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 Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2025

by | May 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2025

The Stars advance to the Western Conference Final amid a heartbreaking personal loss for Jets center Mark Scheifele, the Panthers and Maple Leafs prepare for Game 7, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final for the third straight year with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 6 of their second-round series.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (NHL Images)

Thomas Harley scored the game-winner on a power-play goal at 1:33 of overtime. Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for the win and Sam Steel tallied the tying goal for the Stars, who will face the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in the Conference Final.

Harley’s goal came with Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele in the penalty box for tripping late in the third period. Scheifele opened the scoring in this game, opting to play despite his father passing away suddenly the night before.

Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game with a lower-body injury after getting tangled with Stars winger Mikko Rantanen late in the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a heartbreaking defeat for Scheifele and his teammates. Following the game, Jets coach Scott Arniel said Scheifele told him he would play because that’s what his father would’ve wanted.

The Stars players and coaches took the time to offer condolences to Scheifele in the postgame handshake lineup, especially Mason Marchment, who lost his father three years ago.

The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus reported that Marchment said he was trying to help Scheifele with some kind words that helped him back following his own father’s death. He also praised the Jets center for deciding to play despite his loss. “At the end of the day, we’re all just people. And when you treat someone with respect, I think it means a lot,” said Marchment.

The hockey community rallied to support Scheifele, raising more than $30K in $55 donations (honoring Scheifele’s No. 55) to the Jets’ charitable fund, True North Youth Foundation. Many of the donations came from Dallas Stars fans.

NHL.COM: The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are feeling the pressure heading into Game 7 of their second-round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. They’ll try to draw on their experience in these situations (eliminating Boston in their 2023 first-round series, defeating Edmonton in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final) to help them advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

TORONTO SUN: The status of Leafs winger Matthew Knies remains uncertain for Game 7. He suffered an undisclosed injury during the Leafs’ 2-0 victory in Game 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Game 7 is in Toronto on Sunday, starting at 7:30 pm ET.

NHL.COM: The Western Conference Final between the Stars and Oilers begins in Dallas on Wednesday, May 21, at 8 pm ET.

The Eastern Conference Final opens on Tuesday, May 20 at 8 PM ET. If the Leafs win, the series starts in Toronto against the Carolina Hurricanes. If the Panthers win, the series begins in Carolina.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin confirmed he will return next season. He’s coming off a historic 20th NHL season where he broke the all-time goal-scoring record while helping the Capitals finish first in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin turns 40 in September and has one year remaining on his contract. It could be last in the NHL, depending on how next season unfolds.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOWS: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon acknowledged a lack of scoring against the Edmonton Oilers led to his club’s second-round elimination. However, he chalked that up to the Oilers’ strong defensive play during that series.

McCrimmon acknowledged several players (Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad and Ilya Samsonov) are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. He praised their performances, suggesting a good case can be made to re-sign them.

The Golden Knights GM indicated “a couple of guys” played through injuries, but none will require offseason surgery.

LAS VEGAS SUN: McCrimmon also hopes to sign Jack Eichel to a contract extension this summer. The 28-year-old first-line center is UFA-eligible next July.

ROTOWIRE: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury ahead of the Eastern Conference Final.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks are reportedly close to an agreement to remain at the SAP Center until 2050.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 16, 2025

by | May 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 16, 2025

The Hurricanes advance to the Eastern Conference Final while the Jets stave off elimination by the Stars. Check out the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes are heading to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in seven years. They eliminated the Washington Capitals with a 3-1 victory in Game 5 of their second-round series.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (NHL Images).

Andrei Svechnikov tallied the winning goal with 1:59 remaining in the third period. Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes. Anthony Beauvillier replied for the Capitals.

The Hurricanes await the winner of the Toronto Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved series victory by the Hurricanes. They did a terrific job neutralizing the Capitals’ offense, scoring with the man advantage, and killing off penalties.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Capitals after finishing first overall in the Eastern Conference this season. Goaltender Logan Thompson was solid throughout this series, but his efforts couldn’t compensate for his teammates’ inability to score against the Hurricanes.

After the game, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery praised Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin’s performance in this series. “How he’s not in the Norris Trophy conversation every single year, it doesn’t seem right”, said Carbery. “Obviously, the guys that are there are tremendous players in their own right, but he’s one heck of a player.”

This game saw the debut of Hurricanes rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who replaced a sidelined Jalen Chatfield. The 23-year-old saw 10:33 minutes of ice time skating on their third line.

The Winnipeg Jets avoided elimination from their second-round series by blanking the Dallas Stars 4-0 in Game 5.

Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for the shutout, Mark Scheifele scored what proved to be the game-winner, and Nikolaj Ehlers tallied twice for the Jets, who trail Dallas three games to two.

Jake Oettinger stopped 31 shots for the Stars while team captain Jamie Benn received a 10-minute misconduct late in the third period for sucker-punching Scheifele.

The series returns to Dallas for Game 6 on Saturday, May 17, at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets’ previous win in this series was also a 4-0 shutout. They’ll need a similar effort on Saturday if they hope to return to Winnipeg for the seventh and deciding game. The Jets haven’t won a road game in this postseason.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin dismissed speculation suggesting team captain Quinn Hughes had a hand in the promotion of Adam Foote as their new head coach.

Foote has been close with Hughes during his role as assistant GM, but he stated that his relationship with the captain is no different than those he has with the rest of the players.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kings general manager Ken Holland said Jim Hiller will return as the club’s head coach next season. His remarks came during his introductory press conference as their new GM, quelling speculation that he might seek a new bench boss.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube isn’t optimistic that sidelined goaltender Anthony Stolarz will return for Game 6 against the Florida Panthers on Friday. Stolarz has been sidelined with a suspected concussion since Game 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Even if Stolarz were good to go, he wouldn’t be enough to save the Leafs if his teammates have another uninspired, disgraceful effort as they did in Game 5.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks announced the addition of their Hall of Fame as part of commemorating their 100th anniversary. They will induct two players each year as voted by the fans.

The nine players with their numbers retired and hanging in the rafters are automatic inductees. They are Glenn Hall, Keith Magnuson, Pierre Pilote, Chris Chelios, Bobby Hull, Denis Savard, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito and Marian Hossa.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Blackhawks, winger Teuvo Teravainen tied the IIHF World Championship record with six assists in one game in Finland’s 9-1 win over Slovenia.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators have opened contract extension talks with Claude Giroux. They also hired former NHL player Sam Gagner as director of player development.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Giroux is UFA-eligible on July 1. The 37-year-old forward is completing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $6.5 million. It’s expected he could get a one-year contract with an AAV between $3 million and $4 million.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Interim coach Brad Shaw reportedly won’t be returning to the Flyers coaching staff.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning have signed a contract with Scripps Sports to broadcast their games locally over the air, meaning any viewer with a TV and an antenna can watch the games for free.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: How very retro. I’m so old, I remember when that was the usual way of watching hockey games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2025

by | May 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2025

The Stars push the Jets to the brink of elimination, the league suspends Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu, and the latest on the Oilers, Leafs, Capitals and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A hat trick by Mikael Granlund gave the Dallas Stars a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of their best-of-seven second-round series, pushing the Jets to the brink of elimination.

San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund (NHL Images).

Jake Oettinger made 31 saves for the Stars, who hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the Jets, who got 21 saves from Connor Hellebuyck.

The Stars can wrap up this series in Game 5 in Winnipeg on Thursday, May 15, at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That hat trick was Granlund’s first in the postseason. His last regular-season hat trick was in 2017. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen returned to action after being sidelined by a knee injury since late January. He assisted on Granlund’s second goal, which proved to be the game-winner.

The Jets played their best road game of the postseason, generating 70 shot attempts, but they could only put one goal past Oettinger, who made a big save on Kyle Connor before Granlund’s winning goal. Their special teams were a problem, giving up two power-play goals while failing to generate offense with the man advantage. The Jets have yet to win a road game in this postseason.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The league has suspended Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu indefinitely for “unacceptable and inappropriate” posts on the social media platform “X”, formerly Twitter.

Cifu made the posts in response to a comment from a Leafs fan. He has since deleted his “X” account and apologized. Cifu and will soon have an in-person meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was on the ice taking shots during an optional skate on Tuesday. He’s been sidelined by a suspected concussion since Game 1 of their second-round series with the Panthers. Stolarz is improving, but he won’t be in the lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Evander Kane has been a solid physical presence for his club in this postseason, netting seven points in nine games thus far. The 33-year-old winger missed the 2024-25 regular season recovering from abdominal, hip, and knee surgeries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane was a shadow of himself during last year’s postseason as he tried to play through his injuries. Now healthy, he’s been a factor for the Oilers, who are poised to reach the Western Conference Final for the third time in four years.

TSN: Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm could be ready to return to action if his club advances to the next series. The 34-year-old has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since Apr. 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Getting Ekholm back for the Western Conference Final would provide a significant boost to the Oilers’ defense corps, but first, they must eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery is expected to shake up his roster before Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. The Capitals face elimination, down three games to one to the Hurricanes in their second-round series.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings will formally announce Ken Holland as their new general manager on Thursday. Holland is the former GM of the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.

RG.ORG: The San Jose Sharks are close to an agreement on a new contract with Shakir Mukhamadullin. The 23-year-old defenseman is coming off his entry-level contract and appeared in 30 games with the Sharks this season, finishing with nine points.

SPORTSNET: The new compensation rates for NHL offer sheets have been revealed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Click the link above to see the breakdown of those rates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2025

by | May 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2025

Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars over the Jets, Sergei Bobrovsky backstops the Panthers over the Leafs, the goaltenders for the Quarter-Century Team are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of their best-of-seven second-round series.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

Alexander Petrovic broke a 2-2 tie in the third period when he attempted to kick the puck up to his stick, but it fluttered toward the Jets’ net and deflected in off goaltender Connor Hellebucyk. After a lengthy review, it was declared a good goal, which seemed to unsettle the Jets, as Rantanen quickly made it 4-2. Wyatt Johnston put the game out of reach later in the period.

Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist for the Stars. Kyle Connor and Nino Niederreiter replied for the Jets.

The Stars lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Dallas at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen remains on a torrid scoring pace, leading this postseason with 18 points in 10 games. He’s the first player in league history to have five three-point games through his first 10 contests in a postseason. The Stars winger has to be considered the favorite thus far for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Following the game, Jets coach Scott Arniel expressed his displeasure with the ruling on Petrovic’s goal. “The rule states that if the puck gets kicked, if it hits a body or a stick of anybody else other than the goaltender, it counts as a goal,” said Arniel. “It hit our goaltender’s stick and went in the net. That is no goal. So they said that (Hellebuyck) propelled the puck in. I haven’t seen the word propelled in the rule book.”

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots to shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in Game 4 of their second-round series.

Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who tied the series at two games apiece. Joseph Woll made 35 saves for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers dominated Toronto’s scorers. Their victory might’ve been more lopsided if not for Woll’s goaltending. What few quality scoring chances the Leafs had were turned aside by Bobrovsky, who is dialled in after his shaky performances in the first two games of this series.

The Leafs’ frustration boiled over in the dying seconds when forward Max Domi hit Florida captain Aleksander Barkov from behind, sparking a melee at the buzzer. Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk appeared to threaten William Nylander that he’d come after the Leafs winger in the next game.

Game 5 of this series is in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 PM ET.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The final six players named to the league’s Quarter-Century Team were revealed on Sunday, all goaltenders.

The list includes Hall-of-Famers Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo. Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price rounded out the list, with both goalies likely to become Hall-of-Famers.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is listed as day-to-day after suffering an undisclosed injury during Game 3 of their second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s listed as questionable for Game 4 on Monday in Edmonton. The Oilers hold a 2-1 lead in that series.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury and won’t play in Game 4 against the Golden Knights.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson hopes for a quick turnaround from a poor performance in Game 3 of his club’s second-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes. Carlson was on the ice for all the Hurricanes’ goals in a 4-0 loss.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, forward Jordan Martinook and defenseman Jalen Chatfield left Game 3 with injuries, but they’re expected to be ready for Game 4 on Monday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Catherine Dubois of the Montreal Victoire scored in quadruple overtime to give her club a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Charge in Game 2 of their PWHL semifinal series, tying it at a game apiece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t an NHL story, but a quadruple overtime in a postseason is worth mentioning. It was the longest game in PWHL history, and the second-longest professional hockey game ever played in Montreal.

The teams combined for 121 shots, with the Charge outshooting the Victoire 65-56, with Montreal goalie Ann-Renee Desbien making a record 63 saves.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2025

by | May 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2025

The Jets tied their series with the Stars, the Panthers got their first win in their series with the Maple Leafs, seven more skaters are added to the Quarter-Century Team, the latest on a new franchise in Atlanta, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebucyk made 21 saves to shut out the Dallas Stars 4-0, tying their best-of-seven second-round series at a game apiece.

Nikolaj Ehlers had two goals and an assist, Dylan DeMelo collected two assists, and Josh Morrissey picked up an assist as he returned to action after missing Game 1 with an injury. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

The series shifts to Dallas for the next two games. Game 3 is 4:30 pm ET on Sunday, May 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a solid bounce-back performance by the Jets after dropping the first game on the strength of Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick. They dominated the Stars, doing an outstanding job neutralizing Rantanen and his teammates in this contest. Hellebuyck struggled with consistency in the first round, but his Game 2 performance should silence his critics for a little while. However, he must build on it if the Jets are to win this series. 

An overtime goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3 of their second-round series.

Marchand is the leader among active NHL players with 14 game-winning goals in the playoffs.

Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who narrowed Toronto’s lead in the series to 2-1. John Tavares tallied twice and Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist for the Leafs.

Game 4 will be Sunday, May 10, at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs looked poised to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they got early goals from Knies and Tavares. Aleksander Barkov made it 2-1 but Tavares restored the two-goal lead early in the second. However, Reinhart and Verhaeghe quickly scored to tie it and Jonah Gadjovich gave the Panthers the lead.

It then became a game of bounces involving Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. His game-tying goal in the third deflected off Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s blocker, striking his defenseman Seth Jones, and bounced into the Panthers’ net. Marchand’s goal deflected into the Leafs’ net as Rielly was jostling with Panthers center Anton Lundell.

The hockey gods giveth, and the hockey gods taketh away.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Seven skaters who debuted in the NHL between 2000 and 2010 were named to the league’s Quarter-Century Team.

The new players are former Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, former Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, former Chicago Blackhawks and current Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, Pittsburgh Penguins centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin, and former Tampa Bay Lightning and current Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprises here. They were/are the most impactful players of their era. Datsyuk is already in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bergeron will soon join him, and the others are all future first-ballot Hall-of-Famers once their playing careers are over.

The league will reveal the six skaters who debuted since 2010 on Saturday.

THE ATHLETIC: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league’s two failed attempts to house a franchise in Atlanta would prevent the possibility of a third attempt to bring an expansion team to that market.

Bettman’s comments come days after prospective Atlanta owner Paul Krause said his group was getting closer to making a formal expansion pitch. The commissioner said there is interest in a potential expansion to Atlanta, but no formal timetable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I predict the league will expand to Atlanta and Houston by the end of this decade, expanding to 34 teams.

Like it or not, billionaires are willing to pony up the increasingly rising expansion fee (likely to be $2 billion) to own an NHL expansion franchise in the United States.

Sorry, Quebec City, you have a devoted fan base and a proper NHL-ready arena, but your market is too small compared to those in the United States, and that’s where the money is. Your best bet is to become an emergency relocation destination for a failing American team like Winnipeg was for the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy was fined $7,812.50 for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic during Game 2 of the teams’ second-round series on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league explained they fined Roy instead of suspending him because he was reckless with his stick rather than intentionally trying to injure Frederic when he cross-checked the Oilers forward in the face. Frederic remained in the game, which explains why Roy escaped harsher discipline.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury suffered toward the end of the regular season. He is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether that’s with the Rangers or another team remains to be seen. Miller is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a difficult season. He could receive an offer sheet from a rival club if negotiations stall with the Rangers. Miller could also be a trade candidate if management decides he no longer fits into their long-term plans.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils have parted ways with assistant coaches Ryan McGill and Chris Taylor.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former WWE star Brock Lesnar’s son was recently drafted by the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Duke Lesnar, 14, is a 5’11”, 168-pound forward chosen 115th overall by the Tigers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t NHL news, but I’m a pro wrestling fan, so this was interesting to share here.