NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2025

by | Sep 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2025

Kings captain Anze Kopitar to retire, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin uncertain if this season is his last, and the latest on Predators captain Roman Josi, Panthers winger Brad Marchand, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: King captain Anze Kopitar announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The 38-year-old center is entering his 20th NHL season, all of them spent with the Kings. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2011-12 and 2013-14, and is a three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and a two-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time leader in games played (1,454). He can surpass Marcel Dionne as the franchise points leader (1,307) with a 30-point performance this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kopitar became one of the best two-way forwards in the league over the past 25 years. He was chosen in the first round (11th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft, becoming their foundation player as they rose from being an also-ran into a two-time Cup champion and one of the dominant teams in the league between 2010 and 2015.

Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty are the only players from those championship years still with the Kings.

DAILY FACEOFF: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said he doesn’t know yet if this season will be his last in the NHL. The 40-year-old is in the final season of his five-year contract. He believes there’s plenty of time to discuss that with Capitals management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin left practice during the opening day of training camp with a lower-body injury, but the move was for precautionary reasons and is considered to be a minor ailment.

TSN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi was among the first players on the ice for training camp on Thursday. The 35-year-old defenseman had been sidelined since Feb. 25, and in June was diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Following a long rehab, Josi doesn’t believe that his health will be an issue now that he has the tools to manage the issue. “I’m more so relieved and really excited just having a plan,” Josi said. “I feel great. I feel 100 percent. I feel good on the ice and so I’m not concerned at all.”

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Brad Marchand said contract term was one factor that led to his departure from the Boston Bruins. He indicated he wasn’t interested in a short-term deal, while the Panthers were willing to give him a long-term contract.

According to Marchand, being in a non-tax state played a significant role in the Panthers’ efforts to retain some of their key players. “If we were not in a non-tax state, it probably wouldn’t have worked out for two guys,” he said.

Marchand added that the Panthers’ no-tax advantage wouldn’t have been as big a factor if they weren’t as competitive or well-run.

“That is the main thing. You care about the hockey. You care about the organization. You’re not going to walk into a non-tax state if the team’s not run well or if they’re a bad team. That’s just not the case anymore. These non-tax state teams are some of the best-run teams in the league.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have had a non-state tax advantage since their inception in 1993-94, but it didn’t help them during their first 25 years. They were a laughingstock during that period, reaching the playoffs only five times while going through 10 general managers and 15 coaches.

It wasn’t until they hired Bill Zito as general manager in 2020 that they finally turned things around. Stability in the front office is the primary reason behind their current success and why players like Marchand want to play for them now.

CONTRACT UPDATES

THE ATHLETIC: Artemi Panarin said he’s focusing on hockey and won’t publicly discuss his contract situation with the New York Rangers. The 33-year-old winger is in the final season of his seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.6 million.

Panarin declined to comment about a report by The Athletic claiming he and Madison Square Garden Sports paid financial settlements to a Rangers employee in August 2024 after she alleged he sexually assaulted her.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said contract extension talks have begun with Jacob Markstrom. The 35-year-old goaltender is in the final season of his six-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million.

Fitzgerald also said that he’s disappointed the contract talks with Luke Hughes remain unresolved. The restricted free-agent defenseman seeks a five-year contract, while the Devils prefer a bridge deal or a long-term contract. The two sides continue to negotiate.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Alex Tuch said he loves Buffalo and hopes to stay with the Sabres for the long term. The 29-year-old forward is in the final season of a six-year deal with an AAV of $4.75 million.

THE SCORE: It was recently reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz are in talks about a contract extension. However, the 31-year-old goalie is unwilling to continue negotiations during the regular season. He’s in the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been reported that the two sides could have a deal in place before the start of the regular season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Alexander Holtz still lacks a contract for this season, but the restricted free agent forward will attend Vegas Golden Knights training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO) until a deal is reached or the two sides part ways.

INJURY UPDATES

TSN: Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman will remain sidelined by a wrist injury until early November.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel left practice yesterday for precautionary reasons. Head coach Bruce Cassidy said Eichel “tweaked something” but remains hopeful that he could return to practice on Friday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin said winger Mats Zuccarello (undisclosed) could miss the start of the regular season.

TSN: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit remains sidelined long-term following offseason hip surgery. He missed all of last season after undergoing knee surgery in August 2024.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Forward Stefan Noesen is expected to miss some time with a groin injury stemming from a pre-existing one that he suffered last 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 1, 2025

by | Jul 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 1, 2025

Alex Pietrangelo to step away from hockey, an update on Evgeni Malkin, Brad Marchand re-signs with the Panthers, Ivan Provorov re-ups with the Blue Jackets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL’s annual free-agent period begins at noon ET on July 1.

PIETRANGELO STEPS AWAY FROM HOCKEY FOR HEALTH REASONS

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Alex Pietrangelo released a statement on Monday indicating he was stepping away from hockey for health reasons. In an additional statement, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the 35-year-old defenseman is dealing with hip injuries that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (NHL Images).

Pietrangelo said doctors advised him to remove the intensity of hockey to see if his body improves so that he can enjoy a normal quality of life. He didn’t indicate that he was retiring, but admitted there was a low likelihood of resuming his playing career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo’s condition likely means he’s played his final game. He is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $8.8 million. It’s expected the Golden Knights will place him on long-term injury reserve to free up salary-cap space to accommodate their recent acquisition of Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pietrangelo’s absence leaves a big hole on the Golden Knights’ blueline. He was their best all-around defenseman, playing a key role in their march to the 2023 Stanley Cup.

EVGENI MALKIN TO REMAIN WITH THE PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reports sources close to Evgeni Malkin and within the Penguins organization confirm the 38-year-old center will play with the club for 2025-26. Beyond that, nothing has been decided positively or negatively.

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said he told Malkin and his agent that they’ll see how the season goes and will meet again at the Olympic break next February. They’ll see where the veteran center is at that point, and then meet after the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin was the recent subject of speculation suggesting he could agree to be traded this summer. Barring the unforeseen, he’ll be back in a Penguins jersey to start this season.

LATEST NOTABLE NHL SIGNINGS

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Analysis of Mitch Marner being signed by the Maple Leafs and traded to the Golden Knights, and the new contracts for Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, Florida’s Aaron Ekblad, the Islanders’ Alexander Romanov, and more can be found at this link.

THE SCORE: The Florida Panthers re-signed winger Brad Marchand to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers GM Bill Zito is ensuring his roster core remains intact as he attempts to keep his club’s Stanley Cup window open for the foreseeable future. As with the new contracts for Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, Marchand’s deal should help the Panthers remain competitive in the short term, but it won’t age well as the 37-year-old winger’s performance inevitably declines.

Those contracts will eventually become burdensome, even under a rising salary cap. Zito could shed them via trades, buyouts or LTIR, but there’s no certainty those moves will be easy to pull off.

Potential trade partners will insist on some salary retention or sweeteners like draft picks and prospects. Buyouts count against the cap as two-thirds of the remaining value over twice the remaining term (and in Marchand’s case, as a “plus-35” player, the full value would still count against the cap). LTIR means they cannot accrue cap space during the season.

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets are finalizing a new seven-year contract with defenseman Ivan Provorov. The deal would be worth an AAV of $8.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets attempted to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, but they lost out to the Montreal Canadiens. That left Provorov with considerable leverage to land this deal.

The 28-year-old is a good second-pairing blueliner, but this contract would pay him like a first-pairing rearguard. It would be a significant raise over the $6.75 million of his previous contract.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings re-signed forward Patrick Kane to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $3 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here. Both sides wanted this done. The 36-year-old finished fifth among the Wings last season with 59 points in 72 games as a second-line right wing.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Los Angeles Kings signed winger Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year, $4.3 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 29-year-old Kuzmenko struggled last season with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. However, he regained his scoring touch following a trade to the Kings, tallying 17 points in 22 regular-season games and six points in six postseason contests. A solid performance this season could earn him an extension with more term.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE PROVINCE: Thatcher Demko is reportedly close to signing a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old goaltender is in the final season of his five-year contract with an AAV of $5 million.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames hired Brent Seabrook as a player development coach.

RG.ORG: Evgeny Kuznetsov is hoping to return to the NHL this season. The 33-year-old center spent last season with KHL team SKA St. Petersburg. His agent claims that around 10 NHL clubs have expressed some interest in his client.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens traded goaltender Cayden Primeau to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 30, 2025

by | Jun 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 30, 2025

Updates on Alex Pietrangelo, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, Brad Marchand, Brock Boeser and Patrick Kane in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

ALEX PIETRANGELO TO MISS THE 2025-26 SEASON?

THE FOURTH PERIOD’s David Pagnotta claims he’s heard Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo “is dealing with serious injuries and is going to require multiple major surgeries this summer, which will result in him missing the entire 2025-26 season, at least.”

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo’s condition has been the subject of frequent speculation for weeks, with some pundits speculating his NHL career could be over. There hasn’t been confirmation yet from the Golden Knights. During the draft weekend, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said they’ll know more soon.

If Pietrangelo is sidelined next season, the Golden Knights can place him on long-term injury reserve. He has an average annual value (AAV) of $8.8 million, giving them salary cap flexibility to find a replacement or to address another roster issue.

The Golden Knights have been linked to Mitch Marner as the front-runner to sign the 28-year-old winger when free agency begins on July 1. PuckPedia shows them with less than $758,000 in cap space for 2025-26 with 21 active roster players under contract. Putting Pietrangelo on LTIR would be necessary if they hope to sign Marner or anyone else this summer.

THE LATEST ON EVGENI MALKIN, JORDAN KYROU AND BRAYDEN SCHENN

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited an NHL executive suggesting the possibility of Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin getting traded this summer. The Penguins won’t be offering the 38-year-old Malkin a contract extension, meaning he’ll either retire next July or try to sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent (UFA).

Murphy’s source suggested the trade option as a way for Malkin to earn a contract extension elsewhere or improve his value for next summer’s free-agent market. Another NHL source told Murphy he expects Malkin will be traded during the season, not this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin has a full no-movement clause, so he’s not going anywhere. He has already indicated he intends to retire as a Penguin. Age and the wear and tear of 19 NHL seasons have caught up with him.

The Montreal Canadiens have been linked to St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. A source told Murphy the two clubs have had more than one conversation. The same source also said several teams (including the Canadiens) are interested in Blues center Brayden Schenn.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens need a second-line center but would add a top-six winger if a center isn’t available. Teams might be interested in Schenn, but it would take a significant offer to pry away Schenn. They’re flush with wingers but thin at center.

THE LATEST NOTABLE UFA RUMORS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs hope to get the chance to speak with Brad Marchand when the UFA market opens on July 1.

If the 37-year-old winger doesn’t re-sign with the Florida Panthers, the Bruins would be open to bringing him back. They shipped Marchand to the Panthers at the March trade deadline.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s James Mirtle believes Marchand will be the Leafs’ top UFA target. He believes the winger will get $8 million per season on the open market, but also thinks he could end up staying with the Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most observers are leaning toward Marchand re-signing with the Panthers, which could leave long-time Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad as the odd man out.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited several NHL insiders claiming the Oilers could be a destination for Brock Boeser. The 28-year-old winger is headed to the UFA market after nine seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have $12.35 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 20 active roster players under contract. Their priority is re-signing restricted free agent (RFA) defenseman Evan Bouchard, who could command around $10 million annually.

Rumor has it the Oilers hope to trade winger Viktor Arvidsson and his $4 million cap hit. However, that still won’t leave them enough to sign Boeser once they re-sign Bouchard unless they can shed another contract.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman remains confident he’ll be able to re-sign Patrick Kane. The 36-year-old winger is coming off a one-year, $4 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane didn’t sign his previous contract with the Wings until June 30 of last year. The same thing could happen this year.










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 21, 2025

by | Jun 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 21, 2025

Check out the latest on Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, Rasmus Andersson, JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Noah Dobson and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT COULD CONNOR MCDAVID’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman speculated on what Connor McDavid’s next contract will look like. The 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers superstar is a year away from unrestricted free-agent (UFA) eligibility, with an average annual value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Friedman doesn’t believe McDavid intends to leave Edmonton, but he thinks the Oilers captain might pursue a two-year contract instead of the maximum eight years. That would ensure the Oilers remain sharpest in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. He also thinks the AAV could be between $15 million and $17 million, but not as high as it could be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman stressed that this is only his opinion as to what McDavid might do. I agree with him that McDavid is unlikely to leave the Oilers, but could opt for a short-term deal to give himself some wiggle room in case the club falls out of contention over the next several years.

COULD RASMUS ANDERSON LEAVE THE FLAMES?

Friedman reports that the feeling around the league is that Rasmus Andersson is ready for something new. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is a year away from UFA status. The Flames are willing to move him, but only at the right price.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Flames general manager Craig Conroy said he’s had talks with Andersson’s agent. He indicated they have some clarity on where things are headed, but didn’t elaborate about the direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames could still re-sign Andersson. If not, they could hang onto him for the coming season and perhaps shop him at the trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then. They could trade him this summer and avoid the unnecessary distraction of speculation about his future hanging over him and the club next season.

NO SHORT-TERM DEAL FOR MITCH MARNER?

Friedman said he received pushback on his suggestion that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner could opt for a four-year contract via free agency. However, he said a few teams had heard about it.

The Marner camp is expected to meet with teams (probably virtually unless they come to Toronto) on July 1, and then he could meet with a team or two before reaching a decision. However, that plan could backfire if he takes too long, as interested clubs could become impatient and make other plans.

Friedman thinks the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will be among Marner’s suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are better-positioned cap-wise than the Golden Knights to make a lucrative offer. Vegas will have to shed considerable salary to make it happen, and that could hurt their overall depth.

Friedman again mentioned the possibility of Alex Pietrangelo starting the season on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), which would free up the cap room to pursue Marner. However, the Golden Knights already have an elite playmaker (Jack Eichel). What they need is a sniper, something Marner isn’t.

THE LATEST ON THE PANTHERS

Friedman reports the brakes are being pumped on the Sam Bennett extension talk. The 29-year-old Conn Smythe Trophy winner raised eyebrows by telling partygoers on Thursday that he wasn’t leaving the Florida Panthers. Friedman thinks Bennett wouldn’t have made that public declaration without knowing where the talks are going, but there hasn’t been an agreement yet.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards cited Panthers GM Bill Zito saying he’d like to bring everybody back, referring to his UFAs like Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Nate Schmidt.

Bennett is the priority, with Richards speculating his next contract could be in the range of $7.5 million and $8 million annually. He might get more on the open market, but he wants to remain with the Panthers.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space for 2025-26. Richards considers it unlikely that Zito can pull it off without making some cost-cutting moves.

SPORTSNET: Brad Marchand is open to re-signing with the Panthers. “Give me a contract,” he said with a laugh when talking to reporters.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett will be re-signed. Ekblad could be if he agrees to a pay cut. Schmidt should also be an affordable re-signing.

Marchand reportedly wants a raise on a short-term deal, which is understandable because he was underpaid throughout his current contract. Unless he has a change of mind or Zito makes a cost-cutting trade, he’ll hit the open market on July 1

UPDATE ON THE SABRES

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn reported that trade rumors are getting louder regarding JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that the 23-year-old winger isn’t happy in Buffalo and the Sabres are fielding calls from other clubs.

Peterka is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. Fairburn said the Sabres aren’t keen on trading him. However, given the interest and demand, they need to hear what’s out there. Any return for Peterka must include pieces that can help the Sabres end their playoff drought next season.

Fairburn and colleague Shayna Goldman pondered the possibility of the Sabres trading Bowen Byram. They acquired the 24-year-old defenseman before the 2024 trade deadline. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights seeking a raise over his current AAV of $3.85 million.

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks were interested in Peterka.

CANUCKS ARMY: Tyler Kuehl cited Seravalli also saying the Canucks had some interest in Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s also speculation Peterka and/or Byram could become offer-sheet targets if the Sabres fail to sign one or both before July 1. However, the Sabres have over $23 million in cap space, giving them plenty of room to match any offers.

The Sabres could trade one of them, but it won’t be for picks and prospects. As with the deal that brought Byram to Buffalo last year, it could be a player-for-player swap.

ISLANDERS LISTENING TO OFFERS FOR NOAH DOBSON

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias cited Elliotte Friedman, saying that the Islanders are quietly testing the trade market for Noah Dobson during his Friday podcast. The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights.

This comes in the wake of Frank Seravalli claiming the Dobson camp sought a long-term deal with an $11 million AAV. Friedman indicated nothing’s set in stone, suggesting three options. They could sign him long term and perhaps trade him later if it doesn’t work out, risk a potentially contentious arbitration process, or trade him now.

Macias believes the Islanders will want a significant return. He noted Seravalli linked them to Buffalo’s JJ Peterka.

Friedman also mentioned the trade rumors about Isles blueliner Alexander Romanov, but he thinks they’ve set a high asking price for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Dobson camp is seeking far more than what their client is worth. He deserves a raise over the $4 million AAV he earned this season, and has a promising 70-point season in 2023-24 on his resume. However, the decline in his production this season to 39 points makes it difficult to justify $11 million annually. A raise to between $8 million and $9 million would be reasonable.

This situation is an interesting early test for new GM Mathieu Darche. How he handles it will be a significant indicator of which direction he intends to take the Islanders in the coming years.