NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2023
The Lightning sign Brandon Hagel to an eight-year contract extension, the Coyotes extend coach Andre Tourigny’s contract, a columnist joins Kris Letang for a workout, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning yesterday announced the signing of Brandon Hagel on an eight-year, $52 million contract extension. The 24-year-old winger is currently on the final season of his three-year, $4.5 million deal.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hagel’s getting a significant annual pay raise from $1.5 million to $6.5 million when his new contract kicks in for 2024-25. However, the 24-year-old winger earned it by quickly becoming a key part of the Lightning roster following his acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season.
Hagel reached career highs last season with 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points. He’s now in his playing prime and should remain an important part of their core forwards over the life of his new contract.
GOPHNX.COM’s Craig Morgan reports the Arizona Coyotes have reached an agreement on a contract extension with head coach Andre Tourigny. Terms were not announced. It’s also believed his assistant coaches will also receive extensions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tourigny is entering his third season on his current deal with the Coyotes. The club showed improvement last season with 70 points, up from 57 from the previous year.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Columnist Matt Vensel recently took part in an offseason workout in Montreal with Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and his personal trainer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vensel’s brief foray as Letang’s workout partner is a fascinating look at the hard work that the 36-year-old blueliner puts himself through in preparation for the upcoming NHL season.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed center Joe Veleno to a one-year, $825K contract.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed center Peter Holland to a professional tryout offer.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk to an entry-level contract. The 18-year-old defenseman was chosen 22nd overall.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Edmonton Oilers have hired Rick Pracey as their Director of Amateur Scouting, parting ways with Tyler Wright.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: cited TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie reporting the NHL has cleared defenseman Logan Mailloux to play with the Canadiens. Mailloux, 20, played his final season of junior hockey in 2022-23 with the OHL’s London Knights.
Three years ago while playing in Sweden, Mailloux was charged under Swedish law with defamation and offensive photography when he shared explicit, non-consensual photos with his teammates.
Mailloux was fined for the offenses and was suspended by the OHL for all but 12 games of the 2021-22 season. He also had to receive permission from league Commissioner Gary Bettman to play in the NHL following his junior career.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As per the report, Mailloux has expressed remorse for his actions and has taken part in a series of educational events involving the Montreal Canadiens Foundation. He could start the season with the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Laval.
Mailloux appears to have earned the opportunity for a second chance. It’s up to him to make the most of it.
Without second chances we wouldn’t have refried beans. Seriously though, if Mailloux has addressed the issue and taken it seriously (and continues to do so) he deserves a chance to pursue his career.
I was not happy that Bergevin drafted Mailloux given his request not to be drafted but since then he has certainly done everything asked of him and has merited this opportunity. Here’s hoping he becomes a solid top 4 D-man for the Habs for years to come.
And by the way, he was not suspended for all but 12 games of the following season. He was suspended for half the season and then missed time with a shoulder injury.
Well said, Ed, Howard, HF30 and Ray. His action deserved condemnation and consequences, which occurred. But one should be able to earn a second chance, and I say that irrespective of Mailloux’s being in the Habs’ system.
Sadly, this is not the last we will hear of this, as I am sure if Mailloux gets to play any games in the NHL it will be brought up once again.
As for the allegations re the Team Canada juniors, let’s let the report come out and see if charges are laid. Trial by media and rumour is unacceptable, and it casts shadows on the entire team. If it is found that a crime was committed, then let the perpetrators face the consequences. Until then, enough of unproven allegations.
Logan Mailloux was charged under Swedish law for offensive photography and defamation, charges that wouldn’t have applied in Canada.
He was a 17y/o who ws in his first week in Sweden and picked up by a team groupie who was a bit older than him.
They had consensual sex yet three years later it still comes up as a stain he continuously is held back/punished by OHL and NHL.
He has done everything required/requested of him since that time.
Meanwhile the NHL and Hockey Canada are slow-walking the naming and punishment of the Junior National players, some of who continued and may still be in the NHL who allegedly raped a girl.
Pics of consensual sex v gang rape
While you can’t defend shoplifting by comparing it to bank robbery you can’t make them morally equivalent either.
I think the punishment was just about right for Mailloux. What he did afterwards was as well.
Not sure how you know she was a groupie HF30, I haven’t read anything suggesting that, but whether or not she liked hockey players and having sex with them is besides the point.
Sharing/Posting pictures of a young women you had sex with makes you a first class a-hole, big time. But as we know, being an a-hole is a choice, and he appears to have chosen not to be one anymore. Good for him and I wish him well. It’s a good story if he does.
You earn 2nd chances and he did.
Playing in the NHL is not a right either, no different that working for company. If your a dick and do dickish stuff, you don’t work for them anymore if they have any type of standards. Not sure why the NHL would be any different.
Team Canada, exactly, WTF, and why is this taking so long. Anybody who would suggest the 2 incidents are similar is an idiot, not sure who is saying that.
Brandon Hagel is a good player but $1.5 M to $6.5M for 1 year of work, man I don’t get it? Someone explain to me the rationale of that one. That’s quite a raise. Someone on here was making fun of Devon T oews maybe getting 8-9 M when his contract expires next year. T oews arguably the backbone of a good Avalanche defense since he has been in Colorado could command such a raise even though I think it is a bit exorbitant but Hagel with a $5M raise for 1 30 goal season, I don’t know? Help me understand!
Tommy , lets chalk it up to a likely rising cap and paying for potential , 6-8 years from now if Hagel continues to produce this contract will be a good deal IMO.
I think it’s a great deal and Sweeney should try and get Debrusk to sign the same type of contract.
Wow, ok. Things sure seemed to have changed? From assessing someone’s actual production to “potential” . What happens if he only pots 15 goals on the season, do the fans start complaining that he is overpaid? I could see if there is a trend like several 30 goal seasons or close to 30 goal seasons? Admittedly, I don’t know his totals with Chicago but don’t remember him being a 30 goal scorer. I know he’s a good player but man, ” it’s good to be Brandon Hagel”
Savvy move by TB again SOP. They saw the potential and paid for it. Not like he came cheap, other than his cap hit of course.
Good player.
BH does not have to score 30 – he is an asset at 15 playing on a checking line when they ask him to do that; versatile and a perfect fit for the system
One important part of the Logan Mailloux that Lyle chose to leave out, is the Montreal Canadians themselves.
The team fully knew of the actions and Mailloux had asked not to be drafted.
The Canadians chose not to honor his wishes and decided to insult the young lady, insult the league. The decision the Montreal Canadians made was selfish and basically said we care more about winning then anything else.
Logan Mailloux i have no issue, he said and done all the right things and doesn’t deserve to have his opportunity to be an NHL player cancelled.
Make no mistake what Mailloux done was wrong and deserve what he got but time to move on.
The part that caper leaves out is that was the actions of the Canadiens’ previous management and scouting department. To the credit of the current front office, they’ve worked with Mailloux to help him in his rehabilitation.
The new regime definitely provided the programs and the boy absolutely put in the work, but he seemed to show immediate remorse for his actions when they came to light. I say let him move on and live his life. Stone casting and whatnot isn’t really beneficial to anyone. He’ll show his character off the ice and the brass will be attentive to whichever way he goes.
Fair point, Caper. Bergevin made a mess of it, and probably made it worse for Mailloux too.
True that LJ.
It’s ok Lyle you’re allow to be a fan and try to protect your favorite team from criticism.
Lyle i will change my statement:
The Canadians owned by the Molson family and run by Geoff Molson slapped the league, the young lady and Mailloux in the face because winning was more important.
I’m not “protecting” the Canadiens from anything, caper. Those are the facts. The previous front office drafted Mailloux, for which they were justifiably criticized, including by me at the time.
https://www.spectorshockey.net/2021/07/nhl-morning-coffee-headlines-july-24-2021/
You people give him a pass because it wasn’t YOUR daughter. If it was, would you be so accepting of it?
Didn’t think so.
When he says “You people” do you think he means Canadians?
You aren’t giving him a pass because he’s not your son. If he was, would you be more accepting of it?
Thought so.