NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 9, 2022
The Bruins sign Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Pavel Zacha, the Rangers will reportedly name Jacob Trouba as their new captain, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins were very busy on Monday as they announced centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will be returning for 2022-23.
Bergeron, 37, signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract along with $2.5 million in performance bonuses. The 36-year-old Krejci inked a one-year, $1 million deal with $2 million in performance bonuses.
The Bruins also avoided arbitration with Pavel Zacha, signing the 25-year-old forward to a one-year, $3.5 million contract.
All three will be eligible for unrestricted free agent status next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A tidy bit of work there by the Bruins. It was widely assumed that Bergeron and Krejci would be returning for the coming season. Zacha’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for Aug. 11.
Bergeron told reporters there was no chance he was going to play for another NHL team, dousing rumors suggesting his former agent Kent Hughes might attempt to sign him now that he was the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. He indicated Hughes did not approach him, adding the Habs GM knew the Bruins were the only team he wanted to play for.
Puck Pedia indicates the trio’s base salaries push the Bruins above the $82.5 million salary cap by $2.2 million. They can garner cap relief by demoting players to the minors and/or placing sidelined players like Charlie McAvoy and/or Matt Grzelcyk on long-term injury reserve to start the season.
If Bergeron and Krejci achieve their performance bonuses they could carry over against the Bruins’ 2023-24 salary cap if the club remains over the cap at the end of the coming season.
Zacha’s signing opens up a second buyout window but they’ll have 48 hours from the final day of the arbitration period (Aug. 11) to do so. Puck Pedia indicates only players who were on the roster at the last trade deadline carrying an annual cap hit of at least $4 million can be bought out.
RDS.CA: cites ESPN’s Kevin Weekes’ report on Twitter claiming the New York Rangers will name Jacob Trouba as their new captain today.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba would become the first Rangers captain since Ryan McDonagh in 2018. I felt alternate captain Chris Kreider was the favorite for the role in part because he’s the longest-serving active Ranger.
ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes reached an agreement on a new contract with forward Lawson Crouse ahead of his scheduled arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. It’s a five-year, $21.5 million contract with an annual average value of $4.3 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crouse, 25, is coming off a career-best performance last season of 20 goals and 34 points in 65 games. After shedding contracts last summer, Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong has been signing current young veterans this year that he believes will be key players in the club’s future.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights signed forward Nicolas Roy to a five-year, $15 million contract. The average annual value is $3 million.
DAILY FACEOFF: A case that claimed Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a former Boston Ballet dancer has been withdrawn because it was confirmed she was not a minor at the time of the alleged relationship. Katz denied the claim, as did Sage Humphries, the dancer with whom he was allegedly involved.
NHL.COM: The Seattle Kraken named Dave Lowry as an assistant coach. Lowry was the Winnipeg Jets’ interim coach last season. He spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Jets, Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings.
Bruins won’t be buying anyone out. As the only candidate was possibly Foligno but he does not make the money 4 mil Ltir. Will most likely be the saving grace Of the bonus $$ that will be owed 37 and 46. And the current overage
Not worth buying Nick F out it wouldn’t give any break in salary cap anyway.Zacha will have a career year this season.
Krejci and Bergy were a given still good price. Zacha too much, sign Pasta then it’s time to get busy getting rid of some Excess baggage and get some decent free agents or make some trades.
Wow, impressive to get centers #1, 2 and 3 inked in the same day. I guess all those curtseys and bows hoodwinked more than just the Bruins fans!
I think Zacha will play LW on an all Czech line with Krejci and Pastarnak.
MP
That could very well be how the season starts. But remember how great Hall was with Krechi when he came over from Sabres he could be more valuable staying with 46 put 88 there and I think that is a great offensive line for. Bruins
I believe Zacha will start on the first line for the injured Marchand.
When healthy:
Marchand Bergeron Debrusk
Hall Krejci Pastrnak
Zacha Coyle Smith
Frederick Nosek Steen
Lindholm McAvoy
Grizz Carlo
Forbort Zboril
Zboril is a LD and hopefully while Grizz is on the IR he can show he is a top 4 d and Sweeney can move out Grizz.
Bergeron and Krejci are team friendly deals and Sweeny owes them a great deal of gratitude.
The Zacha deal is the only blemish for me; I would of like to seen a 3yr deal, as apposed to a one and potentially done.
With Krejci signing it does point the finger in the direction of Cassidy and his coaching style.
Lastly, with these signing it appears Sweeney and camp think this team is good enough to take a cup run.
I’m not there as i feel they are missing a little toughness ie a Kevin Miller, Adam McQuaid type and or a Shawn Thorton type.
Agree on Zacha Caper.
That’s a pretty deep forward group once you lay it out like that.
If Zboril can take a big step and be effective on the 2nd pair that would be huge, otherwise they may pair Lindholm with Carlo in a shut down role, and push up Grz or Zboril with Charlie with more O zone starts for their minutes and Charlie can take extra D zone starts when warranted. The guy can eat minutes.
Have some flexibility, but as it sits today lacking a proven 2nd pair guy. With you on Zboril being a key player. Physical skills are there, we’ll see how he progresses with added reps.
I’m with you Lyle as far as Rangers captain. Always thought it would be Kreider. Trouba name has long been mentioned by beat writers. Either one is a good choice. Having half the team rotating the “A” became a joke.
@slick
It seemed obvious Kreider for years now so there must be a reason it never happened
some guys just like to lead by example and have no deisre to deal with the press or upper management a role which captains are usually thrust into. Kinda like some assistant coaches not wanting to be a head coach because of all the baggage connected with that job.
Fergy22 I hope your wrong. What does that say about someone who is offered to lead and turns it down?
I personally think guys who accept the burden that comes with leading knowing that they will be under the gun the rest of their time there and still willingly want the job is a true warrior.
Ron , some players just want to lead by example , in the room and on the ice. I have seen many instance where ‘team leaders’ are not wearing a letter.
Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur for example never wore a ‘C’ . I am sure Bucyk would have passed it on if he had been asked.
Your definition of ‘warrior’ is quite different than mine.
I think either was a solid choice. I would have leaned toward Kreider because of his work over the years mentoring the younger kids and his lead by example attitude.
Maybe that role suits him better?
Captain Crunch is a solid choice.
There are lots of leaders on good teams and don’t need a letter to be one.
My guess is, many of the players were consulted on this including Kreider and Trouba.
I think we fans put more stock into the letters than the players. They know.
ds. I’ve read before how Trouba is a very vocal leader in dressing room. That part we don’t see. Kreider is good with young guys in off season. Was always a 2 horse race Honestly, couldn’t go wrong with either, although the Trouba haters who see that 8M cap hit won’t be happy. A lot of folks want him moved as soon as his nmc is up in 2 years.
Hopefully, the Crouse signing will put to rest those suggestions that the Coyotes take this slug or that slug “with sweeteners” in order to reach the $61 mil cap floor.
Signing Crouse brings them $1,136,709 over the cap floor, with 22 signed and still with RFA Barrett Hayton to sign. Coming off an ELC of $894,167 and scoring 10g 14a 24pts in 60gp, he’ll likely re-up at around $1.5 on a bridge deal, which will put them $2,636,709 over the cap floor.
They also have 6′ 2″ 210lb LD Grigory Dronov from the KHL (assuming he can get out of Russia) scheduled to report to camp on a PTO.
If, as has been rumoured, there is still a possibility that they will trade Chychrun, part of the package coming back must include a contract to offset the moving out of his $4.6 mil cap hit. More could be brewing in the desert.
Arizona also has to sign a goalie. It doesn’t seem difficult to reach the minimum salary cap. Maybe there should be a minimum total salary expenditure for each team.
Overpay anyone? $4m+ x5 for his production? Oh ok his history shows he’s worth it? No? Hmm looks like this is either a terrible contract or a steal. I’m leaning on terrible side.
Many will think the same way … I had earlier figured that, coming of a $1,533,333 cap hit and scoring 20g 14a 34 pts and a -9 in 65gp, he’d come in at around $2.6 on a bridge deal.
But you can bet others and their agents will be keeping that settlement handy for reference when they and their clients come up for renewal – either as an RFA or UFA.
Imagine what Bunting and his agent are thinking after this coming season when he reaches UFA status after a 23g 40a 63pts and a +27 in 79gp and coming off a $950,000 cap hit. Especially if he does it again this season.
Same with Ottawa and Stutzle. I think “hometown discounts” will be confined to those who reach the Krejci and Bergeron stages of their careers from here on.
Exactly! Overpaying guys for these numbers kills cap management for all teams.
Trouba captain of the rangers. Yup. That fits. Personification of the team overall.
Coming from a fan base that literally gave Kasperitis a standing ovation for head hunting Lindros, while the players all gave him high fives, while Lindros was still knocked unconscious?
Yeah, I’ll take that with a grain of salt.
The man hits. Memo to players “keep your head up”
Memo to Penguins fans “boo hoo”.
Zero intent to injure. Zero. And certainly didn’t get him a standing o or any high fives!
And maybe when he starts Slew footing, and rag dolling players like captain quagmire, he’ll earn Pittsburgh fans respect?