Latest Stanley Cup Final news, tributes pour in for Gordie Howe & more in today’s collection of NHL morning headlines.
THE MERCURY NEWS: After defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, there’s a growing sense of believe among the San Jose Sharks that they can still win this series. The Sharks trail the Penguins by a margin of three games to two. Game 6 goes on Sunday in San Jose.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray hopes to rebound from a shaky performance in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are battling history, as only one team (1942 Toronto Maple Leafs) rebounded from a 3-1 series lead (in the Leafs case, they were down 3-0) to win the Stanley Cup. Teams holding a 3-1 series lead in the Cup Final won the championship in 31 of 32 series. While the odds still favor the Penguins, a win by the Sharks in Game 6 forces a winner-take-all Game 7. That could tilt the odds in the Sharks’ favor.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Penguins goalie Matt Murray hopes to learn from his rough first period in Game 5. He gave up two goals on three shots in the opening three minutes of that period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murray’s looked shaky in two of his last three starts, with save percentages of .885 and .857 in Games 3 and 5 respectively. However, Murray’s shown the ability to bounce back from a bad game. He could do the same in Game 6.
TSN: Tributes are pouring in from around the hockey world in remembrance of the life and career of Gordie Howe, who passed away yesterday at age 88.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s my take from yesterday. The hockey world is a colder place today. RIP Mr. Hockey.
SPORTSNET: With the NHL board of governors expected to vote on awarding an expansion franchise to Las Vegas, existing teams are receiving information on a potential expansion draft:
“A minimum of two forwards and one defenceman must be exposed who have played 40 games the previous season, or a total of 70 over the previous two.
There is also a requirement that the 40/70 players are under contract for the first expansion season.
Each team will be allowed to protect seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie.
Players holding no-movement clauses – including those modified by limited no-trades, such as Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury – count against the protection limit, provided that those contracts and clauses extend through the 2017-18 season.
Players with no-movement clauses on deals that expire June 30, 2017 won’t have to be protected if the draft is held before that date.
Teams will also be permitted to ask players to waive their no-movement clauses for inclusion in the expansion draft.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The bit about the no-movement clauses is important to note, as it was widely assumed players like Fleury wouldn’t have to be protected. That could mean the Penguins try to trade him this summer, as they’ll obviously want to protect rookie goalie Matt Murray.
THE TENNESSEAN: Agent J.P. Barry, who represents winger Filip Forsberg, said progress is being made in contract talks with the Nashville Predators, stating the two sides are zeroing in on a new deal. Forsberg is completing an entry-level contract. Forsberg could receive a new contract comparable to those of Columbus Blue Jackets winger Brandon Saad (six years, $36 million) and St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (eight years, $60 million).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m guessing Forsberg gets six years at $6 million per.
NORTH JERSEY.COM: The New Jersey Devils traded minor league forwards Paul Thompson and Graham Black to the Florida Panthers in exchange for their second-round pick in 2018 and the contract of all-but-retired forward Marc Savard. Next season (2016-17) is the final season of Savard’s contract worth a cap hit of $4.03 million, though in actual salary it’s worth only $575,000.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smart move by the Devils, as this moves them closer to a possible salary-cap floor of $55 million without paying out much in actual salary. There was also speculation suggesting the Devils could be a destination for the contract of Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk if he decides to play in Russia next season. The Savard acquisition probably takes them out of the equation.
TWINCITIES.COM: Former Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom signed Friday with HIFK in Finland. It will likely be the last professional season for the oft-injured Backstrom.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars re-signed winger Brett Ritchie to a one-year contract. CapFriendly lists his salary as $875,000.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames have reportedly signed Czech goalie David Rittich to a one-year contract.
WINNIPEG SUN: Ticket info for next season’s Heritage Classic Game between the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets was released yesterday.
There is no question that this summer will be the opportune time to trade MAF as keeping him and losing Murray is unacceptable on so many levels. I don’t see much other turnover happening on the Pens roster this summer otherwise. If Cullen retires then Oskar Sundqvist will take his place and I can see them moving Kunitz as a cap dump and Danny Sprong taking his place. In fact I think if Sprong and a healthy Scott Wilson are Malkins wingers next year the line will be much more effective. Brian Rust could move down to the Sundqvist, Kunhackle line and that line would be quite speedy and disruptive and still able to chip in goals. Sprong would give Malkin an elite talent to play with. Leave the other 2 lines exactly how they are for another year. On defense I hope to see Lovejoy walking away and either Daley or Cole being cap dumps in favour of re-signing Shiultz to a 2.5-3*3 deal. A d corps of
Maatta Letang
Dumoulin Shultz
Pouliot Daley
Looks pretty good to me.
I wouldn’t make the trade this summer. I believe in Murray, but I still think he needs to get more starts under his belt before they give him the keys. Split him and Flower 50-50 next season, then trade Flower at the deadline or next summer so long as Murray is still on track.
This summer would represent the best chance to maximize the return. Trading him at the deadline might prove not possible if no one is looking for a goalie and next summer the rest of the league could force the Penguins to have to move Murray instead or risk losing him to expansion. It’s now or never.
That sounds like a weak return for the Devils to me, considering how much they help out the Bruins with that deal. I know it helps the Devils, too, but there are other ways/players to get to the cap floor.
The Panthers you mean? Where do you get the Bruins from?
I was going to say Bruins. Man that was so long ago.
Whoop, my bad. Yes, Panthers!
No team has ever had any issue’s making the cap floor with the players that actually played for them. NJ isn’t taking Savard’s cap hit to make the floor. When the season starts NJ’s player cap hits will exceed the floor by significantly more than Savard’s cap hit. They took Savard as they got a 2nd round pick in 2018 to do so & had the room to do so comfortably.
For those of you that didn’t think Detroit would have to pay at least a 2nd to move Datsyuk. Guess again. Although Savard actually carries a 500K salary next season, Datsyuk will be paid nothing if his contract is mutually terminated but his 7.5 cap hit stays & it will cost Detroit more than Flo just paid NJ to do so. Nothing significant but something. I still say a player like Jurco or Pulkkinen & a 2nd.
I grew up with hockey watching Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull,Johnny Bower,Terry Sawchuk, Bob Baun, Red Kelly and I could go on.
Gordie was a piece of work. My kind of piece of work as on the ice, you were held accountable and Gordie was the man. U will be missed big guy…You are a legend, a talent and fine man who’s soul’s you touched wherever you did go.R.I.P. Gordie as you left all you have to give where it all belonged; the ice.