NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 17, 2022
The Flyers reportedly hire John Tortorella as head coach, the Predators are on the verge of being sold, the salary cap range for 2022-23 is set, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Sam Carchidi reports a source claims the Flyers have hired John Tortorella as their new head coach with the official announcement expected Friday.
Philadelphia Flyers reportedly hire John Tortorella as their new head coach (NHL.com).
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports Tortorella’s new contract is expected to be in the range of four years at $4 million per season. That means the Flyers will be paying $9 million on coaches for next season as they still owe former coach Alain Vigneault $5 million for ’22-’23.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tortorella has a reputation as a demanding coach who preaches an aggressive defensive style. He also has a long history of success in almost every NHL city he’s coached in.
Tortorella guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2003-04, winning his first Jack Adams Award this season. He coached the New York Rangers to the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals and the Columbus Blue Jackets to their first-ever playoff series win in 2019 by sweeping the Lighting in the opening round. Tortorella won his second Adams Award with the Blue Jackets in 2016-17.
The Flyers, however, will be a challenge for Tortorella. While his hiring fits into management’s goal of “aggressive retooling” of its roster, there are questions about their scoring punch and their blueline depth. Signing him a four-year deal suggests they’re willing to give him the time he needs to reverse the Flyers’ on-ice fortunes.
THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators are nearing an agreement to sell the franchise to former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam. He’s expected to become the majority owner for an unspecified period of time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what changes, if any, Haslam could have in store for the Predators. One thing is certain: he won’t be moving the club out of Nashville.
NHL.COM: The NHL and NHLPA confirmed the salary cap limits for 2022-23. The upper limit will rise by $1 million to $82.5 million while the lower limit is set at $61 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: League commissioner Gary Bettman announced earlier this week that the upper limit will continue to rise by $1 million increments for at least the next two seasons. If hockey-related revenue continues to improve over that period, the increases will become more robust by 2024-25.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes it’s likely the San Jose Sharks and Evander Kane will reach some sort of settlement regarding the latter’s grievance over his contract termination. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly suggested an arbitrator might not be available to hear the case until after the NHL free-agency period begins on July 13.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane would still be allowed to sign with another NHL team if his case hasn’t been heard by July 13. However, the arbiter’s subsequent ruling could complicate things for both sides.
Seravalli suggests the arbiter could rule that the Sharks terminated Kane’s contract without cause. That would mean the winger would be reinstated with the Sharks and any contract he signed with another club would be voided. Kane would get the remainder of his original contract back but he’d have to return to the Sharks, which neither side wants at this stage.
THE DENVER POST: Valeri Nichushkin turned into the best bargain signing ever made by Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic. Inked to a one-year, $850K contract in 2019-20 after being bought out by the Dallas Stars, the two-way winger has gone on to become an invaluable member of the Avalanche’s march to the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin’s performance in 2019-20 earned him a two-year extension worth $2.5 million annually. This season has been a career year for the 27-year-old winger, tallying 25 goals and 52 points in 62 games during the regular season and six goals and 11 points in 15 postseason games thus far.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning aren’t panicking over their overtime loss to the Avalanche in the opening game of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. They’re 1-3 in Game 1 in this postseason and 11-3 in every other game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be important for the Lightning to win Game 2 on Saturday and return home for Games 3 and 4 with this series tied. While they overcame being down 2-0 against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals, they could find it more difficult surmounting a similar deficit against the talented, swift-skatingAvalanche.
WINNIPEG SUN: Barry Trotz is set to meet again with the Jets for more discussions regarding the club’s vacant head coaching position.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t mean it’s a certainty Trotz will sign with the Jets but it is a promising step in that direction.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers have signed Sammy Blais to a one-year, $1.525 million contract extension. The 26-year-old winger was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 13. He missed most of this season following a knee injury suffered in November.
Speaking of the Rangers, former Blueshirt Sean Avery was found guilty of using his scooter to hit a car that was blocking a bike lane in Manhattan in 2019. He was sentenced to time served.
Some of the Bruins players got Cassidy fired there’s simply no other reason for it, they had a good regular season every year, they got into the playoffs every year, the team the way it’s built just wasn’t built for the playoffs and that’s the GM’s job … wrong peeps got fired ….
Joe. You could be 100% correct. Even if they canned Sweeney. The coach would be sure to follow as a new gm always prefer to pick their own coach vs using someone else’s
Curious about Montreal fans thoughts on yesterdays trade. Habs are up against cap and take on Dadinov contract for Webers LTIR contract? Montreal can save over 4 mil by buying out Dadonov. Or does this mean Josh Anderson is definately getting shopped?
It doesn’t sound like the Habs intend to buy out Dadonov, though you can’t rule it out. As for Anderson, Kent Hughes said he’s getting offers but has no plans to move him. Unless he gets a mind-blowing offer, Anderson remains a Hab.
I like the Weber deal. Brings in a solid veteran winger. In Suzuki and likely Wright, they’ll have two good young centers and they need wingers to play with them. With the possible exception of Jesse Ylonen, the winger prospects in the system are a couple of years away. Good to have another veteran.
I’d try to trade Drouin and Byron as salary dumps. Quite doable. Both have a year left with fairly reasonable cap hits and lack no trade protection.
I have no problem with the firing of BC if a new Bruins GM is doing it, again Cassidy didn’t deserve to be fired his coaching record says so, the team roster is put together by the GM & talent was lacking ….
According to almost all knowing all irritating Mr. Bruin they were built for the playoffs. Joe maybe some of the players might have had a little to do with it, but Sweeney and Neely had to cover their posteriors and that’s the usual mode of operandi at least to keep your job for one more season fire the coach.but now there’s no more running or hiding no more excuses I give the both of those overrated dorfs 11 more months and they’ll be shown the door.
Interesting comments about the Bruins. Now, what do you guys think of the Flyers hiring Tortorella?
Well, for one thing, I bet Giroux is glad he’s out of Philadelphia. He has a lot of talent … shot-blocking is not among them.
I like Torts. Good move by the Flyers.
Lyle did you hear any truth to the rumor that Tochet turned down 6 or 7 million from the Flyers?
We’ll see how this hire goes. Every time someone else hires Torts and I run my mouth about how he’s past his prime – I end up looking the fool as he finds away to win……….for a little while.
I don’t follow the Flyers but aren’t there issues drafting and goal tending? Just recently Bobby Clark ripped Hextall for drafting Patrick when all the Flyer scouts wanted Makar.
I look at the Philly line up and can’t come to the conclusion that coaching is the main reason for their lack of success.
Flyer fans?
Will be interesting to see if the Torts pattern continues. Early success, then loses the team after a couple years as he grinds them down with the style he demands.
Most intelligent folks learn from past mistakes and get better at their jobs, maybe he has too.
The Flyers definitely need some structure.
I’m happy. Torts will take a few years to mold that lineup to his liking. One less team Competing for playoffs in Metro
Hearing and reading a lot of TB will be much better for game 2.
They’ll be adjusted to the altitude, and they’ll have 2 days off.
They didn’t play well and almost won.
etc . etc
There’s not much credit going to Colorado for the win. Should be happy to be there, I guess.
AV’s off for 9 days and people say it didn’t show. We’re these people watching?
Yes they had speed;buy, did you see the passing? Very few passes tape to tape. Puck behind, out of reach, players had to stop to except the pass.
Players got out of position.
Media and TB fans claim the lightning will be much better in game 2.
Likely they will be, I also expect the Av’s to be much better in game 2.
It should be some of the best hockey we’ll have seen in a long time.
Agree on the Avs being better as well Caper.
Might be the quietest 13-2 playoff record in recent memory. They are rolling. TB getting much of the attention as they are trying to 3 peat, fair enough.
IMO unless Vassy slams the door, Ave keep it going and take it, but will be a fight til the end.
But Vassy always seems to slam the door when it matters most, which is coming up pretty darn quick, so who the F knows.
Should be good either way!
I would love to have watched an Avs/Blues series in which Kadri doesn’t take out Binnington.
Two years too long for Torts. His act goes stale after a couple of seasons. But I am looking forward to the sound bites!
Glad Torts is with Philly he is the last of the Iron Mike’s if he was coaching the bruins they’d be begging management to get out. It would be a mass exit. Cassidy was pussycat compared toTorts.
Torts coaching Flyers👍👍👍
Actually Torts coaching any team not named Leafs off reg Pens 👍👍👍
Not a Torts fan
Re “Seravalli suggests the arbiter could rule that the Sharks terminated Kane’s contract without cause. That would mean the winger would be reinstated with the Sharks and any contract he signed with another club would be voided. ”… Freidman said the same during game 1….
Would’t that be something …. Mmmm …. OK Evander; come in an pick up your $2M SB cheque, report to Barrucudas… you’ll collect your $5M Sal (spread out ver the year)
He’s still owed $19 M for balance of contract and lost about $5.8 M in 21/22… so out close to $25 M
Fair settlement would be $18 M spread out
Oilers could then give him $25 M (with loads of front loaddd SBs)… over 6 years…. Cap hit $4.2 M…. would then overall (with above Sharks payout) be like finishing his Sharks Contract; and extending him 3 years @ $6 M
The front loaded SBs certainly help him financially
Contract takes him to 37; he gets to stay pkaying with McD….
And Oilers get his physical game, top line producing; at only $4.6 M Cap hit
Re Weber trade
Good move for Habs
Fantastic move for Knights…. $7.8 M in LTIR flex; AND liwers Cap by $5M trading a guy they already tried to move
My pick last week to lead the Bruins was D Quinn ….