NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 30, 2024
A four-goal game for Sabres center Tage Thompson, the Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury talks about his future, a milestone for Predators captain Roman Josi, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Buffalo Sabres captain Tage Thompson scored four goals in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Alex Tuch collected two assists and Devon Levi stopped 28 shots for the 35-34-5 Sabres (75 points)as they kept their faint playoff hopes alive, sitting six points out of the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth. Jesper Bratt and Max Willman scored for the Devils (36-34-4), who remain five points out of that wildcard spot.
NHL.COM: Marc-Andre Fleury is willing to return for another season. However, the 39-year-old goaltender indicated it will only be with the Minnesota Wild. “Yeah, it’s probably Minnesota or retirement. I wouldn’t want to move and take my three kids out of their environment. They’ve moved enough already.”
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).
Fleury said he’ll sit down with Wild general manager Bill Guerin to discuss the club’s plans for next season and whether there’s a place for him.
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Predators captain Roman Josi reached a milestone during his club’s 8-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. He collected three assists in that game to become the first Swiss-born NHL player to reach the 500-assist plateau.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov’s long journey to join the Flyers ended Friday when he arrived in Philadelphia and was introduced to reporters by general manager Daniel Briere.
Fedotov signed his one-year, entry-level contract in May 2022. However, he was detained by his home country of Russia for allegedly evading military service. Following his service, he signed a two-year contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow despite his valid contract with the Flyers. The contract was tolled ahead to this season.
On Thursday, CSKA Moscow terminated Fedotov’s contract and wished him well.
“I’m so excited and happy to be here,” said Fedotov. “Great feelings because it was a really difficult two years.”
Fedotov is available to play for the Flyers as early as Saturday. However, it’s uncertain when he’ll debut with the club.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram was recently fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for his blindside hit on Wednesday on Ottawa Senators forward Angus Crookshank.
NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome was fined $5,000.00 for cross-checking Seattle Kraken forward Tye Kartye Thursday.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle received a one-game suspension for slashing Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny on Thursday.
NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway was fined $2,000.00 for embellishment during a March 23 game against the Boston Bruins.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves has been diagnosed with a concussion. There is no timeline for his return.
CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (illness) has joined the club on its current road trip. He could return to the lineup for the first time since March 17.
TORONTO STAR: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Simon Benoit to a three-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.35 million.
CALGARY SUN: The family of former NHL defenseman Bob Murdoch said the two-time Stanley Cup champion suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive and fatal disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murdoch is among 18 NHL players to be posthumously diagnosed with CTE.
The others include Hall-of-Famers Henri Richard and Stan Mikita, six-time Stanley Cup champion Ralph Backstrom, two-time 52-goal scorer Rick Martin, defensemen Steve Montador and Zarley Zalapski, wingers Dan Maloney, Marek Svatos and Jeff Parker, and enforcers Bob Probert, Reg Fleming, Derek Boogard, Wade Belak, Todd Ewen, Gino Odjick, Rick Rypien and Larry Zeidel.
The family of former NHL enforcer Chris Simon believe he suffered from CTE that contributed to his death by suicide last week at age 52.
To date, the NHL maintains the link between CTE and repeated head trauma suffered in hockey is inconclusive.
Henri Richard, Ralph Backstrom, Bob Murdoch, Rick Martin, Zarley Zalapski , Marek Svatos had very few if any fights, that is 30% of those diagnosed.
It isn’t proof of anything other conclusions have been drawn and those questioning them are being ridiculed.
I would imagine that the NHL stance is tempered while waiting for action from Football, Rugby, Boxing and MMA which are all more dangerous with regard to head trauma.
Bettman says the science is still out, and he would have all of the best scientific studies available.
Bettman may have access to the evidence but he chooses to ignore it for liability reasons. As far as I’m concerned, he’s beneath contempt.
Re; Leafs D….
Leafs signed defenseman Simon Benoit to a three-year contract extension of $1.35 million.
He has been a Great Physical d for them on there 3rd paring at 1.35M for 3 more years this will really help them,
UFA TJ Brodie, i can see him getting re-sigend at $1.5 to $2.M for a year or 2 to be on the 3rd par with
with Simon Benoit
They also need a New 2nd paring offencive D-man on the leafs d,
maybe they take a look at young RD Topi Niemelä?
They also need to look at Ilya Samsonov they need a starting goaltender …? will they try to re-sign him⁉️
Woll will be the Back up for the next few years
Not much out there for starters that the leafs can aford…., with 8 UFA and only $19.M in cap space its going to be Tough for the leafs🤔
They also need to look at 2 UFA top 7 forwards Domi & Burtuzi …? $3.m & 5.M, i think they keep Domi at $3.M….
2025 ufa leafs Mitch Marner, should get No More than Willie Nylander Money $11.5M…..✔️❓
John Tavares should get 2 years at $5.M TOPS..👀❗️
Guhle should’ve received a minimum 3 game suspension.
His slash was will he was on the bench and slashed Konecny while play was going on.
This would be a 2 minute minor if it happen on the ice.
A player on the bench committing this infraction should be given an automatic 3 games suspension and reviewable for more.
That was a garbage play and should be handle with more vigor.
Guhle likely just removing some dust off his crest so the fans could see it better. If the referee standing close by would have seen it a 2 minute penalty warranted. A fine yes, a suspension no.