NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 11, 2020
The Stars regain the lead in the Western Conference Final, Sean Couturier wins the Selke Trophy, and updates on Alex Killorn, Brayden Point and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Alexander Radulov scored 31 seconds into overtime as the Dallas Stars edged the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. The Stars hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Stars captain Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist while Anton Khudobin made 38 saves for the win. Mark Stone had two points for the Golden Knights, including the game-tying goal that forced overtime. Game 4 of the series is Saturday at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of the scoring came in the third period, with the Golden Knights out-shooting the Stars 18-4 thanks to three power-play opportunities. Khudobin was outstanding for Dallas while Stars coach Rick Bowness’ decision to reunite Benn, Radulov and Tyler Seguin on the top line provided a much-needed boost to their offense.
Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier is this year’s winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Couturier for a long-overdue recognition of his place among the league’s best defensive forwards. He’s the first Flyer to win the Selke since Dave Poulin in 1986-87.
The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Tampa Bay Lightning winger Alex Killorn for one game for boarding New York Islanders center Brock Nelson in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Lightning could also be without their leading scorer for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. Center Brayden Point left Game 2 with an undisclosed injury and might not dress for tonight’s contest with the Isles.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning coped without Killorn and Point for most of Game 2. It will be a bigger challenge offsetting their absences for the entirety of Game 3.
TSN: Frank Seravalli reports 17 NHL teams have slashed expenditures and reduced payroll amid a COVID-19 crunch. That includes Original Six teams like the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.
Of the seven Canadian teams, only the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t yet reduced the pay of staff members, including team presidents, coaches and general managers. The Ottawa Senators’ coaching staff received relief from the league after having their pay cut by 50 percent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Seravalli points out, the teams are doing this because there’s been no meaningful revenue coming in since mid-March and none on the immediate horizon. He also anticipates those cuts will affect free agency and salary-cap payrolls.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki will test the free-agent market.
STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues re-signed forward Jacob de la Rose to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700K.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Adam Cracknell to a one-year, two-way contract.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed a three-year agreement with the Chicago Wolves to be their new AHL affiliate.
NHL.COM: The Charlotte Checkers (the Hurricanes’ former AHL farm club) signed a multi-year affiliation deal with the Florida Panthers.
CBS SPORTS: Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Mark Barberio signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC of Switzerland’s National League.
Good luck to Borowiecki wherever he lands. Sad to see him go, but I suppose the team’s deepening prospect pool in D-men had a lot to do with the mutual decision. Whoever gets him will have a solid, hard-nosed presence somewhere in their D line-up who will make opposing F keep their heads up.
Having just made $1.2 mil off the cap I would guess the team was offering a modest raise to around $1.8. He and his agent are likely seeking in the area of $2.5.
“ The Lightning coped without Killorn and Point for most of Game 2. It will be a bigger challenge offsetting their absences for the entirety of Game 3”
Not so sure that Tampa won’t be better prepared in game 2 for those losses. They played that game with only 9 forwards. At least they will be able to roll 4 lines in game 3.
Killorn suspended …. huh? This hit was very similar to the hit Ritchie put on Gourde….. and got nothing? I’d actually say the Ritchie hit was worse.
There is zero consistency in the rules, ZERO!
NHL officiating and supplemental discipline are a joke.
Killorn essentially gets a 2 game suspension for that hit, while Niskonen’s hit on Gallagher got only one. Pathetic.
As for Nelson, who was on the receiving end of Killorn’s hit, he later crosschecked Maroon into the Isles net with a nasty high hit with no call or further review.
Dept. of Player Safety? It’s becoming more and more like the NHL Dept of Influencing Series Outcomes with their inconsistent rulings.
Killorn hit was worse.
Both were late.
Killorn from behind in the back.
Ritchie from the side shoulder to shoulder.
Ritchie got 5 min major as it was late, Killorn got suspended because it was late and in the back.
Seems about right.
Having attended some Checkers games the last few years (Sabres fan from Atlanta), I think it was an awful gut punch to those Charlotte fans to have the Hurricanes pull out of the franchise. I am glad that they were able to sign a new affiliation agreement. However, the Panthers do not have the quality of prospects that the Hurricanes put in Charlotte and won a Calder Cup in 2019.
While I have no actual information – and the Hurricanes have been very quiet about it – the general consensus seems to be that it was a blatant money-grab by the Hurricanes, who will either spend less on-or get more from-the Chicago affiliate. Now, normally, that might aggravate me a bit, but in these times, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad move. You have to make the money where you can.
Certainly it makes little sense from a travel/convenience standpoint.
Glad to see Charlotte landed Florida, though.
Disagree Killorn should have got more was real bad right from behind chicken shiiiiiiiiiiitttttttt hit. Didn’t someone say Dallas had zero chance and it would be over in 5 never watched game but box office says Dallas up 2-1 in series.
I believe in Dobby!
I was wrong again. Have to give Khudobin alot of credit, he stole that game last night.
Still don’t think he can keep it up, but will be happy to be wrong.
He also keeps making a case for himself as a UFA worth a shot …. albeit on a short-term deal since he just turned 34, coming off a $2.5 mil cap hit. He’s probably seeking at least $3 mil.
Just saw the Selke voting breakdown?
Auston had a few votes?
Bergeron is a man playing with kids he should win every year it’s not close only politics.
Gotta love that Rutherford, the senile old so and so. Trades a 6’7” centre for something, I don’t think he even knows what he got, but it was some sort of something. I think Jim would be happy with some new trousers and a phonograph of that hip band he likes.