NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2022
Recaps of Friday’s games featured a big night for Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, the latest on Joe Thornton plus updates on the injury statuses of Thatcher Demko, Jakub Voracek, Tyler Bertuzzi and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had a “Gordie Howe hat trick” to a 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers. Tkachuk scored the tying and winning goals, collected an assist on Tim Stutzle’s goal, and fought Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba. Tkachuk’s game-tying tally was also his 100th career goal as the Senators improved their record to 9-13-1. Vitali Kravtsov and Mika Zibanejad replied for the 11-9-5 Rangers.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was a scary moment prior to Kravtsov’s goal when he fired a shot that struck Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic in the throat. Hamonic left the game but returned in the second period and played the remainder of the contest.
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrick Laine scored twice to lead his club over the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 4-1. Laine had missed the previous seven games with an ankle injury. Johnny Gaudreau collected three assists and Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets (8-12-2). Pierre-Luc Dubois replied for the 14-7-1 Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blue Jackets announced that winger Jakub Voracek is out indefinitely with a concussion. Defenseman Zach Werenski underwent successful surgery to repair a torn labrum and will be sidelined for six months while blueliner Jake Bean (shoulder surgery) is out for four-to-six months.
The Nashville Predators picked up their third straight win by downing the New York Islanders 4-1. Kevin Lankinen kicked out 48 shots for the win and Matt Duchene had a goal and two assists as the Predators improved to 12-9-2. Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders as they sit at 15-10-0.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators captain Roman Josi had a goal and an assist in this game. With 562 career points, he’s just four points away from David Legwand’s franchise record of 566 points.
HEADLINES
THE MERCURY NEWS: Joe Thornton has been seen attending San Jose Sharks practices and home games with members of the team’s front office in recent weeks. Thornton, 43, hasn’t announced his retirement as an NHL player but is said to be carefully considering his next move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My guess is Thornton will officially bring his playing career to a close once he decides what his off-ice career will be. One of the greatest playmakers in NHL history, he’s a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
DAILY FACEOFF: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is expected to miss at least six weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fate of the Canucks’ playoff hopes could rest upon the performance of backup Spencer Martin and call-up Collin Delia.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Oft-injured Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi will spend six more weeks on injured reserve. He underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair damage to his left hand after being struck by a shot from teammate Ben Chiarot during Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
CBS SPORTS: The Carolina Hurricanes removed Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) from injured reserve on Friday. His availability for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings remains to be determined.
TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning placed defenseman Philippe Myers on waivers. He was acquired last summer from the Nashville Predators and signed to a two-year contract by the Lightning. Myers has appeared in 11 games this season.
The New Jersey Devils have recalled winger Andreas Johnsson.
Always loved Jumbo Joe. His game and his personality. I am sure he will get a role with Sharks if he so desires. Probably worst Bruin trade ever
Interesting to see if someone grabs big D (6′ 6″ 220 lbs) Philippe Myers off waivers from Tampa Bay.
Undrafted, he has played 153 NHL games including 11 this season with Tampa with 1g 2a 3 pts and a +4.
Anyone seen much of this guy to offer an assessment? Great junior career in the Q and spent some decent seasons with the Flyers. He was part of the deal with Nashville that sent Ellis to the Flyers, then part of the deal between Nashville and Tampa that sent McDonagh to Nashville.
The teams with an early waiver crack at him are, in order, Anaheim, Chicago, Arizona, Columbus, Ottawa, San Jose.
Anyone claiming him will need cap space to absorb his $1.4 mil hit – each of Anaheim, Chicago, Arizona and Ottawa have ample space. And he is a RD.
Hi George
The $1.4 M is next year; this year it is just shy of $2.6 M
Were it just $1.4 M this year… Pens (for the extra mere $600 K) send down Ruhweedel and claim Myers…. get a player 7 years younger; 7 inches taller; 30 lbs heavier; far superior…. Wow
No space to maneuver it now (unless Tanger was immediately put on LTIR…. and they deal with a move re cap shortage [for Tanger return] in 3 or 4 weeks… so that excellent move won’t happen
Sens… I oft see you mentioning moving Zaitzev….
Claim Meyers; sit or waive Zaitsev…. then buy out Zaitsev next June… 23/24…. Myers in ; add Zaitsev buyout savings… Sens net a Cap Savings of ~ $0.3 M
24/25….. only ~ $0.8 M in dead cap
Gain, 6 years, 4” , 25 lbs
This year
Zaitsev 8 GP….. 0-1-1 and -3
Myers 11 GP….. 1-2-3 and +\- of ZERO
Waddya tink???
Tkachuk was the catalyist for Ottawa last night, no doubt about that … but again D. J. Smith had Chabot on the ice for 31 minutes – 8 more than any of the other D. He is going to burn this guy out.
Yeah, thanks Pengy, was looking at his cap hit for next season – but even so, those teams that will have first crack at claiming him (Anaheim, Chicago, Arizona and Ottawa (Columbus is next after Arizona but they’re unable to absorb his cap hit) each have more than enough – and if does go somewhere on waivers it’ll be long before Pittsburgh gets a crack.
As for Ottawa, Dorion has $3,562,500 in dead cap buy-outs now which only drops to $3,459,333 next year. with RFAs DeBrincat, Gambrell, Pinto, Brannstrom and Bernard-Docker all to re-sign so I think Dorion would want to avoid adding to that even at the amount you indicate when it comes to Zaitsev (who, by the way, looked pretty stead last night in MSG).
I still think the way they’ll eventually get him off the books is in some sort of multiple-player trade where he becomes part of the package in exchange for some sort of sweetener in the overall return.
George, I agree with your assessment of Zaitsev’s play last night – not bad. If he could keep this up for a few games the likelihood of him being included in some type of trade becomes much more realistic. Let’s see what happens tonight.
Hi George,
Re Zaitsev,
If Vancouver make Thatcher Demko avalable,
I can see them takeing back Zaitsev in part of a
Big trade for the goaltender….?
Ottawa could do a Very Nice package of 1st round pick, 23yr old LW Alex Formenton, RD man Zaitsev and a good young prospect…❓
Today i was reading an article about the LA Kings have serious intrest in Canucks goaltender
Thatcher Demko…. i wonder if he wants out and sees the writing on the wall regarding a Canucks
Re-build….. 🤔
My guess is the Canucks go into a Quick Re-build
They have some good young players like Hughes & Elias Pettersson to build around
Today Sataurday, they are sitting out RW Brock Boester,🤔
They have a couple of D/men they can move
Big Tyler Myers 1.5 yrs at $6.M and Oliver Ekman-Larsson …..i think will be Very hard to move with his salary at 4.5 years at $8.250,000
up front Bo Horvat & 25 yr old RW Brock Boester
This could really speed up the Re-build in Vancouver with picks and prospects and cap space…..❓
Love the way Brady Tkachuk plays👌
A “Gordie Howe hat trick” and the OT Goal nice victory over the NYR, and he sticks up for his
Coach👍
Lots of Scocer & Football on TV down in PS, but not much hockey, the Firebirds are getting some love down there (Seattle Kraken Farm Team)