NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2024

by | Jun 5, 2024 | News, NHL | 6 comments

Stars forward Joe Pavelski intends to retire, several Rangers played with injuries during the postseason, the latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Joe Pavelski hasn’t officially announced his retirement, but he told reporters he doesn’t intend to return next season.

This was it for me. It was known for a while, probably. The plan is not to play next year,” said Pavelski on Tuesday during his club’s end-of-season media interviews. “I don’t want to say this is official, but the plan is not to be coming back.”

Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski (NHL Images).

Pavelski signed a one-year contract extension last summer with the Stars. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A seventh-round pick (205th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in 2003, Pavelski is one of the greatest American-born players in NHL history. He’s played 1,332 regular-season games with 475 goals and 1,068 points. He’s a four-time NHL All-Star, sits sixth among American-born players in total points, and is their leader with 74 playoff goals.

Pavelski spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Sharks. He’s fourth among their franchise leaders in games played (963), second in goals with 355, fourth with 406 assists, and third in points with 761. He spent the past five seasons with the Stars, totaling 121 goals and 186 assists for 307 points in 369 regular-season games in Dallas, including 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games this season.

Pavelski’s teammate Chris Tanev revealed he dealt with multiple injuries from dental work to an ankle injury during the Stars’ postseason run. The latter injury occurred during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final when he blocked a shot by Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane. Tanev injured some tendons behind the ankle but indicated he won’t require surgery and should recover in two weeks.

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba revealed he suffered an ankle injury that hobbled him during the playoffs. He told reporters on Tuesday that “a big chunk of his ankle came off” earlier in the season. It wasn’t a load-bearing bone so he could walk but skating was difficult.

The injury sidelined Trouba for the final 13 games of the regular season. He played in all 16 of the Rangers’ postseason games but managed only seven points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba’s subpar performance prompted some observers to suggest the Rangers consider trading him this summer when his no-movement clause becomes a modified no-trade on July 1. They might want to reconsider that hot take after learning about his injury.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers blueliner Adam Fox confirmed he was playing with a knee injury suffered during a collision with Washington Capitals rearguard Nick Jensen during their first-round series. He injured the same knee in November following a similar collision with Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. Fox said he has to go through his exit physical to determine whether his knee will require further treatment during the offseason.

Ryan Lindgren, Fox’s defense partner, suffered a cracked rip in Game 6 of the Rangers’ second-round series against the Hurricanes. Winger Jimmy Vesey suffered a separated shoulder in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final but won’t require surgery.

Rangers winger Blake Wheeler is mulling retirement. The 37-year-old right wing signed a one-year contract last summer with the Blueshirts after the Winnipeg Jets bought out the final season of his contract. He spent the past three months rehabbing a right leg injury suffered on Feb. 15. Wheeler will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t need memories of “The Battle of Alberta” during his years with the Calgary Flames for motivation when he faces the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. “Anytime you’re playing any opponent in the Stanley Cup Final, you do not need a team rivalry,” said Tkachuk. “Right when the puck drops, it will be very intense.”

TSN: Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expects Evander Kane will be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. Kane has been battling a sports hernia and played just over four minutes during Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators added Mike Yeo and Nolan Baumgartner to their coaching staff. Former Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will also return as an assistant coach.

SPORTSNET: The NHL’s Utah franchise reportedly had more than 34,000 people place deposits on season tickets for their inaugural campaign in 2024-25. Almost 92 percent of those deposits came from non-Utah Jazz season ticket holders.







6 Comments

  1. with Pavelski retiring, DAL should have the space to keep both Duchesne AND Tanev, which is the right move for them. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s announced by draft weekend

  2. Bruins …Causeway Crowd put out 3 bold predictions that I could see happening easily ….1. Trade Ullmark for a draft pick use his $$$ plus to sign Sway ….2. Sign Patrick Kane ..3. Sign Chandler Stephenson and should be plenty if $$$ left over to sign a tough Dman with size to clear the crease and add depth … like the idea of a Maroon type on team but they need to go younger I believe he’s 36 years old with back issues

    • Joe, Boston has $20,909,000 in cpaspace add Ullmark $5m if traded as you susgest that gives Boston $25,909,000 in capspace.

      If they only came back with Kane, Stevenson and a rugged dman and resign Swayman with that capspace it will be a very disappointing off season.

      • I would pass on Kane unless a 1yr low $ deal similar to the Detroit deal last yr. Need a ctr. Lindholm fits best. Necas? Monahan? Scoring winger to replace debrusk.
        Guentzel Tafolli. Marchesault Bert etc

  3. Well, you can bet the air will be blue with “colorful” language at least once during a Senators practice this coming season with the hiring of Yeo as an assistant coach likely in charge of the pk.

    As for Baumgartner – a veteran AHL D-man during his career with NHL coaching experience – let’s hope Staios can make the required moves to shore up that aspect of the team.

    Alfredsson’s decision to return in an assistant role likely means he’ll be involved with the pp units.

  4. Boston,
    With $20.9M in Cap space & if the trade out Ullmark
    They are at $25.9M.

    Top 6 & they need to add 1 Real top 6 Centre…
    A Centre like Lidholm $7.5M
    They have a good top 6…. I Dont think DeBrusk comes back….❓

    Sign Swayman to a deal?
    bridge for 2 years @ $5 or 6$ M
    or
    A long term deal At $7.M X8 years…

    Back up goaltender $1.M or Brandon Bussi @$800,00
    Trade Ullamark for a Top 4 LD-man who can move the puck like a Chychrun … even $$ 5.M
    $21.M
    Add a Swayman deal in there @…❓A bridge or a LT deal.

    Boston would still have $5.M in cap space to add one more forward and they would have 7 d/men.🤔