NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 12, 2025

by | Nov 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 12, 2025

A milestone game for Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon extends his points streak as the Avalanche widen their lead in the overall standings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored his 400th and 401st career NHL regular-season goals as his club picked up its seventh straight win by holding off the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3. Pastrnak finished the night with three points while teammate Hampus Lindholm had a goal and an assist for the 11-7-0 Bruins. Steven Lorentz, Bobby McMann, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson replied for the Maple Leafs (8-8-1), who’ve dropped three straight games.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was only two weeks ago that the Bruins were sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They’re now tied with the Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens.

It was a tough night for the Maple Leafs, as team captain Auston Matthews left the game with a lower-body injury, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz didn’t return after the first period as he suffered an upper-body injury.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon collected three assists to extend his points streak to 10 games in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Gabriel Landeskog scored his first regular-season goal since 2022, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 35 shots for the Avalanche (11-1-5), who won their fourth straight game and widened their lead atop the overall standings with 27 points. Leo Carlsson scored to extend his points streak to 11 games for the Ducks (11-4-1), whose seven- game win streak ended. They lead the Pacific Division with 23 points and sit four back of the Avalanche in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads the NHL scoring race with 32 points, six ahead of the second-place Carlsson. Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin left this game in the third period with a lower-body injury. He will be reevaluated on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Avalanche signed forward Gavin Brindley to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $875,000.

The San Jose Sharks overcame a 1-0 deficit to nip the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Macklin Celebrini set up the tying goal by Will Smith and the winning goal in overtime by Collin Graf. The Sharks picked up their fourth straight win and improved to 8-6-3. Matt Boldy scored for the 7-7-4 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is tied with Leo Carlsson for second place in the scoring race with 26 points. Sharks winger William Eklund returned to action after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington made 38 saves as his club held off the Calgary Flames 3-2. Dylan Holloway, Matthew Kessel, and Nathan Walker scored for the Blues (6-8-3). Matt Coronato and Rasmus Andersson replied for the Flames, who dropped to a league-worst 4-12-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington set the franchise record for most games played by a Blues goaltender (348). He passed Mike Liut, who is now Binnington’s agent. Blues winger Mathieu Joseph missed this game with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Roope Hintz completed a three-goal comeback by the Dallas Stars in a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists and Mikko Rantanen a goal and an assist as the Stars won their third straight game and improved to 10-4-3. Drake Batherson and Nick Jensen tallied for the Senators (8-5-4), who extended their points streak to six games (3-0-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot left this contest following the first period with an upper-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey had a goal and two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Nino Niederreiter and Alex Iafallo each had a goal and an assist as the Jets moved to 10-6-0, snapping a three-game losing streak. Quinn Hughes collected three assists for the Canucks, who dropped to 8-9-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury that he may have suffered during the pre-game warmup. Hughes left the game briefly after getting tangled up with Jets center Mark Scheifele, but he returned to action and said he was okay after the game.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. John Carlson picked up two assists, and Logan Thompson turned aside 30 shots for the Capitals, who improved to 8-7-1. Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the Hurricanes (11-5-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced that defenseman Charles Alexis Legault underwent surgery to repair multiple torn tendons in his right hand on Monday. He is expected to be sidelined for three to four months.

Three goals in a span of 4:05 early in the second period lifted the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Quinton Byfield and Joel Edmundson had a goal and an assist for the 8-5-4 Kings. Josh Anderson replied for the Canadiens (10-4-2), whose six-game points streak ended.

The Columbus Blue Jackets ended a four-game losing skid by defeating the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Charlie Coyle scored the winning goal in a shootout, and goaltender Jet Greaves stopped 22 shots for the 8-7-1 Blue Jackets. Ryan Winterton scored for the Kraken (7-4-5).

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: The NHL remains concerned over the state of construction for the hockey arena for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. They are sending two officials to conduct an in-person inspection of the arena. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is receiving weekly updates, but wants a firsthand look at the progress.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the participants in the 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey tournament are from the NHL. Sub-standard conditions could put the players’ safety at risk.

RG.ORG: Speaking of the Olympics, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby is looking forward to another opportunity to represent Canada in the Winter Olympics. He’s embracing the role of team leader while drawing inspiration from the enthusiasm of a new generation of Canadian stars chasing Olympic gold.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby famously won gold for Canada in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and captained the 2014 team to gold in the Sochi Games.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman is day-to-day and blueliner Ryan McDonagh is expected to miss several games with undisclosed injuries.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks forwards Frank Nazar and Jason Dickinson are unlikely to play against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2025

by | Oct 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2025

Jets center Mark Scheifele, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tie franchise records. Get the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, tying former teammate Blake Wheeler for the Jets 2.0 franchise points record with 812. Kyle Connor collected two assists for the Jets, who extended their win streak to three games. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored his first of the season as his club has dropped three of its first four games (1-2-1).

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Auston Matthews lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the New York Rangers 2-1. Matthews tied Mats Sundin for the most regular-season overtime goals (14) in Leafs history. William Nylander also scored for the Leafs, who’ve won three of their first five games. Juuso Parssinen replied for the Rangers, who dropped their third straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reports Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz believes there should be a rule change when a goalie loses his mask during play.

Under NHL rules, play can continue against a goalie who is not wearing a mask if a scoring chance is imminent. Stolarz’s mask was knocked off by a shot from Rangers forward Matt Rempe, but the Rangers still controlled the play, forcing the Leafs’ goalie to make a save without his mask before a stoppage in play.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored the tying goal with 20 seconds remaining in the third period and the winning goal in the final seconds of overtime for a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Caufield tied Howie Morenz for the most regular-season overtime goals in franchise history with 10. Oliver Kapanen also scored for the Canadiens, who have won four of their last five to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division. Steven Stamkos and Nick Perbix scored for the Predators, who are 2-2-1 to open the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield’s tying goal came after teammate Lane Hutson blocked an attempt at an empty-net goal by Jonathan Marchessault. Hutson quickly fired a long pass to Caufield, and the rest is history.

The Vegas Golden Knights held off the Boston Bruins 6-5, extending their season-opening points streak to five games (3-0-2). William Karlsson scored twice, Mark Stone had three assists, and Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev picked up two points for the Golden Knights. Michael Eyssimont and Sean Kuraly each had two points for the Bruins, who’ve dropped two straight after winning their first three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is tied with Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto for the most goals this season with six. Stone leads all skaters with nine assists, and Eichel is the points leader with 11. Golden Knights forward Brett Howden and defenseman Noah Hanifin missed this game due to injuries.

Earlier in the day, the Golden Knights announced the signing of free-agent goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout offer.

A hat trick by Bo Horvat powered the New York Islanders to their first win of the season (1-3-0) by doubling up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Mathew Bazal had a goal and an assist, and David Rittich stopped 31 shots for the Islanders. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a horrible game for Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. His defensive mistakes led to breakaway goals by Barzal and Horvat.

Shootout goals by Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Pinto also scored in regulation to tie Pavel Dorofeyev with his league-leading sixth goal, while Dylan Cozens tied the game late in regulation. Chandler Stephenson tallied twice for the Kraken, who are 2-0-2 in their first four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Senators announced team captain Brady Tkachuk underwent surgery on his injured hand. He is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Kraken forward Frederick Gaudreau left the game after the second period with an undisclosed injury.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1, handing the defending Stanley Cup champions their third straight loss after they opened the season with three straight wins. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist while Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils, who have won three straight. Evan Rodrigues scored for the Panthers.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and winger Conor Garland each had a goal and an assist as they overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Dallas Stars. Thatcher Demko made 28 saves for the Canucks, who are 2-2-0 to start the season. Jason Robertson had two assists for the Stars, who suffered their first loss after opening the season with three straight wins.

The Colorado Avalanche extended their season-opening points streak to five games (4-0-1) by dropping the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1, leaving them with one win in their first four games. Valeri Nichushkin tallied twice, and Cale Makar had a goal and an assist. Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 32 shots for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, Cam Atkinson signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets and officially announced his retirement. The 36-year-old forward spent 10 of his 13-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets. In 809 regular-season games with Columbus, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning from 2011-12 to 2024-25, Atkinson had 253 goals and 236 assists for 489 points. He also had 26 points in 35 playoff games.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored two goals and set up another in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes, who remain undefeated to start the season (4-0-0). Leo Carlsson replied for the Ducks (2-2-0).

The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Filip Hallander’s first NHL goal was the game-winner, and Erik Karlsson collected two assists for the 3-2-0 Penguins. Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings, who’ve dropped four of their last five contests (1-3-1).










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2025

by | Sep 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2025

Check out the latest on Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: David Pastrnak rejoined his Boston Bruins teammates in training camp on Monday after taking a week off dealing with tendinitis in his knee.

The 29-year-old winger said he’s been dealing with the issue throughout last season, but he wasn’t concerned about it. He finished fourth among NHL scorers in 2024-25 with 106 points.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

“I spent a lot of time in the summer to make it better, and it did get much better than it was last season,” Pastrnak said. “Obviously it wasn’t perfect (and) it’s not perfect yet, so it was perfect timing to get it even better – it already got better.”

Pastrnak isn’t sure if the issue will bother him during the upcoming season. “I guess (it’s) something that that time will tell,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Pastrnak is key to the Bruins’ hopes to return to playoff contention after last season’s poor performance.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has set a time limit for reporters to continue asking him about former teammate Mitch Marner.

“You got two more weeks, and then we’re done with these questions,” Matthew said, referring to the start of the Maple Leafs’ regular-season schedule on Oct. 8.

Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer has been a hot topic in Toronto. Matthews acknowledged that he and his teammates knew they would face questions when training camp started, but it appears they’re ready to move on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those questions could resurface if the Leafs struggle early and Marner does well in Vegas.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo isn’t ruling out returning to action.

“Nothing’s really concrete,” Pietrangelo said. “I’m just going to continue taking it day by day and go through the process and see where it goes.”

Pietrangelo, 35, is taking time to deal with a hip injury and is expected to begin this season on long-term injury reserve. He’s not considering surgery at this point, saying he intends to continue with rehabilitation, which is going well so far.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes to the collective bargaining agreement starting this season mean the Golden Knights won’t be able to use Pietrangelo being on LTIR as a way to build up their roster for the playoffs. They can still add to their roster before the March trade deadline, but must ice a cap-compliant roster during the postseason if Pietrangelo returns.

TSN: Evander Kane is looking forward to his first season with his hometown team. The 34-year-old winger was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Vancouver Canucks on June 25.

“It’s definitely cool to be able to put on the Canucks jersey as an NHL player,” Kane said. “The excitement has kind of been a slow build since I got traded. And I think it’ll start bubbling once the first regular-season game is played.”

Kane’s career has spanned 16 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, and the Oilers, netting 321 goals, 291 assists, and 1,091 penalty minutes in 930 regular-season games.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Mario Ferraro is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer, but the 27-year-old defenseman hopes to remain with the Sharks. He indicated that there haven’t been any contract extension talks yet with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro is a big-minute blueliner with solid all-around skills. He will draw plenty of attention in this year’s trade market if the rebuilding Sharks decide he doesn’t fit in their long-term plans.

ARIZONA INSIDER: Former Coyotes beat writer Craig Morgan reports Andrea Doan, wife of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, has been named chair of an advisory committee dedicated to bringing the NHL back to the Phoenix area.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin is forming the committee, consisting of political, business, community, and sports leaders.

Shane Doan is currently under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Andrea is representing the family. The committee’s goal is to find a suitable ownership group with deep financial resources and develop a plan to construct an arena in a suitable location.

The Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City in 2024 and were renamed the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes’ ownership follies have been well-documented. Nevertheless, a stable ownership group capable of paying the expensive expansion fee and a suitable NHL venue near downtown Phoenix would be a strong enticement for the league to try again in Arizona.

The NHL has shown a willingness to return to former markets, starting with Atlanta with the expansion Thrashers in 1999 and that club’s relocation to Winnipeg in 2011. Recent reports suggest Atlanta could be in the running for an expansion franchise.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Bobby Grier, long-time NFL executive and father of San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier, passed away on Monday at age 82. Grier worked with the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, and Miami Dolphins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Mike Grier and his family.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2025

by | Aug 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2025

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews addresses Mitch Marner’s departure, Stuart Skinner believes the Oilers will bounce back more quickly from their Stanley Cup Final loss this time, Patrik Laine hopes to stay in Montreal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews admits that he and his teammates will miss Mitch Marner, who departed for the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade situation on June 30.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

“We’ll miss him,” Matthews said. “He’s a great friend, great teammate. That’s kind of the business side of it that’s tough, but obviously I wish him nothing but the best. We’ll just keep it moving.”

Matthews missed 15 games last season with an undisclosed injury. He said that his health was good and he will be at “100 percent” for the start of the 2025-26 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lot of Leafs fans won’t miss Marner, who became their whipping boy for the club’s poor postseason record over the last nine seasons. However, his departure leaves them thin on right wing. Beyond William Nylander, the level of talent drops significantly.

The addition of playmaker Matias Maccelli should offset some of the missing offense if he regains his 57-point form of 2023-24, but he won’t fully replace Marner’s two-way skills.

THE SCORE: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner believes his club will rebound more quickly from losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers than they did in 2024.

“Going through it the second time, which is obviously devastating, but being able to say you went through this does actually help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could find it a more difficult challenge staging a third straight run to the Cup Final. They still haven’t addressed their inconsistent goaltending, and their limited cap space could make it harder to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.

TVA SPORTS: Patrik Laine would love to remain with the Montreal Canadiens beyond this season. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

“Yes, of course,” Laine told Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports. “I don’t think I need to say more. Yes, I would love to be here.”

Laine spent most of the offseason training in Montreal. He believes the Canadiens are on the right track and expects they’ll be even better this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine’s future in Montreal depends on his performance this season. He struggled through an injury-shortened campaign in 2024-25, but finished with 20 goals in 52 games, drawing praise from Canadiens management for helping them qualify for the playoffs.

Laine recently said that he’s fully healthy approaching training camp. He could have a productive year if his good health carries over into this season, which would improve his chances of getting a contract extension.

RG.ORG: Sergei Fedorov said he felt “a flood of emotions” after being informed that the Detroit Red Wings will retire his No. 91 in January as part of their centennial season celebrations. The ceremony will be held at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Jan. 12, 2026.

Fedorov spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with Detroit before departing as a free agent in 2003. “I was always a Red Wing,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fedorov’s relationship with Red Wings management was never the same following a messy contract holdout in 1997-98. His departure in 2003 left some bad feelings among Wings fans. However, Fedorov has been received more warmly by the organization and the fans in recent years, especially after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Connor Ingram has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to return to the Utah Mammoth. The 28-year-old goaltender entered the program on March 9 to deal with mental health issues.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes announced that Jesper Fast will rejoin the organization as a development coach. He announced his retirement in June after missing last season recovering from neck surgery.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators signed forward Brady Martin to a three-year entry-level contract. Martin, 18, was chosen fifth overall in this year’s draft by the Predators.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2025

by | Jul 31, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2025

Oilers GM Stan Bowman begins contract discussions with Connor McDavid’s camp, possible adjustments for the Maple Leafs and Rangers for 2025-26, the Jets avoid arbitration with Dylan Samberg, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he’s “very encouraged” by the early discussions he’s had with Connor McDavid’s agent about a contract extension.

The 28-year-old Oilers captain is in the final season of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent next July. Bowman indicated that they haven’t had detailed talks yet, but expects to have further conversations soon.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is in the prime of his NHL career. If he and the Oilers fail to agree to a new contract, he would become the biggest name in next summer’s UFA market. However, most observers believe McDavid will sign an extension with the Oilers, making him the league’s highest-paid player starting in 2026-27.

TSN: Travis Yost recently examined the potential effect of Mitch Marner’s departure on the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially team captain Auston Matthews.

Yost believes the Maple Leafs remain a very good team despite Marner’s absence. Matthews is a superstar who should continue to produce with just about anyone as his linemates.

Matthews will have power forward Matthew Knies at left wing. Finding a suitable fit on right wing could be challenging, but Max Domi and recently acquired Matias Maccelli should get significant opportunities.

The Leafs should continue doing well at even strength. However, their power play suffered a downturn midway through last season and into the playoffs. If it persists, it could become a problem.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner’s departure will put the Maple Leafs under a brighter spotlight this season. They could attempt to address any offensive concerns via the trade market, but they have few expendable assets to use as bait.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears looked at the issues the Rangers must address before the start of the regular season.

How well players like Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Alexis Lafreniere rebound from their disappointing performances last season is among the crucial factors. Their depth at center could be another, especially if Zibanejad remains on the wing. Fox’s season will depend on how quickly he and recent addition Vladislav Gavrikov can establish chemistry on the top defense pairing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Leafs, the Rangers will be among the more closely scrutinized teams this season. General manager Chris Drury has been retooling his roster since December, and he could end up on the hot seat if his efforts fail to pan out.

THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: The Jets avoided salary arbitration with Dylan Samberg, as the two sides agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a big raise from the $1.4 million AAV of Samberg’s previous contract. It’s also much closer to the $6 million cap hit he was seeking when he filed for arbitration, and well above the $2.5 million the Jets originally sought.

The Jets, however, had little choice. Samberg emerged last season as a solid top-four defenseman. Had this gone to arbitration, he would’ve become eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. They want to keep this roster intact as much as possible as they pursue the Stanley Cup.

This agreement leaves Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson as the only restricted free agent still scheduled for arbitration. His hearing will take place on August 3 unless he and the Leafs agree to a contract before that date.

CALGARY SUN: The Calgary Flames signed forward Martin Pospisil to a three-year contract extension beginning in 2026-27. PuckPedia indicates the 26-year-old will earn an AAV of $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pospisil is currently in the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $1 million. A versatile physical forward who can play center or left wing, his hard-hitting style has made him a fan favorite in Calgary.

RG.ORG: Jimmy Vesey is considering offers from KHL teams. SKA St. Petersburg is viewed as the front-runner for the 32-year-old forward’s services.

Vesey’s future in the NHL is uncertain after the Colorado Avalanche declined to re-sign him. He’s spent nine seasons with the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and the Avalanche.

THE ATHLETIC: Carter Yakemchuk is hoping to crack the Ottawa Senators’ roster this season. The Senators need depth among their right-side defensemen, something the 19-year-old Yakemchuk hopes to address. A skilled puck-mover, he’s been working on improving his defensive game since last season.

KARPAT.FI: Former NHL defenseman Markus Nutivaara is staging a comeback with Finnish team Karpat, signing a one-year contract with his hometown club. The 31-year-old retired two years ago due to hip surgeries. His last game was with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2025

by | May 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2025

The Panthers defeat the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, the highlights of the Leafs and Jets end-of-season interviews, an update on the CBA talks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS TAKE GAME 1 OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves to backstop his club to a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist while Aaron Ekblad tallied the winning goal in the first period. Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho cut the lead to 2-1, but the Panthers put the game out of reach on goals by A.J. Greer, Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

Game 2 is in Raleigh on Thursday, May 22, at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers only had a one-day break from eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday before facing the Hurricanes. Nevertheless, they opened the scoring, never relinquished the lead thanks partly to Bobrovsky’s solid goaltending, and made the most of their opportunities while adjusting to their new opponent.

The Hurricanes tried to get under Bobrovsky’s skin with frequent contact, but he shook it off and remained focused. Carolina captain Jordan Staal summed up the game by saying the Panthers capitalized on their scoring chances and the Hurricanes didn’t.

Florida’s Brad Marchand was tossed from the game in the third period for tussling with Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere after the latter appeared to shoot the puck intentionally at Marchand. The Panthers winger got a four-minute roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct, while Gostisbehere received a minor for roughing.

Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers is on Wednesday, May 21, in Dallas at 8 pm ET.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Auston Matthews declined to disclose the specifics of an injury that plagued him throughout this season during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ end-of-season media availability. Matthews said he suffered the injury during training camp and wouldn’t require surgery, saying he believes he’ll be fully healthy next season.

Mitch Marner’s return to the Leafs remains in doubt. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He said he’ll talk with his wife in the coming weeks about his next steps. Marner tried to put an optimistic spin on what playing in Toronto meant to him, but his voice seemed to be a mix of resignation and disappointment.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have the latest Marner speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

John Tavares is also UFA-eligible on July 1. However, the 34-year-old center remains “very optimistic” that he’ll be back next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs head coach Craig Berube said he’d love to have Tavares and Marner return next season. He’ll likely get his wish with Tavares but not with Marner.

Max Pacioretty had a solid postseason with the Leafs, but seems to be considering retirement. Injuries have limited the 36-year-old winger to 37 regular-season and 11 postseason games with the Leafs.

Matthew Knies is slated to become a restricted free agent without arbitration rights on July 1. The 22-year-old winger could receive an offer sheet from a rival club, but he shot down that notion. “I want to be here, I want to play here, that’s all that really matters to me.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There has been recent speculation over which RFA players could get offer sheets this summer. That’s because of the rising salary cap and last summer’s successful signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg by the St. Louis Blues.

However, the player has to be receptive to signing an offer sheet. Knies doesn’t sound like he’s open to the idea.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz said he suffered a concussion in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Panthers. He missed Games 2 through 6, returning as a backup for Game 7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stolarz said he suffered the injury after being struck in the head by the forearm of Panthers center Sam Bennett. He didn’t believe there was any ill intent on Bennett’s part.

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck believes the adjustments he made to his game may have resulted in a drop in his performance during the postseason.

Hellebuyck made the comments during his club’s end-of-season media availability. He struggled at times, getting pulled three times during their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues. Hellebucyk admitted he overthought the game at times.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey suffered a strained knee ligament in Game 6 of their second-round series with the Dallas Stars. He admitted he would’ve been out for the rest of the playoffs had the Jets forced a Game 7. Morrissey indicated that he wouldn’t require surgery.

Jets blueliner Luke Schenn said he suffered a couple of cracked ribs during the second game of their first-round series with the Blues.

THE ATHLETIC: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league and the NHL Players Association have made good progress in their current collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

According to Daly, the talks began last month and are well underway. He remains optimistic of a successful conclusion well before the September 2026 expiration of the current agreement.

Daly confirmed that future rules regarding the usage of long-term injury reserve have been a central part of the discussions, adding that there has been good progress in those talks. He also insisted the league isn’t looking to expand and hasn’t been soliciting bids, though there have been some conversations with various potential owners.

The deputy commissioner also indicated that there have been no discussions regarding a change to the playoff format.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what changes emerge in the next CBA, but it’s good news for fans (and those of us who cover the league) that a new agreement could be in place soon. We’ve enjoyed over 12 years of labor peace. Nobody wants another lockout.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t surprising given the Bruins’ overall record under Sweeney. Nevertheless, the reaction seems mixed among the club’s followers, some of whom believe it’s time for a change in the front office.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: New York Islanders center Bo Horvat suffered a lower-body injury playing for Canada in the World Championships. He’s left the team early and returned to Long Island to meet with the Isles’ team doctors.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Nick Jensen underwent surgery on Monday for a lower-body ailment. There is no timeline for his recovery.