NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2022
​The Golden Knights become the first team to clinch a playoff berth, Patrick Marleau reaches another milestone for games played, plus the latest on Jonathan Toews, Conor Garland and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs by downing the San Jose Sharks 5-2. Jonathan Marchessault led the way with two goals and two assists for the Golden Knights, who sit atop the Honda West Division and the overall standings with 68 points. San Jose forward Patrick Marleau reached another milestone, playing in his 900th consecutive NHL game. The Sharks (41 points) remain four points back of the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes.
Jonathan Marchessault’s four-point performance in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks helped the Vegas Golden Knights clinch a 2021 NHL playoff berth (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marleau recently broke Gordie Howe’s NHL record for most games played with 1,768. His Ironman streak is also impressive, becoming just the fourth player in league history to play 900 consecutive games. The leader is Doug Jarvis (964), followed by Garry Unger (914) and Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (913), with the latter poised to tie Unger in tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Speaking of the Coyotes, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Kirill Kaprizov set the Wild record for most goals by a rookie with 19 while Cam Talbot kicked out 39 shots for the win. With 61 points, the Wild sits three points behind the second-place Colorado Avalanche. Coyotes winger Conor Garland missed the game following a lower-body injury suffered in practice earlier in the day.
Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson scored twice as his club held off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists as the Oilers (56 points) sit one point behind the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the Scotia North Division. The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit fourth with 49 points, opening an eight-point lead over the Calgary Flames. Oilers winger Zack Kassian left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury.Â
The Chicago Blackhawks overcame a 4-1 deficit to drop the Nashville Predators 5-4 on an overtime goal by Brandon Hagel, who also collected two assists. The Predators sit in fourth place in the Discover Central Division with 52 points while the Blackhawks sit three back in sixth.
HEADLINES
The NHL extended the West Division schedule to May 13 to accommodate postponed games involving the Avalanche.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL hopes to start the 2021-22 season on Oct. 12, which is one week later than in a normal year. Training camps would open on Sept. 22 if there are no COVID-related delays.
The league cannot say for certain when the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin due to the in-season delays some teams have dealt with this season.
The NHL still intends to participate in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics provided an agreement is reached with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee.
The 2021 NHL Draft (July 23-24) will be held virtually for the second straight year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means it’ll probably take over seven hours again to complete the second day of the draft unless the league sets a more rigid timetable for each team to make their selections.
LAS VEGAS SUN: Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner accused the NHL of lying to the players regarding its policies on COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations. He claimed the league told them restrictions would ease if a certain threshold of vaccinations were achieved.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly denied Lehner’s claim, saying loosened restrictions were previously discussed internally and with the NHL Players Association but no decision was reached or communicated to the players.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is likely done for the remainder of this season as he continues to battle an illness that’s left him drained and lethargic. However, his health is improving and he’s expected to return next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Toews as he continues his recovery.
CBS SPORTS: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart will miss his club’s next two games due to a knee sprain.
TSN: A settlement in principle has been reached between the NHL and Kelli Ewen, widow of former player Todd Ewen, over the wrongful death lawsuit she filed against the league in 2019. The suit alleges Todd’s suicide in 2015 was linked to the league allegedly downplaying the potential long-term effects of repeated head trauma and profiting from a culture of on-ice violence.
Marleau has joined joined an illustrious group of 4 players who never threw a hit or got involved physically in their careers.
It is sad about Animal but he never would have made the money he did without the role he accepted as his only way into the league.
Pro athletes are overpaid and some of it is to compensate for the assumed and accepted risk to and wear and tear on their bodies which may stay with them after their careers are over.
You obviously never saw Garry Unger or Doug Jarvis when they played. Unger was a physical player while Jarvis was among the best penalty killers of his generation. As for Yandle and Marleau, just because they don’t measure up to your shallow definition of toughness doesn’t make their respective games’ streaks any less meaningful. Their achievements are applauded by current and former teammates and opponents because they know how difficult it is to maintain those lengthy games streaks.
Bang on. Filing that under “wish I said that”
Right on Lyle
Ouch.
Bravo! *slow clap* eloquently said.
It’s been almost 10 years since the last time, but Marleau actually has been in several fights in his career, including against some fairly tough customers (BIeksa and Boynton were no slouches). http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/451
And every player who has played as much and as long as Marleau is gonna have their bell rung now and again. He was tough enough to get up from this hit from Cory Sarich. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPRWKOb7iV4
Lyle
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“Athletes are overpaid”
One of the most ridiculous statements made among sports fans for what seems an eternity. The money has to go somewhere. I don’t see seats filled with fans wearing a jersey with the owners name on the back.
This argument is as old as free agency, and as tired.
Ditto comparing Mcdavid contract to Mathews contract. (Example)
Ya I always laugh when people say that. Athletes sell tickets and merchandise which is directly related to owners and league revenues. Athletes are specialized and the best at what they do creating a better product and making more money. This isn’t like a miner digging gold from a mine and making the owner rich. You can just simply get another miner and there won’t be any loss. There’s only 1 McDavid ect.. Prime example is when Gretzky got traded to St Louis. Immediately after the trade St Louis sold out the remaining 7000 seats per home game for the rest of the season. The sold thousands of jerseys and other merchandise. Gretzky easily made St Louis 10’s of millions of dollars. Gretzky was probably worth more than the entire St Louis organization. He was heavily underpaid. Lets not forget the sold out Arenas where Gretzky played his away games. He directly made the league millions. It’s the Athletes that make the money so why shouldn’t they get paid.
Lyle, you should install “Like” opportunities for posts on your site.
You nailed it there.
rich
You got it right Wendel despite what sheep on this site say..
Another cipher speaks
Would the player quality that you’ve said you so appreciate be thwarted, even in the condensed league that you wish for, if income potential didn’t entice athletes to seek a career of playing hockey?
Gordie Howe was paid $40.000 in 1965 (according to Hockey Zone). That’s worth about $340,000 today, for the game’s top player. Good pay, but is it sufficient to make kids world-wide spend their youth and their parent’s money ooping to get one of the few jobs that would be available in a six-team league?
Until you have played 900+ consecutive games in any professional sport, you have no room to talk. As for your “overpaid” statement, I’ll repeat what I said to a friend who bitched about Andy Messerschmitt signing a contract for $1 million a year. If someone is dumb enough to pay me a million a year, I’m dumb enough to take it.
Watched the Knights v Sharks last night….8th straight victory, solid win, 1st team to clinch a playoff birth, first place in the League, and it showed
Mark 10/5 (rescheduled) game on your calendars… vs Avs…. that very well might determine winner of the West ….
but will almost assuredly set the table for probably the most exciting (of the 15) series of the entire playoffs… the Western Conference Finals… Knights v Avs, and unless the match-up is West v Central; setting up a SCF…. Bolts v winner of Knights/Avs
Vegas and Colorado are having banner years – but 5 of the teams in their division are not.
I’m impressed with the year Carolina is having in a division where only 2 teams have struggled badly this season – Detroit and Columbus. Any teams playing the Hurricanes in the playoffs are going to have their hands full and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them move on to the finals. On the year they’re having it would be a stretch to call it an upset.
I am a homer. I am acknowledging that here, but Minnesota has been competitive in the division too. The Wild is 4-1-1 vs Vegas and is 3-5 vs Colorado. A couple of lopsided losses to Colorado in the mix but a lopsided win as well. Not expecting the Wild to make a playoff splash but I am not sure Vegas or Colorado want to look past them.
Sounds like you’re building up to a third team to cheer for, Pengy. That’s a lot of wagon-jumping and parade planning.
Cover all the bases … lol
Hi BCLeafsFan
Just admiration for and enjoyment of; watching Avs and Knights
Oddly enough I also love watching Bruins games (when they are mot playing Leafs or Pens)
Love to see McD fly
Panthers and Canes have been very impressive and enjoyable to watch this year
Love the strides Sens have made and their bright outlook
That said…. this will be the only year that my “miracle SC “ can happen where I will be hoping and praying for 7 consecutive quintuple OTs…..
I I would be pleased as punch if either JT or Sid hoists the cup and not sad at all re the other losing
But alas…. that just ain’t happening
I truly beieve that Stammer or Stone or Landedkog will the one doing the hoisting
Lyle minor detail, Edmonton was already 1pt behind Winnipeg.
Good on Corey Perry for tangling with Alex Chiasson re Price on concussion protocol.
It was a non-fight instead of Anderson, Weber or Edmundston taking it to him and maybe somebody getting hurt and “honour” was relatively painless.
Purists demand retribution though Chiasson did not hit him on purpose with his fly by and actually reached out to Price and apologized,
With that being said you have to wonder if fighting doesn’t have to be reduced even more.
The last Habs-Oiler game, Romanov stepped up with a beauty of a clean hit on Jujhar Khaira and the result was eerie to watch, he looked like Bambi on ice, hardly able to get up or stay on his skates.
This was clearly the result of his fight with Ritchie and the lingering effects.
I’m not an Oiler fan, never have been but I’ll cringe seeing Khaira playing his brand of physical hockey or get into a fight.
Speaking of Romanov, holy jumpin’, this kid doesn’t look overly big, but he is one solid hombre.
Both he & Anderson have been very pleasant surprises for me this season with their swift skating, power style game.
Sharks & Knights game last night had all the markings of a playoff tilt … love how Patches turtled when Burns came back after him, he knew he didn’t have Reaves backing him up …
Marleau is a weak chump hanging on by his thumbnails … he should be at home counting his money and driving his kids to school … the next bodycheck he throws will be his very first in his last 900 games played …
and that so-called “fight” with Perry & Chiasson last night was farcical … the Kardashian sisters throw better punches than those two …
I would bet $20 you have never played the game past being a kid Ed. If ever at all.
That statement, and the one like Wendel made, make it obvious.
You wouldn’t last 5 seconds against any NHL player. Nor would 99% of the people on this site, but they understand that and don’t pretend that they can.
Not a good look Ed, step up your game.
His game is to post antagonist stuff in the hopes that people respond. He’s actually pretty good at that game. I can’t remember exactly what the game is called though…. tooling? No. Strolling? Not quite….
Dang. Drawing a blank.
Well, at least we can all say we know of someone who speaks fluent s&%t,
Right on Ed watch the meek and mild the twisted sisters kick up a fuss over this bahhhhhhh!
Are athletes overpaid of course they are, so are hollywood actors.
They aren’t paid for the value of their work, they’re playing children’s games. They aren’t producing anything, building anything, aren’t doing anything concrete.
There is an entertainment market that is unionized and helps decide market value.
There’s fan interest that creates a value, the very same lack of fan interest that refuses to pay for Womens Hockey and Soccer, who’s players have little if any value for the time being. The sport, the game in and of itself has little or no value.
BTW the only people who think all labourers are the same and replaced easily are those who have never worked, hired or managed labour.
I don’t think many laborers sell out arenas and sell millions of dollars a year in merchandise and sponsorships.
Or layers, doctors , bartenders, engineers, sales reps, Walmart workers, chefs, waitresses, hostesses, mechanics, stock brokers, accountants, pilots, locksmiths, and on and on as well.
Comparing the average Joe simply isn’t a fair comparison. Let’s be honest, most worker bees feel they’re underpaid. Yet most worker bees are sadly mistaken. Most people do not bring millions of dollars to their company’s table.
The average salary in the US is a hair over 30k. Most people that bring in millions are in the 6 and 7 figure range plus.
Imagine if the guy pouring concrete was making 6 figures? Or a worker at McDonald’s? I don’t know about you, but I’m not paying $42.00 for a cheeseburger.
As far as replacing laborers, another huge misconception , and overvaluation of worth that a lot of people make. Anyone is replaceable.
Less than 9% of Americans make 6 figures. 0.1% make 7 figures. But if you ask most people, they’d feel they should be up there. Regardless of position, education and what they bring to the table.
Exactly, People actually believe they are irreplaceable and that the company can’t survive without them. Unions are the worst for that they actually think they should have a say in how the company is run even though they have no clue. Athletes are literally the only reason the NHL exists and makes the money it does. People watch the game and buy the merchandise because of the players not the arena that the owner might own. My example with the miner is correct as it’s the gold that makes the owner money. Doesn’t matter who pulls it out of the ground.
So, Roger, straying into political commentary? Yes, NHL players are in the top 1/2 of 1 percent of talent in their field. Do they deserve to be criticized for their salary when realtors make the money they do for the little value they produce. No.
But you say unions have no clue and yet want a say in how the company is run. Well, Professor Laurin, the NHLPA is a union and has ensured the players get the money they get and have a lot of say in how the league is run. Go back and look at NHL player salaries before they unionized. They were heavily underpaid and were treated like livestock.
So, according to the Roger Laurin Theory of Economics and Industrial Economy, NHL players create the wealth that is the only reason the league exists, are the drivers for the filling (and surely construction of) the arenas and therefore have large responsibility for the numerous economic spinoffs, deserve the money they get but at the same time have no clue.
So the players have immense value but are clueless and should have no entitlement to a say in their terms and conditions of employment the same time. Apostasy, hypocrisy, or a strain of fascism? Hard to say, and frankly not worth any more thought.
Most employees don’t even understand the basic concept of employee burden. Which is kind of an ugly term. But it is what it is. And what it is , is expensive. They only see what’s under their nose and go on about life like they are getting cheated by evil management , company owners and corporations.
That’s why league revenue is split 50/50. The owners negotiate with the cities and states to build the arenas and come up with revenue generators like advertising but make no mistake the league doesn’t exist without a high level of talent that makes people spend there hard earned dollars on tickets, merchandise and sports packages. Just look at the Gretzky example I posted above. He made the league 100’s of millions of dollars. Using the minors reference Gretzky is gold. The guy selling the tickets to the game is the miner. Good luck replacing Gretzky but the ticket guy can be replaced with with an online purchasing system or pretty much anybody walking down the street. I know people really don’t like hearing that stuff but it’s true.
Habsfan said: “Are athletes overpaid of course they are, so are Hollywood actors. They aren’t producing anything, building anything, aren’t doing anything concrete.”
Nothing like this site and others where people like you, unfortunately, can say whatever you like regardless of how dumb. Where people look for escapism from mundane life.
Google how many office workers or factory workers or laborers and compare that to the number of NHL players or any other careers that seem overpaid. You must be unaware of the fact that there’s a premium on high-end talent, regardless of the industry. Just like good stuff costs more; why, because it’s better and if the item is not readily available, costs even more.
As for blaming players, or agents or owners or unions (that’s a new one)… it’s basically no one’s fault but ours. We determine the value of everything by how much we feel we need it. And on this site, its clear how much we need to talk about everything hockey and some…. Thank god!
I marvel at how much more intelligent you are than everyone else on this site Ron. Keep up the good work!
Oh sparky thanks for seeing that. All I’m doing is pointing out what people have said. If that makes me smart then all the power to me.
I live in reality where there are facts and acknowledge them as so….not discredit what we all know is true, real or fact just because you don’t agree with it.
Btw dumb and smart people exist. Trying to call someone out like you have on me makes you look dumb.
Ron, for such a smart fellow it sure took you a long time to come up with a response. IMO name calling is not a good way to win an argument or a discussion.
I been reading this site a long time. I am more of a sit in the back and not comment type of person.
But you mention today that some of the long time posters haven’t been around.
Do we think it is because instead of talking about hockey and fantasy trades and rumours. That we are all playing a game of short c**k?
I have seen many long time posters leave this site because of the same reason. Grow up people. Let’s talk about the game we all love. Hockey. And keep your egos out of it.
Talking about league revenues and if athletes are overpaid or not is talking about hockey and the state of the sport as it relates to revenue generation, costs, salary cap ect… it’s just as relevant to hockey as a poster making am opinion on if a player sucks, needs to be traded or is the lifeline of the team. Just because the economics of the sport is real and not fantasy doesn’t mean it can’t be discussed on a rumor driven website.
This ^^^^^^.
“ I have seen many long time posters leave this site because of the same reason.”
How could you possibly know the reason people are leaving? Are you doing exit polls?
Who knows why people come and go? Maybe they just get tired of the same trade proposals and rumors?
Maybe other things take them away? Maybe they forgot their log in, or decided a more fan based site was what they wanted? Maybe they’re in yesterday’s obituary? Maybe they got tired of being told they can’t discuss a certain part of the daily topic by a guy who doesn’t even really contribute other than to complain?
You have no idea why people come and go here.
As Roger points out, this is clearly on topic here today.
If it keeps you happy we’ll throw in a bunch of PlayStation trade proposals that will never happen in the middle of talking financials?
Mine capitan. That made me actually laugh out loud. Well said.
Ash. Nice to hear from you all that being said. Hope you talk some hockey more n the future
The business of NHL hockey has decided the players are overpaid as they can no longer afford them with the present model.
It’s why teams have difficulty moving some players, its why players considered expensive clear waivers, it’s why teams retain salary to dump players.
The same rules of elasticity apply to athletes as to blue collar and white collar labour and the product they provide.
As I mentioned earlier, Women playing professional sport have been advocating for higher pay, more leagues but there just isn’t support for their $42 hamburger.
The very same unions that some denigrate for “labour” drive up the cost of athletes despite also being replaceable, after all the Great One was traded a few times
Habsfan why would you prove Wendel point that the league is watered down. You shouldn’t fuel that guy. There are teams that should not be in the league that’s why there’s a salary cap. It has nothing to do with player salaries. Montreal for example would have no issues and actually thrived when there was no cap. It’s sad that half the league needs to bale out the other half because nobody in Arizona wants to watch hockey. That’s the owners represented by Berman that screwed up. Toronto are could support 2 more teams for example but because he wanted to expand the game in the states he shoves a team in Florida. The cap space was not to curb spending, it was to bale out teams that shouldn’t exist. If a company wants that premium employee there’s competition and the salary goes up. Why shouldn’t they be able to go to the highest bidder.
It’s like saying instead of a minimum there should be a maximum wage. Imagine if a cashier was only allowed to make minimum wage because the store that can’t keeps there doors open can’t compete with the salaries the other guy is paying. Would and shouldn’t be allowed yet, in sports it’s ok
Unions set a minimum wage and a maximum, that’s real life.
The business model of the NHL and NHLPA use a salary cap floor and ceiling to establish this reality.
This has nothing to do with “watering down the game” as there is a significantly larger pool of skilled players available globally for the NHL.
It has everything to do with ownership making the amount of money they deem necessary for themselves because, the gold miner is the same as the pro athlete, he provides ownership with a revenue stream in return for an agreed upon wage.
Labourers want unions for the same reason professional athletes do, guaranteed work, pay and pension among other things.
The bottom line being that team owners aren’t making their required money or are losing now and are squeezing the players because they are deemed to be…..overpaid.
If you have ever been in business you would know that frequently wages are set through union negotiation for employees in entire industries.
Entire industries work in concert to establish standards, wages, insurance, pensions, training for their own good and ensuring public confidence in their products.
The NHL is keeping to its business model which recognizes as in the real world that the weakest link sets the standard.
Yikes you honestly believe that unions set the minimum and maximum salaries and employee can earn. That’s a sad and bleak outlook. Don’t know who you’ve worked for or business you owned but I live in Ontario where the Government set the minimum wage and I’m free to work wherever I want with the salary that I feel I’m worth. Would hate to work where you are If I don’t like my wage or working conditions I’m free to shop my services around and have. There are very few high end athletes and very few people that can even reach that level of excellence. I live in Sudbury which is a mining town. My dad was a miner with his grade 6 education. Trust me when he retired they easily filled his position. High end athlete not so easy. People really like to overvalue there worth. We unfortunately work in a due as little as possible but think you deserve the moon society. Just because a company makes millions doesn’t mean a cashier should make 75000 a year.
And, as for unions, I bet your dad didn’t get to negotiate his own salary, unlike NHL players. Now that’s a “union” unlike what we’ve come to understand about them in general.