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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2025

by | May 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2025

The Panthers take a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference Final, plus the latest on Roope Hintz, Reilly Smith, Brendan Shanahan and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS TAKE 3-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Florida captain Aleksander Barkov tallied twice as his club scored five goals in the third period. Niko Mikkola also scored two goals and Jesper Boqvist had a goal and two assists. Logan Stankoven had a goal and an assist for Carolina.

Panthers forward Sam Reinhart missed this game with a lower-body injury suffered in Game 2. He’s listed as day-to-day. Forward Eetu Luostarinen was ejected for boarding Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake.

Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov got the start for the Hurricanes. Teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 2.

The Panthers can finish this series with a win in Game 4 on Monday, May 26, at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina made this interesting in the first two periods, keeping the game close and tying it in the second period after Florida took an early lead. However, they couldn’t contain the Panthers’ offense in the third and were quickly beaten down on five goals in just over nine minutes within the first half of the period.

This loss extended the Hurricanes’ losing skid in the Eastern Conference Final to 15 games since 2019. They’re on the verge of getting swept again if they cannot find a way to neutralize the Panthers’ aggressive forecheck.

ROTOWIRE: Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz remains uncertain for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers. Hintz suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2 when he was slashed on the leg by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.

TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan won’t be joining the New York Islanders. Pierre LeBrun reports the Isles interviewed Shanahan and had a good conversation, but decided he’s not a fit for them at this time.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Reilly Smith hopes to remain with the Golden Knights. They reacquired him from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. The 34-year-old winger can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but he’s hoping the two sides can work something out.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports the Maple Leafs will explore ways to enhance fan support for their home games. Keith Pelley, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, was thrilled with the fan engagement during the playoffs, but believes it could be louder and is looking at ways to address this.

Hornby blames it on “a few things, led by the Leafs’ corporate season ticket base that opens their wallets but closes their mouths during play, especially in the lower bowl.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Part of the problem is that the Leafs charge the league’s highest ticket prices ($260 per ticket on average). Their fan cost index of $444 (includes tickets, parking and concessions) is the second-highest.

That’s well out of the range of most Leafs fans, who end up watching their playoff games on big-screen television in Maple Leaf Square outside Scotiabank Arena. That’s where all the noise can be found.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2025

by | May 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 23, 2025

The Panthers take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final, the Maple Leafs part ways with Brendan Shanahan, the Blackhawks officially hire Jeff Blashill as head coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PANTHERS DOMINATE HURRICANES IN GAME 2 OF EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final by blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 17-save shutout while Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe each had three points. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen gave up four goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov to start the third period.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers have won six straight postseason games against Carolina, dating back to the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes have lost a record 14 games in the Eastern Conference Final since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

It was a costly win for the Panthers. Scoring winger Sam Reinhart left the game in the first period favoring his right leg after being tripped up by Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. Reinhart will be evaluated on Friday.

TSN: Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch, replaced by Mark Jankowski. Kotkaniemi has three assists in 11 games during this postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers controlled this contest from start to finish. They opened the scoring just 1:17 into the game, built it to 3-0 by the end of the first period, and squeezed the life out of the Hurricanes’ offense.

The Hurricanes made it easy for the Panthers. They were dominated so thoroughly that team captain Jordan Staal called it “an ass whooping”. It was an embarrassing effort on their part.

This series shifts to Florida for the next two games, with Game 3 on Saturday at 8 pm ET. The Hurricanes’ season will end soon if they don’t find a way to get back into this series.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced they would not re-sign team president Brendan Shanahan to a new contract. He’d been in the role since 2014-15.

Earlier this week, Shanahan was granted permission to speak to the New York Islanders, who seek a new team president after parting ways with Lou Lamoriello last month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is the end of an era for the Leafs. The next significant change could be on their roster when Mitch Marner can depart as a free agent on July 1. John Tavares is also a UFA this summer, but he could be re-signed to a shorter deal with a considerable pay cut from his current average annual value of $11 million.

Shanahan leaves behind a mixed legacy. During his tenure as Leafs president, the club rebuilt into a perennial playoff club, reaching the postseason in nine straight seasons since 2016-17. They selected William Nylander in the 2014 NHL Draft, Marner in 2015, and Auston Matthews in 2016, who would form their “Core Four” forwards with Tavares. Six of the nine seasons in Leafs history when they reached the 100-point plateau occurred under Shanahan.

However, the Leafs only managed two playoff series victories during Shanahan’s tenure. Signing free agent Tavares to a seven-year, $77-million contract in 2018 hampered their efforts to properly build around the “Core Four”, leaving them with a top-heavy team that had no difficulty reaching the playoffs but lacked the depth necessary to win in the postseason.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: As expected, the Blackhawks formally announced Jeff Blashill will take over as their new head coach.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins are getting closer to finding their new head coach. They are expected to conduct their final in-person interviews with the candidates next week, with a decision coming soon afterward.

They’ve interviewed 15 candidates, including notables like former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love, former Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson, and Marco Sturm, the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

The Bruins are not speaking with coaching candidates on clubs still active in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hopefully, this news mollifies those Bruins fans who’ve taken to the comments section on this site recently to complain about a perceived lack of urgency by their team in finding a new bench boss.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers assistant coach Michael Peca will not return with the club. A source indicated Peca met with new head coach Mike Sullivan, and the two sides decided it was best he moved on. He’s reportedly going to join Jeff Blashill’s staff in Chicago.

TORONTO SUN: Denmark upset Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinal of the 2025 World Championship. Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Nick Olesen scored in the final 2:17 to send the star-studded Canadian squad packing. Denmark will face Switzerland in the semifinal, while the United States will meet Sweden.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A major upset by Denmark over a Canadian squad that may have taken their opponent too lightly. Nevertheless, this is good for international hockey. It shows that other countries continue to improve, which builds up the quality of the competition in these tournaments. This victory should also provide a big boost for Danish hockey, inspiring more of their citizens to take up the sport.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 22, 2025

by | May 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 22, 2025

The Stars rally to defeat the Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the Islanders get permission to speak with Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, the Blackhawks are poised to hire a former Red Wings coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE STARS TAKE GAME 1 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars scored five unanswered third-period goals to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in Game 1 of the 2025 NHL Western Conference Final.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (NHL Images).

Miro Heiskanen, Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene tallied three straight power-play goals to get the rally going. Tyler Seguin finished the night with two goals and an assist, while Heiskanen and Granlund each had a goal and an assist.

Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers. Draisaitl finished with a goal and two assists, Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, and Connor McDavid finished with two helpers.

Game 2 is Friday, May 23, in Dallas at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were in control of this game heading into the third period, but poor penalty killing was their undoing as the Stars took advantage of their undisciplined play.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reported the New York Islanders were granted permission to speak with Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan about their top hockey job. Shanahan’s contract with the Leafs expires at the end of June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed the Leafs won’t renew Shanahan’s contract. Giving the Isles permission to speak with him lends credence to that speculation.

Don’t expect a change of management for the Leafs. Johnston reported “a positive internal view” of Brad Treliving’s work as general manager over the past two seasons.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Seattle Kraken were permitted to speak with Leafs associate coach Lane Lambert. Before joining the Leafs, Lambert was the Islanders’ head coach from 2022 to 2024.

SI.COM: Former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill will reportedly become the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Blashill was the Wings’ bench boss from 2015-16 to 2021-22. He went on to become an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blashill might have better luck with the Blackhawks than he did with the rebuilding Red Wings, especially after working with well-respected Lightning coach Jon Cooper for the past three seasons.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff recently met with the agent for pending free-agent Nikolaj Ehlers. He intends to meet with the 28-year-old winger, hoping to make him “a unique Jet-for-life type player.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. Most pundits believe he intends to test the market. However, Cheveldayoff has a recent history of re-signing core players, inking Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele to extensions two years ago.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield remains questionable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. He’s been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since Game 4 of the Hurricanes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals.

DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis reports Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini are meshing well as linemates on Team Canada in the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Crosby has 11 points and Celebrini six through the round-robin of the tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could become a preview of a Crosby-Celebrini line at next year’s Winter Olympics.

RG.ORG: Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov admitted he was disappointed not to be a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, but the 20-year-old felt he should’ve played better. He praised Lane Hutson’s performance, saying he believed the young Montreal Canadiens defenseman would be a star since he first saw him play in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson is among the finalists and considered the favorite to win the Calder.

Michkov has a good head on his shoulders, taking responsibility for why he didn’t make the Calder shortlist. He’ll likely use that as motivation to improve his game, which will only benefit the Flyers moving forward.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Former Flyers interim head coach Brad Shaw is reportedly joining the New Jersey Devils’ coaching staff.

97.3 ESPN: Ian Laperriere reportedly won’t be back as head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley. It’s believed he could work in the organization in a different role.

NHL.COM: The 4 Nations Face-Off was named the Sports Event of the Year at the SBJ Sports Business Awards in New York. The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were named Sports Team of the Year.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2025

by | May 19, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2025

Check out the latest on the Leafs and the Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE LEAFS?

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin believes the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot return with the same core next season following another disappointing playoff meltdown.

Larkin doesn’t think Auston Matthews and William Nylander are going anywhere because they’ve just commenced their long-term extension. However, forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and face uncertain futures.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby expects changes among the “Core Four” forwards. He doubts the Leafs will break the bank to keep Marner in Toronto. Meanwhile, Tavares will be 35 when next season starts, and his idea of a hometown discount could differ from management’s.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Hornby pointed out that winger Matthew Knies is coming off his entry-level contract, becoming a restricted free agent unless he signs an extension before July 1. The 22-year-old power forward could also receive a lucrative offer sheet from a rival club.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle doesn’t see the Leafs retaining team president Brendan Shanahan. After 11 years at the helm, his contract is up at the end of this season.

Mirtle doesn’t expect Marner will be back, pointing out his unwillingness to negotiate a contract during this season and the club’s attempt to move him at the trade deadline. They could retain Tavares at a deep discount, but that might not make sense given he had only three even-strength points in this postseason.

Chris Johnston believes the clock is ticking on Marner’s days with the Leafs. He could become the highest-profile player in this summer’s UFA market. Shouldering a disproportionate share of the blame for the Leafs’ playoff failures could make free agency more alluring to him.

Jonas Siegel sees this as the end of the “Shanaplan” and the “Core Four” era in Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve expected changes from Toronto since they blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to the underdog Montreal Canadiens in 2021. This time, however, it feels like significant change is finally coming. They have to. The patience of Leafs Nation is finally tapped out.

Shanahan, Marner and Tavares are on expiring contracts. It’s time for a change in oversight, and it’s time for a shakeup among their core players.

Letting Marner and Tavares walk enables the Leafs to put the dollars they would’ve invested in those two into players who might better suit their needs.

They have a projected cap space of $26.8 million with 16 active roster players (including Matthews, Nylander, and Morgan Rielly) under contract for next season.

That’s enough to make a significant addition or two via trade or free agency and have enough to re-sign Knies to a long-term deal.

THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS

SPORTSNET: Alex Adams was asked about possible offseason targets for the Ottawa Senators.

He thinks pending UFA winger Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets would be a perfect fit alongside Tim Stutzle. Adding a right-shot defenseman like Florida’s Aaron Ekblad or Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames would be nice, but Adams wondered if they could make a move for a Nick Jensen-type player like Michael Kesselring of the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have $17.5 million available with 14 active roster players under contract, with UFA-eligible forward Claude Giroux and pending RFAs Fabian Zetterlund and Tyler Kleven to re-sign. They’ll also need a backup for Linus Ullmark if Anton Forsberg departs via free agency.

Assuming those players are affordable re-signings, the Senators won’t have much wiggle room to pursue guys like Ehlers and Ekblad. Andersson has a year left on his contract but could sign an extension with the Flames this summer. If he becomes available, the Flames will set a high asking price. Kesselring is also under contract for another year. Utah has no reason to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie was asked if the Senators might go the offer-sheet route this summer.

McKenzie is keeping his expectations low, pointing out the Senators are keeping their 2025 first-round pick, meaning they’ll forfeit their 2026 pick because of the Evgenii Dadonov trade debacle three years ago. He also pointed out they don’t have their 2026 second-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators only have the necessary offer-sheet compensations for deals worth an average annual value of between $1.544 million and $2.34 million. That will cost a 2026 third-rounder. Anything under $1.544 million has no compensation penalty.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2024

by | Jul 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2024

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins could be close to a contract extension, plus the latest on the Leafs, Red Wings, Lightning and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi cites sources claiming Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are closing in on a contract extension. Both sides are confident a deal will be agreed upon and formalized soon.

Crosby, who turns 37 in August, remains intent on finishing his career with the Penguins, despite missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

The full details of Crosby’s new contract are unknown. Previous reports suggested it could be a three-year deal with an average annual value of $10 million. It will require a “35-plus” designation, which prevents a team from front-loading a contract that is at least two years in length or delaying a signing bonus to or after the second season.

Crosby’s current average annual value is $8.7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Confirmation of Crosby’s new contract could come this week, maybe as early as today. Some observers raised eyebrows last week when July 1 came and went with no sign of a deal. Sometimes, reaching an agreement on a new contract takes a little longer than expected.

The “35-plus” designation also means the Penguins won’t garner any cap relief if they were to buy out that new contract.

TORONTO STAR: Bruce Arthur and Dave Feschuk examine what’s gone wrong for the Maple Leafs under team president Brendan Shanahan. “The Shanaplan” invested heavily in the “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.

The Leafs’ regular season record is exemplary, boasting a .636 win percentage since 2016-17 which is the NHL’s third-highest. No team has scored more goals (2,117) and they have the third-best power play percentage (24.1) over that time.

It’s a different in the playoffs. They ranked last in goals (150) among 16 playoff teams that have played over 40 postseason games during that period. They’re 15th among those clubs in power-play percentage (16.9).

No one doubts the individual skills of the “Core Four”, it’s the combination that has been less than the sum of its parts. Their defenders point to the Leafs’ lack of a true starting goaltender or a proven No. 1 defenseman or depth scoring. The counterpoint is those four could’ve taken a little less money, leaving more to address those issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of all those signings, the Tavares deal is the one that hurt the most. Again, I’m not making Tavares the scapegoat. The Leafs pursued him and offered him $11 million annually for seven years. He didn’t force them to sign him to that contract and I don’t blame him for taking the opportunity to play for his hometown club.

The Leafs were coming off a season (2017-18) with the third-best regular-season offense (3.29 goals per game) in the league when they signed Tavares. There was no reason to pursue a scoring center when their pressing needs at the time were right-side blueline depth and reliable playoff goaltending.

That $11 million could’ve and should’ve been put toward addressing those needs. I said it before and after they signed Tavares. That contract handcuffed their efforts to bolster their depth elsewhere in the lineup.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons wonders what happened to Steve Yzerman’s golden touch that built the Tampa Bay Lightning into a Stanley Cup champion. Since becoming general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, that club has missed the playoffs five straight years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve been wondering about that as well. Granted, Yzerman took over a mess in Detroit. He faced a similar scenario when he became the Lightning’s GM but he had Hall-of-Famer Martin St. Louis and future Hall-of-Famers Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman to build around.

Nevertheless, Yzerman drafted or acquired most of the players who formed the core of the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. So far, he hasn’t had the same level of success with the Red Wings.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina believes Lightning GM Julien BriseBois’ recent difficult decisions make the Lightning his team and could define his legacy. They include letting franchise player Steven Stamkos depart as a free agent and trading defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

BriseBois inherited the roster core that went on to win Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 from former GM Steve Yzerman, even though he was Yzerman’s right-hand man. Salary-cap constraints forced him to make tough choices that will shape the direction of this team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: BriseBois and the Lightning benefited from the lack of a state tax in retaining many of those core players. Nevertheless, a flattened salary cap over the previous four seasons forced him to trade or cut loose some complementary players important to the Bolts’ success.

Encina points out that BriseBois is banking on Jake Guentzel replacing Stamkos, J.J. Moser filling Sergachev’s skates on the blueline and promising center Conor Geekie meeting expectations. If those gambles pan out, he’ll look like a genius. If not, they could eventually lead to his dismissal.

THE SCORE: Speaking of Mikhail Sergachev, he said he was in shock when he learned the Lightning had traded him to the Utah Hockey Club. However, he’s looking forward to a leadership role with an up-and-coming franchise.

“Talking to my agent, talking to some players, and talking to (Utah forward Clayton) Keller, everybody said great things about Utah and the new franchise,” said Sergachev. “It’s pretty amazing, honestly. “The whole setup, the city. I’m very excited. It’s a big opportunity for me to prove myself, be a leader. I’m looking forward to it.”

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is focusing more on the mental side of the game as part of his offseason training. He still works out five days a week, but his primary focus is mental exercise and meditation.

“The more you take care of your mental side, the better you are as a person and as a hockey player,” said Josi.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed defenseman Egor Zamula to a two-year with an AAV of $1.7 million.