yet, but they’ll be working on it. Things seem to come down to the last minute here.”

The 29-year-old defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. He has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Panthers. “It’s home and I expect it to be home,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is coming off an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million. His performance has declined over the past couple of seasons.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space, with Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand, and blueliner Nate Schmidt also UFA-eligible on July 1. Ekblad might have to accept a pay cut on a shorter-term deal to stay in Florida.

THE ATHLETIC: Coming off a career-best performance, Zach Werenski is hoping to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to bigger and better things.

The 29-year-old joined the league’s elite defensemen this season with an 82-point performance. He was runner-up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy and named to this season’s Second All-Star Team.

Werenski’s efforts helped the Blue Jackets overcome the tragic death of winger Johnny Gaudreau. They exceeded expectations this season, narrowly missing the playoffs. He wants to be part of a winning culture in Columbus and is optimistic about their future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have a core of rising young forwards like Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitry Voronkov, and Kent Johnson. They also have up-and-coming defenseman Denton Mateychuk and a promising goaltender in Jet Greaves. With Werenski now at an elite level, his skills and leadership will be invaluable in helping this club take the next step.

The Jackets also have over $40 million in salary-cap space for 2025-26. Management has the room to make a couple of significant additions that could pay long-term dividends.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW/THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Chicago Blackhawks acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for center Joe Veleno.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Kraken, exchanging Burakovsky’s $5.5 million AAV through 2026-27 for Veleno’s $2.75 million for 2025-26. They have $18.6 million of cap space for 2025-26 with 17 active roster players under contract.

The rebuilding Blackhawks continue to add experienced short-term depth to take pressure off their promising young players.

Injuries hampered Burakovsky during his first two seasons with the Kraken. He played in 79 games this season but managed 39 points, which was a far cry from the career-best 61 points he had with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, which earned him his current contract.

The Kraken now have sufficient room to re-sign restricted free agents (RFAs) Kaapo Kakko and Tye Kartye. They acquired winger Mason Marchment last week from the Dallas Stars and should still have enough cap space to make another substantial addition to their roster.

This is the second time this season that Veleno’s been traded. The Blackhawks acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline. He could provide the Kraken with short-term depth at center for the coming season.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks placed defenseman TJ Brodie on unconditional waivers to buy out his contract.

They signed the 35-year-old defenseman last summer to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. However, Brodie’s performance noticeably declined and he was a healthy scratch during the final 22 games of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks won’t get much cap relief for 2025-26. This buyout counts as $3.233 million against their cap next season, dropping to $258,333 for the 2026-27 season.

THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo reports the Minnesota Wild are closing in on hiring former Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin as the new bench boss of their AHL affiliate in Iowa.

RDS: Jesse Puljujarvi scored the overtime winner for the Charlotte Checkers to defeat the Abbotsford Canucks 4-3 in Game 5 of the AHL’s Calder Cup Final. This was the third game in this series that required overtime. Abbotsford holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

by | Jun 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

What’s next for the Oilers after another Stanley Cup Final defeat? Has Aaron Ekblad played his final game for the Panthers? What’s the latest on Mitch Marner? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE OILERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Daniel Nugent-Bowman looks ahead at the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason after losing in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.

Team captain Connor McDavid has a year left on his contract and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1. It’s assumed he’d re-sign since his longtime agent, Jeff Jackson, took over the Oilers’ hockey operations in 2023. Teammate and friend Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension last fall heightened those expectations, but nothing has been finalized yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, either this summer or before his UFA eligibility next July. It’s doubtful Draisaitl would’ve re-signed if he felt McDavid wouldn’t do the same.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).

Defenseman Evan Bouchard is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who will seek a substantial raise over the $3.9 million average annual value of his recent contract. The Oilers have $12 million in salary cap space next season and Bouchard could take up three-quarters of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some Oilers fans believe Bouchard should be traded given his defensive deficiencies. However, moving him would leave the Oilers lacking offense from the blueline. They’ll likely re-sign Bouchard for between $9 million and $10 million annually, and try to find a suitable stay-at-home defense partner for him.

The Oilers must free up cap space once Bouchard is re-signed. Nugent-Bowman noted that players who could be moved for performance or cap reasons have full no-movement protection (Adam Henrique, Viktor Arvidsson) or partial no-trade clauses (Evander Kane).

Goaltending remains a big question mark. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard each have a year left on their contracts with cheap salary cap hits. However, Nugent-Bowman wondered if management would bring them back. The pickings are slim for replacement goalies in this summer’s free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Journal also wondered about the Oilers’ goaltending, specifically Skinner. He suggested the possibility of an offseason trade exists, but Skinner’s consistency could make him a tough sell. There’s also the question of finding a suitable replacement in the trade market.

HAS AARON EKBLAD PLAYED HIS FINAL GAME WITH THE PANTHERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed the Florida Panthers have $19 million in salary cap space with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad UFA-eligible on July 1. They also need a new backup goalie for Sergei Bobrovsky.

Proteau doubts the Panthers can afford to re-sign all three, leaving Ekblad as the odd man out. They acquired right-shot defenseman Seth Jones in March, and he’ll only cost $7 million annually against the Panthers’ cap. They also have blueliner Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, and Dmitry Kulikov under contract next season, making Ekblad a luxury they cannot afford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has frequently said he wants to stay with the Panthers. He might have to accept a pay cut from his current $7.5 million AAV to do so.

THE LATEST ON MITCH MARNER

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Mitch Marner could delay his signing a new contract this summer into the middle of July as he and his representatives review offers and meet with the interested teams.

The 28-year-old winger has not informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that he doesn’t intend to sign with them. They could still be part of the bidding once the UFA market opens on July 1.

Multiple teams appear set to make offers to Marner on July 1. The question remains how much he’ll earn and whether he’ll become the highest-paid player in the league. He’s coming off a six-year contract with an AAV of $10.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl is currently set to become the highest-paid player for 2025-26 when his contract extension begins on July 1. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is second at $13.25 million.

It will be interesting to see how long the Marner camp takes before deciding on a suitable destination. I wouldn’t mind if he takes two or three weeks, as the speculation would help this site’s offseason traffic (hey, I gotta make a living), but I can understand why some fans would prefer he get it done and over with quickly.