NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2023
Check out the latest on Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Corey Perry, Jack Campbell and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
SPORTSNET: Mark Spector was asked about the Edmonton Oilers chances of signing Jonathan Toews in his latest mailbag segment. He indicated that the Oilers are among several teams keeping tabs on the former Chicago Blackhawks captain, but the 35-year-old center isn’t giving off a vibe that he wants to resume his playing career.
Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (NHL Images).
Toews has been battling long COVID-19 and several other ailments that have hampered his fitness. Spector reports the word is he won’t play in 2023-24. When Toews’ agency sent out its list of free agents, the future Hall of Famer wasn’t on their list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews was also diagnosed with chronic immune response syndrome which sidelined him for the entire COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. His performance has steadily declined since 2019-20, tallying 37 points in 71 games in 2021-22 and 31 points in 53 games last season as he took some time off due to his ailments.
Toews has yet to issue a statement regarding his plans for his playing career. The longer he goes without signing a contract this summer, the more likely he’ll be hanging up his skates.
SPORTSNET: Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Friday that he’s still awaiting word from Patrice Bergeron as to whether he’ll return for another season or retire. The only news from the 37-year-old Bruins captain was the recent birth of his first son.
Sweeney was asked about the condition of Bergeron’s ailing back. The GM believes that will be part of his decision-making progress.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bergeron won the Selke Trophy last month as the NHL’s top defensive forward for a record sixth time. It was reported earlier this month that the Bruins are conducting their offseason business as though Bergeron and fellow center David Krejci won’t be back.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Corey Perry will be acting as a mentor to young Blackhawks such as 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard. The 38-year-old veteran winger signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks following their acquisition of his rights last month from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Perry talked about how veterans such as Teemu Selanne and the Niedermayer brothers helped him during his early years with the Anaheim Ducks. He went on to play a similar role with the 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens, helping young players such as Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins shot down the notion among some Oilers fans of the club buying out the remaining years of goaltender Jack Campbell’s contract. “My information is that there is zero chance of that. None. Period.”
THE ATHLETIC: Former New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow told Kevin Kurz that he would love to return to the NHL in some capacity someday.
Snow, 53, was relieved of his duties as Isles GM in June 2018 in a five-year payout agreement with former owner Charles Wang that recently ended on July 1. He’s spent the past three seasons as head coach of the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several current Islanders such as Mathew Barzal, Ilya Sorokin, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Ryan Pulock, and Adam Pelech selected by Snow during his years as Islanders GM. So were former Islanders such as John Tavares, Josh Bailey, Jared Spurgeon, Devon Toews, Anthony Beauvillier and Nino Niederreiter.
GOPHNX.COM: The Arizona Coyotes have started preliminary contract extension talks with head coach Andre Tourigny.
I find it odd that none of the articles I’ve read about Snow wanting back in the NHL have mentioned a certain 15-year deal that didn’t quite pan out…
We NYI fans can never forget. The tragedy is that we didn’t keep Luongo.
It is because Milbury made sooooo many bad deals that Snow almost gets a pass.
Yeah, the stupid Luongo deal that Milbury made set the Isles back in a big way. Milbury just had to make the big splash in drafting the first goalie #1 overall. They should have kept Luongo, who was the better goalie. And they’d have drafted Danny Heatley or Marion Gaborik.
Reports will emerge that Toews retired but he will claim he knows nothing about it
I like me some dark humor and that was a solid dark humor joke.
The organization hasn’t t recovered from Millbury s awful tenure in Long Island!His trades were amongst the worst in the NHL!He stepped on his tongue ruining his time working in the NHL!
To be free Mikes hands were tied as I remember almost every trade was money related Islanders were always cost cutting. Before there was a cap Leaf’s tried buying every UFA but they were getting old and didn’t work.
There is no way the Oilers buy out Jack Campbell,
Stu Skinner & him have a Great working relationship
JC had an off year, he will be much better next year for sure.👍
Maybe heading into the 3rd year of his contract they maybe a trade JC to clear some cap space @$5.M PA….
that would clear the way for young skinner to be the FT #1 goaltender in Edmonton, its Much like Boston situation with Swayman one more year and he will take over as #1 goaltender in Boston.
Good young Goaltender’s need a good strong on ice goaltending partnership to learn and work with
its a on-going learning process,
done right it will pay off and it looks that way with both of these teams…👌