NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 7, 2024
The preseason schedule is announced, Evgeny Kuznetsov talks of his struggles with the Capitals and Hurricanes, the Blue Jackets shake up their coaching staff, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The league released its 15-day, 106-game preseason schedule across 40 NHL and neutral-site venues in North America and Europe from Sept. 21 to Oct. 5.
The highlights include the Utah Hockey Club’s debut, the Buffalo Sabres playing in Munich, Germany and the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrating Kraft Hockeyville in Elliot Lake, Ontario.
The opening day of preseason features the Penguins facing off against the Buffalo Sabres, the St. Louis Blues going up against the Dallas Stars, and the Minnesota Wild meeting the Winnipeg Jets.
Former Carolina Hurricanes center Evgeny Kuznetsov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So what are your thoughts on the preseason? Are you looking forward to it? Is it too long? Let me know in the comments below.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Evgeny Kuznetsov told Russia’s MatchTV that he wasn’t happy with his performance during the final two seasons of his NHL career. It bothered him so much that he didn’t want his children to watch him play.
The former Capitals and Hurricanes center admitted last week that he’d been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis that causes pain in the joints. He was taking medication and injections to address the condition. He was also dealing with severe insomnia. Kuznetsov sought help through the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
Kuznetsov said he’s been off the medication for three months and is feeling better as he begins the next stage of his career. He terminated the final year of his NHL contract and signed a four-year deal with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuznetsov said he wants his family, including his children, to see what he can really do now that he’s back in the KHL.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets shook up their coaching staff under new bench boss Dean Evason.
Assistant coach Mark Recchi was fired after only one season. He joined the club under unusual circumstances last September after Pascal Vincent was promoted to replace head coach Mike Babcock when he was fired just before training camp.
Mike Haviland was promoted from associate coach with their AHL affiliate in Cleveland to join the Blue Jackets staff. Assistant coaches Steve McCarthy and Jared Boll will be retained. Meanwhile, Derek Dorsett resigned from his position as a player development coach.
TSN: New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said he isn’t closing the door to bringing back Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. The two forwards remain unrestricted free agents.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello has previously waited until the last minute to sign some UFAs due to salary cap constraints. He could do the same with Clutterbuck or Martin but the Islanders are right at the $88 million cap with 22 active roster players under contract.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Konsta Helenius is foregoing the final season of his contract in Finland and is heading to North America to play for the Sabres or their AHL affiliate in Rochester this season. The 18-year-old forward was chosen 14th overall by the Sabres in this year’s NHL Draft.
OTTAWA SUN: Carter Yakemchuk signed his entry-level contract with the Senators. The 18-year-old defenseman was chosen seventh overall in this year’s draft.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks signed winger Marek Vanacker to an entry-level deal. The 18-year-old was the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Preseason is not an absolute necessity in my eyes! Really how many positions on each team aren t spoken for before camp begins!Using Boston as an example there is only one position that is in question,the second line right wing ! They have 2 young kids to audition for that spot! You need to play a couple of games with your opening lineup! The other games are exhibitions for the owners to sell tickets and make some money!
Well, Sr, until Swayman actually signs a new deal there are 2 positions in question for Boston 🙂
George O,yep that Swayman signing is rather important!!
I’m satisfied with the pre-season as it is. The purpose is to get the players with spots locked up back into game mode and to evaluate the kids pushing for jobs. Several games are needed for that.
Preseason is fun for fans as well. They get to see new talent and meet new players at smaller venues. I’ve been to a lot of these, and I have to say I’ve enjoyed every one of them! The team also gets to see what they’ve got access to as far as call ups, as much of their AHL team is replaced with new players as well.
Pre-season enhh as usual for Ottawa … getting tired of seeing Toronto – Montreal several times every pre-season … change it up – there are 13 other teams in the East.
One oddity: Buffalo vs Ottawa Sept 26 7:00 pm – then at 2:30 pm the following day. Sept 27, Buffalo vs Red Bull Munich @ Munich, Germany
Clearly that involves some sort of baseball-like split-squad – but Buffalo? They can barely put together one NHL-calibre team!
I think Buffalo finished ahead of Ottawa last year, so if Buffalo can barely field a single NHL team then what does that say about Ottawa?
Same thing – only worse. What’s your point?
George they match up as such to keep travel costs down. But a solution would be to just see less of those match ups where game one of a back to back has a strong NHL presence in their lineup and the next game it’s the other teams turn.
There was a time the preseason had a lot to do with letting rivals know how tough they were and how they weren’t gonna get pushed around but ever so often we do see some guy audition for the prized truculent role.
Lamoriello may not have ruled out re-signing UFASs Clutterbuck and Martin, but unless he figures to get both at rock-bottom cap hits, the cap says otherwise.
36 y/o RW Clutterbuck, coming off a cap hit of $1,750,000, played in all 82 games, scoring 7g 12a 19 pts while 35 y/o LW Matt Martin, coming off a cap hit of $1,500,000, played 57 games scoring 4g 4a 8 pts.
At the moment he is committed to 13 F (Barzal, Horvat, Lee, Nelson, Palmieri, Pageau, Duclair, Engvall, Cizikas, Wahlstrom, Holmstrom, Fasching, MacLean – 7D (Pulock, Pelech, Dobson, Mayfield, Romanov, Reilly, Bolduc) and 2G (Sorokin and Varlamov) at a cap hit of exactly $88 mil – the cap limit.
If he can get both at $775,000 each, which is the current cap hit for both Martin and Fasching, and option those two to the minors, he could squeak them in. But that’s a heluuva come-down for the 2 veterans. More likely would be a trade of either 32 y/o C Brock Nelson ($6 mil for 1 season then a UFA – 82gp 34g 35a 69 pts) or 31 y/o C Jean-Gabriel Pageau ($5 mil for 2 more seasons then a UFA – 82gp 11g 22a 33 pts). Good luck with that one.
Re Team Toughness for the Sens..
The 2 NYI 4th line forwards,
Matt Martin & Cal Clutterbuck
i think the Sens should look at one of them on a 2 way contract to play 4th line for the Sen’sâť“
Ether one would be better that current tought guy Zack Macewan
This wouild cut down on the fighting that Brady has to do……🤔
I wouldn’t mind seeing Staios sign Clutterbuck – not only to add grit but also reliability (he played all 82 games this past season) and some depth at RW – let him cover that spot on the 4th line and offer him $1 mil 1 year to do so – IF he’s not grabbed with a better offer as training camp approaches.
And williew. don’t forget Perron when it comes to spelling Tkachuk in the belligerence area … he’s no shrinking violet, and if – as expected – Kleven makes the team on D, he too likes the physical aspect of the game … and he’s huge.
Caper
Yes the east is pretty locked in. But injury can throw the proverbial monkey wrench in the whole thing. Looking forward to seeing what my new look bruins can do
Of the top 4 you listed, I’d put TB in the iffy category. Of the next 3, I’d put CAR in the iffy category. I still think they’ll both get in, but it’s definitely not a sure thing in either case.
But, in joining you, I’ve also got FLA, TOR, BOS, NYR, TB, CAR and NJ as ‘probably in’. I’d go NYI as the 8th with one last kick at the can before they need to clean house.
I don’t see PHL, PIT, MON, BUF (sorry), or CLB as having a likely shot.
I guess that leaves NYI, DET, OTT, and WAS fighting for the last slot.
As happens every year, I will be proven rather wrong in many of those prognostications.
Agree on almost all of that Whalercane et al. I don’t think the Isles get in though.
TB seems most susceptible to a big injury hurting their chances, and agree that CAR got worse over the offseason.
For my dark horse to get in in the east, I go Buffalo. Core is maturing and the retooled their bottom 6 with quality, veteran depth guys. Also seemed to have found their tender, but that is still a question mark. Ruff is a no nonsense, experienced coach, who should have the players respect and knows how to coach.
They break the 13 year drought and get in, too much talent and depth.
Maybe OTT or DET get in too, but some serious injury troubles need to hit one of repeat teams.
Is this a new format ????? I don’t like it…………….
Not sure what “format” you’re referring to, Old Hockey Guy.
If you mean this site … it’s the same as always … at least the way I’m seeing it.
On another topic, re the signing of Yakemchuk by the Senators … I’m a bit disappointed to see Staios being quoted as saying, in the article referenced by Lyle above, “Carter has a bright future ahead of him.”
Where, pray tell, would his future be BUT ahead of him?
I may get flamed for this but… I hate the European games. I swear teams take half a season to recover from those trips and I just do not see the point in it. To each their own of course.
I know that Detroit went in the tank for 6 weeks+ after the games in Sweden last year. Also the Wings only home game against Toronto took place in Sweden, and that was a kick in the pants.
Kuznetzov should not have gotten the vax.
Good grief – an anti vaxxer?
Did you bother to read Kuznetsov’s comments or are you a troll?
Kuzentsov had rheumatoid arthritis and insomnia.
If this is what we can look forward to from you then shuffle off to the comment section at Fox.
Not a fan of sending players overseas; screws up schedules; gives disadvantage to teams going there (extra travel plus more compacted schedule when they return)
I am OK with pre-season; more to the point of getting players from offseason individual workouts; and then transitioning to game 1 fully ready by playing full speed against other NHLers
Also gives opportunity for final tweaks (players up from AHL showing enough to bump a veteran journeyman [also at league min])
George,
I hope they sign one of these two Cal Clutterbuck would be great on the RW….
With big Kleven on the 3rd left d pairing and a tought guy on the 4th and 3rd line if they need him…
That would leave Brady Tkachuk just to play more hockey & putting up points …Rather than spending his time as Team Tought guy too……đź‘Ť
Caper….Do you know is the all star game is still being played this year? I’m thinking no due to the 4 nations hockey face-off in Feb 2025? That would be even more time taken away from the schedule???