NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 4, 2024
The storylines to watch in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the potential contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman looked at the notable storylines to watch in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final beginning Saturday, June 8 at 8 pm EDT.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid’s appearance in his first Stanley Cup Final is one of those worth watching. He’s a generational talent entering this series in his playing prime, leading this postseason’s scorers with 31 points.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid can join Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only players to score 40 points in a playoff year. He’ll face stiff competition from a solid Florida Panthers defense, but it would be a significant achievement on his part. Nevertheless, it’s safe to assume that winning the Stanley Cup is the only thing on McDavid’s mind right now.
The Panthers are a much healthier team compared to the bunch that reached the Stanley Cup Final last year. Matthew Tkachuk suffered a broken sternum. Aaron Ekblad played with a fractured foot, shoulder dislocations and a torn oblique, and Brandon Montour and Sam Bennett had shoulder injuries during that series with the Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goldman believes the Panthers likely don’t have a clean bill of health but they’re not as banged up as last year. That could make the difference in this series against the Oilers.
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at several candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. McDavid, Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl were among his choices for the Oilers while Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky and Tkachuk are part of his Panthers’ selections.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barkov could get the nod if he neutralizes McDavid in this series. The Panthers captain won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward for the second time since 2020-21. Easier said than done, of course, but not impossible.
MIAMI HERALD: The Panthers’ extended playoff runs benefited the club on and off the ice. Attendance and season-ticket sales are at an all-time high and there’s a buzz about the club outside the arena.
The Panthers averaged a single-season high of 18, 632 fans during the 2023-24 regular season and have sold out all their home playoff games thus far. Ticket revenue is up 20 percent over last season and 50 percent over 2021-22. Season ticket renewals for 2024-25 are at an all-time high.
Meanwhile, youth hockey participation is on the rise in the Miami area.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers reached the playoffs only three times between 1997-98 and 2018-19. They had four ownership changes, 11 general managers and 13 head coaches during that period. The on-ice product suffered as a result.
With ownership and management stability, they’ve built and maintained a contender. Unsurprisingly, their improved attendance coincides with the improvement of their on-ice product. The fans were there, they just needed something worth cheering for.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Utah NHL franchise has filed applications for eight workmark and logo trademarks. All eight have the name “Utah” in them, some with a color scheme of baby blue, black and white.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders recently hired Chris Terreri as their director of goaltending. He replaced Mitch Korn, who returned to the Nashville Predators last month. A former NHL goaltender, Terreri was the goalie coach of the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport since 2017-18.
While McDavid is 9 pts away from reaching 40 to tie Gretzky and Lemieux for the most points in a playoff year (and could well pass that given his talent if Barkov can’t neutralize him), don’t lose sight of the fact that Zach Hyman – currently leading with 14 goals – could also tie Reggie Leach and Jari Kuri for most goals (19) in a playoff year.
How the Oil making the cup finals will help the Leafs next year!!!! On top of Sportsnet today
LFG Oil in 6!!!!
Maz, there’s really that suggestion on Sportsnet
??
I failed to post yesterday, mostly because I was still brooding. But, Congrats to the Oilers. In my opinion the series came down to 2 things….Skinner outplayed Oettinger (which no one thought would happen). And the Oil’s special teams were better than the Stars special teams.
Starsfan, just like no one saw Georgiev outplaying the Vezina nominee Hellebuyck. Weird s&^t do happen come playoff time.
Why is hockey being played in June, let alone into late June?
Basic answer or reason, I guess, is the 82-game schedule and the $$$ it generates.
The season needs to start in the last 10 days of September.
That make a lot more sense than playing into late June – with a 6 day break before the finals get under way.