NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2024
Game recaps, the Flyers trade prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale, the three stars of the week are announced and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson scored twice and collected two assists in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Thatcher Demko made 39 saves, Brock Boeser had a goal and two assists and Nils Hoglander tallied two goals for the 26-11-3 Canucks (55 points), who sit one point behind the league-leading Winnipeg Jets in the overall standings. Vincent Trocheck netted two goals for the Rangers (26-11-2) as they sit one point back of the Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes each have at least 50 points, making the Canucks just the third team in the last 30 years to feature three players with 50 or more points through 40 games. The others were the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators.
A shootout goal by Valeri Nichuskin lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the Boston Bruins by a score of 4-3. Nathan MacKinnon collected an assist to extend his home points streak to 22 games as the Avalanche (26-12-3) are one point out of first overall with 55 points. Brad Marchand potted two goals for the 24-8-7 Bruins, who sit ahead of the Canucks and Avalanche in the overall standings with 55 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins sit ahead of the Canucks and Avs due to games in hand. The Canucks hold a game in hand over the Avs.
Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo left this game with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update on his status.
Dallas Stars goaltender Matt Murray made 23 saves for his first career NHL shutout in a 4-0 win over the Minnesota Wild. Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (23-11-5) as they sit third in the Central Division with 51 points. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 16 shots for the 17-18-4 Wild as he remains at 551 career victories.
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 36 shots for the 20-15-4 Penguins, who sit just outside the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 44 points. Owen Tippett scored for the Flyers (20-14-6) as they hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 46 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have the same amount of points as the New Jersey Devils (who hold that last wild-card berth), Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings. The Devils hold that berth with 21 wins, followed by the Capitals as they hold a game in hand over the Penguins and two games over the Red Wings while the Pens have a game in hand over the Wings.
HEADLINES
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers traded prospect forward Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A surprising move sparked by Gauthier’s unwillingness to sign with the Flyers. Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere said the 19-year-old winger stopped communicating with the club following his participation in the 2023 World Championships.
That explains why Gauthier didn’t take part in the Flyers’ development camp last summer. The club kept it quiet from the media to protect the youngster. They also had trouble meeting with him during the recent 2024 World Junior Championship, where he tied for most points (12) and was named the tournament’s top forward as he led Team USA to the gold medal.
The Flyers reportedly never got an explanation behind Gauthier’s change of heart. Briere said they decided to move him now while his trade value was high.
There was also speculation that former Flyers center Kevin Hayes may have influenced Gauthier’s decision. Hayes strongly denied that rumor.
Landing the 21-year-old Drysdale gives the Flyers a skillful young puck-moving defenseman albeit one limited to just 18 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. He’s in the first season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.3 million. If Drysdale can stay healthy he could blossom into a solid top-pairing blueliner with the Flyers.
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said he made this move to add a forward with elite skating ability and an NHL-level shot. With three good young defensemen such as Pavel Mintyukov and Tristan Luneau and Owen Zellweger in their pipeline, they could afford to move Drysdale for Gauthier.
They already have three promising young centers in Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson but need more scoring punch on the wings. If Gauthier plays up to expectations he’ll provide an invaluable boost to the rebuilding Ducks’ offense.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers reportedly offered Gauthier to the Canadiens for the latter’s first-round pick (fifth overall) in last year’s draft. The Canadiens rejected the offer and used the pick to select David Reinbacher, whom the Flyers were also interested in selecting.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers were reportedly attempting to ensure prospect Matvei Michkov would drop to them with the seventh overall pick, which he did even with the Canadiens rejecting the offer.
Some Canadiens fans will probably be upset with their club for turning down this offer. However, the report indicates the Habs were confident Reinbacher was the right choice with their pick and other teams (like the Flyers) were also interested in landing the promising young blueliner.
NHL.COM: Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Martin Jones and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 7, 2024
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals winger Max Pacioretty had to make major changes to his skates to accommodate his altered right foot following two back-to-back Achilles tears. His right foot is now larger than his left.
Pacioretty said his new skates still don’t feel perfect but they feel much better. He’ll continue making modifications until he finds the right balance. He no longer feels any fear of another Achilles injury and is fully healthy now.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning winger Tanner Jeannot is listed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. Defenseman Erik Cernak is expected to rejoin the lineup after missing the last three games The club recently placed blueliner Mikhail Sergachev (lower body) on long-term injury reserve.
TSN: The Calgary Flames placed forward Kevin Rooney on waivers.
The other Matt Murray. If I remember correctly, at one point both Matt Murray’s were in the Penguins organization.
I’m it sure that’s true
Good trade for both Flyers and Ducks, Drysdale has a high ceiling but is redundant in Anaheim prospect pool and a 2nd round that will be in the low-mid 30’s for Gauthier, a talented forward prospect.
Flyers kept quiet about Gauthier’s reluctance to sign and quite frankly shouldn’t have announced it now at all.
I’m surprised that Briere commented.
Kid seemed built to be a Flyer with his mix of offense and playing with an edge. Briere had to let the faithful know it was on the kid to leave and not the flyers
Agreed. I can’t stand the Flyers but Briere absolutely had to give context regarding Gauthier’s gutless behaviour.
I never had the chance to play hockey, but I’ve been watching it for 35 years or so. This year, David Pastrnak has been “must see TV” during the shootout. Absolutely astonishing goals on several occasions.
Last night, he slowly skated in, made no attempt at a deke or anything, and tapped a slow dribbler into Georgiev’s feet. It looked like a simple pass rather than a shot attempt. Can someone who played provide some insight on what he was trying to do there?
For reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDyJE6WAPgM
Ya DM, Pasta F’d that one up IMO. Judging from the look on his face he knew it right away too.
The off speed one 5 hole can work when you get the tender moving side to side, but you’re in tighter and have some speed. The legs come apart when they push off and the stick often comes up when they do that.
He likely saw the stick in the air a bit which is was, but he missed. plus the stick came down in time. Makes me wonder if it has ever worked from that far out for him?
Too clever by half? Or just saw the hole and shot. I dunno. Guessing he heard about it from the boys after.
DM, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe he was “out of gas”? I thought Rantanen’s attempt was pretty lame too. Or he was trying to surprise Georgiev 5 hole like video suggests? Georgiev has been shaky lately but he was solid last night. Avalanche played one of their better games of the season. Still too casual with the puck; especially on the PP. However, Georgiev baled them out. Got the “W” that’s the main thing. Good hockey game!!!
He was trying to slide it along the ice and score a nonchalant one.
He’s aggravating to watch.
I’d be ok with him wearing a Habs jersey and aggravating me.
Lol. I bet you would.
Re; Ducks & Flyers Trade
Good trade for both Flyers and Ducks,
Drysdale looks like he is Very Very injury prone…❓
Playing Only 18 games over the past 2 seasons..due to injuries he is only 21yrs old ‼️
has the potentioal to play top 4 d ….He has a new 3 year contract with an $2.3M
Cutter Gauthier looks to be a Scorer on the Wing, Tied for leading points at the 2023 WJC & helped the USA win Gold, he played Great…
This is something the Duck really need a Big Strong top 6 Scoring Winger, They are Loaded at Centre with 3 young Top 6 potential centres
Zegras, Mc.T & last year top pick Leo Carlsson,
The Ducks look like they will pick top 5 in the 2024 NHL draft coming up, I think they will look at a top D/man LD for there re build as they have 3 really good young RD coming up
I dont think they Trade Gibson this season as the young 23 yr old back up Lukas Dostal need’s more time,
but the Ducks are building a Power House down there in California. They also have 5 picks in the 2nd & 3rd round of the 2024 drafts thats before the trade away Henrique, Silverberg, & maybe d/,man
Ilya Lyubushkin 🤔
So he didn’t want to play for the flyers? Or he didn’t want to be forced onto a team he didn’t want to play with. Ducks had better hope it’s the first one or he could stay college till graduation then pick his team.
Have to think the Ducks talked to his agent Chrisms.
Good hockey trade, key being Drysdale’s health obviously. I only really watched him at length in WJC when he was 17. 17 yr old D-men rarely make that team let alone have a big impact like he did.
Small sample size, but the kid was an absolute gamer.
Interesting to see how this works out 3 or so years from now. Might be the biggest trade of the year and we just don’t know it yet.
An absolute steal for Verbeek. I don’t blame Gauthier, I wouldn’t want to play for that jackass coach either. Drysdale is as fragile as a potato chip. And a 2nd rounder is a crap shoot. Anaheim got better with this deal.
Well Ed, it seems the guy who drafted him, Bob Murray, is a advisor for the Flyers now and he would disagree with you about Drysdale’s potential.
Very good move for the Flyers considering the alternatives with the spoiled brat.