Kings confirm Anze Kopitar’s 8-year, $80-million contract, Henrik Lundqvist sets a goaltending record, Bryan Bickell on waivers again and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension just minutes before his club squandered a two-goal third period lead in a 5-3 home loss to Ottawa. The Buffalo Sabres upset the Washington Capitals and more in your NHL highlights,
Notable NHL Headlines.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist set a new NHL wins record.
NEW YORK POST: In backstopping the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Henrik Lundqvist became the first goalie in NHL history to win 20-plus games in 11 consecutive seasons.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: By trading Carl Hagelin to the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday, the Anaheim Ducks freed up salary-cap room to re-sign key players like Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some suggest the move also frees up cap space to add another scorer before the trade deadline. We’ll find out soon enough.
BLEACHER REPORT: Adrian Dater believes everyone got what they deserved in the John Scott All-Star fisasco, except for Scott himself.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league bears the ultimate blame for allowing a flawed all-star voting system to be so easily abused by mischievous fans. This problem should’ve been rectified a long time ago.
NBC SPORTS: Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney claims to be “dumbfounded” by suggests trading John Scott to the Montreal Canadiens was orchestrated to keep the enforcer out of the upcoming NHL All-Star Game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps there wasn’t anything fishy about it, but that won’t allay the suspicions.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat has put his recent 27 game goalless drought behind him, netting six goals in as many games.
MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings hope the return of Teemu Pulkkinen will bolster their declining offense and shots totals.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Blackhawks winger Bryan Bickell is on waivers again.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As before, I’ll be surprised if a rival club plucks Bickell off waivers. His contract ($4 million annually through 2016-17) remains difficult to move for the Blackhawks.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars are sending defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to their AHL affiliate on a two-week conditioning stint.
SI.COM: Playing for your hometown team isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
ESPN.COM: The Boston Bruins are donating $200,000 “to help Denna Laing, a professional women’s hockey player who suffered a spinal cord injury during the Outdoor Women’s Classic.”
You are right, the league does deserve the blame for Scotts inclusion in the all-star game, but they should have left well enough alone and lived with it this year. I for one don’t believe what Maloney says is true and think every one involved knew exactly what the trade meant for John Scott.
Not allowing J. Scott to go to the all star game is a joke. The NHL put this stupid system in place to begin with, allowing fans to vote & now their just thumbing their noses up at the fans. Just another in a long line of gimmicks used by the NHL to create fan interest. Scott was in the NHL when voted in. I don’t agree with the system but it’s of the NHL’s design, now they don’t like the result? What a joke. Pretty Mickey Mouse & part of the reason the NHL with never break into the top 3 sports in America if they keep doing business this way.
The whole All-Star system is a joke regardless & meaningless. Having to take 1 player from every team? Not every team has an All-Star. I don’t watch it & don’t know anyone else who does or cares anyway. Not to mention it wreaks havoc with our fantasy leagues having another break in the season that has to be adjusted for like the Christmas break & the Olympic break every 4 years.
If your going to have All-Stars play a game do it in the off season & have the players selected by people qualified to make those decisions. Ideally organizations/teams; GM’s, coaches, scouts, pick players from their respective division giving a point system to the top 20 players from their divisions in some format by position Forward, Defense & goalie. That would be 120 players, 60 from each conference. The NHL tabulates the results & selects the top 20 from each conference taking 12 forwards, 6 Dman & 2 goalies.
Thoughts from the bench.
Agreed, but would not be disappointed to see the game scrapped all together. Following Scotts journey to being voted in actually piqued my interest more than the 3 on 3 format, and was planning on tuning in for that reason. The million dollars for the winning team means nothing as far as I’m concerned, as I could see players actually donating that ‘pocket change’ to charity. The NHL format of having the cup champs taking on a collection of all-stars would be the most interesting but I know that would never happen.
Agreed. To scraping it entirely.
I understand why the NHL stages it. It’s a marketing opp for big wigs & corporate sponsors to rub shoulders with some of the NHL’s best players, prospects & to help create interest in floundering NHL markets by staging it at such locations but it’s deflating & a mockery of the purpose. If you want or recognize the best players in the NHL then recognize the best players.
What they are trying to market isn’t hockey nor does it recognize all the players it should. Many all stars are there but 1/2 the players shouldn’t be but due to the format are. It’s a joke. I don’t watch it & never will until it’s some what meaningful & the best players are there regardless of what team they play for. Again it’s not just about points, that’s why who votes for players to be included is essential. You can’t let the press due it. The screw up enough awards now voting their bias & market.