NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2022

by | Jan 10, 2022 | News, NHL | 8 comments

The Blues defeat the Stars, the Ducks clip the Red Wings, the Coyotes’ Tempe arena proposal could be in trouble, the Kings extend GM Rob Blake & hire Marc Bergevin, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Two power-play goals by Ryan O’Reilly and Jordan Kyrou within the final minute of the third period lifted the St. Louis Blues over the Dallas Stars 2-1. Kyrou’s goal was the result of a controversial penalty call against Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen for slashing Kyrou after he was hauled down by his stick by Blues forward Brayden Schenn.

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

Trevor Zegras’ shootout goal gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks rookie had a goal and an assist in regulation time. Detroit forward Tyler Bertuzzi also had a goal and an assist but left the game in the final seconds of overtime after suffering a wrist laceration but he wasn’t seriously hurt. Wings captain Dylan Larkin was injured in the first period and didn’t return to the game.

HEADLINES

GOPHNX.COM: Craig Morgan reports the Arizona Coyotes’ Tempe arena proposal is on thin ice as two sources said the club currently doesn’t have the votes on the Tempe City Council to approve the project. There are three yes votes, two no votes and two undecided but leaning toward no after the Coyotes’ recent failure to pay taxes and bills owed to the city of Glendale.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Morgan reports the Coyotes’ arena proposal wasn’t rejected during a recent city council executive session in December. If it isn’t approved, Morgan cites a source saying the Coyotes could pursue a deal with nearby Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. “It would be right on Tempe’s border so Tempe would get all the problems including the traffic, and get none of the revenue,” the source said.

MAYOR’S MANOR: Multiple sources say it will soon be announced that the Los Angeles Kings have signed general manager Rob Blake to a multi-year contract extension believed to be four-five years in length.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blake was hired in April 2017 and the Kings have been rebuilding under his watch for the past three seasons. They are showing improvement this season in part due to players he’s acquired through the draft, via trades and free agency. They’re jockeying with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Speaking of the Kings, they’ve hired former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin as a senior advisor to Blake.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m not surprised by this news. There was speculation prior to Bergevin’s firing in November that he could join the Kings once his contract with the Habs was completed at the end of this season.

SPORTSNET: Evander Kane cleared unconditional waivers on Sunday. The San Jose Sharks can terminate his contract, making the winger an unrestricted free agent. However, the NHLPA is expected to file a grievance on his behalf.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could be several weeks before this situation is sorted out by an arbiter. Until it is, don’t expect a rival club to approach Kane’s agent about a new contract.

New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant, Edmonton Oilers winger Warren Foegele, and New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson are among the latest to be included on the NHL’S COVID protocol list.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers canceled practice yesterday while the NHL postponed the Oilers Jan. 15 game against the Ottawa Senators and tonight’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils.







8 Comments

  1. Hi Lyle

    Re Kane , Kane’s agent, other team’s interest and …. “Until it is, don’t expect a rival club to approach Kane’s agent about a new contract.”:

    If Sharks (as expected) do put in the paper work to terminate his contract (I know his side will definitely challenge it); and therefore Kane is in “Limbo”…. as the lawyers get to work….can he legally (or his agent legally) actually speak to other teams (that is other GMs actually accepting the call and actually discussing a deal) under the rules of the CBA

    I just listened to the Friedman/Merck podcast and Friedman said re grievance, negotiating with another team; he could sign…..quote from Friedman ….

    “… in theory if he was to win a grievance, he would have two NHL contracts”

    I thought that, unless the contract is formally no longer in place ; or if current team signs off on it; that a player and/or agent could not “speak” to another team… “tampering”

    So…. Can other GMs actually speak to Kane’s agent as soon as Sharks formally sign the termination papers?

    • To my knowledge, there’s nothing preventing Kane’s agent from speaking with other teams while they’re awaiting the outcome of the grievance. I don’t think the Sharks would have a problem with it. However, I believe his status is put on hold until the grievance is heard and the arbiter reaches a decision.

      Key word in Friedman’s comments was “in theory”. In reality, I don’t believe he can sign a contract with another club until the grievance has been sorted out.

      • Cheers and many thanks Lyle

        Pengy

  2. On NHL.com the writers voted for who they think will be in the All-Star game. The NHL will announce the 4 teams on Thursday.

    I was like “say what, their still going ahead with this game.”

    Games be postponed daily, over 100 games had their dates changed due to covid outbreaks.

    The NHL thinks it’s a good idea to bring players together from every team all under one roof at the same time.

    The cynic in me might think this isn’t about promoting the game (the Olympics is for that) This is a simple cash grab and be damn about anything else.

    Wouldn’t these 3 days be better serve to make up some lost games and keeping singular teams together.

    • If the games keep getting postponed and there’s a risk of nothing completing the season on time or completing a full 82-game schedule, I think the league could put the kibosh on the ASG. We’ll see what unfolds.

    • Careful now, Caper, you’re being logical.

    • Agree Caper

      IMHO… There should be no ASG this year… give it to LV for ‘23, and Panthers (who were shelved for ASG in ‘21) for ‘24

    • Caper, yep.
      Yes a cash grab and also it’s an opportunity for sponsors to get perked, meet players etc.
      Which is about, in the long run, revenue.

      In a normal year, I get it, all part of the biz and it matters.

      This year? Not so much, for the reasons you give.