NHL commish bullish on bargaining and new barn for Flames
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The league has had relative labour peace since 2012-13, when a lockout wiped out about half of the regular season.
There have been some rumblings that the taxation disparities between the various provinces and states could become a CBA issue, as some franchises (cough, Montreal) have to pass on higher tax bills to their players than teams that play in relative tax havens for professional sports (cough, Florida). Bill Daly, the league's deputy commissioner and head legal counsel, said that it's not really a major blip on the NHL radar.
'Certainly it's an issue that some of our franchises have raised as a concern,' said Daly. 'I guess what I'd say at this point is that we don't share the level of concern that they have, and what I'd say on top of that is that these imbalances have existed forever. There's nothing new here.'
Daly said there are so many factors that play into where free agents decide to sign, from a team's winning culture, the coaching staff, to the facilities and the club's reputation when it comes to how players are treated. See, Detroit Red Wings of the 1990s and 2000s who had no trouble attracting free agents to a city that was in an economic freefall.
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CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
‘He's a battler': Veteran forward Corey Perry playing key role for Oilers
Oilers forwards Corey Perry (90) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, back right, celebrate Perry's tying goal against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, on Friday, June 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck EDMONTON — Mark Hunter remembers pulling Corey Perry aside for a chat. The co-owner and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights wanted to make sure his player understood the consequences. 'Grit, hitting people and punching people,' Hunter recalled of the skinny teenager's on-ice approach. 'He was like 160 pounds … 'Seriously Corey, don't be doing that. You might get hurt by somebody.' 'But he didn't want to be pushed around. There was desire to be the best.' Not much has changed. The 40-year-old Oilers winger in his 20th NHL season is playing important minutes and making big contributions as Edmonton sits tied 1-1 with Florida in a Stanley Cup final rematch. Promoted to the team's top line alongside superstar captain Connor McDavid since Zach Hyman suffered a dislocated wrist last round, Perry forced overtime with 17.8 seconds remaining in regulation in Friday's Game 2 before the defending champion Panthers secured a 5-4 victory in double OT. The motivation remains the same as when he played for the Knights. 'To win,' said Perry, who was selected 28th overall by Anaheim at the 2003 draft and won his only Cup with the Mighty Ducks in 2007. 'I love being around the rink, I love being around the guys, I love the competitive fire that's still inside me.' The Peterborough, Ont., product joined the Oilers midway through last season following an ugly end to his brief stint with the Chicago Blackhawks. Signed to mentor an up-and-coming roster, the club terminated his deal in November 2023 after alleging he violated his standard player contract and team policies 'intended to promote professional and safe work environments.' Neither the Blackhawks nor Perry were willing to provide details. Perry apologized for his actions and said he'd started seeking help for alcohol abuse before signing with Edmonton after a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. 'The situation that happened, it happened,' Perry said earlier this week. 'I've dealt with it and I've learned from it. It was unfortunate.' McDavid said Perry's calming presence was for a team that roared back to force Game 7 in last year's final against the Panthers after falling behind 3-0 in the title series. 'Makes great, subtle, little plays,' said Edmonton's No. 97. 'His gamesmanship, understands the ebbs and flows of the games, the intricacies that not every fan sitting at home understands. He's played in every big game.' Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Perry was crucial in last year's run to the final that ended in heartbreak. 'Allowed the team to settle things down,' said the second-year head coach. 'When he spoke, guys listened because of the respect that they have for him.' Dale Hunter — Mark's brother and the Knights' head coach who had Perry in London from 2001 to 2005 — said his passion for the game hasn't wavered. 'He's a battler,' said Dale Hunter, who won the Memorial Cup with Perry in his final junior season before the Knights also climbed Canadian junior hockey's mountain in 2016 and again last month. 'He loved hockey, and it's never changed.' The Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP in 2011 with Anaheim has 448 goals and 487 assists for 935 points across 1,392 contests with six franchises over his two decades in the league. He's added 62 goals, including eight this spring alone, and 77 assists for 139 points in 233 playoff contests. Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse said he and Perry, who is in his sixth Cup final and plans to play a 21st campaign in 2025-26, have talked about their past battles. 'We've had some fun moments,' said Nurse. 'He's been so important for this group — the experience and all the big moments that he's played in.' Perry, who had 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 games in 2024-25 while averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time, said getting ready each summer — especially the short ones after long post-season runs — is an increasing challenge. 'You try to give your body some time to rest,' he said. 'But you're also like, 'Man, we've got to be back in camp in six weeks.'' These are good times for Perry. His seven-year-old son, Griffin, is a staple around the Oilers, including at NHL media day before the start of the Cup final. He's also been through some tough times. Apart from the contract termination in Chicago, he was bought out of the final two years of his long-term deal with the Ducks in June 2019 for salary-cap reasons. 'The highest of highs and some pretty low moments,' he said. 'I use that as motivation.' Mark Hunter said players — their desires and priorities — often change with age. But not Perry. 'They lose that gleam in their eye,' Hunter said. 'If you watch him, there is excitement, passion, desire, loving the moment. It's hard to find at 40. People don't usually have that, but he does. 'Makes him special.' — With file from Daniel Rainbird in Rimouski, Que. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
With series tied, Panthers and Oilers enjoy extra day's rest as Stanley Cup final shifts to Florida
After Brad Marchand scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, he and Florida Panthers teammate Sam Bennett were asked how they kept their bodies going during another long and intense matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. 'I think (Marchand) grabbed a Blizzard … I think it was Oreo today,' Bennett quipped, referring to a viral moment during the Eastern Conference finals when Marchand joked that he enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie dough treat from Dairy Queen between periods – which was later revealed as a spoonful of honey. 'Nice plug,' Marchand responded with a chuckle. 'I like that.' They were joking, of course, but there was a point in Friday night's double-overtime game that Marchand spent time between periods pedaling on an exercise bike to stay loose – as players from both teams shuffled their tired bodies on and off the ice for hours. The first two games of the Stanley Cup final have gone to overtime, only the sixth time in NHL history that's happened and first since 2014. Game 1 went on until Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal 19:29 into the extra period. Marchand put Game 2 to an end with a breakaway goal 8:07 into the second overtime. With the series tied 1-1, both teams will embark on a cross-continent trip from Canada to Florida, enjoying an extra day's rest between games to recover after an intense start to their championship series. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida. 'Obviously a long game, a lot of back and forth,' said Florida defenseman Seth Jones, who led the Panthers in ice time at 34 minutes, 35 seconds on Friday. Jones, who is averaging a team-high 25:45 on the ice in the postseason, played more than 30 minutes in both of the first two games of the series. He scored in the first period on Friday – his fourth goal of the postseason – and assisted on Dmitry Kulikov's goal in the second. 'We came here for a split and got it,' Jones added, 'and just going to recover now.' Can the Oilers beat the Panthers? Is McDavid the new Gretzky? We answered your Stanley Cup final questions Panthers coach Paul Maurice said heading back to Florida with the series tied – instead of being down 0-2 – does make a minor mental difference, but one of his team's strengths is its tunnel vision approach. 'It's mathematically significant,' Maurice said. 'I'd like to think that we'd be dragging here today, this morning, if we had lost that game having had the lead for so long. But I think we're really good at cutting it off. 'It's the same morning this morning at the meal room as it was two days ago (after the Game 1 loss). It's just on to the next day. We understand how to leave our days – the good ones and the bad ones – in the past and handle the day we have right now.' The Oilers are moving forward in the series with an equally short memory after missed chances in Game 2. Corey Perry, whose goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period forced overtime, said the back-and-forth nature of the series was to be expected from the two teams, but there's no use in getting hung up on 'what-ifs.' 'What's it going to do?' Perry said. 'It's not going to do anything for you now. Get on the plane tomorrow and get some rest and be ready for Game 3.' Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry still enjoying the Stanley Cup chase Few players have spent more time on the ice in the series than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton star played 31:12 in Game 1, and just over 35 minutes in Game 2 – more than anyone else in the game. That's nearly 10 minutes more than his postseason average of 24:22. McDavid's impact was certainly felt on Friday. He had three assists, including one in which he zipped through Florida's penalty kill to set up Draisaitl's power play goal in the first. Draisaitl noted after the game there's only one player in the world that can make such a highlight-reel play, but stressed the importance of using the two days off to recalibrate. 'At this time of year, you've got to move on,' he said, 'There's not time thinking about it too long. Obviously it stings right now, but we have to move on.'
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Spencer Carbery named winner of NHL's Jack Adams Award
Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals captured the Jack Adams Award on Saturday as the NHL's top coach. Carbery was the runaway winner with 81 first-place votes and 464 points as selected by the NHL Broadcasters' Association. Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets was second with 249 points while Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens was third with 66 points. Story continues below advertisement Carbery becomes the fourth Washington coach to claim the award but the first individual to claim coach-of-the-year honours at the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Carbery led Washington (51-22-9, 111 points) to second in the NHLs overall standings and the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016-17. Arniel guided Winnipeg (56-22-4, 116 points) to top spot in the overall standings in his first season behind the bench. That earned the Jets the first Presidents' Trophy in their history. Under St. Louis, Montreal (40-31-11, 91 points) earned its first post-season berth since 2020-21 and best overall record since 2018-19.
