NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2020
Steven Stamkos returns as the Lightning take 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the latest on a potential Patric Hornqvist-for-Mike Matheson trade, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Steven Stamkos scored in his return to action as the Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Dallas Stars 5-2 in Game 2 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).
Stamkos, who’s been dealing with a core-muscle issue that sidelined him since July, played only five shifts in the first period but scored the Lightning’s second goal, eluding Stars defenseman Esa Lindell and sniping a wrister past Anton Khudobin. He spent the rest of the game on the Lightning bench. In his post-game interview, Stamkos said he’s still working through the issue, adding it was too early to tell if he’ll suit up for Game 4 on Friday.
Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists, becoming the third defenseman in Stanley Cup playoff history to score at least 10 goals in a postseason. Only Paul Coffey (12 goals) and Brian Leetch (11) have more. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat each had a goal and an assist.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ brief return in Game 3 still provided a big lift to his teammates. You could see it by the way they played and their reaction to their captain’s goal. They took control of the game in the second period, scoring three goals and outshooting the Stars 21-4.
Hedman, meanwhile, is making a strong case as the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. In addition to his goal-scoring efforts, he’s been the Lightning’s leader during Stamkos’ absence, playing a strong game at both ends of the rink.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports a potential trade in which the Pittsburgh Penguins would send winger Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Mike Matheson could be falling apart over Hornqvist’s no-trade clause and concerns over whether his contract was covered by insurance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal could still go through if those issues are sorted out, but Friedman sounds skeptical. “One hurdle would be challenging enough…but two? Big problem.” If the deal goes through, the Penguins will have a surplus of left-side defensemen, meaning another trade could be likely.
TSN: Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion confirmed his club won’t be re-signing long-time goaltender Craig Anderson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in the 39-year-old Anderson’s performance over the past two years made this inevitable. Nevertheless, it’s the end of an era between the pipes for the Senators. Anderson is their all-time leader in wins, losses, and games-played, and played a big role in their surprising run to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens re-signed forward Jake Evans to a two-year contract extension. The first year is a two-way deal paying him $750K at the NHL level. He’ll earn $800K in the second year.
TORONTO STAR: The Canada Revenue Agency alleges former Maple Leafs Shayne Corson and Darcy Tucker participated in a scheme to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. The duo claimed millions in business losses related to foreign currency trading during their years with the Leafs, but the CRA alleges it was a sham to claim the losses to lower their taxable income. Corson and Tucker deny the allegations.
Stammer’s return… great but short…. here is how small sample sizes for statistical purposes ; get unbelievably skewed…last night Stammer’s Goals per 60….21.6. 😂😂
He won’t be back
Fri/Sat B2B should be interesting
veddy interesting sir Pengy-
veddy interesting indeed!
Re Pens and Horny
“ If the deal goes through, the Penguins will have a surplus of left-side defensemen, meaning another trade could be likely”
…. Nope…. if that trade goes through today (?)…. LHD glut solved tommorrow morning by (what should have happened in June of ‘19) finally buying out #3
Re stalled trade… WTF Jimbo… you blew the finalization of Kessel and JJ to Wild deal because you failed to get Phil’s permission slip beforehand
This was worse… you already knew Horny had full NMC and could nix any trade…. but you also didn’t have Horny insured?
WTF?
Call an ins agent first thing this morn and gedderdone;
Re Horny permission… well cats out of bag… not sure he’d want to stay now
If this gets done 👍
and after #3 gets bought out
Tanger/Dumo
Marino/Matheson
Riikola/Pettersson
Poulin in for Horny
Team faster; younger; way better… cash and Cap saved
Two things Mike Matheson is not.
#1 a right side d-man.
#2 a 2nd pairing d-man.
Be careful what you wish for…. I’m not sure I can take 6 years of what you’ve put us all through for the last year with JJ. A year of Groundhog Day trade proposals is bad enough. Six years of Matheson trades will bankrupt this site!
I don’t think you and some others have watched this man play. If you did, you’d go break Hörnqvists leg to assure this trade does not happen.
You are absolutely right, this Pengy dude knows very little about the Pens .. Matheson is a lousy defender with a worse contract than Horny’s … and the Pens get softer if that’s possible … bad deal, Pens got lucky on this one …
Agree Ed.
He was a healthy scratch twice in the tournament….. twice in win or go home situations.
That speaks volumes of where he stands.
Possibly with PP time which he doesn’t really get in Florida , he could see a slight uptick in offensive production.
But this guy is just not good. And I don’t see him all of the sudden growing defensively.
Pittsburgh already has JJ and Letang who are not exactly defensively sound. Why on earth would they want Matheson? And also rumored to be after Tanev????
Clearly Florida would take a mulligan on that contract if they could. Pittsburgh shouldn’t give them that mulligan.
I’d sooner put Hörnqvist out there to play defense.
Wow Ed. This man doesn’t know a lot about the penguins? This from the man who wants to dump their best d man by a mile. That statement was the pot calling the kettle black if I ever saw it.
Hey Lyle, got to hear the end of your conversation on tsn1290 yesterday.
You should give yourself a plug on here when your going to be on the airwaves or TV.
You have regular readers in some NHL cities that would probably tune in to give you a listen.
Good idea going forward for sure. Cheers!
I don’t believe Boston will buyout Moore.
Looking closer at the Roster, i haven’t really paid close attention because i didn’t notice that they don’t have a top pairing LD.
They have Grzelcyk who could be a second pair and if they resign Chara he could be the third pair.
But neither of them two belong on the top pair with McAvoy.
Doesn’t matter who is in the minors because they’re not jumping up into the top pairing.
Looks like a trade is needed.
Agree Caper, he is one of 2 NHL proven LD’s on the roster.
It isn’t a terrible contract.
He is a decent size and can skate, so unless his recent injuries have hampered him to the point he isn’t effective you keep him.
If he doesn’t play well, send him the minors and save the cap $ that way.
I can see the B’s giving Grez a shot with McAvoy to push the offence and I don’t see that big a drop from Chara with McAvoy. Different players for sure. I think better possession and movement with Grez, but not the same defender in own zone.
They may go 2nd tier UFA type D man to play with Carlo. A guy who can defend and bring some battle.
Dillon or Browiecki?
Ray i would take either of Dillon or Browiechi. Need some grit back there.
Would you bring Kevin Miller back?
I dunno Caper. I appreciate his toughness, but man that guys body has taken a pounding the last couple years.
Held together with baling wire and duct tape.
League minimum so you can send him down and it doesn’t hit the cap?