NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2024
The Blue Jackets, Flames, and NHL dignitaries pay respects to the Gaudreaus, Sidney Crosby is optimistic he’ll get a new contract with the Penguins, the latest on the Senators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and the NHL joined the Gaudreau family in memorializing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during the funeral for the brothers on Monday in Philadelphia.
An alleged drunk driver killed the brothers while they were riding bicycles on Aug. 29.
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).
Groups from the Blue Jackets and Flames attended the funeral along with NHL dignitaries including league commissioner Gary Bettman and former Blue Jackets Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Pallbearers included new Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan and former Blue Jackets Eric Robinson.
Johnny’s wife Meredith revealed she is pregnant with the couple’s third child as she eulogized her late husband.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The tragic, senseless deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has been a blow to the hockey world, but the grief and pain that their loved ones are going through is unimaginable. Once again, I send my sincere condolences to the Gaudreau family.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby remains optimistic he’ll have a new contract in place soon with the Penguins.
“I don’t know what day specifically, but it’s been really positive and hasn’t been a difficult process,” said the Penguins captain.
Crosby remains hopeful that the Penguins can be a playoff contender, pointing to the club’s strong finish last season despite missing the cut. He believes they can get over the hump if they can gain consistency in a few areas of their game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of news over the status of Crosby’s contract extension negotiations with the Penguins has sparked rising speculation about his future with the retooling club. His comments on Monday provide some clarity to the issue but no timetable for when a deal could be done.
TSN: Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle denied rumors that his change of agents during the offseason is related to any desire to be traded. “I love being in Ottawa,” he told reporters during the club’s charity golf tournament on Monday.
The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports the change is related to marketing opportunities in Europe for the German forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Senators’ difficulties in ending their long postseason drought have some observers wondering how long core players like Stutzle are willing to stick around. That’s why his changing agents gave rise to those trade rumors. Another struggling effort this season will only prompt more questions about their futures in Ottawa.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, Thomas Chabot admitted a wrist issue hampered him for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old defenseman said he took care of it during the offseason and is fully healthy for the coming season. He appeared in just 51 games last season. Injuries have prevented Chabot from playing a full season during his seven-year NHL career.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Chabot will be crucial to the Senators’ playoff hopes this season.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Brock Boeser will be taking preventative measures to prevent another blood-clotting issue like the one that caused him to miss Game 7 of his club’s second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers last spring.
Boeser is now off blood thinners and has resumed contact training. His condition will be carefully monitored, including getting up and moving every hour during flights rather than sleeping and wearing compression socks.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the Seattle Kraken are close to signing Adam Larsson to a four-year contract extension worth between $5 million and $6 million. The 31-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a four-year, $16 million contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the AAV on Larsson’s extension will be $5.25 million. It’s expected to be announced on Tuesday.
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Predators signed forward Juuso Parssinen to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K. They also signed defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to a one-year, two-way deal.
DAILY FACEOFF: Goaltender Alexei Kolosov is not expected to attend Philadelphia Flyers training camp. If so, his contract will likely be tolled forward to allow the Flyers to retain Kolosov’s rights at the same details and pay.
TSN: Mike Gartner will succeed Lanny McDonald as Chairman of the Board for the Hockey Hall of Fame after McDonald’s 10-year term limit next June.
Hearing that Meredith Gaudreau is pregnant just adds another note to this tragedy.
Another child (we’re actually expecting our 6th and 7th) is a joyous occasion . But having to raise a new child (along with her others) as a single mom just after tragically losing her soulmate is so very sad.
Again, thoughts and prayers out to the entire Gaudreau family
Mathew’s wife is expecting their first child as well. As you said 8787 it’s a bittersweet occasion. Truly sad that two babies will be born without a father, but the birth of two babies will give the family joy. Best wishes to the entire family.
And best wishes to you too 8787 on your upcoming blessed events. My wife and I are parents of twins too. Our two oldest children. Young adults now. The toughest job you’ll ever love.
He didn’t specifically say he was having twins. 8787 could be in a polyamorous relationship with two pregnant wives. 😉😁
Wow didn’t know about Mathew’s wife as well. Very very sad.
Thanks for the best wishes Howard
Literally on the cusp of 50 and this surprise pregnancy was just that; a huge surprise.
Having another set of twins; definitely not a surprise. We already have two sets of identical twin girls and our son had a vanishing twin (uncomfortable to convey/talk about) ; I’m an identical twin; so is my wife and we each have a parent and several other family sets (cousins, grandparents) that are identical twins. We’re thinking of changing our last name to Monozygotic.
We’re now looking at trading in one of our Tellerudes and going for the big Savannah (9 seats).
Our 5 children are already teenagers so built in baby-sitters.
Chrisms
Two wives???? I’ll have 7 kids shortly ; and will have turned 50; and no energy and less disposable income and way less time. I couldn’t even day dream about another wife.
I’ve also been ordered not to! LOL
So no closeted pengy thruple…. Bummer
Wild family history though. I actually think that’s more wild than my thruple idea. In fact it’s bonkers.
Oki Doki Chrisms
For that; when we need to go to school events later this year for our teenagers; I’m penciling you in to baby-sit our twin additions
And no switching labels!!
Unfortunate , Crosby likely will sign in Pittsburgh
I was hoping he would be a Leaf
I guess I was getting ahead of myself , as Marner has been training with him and McKinnon for a large part in the off season
Marner though, I hear has been passionate with his off season program and his new tenure under Berube
Maybe you have it backwards, Ken. Perhaps Marner will entertain the thought of joining the Penguins after his contract is up.
Sure… and that’s why Crosby ain’t signed yet. He wants to make sure there is enough cap space for Marner in a year.
Ken,
,
If he is training with Sid & Nate, there are no short cuts.
They competitive throughout the workouts as well.
There was some youtube footage of them with Bad Brad training here in the HRM a few summers ago. It was crazy footage.
Here is one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCJFLAvnpzo
Great feedback here
Thanks guys !
Just a little late responding !!
If Ullmark’s game was not dependent on the Bruins structure the Sens could push imho. If the kids in Buffalo realize how good they could be …..
Hey Capper,
I think Both the Sabers & Sen’s make the playoffs,👌
The Sen’s here is why
1/ Sen’s have a Real #1 startig Goaltender in LU
2/ Sen’s are injury free Chabott & Norris
3/They got a 2nd paring Good Defencive d/man
4/ They have a 3rd line that can Score & play defence
5/ They have a better 4th line
Buffalo,
I dont know as much about them,
1/Good goaltending,
2/ Very good young d and healthy
3/ Lindy Ruff back as coach should settle them down
with good structure
They did not do much up front… but have $8.6M in cap space to add a scorer…??
4/ added 3rd line centre Ryan McLeod
Red Wings
I dont think Detroit make the playoff they did not do much, they have have 3-4 mediocre Goaltenders⁉️
they miss it, still rebuilding
Ray, assuming Detroit gets Seider and Raymond under contract before the season starts same with Buffalo and Krebs – I will repeat what I posted here a few weeks ago – the race for a playoff spot including the WC slots will be the tightest it’s been in years with minimal points between those getting into the 5th, 6th and WC slots and those bringing up the rear with the possible exception of Columbus. That is going to be one HUGE loss to overcome.
What you’d love to see is the team pulling together and play their hearts out in honour of Johnny Gaudreau, with some of their better prospects shining. And management does have the capital in reserve (over $25 mil) to be front and centre if and when another team has to move a decent player from a cap standpoint.
Ya George, CLB is going to have a tough go. Just don’t have the horses.
Some quality young guys and prospects, but could sure use some veteran help up front.
You could see a hard fought decent start based on emotion, but it’s a long hard season.
It will be close George, and there are almost always surprises with a previously good team struggles, or an up and coming team takes off. Picking which ones they will be is hard though.
Not sure Buffalo and Ottawa did enough to pass Detroit, who were in the running until the last day of the season. Ottawa picked up Wings cast off Perron.
They picked up Perron – not because he was a cast-off – but simply because, with Raymond, Seider and Berggren to re-up as RFAs Detroit didn’t figure to have enough cap to bring Perron back at $4 mil per.
They’ve gone to the extent of giving Austin Watson a pto to try and replace Perron’s lost grit. What he WON’T replace – if he even makes it – are Perron’s 17g 30a 47 pts.
And I should add, just for the record, that Ottawa beat Detroit 3 out of 4 last season, outscoring them 15 – 12. One more win for the Wings in that series and they’d have been in the playoffs clean.
I should mention, too, that full seasons from Norris, Pinto and Chabot will also contribute significantly to an improved overall season. Yes, that’s finger-crossing time where Norris and Chabot are concerned following surgeries, but such is the reality of the injury factor. We can only hope.
For example, their record against the 5 bottom dwellers this past season (Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Columbus and Arizona was 5 – 8, being outscored 37 – 35.
Term and dollars scenarios for Crosby are already worked out.
He’s saying now what he said two months ago. Using the appropriate responses when addressing questions re contract renewal.
If he re-ups here, they’ll pay him what he’s due. There won’t be any hardball negotiations on $’s.
I’m sure two sets of contracts are already printed and ready for signature. Penguins will be in a full rebuild for sure when Crosby retires so dead Cap then for 1 year won’t mean squat. So, they can have a longer term than expected actual playing years to lower Cap throughout contract by including in deadcap year:
E.G. 3 year contract (which Means actually 2 year playing then retires; i.e. playing at 38 and 39):
Sal each year $870,000. SB year 1 is $12.0 M , year 2: $11.49. Total contract = $26.1 M; Cap hit $8.7 M. Crosby plays 2 years (@38 and 39) effectively earning $12.6 M avg per year played. Dead Cap (for rebuilding Pens who don’t need space) in 27/28:$8.7 M
4 year contract but only playing 3 (finishing career just before turning 41):
Sal each year $870,000. SB in both years 1 &2 : $12 M; year 3 SB : $7.32M. Total contract $34.8 M. Cap hit $8.7 M. Crosby plays 3 years collecting $33.93 M($11.31 M avg per year played). Dead Cap (for rebuilding Pens who don’t need space) in 28/29 of 8.7 M
To me the hold up is for Crosby to see if Dubas can make a move or two still to give at least a shot at possible wildcard
As many have pointed out here; Sens, Sabres, Wings are positioned well for a shot at the Eastern Wildcard spot. Pens can’t finish top 3 in Metro so have to battle those Atlantic teams and two of Ilses , Devils, Caps as well…. Of the 7 teams (those 6 and Pens) vying for 2 Wildcard spots; as at now it seems that Pens might be 4th or 5th at the very best.
Miracles can happen and I am hoping for one ; but as at now I’m pragmatically counting on a top 10 (perhaps with lottery luck; top 5 ) pick