NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 29, 2024
Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Flames trade Chris Tanev to the Stars, the Canucks are reportedly making progress in contract talks with Elias Pettersson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The New York Rangers become the first team to reach 40 wins this season by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Artemi Panarin scored twice and collected an assist, Chris Kreider tallied his 30th goal of the season and Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves for the 40-17-3 Rangers as they took over first place in the overall standings with 83 points. Cole Sillinger replied for the 19-29-10 Blue Jackets.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Vancouver Canucks also have 83 points but the Rangers have two more wins plus a game in hand.
An overtime goal by Connor McDavid lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Zach Hyman scored twice (including his 40th of the season) as the Oilers overcame a 2-0 deficit. With a record of 35-20-2, the Oilers hold third place in the Pacific Division with 72 points. Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich scored for the 30-26-3 Blues (63 points) as they sit five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman has a six-game goal streak and is within range of the vaunted 50-goal plateau. McDavid has points in nine straight games but his goal was his first in 11 games. Nevertheless, he’s third in the scoring race with 94 points, four behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (98 points) and nine back of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (103).
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The Calgary Flames traded defenseman Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday evening in a three-team trade involving the New Jersey Devils.
In return, the Flames received defense prospect Artem Grushnikov, the Stars’ 2024 second-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2026. If the Stars don’t advance to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Flames won’t receive that third-round pick. The Devils, meanwhile, receive Dallas’ fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Tanev carries a salary-cap hit of $4.5 million. The Flames retained 50 percent ($2.25 million) while the Devils received 50 percent of what remained ($1.125 million).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pundits and bloggers believe the Stars are the big winners of this deal as they received the best defensive blueliner in the trade market. Adding Tanev shores up their depth on the right side of their blueline as they hope to stage a run for the Stanley Cup this season.
Reaction was mixed over what Calgary received in this deal. It was rumored Flames general manager Craig Conroy was pushing for a first-round pick. He said he was happy to get the 20-year-old Grushnikov, who plays a similar game as Tanev and could develop into a reliable top-four shutdown rearguard.
The acquisition of Tanev should help the Stars this season. Time will tell if it works out over the long term for the Flames.
DAILY FACEOFF: Sources told Frank Seravalli that the Vancouver Canucks have made “significant progress” in efforts to sign Elias Pettersson to a long-term contract extension. It’s believed to be an eight-year deal that could be finalized in the coming days. It’s expected to exceed an average annual value of $10 million.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports his sources have kept mum on this issue and no other media outlets are verifying that a deal is close for Pettersson. He also noted this runs counter to the 25-year-old center’s previous stance that he preferred to leave the negotiations until the end of the season, something he told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre before Seravalli’s report.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more about Pettersson’s contract situation in today’s Rumors update. Interestingly, this story breaks following recent media speculation suggesting the Canucks were receiving calls from other clubs inquiring about Pettersson’s status. Maybe the source is someone from the Pettersson camp, the Canucks’ front office, or one of the teams that called about Pettersson.
SPORTSNET: The Minnesota Wild won’t ask Marc-Andre Fleury to waive his no-movement clause before the March 8 trade deadline. Elliotte Friedman reports the Wild won’t be moving the 39-year-old goaltender and are happy to keep him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury recently told reporters he didn’t want to be traded as he hoped to help the Wild reach the playoffs. This decision indicates the Wild are going for it. They’re six points out of a wild-card berth but have won seven of their last 10 games.
TSN: San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture dismissed recent rumors regarding his future with the club. Sidelined by a lower-body injury that has limited him to six games this season, Couture insisted he doesn’t want to play for another team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couture is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $8 million and a three-team trade list. Even if he were healthy and productive, moving that contract during the season would be challenging.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Speaking of the Sharks, they placed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) on injured reserve.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers placed goaltender Cal Petersen on waives and recalled Felix Sandstrom. The move comes after Petersen gave up seven goals in a 7-6 loss on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
THE GLOBE & MAIL: The five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team who have been charged with sexual assault will face trial by jury in a London, Ontario court. It will be several months before a trial date is set.
I absolutely love these multi-player swaps especially with a third team retention
Bar now set for retention:$282,000 (Devils paying Tanev) in cash bought a late 4th rounder, 2 years from now. The odd thing is that Fitzgerald also had to give Dallas a prospect goalie. Brady probably likely never to make NHL…. But $282,000 and a prospect (who WAS a 5th rounder) to earn a 4th rounder , 2 years from now???
Conroy getting only a 2nd , a B (TBD) grade D prospect, and a conditional 3rd, for Tanev AND retaining 50%, should have got more I believe
Dallas (Nill) are big winners here I believe
Colorado must now make their move.
“Conroy getting only a 2nd , a B (TBD) grade D prospect, and a conditional 3rd, for Tanev AND retaining 50%, should have got more I believe”
If it could have resulted in more it would have. It didn’t, so move on.
I guess we disagree on this.
Your post comes across as if I’ve upset you.
Apologies if that is the case.
I truly believe he could have received more; especially if he waited.
Time will tell
No, all I’m suggesting is, those holding down GM jobs in the NHL are a LOT more cognizant of a realistic market than any of us in here – especially a market limited by the hard cap.
At some point, you recognize that you’re not going to get much more by hanging onto a player and it’s best to strike before he gets hurt or his value declines.
I agree George. I am always amused when “Homer GM wannabees”, who watch <1% of the hockey NHL staffs do, with <1% of the experience, insist that player x is worth….fill in the blank.
Now, do NHL GM's make mistakes ? Of course – they are mere human beings, just like us. But too many, and they are out. The good ones are right way more often than they are wrong.
If any of us were ever tossed into the NHL GM jungle, we would be eaten alive.
If everyone visiting this page took the attitude of “the gms know better so that’s the way it is” then Lyle gonna have a greatly decreased comment section.
I agree with George O, Calgary made out ok and Colorado dosen’t make knee jerk reactions. They will make a move if it is beneficial for them; not necessarily because Dallas did? Good for Dallas. I would say Calgary made out all right. GO AVS!!!!
I don’t think the Flames view Grushnikov as a “D” grade prospect.
Doesn’t get many points, but his job isn’t get points, it is to defend. Sounds like he is becoming pretty good at that. If he continues to develop, he will be a valuable player.
Might remind folks of a player like…. Tanev!
He is now 20 with a year of AHL experience, they have a much better idea of what he will be than an 18 yr old playing JR, USHL or NCAA hockey.
I dare say he is more valuable than the 2nd round pick they also got in the deal.
While that may well be the case, Chrisms, I don’t think it would go that way – but it just might make it more inviting for those who see things from a realistic perspective and so offer up ideas that at least match reality.
The kid was a 2nd rounder from 2021 & only 20 years old. That is probably equivalent to 2 2nd rounders. Not sure whats wrong with that. Conroy tried to get a 1st, no one stepped up. Notice a trend, Flames D pipeline was really thin & with the Lindholm & Tanev trades they have some decent young D coming in now to add to what they had.
The loser in my view was Leafs hanging for dear life on a late 1st round pick in a weaker draft that will do zero for their window that is slowly closing. Matthews has gone beast mode, Tanev would have been a key piece back there. Could of finessed the same Tanev at 25% & not really given up much off their roster.
Elliotte Friedman on the Marek show mentioned that the Flames consider Grushnikov more valuable at this point than a late 1st in 2024. I think the Stars met Conroy’s asking price, just not quite in the way most people were expecting.
Quite an underwhelming return for Tanev. Grushnikov is a mid level prospect at best and the late second rounder likely won’t amount to much. I got a good laugh from the guy on Leafs twitter who posted that the Leafs wanted Tanev but Calgary was asking for too much.
I think back to how the Habs got a first rounder and a prospect for Ben Chiarot, who then didn’t do much for Florida. Maybe it’s more of a buyers market than we think. Maybe contending teams are starting to realize that it’s not a good idea to give up first rounders and good prospects from guys like Tanev who, though solid players, are far from being difference makers.
I had no idea if Tanev would get a 1st, but I did post on here multiple times, that it seemed like too much.
If Grushnikov becomes a D first regular on Calgary’s blue line, Conroy did just fine, better than fine IMO. A late first doesn’t work out just as often as it does. Plus a reasonable dart throw with the 2nd.
Sounds like the kid has a reasonable shot at doing that. Calgary has been scouting him since Jr, including when Hamilton when the Mem Cup. He has been on their radar for a while. Not a just throw in by the sounds of things.
Tom
I think your 100 % right on young Grushnikov
He is 6.ft2 and over 200lbs, sounds like a young Tanev a Physical aND A defencive d/man and they got a 2nd pick and conditional 3rd later on,
Exactly what the flames need and he is not 18, he is 20 i dont think we see him for 1.5 to 2years as he is still developing… A good job by GM Conroy..
Grushnikov stats
Compete/Consistency: 90
Defensive Zone Starts: 82
Hockey IQ: 86
Offensive Zone Starts: 72
Penalty Kill: 79
Projection 3rd pair or better…
A Good trade for both teams,
Graig Conroy did well addreses there Need for a young d/man, in a year or 2 in he should make a 5-6 position on the team
Rugged & Tough Grushnikov 6.ft2 and 210 lb d/man
The Flames stable of young d prospects are a Very weak area for Calgary
Dallas’ own 2nd round selection in 2024 and a conditional 3rd round selection in 2026 (Dallas’ own) if Dallas advances to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2024 playoffs ( it would change to a a 2nd ) from a 3rd pick Dallas to Calgary.
If Dallas does not win three rounds in the 2024 playoffs, then no additional pick
Calgary Retain Salary at 50% …. your going to see this a lot 3 way deal retaining Salarys for this year deadline etc….
Rushed trade. Conroy could have waited until deadline day to make teams sweat. Rookie move.
That also doesn’t say much about those “experienced” GMs who saw Tanev as a significant addition to their roster. Clearly, Dallas saw him as a valuable addition and told Conroy what they were prepared to offer – which was better than any he may have received from other teams.
Conroy could have hold out
But Tanev could have been injured,
This was probably the best deal on the table yesterday sound like 5/6 teams were interested ❓
Now he has Hanifin to deal with, I’m sure he gets moved in the next few days
Don’t know if they move Markstrom…?
They could re-sign Dan Vladar and have Wolf play with him
Ether way wolf comes up to play in Calgary next season full time
“Rushed trade”? A week out from the deadline and he gets three pieces for a 33-year-old defensive blueliner in a trade market that has quantity but not a lot of quality. I doubt a more experienced GM would’ve gotten much better.
Odds are it’ll only be two pieces. But you never know. I’m still trying to get over that lottery pick the Habs were going to get from Florida last year.
One has to assume that Tanev was offered to every team.
One has to assume that Conroy accepted what he felt was the best deal.
The offers were what they were. I don’t see that he did anything wrong.
Same argument I had when everyone got all over Hurricane’s GM Waddell a few years for trading [then potential franchise] goalie Nedeljkovic for a 3rd rounder.
They couldn’t believe that was all he got. So, I guess we were supposed to assume he was offered a 1st and turned it down? Of course not.
The offers are what they are.
Good Job WhalAcane
True that Rob, also contending teams don’t sit and wait for ever for a seller to “make them sweat”. Conroy isn’t some 22 yr old straight outta college. Seriously, does he seem like an idiot?
Dallas had other options to upgrade their blue line, other D first D-Men will get traded, and Dallas wasn’t going play the game forever and risk missing out on one of those as well. There is time pressure on both sides.
It was decision time for both teams, and if I had to bet, Dallas told him that. He took the deal he and his scouts thought was the best one. I am sure he has circled around interested teams multiple times. This comes down to if they are right about Grushnikov or not.
Hanifin is next. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he will get moved. That return will be interesting.
What of Tanev got injured? Then no return for Tanev. Grushnikov’s value will be seen when he actually plays in a game for the Flames let’s not rush to judgement just yet. A bird in hand is better than a bird in the bush.
Calgary could have healthy scratched him, it’s always an option if they were worried about injuries. The pundits kept saying Tanev would probably get a 1st, that didn’t happen, and now we’ll never know if the pressure of TDL would have improved Calgary’s return.
Looking at Dallas lineup one thing that struck me, was that Sam Steel grew an inch since joining Dallas.
Juicing?!
Very observant, Caper, but, if you want to be sure of an athlete’s height and weight, don’t go by the program. Teams and players play games with that stuff.
Also our son was still growing into his twenties. Not that unusual.
Tanev trade imho shows the market and yes keep in mind he is 33 + was the 4th D on the Flames. I am sure the Devils could and would of paid more but without a goalie seems pointless for the Devils to make any short term moves this season
Could the Leafs matched the package? to me thats the only question
Welcome to Texas, Mr. Tanev. Pack some shorts, it’s a bit warmer than in Alberta.
He’s actually 34. Still a good skater and solid player, though.
Button put future Hall of Famer, Martin St. Louis on waivers, who left the team and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent.[4]
Button also traded away promising young goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for a second round pick in order to protect Fred Brathwaite in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft.[5]
Button later traded Marc Savard to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ruslan Zainullin, who never played a game in the NHL.
GM don’t always know better. lol
Nor do those, like Button, last long.
People REALLY underestimate the effect of a player being months away from UFA status.
You shop before the deadline and get the best you can. Everyone knows the players could/would leave for nothing after the season… AND… whoever gets him has no guarantee he will stay, thereby giving away something for nothing…
This is very likely the best CC could get. Frankly, he got more Tanev than Treliving got for Gaudreau…
Not paying Gaudreau his current contract is a win enough for the Flames. Unfortunately for them they replaced that with a giant L contract for Huberdeau.
yeah, I didn’t want to mention the eventualities haha… but going on JUST the trade decision… Conroy made out better. No one has a crystal ball to know how things will turn out.
Much like Hanifin. In his case, everyone seems certain that he’s headed to Boston as a UFA. Well, if that’s indeed the case, ANY team with a brain will insist they talk to him first to see if he might have other ideas and so would be open to working out an extension with the team (other than Boston) that is trying to land him. If he doesn’t indicate such a willingness, and some team is ready to accept him as a rental, Calgary will be lucky to get what they just got for Tanev.
Well George, Hanifin is way better than Tanev. A contender will give up a late 1st, decent prospect & sone other future for him. For Flames, even if they get a 2026 1st, whatever. He wont get less than Tanev. Tanev is 34 turning 35 later this year. Any GM coughing up a 1st has to do it with the intention they want to try & extend that player. Extending Tanev at that age to a contract probably pretty close to his current salary & he’d probably want a multi year deal too, well…..if you’re a contender Im not too sure about that. What Dallas gave up was a decent purchase price for both sides for a straight rental.
Hanifin is a different animal. I still think Panthers is going to win that one.
Of course he’s way better than Tanev.
But I still don’t think anyone is going to blow Calgary away with 1st round picks/prospects if they know, for certain, that’s he’s only going to be around for the playoffs. And that scenario would also not go over well with most – if not all – of his new teammates.
I’ve seen Brandon Bussi 25 years old Is 6’5” 210lbs play a few times and he seems to be getting better I can see him playing with Sway next season in Bos as the #2 goalie …
Ya, he looks promising. Big kid, undrafted. Has been good since the day he got there. DiPietro is also playing well in Providence and his #’s are even better. 3rd Rd pick by the Nucks.
Bussi is probably a better prospect due to his size? Who knows, but they have both played great this year.
Having the 2 guys we do in Boston might become an expensive luxury Sweeney decides we can’t afford.