NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2024
A high-scoring tilt between the Capitals and Hurricanes highlights Friday’s action, Tom Wilson is suspended again, and the latest on the Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
NHL.COM: A shootout goal by Dylan Strome gave the Washington Capitals a 7-6 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Sonny Milano tallied his first NHL hat trick, Strome collected three assists and Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist for the 34-25-9 Capitals (77 points), who moved within one point of the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano (NHL Images).
Sebastian Aho had a hat trick for the 44-20-7 Hurricanes (including his 30th goal of the season) and Jake Guentzel had three assists. With 95 points, the Hurricanes are one point behind the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers and two back of the league-leading Boston Bruins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals played without winger Tom Wilson as he’s serving a six-game suspension for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor. This is the sixth suspension in his 11-season NHL career. He’s also been fined three times.
During the first period, the Capitals honored Evgeny Kuznetsov with a video tribute as he received a standing ovation from the fans. He was shipped to the Hurricanes before the March trade deadline after 11 seasons with the Capitals.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to help his club defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-1. Mikko Rantanen scored twice and collected an assist for the Avalanche (45-20-5) as they picked up their eighth straight win and took over first place in the Central Division with 95 points. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 45 shots for the 23-35-12 Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon extended his home points streak to 33 games and 17 games overall. He’s in second place in the scoring race with 119 points, three back of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored two goals in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jason Robertson had two assists for the 43-19-9 Stars, who’ve won three straight and sit second in the Central with 95 points. Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist for the 30-30-9 Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ageless wonder Joe Pavelski tallied his 25th goal of the season for the Stars. The 39-year-old winger has reached that milestone 12 times, the third-most among American-born scorers. Keith Tkachuk and Mike Modano are the leaders with 13 seasons.
The Arizona Coyotes nipped the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Dylan Guenther scored in overtime after Clayton Keller tied the game late in the third for the 29-36-5 Coyotes. Ryker Evans scored his first NHL goal for the 28-28-13 Kraken.
ASSOCIATED PRESS: Jonathan Marchessault is enjoying a career-best season in his contract year. He’s in the final season of a six-year, $30-million contract and has a single-season high of 38 goals, just five short of the franchise record.
Marchessault’s agent, Pat Brisson, said he’s had several discussions with Golden Knights management during the season. However, he doesn’t expect anything to happen until after this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winner of the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy, Marchessault is an original Golden Knights and their most reliable scorer throughout his tenure in Vegas. The 33-year-old will draw plenty of interest in the free-agent market, though his age could make suitors reluctant to sign him longer than four years.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy will be suiting up for his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leddy will be joining an exclusive club. Of the roughly 7,500 players to appear in at least one game in the NHL’s long history, he will become the 391st to have played 1,000 games.
Wilson really starting to hurt Caps chance of making the playoffs with his 6 game suspension!Is he starting to wear out his welcome in Washington! Too good a player to resort to these tactics!
So far, they’re 1-0 without Wilson. Looking at the remaining schedule I don’t like Detroit or Washingtons schedule down the stretch. I’d give a slight edge to Washington for the stretch run.
With Philly not playing great, the islanders falling apart, Jersey and Pittsburgh out of the race, and Washington having a game in hand over Philly, there’s a solid chance Washington jumps into the 3 spot.
Nice Doo Sonny. Been around a ton of static electricity?
Didn’t get to see the capitals/Hurricanes tilt. Both teams’ kickers missed the convert to send it to OT? What’s the odds?
Marchessault is an original misfit ; fan fav; get a deal done. He’s not a 35+ contract; give him 8 years, last 3 at league min (which he will not take and just retire; with front end loaded; to make AAV lower
His Cap hit is currently $5M, but in cash he only got $3.5 M (gross) last year and this year
Cap going up
Give him $30 M in first 5 years, heavily loaded in first 3 years; then years 6,7,8 at league minimum…. He gets huge financial raise but Cap hit plummets to fraction over $4M/year ($32.4M over 8 years)
Give him full NMC for first 4 years; 5th year NTC… can only be moved to a handful of teams; years 6-8 …. No protection (he’ll retire after 5 years anyway)
You see many players retiring and leaving money on the table? I don’t.
Sure, they end up on LTIR with rashes from their equipment that never bothered them prior, but they don’t retire.
Giving Marchessault 8 years is insanity. 4-5 tops and I believe even that is generous.
I think a lot of those cap shenanigans went the way of the Dodo bird, Pengy. Especially for age 35+ players.
Re; Vegas UFA & Minimum Cap space
They only have $9.7M in Cap Space for next season
They have 7 UFA postitons to replace on the team for the 2024/2025 season.❗️
They need to Replace a top 4 d/man in Alec Martinez
Replacement cost Minimum $3-4.M
They need to replace a top 6 forward in UFA Jonathan Marchessault..? he is going to get $5M range for 3-4 years. Replacement cost Minimum cost $3-4.M
then the need to plug holes with the rest of the cash they will only have left around… $3.5M
Good to see Edmonton native, and ex Oil King, Guenther starting to have some success at NHL level. 22 pts in 33 games, including 11 goals at 20 yrs old is pretty darn good.
The guy was lethal in the O zone when he was in Jr. Calmly and with poise, stuck a knife in the opposing team.
Arizona should start getting good with some of these quality young players! Oh yeah, forgot.
You mean Salt Lake City!
Most playoff teams are done, i think the west is set just playoff spot jockeying
The east 3 teams fighting for a spot.
Washington and Philly fighting for the 3rd in the Metro or the second wild card spot
Detroit is trying to hang onto the second wild card spot.
Detroit:
13 games remaining
4h 9a
1 back to back
6 games against teams presently in a playoff spot
2 games against Washington
Washington:
13 games remaining
7h 5a
2 back to back
9 games against teams presently in playoff spot
2 games against Detroit
1 game against Philadelphia (last game of the season)
Philadelphia:
12 games remaining
6h 6a
3 back to back
4 games against teams presently in playoff spot
1 game against Washington at home, last game of the season
should be interesting down the stretch