NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 8, 2024
Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the latest on the Coyotes’ arena saga, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The New York Rangers picked up their third straight win by downing the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1. Jimmy Vesey scored twice and Jonathan Quick stopped 18 shots for the 32-16-3 Rangers as they sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 67 points. Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay (27-19-5) while Nikita Kucherov collected an assist to regain the lead in the NHL scoring race with 86 points. With 59 points, the Lightning slipped to the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning also lost defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to what appeared to be a serious injury to his lower left leg in the second period following a collision with Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere. Sergachev was stretchered from the ice and it’s expected he’ll be out of action for a while.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares (NHL Images).
Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored two goals and collected an assist in a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars. John Tavares had a goal and two assists while Auston Matthews tallied his league-leading 41st goal of the season for the Maple Leafs (26-15-8) as they vaulted over the Lightning into third place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. Evgenii Dadonov scored two goals for the 31-14-6 Stars as they sit in second place in the Central Division with 68 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Tavares, The Canadian Press reports (via TSN) that the Leafs captain is taking the Canada Revenue Agency to court to have the reassessment of his 2018 tax return annulled.
According to the CRA reassessment, Tavares’ income was determined to be $17.8 million higher than reported and he was ordered to repay $6.8 million in taxes plus $1.2 million in interest. The report indicates the $17.8 million accounts for a $15.25 million US signing bonus in the first year of his contract which “was integral to Tavares’ decision” to accept the deal.
The Minnesota Wild nipped the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Marcus Foligno snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period for the 22-23-5 Wild. Nick Foligno scored for the 14-35-2 Blackhawks, who’ve lost five straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Wild announced winger Pat Maroon underwent back surgery and will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks. Maroon has surfaced in the rumor mill as a trade candidate but this news could ensure he finishes the season in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson (foot) was activated off injured reserve for this game.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said things don’t sound promising for the Arizona Coyotes’ efforts to purchase a piece of state land that is up for auction to build a new arena and entertainment complex.
Friedman doesn’t want to jump to conclusions because “deadlines are movable”. However, he said if there is going to be an announcement by this weekend or very soon regarding the purchase of that land, “it doesn’t seem to be good for the current ownership group.”
Speaking of the Coyotes’ ownership, Friedman thinks that “we’re coming to the end of the line”. If there isn’t a new arena plan in place soon, he speculates they could begin the process of selling the team or the NHL taking over and selling the club to somebody else.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predictions of the Coyotes’ relocation have been flying around for nearly two decades. This time, however, there seems to be a different vibe to the speculation. There’s a sense the NHL Board of Governors is running out of patience with this franchise.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been the biggest champion for keeping the Coyotes in Arizona. Nevertheless, he could finally admit defeat if he lacked BoG support on this issue.
I also think it’s more than a coincidence that a prospective ownership group in Salt Lake City recently made a very public expression of interest in bringing an NHL franchise to their city. If the Coyotes go up for sale, they could be on their way to Utah.
The Coyotes saga seems destined to end in relocation but I won’t rejoice if it happens. My thoughts will be with the club’s fans. Contrary to popular belief, the Coyotes drew reasonably well during many difficult years. Unfortunately, their supporters have been let down by decades of mismanagement and ongoing uncertainty over the club’s future.
TSN: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk laments what is shaping up to be another lost season for the franchise.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This one probably hurts a lot more for Tkachuk given how much excitement there was entering this season following the sale of the club last summer to billionaire Michael Andlauer. The Sens captain has four more years left on his contract and he’s stated repeatedly he wants to turn this team into a winner. However, Tkachuk’s patience will be tested if new general manager Steve Staios struggles like his predecessor did.
Speaking of the Senators, Vladimir Tarasenko has changed agents again.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more about Tarasenko in today’s Rumors update.
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon received a three-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for an illegal hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins rookie forward Matthew Poitras will be sidelined for five months after undergoing successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday.
CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: The Flames signed forward Martin Pospisil to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1 million.
I feel bad for the Poitras kid because he probably should have played another year in junior,based on his physical size! When you evaluate young players in preseason you have to be careful! Because they never face a legitimate NHL roster!Did the Bruins think they had another Bergeron on their hands? And the rule saying that he could not be sent down to the AHL seems unrealistic!Heres hoping that he attacks his rehab and we see a bigger,better,quicker version of himself next year!
No one could predict Poitras injury. One of the reasons that they kept him was his ability to escape contact especially in the corners. Remember when Pasternak was kept he wasn’t any stronger than Poitras and had less initial success.
Look at all the young players in the NHL!Many have had significant injuries! Bedard,Poitras,Fantilli,kid in Anaheim! Are we drafting them to young! Boys playing against men!
Pasta played some games in the AHL,this kid didn’t t!
Poitras is going to be a good hockey player, smart with the puck. My concern for him was how often he left himself expose to being hit and not protecting himself to absorb the hit.
Monty was encouraging to hang onto the puck longer, he knows that Poitras can open up the ice.
broke my ankle and tore ACL separately on the ice. whatever Sergachev injured was far worse than a norma tear or break. tough watch. hoping he is back for season opener
I broke my lower left leg in two places and fractured my ankle in a military hockey tournament in 1998. Seeing Sergachev’s injury reminded me of that. I sure hope it’s not serious but it sure looks that way.
@lyle how long was the recovery??
yeah his pain level looked like the injury you described
Two months in a cast, followed by three months of physio.
Bruins a -134 tonight in Boston against Vancouver… if the Canucks watched film of last Bruins game Against the Flames they should follow scrip … Bruins can’t answer that style of play
Joe.
Bruins are fine they will be ready tonight. Rare for them to lay consecutive eggs.
Now with Potts done for season they should sell all ufas and hope they make playoffs next year. 😂
I’m of mixed mind about the Coyotes.
The lack of arena speaks for itself and I have nothing to add.
The franchise however has gone about rebuilding and putting a good team together while filling the pipeline for the future.
It’s a shame that the fanbase won’t be reaping the benefits of the up and coming Coyotes.
Ya HF30, it’s unfortunate for Yotes fans if they move.
I wonder if a lot of these issues with finding a new arena are due to the owner. When the city of Glendale punts their main tenant, who wasn’t paying his bills to the tune of over $1.4M, it is telling. Plus the tax payers get a little cranky. Also he kept threatening to move while negotiating an extension on the lease, that likely didn’t help when you aren’t paying what you owe. They finally said enough and went another direction.
So if you were Mesa, Scottsdale or Phoenix, would you line up to get into bed with this guy for the next 25 years? I would definitely think twice.
And as Lyle states they actually drew OK, and the team was overall not very good during their time there. It’s unfortunate.
Re; keeping the Coyotes in Arizona❓
They need to be done with this Gong Show sooner than later, its been going on Way to long.
Now they are platying in a small 4,900 seat Mullett Arena. NHL players dont like, fans dont like it,
A New built Arena would take + 2 years to build, and after it all gets Approved….you could be looking at the 2027 -2028 season
Utah Sounds like they are Ready to roll and it out west in a perfict new location .
Ryan Smith the owner of the Utah Jazz and CEO of its ownership group, Smith Entertainment Group, wants to bring professional hockey to Utah asap……
Gary Bettman lets get the ball rolling …👍❓
Ww
For some reason Gary won’t give up even though we all know he should
Mr B4,
i think he bought his retirment home down there in AZ….😂
But now this is a big joke, its gone on way to long and now its makeing him GB look bad
WW
To many city’s is looking for nhl team to stick it out in AZ
Hartford wants a team … 😆