NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2024
The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon reaches 100 points, the Panthers surge into first overall, the Leafs acquire Ilya Lyubushkin from the Ducks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to reach 100 points as the Colorado Avalanche blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. Justus Annunen stopped 24 shots for his first career NHL shutout while Zach Parise scored twice and collected an assist for the 37-19-5 Avalanche, who sit third in the Central Division with 79 points. Petr Mrazek made 29 saves for the 15-40-5 Blackhawks.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In his 61st game of the season, MacKinnon became the second-fastest player in Avalanche history to reach 100 points during a season. He sits one game behind Peter Statsny, who did it in 60 games in 1981-82. The Avalanche center sits second in the league scoring race.
The Florida Panthers nipped the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 to move into first place in the overall standings with 84 points. Sam Reinhart tallied twice to reach 41 goals on the season, Aleksander Barkov had three points and Anton Lundell scored the winning goal in a shootout for the 40-16-4 Panthers. Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists for the 23-28-9 Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers are tied with the Boston Bruins in points but have five more wins and a game in hand over the Bruins. Reinhart sits second in the goal-scoring race. Suzuki, meanwhile, had a productive February with 11 goals and 17 points in 11 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll made 30 saves in his return from injury in a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Auston Matthews netted his league-leading 53rd goal of the season while William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the Leafs (34-17-8), who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. The Coyotes (23-31-5) have lost 14 straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs also swung a trade as they reacquired defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-way deal involving the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leaf sent the Ducks a third-round pick in 2025 and a 2024 sixth-rounder to the Hurricanes. The Ducks retained half of Lyubushkin’s $2.75 million cap hit with the Hurricanes retaining half of the remainder ($687,500).
Lyubushkin, 29, played 31 games and 7 playoff contests for the Leafs last season. A shutdown defenseman, he brings some much-needed depth to the right side of their blueline.
The Leafs could use another defenseman if Mark Giordano ends up sidelined for a lengthy period. The 40-year-old rearguard left the game in the first period with a head injury after falling hard into the boards. There was no postgame update regarding his condition.
Meanwhile, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was fined $25,000.00 by the league for unprofessional conduct directed at on-ice officials during the Leafs’ loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
The Boston Bruins downed the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4. Morgan Geekie scored his first career NHL hat trick while Mason Lohrei snapped a 4-4 tie for the 35-12-14 Bruins. Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (33-20-2) as they’re perched in second place in the Pacific Division with 73 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, it was reported that Golden Knights captain Mark Stone (upper-body injury) is sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and is questionable to return for the playoffs. It’s believed he suffered a lacerated spleen in a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 20. I’ll have more about how this could affect the Golden Knights leading up to the trade deadline in today’s Rumors update.
Drew Doughty and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and two assists to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. With 70 points, the Kings (30-19-10) hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth. Brock Boeser scored the only goal for the 38-17-7 Canucks, who hold first place in the Western Conference with 83 points but slipped into fourth in the overall standings.
Speaking of Western Conference wild-card spots, the Nashville Predators picked up their seventh straight win by beating the Minnesota Wild 6-1. Roman Josi collected three points while Juuse Saros turned aside 33 shots for the 34-25-2 Predators, who also have 70 points but have played two more games than the Kings. Connor Dewar scored for the 28-26-6 Wild, who now sit eight points behind the Predators.
Dallas Stars rookie Logan Stankoven scored his third goal in four NHL games in a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz each had two points for the 36-17-9 Stars as they hold first place in the Central Division with 81 points. Winnipeg (37-16-5) remain two points behind the Stars. Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi missed the third period with an upper-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars will have to wait a few days until trade acquisition Chris Tanev joins them. He remains in Calgary sorting out his work visa and is expected to make his debut on Tuesday.
An overtime goal by Rasmus Dahlin lifted the Buffalo Sabres over the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Tage Thompson’s game-tying goal set the stage for Dahlin’s OT heroics for the 28-28-4 Sabres. Nikita Kucherov collected an assist as he remains the league’s points leader with 104. The Lightning (32-24-6) hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 70 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres coach Don Granato was fined $25,000.00 by the NHL for unprofessional conduct toward on-ice officials during Tuesday’s loss to the Panthers.
The Carolina Hurricanes doubled up the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 with Brady Skjei getting a goal and an assist. Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes (36-18-6) as they hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Alex Nylander had a goal and an assist for the 19-30-10 Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Blue Jackets announced forward Kent Johnson is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
New York Islanders center Brock Nelson scored two goals in a 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, snapping the latter’s six-game win streak. Mathew Bazal collected two points for the 25-20-4 Islanders as they sit six points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Olli Maatta tallied twice for the Red Wings (33-21-6) as they hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 72 points.
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ fading playoff hopes suffered another blow as they fell to the Seattle Kraken 2-0. Philipp Grubauer made 33 saves for the shutout while Oliver Bjorkstrand and Alex Wennberg scored for the 26-22-11 Kraken (63 points) as they sit seven points out of the final Western wild-card berth. Tristan Jarry made 23 saves for the 27-22-8 Penguins, who are eight points behind the Lightning with 62 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Penguins announced that winger Bryan Rust is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky is listed as day-to-day with an unspecified injury.
The Anaheim Ducks held off the San Jose Sharks 6-4. Adam Henrique had a goal and two assists for the 21-35-3 Ducks while Anthony Duclair scored twice and collected an assist for the 15-38-5 Sharks.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE OTTAWA SUN: Senators center Josh Norris’ season could be over as he’s expected to be sidelined for an extended period with an upper-body injury suffered during their 4-1 loss to the Predators on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Norris is one of the Senators’ core players but he’s been hampered by serious injuries since 2021-22. Shoulder surgery limited him to just eight games last season.
Watching Penguins vs Kraken last night and hearing of another trade with retention, got me thinking
Here’s a true all-in for Oilers, and one stop shopping:
1st, 2nd, Broberg, Ceci, Ryan , Brown to Kraken
For Eberle, Wennerberg, Larrsson, Kraken retain 50% on UFAs Eberle and Wennerberg
Kraken also give 3rd (Toronto) and Cale Fleury to Arizona OR Chicago OR Anaheim to retain another 25% on both Eberle and Wennerberg ( total cash retention for both of $546,000; Note New Jersey paid $282,000 AND a prospect just to get a late 4th rounder in’26, Carolina last night paying $172,000 of Lubushkin’s salary AND late 5th rounder in ‘19 (Slepets) for a 6th (‘24) from Toronto.
In annualized Cap hits…. $4,925,000 left the Oilers,while $6,500,000 came in…. lost $1,575,000 annualized Cap space in trade, but per CapFriendly have $1,993,405 in annualized Cap space right now
Oilers definitely improve at D,and they secure that 3rd line centre they were looking for plus top 6 winger. Already potent offence just got even better.
A Pengy of a different moniker is still a Pengy.
I’ll post as Pengy if he’ll give me his firm
I won’t like the Leafs though. I draw the line.
Okay, I was 80% sure this was Pengy prior to this post. Now I’m 110% sure it’s Pengy!
Lol, welcome back!
The only one to bring up Pengys “firm” is Pengy himself!
I was skeptical of the Pengy theory, but starting to warm to it; the firm comment give it some legs. So if you aren’t Pengy, well played!
The one stop shop idea has some merit, and often makes sense, B’s with Caps last year for 2 pcs is more realistic.
Problem with deal above – Oil have stated they will not trade Broberg for a rental. Larsson, the best player in the deal, and not a rental, will not come back to Edmonton. Nothing to do with the Oilers or the city, he liked it here.
His father came over to visit him on his own, had a unexpected heart attack and died. Larsson wanted his mother to move to Edmonton vs being alone in Sweden. Every time she was in Edmonton it reminded her of her husband dying and not being there with him. Larsson, being the solid person that he is, put family first, and moved to Seattle. Where his mother now lives to be close to him and his family.
One stop shop more realistic perhaps – Nic Dowd for a 3C moving McLeod up to play wing with Draisaitl, and Joel Edmundson for 7/8 D.
Wash gets 2nd, and Lavoie. Or just the Oil’s 2024 1st.
Hi
Re “well played”… I am not him , but I didn’t play anything
Crosby is my favourite player. Even named one of our daughters, Sydney.
Again, willing to switch places with him and have Pengy’s “firm” as he would refer to it
NOT willing to support Leafs though
Didn’t know the background re Larsson and father/mother
Trade with Caps seems fair
Addition of Eberle would do well
Or Addition of Wennerbeg…. Also a fit and uptick
Yep, CaptainObvious … a couple of days ago he tried to pretend confusion over “Peggy” and “Pengy” – then jumped from that to mentioning the “firm” – Pengy’s description of what most would call “business”
Where ya been Pengy?
Trades like this went extinct with the cap. You just don’t see this many bodies moving in one trade you in the cap era.
I don’t think we’ll be seeing anything like this now.
It is a pie in the sky trade, and we are just arm chair quarterbacks; but although rate, multi-asset trades in Cap era do happen. I believe in the Karllsson to San Jose trade there were 11 or 12 total assets changing hands in the trade
Was just putting in a suggested all in for Oilers that i believe would certainly move the needle
A lesser move with Krakken for Wennerberg OR Eberle is more likely to happen
Watching them play; they have explosive offence but it is balanced by at times chaotic defensive play costing goals and sometimes wins
Skinner is left out to dry quite often
It wasn’t that many pieces involved, and certainly not anywhere near as many as you’re suggesting NHL players, with larger contracts and term.
There has not been anything that even remotely looks like this since the cap was implemented.
And I doubt we’ll be seeing anything like this in the future.
Your probably right re that size of trade in the future
I just checked and I overshot my guess at the assets in the Karlsson to San Jose trade
Was a 5 player swap (Karlsson, DeMelo, Tierny, Norris, Balcers; plus 4 pics (1st, two seconds, and conditional 1st)… so 9 assets changed hands
My bad;
It was the Karllson to Penguins deal that was the 3 way , 12 assets flipped deal that included retention and 9 players changing teams: Karllsson, Pitlik, Petry, Ruuta, Legere, Hamaliuk, Gralund, Hoffman, DeSmith
Sharks also got a 1st (‘24); Montreal a 2nd. (‘25); Penguins got a 3rd (‘26)
Again this type of trade is extremely rare; but to me very creative in concept and execution
I think Oilers should go after EITHER Eberle or Wennerberg; can’t see Kraken parting with Larrsson
Sure Sounds Her (Pengy) ……⁉️
I seriously doubt, Chicago, AZ, or Anaheim will max out there retained salary spots, for a 3rd round pick and a prospect. All 3 teams have pending UFA’s that will be moved at the TDL, and they would likely need those retention spots to facilitate and max out their returns.
Good point
Again, just an armchair GM proposal
Would like as much as possible if (when) Dubas trades Guentzel
Josh Norris seems to be for the Sens what Kirby Dach is for the Habs. A solid player when healthy who spends way too much time on the injured list.
Howard,
Ottawa’s Josh Noriss
He has never played a Full Season.. 66 game max⁉️
Noriss and d/man Chabot has played 71 & 70 game tops and only 35 Games this season…!
They both seam to be Very Very Fragile players
Maybe they Chabot & Noriss Both need to go on a Physical Condition stint this summer and put on 10lb to 15lb EACH they both have the frame to do that…..🤔
Watching the Bruins/Knights game … same old story Bruins jump out to lead and then forgot how they got the lead … They need a shutdown Dman and a forward who can play both ends of ice … DeBrusk has 3 pts since January 24th and ice ice time is shrinking..Move him and get whatever you can …
Joe
Based on Sweeney s comments last night Debrusk agent over valued his contract and there is a gap as per Sweeney. Good odds he is gone by next weekend
If happens I’ll bust a move, the kid plays when he feels like it .. Cassidy had him pegged
Frederick and Geekie making 2-2.5 million!JDB making 4 million! His agent bet on him and missed! Trade him for another player in the salary range of Geekie and Frederick or package him with Ullmark on a significant trade,or just let him walk and use his 4 mill. During free agency this summer!
Why is Pasta on the ice protecting one goal leads! He is awful in the D zone! Reward your other players and give them an opportunity to score an empty netter!
Exactly.. sometimes the Monty moves are puzzling
Time that the Pens start selling and get younger! Start with Guentzel, Nedeljkovic, Harkins and Ruhwedal.
Then look forward to golf and the Draft this summer!
It might be time for the Pens to head into complete rebuild mode. Some of those contracts are ugly. At what point does Crosby get moved and launch into the rebuild that everyone knows should have started over a year ago?
Lol, try and convince the fan base of this idea!
Sure, it makes a lot of sense to maximize value of aging players when you are no longer competitive.
Hockey is no business though! I’ve checked the wall street journal this week, and they didn’t mention anything about the penguins. So owners are basically there to lose money to keep sentimental fans happy!!!
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Pens have themselves a problem with no easy way out .. age..term.. its a tough sell
Joe,
Simple solution. Trade all of your bad contracts / players for better contracts / players.
Example:
To Anaheim
Ruhwedal, Carter, Acciari and Smith . Throw in Karlsson to make the money work.
To Pittsburgh
Zegras 50% retained, Vatrano 50% retained , Henrique 50% retained, Carlson 50% retained, and a 1st.
Pittsburgh gets younger / better, Anaheim gets older / worse.
Win win for everyone!
A bit of an overpay for Pittsburgh, but “long term” they’ll be okay.
It’s easy when you just use some creativity and your “imagination “.
Should have happened over a year ago! To late now!
Crosby gets moved when and only when he wants to.
Since he has repeatedly said he wants to stay a Penguin; I see that move as not happening.
Complete rebuild. I’m with you in theory. In practicality, with so many NTC and NMC players; this won’t be happening.
Now you guys are going to say Captain Obvious is Pengy because of his proposal
You’re good at this not being Pengy thing, Pengy.
With Stone out for rest of season for sure ($9,500,000 off of Cap); and with McCrimmon already showing history of all-in moves; and with injuries piling up for Vegas; and with Guentzel already skating; then:
Guentzel (33% retained), Carter , Accairi for Roy, Howden and 1st
Carter has NMC, but asked to waive to go to reigning champs from a team very likely to miss playoffs again; then I think he just might take it
Roy (27 years old) who is very solid; has 3 more years at a very reasonable Cap hit of $3 M
Howden (25) has term, size, can play top 9
Penguins free up $4,350,000 in annualized cap space; gain
a 1st;
a solid top 9 player who can play 3rd line Centre, and can be thrown into top 6 at times
a younger (with size and term) 3rd/4th line winger
Acknowledging that Howden is on IR now
Penguins younger, bigger, stronger next year…. With more Cap space
Vegas replace two injured players with two healthy; and will get a proven 40 goal scorer (twice) in two weeks time
I give this an “A” for effort, but an “F” for reality.
Side note, how on earth did Acciari get a m-ntc at 2 million per?
I give his agent an “A+++++++” for that negotiation!!!
Add a dozen more “+”’s to that
He also got a huge raise and term ; from the same GM that he had when he was with Toronto
He got a 3 year $1.67 M contract with Panthers, scordd 20 goals in first year then dropped sunstantially
Armstrong took a 1 year chance on him…. $1.25 M
Traded him to Toronto where per Capfriendly he had 7 points in 34 games (regular season and playoffs) and played depth/4th line
Dubas seeing this poor performance said…. Thou shalt receive a 60% raise; get 3 years; and trade protection
Who is his agent? No matter how bad Dubas was on this; Accairi’s agent had the fantastical dream to ask for these terms; AND , got them
Crosby, with Accairi’s agent…. Even at 36…. As for $14 M * 8…. This agent already hosed Dubas and Penguins once
Lol. That’s funny!
You’re a good sport!
Hi 8787, what’s your opinion on Chad Ruhwedal? A core player for the Pens?
Core , no
That’s just Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and maybe Guentzel and Rust
Perhaps you could add Karllsson (as he will be tough to trade)
I would more likely classify Ruhweedel as “one of the gang”
Everything I’ve seen posted seems to indicate that he is a great dressing room kind of guy
I certainly don’t hate him like Pengy (some here today think Pengy is me, LOL)
He is consistent bottom pairing guy and had a great game last night and at $800,000, a reasonable contract
I think he is mid 30’s now , so 1 more year at $800,000 . I would not go more than that. If Penguins can get a rightie in mid 20’s, and with size, at/around $800,000-$900,000; I’d actually go for him over the already proven Ruhweedel
@ 8787
Black N gold here /what do you think of this proposal ?
Vegas is bold brash and willing to go all in on back to back Stanley Cups.
To Vegas
LW Riley Smith $ 5.0 million 2 years left
LW Jake Guentzel $ 6.0 million UFA
(50% retained) $ 3 million
$ 8 Million to Vegas
To Pittsburgh
LHD Nicolas Hague $ 2.3 million signed to 2025
C- Chandler Stephenson $ 2.75 million UFA
LW William Carrier $1.4 million UFA
2024 # 1 draft pick
$ 6.45 million to Pittsburgh
Vegas loads up on left wing with a familiar face that helped them win last year and a perennial 30 goal scorer with strong playoff numbers.
Pittsburgh gets a younger defenseman a two way 3rd line center and a solid third line winger and a number # 1 pick?
thoughts?
I do love this trade for us but I can’t see Vegas giving up a 1st AND Hague
Vegas already down (injuries) players and 3 out, 2 in will make that worse
And Stevenson is higher on the depth chart at C than Roy
Guentzel must have 50% retained
If it’s a 3 in 3 out swap; which is rare but not unheard of;
More likely is
Guentzel and Smith both at 50% (Carter coming off next year so not that big a hit); and Accairi
In: Roy, Howden (4 years younger than Carrier and still under contract), Whitecloud (youth with term); 1st
Cap hit flip overall very close
Howden right now on IR; Vegas gets 3 healthy now, replacing two healthy
Penguins get 3 guys in mid 20’s with term replacing two 32 year olds and a UFA 29 year old that Penguins can ill afford to re-sign; AND a late round 1st
With the cap hit flip nigh zero change; Vegas still has the Stone LTIR space for more moves
Ilya Lyubushkin is not all the D that the Leafs need, but he is a very good depth move. They even had to get creative adding a little bit on the back end. Gonna be interesting when they make a bigger move!
Maple Leafs
Get there RD man in an other three-way deal
as they reacquired big Physical defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin for $678,000 an X Leaf from the Anaheim Ducks,
Good pick up on RD as that was a big hole for the Leafs on The Right
That trade doesn’t move the needle all that much. One would hope a bigger more substantial trade will come, which makes sense for the double retention. A better acquisition than Tanev but a much lesser player. Tanev would have been nice but his age, injury history and being a UFA would be too much of a cost for the Leafs to acquire and resign. Like if another team made this trade, it’s simply meh.
@8787, you passed the Pengy identity test. LOL! The real Pengy would have busted a nut at just the suggestion that Ruhwadel was a core players for the Pens!!
HarryO
Your 100% Right
Pengy did not like Ruhwadel at all…!!