NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2026

by | Jul 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2026

The latest notable contract signings, the Sabres hire John Davidson, an update on Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres avoided salary arbitration with Peyton Krebs, signing the 25-year-old forward to a four-year, $18 million contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Krebs had a career-best 39 points in 82 games last season. He was coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.45 million, so he’s getting a substantial pay raise.

It’ll be interesting to see where Krebs plays this season. He spent time on the fourth line, but as the report noted, he spent the second half of last season on the first line alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who was traded to the Washington Capitals last month.

Speaking of the Sabres, they hired John Davidson as a senior advisor.

Davidson, 73, previously worked with Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen during their tenures with the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that Kekalainen is reuniting with Davidson. In addition to their previous work experience together, Davidson has nearly 20 years of front-office experience with the Blues, Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers avoided salary arbitration with Braden Schneider, signing the 24-year-old defenseman to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schneider completed a two-year contract worth an AAV of $2.2 million. This new deal means he’ll be eligible for RFA status with arbitration rights again next July.

The report indicated this new contract doesn’t provide any clarity regarding Schneider’s long-term future with the Rangers. He’s been the frequent subject of trade speculation since last summer, but he’s also indicated that he’d love to remain with the Blueshirts.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov is expected to return to Philadelphia in early August to continue his offseason training. Michkov, 21, is currently training in his home country of Russia.

The 2026-27 season will be a significant one for Michkov, who struggled through his sophomore season amid criticism of his training last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov acknowledged that he wasn’t in proper shape for training camp last fall. Having undergone a full season under head coach Rich Tocchet in 2025-26, it’s expected the promising young winger will be better prepared for his third NHL campaign with the Flyers.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed prospect forward Viggo Bjorck to a three-year entry-level contract. Bjorck, 18, was chosen eighth overall by the Jets in this year’s NHL Draft.

THE DENVER POST: The Colorado Avalanche signed Fabian Lysell to a one-year, two-way contract worth an AAV of $850,000 at the NHL level.

Lysell, 23, was acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for winger Ivan Ivan during the NHL Draft last month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lysell was once considered to be one of the Bruins’ top prospects, but he struggled to crack their roster, playing 12 games last season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey was inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bailey spent his entire NHL career with the Islanders from 2008-09 to 2022-23, becoming the third player in franchise history to play 1,000 games (1,057).

DAILY FACEOFF: Defenseman Jordan Oesterle has announced his retirement after 12 NHL seasons. From 2014-15 to 2025-26, Oesterle played with the Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and Calgary Flames. He finishes with 96 points in 409 regular-season games.

RDS: The NHL and NHLPA have invested $4 million to establish a support program for former NHL players and their families to receive care following their playing careers.

NHL alumni members Paul Coffey and Glenn Healy brought up the recent tragedy of former NHL star Claude Lemieux, who died by suicide on May 28 at age 60.

“People have problems. They need somewhere to go for help. Look at what happened to Claude Lemieux,” Coffey said. Healy claimed that Lemieux’s passing “shook us all tremendously,” adding that the Alumni will do everything it can to make a difference for former players who are struggling.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens promoted Daniel Jacob as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate in Laval. He spent the past two seasons as the club’s assistant coach in charge of defensemen and penalty-killing units.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

by | May 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

The Golden Knights take Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Canadiens and Hurricanes, Sidney Crosby sheds light on his future, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF NEWS

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights took the first game of the Western Conference Final by holding off the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Carter Hart made 36 saves, Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his 10th goal of this postseason, Jack Eichel got his 15th assist, and Mitch Marner got his 19th point for the Golden Knights as they lead all playoff scorers in those categories. Brett Howden also scored to extend his road game goal streak to six games.

Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog rallied the Avalanche to cut the Golden Knights’ lead to 3-2 before Nic Dowd iced the victory for Vegas with an empty-net goal.

Game 2 is Friday in Denver, starting at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Avalanche have trailed in this postseason, having swept the Los Angeles Kings and eliminated the Minnesota Wild in five games.

The absence of superstar defenseman Cale Makar was a factor in the Avs’ loss to the Golden Knights. He’s been nursing a suspected shoulder injury throughout this postseason. Makar is listed as day-to-day and could return for Game 2.

Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup after missing the last two games of the second round with an upper-body injury.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone missed this game as he’s been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Game 3 of their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. However, he skated with the scratches during the optional skate on Wednesday, suggesting he could return to action at some point in this series.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens must shoot more often if they hope to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, which begins on Thursday in Raleigh at 8 pm ET. The Habs have mustered the second-lowest shots-per-game (25.1) among the 16 postseason clubs, while the Hurricanes are the leaders with 33.9.

TVA SPORTS: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis missed practice yesterday for family reasons, but he will be behind their bench for the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Henkel listed five ways the Hurricanes can defeat the Canadiens and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Getting more production from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis is the most crucial. The trio has yet to combine for an even-strength goal in this postseason thus far and had only six high-danger scoring chances through the first two rounds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake has carried the offensive load thus far for the Hurricanes. They’ve provided this club with the secondary scoring punch that they lacked in their recent postseason appearances. If the Aho line gets going, the Hurricanes will be a more formidable opponent.

IN OTHER HEADLINES…

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put to rest any thought of retirement once his contract expires at the end of next season.

“Not at all,” Crosby said when asked if next season would be his last. “I said year to year because of where the team is at.” He explained that it made sense for salary-cap flexibility. It didn’t mean that he would consider retirement at the end of each season.

The 38-year-old Penguins captain laughed when asked if he could play another five years. “That would be nice,” he replied. He added that he wants to keep playing for as many years as possible.

Crosby is currently playing for Canada in the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

NHL.COM: The National Hockey League was named the League of the Year by Sports Business Journal. It is being honored during a year when it has expanded its global footprint, with record attendance, soaring revenue, a collective bargaining agreement through 2030, and an $11 billion media rights deal with Rogers Communications in Canada.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed head coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year contract extension. Ruff guided the Sabres to their first playoff berth since 2010-11, and their first postseason victory since 2006-07.

WKBW’s Matthew Bove reports Sabres forward Tage Thompson said he was dealing with some lower-body injuries during the postseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.25 million.

NEW YORK POST: The Sabres’ elimination from the second round of the playoffs has secured the Rangers the 26th overall pick in the first round of this year’s draft. The pick originally belonged to the Dallas Stars and was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade last summer. The Rangers also hold the fifth-overall pick in this draft.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders reached an affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Trenton Ironhawks.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Former Blue Jackets radio and TV color analyst Bill Davidge passed away at age 72. He began his career with the Blue Jackets as a scout in 1999 and transitioned to broadcasting in 2000 until his retirement in 2019.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Davidge’s family, his former broadcasting partners, and the Blue Jackets organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2026

by | Feb 7, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2026

Men’s Olympic hockey begins on Feb. 11, the league’s three stars of the week, the felony assault charge against prospect Gavin McKenna is withdrawn, Henrik Zetterberg talks about life after hockey, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Men’s Olympic hockey schedule begins on Feb. 11 with Slovakia facing off against Finland (10:40 AM ET), and Sweden taking on Italy (3:10 PM ET).

On Feb.12, Switzerland meets France at 6:10 AM ET. Czechia goes against Canada at 10:40 AM ET. Latvia plays the United States, and Germany faces Denmark, with both games at 3:10 PM ET.

The following day, Finland takes on Sweden, and Italy faces off against Slovakia (both games start at 6:10 AM ET), France squares off against Czechia (10:40 AM ET), and Canada meets Switzerland at 3:10 PM ET.

Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the full schedule. I will provide recaps following each day’s action throughout the Olympics.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy, New York Islanders center Bo Horvat, and Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka are the league’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 5.

WJAC TV: Prosecutors in Centre County, Pennsylvania, have withdrawn the felony aggravated assault charge against NHL prospect Gavin McKenna. The 18-year-old Penn State forward was arraigned earlier this week following an incident outside of a pub in downtown State College.

McKenna is accused of punching another male in the face twice, resulting in the victim suffering multiple jaw fractures that required surgery. Upon further review of the evidence, prosecutors believed McKenna didn’t act with intent to cause serious bodily harm nor recklessly acted with extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

McKenna still faces a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, and summary offenses for harassment and disorderly conduct.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The felony assault charge was the most serious. Earlier reports indicated that it carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

RG.ORG: Andrew Knoll recently interviewed former Detroit Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg, who discussed his life after the NHL, the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the current state of the modern game.

Zetterberg said he felt today’s NHL game is faster and less structured, with fewer deliberate plays. He believes elite players, such as Edmonton Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, stand out for their ability to slow down the pace of the game and control possession.

Zetterberg is impressed that former opponents such as Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are still playing well. He credits the work they put in off the ice year-round for their ability to adapt to today’s faster-paced game.

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reports the 2026 first-round pick that the Florida Panthers sent to the Chicago Blackhawks in last year’s Seth Jones trade is top-10 protected.

If that pick ends up among the top 10 following the 2026 Draft Lottery, the Panthers will retain it, and the Blackhawks will receive the Panthers’ 2027 first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the regular season ended today, the Panthers would be 22nd in the standings, putting them one point outside the bottom-10 clubs. Assuming they finish at their current position in the standings, they could end up with a top-10 pick if the lottery balls bounce their way.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Curtis Douglas was fined $2,018.23 for “serving as the aggressor in an altercation” with Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2025

by | Dec 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2025

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt collects his fourth shutout in six starts, Steven Stamkos, Jamie Benn, and David Perron reach notable career milestones, the three stars and the rookie of the month for November are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves for his fourth shutout in his last six games to blank the Edmonton Oilers 1-0. Jonas Brodin scored the only goal as the Wild improved to 15-7-5. Stuart Skinner made 23 saves for the Oilers, who slipped to 11-11-5.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wallstedt became the second-fastest goaltender in NHL history to record five career shutouts, doing so in 15 games. Frankie Brimsek holds the record with nine games.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored to reach his 1,200th career NHL regular-season point in a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots, and Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist for the Predators (9-13-4). Morgan Frost replied for the 9-15-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos is the sixth active player to reach the 1,200-point milestone, joining Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Detroit Red Wings forward Patrik Kane, and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar.

Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt scored his first NHL goal. He pointed skyward to honor his late brother Orca Wiesblatt, who died in a car accident in September.

An overtime goal by Vladislav Gavrikov lifted the New York Rangers over the Dallas Stars 3-2. Artemi Panarin had two assists for the Rangers (14-12-2), who have three wins in their last four games. Kyle Capobianco and Mikko Rantanen scored for the 17-5-5 Stars as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dallas captain Jamie Benn played his 1,200th career NHL regular-season game. Meanwhile, Stars winger Tyler Seguin left the game early in the first period after injuring his right leg following a collision with Gavrikov. Earlier in the day, the Stars announced defenseman Lian Bichsel will miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury suffered in Sunday’s win over the Ottawa Senators.

The Ottawa Senators improved to 13-9-4 with a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Brady Tkachuk and Fabian Zetterlund each had a goal and an assist. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each had two points for the 13-9-3 Canadiens, who have lost two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators forward David Perron collected an assist in his 1,200th career regular-season NHL game. Tkachuk’s goal was his first of the season after missing 20 games with an injured thumb.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied twice to lead his club over the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 3-1. The league-leading Avalanche (19-1-6, 44 points) extended its point streak to 17 games. Linus Karlsson scored for the 10-14-3 Canucks, who have two wins in their last 11 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads the league with 22 goals and 46 points. Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood left this game in the second period for precautionary reasons with tightness in his back. Meanwhile, teammate Valeri Nichushkin returned to action after missing eight games with a lower-body injury.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Boston Bruins 5-4, snapping a four-game losing skid. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat each had a goal and an assist for the 14-11-2 Red Wings. Hampus Lindholm had three assists, and Alex Steeves tallied two goals for the Bruins (15-13-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger David Pastrnak missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be sidelined for the rest of this week. Meanwhile, winger Viktor Arvidsson returned to action after being out since Nov. 15 with a lower-body injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got their third win in their last four games by downing the Florida Panthers 4-1. Troy Stecher and Dakota Joshua each had a goal and an assist, and Joseph Woll turned aside 26 shots for the 12-11-3 Maple Leafs. Sam Reinhart got the only goal for the Panthers (12-12-1), who’ve dropped three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo will be sidelined longer than expected with a lower-body injury. He’s been out since Nov. 13 and recently suffered a setback in his recovery.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots to nip the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Bo Horvat and Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders (14-10-3) as they ended a three-game losing skid. Dominic James scored for the 16-8-2 Lightning, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 34 points.

A shootout goal by Shea Theodore gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Carter Hart made 27 saves in his season debut with the Golden Knights (12-6-8). Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-6 Blackhawks, who have one win in their last seven games.

The Washington Capitals picked up their fifth straight win by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Alex Ovechkin collected two assists for the Capitals (16-9-2). Adrian Kempe scored for the 12-7-7 Kings.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard are the league’s three stars for November 2025. Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is the Rookie of the Month for November.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers forward Tyson Foerster will be sidelined for two to three months with an upper-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier (upper body) was placed on injured reserve

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The NHL is sending a memo to its 32 teams reminding them about its rule requiring players to wear helmets during warmups. This comes after the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils violated that rule in recent games. Neither club is expected to be punished beyond a warning.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2025

by | Sep 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2025

The Flames sign goalie Dustin Wolf to a seven-year contract extension, plus the latest on Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Kings winger Adrian Kempe, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed goaltender Dustin Wolf to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension on Tuesday. Wolf, 24, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. The average annual value of his new deal is $7.5 million.

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wolf got this contract because of his performance last season. Thanks to his stellar goaltending, the retooling Flames exceeded expectations, coming within a whisker of reaching the 2025 postseason. His efforts made him the runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

NHL.COM: Connor Bedard said his contract extension talks with the Chicago Blackhawks are going well. The 20-year-old center is in the final season of his entry-level deal.

“It’s nothing crazy,” Bedard told reporters during the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday. “We’re both comfortable with where we’re at. They know I want to be there; I know they want me. So, it’s really not on my mind that much, and I just think when it happens, it happens.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard played coy when asked if the deal could come before the start of the upcoming season. “We’ll see,” he said.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports Adrian Kempe wants to stay with the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Kempe told reporters that there is no rush on either side for a contract extension. However, he expects talks will pick up over the next several weeks or months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kempe is in the final season of a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. He was their leading scorer in each of the last two seasons and their leading goal scorer in 2022-23 with a career-high 41 goals.

Another season with 30 goals and 70 points could put him in line to earn between $9 million and $10 million annually on his next contract.

THE BOSTON GLOBE’s Conor Ryan reports Bruins general manager Don Sweeney confirmed his club will start this season without a captain. “I think somebody will eventually emerge as the guy that should be the next captain,” Sweeney said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The last Bruins captain was Brad Marchand until he was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 7. Winger David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy are the likely front-runners for the role.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reported Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said there’s been no contract extension talks with center Adam Fantilli.

Like Chicago’s Connor Bedard, the 20-year-old Fantilli is in the final season of his entry-level deal. Waddell stated a new contract won’t happen before the season begins, adding that the center’s camp isn’t in any hurry to get a deal done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We shouldn’t read too much into that. Both sides could be waiting to see how this season unfolds before opening contract talks.

Fantilli had a solid sophomore campaign last season, tallying a career-best 30 goals and 54 points. If he builds on that performance, he’ll be in line for a substantial raise on his next contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers have invited forward Noah Gregor to training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO). Gregor, 27, split last season between the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks, collecting seven points in 52 games.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports St. Louis Blues prospect Justin Carbonneau hopes to crack the Blues’ roster and earn an entry-level contract. The 18-year-old right wing was chosen in the first round (19th overall) by St. Louis.

TVA SPORTS: The Montreal Canadiens will hold an “Andrei Markov Night” on Dec. 3 to honor the former Habs defenseman. Markov spent the entirety of his 16-season NHL career with the Canadiens, playing 990 regular-season games between 2000 and 2017 before ending his playing career in the KHL.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Markov was the linchpin of the Canadiens’ blueline for most of his career. He’s sixth all-time among their franchise leaders in games played.

ESPN.COM: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is waiting for a “fully baked plan” from an ownership group in Atlanta before having its Board of Governors consider bringing an expansion team to the city.

Daly indicated the league met with multiple groups in July that are seeking to bring a franchise back to the city. Atlanta hosted an NHL team from 1972-73 to 1979-80, and another from 1999-2000 to 2010-11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some wonder why the NHL would consider returning to Atlanta when the Flames and Thrashers failed in that market. The short answer is because it’s the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the United States. A better-run franchise could become a significant money maker there.

TSN: Daly also said the league has closed its investigation into Evander Kane spending last season on long-term injury reserve before joining the Edmonton Oilers for the playoffs. He indicated the Oilers will not face discipline as a result.

The deputy commissioner also expects a decision soon from the league on the status of five former Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault in a high-profile case earlier this year.

Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote were acquitted on July 24. Following the decision, the NHL indicated the players were ineligible to return to the league until it had reviewed the findings.

Meanwhile, the NHL and NHLPA announced that they will contribute $4 million annually to the newly established Retired Players Emergency Healthcare and Wellness Fund.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

by | Jul 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 25, 2025

Five members of Canada’s WJC team found not guilty in sexual assault trial, the Florida Panthers could be on the verge of a dynasty, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London, Ontario courtroom on Thursday.

Former NHL players Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton were each acquitted of a sexual assault charge. McLeod was also found not guilty of a second charge of being a party to an offense.

In her ruling, Justice Maria Carroccia said she didn’t find the evidence of the complainant to be credible or reliable. She also stated that the Crown didn’t meet its burden to prove the five men’s guilt on any of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

SPORTSNET: The NHL released a statement indicating the five players remained ineligible to play in the league while it reviews the judge’s findings. The league stated that the allegations in the case were “very disturbing”, even if not deemed criminal. The league also described the players’ actions as “unacceptable.”

The NHL Players Association responded that the five players should “have the opportunity to return to work,” claiming the NHL’s decision doesn’t align with the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A court of law found the players not guilty, but the court of public opinion could impede their return to the NHL. The league is handling this issue very carefully. Even if the players are allowed to return, teams could be reluctant to sign them.

Critics of the NHLPA’s position must realize that they’re doing their job by looking out for their members’ employment rights as per the CBA.

Since the allegations of sexual assault were revealed in 2022, Hockey Canada came under intense criticism for its handling of the situation, including a civil settlement paid in part from players’ registration fees. It led to changes within the organization’s leadership, a series of reforms regarding player conduct, and a loss of sponsors, though some of the latter have since returned.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (NHL Images).

Some observers are concerned that the trial’s outcome could stall those changes to address sexual abuse, as well as hazing, racism, discrimination, and homophobia. It will be up to the current leadership of Hockey Canada to determine how far they will continue on their path of reforms.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45 million contract extension.

The listed average annual value is $5.65 million, but Elliotte Friedman reports the actual AAV is $5.1 million due to deferred money.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The son of former NHL forward Jason Blake, Jackson had a promising debut last season, finishing with 17 goals and 34 points in 80 games, and six points in 15 playoff contests. The 21-year-old is a speedy, hardworking, energetic forward whose play made an obvious positive impression on Hurricanes management.

Blake is the third member of the Hurricanes to have deferred salary in their contracts, joining Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis. This tactic remains allowable under the current CBA but will be banned when the new agreement takes effect next September. It’ll be interesting to see if other players end up with similar contracts before then.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg believes the Panthers could be on the verge of creating something once considered impossible: creating a Stanley Cup dynasty in the salary-cap era.

The last true Cup dynasty was the New York Islanders of the early 1980s. They were the last team to win three straight championships, going on to capture four straight Cups from 1980 to 1983.

Greenberg thinks the Panthers could pull it off, citing their ability to keep most of their roster core intact. The significant increases in the salary cap for 2025-26 and the following two seasons improve their chances of maintaining a championship roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Betting against the Panthers winning three in a row could be hazardous to your pocketbook. However, two factors could derail their dynasty dreams.

The first is the amount of hockey they’ve played. They’ve been to three straight Stanley Cup Finals since 2023, meaning they’ve had less recovery time than other teams. Many of their core players will also be participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics next February.

It’s impressive that they’ve been able to maintain their current pace, but it could catch up with them next spring.

Age is another factor. The Panthers enter 2025-26 with the fourth-oldest roster (29.49) in the league. Granted, that’s skewed with greybeards like the 37-year-old Brad Marchand and 36-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky in the lineup, but it’s still a reason for concern.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell recently examined the 10 worst moves the Buffalo Sabres have made during their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

Trading away Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in 2018, Sam Reinhart to Florida, and Jack Eichel to Vegas were among those moves. They went on to bigger and better things (including Stanley Cup championships) with their new clubs.

Their first-round draft record was another significant factor. Apart from Eichel, Reinhart, and Rasmus Dahlin, they’ve done poorly between 2011 and 2022, with most of their choices being middle-of-the-road players or fringe NHLers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the draft record that’s the most surprising. While the Sabres have had some good picks in the later rounds (Linus Ullmark, Brandon Hagel, JJ Peterka), they eventually traded them away.

TORONTO SUN: The Rosedale, Ontario home of former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is up for sale. If you have around $14 million, the property can be yours.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Damn, it’s just out of my price range.