NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2024
The Panthers are poised to sweep the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, management changes in store for the Blues, the Sharks name their new head coach, the Rangers re-sign Kaapo Kakko, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers are on the verge of sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final after holding on for a 4-3 victory in Game 3. Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves and Aleksander Barkov tallied the game-winning goal as the Panthers scored three times within a six-minute span in the second period.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).
The Oilers made things interesting with third-period goals by Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod. However, it wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling into a 3-0 series deficit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton faces the daunting challenge of doing something that hasn’t been done in the Stanley Cup Final since 1942: overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win hockey’s holy grail.
Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner believes his club can do it. So far, however, they’ve shown nothing to indicate they can pull it off.
Skinner’s mishandling of a dump-in by the Panthers led to Vladimir Tarasenko snapping a 1-1 tie in the second period. That opened the floodgates as Sam Bennett and Barkov capitalized on defensive miscues by the Oilers.
The Panthers have done a masterful job of shutting down the Oilers’ big guns in this series. Connor McDavid has three assists and Evan Bouchard has one. Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have yet to dent the score sheet.
Bobrovsky has been solid throughout this series. He’s had help from his teammates as they’ve clogged up the shooting lanes while reducing the amount of traffic around their net.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong signed a five-year contract extension with the St. Louis Blues as president of hockey operations. Alexander Steen was named special assistant to the general manager through 2025-26, after which he’ll take over as GM from Armstrong.
The Blues also promoted Tim Taylor from his previous role as director of player development to assistant general manager.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Team chairman Tom Stillman approved Armstrong’s proposed transition. He’ll remain general manager for two more years to prepare Steen for the GM role.
Steen spent 12 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Blues. He retired as a player in 2020 and joined the Blues’ management team last year as a European development consultant. Armstrong was so impressed by Steen’s effort that he felt he would be a worthwhile successor.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks promoted assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky as their new head coach.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NBC Sports Bay Area’s Sheng Peng reported Warsofsky’s ability to build relationships with his players, his record for developing young players, and his communication skills factored into the Sharks management tapping him as their new bench boss.
The Sharks are rebuilding their roster with promising young talent. Warsofsky’s coaching will play a crucial role in their development.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed winger Kaapo Kakko to a one-year, $2.4 million contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko accepted what would’ve been the Rangers’ qualifying offer, foregoing his arbitration rights this summer. That’s not surprising given his struggles this season.
On the one hand, this is an affordable short-term deal that enables the Rangers to remain patient with the 23-year-old winger’s development. On the other hand, it’s an easily tradeable contract if they decide to trade him.
SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed Jalen Chatfield to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million. The 28-year-old defenseman was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chatfield made himself invaluable to the Hurricanes’ blueline depth. He’s getting a significant raise, earning $765K per season on his previous two-year contract.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers captain Sean Couturier said he’s rehabbing from a recent sports hernia injury. “Feeling great now. About to head back home here this week and start the full training,” said Couturier.
NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club officially joined the NHL on Thursday. The team revealed its home and away jerseys for 2025-26. They could have a new name by then as fan voting is open until June 20. Details on the name will be revealed in the coming months.
TSN: Executive Laurence Gilman and the Toronto Maple Leafs mutually agreed to part ways. He worked as assistant GM from 2018-19. His contract was due to expire at the end of this month.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens extended their affiliate agreement with the ECHL’s Trois-Rivieres Lions for three more seasons.
FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS: The Florida Panthers have ended their affiliation with the ECHL’s Florida Everglades.
Congratulations to the Panthers on winning the cup.
Congratulations to Bobrovski on winning the Conn Smythe.
The Parade will be a hot one.
What? Too crass ? Too soon?
Oilers fans, this was not me being rude. Just realistic and posting early an eventual real congratulations.
It ain’t over until the fat lady sings? Well, she has sung already, and she is already at the after party.
I absolutely thought that Oilers were going to win last night. I really did. They absolutely HAD to win last night.
Down in the game , I still thought Oilers would win. Even Down 4-3 late, and pressing; I really thought they’d score and send it to OT where odds would have been in their favor.
Bad missed (? , deliberately not called?) call with 2 minutes left would have had them 6 on 4 and a fair shot at sending to OT. I’m with you Oilers fans on the angst.
Didn’t happen. Down 3-0 now. They aren’t coming back and taking the series
I know, I know. It’s happened in the past. I know!!
It’s just not happening this year with Brobovski playing like that.
So my opening two lines are valid; but early. How many days early? TBD.
As a fan of hockey, like most, I’d love to see 7 games, and a 7th game with OT.
I am now convinced that this series ends either tomorrow or Tuesday (in Sunrise).
I’d love to be out-prognosticated and actually see a game 7 OT. That would be extremely exciting.
Oilers, to get to game 7, you first have to get to game 5. I’d suggest at the very least a Ceci/Desharnais swap again. Two glaring and severely costly errors in consecutive games for him. Want a spark? Have to do something. A depth switch? Gagne?
Hey Pengy87, not really going out on a limb when the cup has been played for more than a 100 times, and 3-0 come back has only happened once.
Do you mean 2 glaring errors last night for Ceci? He was only on the ice for 1 goal against and that doesn’t happen if Stu handles the puck properly. If he doesn’t go back to play it, Ceci plays it differently IMO.
The Oil out chanced FLA more than 2 to 1 last night. Out chanced from the high danger spots as well, but not nearly as lopsided. Bob was outstanding again.
As Lyle said, big guns gotta finish. They bury some of those chances last night, and play with a lead, different outcome. Game 1, same thing.
3 things have cost the Oil:
1 – not finishing and playing with a lead. Draisaitl where you been? Hyman is it least in the battle.
2 – Bob
3 – costly mistakes in bad places, and not just CC.
The Oil won’t roll over, they don’t want to get swept.
Ray I started to root for Edmonton last night.
The Skinner gaffe was a huge turning point.
Where is RNH? I guess each series Florida has played, we are asking where is Panarin, Pastrnak, Draistl etc.
At some point I have to recognize how strong Florida is defensively.
Ekbald and Frosling lead the playoffs in +/-
It’s not over, there is always an outlier. Could it be Edmonton?
I say yes but I don’t have faith in Edmonton defense or goaltender.
I’m betting Edmonton goes back to Florida down 3-1 and wins that 5th game in Sunrise.
Then batten down the hatches.
All records are made to be broken and it’s time for an 84-year-old record to be repeated.
Draisaitl playing with a washed up Perry (healthy scratch for a few play-off games), Mcleod who scored 2 goals in 20 games, kane injured, Foegele (also a healthy scratch for a numerous games)… Sure “helps” a lot. Could he have scored on the pp? Sure! But that obviously doesn’t work against a excellent Panther defense/pk.
I was surprised that they were able to defeat the Stars.
Yes,yes & yes Ray Bark! I think you summed it up well. Oilers not burrying some chances, Bobrovsky, and turnovers cost you big time when you do it like that! Tough slog if you are the Oilers but if they wish to come back, they better show signs of wanting to chip away. I don’t see it? One game maybe. Florida deserves it, they play good hockey! Bobrovsky for Conn Smythe!!!!
Agree Ray with all you have said except
1) of course…. NOT Pengy. I know you keep this up to entertain the troops. But definitely NOT Pengy
2) your “3 things have cost the Oil:”— I’d switch your order….. number one is Bobrovski. Period. Plain and simple. He is literally standing on this head.
8787. You’re right. To crass from a guy whose penguins didn’t even make the playoffs.
Oil lost for several reasons, big guns, Bouchard x2 errors, skinner error and nurse error. Cant win if your core doesn’t play “a” game.
apologies for the crass remarks.
Was doing it really tongue and cheak.
I truly believe that Panther’s are up 3-0 for one reason and one reason only. Bobrovsky.
Oilers could have overcome the miscues; and for sure with all of their shots; and net pressence,would have had a bunch more goals on Panthers than they do as at now.
The ONLY way Bobrovski loses the Conn Smythe is for Oilers to magically come back, win in 7; with 4 high scoring games; and full domination by either McDavid or Draisitl.
As a hockey fan; I want to see a game 7
Thinking with just logic, just too far fetched.
As others have pointed out here; records/history etc is meant to be broken. I just can’t see Panther’s losing 4 straight with a health Bobrovsky. If he comes down with an injury or gets ill; that changes EVERYTHING
In reality; the series should be 2-1 (Oilers for sure should have won game 1). If it was 2-1; then I would have bet many marbles that it heads back to Sunrise 2-2. In a 3 game series anything can happen.
Now, the only way to get a cup for the Oilers is to break the Russian wall, 4 consecutive games. Is that going to happen?
Now George above has said they’ll win tomorrow. That I can buy. I actually believe they will. Then he said they win in Sunrise (Tuesday). That is a possibility. If that happens, then it is coming back to Edmonton for game 6; and THEN it’s hard to believe that Oilers would repeat mistakes and NOT win game 6. Then on to 7…. where anything can happen.
That’s loads of hurdles. Could it happen? Well yes, it has happened once in the last 84 years.
To me though, “CAN” it happen is so very very very low in odds compared to “WILL” it happen.
Most likely scenario, IMHO is Panther’s winning the cup at home on Tuesday.
The Oilers are built like the Toronto Maple Leafs ,heavy on offensive forwards that get neutralized by superior defensemen and outstanding goaltending!Why can t they’re so called great hockey management teams see this! This years Panthers and last years Vegas rosters are built the exact same way! Vegas had a little more offense and Fla. has better goaltending!Both were built for the playoffs!
8787, you may not be Pengy but you suffer from the same disease, diarrhea of the keyboard.
Please try writing short stories rather than novels.
Oilers big Guns came up short again last night…
➡️Both McDavid and Draisaitl Not playing like they can in the Finals, poor performances by both
Get perry back on the 4th line, or play him every 2nd game…?
➡️Put Sam Ganger back on the 3rd line for the next game
➡️Bouchard needs to shot the puck more, they also need to change up there PP a bit, Spongebob knows where the puck is going ie to Leon parked on the right for the one timer…..🙈
➡️Put Nurse on as thew 7th d/m,an he was Brutal Again last night on for both give aways for the 2nd & 3rd Goals he looked LOST out there Again….
➡️Young Phil Broberg was way better than Nurse again last night, so was Brent Kulak way better than Nurse……⁉️
PS
I think the Oil can Win game 4……👍
Williew
I disagree re : “Both McDavid and Draisaitl Not playing like they can in the Finals, poor performances by both”
Oilers dominated in game one. Both played to their standards. Brobovsky stole game one.
I do agree with you re above and game 2. Very poor effort.
Last night; again Oilers had shot and chance advantages. Hit three posts/cross bars. Bobrovsky stood tall; and Oiler errors were immediately capitalized upon for goals.
Yes get more shots from Bouchard. I do not see repeat errors from him
Desharnais in for Ceci is necessary
I’m not as negative on Nurse as you are.
Agree Broberg is holding his own
I posted above (and agree with you here); give Gagner a shot. Ryan out, Gagner in.
Kane groin injury also a set back to success
The Chatfield signing means that Carolina has a solid top 4 on their defense for the 2024-2025 season.
Carolina is working on a contract to lock up Slavin for the rest of his career. Morrow and Coghlan are ready to compete for a RD position. Carolina is trying to get their top prospect Nikishin out of the last year of his KHL contract so he can play for Carolina next season. Nikishin, a 22 year old defenseman, was the KHL’s points leaders among defensemen for the second straight season (56) as well as the league’s plus/minus leader (+32).