NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2023
Analysis of the Canadiens trading Jeff Petry to the Red Wings plus the latest on Mark Stone, Artemi Panarin, David Krejci and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Nine days after reacquiring Jeff Petry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Canadiens traded the 35-year-old defenseman to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Penguins had retained 25 percent ($1.56 million) of Petry’s $6.25 million average annual value through 2024-25. The Canadiens retain half of the remainder, meaning the Wings’ share of his cap hit is $2.34 million.
Montreal Canadiens trade defenseman Jeff Petry to the Detroit Red Wings(NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The initial reaction from a majority of Canadiens fans on social media was disappointment that Habs general manager Kent Hughes didn’t get a better return for Petry. However, Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont believes this shows the market for the veteran blueliner was rather mediocre at best.
Dumont also points out that moving Petry completed a series of deals completed by Hughes that started when he initially traded the rearguard to the Penguins last summer for Mike Matheson. That includes moving Mike Hoffman to San Jose and adding goalie Casey DeSmith, three draft picks and gaining more salary-cap flexibility.
Lindstrom, 24, struggled to earn a regular roster spot with the Red Wings. Dumont believes he’s likely bound for the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Laval this season but the Canadiens are in a position where they can afford to give Lindstrom an opportunity.
This was also a classy move by Hughes. A Michigan native, Petry’s family now lives there year-round. He won’t have to uproot his family or spend most of the regular season apart from them as he did last season.
Petry’s production has waned over the past couple of seasons but he brings veteran skill and experience to the rebuilding Red Wings blueline, especially with promising Simon Edvinsson undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. This move should buy time for Edvinsson to fully recover and improve his game.
TSN: Speaking of the Canadiens, Hughes indicated that Paul Byron is expected to announce his retirement before the start of the upcoming season. The 34-year-old forward missed all of last season and played just 27 games in 2021-22 due to an ongoing hip injury. Byron will meet with management next month to discuss a position with the club.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Claimed off waivers in 2015 from the Calgary Flames, Byron’s energetic two-way play quickly made him a fan favorite in Montreal. In 521 regular-season games over 12 seasons with the Canadiens, Flames and Buffalo Sabres, he had 98 goals and 208 points along with 11 points in 38 playoff contests.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone revealed that he suffered a fractured wrist during the first period of his club’s 9-3 series-clinching victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Stone tallied a hat trick in that match, scoring twice after he was injured.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It takes a lot to sideline a player who’s on the verge of winning hockey’s holy grail.
TSN: David Krejci has left the door open on playing in Europe and representing Czechia at the 2024 World Championships. Earlier this week, the 37-year-old center announced his NHL retirement, bringing his 16-season career with the Boston Bruins to an end.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: A report out of Russia claims Artemi Panarin was fined by Novgorod police for firing a weapon inside a non-designated area on July 6. The report states the 31-year-old New York Rangers winger fired several shots and that it was his first offense. His weapon was also confiscated.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No details were provided as to why Panarin was discharging his weapon. Perhaps he’ll shed more light on that when he reports to Rangers training camp next month.
CAROLINA HOCKEY NOW: The Hurricanes have agreed to a 20-year lease with PNC Arena.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: PNC Arena has been the Hurricanes’ home since it was opened in 1999. The area surrounding the arena is currently being renovated to include a sports and entertainment district.
TSN: Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bobby Baun passed away on Monday at age 86. A 17-season NHL veteran from 1956-67 to 1972-73, Baun spent nearly 14 of those seasons with the Leafs, along with over three seasons with the Oakland Seals and Detroit Red Wings.
Baun earned a reputation as a hard-hitting blueliner, helping the Leafs win four Stanley Cups in the 1960s. He gained legendary status when he scored the series-tying overtime goal against the Red Wings in Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Final while playing on a broken ankle. He also played in the Cup-clinching Game 7 at Maple Leaf Gardens two nights later.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m old enough to remember watching Baun’s second tenure with the Leafs in the early-1970s. He was a master of the hip check, played a solid defensive game and never shied away from anyone who challenged him. My condolences to his family, friends and former teammates.
Me too Lyle, I think around the time I fell in love with hockey in 7th grade, I vaguely remember him playing on the Red Wings? This was late 60’s. 68-69 I was always watching hockey on TV and my dad would take me to Rochester Amerks games. I liked goaltenders and wanted to be a goalie. I liked Cheevers, Giacomin and Tony Esposito!! I think I have his hockey card somewhere. Condolences to Baun family.
Yes, tommy boy, Baun played for the Wings from 68-69 until traded back to the Leafs in 70-71.
Thanks for that confirmation!! I remember those days with great fondness. Unfortunately, my life took a turn in another direction but I always have loved hockey and still do. I saw guys back then like “Little M” Peter Mahovalich and Phil Roberto play for Montreal Voyagers vs Rochester Amerks and guys like Dick Gamble and Red Armstrong, I think, tough guy for the Amerks, the fans loved that guy, LOL!!! Anyways, good memories. Use to listen to Amerks games on the radio all the time!!!
Lyle, Baun and Brewer, Horton and Stanley, the Leafs ‘ defence when they won three in a row.
Baun was a big part of those teams.
He certainly was.
Count me among those who are disappointed in the return for Petry. It is understandable that there is not much of a market for him now. At this point, the contending teams that could use a veteran RD like Petry are pretty much capped out. I think Hughes should have waited till the deadline. At that point, the returns increase, the cap hits decrease and injuries open up spaces.
I hope the Habs find a role for Byron in player development. HE gave his all for the team until his body literally broke down. He could teach the kids a thing or two about perseverance and hard work.
Howard just be thankful that Hughes is steering the ship now. The rebuild will take a few more years, he is doing a nice job IMO.
I am more than thankful that Hughes is in charge and he’s certainly steering the ship in the right direction. But even the best screw up sometimes
Howard, I agree that he would have gotten more if he waited until the deadline but I’m sure Petry told him there was no way he was playing in Montreal and to trade him ASAP. As Hughes said himself, this deal was more about appeasing Petry then it was about trying to get maximum value for him. The mistake was trading for him in the first place.
Hughes did Petry a solid! Nice to see that in such a corporate driven world.
If you look at the context of the WHOLE deal involving Jeff, you will see that the Habs came out way ahead! With the glut of D man, Petry had to be moved anyway, and I am sure there are other moves to be made with that plethora of D-men that Hughes will make in the future to better his team!
Couple points. First, if Petry didn’t want to return to Montreal he would’ve included them on his 15-team no-trade list, which has to be updated and submitted to management every year. Second, Hughes never said this deal wasn’t about “appeasing” Petry. As the Montreal Gazette’s Stu Cowan reported, Hughes never had any intention of keeping Petry and let the defenseman know that shortly after acquiring him that he intended to trade him.
You claim it was a mistake to trade for Petry in the first place. You overlook the fact that it was the cost of doing business in a three-team trade that saw Hughes unload Mike Hoffman and his $4.5 million AAV through next season to the Sharks. That move made room on the roster to ensure a full-time roster spot for a forward such as Harvey-Pinard.
Hughes got the Penguins to retain 25 percent of Petry’s $6.25 million cap hit, which made it easier for the Habs to retain half and thus make a depreciating asset such as Petry easier to move in a tight offseason trade market where many clubs are squeezed for cap space. He also managed to shed over $2 million in cap room at the end of the day.
I’m pretty sure Montreal wasn’t on the 15 trade list cause he couldn’t imagine being traded back there.
Based on what?
The inherent unlikelihood of going back to the team that you wanted to be away from due to family reasons?
I just figured petry hedged his bets and assumed Montreal was team 16.
Lyle, further to Chrisms comment, it is based on the fact that he had demanded a trade out of Montreal just over a year ago. I think he assumed there was no way Montreal would trade back for him and so kept them off the list. I can’t think of a team who traded back (after one year) for a player who demanded to leave them but I’m sure someone on this forum will give me a few examples. Even Hughes acknowledges in the press conference that he knew Petry wasn’t going to be happy about getting a call from him. He goes on to say that “we wouldn’t drag this thing out by maximizing every last piece of value in the trade” So yes he was appeasing the player and doing the right thing by him. That’s not wrong, but I just don’t get why he traded for him in the first place. Pittsburgh is in their conference and they facilitated them getting a pretty good defenseman making them a tougher team to play against.
As far as the business aspect, maybe I am not understanding but Hoffman @$4.5 and Pitlick @1.1 were going to be off the books at the end of the year. If they wanted to make room for younger forwards, they could have placed Hoffman and or Pitlick in the minors and recalled them when injuries started to mount. They took on Petry @ 4.6/yr for 2years and since they are paying half of his salary, then in effect Molson is paying a total of$4.6M over the next 2 years for someone to not play on his team. Next year Petry’s $2.3M will be on the books versus $0 if no trade was made in the first place. Also taking on Desmith @1.8M creating a log jam both in net and on defense with the addition of Lindstrom. All of this for a couple of AHLers and a 2nd and 4th round pick. So unless the 2nd round pick turns out to be another P.K. then I think the whole thing was a mistake.
They traded for Petry because it was the cost of doing business. Hughes wanted to move Hoffman to ensure a roster spot for one of their younger forwards plus he also saw an opportunity to add to his roster. Placing Hoffman in the minors wouldn’t have freed up much cap space plus it would’ve been a waste to have him in Laval when they’re trying to develop talent on their farm team. As per The Athletic’s Arpon Basu, the Petry move was all about creating more cap flexibility. https://theathletic.com/4779445/2023/08/15/canadiens-jeff-petry-trade/
Hi Howard
Read your response (from yesterday) just now
I do agree re this single trade( once Petry had come on board with Habs)…. That Habs didn’t get as good a return as they could have….basically paying $3.6 M (retention on Petry) for a 4th and Lindstrom
But Hughes had already been on the big plus side of previous trade
Counting both trades together…. I think he did pretty dang good…..
Hughes converted $6.1 M in cash commitments for Hoffman and Pitlick
Into. $5.5 M ($3.6 M Petry retention, $1.9 M DeSmith)…. So saved $600 K;
and ….$5.6 M in Cap commitments (Hoffman/Pitlick) in 23/24 into $4.1 M (DeSmith plus Petry Cap retention)
gained…..
A 2nd
A 4th
Legere
Lindstrom
Those 2 trades combined is a big win for Habs
Petry…. Big win …. Effectively “coming home”
Te Breadman and
“ firing a weapon inside a non-designated area ”…..
So there ARE designated areas to fire a weapon in Novgorod? Only East side of Soccer stadium and Geopolitics section in public library?
I agree that the Habs still come out of the whole Karlsson-Petry thing in better shape. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been even better
Hughes is aiming at having more cap flexibility plus he also added two draft picks to his stockpile. Both can be used in the coming season as trade chips to potentially add to the roster for the coming season.
Howard, there is a video clip where Hughes talks about not wanting to use off season LTIR, and the consequences of having to do so.
The trade that brought Petry, as I think you know, was about clearing roster and cap space, not re-acquiring him. Moving Hoffman was not easy, so at the end of the day the Habs gain 2 million + in cap space, a few draft picks, and still might get something by moving DeSmith.
If you want more in an environment where so many teams are tight to the cap then you ask too much.
Here’s some light on Panarin. The authorities trumped something up against him because of past criticism of Putin. That’s how they roll over there.
Hi Howard
Absolutely knew it was a sham
What cracked me up was
““ firing a weapon inside a non-designated area ”
“Non-designated area” …. Inferring Novgorod is abundant with DESIGNATED areas for firing your weapon…. Shotgun weddings?
Pengy,
They most likely have gun ranges in Russia that would be considered designated areas. Target practice in the field behind a home is most likely equivalent to “firing a weapon inside a non-designated area”.
Of course, I have no idea about the circumstances; just speculating on possibilities.
And Panarin was merely arrested; in sharp contrast to the senior citizen who was gunned down by the FBI inside his Utah home for posting threats against Joe Biden.
Joe Biden and many others.
More details will come out about the incident I am sure. The FBI doesn’t just kick in doors and shoot people for posting threats. They will investigate you, get a warrant if you are stockpiling weapons, etc. Reports say he was armed at the time of the shooting. Didn’t say if he pointed it at them. But if I had to bet…
@Ray Bark, Hammer_of_the_Gods is spot on. The elderly man in Utah and stock piling weapons is NOT a arrestable offense nor is being armed inside your home. He was 75 yrs old which neighbors described him as an elderly, homebound man with physical limitations that suggested he posed no danger to anyone he had threatened online. Biden are weaponizing the alphabet agencies FBI, ATF, DOJ to eliminate they’re political opposition which is a hypocritical siren. The Biden’s are being investigated for taking political bribes from China, Ukraine and others due to testimony from sources and evidence inside those agency’s. Hunter Biden has a federal gun charge that would get a regular citizen 10 years in prison for lying on a handgun permit application while a felon not to mention his well documented crack addiction arrests with photos, videos and testimony from witnesses.
Byron was a fan favorite in Calgary when he was here. He was lost on waivers trying to protect a 3 goalie nightmare and Mason Raymond.
Gustav Lindstrom is the X factor in the trade and reviews on him are mixed.
Habs pro scouts are high on him,Hughes stated that they evaluate him as having reached only 70% of his potential.
Highly regarded he seems to have been rushed and development suffered…..sounds like what the Habs did to Norlinder.
As I mentioned the other day Habs have done well with projects lately, thr pro scouting group has been sharp.
Montembeault, Dach, Kovacevic, worked out, next up are Lias Andersson, Newhook and Lindstrom.
Size, young, high ceilings
late in the day for a reply HF30, but I do not understand why you say Norlinder was rushed. He played a few games with the Habs, then was reassigned to his Swedish club, then played in the AHL last year.
How has he been rushed?
LJ,
Habs didn’t know what to do with Norlinder, played him on the Right instead of Left, he was bounced from Habs, Rocket and Frolunda in the same year.
They haven’t defined a role for him and he’s fallen down the depth chart.
They may have been expecting too much but it appears to me that he was out of his element too quickly.
Ok. I vaguely – and I do mean vaguely – recalling Norlinder saying that he was over some frustration with the way he was handled, but agreed to come to play in Laval. That says to me he would have accepted an explanation of how the Habs plan to develop him.
But then again, maybe not.
I expect Newhook will work out. Andersson will be a career minor leaguer. Frankly, with Mailloux and Reinbacher on the way, I don’t see a place for Lindstrom