NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2022
The Hurricanes sign Paul Stastny, the Islanders make some depth signings, the Coyotes’ new arena gets a name and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed Paul Stastny to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The 36-year-old forward scored 21 goals and 45 points in 71 games last season with the Winnipeg Jets. He also gets a $500K performance bonus if the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes sign free agent Paul Stastny (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stastny signing is meant to offset the absence of Max Pacioretty, who is sidelined until February recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. The signing raised some questions over whether Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be knocked out of the second-line center position.
Stastny can play center or left wing. With Pacioretty on the shelf, he could be projected to fill the left wing spot on the second or third line. He can also slide into the second-line center position if Kotkaniemi struggles in that role in the coming season.
DAILY FACEOFF: One day after re-signing Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov and Kieffer Bellows, the New York Islanders made four depth signings on Tuesday. Defensemen Dennis Cholowski and Paul LaDue and forward Arnaud Durandeau each signed two-year, two-way contracts while forward Hudson Fasching signed a one-year, two-way deal.
ARIZONA SPORTS: Arizona State University announced its new 5,000-seat arena will be called Mullett Arena. The venue is also the temporary home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The venue is named in honor of the Mullett family, who have been long-time supporters of ASU’s hockey program. Nevertheless, this news drew plenty of jokes on social media referencing early-90’s style hockey hair.
NJ.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning forward and New Jersey native Ross Colton recently said it would be cool to one day play for the Devils. He loves being in Tampa Bay and playing for the Lightning but said he grew up as a die-hard Devils fan.
“I understand it’s a business and whatnot. But down the road if I could throw on the (Devils) jersey one day, that would be awesome,” said Colton.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Colton could get that opportunity in two years’ time. That’s when he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent unless he signs an extension with the Lightning. His current contract expires next summer when he’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and a year away from UFA eligibility.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed restricted forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, one-way contract worth $950K. He will be eligible for arbitration next summer.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Tickets for the 2023 Winter Classic between the Penguins and Boston Bruins at Fenway Park on Jan. 2 go on sale today.
Good signing by Canes.
Oh man. In two years time the Colton to home rumors are gonna be ramped to the max!
I’m sure Eklund will have him traded to Philly 5 times within the next 2 seasons
The writing is on the wall.
Thought the exact same thing Chrisms.
Trade him now!
Although you won’t get anything for him as everyone knows he will be playing in NJ in 2 years.
I’m glad the Avalanche didn’t sign Stastny. I’m hoping that they have something else in mind and that’s why they didn’t pursue him? he’s a former Avalanche and he already made his choice to leave a while ago back to St. Louis. So, no big loss to me. I was hoping they would pursue Rodrigues from the Penguins but who knows? I do think from some of the talk they might try out someone internally but to lose both Kadri and Burakovksy is a huge reduction in goal production; however, the Avalanche generate so much offense from their backend, they are not that concerned? I would be though; those two guys produced some timely and clutch goals during the season and in the playoffs. I got to admit, I am a little nervous about that. I hope McFarland has his eye on someone else to fill that gap. GO AVS!!!!!!
According to sources. Lise to the situation. They are taking a serious look at Foligno.(great in the locker room) But not sure if they want to give up a signed Nate jersey
Heard a reporter on TSN radio that it is Newhook’s job to lose.
Only 21 and seems from his zone starts was in a defensive role last year.
They have a very valuable asset in Girard who while a very good player, isn’t as good as Byrum IMO. Byrum looks like a star in the making. Girard can bring back some scoring.
Will he get pushed to 3rd pair next year? The saying is you can’t have too many D, but they have 5 top 4 guys and 6 if you count Johnson. Insurance if Byrum doesn’t get over his concussion issues I suppose.
Tender is another position to watch in COL.
If Boston could get Charlie Coyle to waive his NTC he could be your man.
I would take a Charlie Coyle, I know Bruins fans don’t care for him but when he was on the Wild, he was a real Thorne in the side of the Avalanche! Plus, I have watched him play for the Bruins and I don’t understand why they don’t like him. What are their expectations there in Bruin’s land? He is a good hockey player and though to play against. I guess his health maybe has been in question, but he goes to the net, plays the game hard and got a good knack for deflecting pucks into the back of the net? What do Bruin’s fans find so unlikable about him? Will take him on the Avalanche!
I don’t dislike him tommyboy.
I think most B’s fan are fine with him, as he is a very good 3C, but not his contract.
He signed his deal in Nov 2019, so pre pandemic. If the cap kept going up as expected, he would not be overpaid today, which was a reasonable assumption at the time.
Not the only long term deal signed in 2019 that didn’t work out well for the team.
I realize Newhook could fill that role but not sure he can handle the physical stuff like Kadri can and faceoffs. Kid has a lot of ability though, he is highly skilled, I’d like to see him remain where he is?
I think Sakic would prefer to still have Kadri too!
Needed a tender more than Kadri I suppose, and his contract is too long for Sakic as well I would guess.
Tough choices these days, especially when you are as good as COL.
You like the Georgiev signing tommyboy?
Yes Ray bark, I like acquisition of Georgiev! Seen him play with Rangers on TV, looks good! In fact I thought Rangers have 2 really good goalies. So, I’m more concerned about lack of scoring punch with the loss of both Kadri and Burakovsky? Will see, I hope they add someone but that’s why I am not GM, lol!!!
Yes Ray bark, I like acquisition of Georgiev! Seen him play with Rangers on TV, looks good! In fact I thought Rangers have 2 really good goalies. So, I’m more concerned about lack of scoring punch with the loss of both Kadri and Burakovsky? Will see, I hope they add someone but that’s why I am not GM, lol!!!
Sorry for double post, don’t get it?
Kudos to ASU for naming arena after a family of long-time supporters of their hockey program.
The “Desert Barn” was just not cutting it
Idda thunked you’da preferred “bettmans pyramid scheme stadium” pengy.