The Flyers sign Travis Konecny to a long-term deal plus the latest on Leon Draisaitl, Brady Tkachuk, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed winger Travis Konecny to an eight-year, $70-million contract extension. It comes with an average annual value of $8.75 million and a full no-movement clause for the first six years that becomes a limited no-trade clause for the final two years.
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny (NHL Images)
Sam Carchidi looked at the pros and cons of Konecny’s new contract.
The 28-year-old winger is a hard-working, agitating, offensively consistent leader who’s remained committed to the Flyers during their struggles over the past four seasons.
However, Konecny’s style of play has made him prone to injuries and could slow him down over the term of his contract. He’ll be 36 when this deal expires and this rebuilding club might’ve been better served trading him for picks and prospects.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reaction to this signing among Flyers fans is mostly positive but some brought up the cons mentioned by Carchidi. In the short term, Konecny will remain a gritty lead-by-example scorer whose presence should benefit the promising youngsters entering the Flyers lineup. However, there’s a risk of his performance dropping significantly over the final half of this contract.
TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said signing Leon Draisaitl to a contract extension is his priority. Hired by the Oilers earlier this week, Bowman indicated he wants Draisaitl to be an Oiler for life.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl becomes eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July 1. He’ll be an Oiler for life if he believes they’ll be a Stanley Cup contender for a long time and is willing to make him one of the NHL’s highest-paid players. He’s been underpaid for the past four seasons and could seek over $14 million annually on his next contract.
THE SCORE: Brady Tkachuk has a “burning desire” to win the Stanley Cup after seeing his older brother Matthew’s championship run with the Florida Panthers.
The 24-year-old Ottawa Senators captain has yet to appear in the playoffs. He said he’s pleased for the most part with GM Steve Staios’ offseason roster changes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another missed postseason by the Senators will start raising serious questions about Tkachuk’s willingness to stay with Ottawa. The 24-year-old left winger is signed through 2027-28 and has worked hard over the past six seasons to make the Senators a playoff club. However, his patience could be tested if they fall short this season.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders avoided salary arbitration with Oliver Wahlstrom, signing the 24-year-old forward to a one-year, $1-million contract.
This signing puts the Islanders over the $88 million cap by $950K but they can become cap-compliant by demoting Maxim Tsyplakov. He’s their only waiver-exempt player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicated Wahlstrom would welcome a trade but nothing materialized. I’ll have more in today’s NHL Rumor update.
THE PROVINCE: Longtime Sportsnet host Jeff Marek has left the network. His last appearance was during their coverage of the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft on June 28. He hasn’t updated his X (formerly Twitter) account since then. A Sportsnet spokesman confirmed Marek no longer works for the network but declined to provide details.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored Marek’s departure was for “unconfirmed draft reasons.” His mysterious absence raised concern and questions on social media. Marek is among the most approachable and helpful personalities in the NHL media. Here’s hoping he’s ok and we hear from him again soon.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: United Center owners plan a massive $7-billion mixed-use campus around the arena. The plans call for a music hall, housing, park, and pedestrian-friendly areas as part of a 10-year development program starting in 2025. United Center is the home arena of the Chicago Blackhawks.