NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 11, 2021
The Avalanche score seven goals for the third straight game, the Flyers long winless skid is over, plus the latest on the Olympics, the Coyotes, the salary cap and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche scored seven goals for the third straight game on route to beating the Detroit Red Wings 7-3. Andre Burakovsky scored twice and Devon Toews had three assists as the Avs won their sixth straight home game. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated today. The Avalanche are the first team to tally at least seven goals in three straight games since the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Colorado Avalanche forward Andre Burakovsky (NHL Images).
Speaking of the Penguins, they doubled up the Washington Capitals 4-2. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby collected two assists to extend his points streak to seven games while Tristan Jarry made 29 saves. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin also had two assists while teammates Tom Wilson and Martin Fehervary left the game with injuries.
The Philadelphia Flyers snapped a 10-game winless skid by holding off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3. Carter Hart kicked out 41 shots and James van Riemsdyk tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal. Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty netted two goals. It’s the Flyers’ first win under interim coach Mike Yeo.
Elias Pettersson scored in a shootout as the Vancouver Canucks nipped the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 to pick up their third straight win in as many games under new coach Bruce Boudreau. Nils Hoglander potted two goals and Thatcher Demko got the win with a 34-save effort. Jets’ captain Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists but left the game in the third period with a possible knee injury. Kyle Connor also had a goal and two assists for the Jets.
Patric Hornqvist and Sam Bennett scored 10 seconds apart in the first period as the Florida Panthers downed the Arizona Coyotes 3-1. Phil Kessel replied for the Coyotes, who’ve lost four straight games. The win vaulted the Panthers into first place in the overall standings with 40 points.
Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead his club over the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Juuse Saros turned aside 29 shots in his return to action after missing two games with a non-COVID-related illness. The Predators have won four straight.
A 36-save performance by Alexandar Georgiev carried the New York Rangers over the Buffalo Sabres 2-1. Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers as they’ve won eight of their last nine contests. The Sabres have dropped six straight.
HEADLINES
NBC SPORTS: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly met with reporters yesterday following the second and final day of the board of governors meetings.
Regarding NHL participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics, Bettman indicated he’s concerned about a host of issues, including COVID-19 testing and potential quarantine in Beijing if a player tests positive. Nevertheless, he said it’s going to be the players’ decision to go unless the league and the NHL Players Association jointly agree to the contrary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports suggest a positive test could lead to a player facing a three-week quarantine in China, raising questions as to when the player can leave the country. Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner is the only player thus far to withdraw from participation, citing mental health concerns.
The NHL is projecting hockey-related revenue will rise to $5.2 billion for this season. The salary cap will rise by $1 million to $82.5 million for 2022-23 and to $83.5 million in 2023-24 based upon last year’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) that extended the collective bargaining agreement. That will allow the players to repay the $1 billion in escrow debt owed to the owners by the end of 2023-24, meaning a significant jump in the salary cap for 2024-25.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: How big a jump will depend on how much HRR rises by ’24-’25. It could reach $6 billion which could see the cap rise by $7 million, sparking a frenzy of lucrative long-term contracts for free agents in the summer of 2024.
Bettman also said there were no concerns about the Arizona Coyotes despite the recent threat of eviction from the Gila River Arena over unpaid bills and taxes. The club released a statement claiming they’ve paid those bills, blaming “human error” for the delay. The Coyotes still reportedly owe an additional $2.7 million in rent and other expenses to the city of Glendale.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: “Human error” is the business equivalent of “The dog ate my homework” or “The cheque’s in the mail.” While this raises legitimate questions over the stability of the Coyotes’ ownership, the club won’t be relocating. Put simply, the Coyotes won’t remain in Arizona until Bettman decides it’s no longer feasible.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli wondered if Bettman got a contract extension after telling reporters he planned on being in his job for a long time. “So you’re still stuck with me,” he said with a smile.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman’s helped the owners make a boatload of money over the years while bringing the NHLPA to heel. Like it or not, he’ll be the commissioner for as long as he wants.
NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: Evander Kane is expected to make his debut today with the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate. The Sharks assigned the 30-year-old winger to the Barracudas following the recent completion of his 21-game suspension for using a fake COVID-19 vaccine card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are believed to be still trying to find a trade partner to take Kane off their hands. There’s no indication when he might be recalled to their lineup.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars goaltender Ben Bishop gave up eight goals on 34 shots in his first game with the club’s AHL affiliate on Thursday. It was also his first game since undergoing knee surgery in October 2020. He’s with the Texas Stars on a conditioning stint as he inches his way toward a possible return with Dallas.
TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs goaltender Petr Mrazek is set to play tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’ll be his first game since suffering a groin injury in October.
TSN: New Jersey Devils coach Lindy Ruff said he’s worried and concerned over the long-term health of goalie Jonathan Bernier due to a hip injury. Bernier was placed on injured reserve after dealing with the ailment throughout this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sounds like it could be a career-threatening injury for Bernier. There’s no word if he’ll undergo surgery.
WGR 550: Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt underwent successful surgery for an upper-body injury. There is no timetable for his return.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets placed defenseman Adam Boqvist (upper body) on injured reserve.
THE PROVINCE: The front office purge of the Vancouver Canucks continued Friday as assistant general manager Chris Gear and senior director of hockey operations and analytics Jonathan Wall were dismissed.
Re a potential Cap of $90 M in 24/25…. and big raises can ming…,There will be a certain 6’ 3” , 220 lb centre, league perennial top 3 in goals, and only 26 years young (then) becoming UFA on 1/7/24…. Just saying
Good timing for the B’s!
Ray, based on how the team is constructed today; they will have a ton of cap space.
Only one player of any significant to sign before then; that being Pastrnak.
Let’s see how long it takes for the GM to spend the money.
Ya, I didn’t put much thought into that post Caper. The issue will be, IMO, is that Matthews doesn’t see the B’s as being competitive long term a couple years from now.
They will have the space, but will they have the talent or prospects coming up to entice a guy like him?
He seems to like playing in Toronto too.
A team like the NYR, LA, FLA might be more ready to compete for a cup than our B’s.
Pengy early thoughts? $13m or more?
IMHO …, $100 M or more…,7 years….that’s $14.1 M plus
He’ll be signing his big contract when Cap is $90 M’ish
Note: McD signed (well will have signed as at then) 7 years earlier, at a much lower Cap ceiling; for AAV $12.5 M
I’d expect Seattle to be seriously bidding; don’t count out Knights
Unless Leafs have a cup by then (Which I have strong doubts).,., I don’t see him remaining in T.O.
Seattle’s “new” franchise player and “new” captain announced on 1/7/24 would in no way surprise me
Krakken would have 3 years development under its belt by then; and on the rise…. and note…. beautiful city; no state tax
…. and would not have the microscopic media coverage that T.O. has
Am in the black n gold. Written in the stars.
Maybe if the Coyotes’ bills are sent directly to Gary Bettman, they’ll get paid. They’re his team after all.
Excellent point
i wish MLB had a commissioner like Bettman and the Expos might still be in Montreal.
The situations are different in that a fine ownership built a a successful franchise that fell into poor ownership, league ownership and finally a carpetbagger who’s killing his franchise in Tampa Bay.
Having experienced the birth and loss of a franchise and attending, enjoying games at both stadiums, imho its all about ownership and executive direction.
Bettman has done so much damage to the NHL and the game of hockey, he’s truly a disgrace.
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or sincere. Pretty funny either way I guess.
100% sincere. Hockey could have grown so much more in the last 35 years. It’s stuck as the 4th biggest sports league in USA but MLS will surpass it. Hockey is the most exciting sport, fast play, hard hitting, good balance between scoring and defense, yet it’s a fading league.
I don’t understand why Bettman and company are so stubborn about the Coyotes. The team and management is a bust….period. Get over it and move it for goodness sakes. They are never going to be the type of team that great players are wanting to go to. They are at the bottom of the barrel as far as NHL franchise values are concerned. Why would you want to invest in a team like that?