NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2022
The favorites to win the Hart Trophy for 2022-23, the league revamps a rule to permit disallowed penalties, and the Senators are enjoying a surge in season-ticket sales. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin has the PointsBet odds for the top favorites and sleeper candidates for the 2022-23 Hart Memorial Trophy.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews sit atop the 10 favorites for the Hart. Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau leads the sleeper candidates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link provided above for Larkin’s full list. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar could challenge McDavid, Draisaitl and Matthews if he builds upon last season’s stellar performance.
SCOUTING THE REFS: The NHL has revamped its review rule to permit disallowed penalties. Referees will now be able to nullify a major penalty after video review or downgrade it to a minor infraction. The change doesn’t apply to match penalty reviews.
SPORTSNET: The Ottawa Senators are seeing a significant surge in season-ticket sales following a busy offseason that saw them add Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot to their roster. It’s also fueled by growing excitement over the development of their young core led by Brady Tkachuk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators could also see improvement at the gate throughout the coming season if the club becomes a playoff contender.
Speaking of the Senators, The Associated Press’ Stephen Whyno reports rookie defenseman Jake Sanderson has fully recovered from a lingering hand injury. He expects to be 100 percent when training camp opens later this month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Sanderson is expected to become a blueline regular this season for the Senators.
TSN: Former NHL forward Brett Connolly signed a one-year contract with Lugano HC of Switzerland’s National League on Monday. The 30-year-old winger played in just nine games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, who bought out the final season of his contract earlier this summer.
Connolly played 11 seasons in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and the Blackhawks from 2011-12 to 2021-22. He won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 and tallied a career-best 22-goal, 46-point performance in 2018-19.
SIN BIN VEGAS: Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy recently provided an update on Laurent Brossoit. He said the 29-year-old goaltender is healing well from his (hip) surgery and is motivated to play this season.
However, Cassidy was vague over when Brossoit will return to the lineup. “Whether he joins us at the end of the year or two or three weeks in, we’ll see him.”
WINNIPEG SUN: Former Jets defenseman and captain Scott Campbell, 65, passed away on Saturday following a battle with cancer. Drafted first overall in the 1977 WHA draft by the Houston Aeros and ninth overall by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Draft, Campbell opted for the WHA. His contract was purchased by the Jets after the Aeros folded and he won the Avco Cup with the Jets in 1978-79.
Campbell was part of the Jets after their move to the NHL in 1979. He was named team captain in the 1980-81 season and was traded to the Blues in 1981. His career was ended prematurely the following year by chronic asthma. He had 55 points in 149 WHA games and 25 points in 80 NHL contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Campbell’s family, friends and former teammates.
Cale Makar for hart trophy the kids is the real deal. McDavid is the easy pick for a sleeper how about Pasta now that he has a solid line and will have plenty of PP time. Sorry boys and girls have to run have a brisket on the smoker low and slow.
We just did 2, 10lb brisket.
14hrs each.
Absolutely fantastic!
I find it interesting that Larkin even mentions Gaudreau as a candidate for the Hart. In the 20-odd years the Jackets have existed, the only way any player gets votes for any award is to have a miracle season which cannot be ignored.
Good news re Sanderson’s recovery from hand surgery. If he turns out to be half as good as the pundits are describing him, and one of Bernard-Docker or Thompson shows in camp that they are ready for the NHL, that hunt for a RD could end right there.
Be nice to see them playing to full capacity again.
I think both Thomson and JBD start in Belleville. Barring a trade they have the 7 D they will carry into the season.
I would like to see one of the two in Ottawa but who do you get rid off? Chabot and Sanderson are untouchable. Holden and Hamonic have little trade value and won’t be going anywhere. That leaves Zub (pending UFA), Brannstrom (I think he needs to be given a chance and not be on such a short rope by Smith – he plays scared to make a mistake), and Zaitsev (it will cost to trade him).
I think (based on what I have read) the pairings are:
Chabot – Zub
Sanderson – Hamonic
Brannstrom/zaitsev – Holden
I just don’t see Thomson or JBD paired with Sanderson or Brannstrom. That would be risky.