NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2024
The Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard matches two franchise records, the Panthers and Rangers expand their leads in their respective divisions, and former player Anson Carter heads a group that wants to bring a franchise to Atlanta. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard had a goal and four assists in a 7-2 rout of the Anaheim Ducks. Bedard matched the single-game franchise records for assists and points (five) by a rookie. Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev each had four points for the 18-43-5 Blackhawks. Brett Leason tallied twice for the 23-39-3 Ducks.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard also became the fifth 18-year-old player in league history to have a five-point game, joining Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Ilya Kovalchuk (2002), Dale Hawerchuk (1982) and Jack Hamilton (1943). The young Blackhawks star has eight points in his last two games and 10 in his last four. He leads this season’s rookie class with 51 points (13 more than Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber) and 20 goals (three more than the Wild’s Marco Rossi).
The league-leading Florida Panthers scored three unanswered third-period goals to nip the Dallas Stars 4-3, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Aleksander Barkov scored twice while Sam Reinhart tallied his 46th goal of the season for the 45-17-4 Panthers (94 points), who opened a three-point lead over the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins atop the overall standings. Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (40-18-9), who sit in first place in the Central Division with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers played without forward Evan Rodrigues due to a lower-body injury.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves for his second straight shutout to blank the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0. Adam Fox scored for the 43-18-4 Rangers (90 points) to open a six-point lead over the second-place Hurricanes atop the Metropolitan Division. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 23 shots for the 39-20-6 Hurricanes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Rangers rookie center Matt Rempe received a four-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head on Monday.
The Colorado Avalanche moved closer to the Central-leading Stars with a 6-2 victory over the slumping Calgary Flames. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games while Mikko Rantanen has two goals and two assists for the 41-20-5 Avalanche (87 points) as they’re two points back of the Stars. Dan Vladar made 29 saves for the 31-29-5 Flames, who have lost three straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all scorers with a career-high 113 points. Three key Flames players were absent from this game. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, forward Andrei Kuzmenko was a late scratch with an upper-body injury, and winger Andrew Mangiapane was sidelined with an illness.
Speaking of slumping teams, the Detroit Red Wings suffered a 7-3 upset at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. Defenseman Bowen Byram scored twice and Zach Benson had a goal and two assists for the 31-30-5 Sabres (67 points), who moved to within five points of the New York Islanders for the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth. Lucas Raymond had a goal and an assist for the 33-26-3 Red Wings (72 points), who lost their sixth straight game and slipped out of that wildcard spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: When this month started, the Wings held the first Eastern wildcard berth with 72 points with a seven-point lead over the ninth-overall Washington Capitals and the 10th-overall Islanders. The Isles now have the same number of points as the Wings but they hold that wildcard spot with a game in hand.
Jack Eichel’s 200th career goal came in overtime to lift the Vegas Golden Knights over the Seattle Kraken 5-4. Eichel also had two assists while Jonathan Marchessault tallied twice for the Golden Knights (35-23-7), who hold the final Western Conference wildcard spot with 77 points. Philipp Grubauer stopped 29 shots for the 28-24-12 Kraken.
Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett snapped a 2-2 tie as his club defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Travis Konecny and Morgan Frost each had two points for the Flyers (34-24-8), who hold third place in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points. Filip Zadina scored both goals for the 16-41-7 Sharks.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau kicked out 41 shots for his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brendan Gallagher, Juraj Slafkovsky and Joshua Roy were the goalscorers for the 25-30-10 Canadiens. Elvis Merzlikins gave up three goals on four shots and was replaced by Daniil Tarasov as the Blue Jackets sank to 22-33-10.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.
A two-goal performance by Kirill Kaprizov gave the Minnesota Wild a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Kaprizov also collected an assist for the 32-27-7 Wild. Nick Bjugstad replied for the 26-35-5 Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek left the game with an undisclosed injury in the third period. Meanwhile, the Coyotes played without forward Barrett Hayton as he could be out longer than day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
The Ottawa Senators snapped a seven-game skid as they downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on an overtime goal by Drake Batherson. Joonas Korpisalo made 34 saves and Jake Sanderson also scored for the 26-33-4 Senators. Michael Bunting replied for the 28-27-9 Penguins.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: Former NHL player-turned-broadcaster Anson Carter is heading a group that made a formal request to the league to begin the process of adding an expansion franchise to Atlanta.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Three times the charm after two previous teams (Flames and Thrashers) were relocated from Atlanta. Meanwhile, potential ownership groups in Salt Lake City and Houston have also expressed interest in bringing NHL franchises to their cities.
While the league continues to play coy over the possibility of expanding into new markets, it seems inevitable that it will grow by at least another two teams before the end of this decade. One of those cities could become the next home of the Arizona Coyotes if their current owner’s efforts to build a new arena in the Phoenix area fall through.
NHL.COM: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He is expected to return before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin next month.
TSN: The Canucks also placed winger Dakota Joshua (injured hand) on long-term injury reserve.
THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro is out for two to three weeks with an upper-body injury.
THE SCORE: The Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils will open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 4 and 5 in Prague, Czechia. The following month, the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers will face off in Tampere, Finland on Nov. 1 and 2. These games are part of the NHL’s 2024 Global Series.
Lyle,
Dimitri Voronkov is tied with Rossi at 17 goals.
Yes, Paul, but Rossi gets second place based on points as per NHL.com. Anyway, Bedard still leads in goals and points.
I guess I’m a dinosaur. Whether it’s in one game or over a full season, 17 (or whatever) goals is 17 goals.
I’m a dinosaur too I guess +/- doesn’t count for anything
Two from me today… you can tell how a Bruins game is going to go in the first 5 minutes of the game …they either come out flat or they are hard to the puck ….They try to bring in some toughness with Maroon who has had back surgery not so long ago, and the only hockey fights he wins are when the players are smaller than him ….
That s because most of the players in the league are mallet than him!
Guy fights like he’s in the WWE
In the fall of 2010 i was wearing my jets sweater at a sens/rangers preseason game. An Ottawa fan was kind enough to notice and say something like “wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Jets back in Winnipeg”. fast forward 8 months and they were back.
For all the Flames/Thrashers fans in Atlanta let me say that it would be AMAZING to see a return of the NHL to your city, and thank-you for sharing a piece of Atlanta with us in Winnipeg.
This is a classy post. Glad Winnipeg has the Jets again. I hope Atlanta does get a team, but more importantly that they do it with a viable plan and committed ownership to stay there for many years (hopefully forever).
I’ve heard criticism of the proposed arena location but have no local area knowledge to weigh in on that – I just think that if they get another team, they need to do it without having an arm tied behind their back.
“Rangers rookie center Matt Rempe received a four-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head on Monday.”
How did that happen?
Rempe gets 4 games for the elbow and it’s mentioned that it’s his first offense……after 10 games.
The kid has more penalty minutes than TOI.
League had the opportunity and responsibility to hand down a severe suspension to nip this behavior of a player as opposed to leaving it to teams to enter an arms race.
Habs Fan. I would say they did!
What is the severe penalty that should be handed down? 20-30 games, lifetime ban?
I’m a Rangers fan, I’m not defending Rempe, but 2-5 games is right in line.
There have been 8 suspensions (including Rempe) due to checking or elbowing to the head.
Only one was for 5 games, the rest are 2-4. Why should Rempe pay a higher price? A lot of those penalty minutes are for fighting. Some of which Rempe was not the one initiating? So he should pay because?????
Everyone wants to see consistency in suspensions ,myself included. What you’re asking for is going outside of consistency because you don’t like a particular player?
Gallagher got 5 games for elbow to the head, 1st suspension in 12 years.
Rempe, 4 games for elbow to the head, 1st suspension in 10 games.
Suspensions shouldn’t be based on time of service, or irrelevant fighting majors etc.
Suspensions should be based on the the actual offense, severity of offense and repeat offender status.
So we can argue 5 games vs 4 all day. But if we’re saying he should get 10 -20 or something like that because of time of service, that ain’t happening, nor should it. It’s irrelevant.
One on the elbows took out P. Liane and he was never right after he came back and he is now in the NHL rehab for depression. His playing days may be over. So 4,5 10, or 20 games doesn’t matter what about the health of the player injured.
I don’t think you’ll ever see discipline handed down based on length of injury.
That would be far too subjective. Then we’re talking about prior injury history.
Suspensions should be cut and dry. Isn’t everyone constantly complaining about the lack of consistency?
Dear Mr. Anson Carter
Here’s how you can save probably $300 M – $400M
Buy Coyotes, pay relocation fees; move team to Atlanta
I feel like I have been kicked in the b$@lls ; left in a ditch; and spat on by a 98 lb red headed step child
One (1) Penguin player showed up last night. He absolutely played spectacularly; stopping 37 of 39 and many many many of them absolute sure goals. Excellent job Mr. Jarry
The rest of the team…. shameful
They appear to be playing for a Celi….,
That’s Celi….brini (Macklin Celebrini)
Here’s just a tip…. Tanking increases odds yes; but does NOT guarantee it.
I’m fearing more and more that Crosby is going to head West in the summer
Action needs to happen
I read (just now) some of yesterday’s posts here with suggested Karllson to Ottawa trades
Up the retention; force them to take a couple more contracts.
Karllson (50% retained; so Ottawa gets him for only $5 M Cap hit) + Eller + Accairi + Nietto
For Batherson , Olivier-Joseph, Docker
For Penguins fans here saying “are you nuts, retaining 50% on Karlsson for another 3 years”??
Nope, just desperate.
Penguins need to
1) keep Crosby
2) get younger, bigger, faster
At any cost save for reducing the already slim prospect cupboard
It is just money. Owners are not interested in short term “rounding error” types of expenses if it stems the loss of more fans; and/or builds something for a reasonably short turnaround.
As of this summer; Penguins have 2 retention slots open. Use one on Karlsson, get max return; and find an amenable (player/trade partner) place for Rust…. Retain 50%…. Get youth forward with size back
OR….. retain 50% on Smith and move him for a lesser (than Rust trade) quality youth forward with size
Reitden for sure must go; and maybe it’s time for Sullivan to move on. He certainly hasn’t been motivating effort lately!
If Dubas can’t do at least 1/2 of the above; boot him too.
Something has to be done
I don’t really want to move to Denver
I seriously doubt Ottawa has any desire to take on Pittsburgh 💩 contracts. Certainly not 10 million worth.
As of today, Pittsburgh has a 3.5% chance to land the #1 overall.
Pittsburgh’s problem today and for the foreseeable future is , they’re not good enough to make the playoffs, and not bad enough to get top 5 draft pics.
This team has slept on a retool for 5 years, and on a full tear down for 3 years.
Keeping Crosby around isn’t helping their cause.
Agree, sadly with most of that.
There has been a fair chunk of talk regarding a possible Karlsson to Ottawa trade.
At less than 1/2 his total cap hit; that’s got to be worth something
There has to be a deal there somehow
Re if Crosby does leave:
Guess I’m upheaving my fam and heading to Denver.
Oh well.
LMAO!!!!! It’s enough a favour for Ottawa to take Karlsson off your hands and you want them to take MORE garbage and give you a few of the players that actually showed up for the Sens this year?
Took me a long time to write the reply cause I could not see the screen through all the tears in my eye from laughing so hard at that.
With you there – totally. What an asinine proposal!
As I said above to Captain Obvious.
Interest (from Ottawa) in Karlsson has been percolating
At $5M Cap hit; which is only 43% of his total Cap hit ($11.5 M) ; there has to be a deal there
Make us an offer
If it’s reasonable ; we Penguins’ fans; will find a scary enough dude to ensure Dubas takes the deal
What is your offer for Karllson at $5M?
And please don’t offer up anybody that played for Dubas before
Karlsson – for that trio? Get real. I wouldn’t give them Korpisalo for Karlsson.
Re; Erik Karlsson
There is No way The Sen’s they take on a $10.M d/man contract
Dont even think PD would do that one Mr Dum-ass
unless they Retain 50% of EK salary and sending Korpisalo back in a trade to make the $$ Work.👀
Hi Willie
My offer was at $5M; so only 43% of his total Cap hit
Make us an offer
Can I phone a friend? Calling Ron Popiel from the great beyond
He could sell ice cubes to Eskimos.
Remember; $5 M Cap per year is actually 36 EASY monthly Cap payments of only $417 K; or 156 EASY weekly Cap payments of inly $96 K.
And, wait for it, just 1,095 EASY daily Cap payments of only $13.7 K
Each current Ottawa Citizen will receive a free bi-centennial 1976 Vegomatic
Wait , there’s more
If Staios acts on this in the next 15 minutes; the Penguins will throw in the very versatile Italian Stallion himself, Vinnie Hinistrosa
PIT could trade Karlsson all day if they ate half his salary and he only cost $5M.
OTT doesn’t make much sense for an offensive D-man, although he is a right shot which they could use, but they have Chabot. If they can move him in a separate deal, maybe.
The team I cheer for has McAvoy & Carlo for a RD, and the team where I live has Bouchard running the PP from the right side, so not them either.
Bottom line is Karlsson is still a very effective offensive RD, and RD are in demand. He has a great natural stride so his skating should stay with him until his contract is over. Have to think somebody will give up a decent asset for him at that ticket,
We Penguin’s fans are willing to trade him anywhere.
Was just using Ottawa as a suggestion as Karlsson was their former captain AND has recently been discussed in the media regarding a potential return
In no way (now, not last year) is he worth the $10 M Cap hit that Penguins are paying
He IS worth more than $5 M for sure.
And one would think so regarding Ottawa
Ottawa’s Left shooting D are : Chabot, Chychrun, Branstrom, Sanderson,
Their “regular” righties are Zub and Bernard-Docker
CapFriendly also lists a player named Guinette but shows that he’s inly played 5 games this year
And , some of those lefties can (and do) play both sides; but Karlsson on their team would make them better
It all comes down to price point (acceptable Cap hit AND what needs to be given up)
If I was Staios; it would be impossible to say $5M Cap hit for Karllson was too much
It would come down to what he’d need to give up in trade
This Penguins’ fan would be willing to accept (for Karllson @ $5M Cap hit) but a token prospect plus Olivier Joseph, IF Staois also takes on Eller, Accairi, and Nietto
Also if done after July 1st when signing bonus is paid; Ottawa would only be on hook for about $11.5 M in actual cash over 3 years (which means s only about $3.85 M per year)
A fair deal in my honest opinion is Karllson at $5 M Cap hit ($3.85 M cash hit) plus Accairi for just Batherson
Ottawa can then move Chychrun or Chabot for a Batherson replacement
I really need to dig up Ron and get him to close this deal.
8787, Leafs need an RD. Maybe 50% retained plus some combination of Kampf, Robertson, Holmberg and a D prospect.
Nice to see McMann receive a two year, one way contract extension. A late bloomer, Bobby McMatthews can play in the league; great work ethic. For me, he looked okay last season; played hard but just didn’t get rewarded for his effort (1 assist in 10 games).
Watch this fight on you tube
Matt Martin vs Adam McQuaid Feb 4, 2017…. Great Fight
What are the rules on a player being placed on IR? Does Thatcher Demko qualify?
I believe IR means hid spot (on 23 man roster) can bd replaced by another player but BOTH he anf replacement player’s Cap hits count
If on LTIR; can be replaced, AND his Cap hit dies not count while on LTIR
However, once on LTIR, player must STAY on LTIR for the greater of (A) 24 days OR (B) 10 games
Also I believe League has right to challenge (investigate) re LTIR, but not IR…. This clause I’m not 100% sure on