NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 17, 2022

by | Mar 17, 2022 | News, NHL | 32 comments

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Sharks sign Tomas Hertl to a contract extension, Claude Giroux approaches his 1,000th career game as the trade deadline looms, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Victor Hedman scored two goals and Steven Stamkos collected three assists to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Seattle Kraken 4-1. Hedman reached the 60-point mark for the third time in his career. With 84 points, the Lightning are four back of the first-place Florida Panthers and three up on the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (NHL Images).

The Calgary Flames rolled to a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Andrew Mangiapane reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career while Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists. Devils captain Nico Hischier collected two assists. With 81 points, the Flames hold a seven-point cushion over the Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice as his club doubled up the Boston Bruins 4-2. Jordan Greenway snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period while Cam Talbot made 24 saves for the win. The Wild (74 points) sit two points back of the second-place St. Louis Blues in the Central Division while the Bruins (79 points) remain three points ahead of the Washington Capitals for the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron missed this game and will sit out their next contest as a precautionary measure to avoid infection arising from a previous injury.

A two-goal performance by Jack Roslovic carried the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Patrik Laine and Zach Werenski each collected two assists. Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot left the game with an upper-body injury and could miss several games as a result.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chabot isn’t the only Senators who could be sidelined for some time. Before the game, head coach D.J. Smith said he doesn’t know if goaltender Matt Murray will return this season. Murray suffered an upper-body injury during a March 5 game against the Arizona Coyotes.

HEADLINES

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: The San Jose Sharks yesterday signed center Tomas Hertl to an eight-year contract extension. Cap Friendly indicates the total value is $65.1 million with an annual average value of $8, 137, 500. It also comes with a full no-movement clause in the first three seasons, a three-team trade list from 2025-26 to 2027-28, and a 15-team trade list in the final two years of the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This signing takes a significant name off the trade board with the March 21 trade deadline only days away. Trade rumors linked Hertl to the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers.

Hertl and the Sharks are obviously pleased to have reached an agreement on a long-term contract. Sharks fans on social media also seem happy that Hertl’s staying put.

However, San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng raises concerns over the Sharks investing heavily in yet another aging star (Hertl turns 29 in November), especially one with a history of knee injuries. This deal could handcuff the Sharks as they attempt to restock their roster and try to return to the Stanley Cup contender form.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Claude Giroux is in a reflective mood as he prepares for his 1,000th career NHL game (all with the Flyers) with Monday’s trade deadline fast approaching. It’s anticipated Giroux will waive his no-movement clause to accept a trade to a Stanley Cup contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My guess is Giroux has agreed to waive his NMC and a deal could already be in place with another club. He and the Flyers wanted him to play his 1,000th game in Philadelphia. He could be traded on Friday but I wouldn’t be surprised if that move happens over the weekend.

ARIZONA SPORTS: Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun’s ankle injury may not be as serious as originally believed. He was supposed to be sidelined between 2-4 weeks but could return sooner than that. Chychrun is expected to hit the ice later this week to test the injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun is among the notable names in the trade market with the deadline approaching. The severity of his injury could determine whether potential suitors will continue to pursue a deal for him.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues center Tyler Bozak is expected to be sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury.

NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: The Capitals signed forward Joe Snively to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension.







32 Comments

  1. For God’s sake Sweeney get A GOOD D
    Or this team is toast. hopefully this is Donny’s last year here.

    • 🍁Edmonton Oilers offencive d/man Tyson Barrie is Avalable…. as young Evan Bouchard has taken his spot.
      Boston Really need a Puck mover on the back end other wise they are not going anywhere

      Problem is Boston dont have anything the Oilers need/want other than goaltender Jeraemy Swayman and i dont think boston giving him up…!!🤔

      Unless its a 3 way trade with Bruins & Oilers
      Edmonton need’s a Big tough hard hitting RD man to Balance out the team, NYI Scott Mayfeild a RD,
      Or
      Seattle Krakens Carson Sucey, A good local boy from Viking Alberta, Coach Darryl Sutter home town❗️

      • Willie, the problem with Soucy is he is a left shot and the Oil have quality depth on that side.
        Russell is the most adept at playing his off side but his body seems to be breaking down after years of punching above his weight.
        Agree on the need, just not the solution.

        I’m not sure Holland will go big game hunting, so likely shopping in the bargain bin for depth D in case of injury. Along with every other “contender”. I call them a contender as after COL, it seems pretty wide open.

    • Rick have some patients; I 100% agree with you that this defense isn’t doing nothing for Boston.

      Forbort, Grzelcyk and Reilly are your 3 ld, both Reilly and Grzelcyk were gun shy in last year playoff, rushed the play and were waiting for the next hit to come.

      I believe Sweeney knows this and will address it before Monday; have to have patience and wait; You don’t want to be Florida and drastically over pay for the player they wanted.

      No i don’t believe the Chariot deals drives up the market; it was a great deal made by Montreal.

      • Hi Ray,
        Carson Sucey plays both RD & LD…
        So Can Duncan keith, he is playing LD with Bouchard on RD.👍
        The RD is the oilers weakest area on defence, hope the trade Tyson Barrie for a big tough RD

        Oilers have 2 young guys coming for LD. Duncan keith has one more year then he is done.

        One LD will be up next year more than likly 23 yr old Markus Niemeläinen who just sign a 2 year deal with the oil 2 weeks ago.
        He is ahead of 20 yr old Philip Broberg in his development,
        looks like Broberg can skate all night he is going to be Very Very Good…. But needs 1 to 1.5 years more for his full development year in Bakersfield to learn the North American game

        Any trades Ken Holland make now will be cash out trade, We hope is Barrie as there looks like a demand for offencive Right d/men ⁉️

      • Hey Willie, Broberg was also playing RD when the Oil had all those D injuries.
        Teams are fine having wingers play on off side, D not so much due to the first pass question.

        I think Broberg plays in EDM next year, he is ready for a 3rd pair role, sheltered.
        I like Neimelainen too because he smokes guys on a regular basis, but the Oil also give up more chances against when he is on the ice and Broberg is already a better defender because of how well he skates and has had pro reps in Europe for a while as well. Both are a good size. I just think more pluses with Broberg.

        I think they look to move Barrie in off season if they add some beef on RD.

        Best guess on TDL move is a Braun type guy.

  2. Bruins in trouble 10 2 1 in last 13. Trade them all they can compete 😅

    • Lol

    • Yeah this team was built for the playoffs go play with yourself Scott.

  3. Wow. That’s a lot of money and term to give Hertl through age 37. I thought a trade was the best way to go for SJ given all the $ they will have tied up in players well into their 30’s.

    • San Jose is widely known as some of the finest retirement homes in the nation are there.

    • I read that the Sharks are gun shy of a full rebuild as the last time they missed the playoffs attendance and revenue dipped. A pandemic and lost revenues, have likely added to the financial implications from taking that approach.

  4. With Chabot out – again – and Murray probably done for the season (big surprise), coupled with a sudden drought in goals, it looks like the Senators are intent on dropping as low as they can to get better odds on grabbing Wright. That “effort” was pathetic.

    Florida just got a lot tougher in their own end, and Calgary picked up a nice depth C.

    • Yeah, pretty bad when the Good Squad loses at home to Columbus …

      • Tá do bhéal chomh mór le Cuan na Gaillimhe

      • Much bigger.

  5. Matt Dumba 6’ 180 plays like he’s 6’5” 230 ….. the guy does a lot of running around and gets away with it

    • I know some Red Wings looking forward to playing against him next season.

  6. Hertl contract is certainly what he is worth. No issues there.

    That said…. Come the fall , Sharks will be paying more than 1/2 their cap ($42.5 M) on 5 players who will have an average age (as of the start of next season) of 33.6 …. Burns, Vlassic, Couture, EK, Hertl

    There is still the pending outcome of the Kane decision … so there will be dead cap as well

    Any chance Burns waives in off-season and a team willing to bite at 50% (meaning 3 years at $4 M cap)…. He’s still (this year) at an 82 game pace of 56 points and logging tons of minutes. After his SB is paid this summer, he’s only owed $13 M… at 50% would mean AAV cash of just $2.16 M per

  7. Kyle Dubas must get rid of Liiligren, Dermott and Muzzin. These 3 guys are liability whenever they are on the ice. I am very impressed with Lybushkin. We need to add few more dman like him. He plays simple and physical. We don’t need ballerinas and a slow poke at the back end. We need guys who can defend the Blueline and be physical against the other teams best players. Dermott, Liiligren have hands if hot potatoes and IQ of a three year old. Muzzin is toooo slow to make an impact with his physicality. Bring in 3 dman who can hit and fight when necessary. If this can be done by subtracting 3 useless players and replace them with the likes of Lybushkin then Toronto has a great chance to get by any team in the East and face Colorado at the finals. Also there will be no goaltending issue once you remove the 3 stooges I mentioned above. We will be fine with Campbell and Kallgren heading into the playoffs. Trade Mrazek for a quality dman. Muzzin, Mrazek, Liiligren and Dermott equal to 11 million in cap space. 3 dman at 3.5mill price tag each. Definitely doable. Do your job Kyle. Stop wasting Austin Mathews’ Greatness down the drain because you fail to identify the rot in your roster. I have shown you the problem not you provide a solution.
    Go Leafs Go

    • And who, exactly, is going to give you a “quality D” for a $3.8 mil backup goalie struggling to get his save % up over 0.899 %

      • RWM if he was GM

      • Ha!

    • When is the last time a good goaltender returned a mediocre d-man? Now a guy struggling will land a quality d-man?

      NY will take Victor Hedman for Georgiev if that’s the new market.

      • It’s the canoe for battleship scenario again Captain Obvious – first they identify those on the Leafs they consider to be holding the team back … then propose they be dealt for distinct improvements.

      • You guys left out a part – their GM is an idiot for not doing what they suggest.

  8. Thomas Hertl was never available, with that term and $$ says it was Hertl who was threatening not to sign.

    Totally disagree with Pengy; for me to much $$ and to long of term.

    I’ll give this contract 2yrs before it starts looking bad.

    San Jose is in for so long years, their projected cap space next season is $13m with 10 players to sign.

    • I agree,

      He’s cracked 50 points once and will do so again this year. He’s screaming toward 30 and will be 37 when this deal expires.

      This would almost be understandable if they didn’t have the anchor contracts of Karlsson, Burns, Vlassic who are also getting long in the tooth.

      Trading Hertl would have been the better move. Does anyone see this team improving next year? Does anyone see another team taking any of these awful contract off their hands? I certainly don’t.

      Nmc’s and even at 50% I’m not touching any one of these players at their age and term remaining. Best of luck trying to navigate around this disaster!

      • Captain Obvious.
        Right on point but you forgot to mention his knees and as they get older, so does the re-occuring injuries.
        Totally agree they should of traded him unless somehow they can unload some of their other huge contracts and re-tool / reshape to get a little younger.

    • Agree Hertl isn’t worth that term or money. I would have valued him around $6m, but these owners can’t help themselves.
      Maybe go $8M for a short deal (3 years) but an 8 year deal is nuts at his age. The last 5 years on that deal will be tough to swallow. Maybe owners are banking on a surge in the Cap a few years down the line.

  9. Dubas better wake up. Muzzin was thrown on the LTIR so now that money is available. I believe he has stretched the limits to gain back the most allowance possible.

    I know for a fact when someones back is against the wall (Dubas) they come out swinging. LOL Ya Dubas may not be a fighter but he must be smart enough to realize that trades are going down and teams are starting to BULK up and get tougher for the playoffs.

    I think he finally realizes this.,AND, Sure his hands may seem tied a bit now with the goaltending situation (which is huge) and he has even said lately that they are okay with their tenders,…but to me that is just a bluff of not trying to look overly panicked to other gms.

    I’m Irish so I get me a lil wish for this potty gold mouth I own lol.

    My wish is that he talked to Chicago and gave Fleurys agent the heads up that they will shore up the D and attain two big, solid mobile d-men that solidifies our defence in order for Fleury to waive.

    I know That I have messed around umpteen ways on how to improve the team by adding D-men with trades and draft picks, along with wingers and at the same time adding Fleury, saving cap space and having some new players on term for pretty decent cap hits. So it is all possible

    I’m just an arm chair gm and I don’t have to come out fighting but this time Dubas has to take off the glasses, and start swinging. My suggestion is don’t punch to the heads…punch through the heads!

    Happy Saint Patricks Day Everyone! 🙂

  10. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!