NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 7, 2022
Jason Zucker hopes to rebound in 2022-23, the chair of Hockey Canada’s board of directors steps down, Lawson Crouse and the Coyotes make their arbitration filings, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Jessi Pierce recently reported that Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jason Zucker is feeling better and is optimistic about the coming season. He’s hoping to rebound from an injury-shortened 2021-22 campaign that saw him play in just 41 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jason Zucker (NHL Images).
Zucker, 30, is currently playing in Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer hockey league for professional and college players from Minnesota. He’s also feeling positive about the Penguins’ chance in 2022-23 in part because they kept most of their roster core intact during the offseason. That included re-signing Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Zucker could help the Penguins’ chances in the coming season. A four-time 20-plus goal scorer earlier in his career with the Minnesota Wild, he’s been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons.
SPORTSNET: Michael Brind’Amour will be stepping down as the chair of Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors. This move comes as the organization has been battered in recent weeks by accusations of sexual assault involving players from the 2003 and 2018 World Junior teams.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour’s resignation may not be the last for the scandal-plagued organization. For those who are wondering, he is not related to Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Arizona Coyotes and Lawson Crouse made their arbitration filings yesterday. Crouse seeks $4 million for 2022-23 while the Coyotes are looking for $2.5 million. The hearing is slated for Monday, Aug. 8.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crouse, 25, earned an annual cap hit of $1.55 million on his previous contract. He’s coming off a career-best 20-goal, 34-point performance.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed forward Tyler Benson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K at the NHL level.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Maxime Lajoie as the two sides agreed to a one-year, two-way deal worth $750K.
MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings will honor their 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup championships teams during separate ceremonies early in the coming season. The 1997 team will be recognized in a pregame ceremony on Nov. 3 against the Washington Capitals while the 1998 club will be honored prior to Nov. 5 game against the New York Islanders.
The wings get to celebrate two cup wins this year!
Pens are pretty stuck just hoping zucker gets better. Only option really. Trading him would be costly and they couldn’t afford more dead cap space.
Chrisms,
Re. Zucker: I think Jessi Pierce (and LYLE) must just be messing with Pengy’s head! I bet he choked on his morning coffee.
IP
Not sure I get all this ongoing angst over Zucker coming out of Pittsburgh followers. Assuming the Penguins’ braintrust had done their homework on him before acquiring him, they’d have found that, in his 456 previous games with the Wild he had scored 132g 114a for 246 pts and was a collective +13 over that span.
Using an 82-game average that works out to 24g 21a 45pts.
Since joining Pittsburgh, and taking into consideration the shortened seasons since, he has played 94 games scoring 23g 24a 47 pts and is a collective -11.
That works out to an 82-game average of 20g 21a 41 pts. Minimal difference, So, what were the fans expecting?
When Jim Rutherford traded for Jason Zucker , didn’t like the deal as the Penguins gave up #1 draft pick , their top Defenseman prospect and another player. Result is a bad Penguins trade. At the time wanted the Penguins to acquire Rickard Rakell. Got my wish later , thank you Hextall. Jim Rutherford while I liked him as GM at first as the Penguins won two Stanley Cups , after those Cups wins , he made numerous bad trades and contracts given. Awaiting Pengy point of view with Jason Zucker chat , laughing.
Eh. You’d have hoped that coulda ratcheted up a bit playing with Sid Malkin. I’d be willing to bet zucker has a decent season this year.
Or, maybe – considering there’s a 550 game sample to go on – that is exactly what you get from him – nothing less … nothing more.
Is that worth a $5.5 mil cap hit? Clearly, the fact they haven’t been able to move him suggests other teams have done their homework and don’t see any value there.
I see a sign and trade for Zucker.
Avs sign Jack Johnson 4 years 5 per, Pittsburgh sends Zucker for Johnson straight up. Pittsburgh gets to pay Johnson twice for the next 4 years.
Winner winner!