NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2025

by | Aug 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2025

Suggested trade destinations for Ducks center Mason McTavish, and an update on free-agent forward Jack Roslovic in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently suggested six trade destinations for Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old center is a restricted free agent and a frequent subject of trade speculation.

Dixon noted that McTavish’s contract negotiations with the Ducks could drag into October before an agreement is reached on a new deal. The same thing happened to Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in 2023, but both players were later traded.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)

The Ducks’ depth at center has also stoked the McTavish trade conjecture. It could make them the rare club that would consider moving a promising young center for the right return.

Dixon listed the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Philadelphia Flyers as potential landing spots for McTavish.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has a long friendship and work relationship with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman going back to their playing days. Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka might interest Verbeek if Yzerman is willing to part with him.

The Hurricanes still have around $10 million in cap space and a willingness to make bold moves. However, they could find it difficult to scrape together a suitable trade package.

McTavish could address the Canucks’ need for a reliable, healthy second-line center. They have pieces they could ship out, but cap space would be an issue.

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson might be enticing for the Ducks, provided they’re not on his six-team no-trade list, and he is willing to sign an extension.

Dixon wondered if the Canadiens would part with a projected top-four defenseman like David Reinbacher to bring in McTavish to address their second-line center issue. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Flyers have a recent trade history with the Ducks, having acquired Drysdale and Zegras from Anaheim.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The silence from the Ducks and the McTavish camp regarding the status of their contract talks is fueling trade rumors at a time when there’s little real hockey news. Some observers interpret their silence as a sign that those negotiations are contentious, but it could also be that they’re unwilling to negotiate through the media.

Whatever the reason, the McTavish speculation isn’t going away.

As for the teams on Dixon’s list, the Canadiens, Red Wings, and Flyers could have a better chance at acquiring McTavish, but that depends on their willingness to part with one of their top prospects. The Canadiens are reportedly unwilling to move Reinbacher or young center Michael Hage, which would take them out of the running unless Verbeek lowers his asking price.

The Ducks are hoping to become a playoff contender this season. Verbeek may be reluctant to accept a return of draft picks and prospects unless a promising NHL player is included in the deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance reports the Vancouver Canucks might be cooling off on their rumored pursuit of free-agent forward Jack Roslovic.

Drance noted the Canucks were considering their options on what remained in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market, but they didn’t view those players as the answer to their significant needs at center.

The Canucks believe a healthy Filip Chytil and the late-season emergence of Aatu Raty could give them enough at center to maintain control of the situation in the short term without turning to what’s left in free agency.

Drance claims the Canucks are still in the market for a center, but the trade market is the more likely route to address that need.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2025

by | Aug 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2025

Nazem Kadri believes he should have a chance to make Canada’s Olympic team, Marc-Edouard Vlasic isn’t happy over being bought out by the Sharks, an update on Flyers forward Tyson Foerster, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri recently told Julian McKenzie that he believes he deserves a chance to make Canada’s 2026 Olympic Men’s hockey team.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

“I think over the last few seasons I’ve certainly proven that with my statistics and the winning pedigree,” Kadri said. “I think it speaks for itself.”

Kadri was left off the 42-man orientation camp roster. The Olympic roster will be finalized in early 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A strong performance this season could earn Kadri a place on the team, especially if injuries strike before the tournament.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Marc-Eduoard Vlasic is displeased over how his 19-season tenure with the San Jose Sharks ended this year.

The 38-year-old defenseman was under the impression he would return for the final season of his contract in 2025-26 following what he claimed was a positive exit interview. Instead, they informed him at the end of June that they were buying him out.

Vlasic isn’t considering retirement. He’s hoping to land with another NHL team this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Age and injuries led to a decline in Vlasic’s performance and a reduction in his playing time over the past three seasons. At the time of the buyout, Sharks general manager Mike Grier acknowledged it was a difficult decision, but they needed to free up a roster spot to improve their defense corps. He claimed Vlasic handled the decision well.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere last week said that winger Tyson Foerster should be ready for the start of the season. The 23-year-old was recovering from surgery to address an infection from an injury suffered during the 2025 World Championships.

“Everything looks good right now,” said Briere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Foerster will be crucial for the Flyers this season. He was second on the club with 25 goals as a sophomore in 2024-25.

TSN: Utah Mammoth prospect Caleb Desnoyers underwent wrist surgery last week and will be sidelined for 12 weeks. The 18-year-old forward was selected fourth overall by the Mammoth in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will affect Desnoyers’ chances of cracking the Mammoth roster this season. In all likelihood, he was slated to return to the QMJHL before suffering the injury.

SPORTICO: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joined his NFL, NBA, and MLB peers last week to meet with members of the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, specifically regarding blackout rules.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to “George O” for the link. Time will tell if this leads to any meaningful change to the SBA.

THE ATHLETIC: Billionaire financier Tom Dundon and a group of investors reached an agreement last week to buy the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers. Dundon is the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The sale of the Trailblazers is not yet final. There is some concern in Portland that the group could move the franchise to another city. Dundon and his Hurricanes’ spokesperson didn’t respond to questions about whether he intends to keep the team in Portland.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The name of the Lightning’s home venue will change from Amalie Arena to Benchmark International Arena.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators announced last week that they will maintain their AHL affiliate in Belleville through the 2029-30 season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2025

by | Aug 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2025

Here’s a look back at the notable news during my vacation in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

ESPN.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he remains undecided over whether he’ll undergo surgery for a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia before the 2025-26 season. However, he acknowledged he could miss the first two to three months of the schedule if he goes under the knife.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Based on Tkachuk’s offseason workouts, he’ll know for certain if he needs surgery. We’ll know by mid-September when the Panthers’ training camp begins.

TSN: Keith Tkachuk shot down any trade speculation about his son, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. He said Brady loves it in Ottawa and has cemented himself within the community. Keith believes the Senators are a team on the rise, and Brady wants to be a part of it.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keith believes Matthew’s departure from Calgary three years ago has fans wondering if Brady will also do so. However, there was also speculation out of New York last season claiming the Rangers had made the Senators’ captain a trade target, prompting Senators ownership to suggest the Blueshirts were engaged in “soft tampering” regarding Tkachuk.

During his end-of-season press conference, Brady dismissed the rumors as lies. It hasn’t fully put to rest the speculation, given that his father had to recently dispel it. They’ll likely continue to surface whenever the Senators are struggling, and the chatter will likely go into overdrive when he enters the final season of his contract in 2027-28.

RG.ORG: Winger Brad Marchand said the club’s re-signings of center Sam Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad were key reasons behind his decision to ink a six-year contract with Florida.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is in the tail end of his long career and wants to remain with a Stanley Cup contender. Now 37, it’s unlikely he’ll play out the entirety of his contract, but neither he nor the Panthers is concerned about the long term. Winning three Cups in a row and becoming the first true NHL dynasty since the early 1980s New York Islanders is what matters.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson is fully fit a month before training camp and is seeking “revenge” after his abysmal 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old Pettersson said he’s learned from last season and will be a more mature player in 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s disappointing performance last season was a key factor in the Canucks missing the 2025 playoffs. A return to form this season is a must if they’re to be postseason contenders.

RG.ORG: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin isn’t surprised that superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and promising center Marco Rossi remain unsigned. He said the talks have been “pretty consistent, and I’ve been happy with them”. Guerin also said reports claiming Rossi can’t be signed until Kaprizov is under contract are false.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The dearth of real hockey news through the first half of August has fueled speculation over the status of the Wild’s contract negotiations with Kaprizov and Rossi. Kaprizov is in the final season of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next July, while Rossi is a restricted free agent awaiting a new contract.

Guerin has plenty of time to get both players signed before the start of training camp. However, the speculation will persist if the current drought of notable NHL news continues throughout the remainder of this month.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks made the case for J.T. Miller to be named the new captain of the Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll know by October whether the Rangers will have a captain for this season, and who it’ll be. Do you agree with Brooks that it should be Miller? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

NESN.COM: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm has been cleared for training camp in September. He appeared in 17 games last season until sidelined by a fractured kneecap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm’s absence contributed to the Bruins missing the playoffs last season. He’ll be a key factor in their attempt to rebound in 2025-26.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Flyers in a grievance filed by the NHL Players’ Association following the termination of forward Ryan Johansen’s contract in August 2024.

Johansen was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024, and immediately placed on waivers. He was assigned to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in LeHigh Valley, but didn’t play for the remainder of the season due to a hip injury.

The Flyers placed Johansen on unconditional waivers last August and terminated his contract, citing a “material breach”. He missed all of last season recovering from hip surgery and remains a UFA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansen played every game of the 2023-24 season with the Avalanche, but informed the Flyers that he couldn’t report to the AHL or play due to his hip injury. At the time, he had a year remaining on his contract. The Flyers would’ve been on the hook for that final season had the ruling gone against them.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators and the National Capital Commission (NCC) reached an agreement in which the club will purchase 11 acres of land for a new arena at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa. It’s believed the Senators will pay over $30 million for the land, which is 10 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Senators still have several hurdles to clear before the deal becomes a reality. Nevertheless, this is a significant step toward realizing the dream of a new arena near the heart of Ottawa.

THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE: The Wild signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional tryout contract (PTO).

TSN: The Detroit Red Wings signed UFA defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, $1 million contract.

USHL.COM: Former NHL forward Pat Maroon joined the coaching staff of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Maroon won three straight Stanley Cups (2019 to 2021) with the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former NHL defenseman Josh Gorges was hired by the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets as an assistant coach. Gorges spent eight of his 13 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford announced his retirement as a player and is joining the club’s front office in a player development role. Clifford spent 13 seasons in the NHL (2010-11 to 2022-23) with the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and the Maple Leafs, winning two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) with the Kings. In 753 NHL games, Clifford had 66 goals and 78 assists for 144 points, and 16 points in 65 playoff games.

DAILY FACEOFF: Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel retired after 13 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers. In 369 regular-season games from 2012-13 to 2024-25, he had 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points. He also appeared in 25 playoff contests, winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016-17.

MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings will go with their “Hockeytown” center ice logo for their 2025-26 centennial season. The logo was introduced in 1996-97. It was removed in 2018 following the move from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 24, 2025

by | Jul 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 24, 2025

Updates on the Wild’s contract negotiations with Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi, Flyers winger Matvei Michkov weighs in on dump-and-chase hockey, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli was asked about the contract extension negotiations between the Minnesota Wild and winger Kirill Kaprizov.

Seravalli believes the 28-year-old superstar winger will get “north of what Leon Draisaitl got from the Edmonton Oilers.” Draisaitl signed an eight-year, $112 million contract with an average annual value of $14 million last September.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

“I would ballpark somewhere in the neighborhood of eight years times $15 million,” Seravalli said. “That’s just a guess. No matter what, it’s going to be a significant, significant deal. The richest in Minnesota Wild history.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli’s not alone in making that assessment. Kaprizov is the most exciting player in Wild history. They’re not going to risk losing him to free agency next July.

With the salary cap reaching $104 million for 2026-27, the Wild have a projected cap space of $45.1 million with 14 active roster players under contract. They will open the vault to re-sign Kaprizov.

DAILY FACEOFF: On Monday, Michael Russo of The Athletic said the Wild are in a “major contract dispute” with Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old center is a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract.

Russo observed that comparable players, like Matt Coronato of the Calgary Flames and Gabriel Vilardi of the Winnipeg Jets, have signed deals in the $7 million AAV range. He indicated that Rossi turned down a five-year offer from the Wild worth $5 million annually during the winter.

According to Russo, the Wild don’t want to offer Rossi more than the $7 million AAV that teammate Matt Boldy is earning. He also doubts that they want to go into the $6 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Russo believes the two sides haven’t held talks in three or four weeks. Wild general manager Bill Guerin could reopen discussions in mid-August or early September as training camp approaches.

Russo also mentioned the possibility of Rossi signing an offer sheet, but so far that hasn’t happened. Guerin has said he would match any offer for the young center, which could be having the desired effect of discouraging a rival club from trying their luck. It’s doubtful anyone will offer Rossi over $7 million.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers sophomore winger Matvei Michkov is no fan of dump-and-chase hockey. He prefers to “carry the puck in under control, make a clean pass and enter the zone with possession.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is a proponent of the dump-and-chase style. However, it’s unlikely he’ll rein in Michkov to the point where he stifles the youngster’s creativity. During his tenure coaching the Vancouver Canucks, his system allowed skilled players like Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller to carry the puck into the opposing zone.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars will induct Joe Nieuwendyk and Ralph Strangis into the team’s Hall of Fame on Nov. 16.

Nieuwendyk spent seven seasons with the Stars from 1995-96 to 2001-02, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1999 as he led them to the Stanley Cup. Following his playing career, he served as their general manager from 2009 to 2013.

Strangis was the longest-tenured play-by-play broadcaster in Stars history. He spent 25 years with the organization, including 22 years in Dallas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nieuwendyk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

CSKA MOSCOW: signed Daniel Sprong to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old winger spent nine seasons in the NHL with seven teams. He had 87 goals and 79 assists for 166 points in 374 regular-season games.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Nathan Beaulieu announced his retirement on Wednesday at age 32.

A first-round pick (17th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in 2011, Beaulieu spent 11 seasons in the NHL from 2012-13 to 2022-23 with the Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks. He had 12 goals and 86 assists for 98 points in 471 regular-season games and 5 points in 21 playoff contests.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 22, 2025

by | Jul 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 22, 2025

Vladislav Gavrikov’s expected role with the Rangers, the latest on Maxim Tsyplakov’s contract negotiations with the Islanders, Canada fills out its coaching staff for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW YORK POST: Vladislav Gavrikov is expected to be the shutdown presence the Rangers were lacking on their blueline last season. The 29-year-old defenseman signed a seven-year, $49-million contract with the Blueshirts on July 1.

New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (NHL Images).

It’s expected that Gavrikov will be Adam Fox’s partner on the Rangers’ top defense pairing when they open their season in October. According to NHL.com, he finished second in stick checks among all defensemen last season and second in defensive-zone stick checks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov enjoyed a career-best performance last season with the Los Angeles Kings, stepping up when top blueliner Drew Doughty was sidelined for over half the season. His experience and all-around defensive play should provide a welcome boost to the Rangers’ defense corps.

Turning to the Islanders, a new contract for forward Maxim Tsyplakov is the lone unfinished piece of business for new general manager Mathieu Darche. The 26-year-old right winger filed for salary arbitration on July 5.

The arbitration period began on July 20 and runs to Aug. 4, but no date has been publicly announced for Tsyplakov’s hearing. A resolution could come at any time before his hearing.

Both sides could be awaiting the arbitration date before negotiating an agreement. Tsyplakov also became a father on Saturday, which is understandably a bigger priority for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hearing dates are usually publicly announced before the start of the arbitration period. That hasn’t happened yet. The players and the teams may have already been informed privately.

TSN: Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights, Rick Tocchet of the Philadelphia Flyers, and former Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer will be the assistant coaches for Canada’s men’s hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper is the head coach for Canada. He’s bringing in the same assistant coaches that he had for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

SPORTSNET: Philadelphia Flyers prospect winger Porter Martone has committed to Michigan State University for 2025-26. The 18-year-old was chosen sixth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. He was captain of the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads last season.

BELARUS HOCKEY: CSKA Moscow has shown an interest in winger Kevin Labanc. The 29-year-old is a nine-year veteran of the NHL. He spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Labanc was a once-promising scorer with the San Jose Sharks. After reaching a career-high 56 points in 2018-19, his production declined as he struggled with consistency. A shoulder injury last season limited him to 12 points in 32 games.

THE ATHLETIC: NHL goalies are welcoming the upcoming changes to the rules for emergency backup goalies (EBUGs) in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Under the new CBA, EBUGs will now travel and practice regularly with the team. It will help lessen the workload for NHL goalies during road games.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger explained that teammates who participate in optional skates need a goalie to practice with. He would sometimes strap on the pads for the good of the group rather than rest for the upcoming game.

Oettinger said the change was a long time coming. He believes it will help goaltenders stay healthy and have longer careers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oettinger explained that the change to the EBUG system was something the players asked for. It received no opposition from the owners, who understood the reasons behind it.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

by | Jul 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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