Sharks advance to the Stanley Cup Final, Panthers ship Gudbranson to Canucks & more in this morning’s collection of NHL headlines.
The San Jose Sharks are the 2016 Western Conference Champions.
THE MERCURY NEWS/STLTODAY.COM: For the first time in franchise history, the San Jose Sharks are heading to the Stanley Cup Final. Joel Ward scored twice, Logan Couture had a three-point game and Martin Jones made 24 saves as the San Jose Sharks defeated the St. Louis 5-2 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final. Vladimir Tarasenko scored both goals for the Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Apart from a few shaky moments in the third period, the Sharks dominated this game. Regardless of who emerges from the Eastern Conference Final (Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay), I think the Sharks are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Yes, the Pens and Bolts have players with Cup Final experience (especially the Lightning), but the Sharks overcame some difficult opposition to get this far.
As for the Blues, we can expect another summer of questions about head coach Ken Hitchcock’s future. While he guided them to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 15 years, there was some second-guessing by fans and pundits over his handling of several players, particularly of Tarasenko’s ice time.
TAMPA BAY TIMES/TSN: As the Lightning prepare to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, they need goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to have the game of his life. Meanwhile, Lighting captain Steven Stamkos isn’t expected to skate in Game 7.
TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have the best record in Game 7 situations.
VANCOUVER SUN/SUN-SENTINEL.COM: The Florida Panthers traded defenseman Erik Gudbranson and a fifth-round pick in the 2016 NHL draft to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for center Jared McCann, a second and a fourth-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reaction on my Twitter feed last night when this deal was announced was overwhelmingly negative toward Canucks GM Jim Benning. I don’t see this as such a bad move on his part.
The Canucks need blue-line depth and the 24-year-old Gudbranson (6-foot-5, 216 pounds) is a skilled, physical shutdown blueliner who’s steadily improved over his five NHL seasons. He’s also on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million, which isn’t a budget buster. The only knock against him is his injury history.
The Sun’s Ben Kuzma suggests this move means the Canucks are parting ways with veteran blueliner Dan Hamhuis. They could also select Pierre-Luc Dubois in this year’s draft, which would’ve made McCann expendable.
In return, the Panthers are getting a promising young center in McCann and an additional pick in the second round of this year’s draft. Mike Matheson’s emergence was also why they were willing to part with Gudbranson. However, I wonder if this deal gets made if Dale Tallon was still the general manager? Regardless, this move could pan out well for them if McCann fulfills his offensive upside. They now have a lot of depth at center but McCann can also skate on the wing.
Also, the Panthers have informed blueliner Brian Campbell they’d like to re-sign him, but he intends to test the UFA market.
DETROIT FREE PRESS: Pavel Datsyuk’s agent admits his client received an offer from a KHL team (believed to be SKA St. Petersburg), but he still hasn’t reached a decision as to his future. That’s still expected to come sometime in mid-June after he meets with Detroit Red Wings management.
OTTAWA SUN: Long-time Senators defenseman Chris Phillips is expected to announce his retirement as an NHL player today. He was drafted first overall by the Senators in 1996 and has scored 71 goals and 217 assists in 1,179 career games.
NORTHJERSEY.COM: New Jersey Devils defenseman Jon Merrill underwent right-shoulder surgery and will be recovering for four months.
NBC SPORTS: Despite the decline in the Canadian dollar, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman still expects to see a revenue increase for this season.
Seems like Phillips retirement announcement more or less coincides with his last pay cheque from the organization.
Guys retiring like Phillips and others who came into the league in the mid 90s are making me feel old… Solid career!
Here’s hoping the Pens can pull it off tonight. A final with them and the Sharks would be fun. Lots of big story lines there. Sharks are shaking the rep of being playoff “chokers” while the Pens have been big time letdowns in the playoffs since they won in ’09. There would be tons of star power on the ice, might help a bit with the low ratings.
That trade makes zero sense for Florida. They just traded Pirri away for nothing because they had too many forwards and now they trade their second. best young dman for a forward? How have the Sharks played the toughest competition to get to the cup? The Penguins played both last years conference finals teams and the presidents trophy winners and the 3 goalies nominated for the vezina. That’s hardly weak competition
Pulling for the Pens tonight as well (hard not to being a fan since the 80’s).
Love the Canucks getting Gudbranson. I think he is going to be a solid addition to the backend. McCann projects well, but with any established player – you know what your getting.
Props to Phillips. I grew up here in Ottawa, never liked the Sens (obviously being a Pens fan), but always had a ton of respect for Phillips. He is a great vet, local figurehead and leader and I wish him will in life after hockey. I suspect there is going to be one heck of a party at Big Rig this afternoon!
penguin fans are the best-till the team stinks,then they’re not…..team gonna move. they get mario…get good…then they are….then team stinks..then they’re not…team gonna move again.theyget(gifted) sidney…get good…then they are….somewhere there’s a 10 year old future generational player who will wind up in,you guessed it,pittsburgh…because team will stink,great fans will abandon them (again),penguins will get player…then once again THEY WILL BE THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!
That’s nice. I am happy you shared that random opinion
All of those problems seem to never change how I felt about the team. Sure every team has fair weather fans, but frankly, I can’t say I know of the fans you speak of.
Jovanovski 2.0 sent from Florida to Vancouver. Again.
EG fills a need..simple
I never buy hockey Jersey’s with a players name on the back they change teams to often. Yet I think I will go out and get me a Phillips Jersey. Being a fan of a budget team who always seemed to struggle to keep/attract star talent there was always a constant fear of players moving on. Hossa, Heatley, Chara, Alfredson, Spezza, and currently Karlsson. Yet Phillips proves a player can start and finish his career on one team. That they can do it even if the team is Ottawa. He’s given so much to the franchise and the city I think he is worthy of being the very first sweater I purchase with a players name on the back. It was going to be Alfredsson…..sigh. He is still my favorite player. I named my cat 7 years ago Alfredsson. Haha I love that cat. Chris Neil once retired as a Sen will certainly be a likely option.
Yeah I know what you mean Jeff.
I still remember as a kid in the 90’s reading about Phillips and Redden after they were drafted and brought up to the big club and how they split on a small house in Kanata (townhouse actually if I remember right). I know it is amazing when a player plays his whole career (talking 15+ years) with one team, but that fact from the 90’s always makes me think beyond the long service to a team and towards how someone could grow up and really be apart of the community because of that. I think for Phillips, it shows in how he’s approached the community, especially in the last 5-7 years and how he’s truly made himself a part of it. That to me is something really special.