Making the case for Connor McDavid to become the league’s first $20 million player, Porter Martone could offset the Flyers’ inability to make a significant addition this summer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau makes the case for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid becoming the NHL’s first $20 million player.
Proteau acknowledged the possibility of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar or Minnesota Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes getting there first. Both players are eligible to sign contract extensions before their current deals expire next July.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)
McDavid is currently in the first season of a two-year contract at the bargain price of $12 million annually. Proteau believes no one would begrudge the 29-year-old center from seeking top dollar after leaving money on the table with his current contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the best player in the world right now. If Makar or Hughes don’t reach the $20 million plateau, the Oilers superstar is the leading candidate to get there. A case could also be made for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, especially if he has a healthy and productive performance this season.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: A strong rookie season for winger Porter Martone could offset the Flyers’ inability to make a big splash in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.
Martone, 19, made his NHL debut late last season with four goals and 10 points in nine regular-season games, followed by five points in 10 playoff contests.
The Flyers are excited to see what the 6’3”, 209-pound winger can do over the course of a full NHL campaign.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers attempted a major acquisition by signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet worth an average annual value of $18 million. However, the Ducks matched the offer, leaving the Flyers still seeking a reliable first-line center.
Martone won’t address the Flyers’ need for a top-line center, but could help them build on their promising performance last season, when they exceeded expectations by qualifying for the playoffs and upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. If fellow winger Matvei Michkov bounces back from his disappointing sophomore season, he and Martone will provide the scoring punch necessary for the Flyers to remain a playoff contender in 2026-27.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice could break Scotty Bowman’s record for most NHL games coached in about one-and-a-half seasons if he helps his club rebound from a disappointing 2025-26.
With 2,019 regular-season games coached, Maurice sits second on the all-time list, only 129 games behind Bowman.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Matt Rempe acknowledged he has a lot to prove in training camp next month after undergoing two surgeries last season to repair a broken thumb. The injury hampered his performance, limiting the 6’9” Rempe to just 26 games.
Rempe, 24, is in the final season of his contract and a roster spot isn’t assured. He’ll be battling with some of his former Hartford Wolfpack teammates for a spot among the Rangers’ bottom-six.
SPORTSNET: Sonny Sachdeva recently ranked the top five under-25 cores across the NHL.
The Montreal Canadiens topped the list, featuring forwards Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov, defensemen Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle, and goaltenders Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
Next was the San Jose Sharks, led by forwards Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, and Ivar Stenberg, defenseman Sam Dickinson, and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.
The Anaheim Ducks were third with a core featuring forwards Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, and defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov.
Coming in fourth were the Ottawa Senators with forwards Tim Stutzle, William Eklund, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig, and defensemen Jake Sanderson and Jordan Spence.
The Philadelphia Flyers were ranked fifth, featuring forward Trevor Zegras, Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, and Tyson Foerster, and defensemen Jamie Drysdale and Cam York.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens got the nod over the rest in part because their core players are well-distributed throughout their roster, though their weakness is their lack of a center among their group.
So what do you think, folks? Do you agree with this ranking? Is there another team that belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
