Updates on Carey Price, Connor McDavid, Brandon Dubinsky, Carlo Colaiacovo and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.
Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell celebrates his overtime goal against the Red Wings.
MIAMI HERALD: Brian Campbell’s overtime goal lifted the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
LA PRESSE: Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is expected to undergo athroscopic surgery on his right knee today to determine if he has torn ligaments. If he does, he’ll face knee surgery that will sideline him for months.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it’s the latter scenario, it raises questions over what the Habs will do to replace him in the short term. For now, they’re going with backup Mike Condon and call-up Dustin Tokarski. If Price is sidelined for months, the trade rumor mill will go into overdrive.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers are encouraged by Connor McDavid’s excellent progress rehabbing from a broken clavicle, but they don’t intent to rush him back into action. There’s speculation McDavid could return sometime in January.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Once again, the Sedins are carrying the offensive load for the Vancouver Canucks, but they could certainly use some help.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Despite receiving a one-game suspension for crosschecking Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky said he won’t change his style of play. He denied that he intentionally hit Crosby in the back of the neck.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t believe Dubinsky intentionally crosschecked Crosby’s neck, bue he must be more disciplined with how he uses his stick.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Goaltender Frederik Andersen (illness) and forward Nate Thompson (shoulder surgery) are close to returning to the Anaheim Ducks lineup.
NBC SPORTS: Good news for Buffalo Sabres defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, as he was able to travel with the team after suffering a dented trachea following a crosscheck to the throat by Nashvile Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson.
CSNNE.COM: The Boston Bruins placed forward Max Talbot on waivers.
Yeah and I bet the second crosscheck by Dubinsky where he broke his stick was unintentional as well right? All you have to do is watch the video to see he intended to do exactly what he did because he is a piece of garbage and one day will seriously injure someone.
Couldn’t agree more. There has been bad blood between Crosby and Dubinsky and this was yet another opportunity for him to take intentional liberties out on Crosby. The first shove in my mind is more honest play, but there was no reason other than intent to injure on the second cross check which was clearly to the back of the head/neck which Crosby has had known issues with in the past. There is no excuse for that kind of play.
So Price is out for an estimated 6 weeks. Now the question is, how far will the tandem of Condon and Tokarski take them in that span? Will the F and D have to change their style of play to account for the fact they won’t have the best goalie in the world behind them? Because, let’s face it, neither of the other two are 50% of what Price brings to the table.