NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2024
The league returns to action from its All-Star break on Monday plus the latest on Mark Scheifele, Zach Parise, Ryan Pulock, Mattias Samuelsson, Jesse Puljujarvi and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon can regain first place in the race for the Art Ross Trophy as they visit the New York Rangers on Monday evening. MacKinnon (84 points) sits one point behind league-leader Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zach Parise will make his debut with Colorado in this game. The 39-year-old winger signed a one-year, prorated contract with the Avalanche on Jan. 26. He believes joining the Avs gives him a great opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile, Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren is expected to return to action after missing the Blueshirts’ last game before the All-Star break with an upper-body injury.
In Toronto, Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews can build on his lead for the Maurice Richard Trophy when his club faces off against the New York Islanders. With 40 goals, Matthews holds a three-goal lead over Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders also got some good news as defenseman Ryan Pulock was activated off long-term injury reserve. He’d been sidelined since Dec. 7 with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, the Leafs placed forward Calle Jarnkrok on injured reserve while forward David Kampf remains out day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
SPORTSNET: Speaking of returning from injury, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele will suit up against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. He missed their last six games with a lower-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets went 2-3-1 during their leading scorer’s absence.
WGR 550: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson’s season is over as he faces surgery for an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, his teammate Jack Quinn will be sidelined for six to eight weeks recovering from surgery for a lower-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Two big blows for the Sabres in a season that started with the promise of their long-awaited breakthrough as a playoff contender. Instead, they’re headed for another disappointing finish.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins yesterday signed Jesse Puljujarvi to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $800K. The 25-year-old winger underwent double hip resurfacing last summer. He’d been playing with the Pens’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a professional tryout offer (PTO) last month, collecting nine points in 13 games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puljujarvi worked hard to save his career and return to the NHL. It remains to be seen where things go from here but it’s admirable that he reached this point.
CAP FRIENDLY: indicates the Minnesota Wild placed forward Pat Maroon on injured reserve.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames claimed defenseman Brayden Pachal off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Very significant and difficult trip for the Avalanche. Interested to see what Parise brings. They are going to have to be responsible defensively and everything else will take care of itself. GO AVS!!!!
It’s interesting that the Avs are putting Parise on a line with Ryan Johansen. I wonder if the intent is to try and give the latter some motivation to play harder or if it’s just about trying to find chemistry. Also wondering if they’re calling up Justus Annunen to showcase him for a trade – a young backup/minor leaguer in exchange for someone else’s more experienced backup on an expiring deal?
I like the Jesse Puljujarvi signing by Pittsburgh. Buy low and if he has success great, if he doesn’t, nothing loss.
I think Puljuarvi can be a effective player, out of the spot light player.
Understanding he didn’t have any success in Carolina, I expect he will in Pittsburgh and that has more to do with systems and style of play.
That, Caper, and how this surgery went. Usually it hasn’t worked out for players for any length of time, but hey, like anything else improvements are made. So who knows. Plus he is younger than most who have undergone this procedure.
It is also the 2nd time he has had double hip surgery, the first time was at the end of the 18/19 season. That was not “resurfacing”.
Might explain why he hasn’t played up to expectations/draft position.
He says he feels good, and the Pens are willing to take a low risk chance on him.
Hope it works out for him. By all accounts he is a really good dude.
Im curious to see Parise in Colorado. I watch a lot of Islanders hockey. He wasn’t “bad” persay. He certainly hasn’t lost a step speed wise, but he just kinda skates around in circles and doesn’t do much. He used to have a wicked shot. He doesn’t shoot.
I also feel like all of the big trades are going to be done before the deadline. Is there a freeze during the allstar break?
Don’t think so, we traded for Horvat last year at this time.