NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2023
More details on what led the Senators to trade Alex DeBrincat, Zdeno Chara finds a new activity after hockey, the Lightning release Josh Archibald and sign Tyler Motte, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch cites sources claiming Alex DeBrincat was unhappy with his role as the Senators’ second-line center behind captain Brady Tkachuk. “If that’s the case then DeBrincat really had to go,” wrote Garrioch, who noted that the 25-year-old winger sounded like he had one foot out the door during his exit interview with the media in mid-April.
Former Ottawa Senators winger Alex DeBrincat (NHL Images).
The Senators traded DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings on July 9. He immediately signed a four-year contract with the Wings worth an average annual value of $7.85 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This comes on the heels of Senators center Tim Stutzle telling the “32 Thoughts” podcast that he wasn’t going to try to convince DeBrincat to stay. “If you don’t want to be there, then good luck on your way,” said Stutzle.
NEW YORK POST: Former NHL star Zdeno Chara has taken up marathon running in his retirement. A fitness fanatic, the 46-year-old future Hall-of-Famer said he never took a break from his training regimen since hanging up his skates.
Chara successfully ran the Boston Marathon in April. He’ll be running in the New York Marathon in November. He’s also indicated an interest in competing in triathlons.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is what Chara does for enjoyment. He probably wrestles gators for relaxation.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning announced the termination of forward Josh Archibald’s contract and announced the signing of free-agent forward Tyler Motte to a one-year, $800K contract.
Earlier this summer, the 30-year-old Archibald signed a two-year deal with the Lightning worth $800K annually. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said that the winger and his agent informed him that he was not planning on playing hockey for the time being and would not be attending training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No reason was given for Archibald’s decision. Perhaps we’ll learn more in the near future. He spent eight seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers, collecting 83 points in 305 games played. He also won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016-17.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Colin White to a professional tryout offer.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan profiled the Cap Friendly website and the four people behind it. Jamie Davis, his brothers Ryan and Chris, and Dominik Zrim have been running the site since its start in 2016.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly quickly filled the void after the influential CapGeek.com shut down in 2015 as founder Matthew Wuest battled and eventually succumbed to cancer later that year. It’s become one of the most reliable and invaluable resource sites (along with PuckPedia) for tracking NHL salary cap and contract information.
That Chara really is something. What a physical specimen.
Now. let’s see, Ottawa traded Chara because……..?
Because they chose Redden. Hindsight is always 20 20😀
And the schmuck GM who made THAT decision soon had no job …. anywhere
Many reasons:
1) Marion Hossa was his best friend and Ottawa kind of screwed over Hossa. Signing him and flipping him immediately
2). Chara wanted to be captain but Alfie was already firmly in place.
3). Peter Chirelli was Ottawa’s assistant GM and had just been hired as Boston’s GM. He was close with Chara
All this to say that Z had no interest in staying in Ottawa
Welcome back George O
Hindsight is 20/20, true, which makes me think of Andrew Raycroft and…… who was the other guy?
Cheers, George.
Well George and I have said for months that it’s appeared that Debrincat was not committed to the team. I think we both wanted him to go if he wanted to go. The fact that teammates felt the exact same way says a lot. That type of thing affects the locker room.
I am interested to see how the subtraction of the ONE negative player may actually add a WHOLE lot to this team.
The other guys all obviously want to be there.