NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 7, 2025

by | Nov 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 7, 2025

The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and the Ducks’ Cutter Gauthier are tied for the goal-scoring lead, the Devils hold first place in the Eastern Conference, the Bruins extend their points streaks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby tallied twice to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. The Penguins blew a 3-0 lead until Bryan Rust scored and Connor Dewar collected an empty-net insurance goal to improve their record to 9-4-2. Rust finished the night with three points. Alex Ovechkin had two assists, and Dylan Strome scored and had two helpers for the 7-6-1 Capitals, who have lost five of their last six games.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 38-year-old Crosby has 11 goals, tying him for the league lead in that category. This game was the 99th time that Crosby and Ovechkin have faced each other since their NHL debut in 2005-06. Meanwhile, Penguins rookie winger Filip Hallander missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Chris Kreider scored twice to help their club upset the Dallas Stars 7-5. Leo Carlsson also had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who scored seven goals for the second straight game as they moved into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division with 19 points (9-3-1). Miro Heiskanen had four assists and Wyatt Johnston had a goal and two assists for the 7-4-3 Stars, whose points streak ended at seven games (4-0-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier, 21, is tied with Crosby for the league goal-scoring lead. That’s a 17-year age gap between the two stars.

The New Jersey Devils overcame a 3-2 deficit on goals by Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt to nip the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. Jack Hughes picked up two assists for the 10-4-0 Devils, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference over the 9-3-2 Canadiens. Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, and Oliver Kapanen scored, and Noah Dobson had two assists for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury. They activated forward Cody Glass off injured reserve for this game after being sidelined for seven games with an upper-body injury. They also placed defenseman Brett Pesce (upper-body injury) on IR.

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s point streak ended at 12 games.

An overtime goal by Pavel Zacha extended the Boston Bruins’ win streak to five games as they downed the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly also scored for the 9-7-0 Bruins, who moved up into third place in the Atlantic Division. Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux replied for the 6-5-3 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forward John Beecher left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Meanwhile, the NHL is taking another look at gambling allegations against Senators forward Arthur Kaliyev after his former girlfriend, model Lauren Mochen, claimed he owes her and others around the league thousands of dollars. The league has yet to find any evidence of wrongdoing, but will continue to examine the case. Kaliyev currently plays for the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Belleville.

The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Nashville Predators 3-1. Noah Cates snapped a 1-1 tie, and Travis Konecny and Cam York each had two points for the 8-5-1 Flyers. Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators, who dropped to 5-7-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly ripped his team’s performance following this game. He was also critical of his own efforts. “The number one center and I turn the puck over everywhere,” he said. “I can’t make a six-foot pass to save my life. Not going to have much success if I’m playing pathetic like that.”

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer turned in a 28-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 3-0. Mathieu Joseph, Nick Bjugstad, and Justin Faulk scored for the 5-8-0 Blues. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 14 shots for the Sabres, who dropped to 5-5-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The struggling Blues raised eyebrows when they made leading scorer Jordan Kyrou a healthy scratch. That had some observers wondering if a trade might be afoot, but it was head coach Jim Montgomery’s way of sending a message to his players about his unhappiness with their performance this season.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres placed forward Jiri Kulich on injured reserve. He’s been dealing with an issue related to fluid in his ears.

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel each scored two goals in a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kucherov, Hagel, and rookie forward Dominic James each had three points for the Lightning, who improved to 7-5-2. Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner each had three points for the 7-3-3 Golden Knights.

The Carolina Hurricanes tamed the Minnesota Wild by a score of 4-3. Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes as they improved to 9-4-0. Matt Boldy tallied twice for the Wild, who dropped to 5-7-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Tyler Pitlick received a major and a match penalty for a hit to the head of Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield, who left the game and did not return. Hurricanes blueliner K’Andre Miller collected an assist in his return to action after missing six games with a lower-body injury.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored two goals in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves as the Panthers improved their record to 7-6-1. Anze Kopitar and Corey Perry tallied for the 6-5-4 Kings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Struggling Rangers winger Artemi Panarin has shaved his head in a light-hearted effort to try to break out of his slump. He also admitted that concerns about the future are on his mind. The 34-year-old winger is in the final season of his contract and eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. To date, there’s no indication the two sides are close to an extension.

TSN: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington explained he had every intention of handing over Alex Ovechkin’s 900-goal puck after tucking it into his goalie pants after the Capitals star scored the milestone goal on Wednesday.

Binnington joked that he had a claim to the puck since it was his turnover that led to the goal. “I had full intention to give it back to him.”

ROTOWIRE: Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan underwent evaluation after suffering an upper-body injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Calgary Flames. More information on his condition is expected before Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks placed rookie forward Michael Misa on injured reserve. He suffered a lower-body injury during the morning skate before Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Maple Leafs have suspended forward David Kampf for leaving their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. It’s expected this situation will be resolved soon, either by his reporting back to the Marlies, the two sides agreeing to terminate his contract, or he gets traded to another club.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 1, 2025

by | Nov 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 1, 2025

Recaps of Friday’s action, the Devils re-sign Jacob Markstrom, and the latest notable injury updates in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks got a four-point performance from Leo Carlsson (one goal, three assists) in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Troy Terry tallied twice and picked up an assist for the Ducks (6-3-1), who’ve won four of their last five games. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist each for the 8-4-0 Red Wings as their three-game win streak ended.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was John Gibson’s first game in Anaheim since being traded by the Ducks to the Red Wings this summer. He gave up four goals on 31 shots.

Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas had a goal and two assists as his club doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Cale Makar had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who improved to 7-1-4 and moved into first place in the Western Conference with 18 points. Golden Knights forwards Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner each had a goal and an assist as their club dropped to 6-2-3, but remain atop the Pacific Division with 15 points.

The New York Islanders got a 22-save performance from Ilya Sorokin in a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bo Horvat, and Mathew Barzal were the goal scorers as the Islanders improved to 5-5-1. Tom Wilson replied for the 6-5-0 Capitals, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

HEADLINES

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Jacob Markstrom agreed to a two-year contract extension with the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The 35-year-old goaltender was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Markstrom will earn the same average annual value ($6 million) as his current contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not a surprise that the Devils got their starting goalie under contract. What is surprising is that Markstrom settled for a short-term deal. Reports were claiming he sought a long-term contract, but the Devils preferred the shorter option given his age.

The deal ensures the Devils’ current goalie tandem of Markstrom and Jake Allen remains intact. Allen was signed to a five-year deal this summer.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins center Elias Lindholm will be out of the lineup for “a few weeks” after suffering a lower-body injury during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman K’Andre Miller (lower body) on injured reserve, and activated goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov off IR.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres placed forward Zach Benson (undisclosed) on IR and recalled forward Isak Rosen.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2025

by | Jul 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2025

Mitch Marner reveals why he left the Leafs for the Golden Knights, reaction to the biggest moves during the opening day of free agency, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

MITCH MARNER SHEDS LIGHT ON HIS DECISION TO LEAVE THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner was formally introduced as the newest member of the Vegas Golden Knights during a press conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old winger was part of a sign-and-trade agreement between the two clubs on June 30, agreeing to an eight-year, $96-million contract. Speaking with the media for the first time since the deal, he revealed the reasons why he changed teams.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner said Vegas was his first choice. Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the trade between the two teams was agreed to during the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft last Friday. He said they wanted the sign-and-trade to get the eighth year on his new contract, as it slightly lowered the average annual value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Under the existing CBA, a team can re-sign its own player to a maximum eight-year contract. Had the Golden Knights waited until free agency opened on July 1 to sign Marner, the deal would’ve been a maximum of seven years.

Under the next CBA, the maximum contract will be seven years for re-signing a player, and six years if they become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) starting in 2026-27.

The Golden Knights have been interested in Marner for some time. They attempted to acquire him at the March trade deadline in a three-way deal involving the Carolina Hurricanes. However, his wife was pregnant and he didn’t want to leave Toronto at that time. “And I was still very committed to playing in Toronto, and wanted to focus on being there and finishing a job there,” Marner said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner released a statement thanking the Leafs and their fans, acknowledging that he came up short trying to end their long Stanley Cup drought.

It’s a sad end to Marner’s nine seasons in Toronto. He was one of the greatest players in franchise history, sitting fourth all-time with 520 assists and fifth with 741 points. However, his postseason struggles drew the wrath of Leafs Nation, greasing the skids for his inevitable departure.

Marner will add more offense to the Golden Knights’ forward lines, and his elite two-way game will also help them defensively. However, his hefty new contract leaves them top-heavy with expensive forwards, leaving little cap space to address their lack of overall roster depth that has prevented them from repeating as Stanley Cup champions since winning the Cup two years ago.

REACTION TO SOME OF THE NOTABLE MOVES OF THE OPENING DAY OF FREE AGENCY

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I listed most of yesterday’s notable signings and trades here. However, I was unable to post my reactions as I was busy grading the biggest UFA signings for Bleacher Report. You can read those by following this link.

The New York Rangers traded defenseman K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Scott Morrow, a conditional first-round pick in 2026, and a 2026 second-round pick. The Hurricanes signed Miller to an eight-year, $60-million contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller struggled with consistency during his tenure with the Rangers. The Hurricanes are betting he’ll blossom under head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s system.

The Vancouver Canucks signed goaltender Thatcher Demko to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $8.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demko has a year left on his current deal with a cap hit of $5 million. The 29-year-old netminder was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2023-24, but a nagging lower-body injury limited him to 23 games last season.

The Canucks hope Demko’s injury woes are in the past. His new cap hit is among the league’s highest for goaltenders, but the short term suggests the injury issue remains a concern.

The Hurricanes also re-signed forward Logan Stankoven to an eight-year, $48 million contract. The AAV is $6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stankoven was acquired from the Dallas Stars as part of the return in the Mikko Rantanen trade in March. A versatile forward who can play center or wing, the 22-year-old had 38 points in 78 games last season between the Stars and Hurricanes, and five goals and eight points in 18 playoff games.

The Hurricanes are betting on Stankoven’s potential to become a second-line forward. They will be hoping this gamble pays off better than the one they made in Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who hasn’t played up to expectations as a second-line center.

The Los Angeles Kings signed forwards Corey Perry and Joel Armia, defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, and goaltender Anton Forsberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This would be quite a haul for the Kings if most of those players were five years younger. It appears they’ve gotten older, not better.

The Boston Bruins acquired winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers for a 2027 fifth-round pick, and signed forward Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract with an AAV of $3.4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins did the Oilers a favor by taking Arvidsson and his $4 million cap hit off their books. However, the 32-year-old winger hasn’t been the same since back surgery sidelined him for most of the 2023-24 campaign. They brought in Jeannot to bolster their toughness, but the deal is too long and too expensive for a fourth-line forward.

The Edmonton Oilers signed winger Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mangiapane had a career-best season (35 goals, 55 points) in 2021-22, but his production has dropped off since then. He’s part of the Oilers’ efforts to offset the gaps in their forward lines following the departures of Arvidsson, Perry, Evander Kane and Connor Brown.

The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for forward Zachary Bolduc.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal should benefit both clubs. The Canadiens drew from their depth in young defensemen to get a promising middle-six forward who tallied 19 goals as a rookie last season. The Blues added a mobile young blueliner with top-four potential to their defense corps.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Dan Vladar to a two-year, $6.8 million contract with an AAV of $3.4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ goalie depth was dreadful last season. Vladar should be a reliable backup for young starter Samuel Ersson.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks for a 2028 third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Salary dump by the Penguins, clearing his $2.3 million cap hit from their books. Nedeljkovic will back up promising Yaroslav Askarov in San Jose.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Winger Nikolaj Ehlers is the top player remaining in the UFA market. Other notables include defenseman Dmitry Orlov, center Pius Suter and winger Jack Roslovic.

RG.ORG: Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is pleased with the new CBA, singling out the elimination of escrow that annually withheld a portion of a player’s salary to balance potential revenue shortfalls. With league revenues more stable and predictable, escrow is being phased out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Escrow was an annoying issue for the players for years. They’re understandably happy that they won’t have to deal with those clawbacks.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Reports suggest Flyers forward Tyson Foerster suffered a biceps injury that could sideline him for some time. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said Foerster suffered an injury during the 2025 World Championships and came down with an infection that required surgery. There’s been no timeline for his return.

TSN: Long-time hockey analyst and insider Bob McKenzie has retired after 48 years as a journalist. His long career included stops with The Globe & Mail, The Hockey News, and the Toronto Star before joining TSN.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenzie was the gold standard for hockey insiders. He was well-liked and highly regarded around the league, and was also the go-to source for information on top NHL prospects. I had only brief interactions with McKenzie, but he was always kind and helpful. Here’s to a long, happy and healthy retirement, Bobfather.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former Red Wings star Alex Delvecchio passed away on Tuesday at age 93.

A skillful, disciplined and durable playmaker, Delvecchio spent his entire 24-year NHL career with the Red Wings from 1950-51 to 1973-74, winning three Stanley Cups and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times. He’s among their franchise leaders with 1,550 games played, 456 goals, 825 assists and 1,281 points. Delvecchio also had 104 points in 121 playoff games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Delvecchio’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Red Wings organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 1, 2025

by | Jul 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 1, 2025

The NHL’s annual free-agent market opens at noon ET today. Check out the latest free-agent and trade speculations in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON NIKOLAJ EHLERS

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes are considered the favorites to land Nikolaj Ehlers. The 29-year-old former Winnipeg Jets winger is among the few notable players potentially available in the unrestricted free-agent market.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss believes the Bruins should pursue Ehlers. He cited the winger’s offensive consistency as a top-six forward.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders could also attempt to sign Ehlers. He could still re-sign with the Jets, but it appears he’s heading to market today.

COULD THE JETS TARGET BROCK BOESER?

THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: Johnston yesterday suggested Brock Boeser could be “Plan A” to replace Nikolaj Ehlers if the latter goes to market on Tuesday. The Jets have over $23 million in cap space, and Johnston indicated he wouldn’t be surprised if they pursue the former Vancouver Canucks winger today.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored the Oilers might attempt to sign Boeser. However, that seems unlikely without shedding significant salary after their recent signings of Evan Bouchard and Trent Frederic.

CANADIENS AMONG TEAMS INTERESTED IN JORDAN KYROU

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens remain interested in Jordan Kyrou. The 27-year-old St. Louis Blues winger is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million. His no-trade clause begins on July 1.

LeBrun indicated the Blues had spoken with several teams to determine his value in the trade market before deciding if they’d move him or retain him after his NTC began. It would take multiple assets for the Canadiens to acquire him, and they’d have to free up more cap space to take on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou’s NTC could prevent the Blues from shipping him to Montreal. The Canadiens are in the market for a top-six forward this summer, but they might have to consider other options.

UPDATE ON RASMUS ANDERSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the thinning free-agent market for defensemen could rekindle trade interest in Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman will be UFA-eligible next July and isn’t expected to re-sign with the Flames.

Teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings are interested in Andersson. They would like assurances that he’d sign an extension with them, but the only club he’s willing to do that for is the Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames aren’t feeling pressured to trade Andersson this summer. They’re reportedly fine with going into this season with him still in the lineup. It remains to be seen if the Golden Knights remain interested after their expensive acquisition of Mitch Marner on Monday.

RANGERS STILL EYEING GAVRIKOV

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the Rangers remain interested in signing Vladislav Gavrikov if the 29-year-old Los Angeles Kings defenseman becomes a UFA today. However, their inability to move blueliner K’Andre Miller complicates their pursuit of Gavrikov, who could command between $7 million and $8 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov was seen as the Rangers’ replacement for Miller, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. They have around $13 million in cap space. Adding Gavrikov would eat up over half of it.

WILL JAKE ALLEN REMAIN WITH THE DEVILS?

DAILY FACEOFF’s Frank Seravalli reports the New Jersey Devils and Jake Allen remain in negotiations. He claimed the Devils had made progress, suggesting the 34-year-old goaltender could be re-signed before noon today.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers could be closely watching Allen’s situation.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 29, 2025

by | Jun 29, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 29, 2025

What’s the latest on Bowen Byram? Are the Oilers still goalie-shopping? What’s going on with the Rangers and Islanders? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON BOWEN BYRAM

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports Bowen Byram appears headed out of Buffalo. The 24-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and has been the subject of frequent trade speculation.

Byram might be the only good asset the Sabres have left to bring in a top-six winger to replace the departed JJ Peterka.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

Harrington noted there are several clubs making inquiries about Byram. He wondered if the blueliner might fetch a top forward like Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings or Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. He also speculated whether a move for Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust is dead now that the draft is over, or does it return to life on Tuesday, when Rust’s no-trade protection expires.

BARN BURNER PODCAST: TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Sabres are getting interest in Byram from the Kings, Vancouver Canucks and the Vegas Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I doubt the Kings will part with Byfield. Kyrou has surfaced in recent speculation, but the Blues appear to be listening to offers rather than actively shopping the 27-year-old right winger.

Rust has also been the subject of recent conjecture. Like the Blues with Kyrou, the Penguins might be listening, but they’re not rushing to move the 33-year-old winger.

WHO COULD THE OILERS TARGET TO IMPROVE THEIR GOALTENDING?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski reported that a couple of goalie options for the Oilers came off the board yesterday. The Anaheim Ducks traded John Gibson to Detroit, and the St. Louis Blues re-signed Joel Hofer.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he’ll continue exploring his options, but didn’t rule out sticking with his current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

Kurt Leavins noted the Oilers have been linked to Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko. The 29-year-old has a year left on his contract with a $5 million cap hit, and the Canucks could move him if unable to sign him to an extension.

Leavins wondered if the American goaltender would prefer being traded to a US-based team like Philadelphia or San Jose over a contender like Edmonton. He also mentioned Demko has an injury history. His cap hit would be difficult for the Oilers to fit into their limited cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There aren’t many options left for Bowman to improve his goaltending. Jake Allen is the best UFA-eligible netminder and could re-sign with the New Jersey Devils.

The Canucks have not indicated that they want to move Demko. He lacks no-trade protection, but if they were to peddle him, they could send him to a team of his choosing.

UPDATES ON THE RANGERS AND ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers face the possibility of Will Cuylle becoming an offer-sheet target on July 1. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights coming off an entry-level contract.

The Rangers could pitch a two-year bridge deal for Cuylle comparable to that of Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster, who signed a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million on May 30. However, Cuylle could be tempted by a more lucrative offer from a rival club.

Brooks doesn’t see Cuylle getting an offer that the Rangers couldn’t match. However, they have around $13 million in cap space. An offer sheet between $6.5 million and $7 million could put them in a pickle.

Defenseman K’Andre Miller hasn’t been traded yet. If the RFA blueliner is still a Ranger by July 1, it could complicate their efforts to sign Vladislav Gavrikov when the Los Angeles Kings blueliner becomes a UFA on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov could cost around $7,5 million annually. Combine that with Brooks’ proposed offer sheet for Cuylle, and the Rangers would have to make another cost-cutting trade as he did earlier this month when he sent Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks.

Meanwhile, Ethan Sears reports Islanders GM Mathieu Darche confirmed forwards Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat won’t be moved.

Trading Noah Dobson to Montreal gives the Islanders some cap room to maneuver after accounting for RFAs like Alexander Romanov, Max Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman. Sears believes they must shore up the right side of their blueline if they intend to compete for a playoff berth in 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders have over $20 million in cap space for next season with 17 active roster players under contract.










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.