NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – 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.