NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 9, 2022
The Golden Knights, Devils and Kraken extend their winning streaks, actor Ryan Reynolds is interested in buying the Senators, the ongoing fallout from the Mitchell Miller saga, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights extended their winning streak to eight games by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. Reilly Smith scored the tying goal shorthanded in the third period and the game-winner in overtime as the Golden Knights (12-2-0) moved atop the overall standings with 24 points. Timothy Liljegren scored twice for the Leafs (7-4-3) as their winning streak ended at three games.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Reilly Smith (NHL Images).
New Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 33 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton each had a goal and an assist as the Devils (10-3-0) extended their win streak to seven games while the Flames (5-5-2) are winless in their last six contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils announced that goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be sidelined for three-to-six weeks with a sprained MCL while winger Ondrej Palat is out for eight-to-10 weeks after undergoing groin surgery last week. Meanwhile, Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau missed this game and is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Seattle Kraken extended their winning streak to five games by taming the Nashville Predators 5-1. Jordan Eberle scored twice while Andre Burakovsky had a goal and two assists for the 8-4-2 Kraken. Filip Forsberg netted the Predators’ only goal as they fall to 5-7-1.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each scored second-period goals and Jack Campbell stopped 35 shots as the Edmonton Oilers (8-6-0) held off the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Brandon Hagel and Alex Killorn replied for the 7-5-1 Lightning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Evander Kane left the game early in the second period after he was accidentally sliced on one of his wrists by the skate blade of Lightning forward Patrick Maroon. Following the game, Oilers general manager Ken Holland said Kane was stabilized and taken to hospital where he underwent surgery on his wrist. No word yet as to how long he could be sidelined.
Third-period goals by Adam Pelech, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee rallied the New York Islanders over the New York Rangers 4-3. Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves for the Islanders (9-5-0) while the Rangers (6-5-3) got two assists from Artemi Panarin.
The Winnipeg Jets extended their points streak to seven games with a 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. Mark Scheifele scored twice while Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton each had three points as the Jets’ record improves to 8-3-1. Jason Robertson replied for the 8-4-0 Stars.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Felix Sandstrom made 27 saves for his first NHL win to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-1, handing the latter their eighth straight loss. Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for the 7-3-2 Flyers while Ryan O’Reilly tallied for the 3-8-0 Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sandstrom got the start for the Flyers as Carter Hart was out with a non-COVID-related illness.
The Los Angeles Kings got a 21-save shutout from Jonathan Quick in a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild (5-6-1). Gabriel Vilardi netted his team-leading 10th goal of the season as the Kings improve to 8-6-1. Wild star Kirill Kaprizov was ejected for high-sticking Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A first-round pick in the 2017 draft, the 23-year-old Vilardi is blossoming into a scorer after struggling through injuries and inconsistent play earlier in his career. He’s also among the league leaders in goals thus far this season.
Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat scored twice and Spencer Martin stopped 37 shots to beat the Ottawa Senators 6-4 and improve their record to 4-6-3. The Senators (4-8-0) got two-point performances from Tim Stutzle and Alex DeBrincat but their winless streak is now at six.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was overshadowed by the drama for both clubs off the ice.
Actor and prospective Senators owner Ryan Reynolds took in this game at Canadian Tire Centre and received a standing ovation from the fans. Earlier this week, he indicated his interest in buying the club, which was officially put up for sale last week. However, he also told Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon on Monday that he needs a deep-pocketed partner to help him acquire the team.
Meanwhile, Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau defended his team’s efforts after president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford criticized their work ethic and structure. Rutherford’s recent comments have generated speculation among NHL pundits that Boudreau could be replaced or a shakeup could be coming for the roster.
The Montreal Canadiens got a 41-save effort from goalie Jake Allen as they nipped the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on shootout goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Mike Hoffman scored both goals in regulation for the 6-6-1 Canadiens while the Red Wings (7-3-3) got goals from Austin Czarnik and Lucas Raymond.
Arizona Coyotes goalie Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots while Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tage Thompson replied for the Sabres (7-6-0) while the Coyotes improved to 5-6-1.
HEADLINES
ESPN.COM: The Boston Bruins face limited options after cutting ties with Mitchell Miller following a public outcry two days after signing him to an entry-level contract. The Bruins’ original intention was to send Miller to their AHL affiliate in Providence. He remains under contract with the club.
One option would see the Bruins pay Miller to stay home and then buy him out at the end of the season for one-third of the remaining value of the contract. Another would be working with the defenseman’s agent to reach a settlement allowing him to become a free agent. The Bruins or the league could also seek to terminate the deal based on Miller’s history but the NHLPA is expected to file a grievance if they go that route.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Eustace King, who represents Miller, claimed the Bruins and every team they spoke to knew about the timeline of events from Miller and the classmate he bullied as they grew up and recently as well.
Bruins president Cam Neely said on Monday the Bruins intended to terminate Miller’s contract based on “new information” about the defenseman’s bullying of his victim, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers. King, however, countered that there was no new information to the best of his camp’s knowledge and believes the Bruins made the decision based on the public backlash.
King also contradicted claims made by Jodi Meyer-Crothers, Isaiah’s mother, saying Miller had never reached out and apologized to her son until recently. However, a statement from the Hockey Diversity Alliance criticizing the Bruins’ handling of this situation indicated that Isaiah had recently contacted them to express his distress over Miller’s signing.
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is expected to be sidelined for about a month following ankle surgery. Meanwhile, defenseman Bowen Byram is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury while Samuel Girard (lower body) is listed as day-to-day.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is expected to return to action on Saturday for the first time since suffering a groin injury on Oct. 17.
THE ATHLETIC: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Jakub Voracek is sidelined indefinitely by an upper-body injury.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators will retire the number of Chris Neil, who spent his entire 15-season NHL career with Ottawa from 2001-02 to 2016-17.
Kane’s injury looked scary
He immediately knew it was serious and booted off the ice extremely fast; clutching his wrist as trainers and Dr’s from both teams rushed to help him
Re surgery…. hoping not as bad as it looked …. Vascular surgery? Tendon reattachment??
Re Leafs loss .. thanks to Kalgren… Leafs got a point. Leafs outshot Knights….. but many quality shots and breakaways and 2 on 1’s by Knights
Oil , McD…. Ho hum…. just G and an A…. 14 GP…. 14 G’s; 29 P….and last night could have been much more… he is something else to watch
Wow, what is with the Blues???? Are they ready to start the fire sale?!?!?! Too many NTC’s and big contracts to rectify their roster! What can they do? Besides lose again….
Hi JZ
I’m worried about Iowa Prince… haven’t seen him on here for a while…. Hopefully Blues performance hasn’t affected his health
Lose until the new year be in last place . Then start a huge winning streak and win the cup just like 2019 lol. Crazy how bad they are playing
Re Reynolds and needing partners… I posted yesterday that he should reach out to the Rick and Celine
Why?
The Rock, sorry
He can’t finance it on his own …. Bringing those 2 in; he’d collectively have enough
Was tongue ‘n cheek re Celine….. was just joking re full Canadian (Rock is dual Can/US) ownership
He has already said he would be looking at partners…. And he hinted re partners from people he knows in the entertainment industry
He’s done a couple of movies with the Rock…. and I like the Rock…. So there is my bias
Either way…. Would love to see R cubed as part of the ownership group… his marketing savvy is excellent
Bieber and Ann Murray?
Jim Carey and Drake?
Mike Myers and Alanis Morrissete?
Mathew Perry and Seth Rogen?
This may be a somewhat cynical view but the sale of the Senators is really a battle for development rights on the LeBreton flats area where the new arena is supposed to be built. This was the key issue in the battle between Melnyk and Trinity Developments. There are still huge lawsuits on going about this right now. Ownership of the Senators is really just a side show but I certainly hope it works out well for the team.
Ryan Reynolds seems to talk first, think later. A partner with deep pockets, wow! Wish I’d thought of that.
If the Coyotes were being sold, I’d hope for a better ownership than Weird Al Yankivic and Hulk Hogan simply because they’re American.
I’d hold out for something better. Like Hillbilly Jim and maybe Howard Stern?
This will the first and only time I defend Neely or Sweeney, I have to believe both should have done their homework on Miller, but I honestly believe they didn’t know the entire story behind Michell’s bullying and harassment of the young disabled boy. Does it make it okay no, this is a big mess. I wouldn’t doubt management may decide to compensate the family involved. One thing for certain Miller skates may never touch the ice again.
Nobody bothered to talk to the victims’ family. After reading the letter that posted a couple of days ago by Chrism on November 7, 2022 at 2:14 pm I now know that the information was out there. How could it not be. Someone had blinders on. I will never defend a tyrant whose value is determined by how well he plays hockey. The NHL will do just fine without this Neanderthal on the ice. Go find a job elsewhere son….you don’t deserve to be a professional hockey player.
You confuse me now more than ever Rick!
2 important words when scouting/recruiting/hiring for such a highly competitive business – Due Diligence.
It’s not like his history was unknown. Red flags EVERYWHERE!
It’s a common issue when you value profits over people. It’s always about making money…at all costs.
Rick you don’t need to defend them, as per-say and is easier to forgive this one error in judgement proven by the 45min call he had with the victim’s mother where he apologized to the only people that matter. We can make mistakes but takes a “real man” to admit and sincerely apologize.
This just didn’t happen once it was on going for a long time …but I don’t want to sound Woke
Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who was bullied by Mitchell Miller for years at school, detailed his abuse by the former Bruins defenseman in a letter Wednesday.
Written by Meter -Cruthers ….
Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who was bullied by Mitchell Miller for years at school, detailed his abuse by the former Bruins defenseman in a letter Wednesday.
“I have been bullied since I was in 1st grade,” Meyer-Crothers, a Black, developmentally disabled classmate of Miller’s, said in a letter released on his behalf by the Hockey Diversity Alliance. “Mitchell used to ask me to sit with him on the bus and then he and his friends would punch me in the head. This happened my whole time in school. When I went to junior high Mitchell would spit in my face and call me a N word. I stopped telling because they called me a snitch and I would get made fun of.
“I had to say I was ‘his n—–‘ to sit at his table and he made me clean the whole table. He threw food in my face. I was called ‘n—–‘ every day.”
Meyer-Crothers said that Miller beat him up in junior high, and after Miller was expelled from school, Miller’s friends started bullying him.
@Joe … a few thoughts because I’ve read a lot of posts over the past few days using the term woke and it seems there are as many uninformed assumptions about woke (I.e., no research done) as there was about Miller himself.
I think there is nothing wrong with being woke because woke should mean being aware and caring and considering all angles … the far right and alt right made it into an insult (just like snowflake) and it seems to me that the people parroting the language are just further enabling people who are not interested in an inclusive word.
Remember “politically correct” and the backlash against that? Yet somehow I think the majority got over the idea that they could not really speak to another person’s experience, should steer clear of race based jokes and that referring to women as female canines was not okay. But there were some crazy people claiming to be politically correct, crazy ideas and incidents in the whole phase. But the world is still turning.
Anti-woke and insulting woke ideology is central to the denial of critical race theory which is an issue in the USA and starting to rear it’s head in Canada too. So it is strong in the media.
Like any “stance” or “niche”, there are going to be loud mouths who claim to speak for it, and there are going to be extremist proponents who go too far in the “name of it”, but they aren’t it — in fact there is no it insofar is there is no body that speaks for woke — and they don’t own it.
It’s much the same as all conservatives are not religious, racist or even fiscally conservative etc. There are good people everywhere and there are disenfranchised angry people everywhere too. Unfortunately, the latter are often the loudest and they dominate discourses … if we let them.
Cancel Culture isn’t woke. It breaks a load of tenets that someone who is woke should be living by. Cancel Culture is the extreme edge of social media insanity compounded by very non-critical thinking. And Cancel Culture exists in groups silencing woke people too but that’s another rabbit hole and more about the speed of information/disinformation than the struggle to come to a moral balance.
In any case, you don’t have to be woke to be a good person. And you don’t have to identify as woke either. Woke people should be accepting, inclusive and tolerant.
I realize this strays far from being a hockey post. I largely kept clear of the discussion the past few days because feelings were running high. But I enjoy this site for the hockey insights and post this in the spirit of hoping all future political discussions can remain respectful and steer clear of ad hominem and condemnation.
Allen salvaged those two points for the Habs. Great performance and nice to see someone other than Suzuki and Caulfield providing some offence — though their SO performance was really enjoyable.
Drouin falling down at the blue line and giving up a breakaway pretty much sums him up for me. I seriously wonder who will give him a contract next year. It is like he imagines the game quite creatively but is actually thinking it at a slower speed than it is happening.
Rutherford is right, there is a reason Boudreau’s teams are not successful in the playoffs. OEL, Myers and soon JT’s contracts are albatrosses. Trade Miller asap and sign Horvat. Go after a Trotz Julien type coach play Rathbone more, they are retarding his development in the press box if he ain’t in their top 6 send him to Abby. Same goes for Poz and Hogs play them
in the long run it’s better than the status Quo
Buffalo will go as far as their goaltending, their primary weakness, will take them. If Anderson gets injured or his age catches up with him, the Sabres are in big trouble.
I have no doubt that the NHLPA would file a grievance, should Boston do the right thing and cancel Miller’s contract (Which never should have been offered), but I would be shocked if a reasonable arbiter rule in the union’s favor.
If Philly’s early success is smoke and mirrors, November is when I would expect reality to start catching up with them.
St Louis is starting to look like this season’s “used to be good, but no longer” team. Might be time for a full rebuild, definitely time for a retool.
If the player never received an NHL pay cheque then he was never able to pay his union dues. There for he was never a union member. Also, Bettman ruled that Miller isn’t eligible to play in the NHL which means the NHL didn’t approve the contract.
The NHLPA has no say in the canceling of the contract.
Unless there’s a probationary period for new hire players, the NHLPA will certainly investigate, grieve and follow up on the contract. It might be a waste of time, but they would be remiss and negligent if they didn’t follow past practices, if there are any.
I would be surprised if the NHLPA didn’t win their grievance if they filed one. I believe the B’s signed a contract. And if they didn’t do their due diligence when it was this public to begin with, shame on them.
They will settle, or pay him not to play IMO. Might want to have the kid take that valuable time and start doing the work to get back into pro hockey in NA if they do continue to pay him.
Wondering why Neely is the one doing the talking for the B’s and not Sweeney? Was this Mr. Neely’s call against the objections from his GM? I am just guessing, but seems odd to me.
Kane’s injury was hard to watch. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it looked!
Despite the W, The Oil is still lacking someone to police/toughen up the backend. And with Kane possibly out for a while, we could use more toughness up front.
IMO, these are the best trade chips…
Foegle,Yamo, Barrie, Broberg, 2023 1st, 2024 1st, Bourgault
You can’t tell me that any combination of those players can’t bring something solid back in return.
Let’s hope Kane makes a full recovery and soon. I remember that happening to Mikheyev and it was a long road back, cut artery and tendons … took a year before he regained full mobility and strength in his wrists. Terrible accident and hope they devise some sort of long sleeved armor underwear that covers and protects exposed areas, similar to the kevlar sock they all wear now.
Who is available and has a cap hit that the Oilers can fit into theirs and that would be worth the price to pay? and please don’t say Chychrun.
I think they wait until the deadline to add a D KevJam, I would. I think Broberg is playing again finally after his preseason injury and I expect to see him called up in a few weeks or if the need arises sooner. I think they want to see how he performs before they make a decision.
Plus more option available, plus more cap available from in season LTI.
Both these guys listed below are big and Tough,
The Oilers have two softies both RD men Barrie & Bouchard and a New Rookie at the 6th d/man in
Nemo, (Markus Niemeläinen)
There 7th d/man is Ryan Murray who is poor to Mediocre at Best❗️😫
To fix this they need to move out Cap, RW Jesse Pulijarvi $3.M, Warren Fogele $2.75M
and maybe a Tyson Barrie at $4.5M❓
In short, the Oilers Need 2 new good d/men & Not One for the playoff Run if not it Will be a short Run….
Carson Sucey, LD&RD man Seattle, but the way the Kraken are playing he will not be avalable for trade….. but he is a UFA in july 2023
Scott Mayfield RD NYI, if they are not making the playoffs he could be avalable as he is a UFA in july 2023
two others for the Top 4 ….🤔
John Klingberg from the Duck but he makes $7.5M, he will get traded as he is a UFA in July 2023
and of Course…… Jakob Chychrun who make make the sence as he can play LD&RD and would fit in the Oilers to 4 nicely as he plays with an Edge… but they Want young LD man Philip Broberg in return in the main part package deal..⁉️
I am curious what punishment (if any) Slafkovsky faces after his hit from behind on Matt Luff yesterday. Luff, who took a puck to the mouth last Thursday that cost him some teeth and 16 stitches, was driven face first into the boards by the Montreal rookie. Slafkovsky did get 5 and a game for his move, but the hit was nasty.
He is having a hearing.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/montreal-canadiens-juraj-slafkovsky-hearing-for-boarding-matt-luff-1.1875588
Thanks Kj…I was not aware of that.
Slafkovsky was given 2 game suspension or the hit on Luf.