NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 25, 2023
Brandon Hagel’s contract with the Lightning could lead to a big raise for the Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk, the Oilers officially announce Evan Bouchard’s new contract and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
PUCKS WITH HAGGS: Joe Haggerty believes Bradon Hagel’s eight-year, $52 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning could have ramifications for the Boston Bruins and their negotiations with winger Jake DeBrusk.
Eligible next July for unrestricted free-agent status, the 26-year-old DeBrusk is in the second season of a two-year, $8 million contract. He’s endured inconsistency earlier in his career but reached a career-high 50 points (including 27 goals) in 64 games last season.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss believes the Bruins should sign DeBrusk to a comparable extension as soon as possible. He opines that the $6.25 million (or close to it) average annual cap hit will be more team-friendly in 2026 than it is right now.
Goss noted the depletion of the Bruins’ veteran core in recent years. He points out that Brad Marchand can’t keep playing forever and there’s not a lot of depth on the Bruins’ left wing. He warns that waiting to evaluate his performance this season could make DeBrusk more expensive to sign if he scores at the same pace as he did last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The good news for the Bruins is they’ve got a projected $23.8 million in cap space with 12 active roster players under contract. That’s plenty of room to sign DeBrusk to a contract comparable to Hagel’s.
The bad news is they must also shell out big bucks if they hope to acquire or sign a first-line center next summer. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman could be in line for a big raise provided they don’t trade him. That could force them to make a cost-cutting trade or two that could deplete their depth elsewhere in the lineup.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers officially confirmed they’ve signed Evan Bouchard to a two-year contract. The 23-year-old defenseman will earn an average annual value of $3.9 million.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers hired Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero as a hockey operations advisor. One of the most decorated women’s hockey players of all time, Ruggiero trained with Rangers general manager Chris Drury during their playing days. Both were inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL player Sven Baertschi officially announced his retirement. In a statement, the 30-year-old forward cited a number of injuries that have taken a toll. He played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights, scoring 66 goals and 138 points in 292 games.
THE DENVER POST: Former NHL player Kyle Quincey is building a psychedelic retreat center for former athletes and military members.
Quincey, 34, experienced emotional instability following his retirement in 2019, citing 20 concussions and massive mood swings. In 2020, his youngest son was diagnosed with brain cancer. The youngster is now in remission following a year of treatment but that ordeal also took its toll on Quincey’s mental health.
Introduced to “magic mushrooms” by former NHL enforcer and psychedelics advocate Daniel Carcillo, Quincey found they had a profound effect on him. He’s building the retreat where he hopes to provide psilocybin therapy for individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury, addictions, anxiety and depression.
Daniel Carcillo, what a fungi he turned out to be… get it.
Wow Randi. Wow.
Not sure I agree that Hagel’s deal is going to affect DeBrusk.
Tampa overpaid to get this guy, and then they overpaid him. That’s a Tampa problem.
The Bruins have been patient with their first rounder. He’ll get paid but I don’t see them as comparables.
Hagel, got a big bump.
TB is betting that this contract will be a deal, and get better and better as time goes on with a predicted rising cap.
They bet on the player, and if I had to bet, I think they win.
I haven’t taken mushrooms or LSD in a very long time. Might have to take a zoom around the block again one of these years.
Good one randino!
Hallucinagins not something I’d care to revisit. That stuff is so junior high.
Ya, was a long time ago for me Chrisms. And LSD in particular was quite the trip as they say. So I get how it can change ones perspective on things. Perhaps I remember it being better than it actually was, as memories often work.
I’m was fine with the odd hallucination as you knew why you were having one, which made it pretty funny if you’re with your buds.
Ray, some hockey fans don’t need drugs to hallucinate.
Lifelong Leafs fan here. I rest my case.
Haha BCLeafFan, especially the Ballard days I would guess!
I wish these past playoffs were a hallucination.
Ha! Another good one!