NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 12, 2024
The Leafs’ secondary scoring, three encouraging stats from last season for the Avalanche, what must go right for the Devils this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes a trio of secondary scorers will decide the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fate this season.
Proteau examines how the play of Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Matthew Knies could come under increasing scrutiny this season. If they flourish, the Leafs could become one of the league’s most dangerous teams this season. If not, management won’t waste time bringing in players who can fill those roles.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares have carried the bulk of the Leafs offense since 2018, powering them to three of the franchise’s five best regular-season records.
However, the lack of reliable secondary scoring contributed to their pathetic postseason record over that period. It’ll be the same story this season if Robertson, McMann, and Knies fail to step up or if suitable replacements cannot be found.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal looked at three encouraging stats from last season for the Avalanche.
One of them was Miles Wood’s solid penalty-killing skills. Casey Mittelstadt’s five-on-five production was another. The third was Jonathan Drouin’s numbers when not playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m interested in Mittelstadt’s performance throughout a full season with the Avs. He was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on March 7 and fitted in well over the remainder of last season. A strong effort throughout this season will be crucial to the Avs’ hopes for a Stanley Cup run.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently listed three things that must go right for the Devils in 2024-25.
Good health will be a must after injuries to core players such as Dougie Hamilton, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier derailed their 2023-24 campaign. They’ll also need better goaltending and an improved performance from Meier.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury bug shouldn’t bite the Devils as deeply as it did last season, though there could be some concern over Hughes’ growing injury history. Offseason addition Jacob Markstrom and trade-deadline pickup Jake Allen should improve their goaltending. A healthy 2024-25 should result in a bounce-back effort from Meier.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars have the furthest travel distance in the upcoming season. It’s expected they’ll travel an estimated 56,700 miles.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are second with 51,100 miles, followed by the Anaheim Ducks (51,000), Edmonton Oilers (50,000) and the Utah Hockey Club (48,700).
The teams that will travel the fewest miles are the Pittsburgh Penguins (31,700), Ottawa Senators (32,800), Columbus Blue Jackets (33,400), New York Rangers (35,300) and Philadelphia Flyers (35,500).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some older players prefer playing in the Eastern Conference because of that lighter travel schedule.
Lyle, has Robertson backed off on his request to be traded? The latest I could find was this from the Hockey News just over a month ago
https://thehockeynews.com/news/three-potential-trade-destinations-for-disgruntled-maple-leafs-winger-nick-robertson
I haven’t heard that he’s backed off the request. It’s just that the Leafs will not trade him. They wouldn’t get enough of a return to make it worthwhile.
Robertson for Berggren. They both could use a change of scenery and Berggren would accept less than Robertson in salary to help the Leafs’ cap.
Speaking for Detroit, I would say no thank you nothing proposal for 2 reasons – 1, depending on the cost to sign Seider and Raymond, Detroit may not have cap space to pay Robertson more, and 2, the Wings are pretty small up front, and if they were to entertain the idea of trading Berggren, I would hope that it would be for a bigger forward, not a smaller one like Robertson.
Howard, since we don’t know the full extent of his reason for asking to be dealt, if it’s paramount in his mind by hanging onto him they could also be saddling themselves with a “room” problem or at the very least a distraction if they decide not to move him. And if things don’t go well at the outset, you know the media will be all over it. Tough call there.
Heh. Forget all that I say above. He’s an unsigned RFA … if he doesn’t sign … and his stated position is that he will not – he sits, and if not signed by some time in early December, he can’t play for the Leafs at all next season.
If it comes down to that, what do the Leafs gain by playing hardball with a bottom 6 F?
While there’s no indication Robertson has withdrawn his trade request, there was a report that he gad a positive interview with Berube. As far as trading Robertson for Berggren, why would Toronto do that, Berggren is a similar type player also unsigned, a year older with even worse defensively than Robertson. Robertson’s trade request is over ice time which is stymied by his play away from the puck. I’d hang onto him if I was Tre and work on his play away from the puck, still alot of potential there
I’m spelling Mittlestadt’s name wrong, my apologies
Yogis right, a lot has to do with role and ice time. Another example of a player who sees himself better than the team does.
If the team does decide to make him happy and move him, although a regular spot in the lineup will also cure all that ails, I wouldn’t mind him traded to LA – he’s from Pasadena, for maybe Kaliyev or bring back Moore! 😜
But seriously, ice time will fix him one way or another. With a new coach, it will be his call, a call he never got with Keefe.
Lyle, I am interested too
In middlestat’s production; however, I believe that the Avalanche need to quit trying to “pass the puck into the net” to me, they cater too much to MacKinnon? Rantannen passes up way too many good shot opportunities and they force it to often to Nate. Kind of like how Washington utilizes Ovechkin. I would rather see the other unit get more ice time. I think Middlestadt gets 1st unit time but often they still waste valuable PP time NOT getting pucks to the net? That’s an adjustment I think the Avalanche need to make. I like Middlestadt’s 5×5 play. He’s creative and has a really good shot. I think he is going to have a good year!
In addition to the Robertson situation, Toronto isn’t the one with an RFA hanging fire this late into the summer. Here the others – some pretty key individuals (the position shown is that reflected by PuckPedia)_
Boston – Jeremy Swayman – G
Buffalo – Peyton Krebs C
Calgary -Adam Klepka RW & Ilya Solovyov LD
Carolina – Seth Jarvis C
Columbus – Cole Sillinger C
Dallas – Thomas Harley LD
Det – Jonathan Berggren RW – Lucas Raymond RW and Moritz Seider RD
Edm – Dylan Holloway LW & Philip Broberg LD
Los Angeles – Arthur Kaliyev RW
Nashville – Philip Tomasino C & Juuso Parssinen C
New Jersey – Dawon Mercer C
Seattle – Matthew Beniers C
Winnipeg – Cole Perfetti C
Perhaps somewhat interesting, 8 of the above are young Centers
should read ” … Toronto isn’t the only one … “
Re Lyle’s post above about the “core four” carrying the bulk of the offense, last season the team as a whole scored 208 goals and 487 assists.
The core four had 164 goals – or 55% of the total – and 191 assists – or 395 of the total. With 355 total points they had 45% of the team total of 785.
So, there is significant input from the rest.
298 goals – correction not 208 – sheesh
These RFA’s hold the small end of the bat because of the way the game has changed.
Players are younger and more skilled than ever with a new rop coming in every year.
Players who hold out and don’t practice and go through pre-season more often than not flounder and their agent’s are well aware of it.
i’d be surprised if any remain unsigned.
I feel Nick Robertson will be given an opportunity under Berube
Nick /aka Dino Cicarelli
Knies and McMann – if 1 could have a break through year , more than ideal !
Max Domi – I know he is driven to have his best year ever with intense training this off season
Joseph Woll – will be outstanding and has a more than adequate backup
Tanev and OEL are huge additions !
Stanley Cup appearance , I am thinking !
Also hf30, never has there been as much hype as there is now for these young “superstars”, right?
Regardless of the difference in style, you still need to be able to be good every day. Some of these young guys exhibit just that, not consistently good enough to be paid or regarded in the same stratosphere the player believes he is.
And also, some on this list are there simply because they are going to sign and are in no rush nor has there been any indication of a deadline.
Except for Seider and Raymond – they are going to get BIG bucks, followed closely by Swayman
Exactly