NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2025

by | Sep 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2025

An update on Connor McDavid’s contract talks with the Oilers, the Rangers name their new captain, plus the latest on the Flyers, Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports Connor McDavid will not have a contract extension in place with the Edmonton Oilers before training camp opens this week.

McDavid, 28, is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Oilers captain has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Johnston reports contract talks remain consistent and cordial between the two sides, with no disconnect on terms or structure. League sources believe McDavid’s biggest point of contention is the Oilers’ aging roster. He thinks the club can still contend this season, but they don’t appear to be constructed for long-term contention.

McDavid isn’t chasing a specific number on his contract, and remains open about the length of the deal. Meanwhile, Oilers management remains confident that a deal will be reached.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid could end up signing a three or four-year contract worth around $18 million annually. If the Oilers decline significantly over that period, he can move on to another contender as a free agent while still in his prime as a player.

McDavid could seek the league maximum ($20.8 million for 2026-27), but he could leave some money on the table to help the Oilers maintain a contender. Some observers believe McDavid should accept significantly less than that, but he remains the best player in the league and should be compensated fairly. He’d also get a lot of grief from the NHL Players’ Association if he accepted well below market value, as it would potentially drive down the value of other stars.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers named J.T. Miller as their new team captain. Miller rejoined the club in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks in January. The 32-year-old center becomes the 29th captain in franchise history.

Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, and Artemi Panarin are the alternate captains.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller is an intense, vocal player who leads by example. He faces the challenge of captaining the Rangers back into playoff contention following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said there won’t be a reunion with Carter Hart. The goaltender’s agent contacted the Flyers to rule out that possibility.

Hart, 27, was among the five former Hockey Canada players who were found not guilty of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2018 in London, Ontario. The Flyers did not issue him a qualifying offer when his contract expired in 2024.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli ruled out the possibility of Hart, an Edmonton native, signing with the Oilers. He suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and possibly the Nashville Predators as potential destinations given the uncertainty over their goaltending situations.

DAILY FACEOFF: Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the first one or two months of the regular season as he continues to recover from a triceps injury suffered in March.

Forward Tyson Foerster (elbow) will be in a non-contact jersey when training camp opens for about a week.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks have reportedly signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a professional tryout offer (PTO).

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES’ Ben Pope reports Blackhawks backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit remains sidelined by injury as training camp opens and could remain sidelined for a while.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks have signed winger Oliver Wahlstrom to a PTO.

THE PROVINCE: Manny Malhotra will remain head coach of the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate for the next two years. The Canucks picked up the option year (2016-17) of his contract with Abbotsford. Malhotra coached them to the 2025 Calder Cup.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2025

by | Sep 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2025

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

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

Montreal Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov (NHL Images).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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










NHL Rumor Mill – September 13, 2025

by | Sep 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 13, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: how Flames goalie Dustin Wolf’s new contract could affect the Oilers’ Stuart Skinner’s next deal, the latest on netminder Carter Hart, and winger Lukas Reichel’s uncertain future with the Blackhawks.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson believes Dustin Wolf’s new contract with the Calgary Flames could affect the next contract of Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner.

Wolf, 24, signed a seven-year deal earlier this week with an average annual value of $7.5 million, making him the 10th highest-salaried goalie in the league. Skinner, 26, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).

Skinner has played 50 playoff games over the past three seasons, backstopping the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup Finals. He’s played three times more NHL games (including playoffs) than Wolf. His current AAV is a bargain-basement $2.6 million.

Matheson believes a strong season from Skinner in 2025-26 will determine what his next contract looks like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson pointed out that Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the only goalies among the 10 highest-paid that have Stanley Cup rings.

Skinner is also UFA-eligible at the same time as teammate Connor McDavid. How much the Oilers pony up to keep McDavid in the fold could determine if they have enough to retain their starting goaltender.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston cited NHL sources claiming Carter Hart is expected to reach terms on a new two or three-year contract on Oct. 1, though it can’t be officially registered with the league until Oct. 15.

Hart was among the five former Hockey Canada players recently acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. Johnston indicated the 27-year-old goalie is seeking a job where he can get a meaningful number of starts with a team that can win.

Johnston reports Hart seeks a fresh start, which rules out returning to his former NHL club, the Philadelphia Flyers. Sources believe he’s almost certain to sign with an American team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hart was the most notable of those five players, having spent several seasons as a starter with the Flyers. He could be the only one who finds an NHL club to sign with, as teams could shy away from the lesser-talented.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope recently reported that Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel thought at one point during this offseason that he was going to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers.

“I heard from guys in Germany that I didn’t know knew hockey,” Reichel said. “They came up to me and said, ‘You’re going to go to Edmonton.’ I can’t do anything about it.”

Reichel, 23, acknowledged he had an inconsistent performance last season. Chosen 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, he’s struggled to establish himself as a top-six forward.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said Reichel’s name remains “out there” in the rumor mill. He thinks it’s understood that the Blackhawks could move the young forward if they find a suitable trade partner. Friedman also thinks Reichel understands it might be time for a change.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A suitable trade partner would be one willing to meet the Blackhawks’ asking price. Whatever that might be for a struggling first-rounder who has yet to meet expectations remains to be seen, but it’s unlikely to be very high.

The best scenario could be moving Reichel for another struggling young forward and hoping the change of scenery works out for both players.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 12, 2025

by | Sep 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 12, 2025

Check out the latest speculation about Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Bruins forward Pavel Zacha in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON KIRILL KAPRIZOV

SPORTSNET: During yesterday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said the Minnesota Wild were surprised that Kirill Kaprizov rejected their offer of an eight-year, $128 million contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov, 28, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The average annual value (AAV) of his current contract is $9 million, and he carries a full no-movement clause. The Wild’s offer had an AAV of $16 million, which would’ve made him the NHL’s highest-paid player, or at least, the highest-paid until Connor McDavid signs his new contract, but that’s another story.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

The Wild must now assess different options to address this situation. One could be increasing their offer. Another could be attempting a sign-and-trade scenario with another team. They could ask Kaprizov which teams he’d be willing to waive his NMC for.

Friedman believes the Kaprizov camp rejected the Wild’s offer because there could be a rival club willing to make him a more expensive proposal. “There’s somebody out there sending up smoke signals, saying ‘We can do better,” Friedman said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Any team that might be signaling a more lucrative offer to the Kaprizov camp had better tread carefully. Under the CBA, making contract offers to a rival player already under contract is considered tampering.

Despite speculation suggesting Kaprizov prefers a short-term deal, Friedman thinks the winger wants to get as many years as possible because of his injury history.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports rumors claiming that the Wild asked Kaprizov for a list of trade destinations are unfounded. “The Wild have not and will not be asking Kaprizov for a trade list,” a source close to the Wild told D’Amico.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michael Russo, the Wild beat writer for The Athletic, also shot down that rumor.

Contract negotiations between the two sides are ongoing. A source close to the situation claims the Kaprizov camp is pushing for a deal closer to the league maximum of 20 percent of the salary cap, preferring something between $18 million and $19 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first season of Kaprizov’s new contract is 2026-27. With the salary cap reaching $104 million next season, the maximum average annual salary he can get is $20.8 million.

A source also told D’Amico that Kaprizov and his representatives are waiting to see what Connor McDavid’s next contract will be. The Edmonton Oilers superstar is also UFA-eligible next summer. It’s expected that McDavid’s next contract will reset the market, giving Kaprizov leverage for a record-breaking deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid would get the league maximum if he asks for it, but he could also accept a little less than market value to give the Oilers some cap flexibility to add players to the roster. His camp could also be waiting to see what Kaprizov gets, which could lead to both players spending months waiting to see what the other one gets.

SHOULD THE SENATORS PURSUE SIDNEY CROSBY?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch wondered if adding Sidney Crosby might make sense for the Senators should the Pittsburgh Penguins captain become available in the trade market.

Garrioch cited the analysts at TSN’s “Overdrive” afternoon radio show, naming the Senators as one of the teams that might consider the possibility, suggesting they’ll be trying to win the Stanley Cup within the next two or three years.

Jeff O’Neill believes Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would want a talented young player (like defenseman Jake Sanderson) or top prospects for the 38-year-old Crosby, who is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $8.7 million and a full no-movement clause.

The Montreal Canadiens have been mentioned as a destination because they were Crosby’s favorite team growing up. O’Neill upset Canadiens fans by suggesting the Penguins would demand promising winger Ivan Demidov or Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Lane Hutson as part of the return.

Garrioch also noted the Colorado Avalanche are also considered a potential destination, in part because of Crosby’s friendship with Avs star Nathan MacKinnon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby will draw plenty of interest if he’s willing to be traded before his contract expires. The Senators will likely look into it. Whether they have the assets that would tempt the Penguins, or the willingness to meet the asking price, is another matter.

As for the Canadiens, trading a top prospect like Demidov or a rising star like Hutson would go against everything that their management has been building over the past three years. They seek success over the long term, not short-term gains that could delay or derail their goal of perennial Stanley Cup contention.

CANADIENS AND FLAMES SAID TO BE INTERESTED IN PAVEL ZACHA

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports an NHL source claims the Canadiens and the Calgary Flames are among the teams to have inquired about the availability of Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha, 28, is in the third season of a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.75 million. The versatile forward also has an eight-team no-trade list.

No deal is imminent, but different trade scenarios have been discussed. No names are confirmed, but Murphy’s source said Canadiens forward prospects Joshua Roy and Oliver Kapanen, and defenseman Jayden Struble, have been mentioned as trade candidates as the club continues its search for a second-line center. The Canadiens are reportedly reluctant to mess with their young core for any center.

Multiple sources said that the trade chatter surrounding Zacha this summer hasn’t been coming from the Bruins, but from the teams interested in acquiring him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins hope to bounce back from last season’s poor performance. Trading Zacha would weaken their depth among their top-six forwards. However, the likelihood of his availability will increase if the Bruins struggle during the opening weeks of this season.

Prospects like Roy and Kapanen and roster players like Struble are the kind of players the Canadiens would be willing to dangle in their quest to shore up their depth at center. Depending on the center, they could also include a draft pick in the deal.

As for the Flames, they would prefer a center with a right-hand shot. Zacha shoots left, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be interested if he becomes available.










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 – September 8, 2025

by | Sep 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 8, 2025

The latest on Kings forward Adrian Kempe and defenseman Brandt Clarke, Ryane Clowe resigns as Sharks assistant GM, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland considers re-signing Adrian Kempe to be a top priority for his club.

The 28-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. A recent report claimed the two sides were $1 million apart in negotiations.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).

Holland said he’s had several brief conversations with Kempe’s agent, but expects negotiations will begin soon. “I believe he wants to stay, and we’ll see if we can get the process started and hopefully find a solution.”

The Kings GM praised Kempe, who has scored 35 or more goals in three of the last four seasons and averaged more than 67 points per season. “He’s a shooter. He can play 200 feet. He kills penalties. He’s got a great shot. He can one-time pucks. He’s got a great release. He can be a one-shot scorer,” Holland said. He also cited Kempe’s skating, versatility, and importance to the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kempe is in the final season of a four-year contract with a team-friendly average annual value of $5.5 million. Holland should be prepared to pay a hefty price to keep Kempse because he’ll draw plenty of interest if he becomes available. Another 35-plus goal season could earn him over $9 million annually on the open market next summer, especially with the salary cap rising to $104 million for 2026-27.

Holland also indicated that he’s taking a wait-and-see approach with Brandt Clarke. The 22-year-old defenseman is in the final season of his entry-level contract.

“I think he’s a really talented guy with a bright future,” Holland said. “Now we’ve got to figure out where it’s going.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Clarke surfaced in trade rumors during this summer. However, Holland isn’t in any hurry to move the promising blueliner. Having taken over as Kings general manager in May, Holland wants to take some time to evaluate his players and his team.

Holland already knows what Kempe is capable of because the winger has established himself as a reliable scorer. He hasn’t seen as much of Clarke, whose first full NHL campaign was last season.

MAYOR’S MANOR: Speaking of the Kings, prospect forward Liam Greentree’s recovery from offseason wrist surgery went well. He attended the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires’ training camp, played one preseason game, and will attend the Kings’ rookie camp this week.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Ryane Clowe has resigned as the San Jose Sharks’ assistant general manager. He’d been in the job for one season.

Clowe didn’t state a specific reason for the decision, but said in a statement released by the Sharks that the decision was best for his family.

SPORTSNET: Former Sharks winger Kevin Labanc has joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout offer. In 2024-25, the 29-year-old winger has 12 points in 34 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Labanc spent eight of his NHL seasons with the Sharks. He was considered a promising forward after a 40-point performance in 2017-18 and a career-high 57 points in 2018-19. However, his production declined in subsequent seasons.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former Edmonton Oilers forward Klim Kostin would like to play for the club again. The unrestricted free agent played for the Oilers in 2022-23, netting a career-high 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, and five points in 12 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers won’t be making any additions to their roster anytime soon. They only have around $225K in cap space for the coming season.