NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 29, 2024
Recaps of Sunday’s game, Patrik Laine enters the player assistance program, and Filip Chytil is out for the season. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The St. Louis Blues won in overtime for the third straight game by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-3. Brayden Schenn scored the winning goal while Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists for the 26-20-2 Blues, who picked up their fifth straight victory to move into the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 54 points. Adrian Kempe, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Phillip Danault replied for the struggling Kings (22-15-10) as they’ve won just twice in their last 16 games and cling to the first Western wild-card spot with 54 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich left this game with a lower-body injury in the third period. There was no postgame update regarding his condition. The Blues also announced blueliner Justin Faulk (lower-body injury) will likely remain sidelined through the upcoming All-Star break.
Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle (NHL Images)
Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle scored twice and collected an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jared McCann tallied his 20th goal of the season and Joey Daccord made 30 saves for the 21-18-10 (52 points) as they sit two points behind the Kings and Blues. Yegor Chinakhov scored both goals for the 15-24-10 Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli left this game with a lower-body injury in the second period while hitting McCann into the boards. There was no postgame update regarding his status but he’s considered questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Blues.
HEADLINES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. In an Instagram post, the 25-year-old winger indicated he’s taking time to work on prioritizing his mental health and well-being. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen issued a press release saying Laine has the full support of the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine has been struggling with injuries since being acquired by the Blue Jackets in 2021. He has nine points in 18 games this season.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Filip Chytil is sidelined for the remainder of this season with a suspected concussion. He’s been out since Nov. 2 and suffered a setback in his recovery on Friday while skating with his teammates during morning practice. The Rangers have placed him on long-term injury reserve.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chytil took to Instagram saying he’s staying positive and hopes to return stronger than ever. However, there’s genuine concern that the oft-injured Chytil’s career could be in jeopardy. He’s been sidelined 10 times by injuries since 2018-19. This news will only fuel speculation that the Rangers will look to the trade market for a short-term replacement.
NHL.COM: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was fined $5,000.00 for elbowing Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly on Saturday.
THE GLOBE & MAIL: Unsigned Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton turned himself in to London, Ontario police on Sunday to face a charge of sexual assault. It’s in connection with allegations that five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team attacked a woman at a hotel.
Formenton’s lawyers issued a statement saying their client will “vigorously defend his innocence”, asking people not to rush to judgment until hearing all the evidence.
CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson has been activated off LTIR following a 12-game absence with a lower-body injury.
INSIDE AHL HOCKEY’s Tony Androckitis reports the Carolina Hurricanes have loaned goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves during the upcoming NHL All-Star break. The move is believed to be a paper transaction designed to allow the Hurricanes to accrue some salary-cap space.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks set a franchise record with their 1-0 loss on Saturday to the Calgary Flames. It was their 20th straight road defeat.
Most NHL teams have 9 days off it seems to me the schedule makers this season did a bad job… lot of double up games with travel involved and many teams with long stretches of days off between games
Couldn’t agree more Joe. I’ve noticed several times this year where there are 12-15 games on one night, and then the next there are 2. I used to watch games almost every night, but I don’t even bother to look any more past my team’s games.
The GOOD news: the Blues have played in to a wild card berth.
The BAD news: Having already traded Bortuzzo, and now injuries to Faulk (lingering) and Perunovich, the Blues are desperately thin on defense!! They have recalled Tyler Tucker from the farm!?
I continue to believe Broberg from the Oilers would be a good (and needed) addition!!
IP
The Oilers are looking for an upgrade to RHD Ceci. Faulk and Parayko are the only two d-men that fit that bill on the Blues. Both of their cap hits are way too high for the Oilers to fit under their cap. I don’t think the Blues are a good fit for the Oilers to deal with.
Hey IP,
I dont think the Oilers want to trade young d/man Broberg…
He is there best young LD/man on the farm thats close to playing NHL next year. They have him down in Bako AHL working on his game,
Broberg’s Great Skater & good first pass out the Zone, But need to work on his defencive game.
if there was a Trade with the Blues ❓
the Oilers would love to get Local boy Colton Parayko back in a deal but blue would need to ratain salary as the Oil are at Cap Max
Formenton’s lawyers issued a statement saying their client will “vigorously defend his innocence”, asking people not to rush to judgment until hearing all the evidence.
Oh, i think it way too late for that, he’s and his cohorts have been guilty in the media and public eye since the news broke.
caper, who in the media has said anyone is guilty? Not saying none have, I am sure there are some, but painting all “media” with the same brush, isn’t accurate.
The only place I get info on this case is Rick Westhead on TSN. Who I think broke this story? Not sure. If folks are getting it elsewhere, and they are saying people are already guilty, change where you consume news. That’s on those people, not the “media”.
The link is what he wrote when the court docs were unsealed, so the public record, actual testimony to law enforcement. All he is doing is letting the public know what those docs contained. You can make your own mind up. Which, is him doing his job, and what journalists do.
No idea if there is enough evidence to convict in a court of law yet, or if what they did meets the standard of the language of the law, but since Hockey Canada forked over $3.5M, safe to say something happened that they did not want to become public. That is simply a fact, that is why they paid big $$. Which was risking their jobs, and it cost them their jobs.
If “the people” press charges, what we will know is there is enough evidence for them to do that.
What we know; she gave testimony that a bunch of guys were in a hotel room with 1 woman and something happened that they wanted to keep quiet. Player 1 was texting to trying to stop her from doing it, we know that too. Something not good happened.
That ain’t cool. We will find out if it was illegal.
https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/judge-orders-law-firm-to-hand-over-records-evidence-on-alleged-hockey-canada-assault-1.1895563
Ray, as you stated you only get your news from Westhead.
Westhead himself has not once said these players haven’t had their day in court.
I agree with his hockey canada stance.
Ray, I read multiple opinions and if you’re only open to what you think is correct; I may suggest you have tunnel vision and are closed minded to any other thought process.
I didn’t really phrase that right. I should have said when I want the factual details of this, I read Westhead. But other than local news repeating the basic facts it’s all I have really heard or read. I didn’t really pipe up on this until we found out they had to turn themselves in. That changed it for me.
Not really tunnel vision Caper, none of us know all the facts yet, and any “opinion” on their guilt or innocence criminally is BS because of that. I am not making a criminal argument.
Because, it is also true that not all bad behaviour is criminal. 5 guys, at least, in a hotel room with a drunk girl and any type of sex, or asking her to do demeaning stuff, is flippin’ weird. Any guy that invites his buddies in for that, needs help. And my opinion of any guy who would do that, is that he is absolute, 100%, loser. And that is the best case. Is that criminal, depends on the rest of the story I guess. Methinks we will find out.
Facts are:
1 – At least 5 of them were in that room.
2 – She made a formal complaint as to what happened.
3 – Hockey Canada paid $3.5M to “settle” and keep it quiet.
4 – player 1 tried to convince her not to go to police.
5 – the police have enough evidence to require five of these players to turn themselves in. This is the key part, because it requires evidence, not opinion.
Formention is facing charges, according to his own lawyer.
We know something not good happened in that room. We will find out if it was illegal. I stand by that statement.
Unfortunately, in today’s age, with these types of accusations, you are automatically presumed to be guilty until proven otherwise.
Ray, I have only read a few articles over the past couple of years regarding this incident. Your summary fits with my recollection. Regarding the settlement with Hockey Canada – my understanding is that the complainant sued for $3.5 million. Doesn’t necessarily mean that the settlement was her asking price.
It’s taken a very long time for the players to be charged. Was London police protecting the players or was there not enough evidence to convict, with the police now yielding to political pressure? We will eventually know in the fullness of time.
I believe the victim claimed she was too intoxicated to give consent. Not a lawyer, but could the defendants use the same logic? too drunk to know that the young woman was too intoxicated to provide consent.
How often do similar incidents occur on college campuses? Sorority girls attend a frat party, one very intoxicated girl spends the night at the frat house, goes to sleep at 5 AM, and awakens 8 hours later, not really remembering what activities she participated in all night.
It will certainly be interesting for the members of the jury.
HOTG, from her text messages to player 1 she said she was comfortable with going to his room with him, but not when all his buddies came in. This was the next day when he was trying to convince her not to go to police. So, seems like she remembers what happened.
Again, I am not a woman, but I have been with quite a few in my younger days, including college. Sober and drunk. I am now married and one of my kids is an adult daughter. I can’t imagine, any woman I know, or was ever with in my life that would have been cool with a bunch of guys like that. Drunk or otherwise. They may have acted and done what they needed to, to get out of the situation, but there is no way any of them would have been good with it.
None, zero, zilch. I would be my truck on that. She was likely scared as hell.
Ask your wife or girlfriend what they think of this situation and if they were in it.
Yes this took a lot of time, and again we will see, but I can’t imagine the London police would ask 5 players, including, if not all, NHL players, to surrender to authorities, without having their facts together.
If they get charged, and it looks like 1 player for sure will be, the police and the prosecutors who made the call to do it, will be under a microscope. As will their case. I can’t imagine that happens without enough evidence to justify a charge.
Getting convicted is a higher bar, so we will see about that too. I am guessing a jury of regular citizens will decide if it goes to trial.
Ray, I don’t know any woman who would have been cool with the gang either. Not judging the case one way or another.
Alex Formenton, my guess as Player #1, has a top notch legal team. I expect the other 4 players will also be represented by top shelf criminal lawyers.
Apparently, the complainant was videotaped agreeing to proceed with certain acts. Supreme Court of Canada recently weighed in on this issue:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-supreme-court-of-canada-upholds-acquittal-in-sex-assault-case/
However, although the Supreme Court case dealt with the issue of a very intoxicated complainant, it involved just two people, not six. The London trial will be a very difficult case for both the prosecution and the defense teams. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the trial occur during the summer, after the hockey season is over. Negative publicity for the NHL, day after day, won’t please Bettman.