NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2024
Jonathan Huberdeau weighs in on the Panthers winning the Stanley Cup, the Penguins hire the Leafs’ scouting director, Matt Savoie is excited about joining the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
CALGARY SUN: It was bittersweet for Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau watching the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup last month. Huberdeau spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with the Panthers until he was traded to the Flames two years ago, a move that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida.
Huberdeau signed an eight-year contract extension with the Flames following the trade. He’s struggled to regain the offensive form he had with the Panthers, including a career-high 115-point performance in 2021-22.
Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau (NHL Images).
The 31-year-old Huberdeau admits it’s difficult at this stage of his career to go through a roster rebuild in Calgary. He also acknowledged his expensive contract and the recent decline in his production will make him difficult to trade.
Huberdeau didn’t criticize the Flames management. He said he fully accepts his role with the club, believing the club can be better than some expect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Huberdeau endured a miserable 2023-24 with 52 points, his lowest total in a full NHL season since 2014-15. Nevertheless, he will be expected to play a leadership role for the Flames’ younger players during their current roster transition. A bounce-back effort on his part will be crucial.
TORONTO SUN/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins hired Wes Clark as vice president of player personnel. Clark spent the past six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was their director of amateur scouting from 2021 to 2024.
Despite the Leafs carrying low first-round picks during his tenure, Clark was responsible for their selections of Matthew Knies, Easten Cowan, Fraser Minten, and their 2024 pick, Ben Danford.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Clark is well-regarded around the league for his work at the Leafs’ draft table. This was a savvy move by Kyle Dubas, the Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager. He knows Clark well from his tenure as Leafs GM.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Matt Savoie is happy to be joining his hometown Oilers. They acquired the promising prospect center from the Buffalo Sabres last week. “When I heard the news I was really excited, an Edmonton kid, always coming to games with my parents,” he said.
Savoie bears the Sabres no ill will for trading him. “They have a ton of young prospects kind of on the cusp of making the league and they had to move a couple of guys out to make the team better, getting some older players. I understood it.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Savoie will face a challenge cracking the Oilers’ current roster. Salary cap constraints could ensure he spends this season with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers signed defenseman Adam Boqvist to a one-year contract. The move comes a week after signing his older brother Jesper Boqvist to a one-year deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Boqvist brothers will each earn $775K for 2024-25.
DAILY FACEOFF: Boqvist’s signing removes one player from the list of notable unrestricted free agents. Winger James van Riemsdyk, defenseman Ryan Suter and winger Max Pacioretty are the biggest names still available, along with winger Daniel Sprong, blueliner Tyson Barrie, and rearguard Oliver Kylington.
Just checked CapFriendly for something … it’s finally shut the doors with a “thank you” to those who used it over the years. On to PuckPedia I guess.
it’s a bittersweet end but puckpedia has a lot of good info
mikep, getting used to new formats for cap information isn’t the only major change to our viewing/reference habits.
Next year the annual entry draft “extravaganza,” complete with crowd reaction and surrounding hoopla will be replaced by a sterile, “blah” format where each team will function from their home base and, I assume, the draftees will learn of their selections in a sort of Skype sert up
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5607193/2024/07/01/nhl-draft-2025/
On a recent podcast called Coming In Hot, hosted by Jason York and Brent Wallace, guest Ian Mendes touched on one main reason for this change. It seems team management structures did not like the fact that, hours after the conclusion of the draft, they then had to switch gears for the UFA frenzy. And that presented a problem each year in some cases. This year, for example, the Calgary contingent couldn’t get back to Calgary in time for UFA Day due to a WestJet labour disruption, and the Leafs’ contingent stayed back in Vegas to conduct their activities from that site.
CapUNFriendly!
Crosby still not signed after “looks like it could be today” media blasts for a few days
I’ll be very happy once it’s done but won’t be “counting my chickens before they hatch”
You’d figure term, cap, signing bonus etc are already worked out
Perhaps Crosby is waiting for assurances (even if it is a verbal commitment) from Dubas that he will improve the roster this summer so that Pens have at least a shot at playoffs. Maybe such as a trade for Laine?
@ 8787
I think this will get done soon…supposedly 3 years $9.5 or $10 million..
Crosby has been underpaid for years…
3 years @ $10 million is more than fair and cap goes up again nect year.
Reportedly penguins next off season will have $ wo milliob cap space.
I think dubas has one more move coming..gut feeling.
Money and term certainly not an issue
Correct, underpaid for years
Crosby is only staying here because he’s that type of guy; team/organization first
All other teams would love to have him
He could ask for a trade
He won’t…. That’s his nature
His agent I’m sure will say something to Dubas; in s professional manor though; akin to:
“Look, Sid has been the franchise player for 2 decades; a driving force in 3 cups; he’s loved by all; he has been underpaid for years; he’s doing you a favour by re-signing (note at likely again less than market value)
For that Kyle, you GD well owe Sid some respect by doing something simple:
Do some positive trades so this team has a chance at playoffs; right now, as constructed; Pens can’t make playoffs”
Re “I think dubas has one more move coming..gut feeling.”
He better have more than one move as Pens:
Only have 5 to 6 players
Once again no complete 3rd line
7 mostly small; 4th liner/drpth players who are older and over paid
A 4th line center getting $2.5 M; and who is 35
No 2nd pairing LD
No 3rd pairing or depth RD
4 weak depth/3rd pairing LDs
At least 3 of the above needs to change for a chance at playoffs
1)Trade for Laine (use recent future picks and a couple of prospects (Gruden/Broz) and in same trade move out at least Accairi, Lizzotte, Nietto and one of Hayes (preferably) or Eller
2) Sign Sprong and
3) sign Gustav Lindstrom (RD)
Those moves get Pend in playoffs
Bruins should sign Zadina.
He just might come into his own with better insulation in way of superior linemates.
$800,000 – 1,000,000 for 2 years might do it.
He’s still really young and has decent potential to be a mid 20’s goal scorer.
Give his rep a call, Don.
Still remaining: some good mid 20’s low cost deals out there
Gustav Lidstrom , RD, 6’2” , 197, only 25; was a +12 on the Ducks (NOTE: Ducks had 91 LESS goals for than goals against) ; just came off a $0.95 M Cap hit
Note: Pens only have 2 RDs
Alex Nylander, RW/LW, 6’1”, 195, 26; 82 game pace 32-16-48; just finished 2-way contract at $775,000
Depth available that should be available at $850,000 of less:
Katchouk , 6’1”, 187, LW, 26 yrs; 82 Game pace: 9-8-17; just finished 1 year at League min
Foudy (very quick) LW/C, 24
Prob get at 2-way at league min:
Comtois, LW, 6’2”, 215
Give them ALL a call Kyle
I would rather go with Lysell or Merkulov! After 2 years in the AHL have to see if they can play at the NHL level!
I was thinking same thing But wait till Sway is locked up
Holy smoke
I just looked at Jackets roster
Loaded with Centers (or players than can play, and have played center). On the big club:
Monahan
Jenner
Fantilli
Sillinger
Kuraly
Brindley
Their top pick this draft was Lindgren (very very good pick IMHO). Another big Center
Also in the system and at 22 or younger (all listed as Centers in CapFriendly):
McKnown
Pyyhtia
Pinelli
Del Bel Belluz
McCue
And they also have Owen Sillinger and Dylan Gambrell in their system
Rangers need a legit center prospect or 20 something in the organization with Chytil’s injury history. Sillinger would be a good addition. CBJ have a rare stable of centers with NHL potential
Tough to see them part with home-town born Sillinger, but what would you offer?
@87
I still think Kakko is the odd man out for the Rangers…stock down but he has the tools…and one year removed from 18 goals.
Johnson for Kakko….as i forgot Sillinger was a local kid
Johnson for Kakko is not far-fetched
Somebody’s got to call Waddell with all those Centers he has to spare
You forgot Kent Johnson
Didn’t realize he was also a C
Jackets loaded… trade needs to happen
I can see some team giving Ryan Suter a contract, despite the fact he turns 40 next January.
To say this guy has been durable would be putting it mildly, barely missing a game over the past decade. He just finished an 82-game marathon with Dallas, scoring 2g 15a 17 pts and registered a +14, and then added 19 playoff games, chipping in with 1g 3a 4pts.
Just bought out of his final year with Dallas at a cost of $783,334 in 2024-25 and $1,433,334 in 2025-26, a team needing a steadying, veteran presence for a young D corps can probably have one at minimal cost if he’s still interested in playing.
George following your point..i agree suter will get signed.
If the Penguins move Pettersson and despite him being the best dman.
He is a UFA and is the inly real trading chip if they want to make a bigger move.
Grzelyuk 1st pair
Suter second pair??
Under no circumstances should tiny Grzylyk be anywhere near our top 4 D
Under no circumstances should they move Pettersson , he’s literally out most steady/consistent D-Man
Pens already way too old; so Suter consideration should absolutely never happen
That new guy in Pittsburgh has his work cut out for him! After Dubas failed o his senior citizen tour he needed a bailout for a guy that can scout and draft young players! Still going to be a long season for John Henry s Penguins! After signing Crosby he will close the checkbook and go with cheaper talent!
Agree fully
Dubas has literally screwed the pooch on this
I am seriously wondering if Crosby is holding out (to actually sign) for Dubas to firmly commit to improving club over the summer to give them at least a long shot at playoffs
We have only 5 top 6 players
No 3rd pairing RD
No true 2nd pairing LD
4 bottom pairing/depth LDs; one being paid huge $’s
An incomplete and weak 3rd line with a sloth-footed non 200’ Center
Again 6 or 7 , mostly small , overpaid 4th liner /depth players
We’re paying a 4th line Center $2.5 M
That roster will in no way finish top 3 Metro ; and likely only to top Jackets in Metro; and perhaps 1 or 2 in Atlantic
It’s only due to Crosby’s character that he’s not asked to be traded
Sad
I agree with that, Sr.
I didn’t guarantee him a roster spot, just bring him on board and see if and how he fits.
I think both Fabian and Merkulese have a decent shot at sticking around anyway.
Pengy must be beside himself.
Hey, 8787! Are you sitting beside Pengy?
Ask him what he thinks of the debacle Hextall left in Pittsburgh?
Hextall aka Philadelphia’s Revenge!
Sidney Crosby can sign with Leafs at next years free agency frenzy
Tavares will be off the books , Marner may well be as well
Good idea Pengy !!!
Not sure how badly losing Wes Clark , will hurt the Leafs or whom his replacement is
Treleving can now hire his preferences to head the scouting department.
I can’t remember his name right now, but they already have someone who was above Clark and his predecessor who went to the Rangers and who is most likely have a say of who gets promoted or hired to replace Clark.
The thing to note about Clark is that his picks he made was made with a small number of draft capital…Dubas loved trading picks for rentals and retaining cap deals. Also, Clark has been by Dubas’ side all but two years his whole hockey career. That is wild!
Hence my intimation above that GMs generally like to have their own choices to run things like the Scouting Department – Director Of Player Development – familiarity
I must’ve been living under a rock. Listening to Alexander Daigle on the radio. In a reponse to one question, he eluded to Eric Lindros and the fact for years everyone thought he didn’t want to be in Quebec and play for the Nordiques and only years later why fine out the real reason.
Only today after googling i now know the reason why. It wasn’t the city but the sexual harassment scandal the owner Marcel Aubut was involved.
The question was did Daigle consider doing what Lindros did and refuse to sign in Ottawa.
In retrospect, I wish he had refused.
I wonder, too, if he’s any relation to the Daigle mentioned in this article
https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/former-quebec-junior-hockey-players-jailed-for-sex-assault-of-teen-at-hotel-in-2021/wcm/6bbec476-792e-467e-8f7d-81feec8e6f46
A little off-topic, but if you’d allow it Lyle….
As George O mentioned, Capfriendly is now off line. What are some alternative sites that you all use? Are there any good sites that are interactive in an Armchair GM style? I enjoy the banter ALMOST as much as I enjoy it here!
PuckPedia looks promising!
Thanks for any input!
Hi Artsy19 sites i visit:
hockeydb.com great for looking at draft picks, you can sort by team and year
Hockey-reference.com
Quanthockey.com
The last two i haven’t been on much but they have some good detail numbers.
Capfriendly and hockeydb i most often visit. I will now get comfortable with puckpedia
Thanks caper!
I’ve been a regular to those sites for a long time! Very informative!
Almost as good as Spectorshockey.net! 🙃😁