NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 11, 2023
Andrew Ladd announces his retirement plus the latest on Alexander Holtz, Devon Levi, Alexander Edler and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
DAILY FACEOFF: Andrew Ladd took to social media on Sunday to officially announce his retirement after 16 NHL seasons. In 1,001 regular-season games from 2005-06 to 2021-22, the versatile forward scored 256 goals and 294 assists for 550 points with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes. Ladd also had 18 points in 65 playoff games.
Former NHL winger Andrew Ladd (NHL Images).
Among Ladd’s highlights was winning the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2005-06 and the Blackhawks in 2009-10 as well as serving as captain of the Jets from 2010-11 to 2015-16. His best season came in 2014-15 with 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 81 games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In his prime, Ladd was a skillful winger who led by example. Knee and lower-body injuries hampered his performance in the final seasons of his career. He bounced between the Islanders and their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport from 2018-19 until traded to the Coyotes in July 2021. He missed all of last season with a knee injury.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald sees young forward Alexander Holtz as a future pillar of his club. The 21-year-old winger spent only 19 games with the Devils last season but Fitzgerald still holds the youngster in high regard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holtz’s disappointing performance last season saw his name surface in trade rumors. He could resurface as a trade candidate if he continues to struggle to crack the Devils’ lineup.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Goaltender Devon Levi is looking forward to his first full NHL season after making a brief but promising debut late in the 2022-23 campaign. He sported a record of 5-2-0 in seven games with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
“I can’t wait to see the guys again and to go out and compete with them,” said Levi. The 21-year-old netminder is “super excited” about the coming season. “I’m just doing my best to get my game to be the best it can be and keep working on it, keep improving.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi’s GAA and SP were inflated when he gave up six goals in a wild 7-6 win over the Detroit Red Wings and four goals in a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. However, he had a save percentage of .929 or better in four other games, giving up just two goals in each of those contests.
THE HOCKEY NEWS’ Jeff Paterson reports Alex Edler still hopes to continue his NHL career. However, the 37-year-old defenseman has yet to receive a contract offer or a professional tryout offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A 17-year NHL veteran, Edler spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. He spent the previous 15 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames recently hired long-time broadcaster Peter Loubardias as a reserve list scout. He’d spent the past 10 seasons as the color analyst for Flames games on Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
If I’m the Leafs I take a flyer on Edler with a PTO.
Edler can still be a serviceable bottom pair on most teams and will come in near the min
The hockey writers put out an article listing the worst 10 contracts do you agree?
10. Darnell Nurse
9. Colton Parayko
8. Josh Anderson
7. Brendan Gallagher
6. Torey Krug
5. Ben Chairot
4. Jonathan Huberdeau
3. Seth Jones
2. Tyler Seguin
1. Marc-Edouard Vlasic
8. Josh Anderson
7. Brendan Gallagher
6. Seth Jones
5. Ben Chairot, Colton Parayko, Darnell Nurse
4. Jonathan Huberdeau
3. Torey Krug
2. Tyler Seguin
1. Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Need goalie Bob on that list somewhere
Cap,
Sadly, at 1st glance there is only 1 team with TWO players on the list.
Even more sad, Nick Leddy, Brayden Schenn, Jordan Binnington, Jordan Kyrou might qualify as well??
IP
Eight and a half million times 8 for an underwhelming Pierre Luc Dubois might make that list soon enough.
Such lists are a waste of time Caper, for a number of reasons that do not deserve cataloguing.
But yesterday I asked George if he was affected by home town bias. With that in mind as a Habs fan, Gallagher’s contract is too much $ for too much term. One of Bergevin’s worst moves.
John Tavares has to be at the top of the list.
As an Oilers fan I Dont like Darnell Nurse 8X $9.25 Contract…….
He is Not offencive d/man when he winds up he misses the net… iWe have seen this way to many times over the past few years🙈
and he is Not the best defencive d/,man ether….
He dose not play Physical like he use to❗️
He dose not fight like he use to….❗️
Great hiring by the Flames. Lou is one super evaluator of players both young and old.
Brendan Gallagher got a contract in Montreal that he wouldn’t have received elsewhere but that doesn’t make it a “bad” contract.
He was a bargain for many years as far as production and all the intangibles of leadership.
While the contract is a reward for past production that he isn’t living up to, he stil has an A on his sweater, still is a leader, still bleeds red, white and blue.
Sometimes you need to look beyond the stat line to determine value.
Such as Jake Sanderson?
I appreciate the sentiment, I felt the same way about Steve Begin.
However, Begin isn’t eating 6.5 million per year for the next 4 years on a team that has cap challenges. And, as you say, Gallagher isn’t living up to it. But my feelings aren’t going to change matters, so …