NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 15, 2024
Penguins lose Jake Guentzel in loss to the Panthers, the Flyers name a new captain, plus the latest on Morgan Rielly, Brendan Gallagher, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers picked up their seventh win in their last eight games by downing the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists while Anton Lundell tallied twice for the 34-15-4 Panthers, who sit second in the Eastern Conference standings with 72 points. The Penguins (23-20-7) dropped their third straight game and also lost winger Jake Guentzel in the third period with an upper-body injury.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sitting seven points out of a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, the Penguins’ playoff hopes are fading. That could push general manager Kyle Dubas to become a seller by the March 8 trade deadline. Guentzel has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill as a trade candidate but his value in the trade market could suffer if he’s sidelined long-term. There was no update following the game regarding his status.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 17 shots to shut out the San Jose Sharks 1-0. Morgan Barron scored the only goal for the Jets (32-14-5) as they sit third in the Central Division with 69 points. Kaapo Kahkonen kicked out 38 shots for the 14-33-5 Sharks.
The Minnesota Wild picked up their fourth straight win with a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek each had a goal and an assist for the 25-23-5 Wild (55 points) as they moved to within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Logan Cooley scored for the Coyotes (23-25-4), who also lost goaltender Connor Ingram for seven to 10 days after he left the game following the second period with an undisclosed injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes’ promising play over the first three months of this season has disappeared in recent weeks. They’ve been in a nosedive in the standings over the past several weeks, winning just twice in their last 10 games and tumbling out of a wild-card spot in the process.
HEADLINES
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers named Sean Couturier as their new team captain with Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny as their alternate captains. Couturier is the 20th player in franchise history to become captain and the first since Claude Giroux was traded to Florida in 2022.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The timing of this announcement was puzzling as teams tend to name captains before the start of the season. One reader suggested perhaps they were waiting to see if Couturier, who missed all of 2022-23 recovering from back surgery, would be healthy enough to play out this season. Whatever the reason, Couturier was the obvious choice as he’s been their leader throughout this season.
Speaking of the Flyers, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could be sidelined for two-to-three weeks due to a minor procedure for an upper-body injury.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly intends to appeal his five-game suspension for cross-checking Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig last Saturday.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Speaking of suspensions, Brendan Gallagher returns to the Canadiens lineup for tonight’s game against the New York Rangers. He served five games for an illegal hit to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.
TSN: Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames forward Jakob Pelletier is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
THE ATHLETIC: A league source confirmed the NHL will stage a Stadium Series game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Ohio Stadium. It will be the Blue Jackets’ first outdoor game in franchise history.
ESPN: A union representing junior hockey players has filed a lawsuit against the NHL as well as the Canadian Hockey League and its affiliated junior hockey leagues and clubs. The suit alleges the development system for professional prospects violates antitrust laws.
Re “A union representing junior hockey players has filed a lawsuit against the NHL as well as the Canadian Hockey League and its affiliated junior hockey leagues and clubs. The suit alleges the development system for professional prospects violates antitrust laws. ”
THIS is going to be interesting as it unfolds – and not just where hockey is concerned. I’ve often wondered why it hasn’t happened long ago.
Agreed. Regardless of how the lawsuit plays out, I maintain that it’s stupid to force an 18 year old kid who is ready to advance his development in the AHL to be forced to play in juniors, risking potential career ending injury, because of a stupid agreement.
As for the argument that the agreement helps CHL attendance, bullsh**. Canadians are hockey mad. Attendance won’t be hurt one iota by the occasional player or two leaving to go pro.
Regina Pats’ 2022/23 average attendance with Connor Bedard 4,501. Regina Pats’ 2023/24 average attendance without Connor Bedard 3,026. That’s about a 33% drop in attendance which is a bit more significant than one iota.
Was there an even remote chance Bedard was not playing in the NHL?
I think that’s an extreme example.
Weaker draft prospects like Laffrienere probably could have benefited from being able to send up and down.
If their survival depends on guys like Bedard , Mcdavid , Crosby they’re already screwed.
There is more to that drop than just Bedard. Pats average season attendance per Hockey DB
2017/18 – 6076
2018/19 – 5201
2019/20 – 4711
2020/21 – N/A Covid
2021/22 – 3959
2022/23 – 4501
2023/24 – 3026
There were 3 seasons in which attendance was higher before Bedard than with Bedard.
Of course, these special players will draw more people to the rink, but either way, they are going to leave after a season or two. Every team goes through it. It’s not fair on the player to be forced to not get that pro-contract payday. The Pats survived before Bedard, and they will survive after Bedard
A concern about “average attendance” is in NO way a reason to deny an 18-year-old the right to pursue a career and if that involves some “seasoning” in the AHL at a salary that would dwarf any tidbits received at the junior level = so be it.
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
Three things about this play.
1 it wasn’t a high stick
2 should’ve been a suspension
3 Boston needed to answer
3 Boston needed to answer Eyssimont drove to the net and threw his shoulder into Ullmark sending him on his backside and the goal was disallowed. The bruins on the ice did nothing. I can’t help but think if McQuaid, Miller or Thornton were on the ice, Eyssimont would’ve recieved a few good shots.
1 i laughed when they call it a high stick as Ullmark was sitting and Eyssimont was leaning forward after plowing over Ullmark. Ullmark who was upset after be bowl over; tommy hawk Eyssimont over the head with his goalie stick. There wasn’t a lot of force from the blow but he deliberately tommy hawked him in the head.
2 regardless of force and regardless of Eyssimont actions, which should’ve been a 2 minute minor for roughing; you still can’t use your stick as a weapon. Yes it was a light swing but none the less it was a swing that made contact with Eyssimont helmet and in my view as when i watched it live a said that’s a suspension. One or two games regardless if the player was not injured.
Been saying this for years the Bruins offer no pushback when their star players are attacked, Freddy tries but he’s not a legit peacemaker it’s the reason why they brought Milan back…They tried to get help with that at last seasons trade deadline but the Panthers were more engaged… it seems when they lose in the playoffs it’s because opposing teams stronger,tougher and Skate harder to the puck ..
Just saw this video, the accidental on purpose run the goalie move. Dirty, but pretty common.
Without any doubt in my mind, what Eyssimont did was way more likely to injure Ullmark than the other way around.
The proper move was the blocker to the face to probably avoid a fine, plus more effective to cause some pain. And the guys deserved some pain.
Just like Reilly, Ullmark is lacking experience in the art of dirty hockey without getting fined or suspended.
Relly should have crossed checked Greig harder than he did but 6″ lower, and Ullmark should have drilled Eyssimont in the jaw with his blocker.
Both get a penalty, maybe even a major. But that’s likely it.
Blue Jackets fire general manager Jarmo Kekalainen
I didn’t mind what Ridley Greig did with the big slap shot into the empty net. This is what the NHL needs more of in rivalry games. Reilly did need to go and send a message, but he just went too far with it.
For once I think the NHL got it right with Reilly’s suspension. It was a needless and dangerous cross-check to the head and this is what the NHL needs to get out of the game. 5 games for a first offence will send that message. I hope it sticks.
Every suspension has a life of its own, Kevjam. The next cross check could be a fine. It could be ten games. It’s a lottery.
How many players does this actually impact?
The money paid to teams for development, control or whatever you want to call it, only 5% of CHL players make it to the NHL.
If the balance would be altered I’m sure the NHL deserves more not less control to increase their ROI.