NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 26, 2020
The Lightning take a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Senators intend to buy out Bobby Ryan, the Canadiens re-sign Jeff Petry, and much more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Kevin Shattenkirk scored in overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Dallas Stars 5-4 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to take 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Shattenkirk’s goal came on a power play after Stars captain Jamie Benn was whistled off for tripping Lightning forward Tyler Johnson. Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point and Dallas’ Joe Pavelski each scored twice.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (NHL Images).
Several milestones were reached in this game by four Stars. Pavelski tied Joe Mullen’s NHL record for most playoff goals by an American-born player with 60. He also holds the record for most goals scored in one postseason (12) by a player 36-or-older.
Meanwhile, teammates Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg are only the second pair of defensemen on the same team to each reach 20 points in one postseason. Paul Coffey and Charlie Huddy were the first to do so with the 1985 Edmonton Oilers.
Corey Perry also scored in this game, making him the third player in NHL history to go at least 13 years between Stanley Cup Final goals, joining Mark Recchi (15 years) and Dino Ciccarelli (14).
The Lightning were without captain Steven Stamkos. After scoring a goal during a brief appearance in Game 3, Stamkos was unfit to play in Game 4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most entertaining game of this series. The Stars took 2-0 and 3-2 leads only to see the Lightning battled back to tie the game. The Bolts took their first lead when Alex Killorn made it 4-3 in the third period but Pavelski tied it with his second of the game.
Benn’s penalty sparked criticism from the Stars but it was an obvious infraction the officials couldn’t ignore. Besides, the Stars had a great opportunity earlier in the extra frame with the man advantage after Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was called for holding Tyler Seguin but they failed to capitalize.
Both clubs have little time to dwell on this one. Game 5 goes tonight at 8 pm ET with the Lightning just one win away from becoming Stanley Cup champions and the Stars desperate to keep their Cup hopes alive.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators yesterday placed winger Bobby Ryan on waivers with the intention of buying out the final two years of his contract. Cap Friendly indicates the Senators will be tagged with a $3.58 million salary-cap hit for the next two seasons, followed by about $1.83 million annually for the last two seasons. Ryan won the Masterton Trophy this season for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a bit of a surprise but one the Senators made for business reasons. The 33-year-old Ryan is not the scorer he used to be and his $7.25 million annual average value was more than the rebuilding Sens were willing to keep paying. This move allows Ryan an opportunity to have a fresh start with a playoff contender at a more affordable price.
THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are considering a contract buyout of center Alexander Wennberg. The move would save the Jackets over $10 million over the next three years. Wennberg is 26, but because he was 25 in June, as per the CBA the buyout will be at one-third the remaining value, rather than two-thirds.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Portzline reports neither Wennberg or his agent have heard anything about a buyout from the Jackets, while GM Jarmo Kekalainen declined to comment. His annual average value is $4.9 million for the next three seasons.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers won’t be buying out James Neal or any other players this year.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens yesterday re-signed defenseman Jeff Petry to a four-year, $25 million contract extension. The annual average value is $6.25 million. His new deal also includes a no-movement clause and a 15-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal provides Petry a slight raise over his current $5.5 million AAV, but otherwise isn’t much different from the final three years of his present contract in terms of movement and no-trade clauses. It’s a good move by the Habs to ensure veteran stability on the right side of their blueline. Petry’s been a reliable, sometimes underrated member of the Canadiens core. The move won’t affect their 2020-21 salary-cap payroll.
NBC SPORTS: The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed goaltender Alex Lyon to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700K.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs added Paul MacLean to their coaching staff.
One little nugget from my #mnwild GM Bill Guerin interview this morning: BG says the Wild aren’t buying out Victor Rask, that he’s been treated unfairly & scored big goals for them when he played.
My gut: He’d trade him if he could, … but no buyout (which we’ve suspected).
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 24, 2020
Congrats to Jeff Petry
The Kid has come a long way after being ridden out of town in Edmonton ..yet another head scratcher from the Oilers who tried to trade this guy in his early growth years for the better part 2 years
He grew into a solid Veteran #2 D man with a great shot from the point ..LOL which is exactly what the Oilers need ..still no D man on the Oilers that has evolved post Jeff Petry to be the player he has turned into ..both responsible tough to play against big guy long reach and takes guys out in finishes his checks and gets you some good goals from the point ..all around solid D man …hes not flashy hence is under the radar style of play ..but gets the job done well.
Shattenkirk
While he has had a good run into the finals and has played some good hockey ..to go and give this guy a long term deal would be a mistake just based on these merits right now ..Iam not drinking the kool aid ..he is 31 years old and was literally pushed out of a growing Rangers organization..to where he was suppose to be a much more integral part of the growth there…2 year max deal for me ..at $3.75 with bonus structure would be it ..for me at most ..
Bobby Ryan
Does Steve Yzerman take a chance here with Ryan ..as he does need both players for right wing and some veteran leadership in the room to fill out a roster ..however if a contending team can get Ryan for a 1 or 2 year deal with a league minimum they should take the chance….the guy is going to score you 15 – 20 goals ..on a well coached responsible veteran laden team..most likely.
Have a good day
Cheers
Shattenkirk is a better player than Trouba. He had a knee issue early on in NYC and even though I did not love the signing at the time the decision to buyout was worse. The Rangers could of had Shattenkirk and the 2019 #20th pick instead of Trouba.
I think Bobby Ryan is the kind of bargain purchase, short term, cheap player Marc Bergevin looks for while waiting for the Habs prospects to develop. He is longer a true top six winger, but may help on a Habs woeful PP for a couple of seasons.
There will be many more like Ryan & Wennberg becoming available over the next couple of weeks.
I expect to see a lot of movement from team to team with 2nd & 3rd tier players getting drop by one team & signing for less than they would like with another.
This article says: Benn’s penalty sparked criticism from the Stars but it was an obvious infraction the officials couldn’t ignore.
But the NBC crew says no penalty should have been called.
Which one do you think is correct???
Nasdaq40, what Benn did was a penalty but he was reacting to a blatant hook by Johnson. What Johnson was doing is the definition of obstruction/hooking. He cuts into him and wraps his stick across the entire midsection of Benn. Benn then throws him off.
They both go, or neither does IMO.
The embellishment call against Point seemed a little weak too. when a guy comes from behind, puts his stick between your legs and drives it up into your ball sac, it is a penalty and will cause you to stumble when skating full speed.
At very least.
My point is calls went against both teams.
Stars looked better last night and it was a close game, but TB has been the better team in the series and deserve to be ahead.
I thought for sure the ref was calling Johnson for hooking or interference.
The penalty on Benn was the hockey equivalent of the basketball foul for being big. Bad call especially in overtime.
Hi Ray
Sorry , reading and responding in order… now see that some if my response sentiments to Nasdaq are highly similar to yours
wasn’t meaning to be duplicative…. I guess we saw it the same way
Sorry
No worries Pengy, I do the same.
Might be over tonight.
Hi Nasdaq40
Dallas in no way can be complaining about one call
All players want is a consistency in calls….hopefully game to game but most importantly within the same game
This game was all over the map for both teams wrt very questionable calls and completely ignoring calls
Pavelski does a beauty high stick… no call… gets a goal on same play
Kuch does a beauty pick right infront of Sutherland … no call then assists on Point’s goal same play
Point embellishment after the testicular shish-kabob that Perry did??? Absolutely NO FRIGGIN WAY…
Look… there is absolutely no question that Benn’s play is a penalty…. but Sutherland called it a trip??? He was holding not only body ; but stick as well; while bringing him down… that’s “holding” or “holding the stick” … not trip…
Missed penalties; very soft (really really soft and questionable penalties)…
So yes… for sure a penalty on Benn…but the friggin inconsistent reffing throughout the game caused the players to push the envelope on what they could get away with
Both sides got calls going their way that shouldn’t have happened
Wake up Kelly!!!!
In summary … NBC absolutely wrong… it WAS a penalty
I believe though ; in the end… the better team in last night’s game, won
Both goalies did not look great… Doby had some real shaky moments
Will see who can have their game face on tonight
Does Sutherland ref tonight?
Pengy..sit down breathe..on the mark madden radio show Rutherford was the guest and he make serious overtures that jack Johnsons time in Pittsburgh is coming to an end.. wohoo
Hi BnG
Thanks
I’ll believe it when the ink dries
If he was serious… JJ would have been on waivers yesterday ; bought out today
What specifically did Jimbo actually say
Thanks in advance for filling me in
Perty Facts:
He’s a six-foot-three, 201-pound rushing defenceman who ranks eighth among his peers in power-play goals, ninth in hits, 22nd in shots on net and 25th in ice-time per game over the last three seasons combined. He’s a 1B defenceman in Montreal and would be a bona fide No. 1 in most markets, and it’s unlikely he’s going from prince to frog in the early stages of this deal.
Quoted from:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-marc-bergevin-signs-jeff-petry-deal-likely-wont-regret/
I was surprised to read where he ranked over the past three seasons in hits & PP goals.
IMO & with all due respect to Shea Weber, Petry has been the Habs top D-man this past two seasons.
As a Habs fan I like this deal a lot.
Not about Petry, but read this morning that Romanov was considered one of the top five fastest skaters in the KHL last season. Two other characteristics of his are very hard slap shot & enjoys playing a physical game. Not expected to a offensive minded D-man, but enough to make him a third or fourth D-man when he matures. Not sure how long it will take for him to acclimatize to the North American game, but this kid sounds like a keeper!!!!
Victor Rask has scored “BIG” goals for the Wild? Bill Guerin is delusional …
So far this off-season, MB has addressed 3 pressing priorities. The defense is set with 2 quality goalies and 4 top 4 defensemen signed for at least 3 more years. Signing 1 or 2 scoring wingers is the next important task. Wait for the buyouts and pick up a bargain or 2. Love the Habs moves so far.