NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 11, 2022

by | Aug 11, 2022 | News, NHL | 22 comments

Leafs great Borje Salming diagnosed with ALS, an update on David Pastrnak’s contract talks, the latest contract signings as the arbitration period winds down, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Borje Salming released a statement yesterday revealing he’s been diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He played 16 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1973 to 1989.

Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming (NHL.com).

Salming, 71, indicated he’s receiving the best medical care and that there are treatments to slow the disease’s progression. He remains positive and asks the public to respect his privacy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My thoughts are with Salming and his family as he battles ALS. The Hall-of-Famer is one of the greatest players in Leafs history. He’s a pioneer for European hockey players, blazing a trail in the NHL in the 1970s.

Salming holds the Leafs franchise record for career assists (620) and sits fourth with 768 career points. From 1974-75 to 1979-80, he was a four-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, was named to the First All-Star Team in 1976-77 and to the Second All-Star Team five times.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney characterized his contract negotiations with David Pastrnak as “ongoing”. He indicated the club is prepared to go into the coming season with the 26-year-old winger unsigned if the two sides cannot agree to a contract extension before then. Pastrnak is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plenty of time remains for the two sides to reach an agreement on a new deal. Sweeney indicated Pastrnak is still in Europe and expects to get more clarification on a timeline for working out a new contract upon his return. He also said he’s been in regular contact with the winger’s agent.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings avoided arbitration with Jake Walman by signing the 26-year-old defenseman to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1.05 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The arbitration period ends today. Of the 26 players who filed this year, all but one (Nashville’s Yakov Trenin) avoided the process by signing new contracts with their respective clubs before their scheduled hearings.

WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres signed free-agent forward Riley Sheahan to a one-year, $950K contract.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets reached an agreement with forward David Gustafsson on a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $775K at the NHL level. The first season is a two-way deal and becomes one-way for the second season.

WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Winger Johan Larsson reportedly signed a three-year contract with Swedish Hockey League club Brynas IF. The deal has yet to be officially announced. Larsson, 30, spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes and Washington Capitals from 2012-13 to 2021-22.

CAP FRIENDLY: Goaltender Andrew Hammond signed a professional tryout offer with the Florida Panthers.

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins recently named Chris Butler as a player development coach, Greg Pateryn as a professional scout and Garrett Peters as a global crossover scout.

SPORTSNET: Oilers superfan Ben Stetler died at age six following a battle with cancer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to Stetler’s family and the Oilers organization.







22 Comments

  1. Sweeney needs to get this done asap There’s a lot more work to be done, fat trimming on the cap issue, some more bodies to be had. If Sweeney fouls this up it’s off the Russian Gulag for this maladroit.( Foligno cannot start the year with this team he can’t play any more. Bobby Orr could be feeding him the puck and he still wouldn’t get it in the net.

    • ALS is a terrible disease. My thoughts are with Bjore Salming and his family.

    • Show me a GM that’s done a better job with contacts in the the whole NHL. You can’t because no other GM has done what he’s done money wise resigning players. There’s no rush regardless as Pasta already put an end to he didn’t want to remain with Boston long term. You should really stop listening to 985 Felger n mazz. It’s hurts your hockey IQ severely

      • Question some of his most recent contracts,1. Coyle 5.2/5 years NTC.FOLIGNO 3.8/2 years.Ullmark 5/5yrs NMC.Contracts used to be his strong suit,not so recently.Just curious,how do you rate his player evaluations and drafting?

      • What has exactly Sweeney done Paul?

        Signed two players who were only going to play in Boston?

        Trade for Zacha while was good, settling on a one year contract that puts the player into ufa is a fail.

        He said his priority was to sign Pastrnak and obviously Pastrnak isn’t taking a home town discount like his last contract.

        Resigning McAvoy was also a positive but Charlie isn’t a 9.5 player today.

        I’ll give him a solid because the Lindholm deal was very good.

        Overall he has done ok.

      • Caper

        Not many d men as good as McAvoy. Small handful

        Hedman. Makar. Josi

        He didn’t finish 5 th in voting for Norris for being. Just good. Also for Steve. Ullmark started slow and finished in top 10 in goalies in nhl. Actually ahead of Swayman so he is no bum as some portray him as

      • Exactly Cappy, however we might disagree on my next point of view, Sweeney has been doing this for years he is very good at veering from the main
        Course of direction and that is getting players that are good long term additions. He does this by taking forever to sign players he knew he was going to sign anyway. Fans attention is diverted. All summer fans all over Boston were asking is he going to sign The big three or not? I will admit Huala for Zacha was a pretty good deal at worst he’ll be as good as Huala younger and bigger faster he could be better player here in Boston.
        I think Sweeney Stinks and should have been fired.

      • MrBruin4, as you know I know all the stats and where they all finished.

        The thing the 3 players have in common that you listed are all 20 plus goal scorer. McAvoy had 10.

        I like this player and he is very good but he isnt a $9.5m player at this point.

    • Hi Rick, how much CAP trimming do you need? You know the Bruins have 11 free agents in 2023 and 6 more in 2024? It’s not like they’re gonna re-sign all those players…

      • Caper. I had those 3 better than. MacAvoy. Would swap anyone of them 1 for 1. But being 4 or 5 in leagues best d men is worthy of the contract. It is going to be a super steal in yr 3 till 8.

      • Boy that late 70’s Leafs team was pretty damn good! If my memory serves me well, it was Leafs vs Flyers in a 7 game knock down dragged out series. Mike Foligno I think and Paul Homgren trading pleasantries? I thought the Leafs were going to win that series but the Flyers prevailed! Despite that, those Leafs teams were very good! Salming, Turnbull, Sittler, McDonald, Foligno, Palmateer in nets. They had some other characters on that team. Tiger Williams? Anyways, sad for Salming and his family!

  2. Salming isn’t just one of the greatest in Leafs’ history … he’s one of the greatest in NHL history.

    You just know he’ll fight this.

    • In this case I support a hockey player fighting

    • Salming was one of my fave’s growing up. Still remember the nasty skate in the face incident probably the worst. I have seen

      • He’s the reason I became a Leafs fan. Trailblazing elite player of his time.

    • Just what I was going to say, George, thanks.

  3. The Hamburglar keeps hanging in there. However, with Bobrovsky and Knight holding down the 2 NHL spots, it seems the best he can hope for in his PTO is a 2-way deal and be on call when needed from the AHL.

    • It’s not uncommon for a player to sign a PTO with one team then ultimately get a contract from another. An example that comes to mind for me was Lee Stempniak back in 2015-16. He was on a PTO with the Bruins, signed with NJ then was traded to the Bruins for a 2nd and 4th round pick at the deadline.

      Hammond’s just looking for an opportunity to showcase his skills. With that said, it does seem unlikely he’ll be on an NHL roster to start the season barring

  4. Just wondering why Hockey Canada has decided to paint the boards with Cannabis flowers… oh wait it’s just the “Green” Canadian flag

  5. I read all of the Salming notes above ….
    George , you “nailed it!!!

    He and Orr were my 2 favourite players ever !
    Gilmour , Clark , Sittler – All Fabulous memories!!

  6. Errol Thompson was part of that late 70’s Leafs team. Very good hockey player!!!!