NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2025

by | Oct 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2025

Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Sabres forward Alex Tuch, and Avalanche forward Martin Necas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: With the top of next summer’s free-agent market already thinning out, Pierre LeBrun believes the focus will shift toward New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.

The recent signings of Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel leave Panarin as the biggest name worth monitoring.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin is the oldest among that group of stars, turning 34 on Oct. 30. The play-making winger is coming off a seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.642 million.

Panarin won’t get another long-term contract. However, another solid season on his part could ensure he receives at least a three or four-year deal with an AAV close to his current number.

This situation could make things interesting for Panarin’s contract discussions with the Rangers. He reportedly rejected their offseason proposal of a short-term deal with a hometown discount. Both sides are staying silent about the subject as they await the outcome of this season.

LeBrun is also focused on Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas. He believes the recent re-signings have affected the Kempe and Tuch negotiations.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing between Kempe and the Kings, with Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander’s contract ($11.5 million annual average value) brought up in those discussions. Connor’s new contract with the Jets ($12 million AAV) could also be mentioned, leaving LeBrun to suggest that Kempe’s next contract could be between $11 million and $12 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The case can be made that Kempe isn’t on the same skill level as Nylander and Connor and thus not worth between $11 million and $12 million. However, with the salary cap rising, his camp’s asking price would be less than 12 percent of next season’s $104 million salary cap, which would subsequently decline each year as the cap continues to rise.

LeBrun said there’s been good dialogue between Tuch and the Sabres, but nothing’s imminent. Meanwhile, Necas wanted to start this season and see how it goes, as it’ll be his first full one with the Avalanche. However, he could soon get his agent to open talks with them. LeBrun thinks Necas will eventually re-sign with the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch told reporters last month that he’d love to sign a long-term extension with the Sabres. However, there could be another front-office housecleaning if the Sabres missed the playoffs again, which could leave Tuch facing an uncertain future in Buffalo.

As for Necas, RG.Org’s James Murphy cited an NHL source casting doubt on his finishing the season with the Avalanche, citing the club’s salary-cap crunch and the need to prioritize re-signing superstar defenseman Cale Makar.

Murphy listed the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks as possible playoff-rental destinations. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks could be clubs that trade for him with an extension in place.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2025

by | Oct 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s action, the Oilers re-sign Mattias Ekholm and add Jack Roslovic, Cam Atkinson to retire with the Blue Jackets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Shootout goals by Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Vegas Golden Knights 6-5. Quinton Byfield and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who overcame a 5-3 deficit. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists, Pavel Dorofeyev tallied a hat trick, and Mitch Marner collected two assists for the Golden Knights.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Golden Knights re-signed Eichel to an eight-year extension with an AAV of $13.5 million, which may have provided a little extra motivation for his season opener. He and Marner are already showing some promising offensive chemistry. Meanwhile, Dorofeyev’s hat trick is the first one of this new NHL season.

The Calgary Flames overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on a shootout goal by Nazem Kadri. Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf stopped 32 shots for the win. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored his 400th career regular-season goal.

Before this game, the Oilers announced that defenseman Mattias Ekholm had agreed to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. They also announced the signing of unrestricted free-agent forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: When healthy, Ekholm is a solid defensive blueliner and an invaluable part of the Oilers’ defense corps. He will be 36 when his new contract begins in July. However, with the salary cap rising significantly over the next two years, and with Connor McDavid taking a discount on a two-year contract extension, the Oilers felt it was a worthwhile investment as they continue their quest for the Stanley Cup.

Roslovic reportedly rejected an offer from Edmonton when free agency opened in July. He recently changed agents, which led to his new deal with the Oilers. It’s uncertain what role he’ll play with his new club.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won their 10th straight home opener with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Morgan Rielly snapped a 2-2 tie midway through the third period, and William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the Leafs. Oliver Kapanen and Zachary Bolduc replied for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was closer than the score suggests, with the Leafs’ final two goals being empty-netters. Speaking of the Leafs, former defenseman Mark Giordano joined their AHL affiliate as a coaching advisor.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Washington Capitals 3-1, giving head coach Marco Sturm his first NHL victory. Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie each had a goal and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots for the Bruins. Tom Wilson scored for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak has picked up from where he left off last season for the Bruins. Swayman also played well, getting off to a better start compared to last year, when he gave up four goals on 24 shots in his 2024-25 season opener after missing training camp and the preseason due to a contract dispute. He got the win in that game, but his performance was much sharper in this one.

Speaking of the Bruins, they named Pastrnak, Lindholm, and Charlie McAvoy as alternate captains, but intend to play this season without a team captain. The San Jose Sharks will also be without a captain this season, with sophomore center Macklin Celebrini among their five alternates.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Cam Atkinson will end his 13-season NHL career where it began: with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Atkinson, 36, will sign a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 16 and simultaneously announce his retirement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Atkinson had 253 goals and 236 assists for 489 points in 809 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He also had 10 goals and 26 points in 35 playoff games. He spent 10 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets, including a career-best 41 goals and 69 points in 80 games in 2018-19. Atkinson is second all-time among Blue Jackets skaters with 213 goals and 402 points and third in games played with 627.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers will honor the memory of Hall of Famer Bernie Parent with a jersey patch and a preseason ceremony during their home-opener on Oct. 13. There will also be a celebration of his life at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Nov. 21.

The beloved Flyers goaltender passed away on Sept. 21 at the age of 80.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome will miss the start of the season with an upper-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons will miss the first two games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Monday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 7, 2025

by | Oct 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 7, 2025

The regular season opens on Tuesday, reaction to the Oilers re-signing Connor McDavid, the Oilers also re-sign Jake Walman, the Bruins will retire Zdeno Chara’s number, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2025-26 regular season opens with a triple-header on ESPN on Tuesday.

It begins with the Florida Panthers raising their second straight Stanley Cup championship banner in a pregame ceremony before facing off with the Chicago Blackhawks. New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan faces his former club as his team hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Los Angeles Kings welcome the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadian hockey fans can watch these games on Sportsnet1 or TVA Sports.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychowski believes Connor McDavid put his money where his mouth is when he signed a two-year contract extension with the Oilers worth an average annual value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

McDavid’s contract is remarkably low as he maintains the same AAV of his current deal, illustrating his seriousness about winning a Stanley Cup with the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most NHL pundits shared that opinion. With the salary cap set to rise significantly over the next two seasons, McDavid has provided the Oilers with the cap flexibility to maintain a Stanley Cup contender. It’s now up to general manager Stan Bowman to do so.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun believes some NHL teams will try to use McDavid’s new contract as an argument for why their best players should follow his example. However, it’s unlikely to have much of an effect.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been underpaid for years, partly because of his superstition about the number 87, but that didn’t prevent other superstars from seeking top dollar.

The McDavid contract wasn’t the only extension announced by the Oilers on Monday. They also signed defenseman Jake Walman to a seven-year deal worth an AAV of $7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can already see the positive effect that McDavid’s contract is having on the Oilers’ cap space for 2026-27. Had he taken a more expensive deal, they might have had more difficulty re-signing Walman.

Acquired by the Oilers at the March trade deadline, the 29-year-old Walman quickly established himself as an invaluable member of their blueline.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins will retire Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 in a ceremony before their game against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 15, 2026.

Chara becomes the 13th player in Bruins history to have their number retired. He spent 14 of his 24-season NHL career with the Bruins, captaining them to the 2011 Stanley Cup and the 2013 and 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A fitting tribute for one of the greatest defensemen in Bruins history.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller are good to go for their season opener against the Penguins on Tuesday. Both players were nursing injuries during the preseason.

TSN: The Rangers also signed forward Conor Sheary to a one-year contract on Monday. He joined the team in training camp and preseason on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

CALGARY SUN: Forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil will miss the Flames’ season opener on Wednesday. Both players are on injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer earned a roster spot for the start of the regular season. Schaefer, 18, was chosen first overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders can return Schaefer to his OHL’s Erie Otters after nine games without those contests counting against his entry-level contract. However, it’s expected he’ll be a full-time part of the Isles’ lineup this season.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs claimed goaltender Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes and forward Sammy Blais from the Montreal Canadiens.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators made promising defenseman Carter Yakemchuk their final roster cut on Monday. He’ll start the season with their AHL affiliate in Belleville, Ontario.

They also placed sidelined forward Drake Batherson (upper body) and defenseman Tyler Kleven (ankle) on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Veteran forward Luke Glendening is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Devils after attending their training camp on a PTO contract.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety suspended Tampa Bay Lightning forward Scott Sabourin for boarding Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad during their preseason game on Saturday. Lightning defenseman JJ Moser received a two-game suspension for roughing Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist during that game.

The Lightning was fined $100,000, and head coach Jon Cooper was fined $25,000 for their club’s actions during that game.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 5, 2025

by | Oct 5, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 5, 2025

Check out the latest on Kings winger Adrian Kempe and Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT WILL IT COST THE KINGS TO RE-SIGN KEMPE?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jesse Courville-Lynch cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting that he’d heard Adrian Kempe was seeking an average annual value (AAV) of $10.5 million on his next contract. He wondered if it would remain there or go a little higher in the aftermath of Kirill Kaprizov’s contract extension with the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kempe, 29, is in the final season of a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. He is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).

Kempe has become the Kings’ leading goal scorer and is a solid two-way forward. He’s also a proven playoff performer with 29 points in 28 postseason contests. With team captain Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of this season, Courville-Lynch believes the Kings must do everything they can to keep Kempe in the fold. Otherwise, it will move them out of playoff contention and back into rebuilding.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports Kempe doesn’t expect to have a contract extension before the Kings open their regular season this week. A new contract for the 29-year-old winger remains a priority for Kings general manager Ken Holland, and the two sides continue to talk regularly.

Stephens believes the Kings winger should easily eclipse the $8.5 million AAV that Nikolaj Ehlers received when he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes this summer. His value to the Kings could push his next contract into the $10 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rising salary cap and Kempe’s value mean the Kings must sign him to an AAV worth at least $10 million if they want to remain a competitive team over the next several years.

They have a projected $33.7 million in cap space for 2026-27, giving them plenty of cap room to retain him. If they’re unwilling to pay, other clubs will if he goes to market next July.

The contract might not age well if Kempe gets the maximum eight years. They could try to work out a deal where he gets a five-year deal worth around $10.5 million annually.

THE LATEST QUINN HUGHES SPECULATION

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston recently wondered what the future holds for Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. His younger brother, Luke, signed a seven-year deal with the New Jersey Devils last week, ensuring that he and his brother Jack will remain together with the Devils until 2030, when Jack’s contract expires.

Many observers believe Quinn will opt for free agency when his current contract expires in 2027 and join his brothers in New Jersey. The Canucks want to re-sign him, but the opportunity to join his brothers could be too enticing.

Whatever Quinn gets on his next contract will be massive, sparking Johnston to wonder if the Canucks will be in a position to afford him. He pointed out that the club is considered to be below average in franchise valuation. They are sitting 18th on Sportico’s recent list, dropping five spots from last year. The club has grown revenues more slowly than the league average, largely because it struggled to make the playoffs.

How this season goes will play a huge role in determining Quinn’s future with the Canucks. However, even if they regain their 2023-24 form, that might not be enough to keep him in Vancouver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes could decide to go to market in 2027, which would force the Canucks to trade him before then. He should fetch a quality return that helps them rebuild. Hughes lacks no-trade protection, but interested teams will want assurances that he’ll re-sign with them before agreeing to a trade.

The Devils have a projected $53.1 million in cap space for 2027-28. A significant portion will be allocated to re-signing team captain Nico Hischier and re-signing or replacing goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Still, they should have enough to pull off a Hughes brothers reunion in two years, if not sooner, if they can land Quinn via trade with the Canucks.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

How will Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract affect the free-agent market? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KAPRIZOV’S NEW CONTRACT WILL BE FELT IN THIS SUMMER’S UFA MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston doesn’t believe Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract with the Minnesota Wild will have any effect on Connor McDavid’s negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you missed it, Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Wild. The average annual value is $17 million, and comes with a full no-movement clause throughout.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Johnston believes McDavid isn’t seeking an eight-year deal. If he and the Oilers reach an agreement, it’ll be on a shorter term of two, three, or four years. The Oilers also need some cap flexibility to maintain a winning roster around McDavid.

Pierre LeBrun agrees with Johnston, but noted that Kaprizov’s new deal will affect other players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They include Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas.

Darren Dreger adds Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor to that list. He reports the two sides continue to negotiate, but it has to be a deal that makes sense for both sides.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski believes Kaprizov’s contract leaves McDavid with a tough decision to make.

Does he accept a short-term deal and watch his salary increase with the cap, knowing the injury risks? Or does he take the security of an eight-year deal with a guaranteed $144 million if he pursues the maximum AAV of $20.8 million?

Assuming McDavid agrees to slightly less on his AAV of around $18 million, it still bites deeply into the Oilers’ salary-cap payroll, making it difficult for them to maintain a Stanley Cup contender.

Tychkowski’s colleague, Jim Matheson, doesn’t see McDavid agreeing to the same AAV as Kirill Kaprizov. He believes the Oilers captain could give his club a discount of $18 million annually for two or three years.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t believe the Oilers can afford to go higher than $17 million annually for McDavid, partly because of the expensive contracts of teammates Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV) and Evan Bouchard ($10.5 million). McDavid also wants tangible proof that the Oilers intend to maintain a winning roster over the next several years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he thinks the AAV on McDavid’s next contract will be much lower than people think. How much lower, and for how long, remains to be seen.

If McDavid seeks top dollar, there are only a handful of teams with the cap space who can also be considered Stanley Cup contenders. They are the Dallas Stars (depending on what happens with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley) and New York Rangers (if they can regain their 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy form).

McDavid could join the Toronto Maple Leafs with the intention of leading them to the Stanley Cup. However, that signing would maintain their status as a team top-heavy with star forwards lacking the necessary depth to go deep in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning could be another destination, but McDavid would have a short window with them to win the Cup with their aging roster.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell weighed in on how Kaprizov’s contract might affect Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights.

She cited insiders like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, TSN’s Chris Johnston, and Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli speculating that Eichel’s AAV on his next deal will be between $13 million and $14 million.

That’s a lot of money, but it would only be between 12.5 and 13.46 percent of the $104 million salary cap for 2026-27. Eichel could seek $15 million, and the Golden Knights would probably pay him, but Kirkell believes he’ll come in at around $13.5 million.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli was asked how the Kaprizov contract will affect Martin Necas’ negotiation with the Colorado Avalanche.

Seravalli dismissed rumors suggesting Necas won’t re-sign with Colorado. He believes that Kaprizov’s new deal will push Necas’ asking price higher than the Avalanche would be comfortable with, especially if he has another point-per-game season. His asking price could be north of $10 million annually.

THE LATEST ON THE OILERS

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell wonders if the Edmonton Oilers will make a trade before the regular season begins.

Goaltending depth, the third line right-wing position, and the third-line center position are areas of concern this season.

Mitchell suggested Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth as trade options, pointing out the latter might make sense now that he’s cleared waivers and is in the minors. Free-agent center Evgeny Kuznetsov hopes to return to the NHL, but the Oilers aren’t believed to be linked to him.

Possible trade bait for the Oilers includes defenseman Ty Emberson or Troy Stecher.

SPORTSNET’s Mark Spector believes Chicago Blackhawks winger Lukas Reichel could draw interest from the Oilers. GM Stan Bowman drafted him in Chicago, and the Oilers need to get younger. Spector suggests a fresh start with a new club might help Reichel get his career back on track.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli reported the Blackhawks’ asking price could be a mid-to-late-round draft pick. The Oilers have two fifth-rounders in the 2027 draft.

PREDATORS RISK LOSING ANOTHER YOUNG FORWARD

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty believes the Nashville Predators’ contract standoff with RFA winger Luke Evangelista is a bad look for the franchise.

The two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement. A short-term contract is more likely, but they remain divided on salary.

Evangelista trends as a middle-six forward who can average a steady 15-20 goals per season. Daugherty believes the Predators aren’t in any position to treat young, offensive forwards with such hesitancy, given their lack of depth in their pipeline and among those who are NHL-ready.

Daugherty fears that Evangelista could follow the path of former Predators forwards like Kevin Fiala, Eeli Tolvanen, and Philip Tomasino, who moved on via trades or waivers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2025

by | Sep 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2025

Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov and Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk shine in rookie tournament play, Kings winger Corey Perry is sidelined, Blackhawks re-sign goalie Spencer Knight, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets during the first of their two games in the 2025 Prospects Showdown at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Montreal Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All eyes in Montreal are on Demidov after his promising performance in two regular-season games and five playoff contests last season. He didn’t disappoint in this game, including his game-tying highlight-reel goal. The 19-year-old winger is considered the early favorite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy this season.

Granted, this was just one game in a rookie tournament before training camps open later this season. Nevertheless, Demidov’s play will stoke the buzz surrounding this youngster.

OTTAWA SUN: Defenseman Carter Yakemchuk tallied twice and collected an assist as the Senators nipped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in the Prospects Showdown.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yakemchuk hopes to crack the Senators’ roster. The puck-moving blueliner had a promising camp last season but was among the late cuts because his defensive game needed work. If he’s improved that aspect of his game, he could become a welcome addition on the right side of their blueline.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Offseason acquisition Isaac Howard wasn’t a standout for the Oilers in their 6-5 loss to the Calgary Flames on Friday at Rogers Place.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers acquired Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer. Winner of the Hobey Baker Award as last season’s top college player, he’s expected to be on their active roster this season.

THE TENNESSEAN: Forwards Brady Martin and Joakim Kemell were the standouts for the Nashville Predators in their wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes in rookie tournament play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martin is the Predators’ first-round pick (fifth overall) in this year’s draft. Kemell is their first-rounder (17th overall) in the 2022 draft. The latter appeared in two games with the Preds last season.

THE ATHLETIC: The St. Louis Blues iced a five-man unit consisting of first-round picks in their prospect tournament games against the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks. Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, and Justin Carbonneau were the forwards, with Adam Jiricek and Theo Lindstein as the defensemen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see if those five go on to become roster regulars for the Blues.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kings winger Corey Perry will miss six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery following an injury suffered at the club’s training facility on Friday.

The 40-year-old winger signed a one-year contract with the Kings in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An unfortunate setback for Perry, whose experience (especially in the postseason) was among the reasons why the Kings signed him.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.83 million. Knight, 24, is in the final season of a three-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks acquired Knight from the Florida Panthers in March. He immediately stepped into the starter’s role with the rebuilding club, sporting a record of 5-8-3 with a 3.18 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.

NHLPA.COM: Former PA Executive Director Bob Goodenow passed away suddenly on Saturday at age 72.

Goodenow took over the job in 1991, leading the players through a strike in 1992, a half-season lockout in 1994-95, and the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season. A fierce advocate for players’ rights, he negotiated landmark gains in salary, free agency, pension, and health benefits, and helped them take control of their name, image, and likeness rights. Goodenow also helped establish pioneering programs such as player salary disclosure, second medical opinion for players, the agent certification program, and working with the NHL to implement the substance abuse and behavioral health programs for players and their families.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goodenow had a profound effect on the game for the players after they were taken advantage of for yearsby the league and by former PA director Alan Eagleson, who would be jailed for fraud and embezzlement.

Under Goodenow, the players made substantial financial gains. However, his downfall came during the 2004-05 season-killing lockout.

At the beginning of the standoff, Goodenow warned the players that it could take up to two years to achieve their goal of avoiding the salary-cap system advocated by the league. However, their support wavered after the league canceled the season, and he lost the confidence of PA president Trevor Linden. Once the lockout was ended, Goodenow was replaced by Ted Saskin.