NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2021
The Jack Adams Award finalists are announced, the 2021 draft order is set through the first 27 picks, plus the latest on Nikita Kucherov, Tuukka Rask and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes, Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild, and Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers are this year’s finalists for the Jack Adams Award.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour and Evason are first-time finalists. It’s the third time for Quenneville, who took home the award with the St. Louis Blues in 1999-2000.
All but the final four spots in the 2021 NHL Draft have been determined. The first 15 positions were determined by the draft lottery on June 2. The 12 teams eliminated from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs are slotted into positions 16-27.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Buffalo Sabres hold the first-overall pick. Follow the link above for the full list.
THE ATHLETIC: Owen Power, the top prospect in this year’s draft, said he’s leaning toward returning to the University of Michigan next season. “It’s something I’d like to do just trying to get the true experience of playing college hockey,” said Power. “At the end of the day, it obviously depends on what the team wants and what everyone around me thinks is best.”
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Probably a wise decision on Power’s part. Too many young players have hampered their development making the leap into the NHL before they’re ready.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov responded to complaints about his club placing him on long-term injury reserve during the regular season to garner cap relief as he recovered from offseason hip surgery. He said he didn’t make the LTIR rules and spoke about the long recovery process away from the game.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, obviously. I had to do the surgery. I had to go through the whole five months of rehabilitation, and when the time came (when) I was ready to play, it was the playoffs.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was interesting to hear Kucherov’s side of the story. He also spoke about the monotony and frustration he experienced going through the rehab process while his teammates were chasing a playoff spot.
TSN: Montreal Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said he wasn’t very confident in Jeff Petry, Jake Evans or Jon Merrill returning to the lineup in time for Game 1 of their semifinal series with the Vegas Golden Knights. All three are sidelined by various injuries. Ducharme didn’t rule out the possibility of them rejoining their teammates later in the series. Game 1 goes Monday night in Las Vegas.
SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Canadiens, they’ve asked the Quebec government to increase capacity for their home games. They’re currently allowed to have 2,500 fans in attendance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Can’t say I blame them. The Vegas Golden Knights are now allowed full capacity for their home games. It gives the players a lift hearing more fans cheering them on. Whether the Quebec government agrees to the proposal and how many more fans could be allowed into the Bell Centre remains to be seen.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask will undergo hip surgery in the offseason that will sideline him until January or February of 2022. Fourth-line center Curtis Lazar suffered a sprained knee in their series with the New York Islanders Defenseman Kevan Miller and Brandon Carlo both suffered concussions.
Jeremy Lauzon underwent surgery on his right hand following an injury in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals and returned wearing a splint. Craig Smith suffered a groin injury during the Islanders series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rask’s surgery and lengthy rehab could have an effect on his contract negotiations with the Bruins. He’s an unrestricted free agent on July 28.
Don’t sign Rask let him walk I don’t care if I ever see that pug again in my lifetime! when you get Rask you get all baggage that goes with him, all the lame excuses, tummy aches and chokes. Look for a good backup to Swayman
Rask would be an ideal mentor/backup to Swayman once he returns in February.
I’ve softened my stance on him. I’d daresay he signs a team friendly deal to stick around.
Bruins cannot afford to take a chance on Rask.Half the season is over before he even looks at playing.Find a veteran back up and see how Swayman develops or go young with Sway and Vladar.Biggest need is a number 2 defensemen to play w/mcavoy.
Petry being a question mark is a problem, he’s a minute muncher and a clutch offensive D, arguably surpassing Weber for the 1D on the Habs.
Merrill has been a delightful surprise but both he and Evans are easily replaced in the lineup.
Tatar has been a healthy scratch for the last 6 games, wonder if he gets back with Danault and Gallagher considering VGK held back salary to dump him on the Habs.
That trade worked well for both teams.
I really can’t believe that Mike Sullivan was passed over for coach of the year, with all the injuries and goaltending issues in Pitt, they still won the division. In a very tough division, (except Buffalo)
I am not a big fan of him but he should have been in those three named.
As I said yesterday, Pens, it would be good if there were an easy to find link which showed who got votes and how many for year end awards. Sullivan is worth consideration, and it might be he came in a close 4th for the nomination.
I have zero issue with Rask signing year by year at a team friendly deal but would want Bruins to give Swayman every opportunity to succeed. If that doesn’t fit with Rask than if I’m Boston I try and sign Smith to a one year deal he was very good for Oilers.
with it being said Rask wont be back until sometime in 2022 …..Swayman & maybe Halak or a VG backup is in order if Swayman cant get the job done…..even to sign Rask for a year there’s no guarrentees he comes back 100%……..Bruins have two years of rebuilding to do because of all the pending UFA & RFA they have….I hope the FO had their eyes open and saw how they got forechecked and pushed around by teams they eventually lost to in the playoffs the last 3 years……
Joe to have the perfection line intact and plenty of cash to spend plus the good fortune of players wanting to be part of organization. Boston will be a top team for next three years for sure once Bergeron and Marchand are done than rebuild.