NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 31, 2020
The latest on Zdeno Chara, Brady Tkachuk, Kaapo Kakko, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: During a conference call with NHL reporters on Monday, Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara claimed goaltender Tuukka Rask’s smelly farts make him the teammate he’d least like to be quarantined with. “The way he farts? The smell is awful,” said Chara. “He likes his chicken wings. And after the chicken wings, I’ve had to sit behind him on the bus. I’ve got to tell you. I’ve got to control myself sometimes.”
Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara (Photo via NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given how depressing most of the NHL news has been of late because of COVID-19, I thought Chara’s remarks about Rask brought a welcome bit of levity yesterday.
OTTAWA SUN: During the same conference call, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk said his two teammates who tested positive for COVID-19 are doing well. “We’re a tight group so we’re always in contact with one another but I think all of us are just concerned about them and everybody impacted by it.”
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Kaapo Kakko’s stubbornness is blocking his potential greatness. The rookie Ranger’s insistence on holding the puck isn’t working as well in the NHL as it did when he dominated in Finland. He’s also struggled with the defensive of his game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks feels Kakko has the tools to become a dominant NHL player. The youngster isn’t the first promising player who’s ever struggled to adjust to the NHL in his rookie season. With maturity and a willingness to learn, he should become the elite winger he was projected to become.
THE SCORE: St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong believes his club is in a good spot to defend their Stanley Cup title if the season is resumed. “With the knowledge of what we did last year, and that we have a mature team, we’re not worried about whether they’re preparing or what they’re doing off the ice, eating correctly and doing whatever workouts they need to be doing; I know they are because they’ve shown that year in and year out,” Armstrong told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
THE WASHINGTON POST: Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said no Capitals players have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. Nevertheless, the club is preparing for all scenarios, including returning to action at some point in the summer if the league resumes action by then.
TSN: The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers yesterday announced temporary staff layoffs during the COVID-19 period.
ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes re-signed forward Michael Chaput to a one-year, two-way contract.
SPORTSNET: Goaltender Eddie Lack yesterday announced his retirement because of hip injuries. He spent five seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, and New Jersey Devils. He compiled a “56-55-18 record, 2.62 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and nine shutouts.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Lack in his future endeavours.
Kakko isn’t going to be a dominant player. he might be a 20 goal scorer and maybe 30 goals by his 28th birthday. Much like Kreider almost did.
But dominant? maybe a shift or two. But an entire game? no, im sorry. that doesn’t seem to fit with what I watched for 60 games.
I don’t want this to come off as bashing the kid, you know, because he’s 19 now.
To be clear, this kid was drafted 2nd overall in a terribly weak draft. If Kakko was drafted this year, he’d be top 10. He would not be top 5. And that’s not because this draft class is deep, it’s pretty average for depth. 2 defensemen inside the top 15. But there’s a goalie inside the top 10.
NYR fans were led to believe Kakko was a game changer, a super talent, a franchise level building block. but that’s just not the case.
At best we got “Kreider lite”
Here’s to being wrong. Cheers.
This kid just turned 19. He absolutely has the tools to become a dominant / elite player.
Most 18 year olds are still home , smoking weed, eating Cheetos naked in a bean bag while arguing online with 10 year olds on “who’s better” at whatever video game they’re playing.
Not thrown into a different country, where they don’t speak the native tongue, are surrounded by strangers, separated from friends and family. …. in one of the biggest pressure cooking cities on the planet!
Give this kid a few minutes before writing him off.
Agree NYR. You kind of made the case for letting him play another year in Europe last year, or AHL.
Save a year of ELC too.
You cheetos comment reminds me of the joke about a guy who goes to the Dr because his dick is orange.
Lmao
Never heard that one ray. It’s a good one.
Bison. It’s supposed to be one of the deepest drafts in years.
Ny. Most 18 years olds blah blah blah? Man… you make George look like a young buck with that grumpy old man talk.
Coming from a millennial like you I’ll take that as a compliment!
On a serious note… how many 18 year olds are put in that situation? And diving a little deeper… how many are equipped to handle it …. and even a little deeper still ……in a place like NYC?
I think I hit the majority of 18 yo kids spot on. Much more in that bean bag than playing a pro sport in a foreign country.