NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 13, 2022

by | Aug 13, 2022 | News, NHL | 12 comments

The latest on J.T. Miller, how David Krejci’s return to the Bruins helps Taylor Hall, the Blackhawks sign their final two RFAs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

VANCOUVER HOCKEY NOW: Canucks star J.T. Miller wants to stay in Vancouver but he isn’t sure that’s going to happen. Appearing on John Scott’s “Dropping The Gloves” podcast, the 29-year-old forward said he wants a new contract with the Canucks but he understands if it’s not meant to be.

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (NHL Images).

Miller is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. “Trust me, I’d like to have a deal done in Vancouver and be there, but I have to respect everybody’s vision and if it doesn’t line up, it kind of is-what-it-is,” said Miller. He also indicated that the two sides aren’t as close in contract talks as they’d like to be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller will be 30 by the time his current contract expires. It could cost up to $9 million per season on a seven-year deal to keep him in Vancouver.

If Miller was between 25 and 28 years old perhaps he’d have that contract extension by now. However, there’s a legitimate concern that his performance will decline once he reaches his mid-30s, which would turn that contract into a salary-cap burden for the Canucks.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Much of the linemate talk about David Krejci’s return to the Bruins is focused on David Pastrnak but left wing Taylor Hall could benefit more from the 36-year-old center’s NHL comeback.

Joining the Bruins late in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Hall had 14 points in 16 regular-season games skating alongside Krejci on the second line. He had 20 goals last season with Charlie Coyle and Erik Haula as his center. Hall could reach 30 in the coming season with Krejci as his linemate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins could have two potent scoring lines with Krejci centering Hall and Pastrnak while Patrice Bergeron returns to the first-line center position with Jake DeBrusk on right wing and Brad Marchand on the left side once he returns from offseason surgery by late November.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks signed their last two restricted free agents in Caleb Jones and Philipp Kurashev. Jones agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract while Kurashev inked a one-year deal worth $750K.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly shows the Blackhawks have all their roster players under contract for the coming season with $8.49 million in projected salary-cap space when the regular season begins in October.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks announced Scott Gordon and Ryan Warsofsky as their new assistant coaches. Thomas Speer is their new goalie coach while Nick Gialdini will be their video coach.







12 Comments

  1. I think Taylor can become a better player with Krecji but, the more immediate problem is how long Sweeney attempts to milk this Pastrnak signing. As long as this goes on throughout the entire season, he’s somewhat shielded against the fans and press. He’s good at diverting attention from the main task at hand,& that is building the bruins into a contender. Lots of work yet to be done. I don’t think Sweeney will be able to it he should have been let go right after the bruins first round exit. Won’t respond to the Smothers Brothers

    • Sweeney’s plan will blow up in his face if he thinks Marchand will be his old self after hip surgery which is usually a career ending moment for most of the NHL players his age not named Jovanowski. Seam Monahan may be done at 27 after hip injuries.

      • No no Sweeney’s planned this out, Zacha will become the next Marchand. Right now Donboy’s probably saying a few hail Mary’s, not to mention a couple Hare Krishnas for a complete recovery. The bruins are built for playoffs, maybe not the nhl, but most likely the ahl playoffs.

    • Add another Brother! Can you make a post without mentioning Sweeney?

      • Okay “ Son Of Sublime,”…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..”…………………”…….”…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..”..”……………………………………………….”………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Sweeney.

  2. Who would have thought that Arizona could end up with a larger total salary expenditure than Chicago.

    Arizona currently has $58,073,375 total estimated salary plus they have Hayton and a goalie to sign. Chicago is currently at $60,897,500 total salary.

    • Don’t forget, GP, with the way CapFriendly shows things, that Chicago’s total cap expenditure does not include 2 players currently shown on IR – RD Conor Murphy and C/LW Jujhar Khaira whose combined cap hit of $5,375,000, when added to the others, will bring them up to $66,983,333. Both are expected to be taken off IR once camp begins.

      Unless the Hayton and back-up goalie to be named total around $5 mil, Arizona will be lower than Chicago’s total when the season starts,

      • Who cares about the cap situation of these 2 teams.they are terrible,the worst in hockey!

      • You might not – doesn’t mean someone else is not interested. Or should we post only on the “glamour” franchises? Sheesh.

      • George, thanks for your comments they were thought provoking. When Lyle mentioned that Chicago had completed their roster it caused me to wonder how their 2022-23 actual pay (not cap hit) compared to Arizona. For example Kane & Toews each have an AVV of $10,500,00 but are being paid $6.900,000 each this year. The number from Cap Friendly that I used was the estimated salary which I thought is supposed to be actual dollars paid vs AVV. Since players on LTIR still receive their pay I assumed their $4,000,0000 of pay this year was already included in the number. Your comments caused me to wonder if my interpretation of the number in CapFriendly is correct. I added up the Chicago players total pay this year ( signing bonus plus base salary for 2022-23) and came up with a total of $53,891,667. I then added $4,000,000 for the LTIR players, + $1,275,000 for the performance bonuses + $1,350,001 salary expenses from dead cap space and came up with $60,516,668. That is $380,832 short of the $60,897,500 CapFriendly has, but probably close enough to indicate the the LTIR players are included in the number. If you have any connections at CapFriendly I sure would like to know how they calculate that number.

  3. Anyone else liking the off season management moves in SJ? This team is building a nice team so far.

  4. Krejci line with Hall and Pasta will outscore first line this year even when Brad is back. Krejci can dish the puck and both wingers can burry it.