NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 27, 2023
Connor McDavid tops the list of winners at the 2023 NHL Awards, the First and Second All-Star Teams and All-Rookie Teams are announced, the Bruins trade Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to the Blackhawks and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
2023 NHL AWARDS, ALL-STAR AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAMS
NHL.COM: Connor McDavid was the big winner at the 2023 NHL Awards. The Edmonton Oilers captain took home the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team and the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players Association.
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
McDavid had already won the Art Ross Trophy as this season’s leading scorer and the Maurice Richard Trophy as the top goal scorer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is just the third player to win the Lindsay Award four times, joining Wayne Gretzky (five times) and Mario Lemieux (four times). He also joins Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (2007-08) as the only two players to win the Hart, Lindsay, Ross and Richard trophies in the same season.
The Boston Bruins had three trophy winners. Captain Patrice Bergeron won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward for the second straight season and a record sixth time. Linus Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender and Jim Montgomery was the winner of the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year.
Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the top defenseman. It’s the third time he’s been honored with this award.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson joins Paul Coffey as the only two blueliners to go eight-plus years between Norris Trophy wins. Frequently mentioned in trade rumors, this could further boost his stock in the trade market. He led the Sharks and all defensemen with 101 points, becoming the first blueliner since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to reach the 100-point plateau.
Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers took home the Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year. He’s the first player in the club’s two-year history to win an NHL award. He led all rookies this season with 57 points in 80 games.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league’s most gentlemanly player. It’s the second time he’s been honored with this award.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks denigrate this award but I think it’s worthwhile to honor players such as Kopitar who play with a high level of skill while taking few penalties. They should be singled out for their disciplined play in a physical sport like hockey.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy honoring his perseverance and dedication to the game. He endure a stroke (the second of his career) and the death of his father yet finished the season with 41 points in 64 games.
Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his charity work.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backlund’s future with the Flames remains uncertain after he was noncommital in April about signing a contract extension. He told reporters that he’s since spoken with new Flames general manager Craig Conroy as well as his agent but said the situation is out of his hands. “We’ll see what happens,” he said.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos took home the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
McDavid, Karlsson and Ullmark also joined Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson, Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox as this season’s First All-Star Team.
McDavid’s teammate Leon Draisaitl, Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin, Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk, Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm and Colorado Avalanche blueliner Cale Makar and New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin are this season’s Second All-Star Team.
Beniers joins Stars forward Wyatt Johnston and Arizona Coyotes winger Mattias Macelli, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power and Ottawa Senators blueliner Jake Sanderson and Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner as the NHL’s 2022-23 All-Rookie Team.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW/NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Prior to the NHL Awards, the Bruins traded left wing Taylor Hall and the rights to forward Nick Foligno to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defensemen Alec Regula and Ian Mitchell.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the cap-strapped Bruins, shipping out Hall’s $6 million average annual value through 2024-25 to the rebuilding Blackhawks. Reports indicate the Hawks were not on Hall’s 16-team no-trade list.
The move gives the Bruins over $10 million in cap room for 2023-24. That’s prompted speculation they’ll use some of it to re-sign winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Adding Hall should provide the Blackhawks with an experienced linemate and mentor for Connor Bedard, who is expected to be their selection with the first-overall pick during the opening round of this year’s draft on Wednesday. Hall was chosen first overall by the Oilers in the 2010 draft. His cap hit also helps them reach the salary-cap minimum ($61.7 million) for 2023-24.
Foligno is slated to become a UFA on July 1. This move gives the Blackhawks a few days before that date to negotiate a potential contract with him.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: The Flyers attempt to trade defenseman Tony DeAngelo back to the Carolina Hurricanes has been held up because of a rule in the collective bargaining agreement regarding trades and salary retention.
The rule states that a team cannot reacquire a player whom they have retained salary from for a minimum of one year after the date of the transaction. The Hurricanes traded DeAngelo to the Flyers on July 8, 2022, meaning they’ll have to wait until July 8 of this year before the trade will be finalized.
The league is to meet with both clubs about this issue during the upcoming draft before reaching a decision.
TSN: Former St. Louis Blues forward Alex Steen has rejoined the club in their hockey operations department working with the club’s prospects. He spent 12 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Blues.
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators announced they’ve hired former goaltender Pekka Rinne as their European development coach and scout.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks goalie coach Sudarshan “Sudsie” Maharaj has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has been undergoing treatment and is scheduled for surgery. He anticipates returning to his role with the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Maharaj for a quick and full recovery.
What is the name of the one voter who gave Pasternak a number one vote ? I thought that was ridiculous.
Mrs. Pasta is a beat writer on the Prague Hockey/Gardens & Bathrooms Gazette.
Iago giving Pastrnak isn’t the worst part, it’s giving McDavid a fifth place vote. The person needs to explain their decision.
I don’t think it’s a Boston beat writer; whom ever it is should turn in their voting credentials.
Voted McDavid 5th. What a moron.
Very difficult to understand how these hockey writers come up with their decisions (votes) on the awards.
How is it possible that McD didn’t win the Vezina, Norris, and Jennings????
Congrats to all winners
Show was a tad too schticky for me. Certainly could have done without the kid. Biznasty was refreshing to have on though.
👍👍
Great acceptance speech by Montgomery and him humbly addressing (and graciously thanking those who supported him through) his addiction.
I didn’t feel it was appropriate that the very next “Segway” “schtick” piece (after Montgomery’s speech); had “free beers” being handed out. That segment could have been put in elsewhere through the festivities chronology
The only award I would have voted different was Calder….I truly believe that should have gone to Skins. For sure Beniers was the winner in first half…. But whole year…. Skins.
To me, Beniers was not as good Maccelli (who was on the horrifically poor Yotes and still finished with more PPG than Beniers).
Hall trade….. was surprised Chi was not on his protection list
Dubas asleep again?
Missed out on a strapping 3C replacement (Ryjo) for Granlund ; for FREE; only $4M Cap; and actual cap savings had Dubas bought out Granlund
Now Dubas has missed out on reasonable Cap hit replacement for Zucker. Their (Hall/Zucker) two months apart; both quick. Hall a bit faster; but bigger and stronger. 2 years at $6M (still in window) for minimal trade capital…. Dooby??!!!
He missed out on Durzi ($1.7 M, for just a second rounder)…. and still has Ruuta on the roster at $2.8 M?????
Doooooby…… make some calls!!!!
You better not screw up the draft
You are guaranteed to get one of Barlow, Wood, Danielson; Ritchie ; or Yaeger…. Don’t leave Nashville without one of them!!!!
If Wood miraculously slides to 14th and you don’t take him…. please resign
Relax, the draft hasn’t even happened yet 🙂
Hi EDB
Hard to relax when he already screwed the pooch on my other favourite team having 1/2 Cap on 4 Fwds; preventing a balanced roster and cup aspirations.
Then as he’s joined Pens, he’s sat back while three extremely cheap and highly beneficial trades pass him by….AND…. Not only has he yet to buyout Granlund; he has publicly stated that he is highly highly unlikely to do so (“only as a last resort”)
That is a GM not doing his job
I really fear he is going off the board at the draft and screwing the pooch again….💩💩💩💩
No, please don’t.
Reading a ton of comments from Bruins fan most seem happy with the trade and hope they use the money for Bertuzzi.
Trade is a terrible trade, you basically took a quality NHL player and said we don’t want you and think we can do much better with your $6m.
Chicago as they did with Domi, will move Hall to a contender at the trade deadline and get a much better return then the Bruins.
Yes i understand the cap and its implication but if you think this is a good trade, you’re simply wrong. You saved on the cap and gave away a quality Nhl player.
Most think this money is for Bertuzzi and maybe so; however Boston biggest need maybe at C and maybe the money gets used on Scheifele out of Winnipeg.
There is a huge difference between a “good trade” and a “necessary trade.”
Ya, the return was nil Caper, not sure I blame Sweeney though, it’s not like he didn’t speak to every team not on Hall’s no go list. My guess is contenders want the B’s to eat $ or add a sweetener and so Sweeney had zero leverage and time isn’t on his side either. CHI will use him to get some assets and needed to spend to get to floor. Who else on that list was that even an option for?
I agree 100% on your last paragraph.
Depends what Sweeny’s actual strategy plan is. Is he trying to compete for a cup next season or a move some vets get some space and some young assets/picks prior to the draft?
I would put down $20 on going for it again next season, but not sure we have the answer to that question yet.