NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2022

by | Sep 20, 2022 | News, NHL | 17 comments

Sean Couturier is sidelined again, Keith Yandle announces his retirement, updates on Dylan Larkin, Claude Giroux and Mark Stone, the Rangers trade Nils Lundkvist to the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: A week after declaring himself good to go following back surgery, Sean Couturier suffered what the Philadelphia Flyers call an “upper-body injury.” The 29-year-old center will be reevaluated during training camp and is considered week-to-week.

CROSSING BROAD: Anthony SanFilippo cited “multiple team sources” claiming Couturier suffered a herniated disc in his back during strength and conditioning drills last week. It’s believed he could miss at least 12 weeks but that’s considered an optimistic assessment.

Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (NHL Images).

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman tweeted the Flyers and Couturier are seeking a second opinion to determine the exact nature of the injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a serious blow to the Flyers’ hopes of rebounding from an awful 2021-22 campaign. Couturier is their top center, their best two-way forward and one of their leaders. His back injury and subsequent absence from the lineup last season contributed to their poor performance.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Forwards Antoine Roussel and Artem Anisimov will be attending Flyers training camp on professional tryout offers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Roussel recently confirmed his PTO with the Flyers. Anisimov is a 34-year-old center with 13 NHL seasons under his belt with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators. Anisimov played in the KHL last season. He also spent four seasons playing for Flyers head coach John Tortorella during their days with the Rangers.

SPORTSNET: Keith Yandle announced his retirement on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. The 36-year-old defenseman spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers, amassing 619 points in 1,109 regular-season games. Yandle also holds the league’s “Ironman” record of 989 consecutive games played.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Yandle in his future endeavors.

SPORTSNET: Dylan Larkin recently told Elliotte Friedman on the “32 Thoughts” podcast that he’s discussing a contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old center is in the final season of his current deal with an average annual value of $6.1 million.

I don’t really see myself playing for another team,” said the Red Wings captain. “It’s moving along. I can’t really tell you when or how (the deal gets resolved), but that’s where I want to be.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Wings consider Larkin a crucial member of their roster core. A Michigan native, he could seek a maximum eight-year contract with an AAV of $8 million.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators named Claude Giroux as one of their alternate captains. The 34-year-old is the former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A logical decision by the Senators. Giroux’s experience as Flyers captain ensured he’d be part of their leadership group before he even stepped on the ice with them this season.

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger reports Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said team captain Mark Stone is feeling good and is expected to be on the ice for their opening day of training camp. The medical team could put limits on his efforts but for now, he said he’s feeling great.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stone, 30, underwent a successful lumbar discectomy in May and was expected to make a full recovery. The Golden Knights captain was limited to just 37 games last season.

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers traded defenseman Nils Lundkvist to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2025.

If the Stars’ own first-round pick in 2023 is among the top 10, the Rangers will instead receive Dallas’ 2024 first-rounder. That pick will be unprotected.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a bad return for the Rangers for an unhappy blueliner chosen 28th overall in the 2018 draft with just 25 NHL games on his resume.

It’s not immediate help to the Blueshirts roster but that extra first-rounder could prove useful trade bait at the trade deadline if they pursue a quality rental player at the March trade deadline. Otherwise, it’ll provide them with an extra first-rounder next year or in 2024.

Lundkvist, 22, should provide additional right-side depth to the Stars blueline. He won’t replace the departed John Klingberg’s offense but could grow into the role of a top-four puck-moving rearguard.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed former Anaheim Ducks winger Sonny Milano to a professional tryout offer.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed winger Jake Virtanen to a PTO.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That move has drawn criticism among some pundits, bloggers and Oilers fans. There are those who raised the point of Virtanen facing a civil suit after being found not guilty of sexual assault in a B.C. Court in July. Others point to his poor on-ice performance in recent years.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reporting that oft-injured Golden Knights forward Nolan Patrick might not play this season with some wondering about his future as a player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Flyers, Patrick has played just 25 NHL games because of nagging upper-body injuries, including migraines related to a possible concussion.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forward Kurtis Gabriel has retired after nine seasons in the NHL and AHL. He saw 51 games of NHL action with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks with five points and 153 PIMs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Gabriel in his future endeavors.







17 Comments

  1. Milano being forced to sign a PTO is a pretty good indicator that he’s just another in a long line of failed CBJ first round picks.

  2. Oh ohhh the master of disaster Sweeney is eyeing one player ( retread) for possible PTO. I knew he was going to try something. Usually it’s one or two retreads per season guy’s who shelve life has expired.

    • And you be 1st guy to complain he didn’t have any pto players. Lol
      Now on to what actually was posted today. Nyr does it again and get great value for Lundkvist. Kudos to them

  3. Do the Oilers already have a deal worked out for Virtanen and need to move out some money before officially announcing the deal?

    • Hopefully not!

  4. Big return to NYR on a player they were not going to play. Victor Mete 2.0

  5. Big Z has announced his retirement. Boston should hire Chara as a defensive coach.

    Congrats and good luck Chara

    • Hi Caper

      They are signing big Z to a 1 day player contract so that he retires a Bruin

    • I’d love for him to sign up as a roving defense instructor for the Jackets. That’s exactly what they need, someone to teach the Jackets’ many puck moving defensemen how to play defense. That especially includes the Jackets’ $9MM man, Zach Werenski.

  6. Holy Molly I didn’t see a PK Subban retirement coming. Congrats and we’ll see you on TV soon.

    • Concur Caper

      Huge surprise

      33… and even though not top pair anywhere, and likely not 2nd pair on almost all teams…. He still would be an effective bottom pairing player

      My guess is that he knew$1M 1 yrwas the max he’d get, and for a non playoff team likely; and bottom pairing…. And to him… not worth the gruelling 82 game schedule …. He’ll get half of that easy on TV, not needing to suit up

    • Concur Caper

      Huge surprise

      33… and even though not top pair anywhere, and likely not 2nd pair on almost all teams…. He still would be an effective bottom pairing player

      My guess is that he knew$1M 1 yrwas the max he’d get, and for a non playoff team likely; and bottom pairing…. And to him… not worth the gruelling 82 game schedule …. He’ll get half of that easy on TV, not needing to suit up

      • I hope TBS moves out Toccet and moves in PK, would seriously improve the panel. Where ever PK ends up I am sure he will do very well.

    • Pk may have no offers just ptos. He should transition well to the booth. Congratulations to Big Z. He should end up in a role with bruins if he wants one

  7. My first thought was “how many years before the player drafted by the rangers with that pick is demanding a trade out town? “

    Trade bait makes more sense.

  8. Good trade return by Rangers. (He was likely still on depth ranking there)

    Good on ya Sens (re A for Giroux)

    Sad to hear re Cotourier (I absolutely love his playing)

    Phil claps heavily and sends a case of Nathan’s finest (in thanks) to Yandle

    I think the Virtanen move is good for Oil… low risk… it’s a PTO…. If he establishes himself as ready, in shape, and able to contribute…. He’ll sign a 1 year (prove it ) at/near league min. Re public backlash… he was found NG. He MAY be sued…. but that will be well down the road for actual trial (if it comes to that at all)

    Oil also signed Demers to a PTO…. Another low risk move…. He’d be a good depth D add at league Min

    Note… if both/either end up signing for $1.08 M or less…. They can be waived… no Cap hit risk…. Only cash…. Katz is loaded

  9. 8×8 for Dylan Larkin? That’s insane