NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 9, 2023
The Stars tame the Wild, the Rangers down the Canucks and Oilers GM Ken Holland seeks “dollar-in, dollar-out” trades. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: It was a milestone game for Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn as his club tamed the Minnesota Wild by a score of 4-1. Benn opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the season, marking his 10th career 20-goal season. Jake Oettinger made 38 saves and Jason Robertson collected two assists as the Stars (30-13-10) extended their points streak to seven games. Joel Eriksson Ek replied for the Wild as they slipped to 27-19-4 on the season.
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars opened a five-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Western Conference with 70 points. The Wild, meanwhile, dropped into the final wild-card berth in the West with 58 points.
The New York Rangers held off the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. K’Andre Miller collected three assists while Filip Chytil scored to extend his goal streak to five games as the Rangers improved to 29-14-8. Quinn Hughes collected two assists while J.T. Miller picked up an assist for his 500th career point as the Canucks fell to 20-27-4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 66 points.
HEADLINES
TSN: Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland told the Got Yer Back podcast that he would like to make a move before the March 3 trade deadline to help his roster. However, he indicated it would have to be a “dollar in, dollar out” move.
The Oilers have $1.125 million in cap space with winger Kailer Yamamoto ($3.1 million average annual value) eligible to come off long-term injury reserve on Saturday. Holland explained that will force him to make some difficult decisions regarding his bottom-of-the-roster players. “They can’t all stay,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade rumors link the Oilers to left-shot defensemen such as the Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun, the Columbus Blue Jackets Vladislav Gavrikov and the Montreal Canadiens Joel Edmundson. A dollar-in, dollar-out deal could involve winger Jesse Puljujarvi ($3.5 million AAV) as the Oilers have been trying to move him for months.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau doesn’t expect much to change for the NHL Players Association now that US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is expected to become their new executive director.
Proteau doubts Walsh will make the PA more aggressive in its collective bargaining negotiations with the NHL. He points out that the players have taken the money they’re getting under the current CBA and kept the waters calm. The league, meanwhile, isn’t about to change a system that is working well for the owners of the 32 teams.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Proteau’s take. He noted the PA could decertify, which would allow all the players to become unrestricted free agents able to negotiate any contract with any team. However, they haven’t shown any inclination to go that route and it’s unlikely they’re going to do so in four years’ time when the current CBA is due to expire.
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears reports the Islanders announced they will avoid rainbow jerseys and tape during their Pride Night warmups. They will be making donations to the LGBT Network and the New York Gay Pride Association, as well as carrying out other Pride-based initiatives.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Isles are following the lead of the New York Rangers, which did the same thing during their recent Pride Night. It’ll be interesting to see if any more teams follow suit.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently said he doesn’t want the issue of rainbow jerseys overshadowing the league’s support of the game community. Sears points out that may be already happening.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov skipped practice yesterday but head coach Paul Maurice doesn’t consider his injury to be serious. Barkov left Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being struck in the hand by a shot.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: The Flyers have told their season-ticket holders that if they renew, they’ll refund the price of all their April games and apply the credit toward next season.
TSN: The Nashville Predators re-signed forward Tommy Novak to a one-year, $800K contract extension.
Yesterday, theSaint expressed the wish that Chychrun finally goes somewhere – anywhere – just to finally get him out of the conversation.
That goes in spades as well with Jesse Puljujarvi.
$3 mil cap hit for 4g 6a 10 pts in 49 gp?? Who, in their right mind, is going to take that on the way-off chance that a “change in scenery” might be the ticket?
This guy has played 308 games in the NHL with 50g 58a 108 pts which works out to 82-game averages of 13g 15a 28 pts. No way Holland finds a taker for that anemic output – not at that cost. He’s an RFA after the season and I’d bet Edmonton just walks away, turning him into a UFA. If he wants to continue in the NHL, someone might see some 4th line value and offer him a deal at around $850,000 – more likely he goes looking for a PTO chance.
Even the much-maligned Nail Yakopov had better career stats with 350gp 62g 74a 136 pts -averaging over 82 games of 15g 17a 32 pts.
Of course if someone sees $3 mil per value in a fast-skating, good checking F who just can’t find the net even with a GPS, who knows? Maybe he’ll wind up getting a raise!
Now watch, with the Oilers in Ottawa Saturday night they’ll stifle McJesus but Puljujarvi will wind up getting a hat-trick –
Not to worry about the Senators
Their talent pool is Massive
I haven’t researched the upcoming draft fully , lots of hype !
Ottawa needs to land a cornerstone on defence – as per this draft!
With an early pick , I am sure their wish will be granted !
Just a waiting game for Ottawa
A 6’8” monster goaltender in the wings
A future Brad Marchand
Lots to feel cheerful 😃 about in Trudeau land ..
Ken, don’t bother researching the various “mock draft” sites for any meaningful possibilities – outside of Connor Bedard of course.
Four different sites have Ottawa picking a C (probably their deepest position), a LW, a RW and “LHRW” (which I assume means a “left-handed shot RW” (a la Rocket Richard).
Braden Yager – 6′ 0″ 165lb C – Moose Jaw
Ryan Leonard – 5′ 11″ 180 lbs RW -USA Under-18
Andrew Cristall – 5′ 10″ 165 lbs LW – Kelowna
Colby Barlow – 6′ 1″ 190lbs “LHRW” – Owen Sound
As for having an “early pick” – right now, following 4 straight wins before the break – they sit with the 11th pick overall, well within range of the 17th/18th pick range with all injured players back in the line-up (except Norris) – including Zub – and I can see my first fears realized – and that is, they rise in the standings to the point where they just miss landing a WC slot and wind up drafting middle-of-the-pack.
It’s a deep draft – but not THAT deep.
I’m really tired of people trying to dump Puljujarvi on the Jackets. Most of the Jackets’ forwards have better numbers (while playing on a worse team) than him. Add that to the fact that Jarmo, who has better than average insight on European (especially Finnish) players, passed him up to draft P.L. Dubois and the question is, “Why would the Jackets trade for him”? Or accept him as part of a trade?
Just because the Jackets are in last place doesn’t mean they’re actually that bad and a dumping ground for draft busts. The Jackets are in last primarily due to leading the league in Man Games Lost due to injury.
Begs to question, did the oilers ruin/rush another high pick draftee again? There’s a long list of players never reaching their expected projections with this team that’s had better kicks at the can to pick potentially good players than most.
Yes I could most definitely put Jesse’s name in the hat of those I am sick of hearing over and over. He’s not quite at the Chychrun level but close.
Maybe they both can be traded to the same team.
Same guy who told me cozens deal was close couple days before
Adams runs a tight ship
No leaks
Said it’s who they wanted all along and buffalo has finally agreed to player Arizona wants. Also Jeremy white on wgr550 has reported he’s hearing something
Chychrun to buffalo close
Based on what news?
Valentines Day is fast Approaching !
Be sure to send your gratitude to Mr. Gary Bettman. – Dearly Beloved
1. Stress free NHL brass
2.Exciting the fan base to its utmost Enjoyment !
3. Making Sportsnet possible for all involved , intermission, postgame analysis etc
4. Making the trade deadline a very user friendly transaction
5……
Our 🥰 are with you Gary !!!
Life is funny sometimes; wasn’t that long ago Ken Holland wouldn’t trade JP and now he can’t trade him.
I remember a couple of seasons ago suggesting Jake Debrusk for JP
I still believe JP still has talent and by his own admission he has 0 confidence.
Craig Smith or Mike Reilly (no 4th) and a 4th round pick for JP
I don’t think the Oil want to trade for another forward who isn’t producing Caper. Might as well just keep JP.
IMO they are looking for a 2nd pair shutdown LD, that is hopefully a UFA this off season.
Or maybe all they can get is a depth guy for that role.
JP seems like a throw in to make the $’s work along with a a high pick or good prospect. If the team can re-sign him for a # that works as JP won’t get qualified by anybody. JP and his agent know that too. They will get a fast, big, physical bottom 6 winger. Useful player who is being paid at least twice what his production warrants.