NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 11, 2024

by | Sep 11, 2024 | News, NHL | 25 comments

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly talks about several notable issues such as league expansion and teams in no-tax states, the latest on Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Marchessault, and the latest signings in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the notable issues facing the league entering 2024-25 and beyond.

Daly said the league isn’t in the expansion process nor is it a priority. Nevertheless, he admitted the success of the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken has spurred interest around North America in other potential ownership groups in other cities. He also didn’t rule out a potential return to Arizona provided there are definitive plans and progress on a new state-of-the-art arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league might not be actively pursuing expansion. Still, they’ll listen if a potential ownership group is willing to pay the expensive expansion fee, has a suitable marketplace to sustain that franchise, and possesses a viable NHL arena.

The deputy commissioner acknowledged conversations have grown over time regarding a perceived advantage for the six NHL teams in five states without a state tax (Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vegas Golden Knights). However, there isn’t sufficient momentum at present that has created a paradigm shift, pointing to other factors that make other markets enticing such as cost of living and quality of family life.

Daly dismissed the notion of placing an artificially lower cap on teams in no-tax states.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Good luck getting the players who belong to those six teams and the owners of those clubs to agree to a lower cap than the other teams in the next round of collective bargaining.

Daly said he’s heard from the 32 NHL general managers regarding potential changes to salary cap exemptions teams receive for placing players on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). He indicated the majority would like to see the league make some kind of adjustment to alleviate some of the concerns. It’s a discussion they’ll continue having with the general managers before going to the players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is targeted at teams who place injured players on LTIR late in the season, use the cap savings to add players to their roster, and then activate those sidelined players during the postseason when the salary cap is no longer in effect. Daly is saying there’s little that can be done to address this issue until the next round of collective bargaining in two years.

Asked about the league’s view on the deferred salaries of Carolina Hurricanes players Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin, Daly said deferred compensation is part of the CBA. He noted that determining what is permissible can be difficult and could be perceived as cap circumvention.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes were able to do it because those deferred payments are within the limitations set out in the CBA. Other clubs could try it provided the players they’re negotiating with are willing to defer part of their salary to help their team receive a more favorable cap hit. The league will review these types of payments carefully but it remains to be seen if it becomes a trend.

Daly also said he currently doesn’t see signs of contention in the league’s CBA discussions with the NHL Players’ Association.

SPORTSNET: Sidney Crosby remains optimistic he’ll have a contract extension in place with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He doesn’t foresee the season ending without one. The 37-year-old center doesn’t rule out playing at age 40, saying he’s more open to the possibility than he once was, though he admits it’s impossible to predict that right now.

Former Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A three-year deal will take Crosby to age 40

Jonathan Marchessault shed some light on his final contract discussions with the Vegas Golden Knights before signing with the Nashville Predators on July 1.

Marchessault said he called Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon on the Friday before July 1 and team president George McPhee the following day to find out if they were going to sign him or let him go. By Sunday, he said nothing had budged, adding he sought a four-year contract while the Golden Knights offered up three years.

The 33-year-old Marchessault admits the Golden Knights lack loyalty toward their players, but believes it is necessary in their quest to build a winner. He admitted he was disappointed but added he didn’t mind that mindset.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have invested heavily in players they believe will help them win. However, they were reluctant to invest too much for too long in a player approaching his mid-thirties, even if that player won the Conn Smythe Trophy the previous year leading them to their first Stanley Cup.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs signed winger Nicholas Robertson to a one-year, $875K contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson, 22, sought a trade earlier this summer but he had no leverage coming off an entry-level contract. He has an opportunity to establish himself as a regular middle-six forward with the Leafs.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the Leafs are expected to bring veteran winger Max Pacioretty to training camp on a professional tryout offer.

DAILY FACEOFF/SPORTSNET: The Calgary Flames are bringing Tyson Barrie to training camp on a PTO and signed blueliner Jarred Tinordi to a one-year, two-way contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forward Adam Erne will attend the New York Rangers training camp on a PTO.

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers are bringing defenseman Travis Dermott to camp on a PTO.

PUCKPEDIA: Sam Gagner is expected to sign a PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes.

TSN: Defenseman Jordie Benn has announced his retirement. He played in 607 regular-season games from 2011-12 to 2022-23 with the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 26 goals and 111 assists for 137 points.







25 Comments

  1. With Edmonton signing Dermott and Nashville signing Cal O’Reilly to pto deals, there are now 15 teams with players in camp trying to latch onto one more contract – although two of them – Nikolay Kulemin in Ottawa and the just-signed O’Reilly in Nashville – are clearly there for purposes other than any snowball’s chance of making the main team.

    Washington – Jakub Vrana LW turns 29 in Feb
    Calgary – Tyson Barrie RD 33 y/o
    NYR – Adam Ernie LW 29 y/o
    Vegas – Tanner Pearson LW 32 y/o
    Philadelphia – Eetu Makiniemi G 25 y/o
    Vancouver – Sammy Blais – LW 28 y/o
    Tampa – Logan Brown C 26 y/o
    Pittsburgh – Nicolai Knyzhov LD 26 y/o
    Ottawa – Nikolay Kulemin LW 38 y/o and Calen Addison RD 24 y/o
    Toronto – Steven Lorentz C 28 y/o
    New Jersey – Jakub Zboril LD
    Boston – Tyler Johnson C 34 y/o
    Detroit – Austin Watson RW – turns 33 in Jan
    Edmonton – Travis Dermott LD – turns 28 in Dec
    Nashville – Cal O’Reilly C – 37 y/o

    Prominent UFAs still hoping for jobs:
    RD
    Tony DeAngelo 28 y/o
    John Klingberg 31 y/o
    Justin Schultz 33 y/o
    Kevin Shattenkirk turns 36 in Jan

    LD
    Mark Giordano turns 41 in Oct

    RW
    Kevin Labanc 28 y/o
    Mike Hoffman 34 y/o
    James van Riemsdyk 35 y/o
    Cal Clutterbuck 36 y/o
    Jakub Voracek 36 y/o

    LW
    Oscar Lindblom LW 28 y/o
    Max Pacioretty 35 y/o
    Matt Martin 36 y/o

    C
    Tyler Pitlick turns 33 in Nov
    Sam Gagner 35 y/o

    G
    Kevin Lankinen 29 y/o
    Malcom Subban turns 31 in Dec
    Antti Raanta 35 y/o

    • this is expected as more players sign long term big deals, teams have to find cheaper players. If the average math of a contract is 4-5 mil and the min is not 0 it is 800k….for every dollar some pilon or star gets above that average number someone else plays below average. Entry level deals are cheap compared to veterans usually so thats what they do. Just math

    • Today, Toronto signed a pto with Max Pacioretty, while Utah did the same with RW Kailer Yamamato. So, now 17 teams have a pto (or two) headed to camp.

      The teams that haven’t gone that route – yet – are: Buffalo, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Montreal, NYI, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis and Winnipeg

      • I must admit that, when compiling that list above of UFAs still hoping for a deal, I completely overlooked RW Kailer Yamamoto, drafted 22nd overall in Round 1 in 2017 by Edmonton.

        As recently as the 2020-21 season with Edmonton he had a 20 goal season and looked to be a solid presence. W hat happened to this kid?

      • Late this afternoon, Florida jumped into the pack by signing 27 y/o RW Matt Luff – last with Detroit in 2022-23 – to a p.t.o., joined by Colorado who inked a p.t.o with 39 y/o LW Pierre Edouard Bellemaire.

        The Rangers added a second p.t.o. by signing 29 y/o RD Madison Bowie, last season with 3 teams in the KHL.

        Now we’re up to 19 teams with p.t.o.’s. Have to wonder what % stick.

  2. The NHL isn’t looking at expansion now but will listen if someone comes to throw money at them. Reminds me of a bumper sticker I used to see a lot “If You’re Rich, I’m Single”.

    • Good one Howard 👍

  3. Re Deputy-Commish:“He also didn’t rule out a potential return to Arizona ”

    Just Nuck’n Futz

    Those words must have come from the script Gary gave him

    No more in Arizona

    No Atlanta 3-peat failure

    Houston OR Houston OR Houston should be the nfxt expansion

    • Why do you care? It isn’t your league. I am sure there are fans in both locations who lament the loss of their team. And both are suitably located for divisional placement that eases travel.

      ANY new franchise – regardless of where the initiative originates – will first and foremost have to have a) a suitable arena and b) someone with buckets of money.

      If that turns out to be either somewhere in Arizona or Atlanta so be it.

    • GeorgeO what with the rude comment, what do you care? not your league.

      Like you he has an opinion.

      My opinion is Winnipeg will be a relocation franchise, if season attendance don’t pick up and they won’t be back.

      From a Business plan teams like Winnipeg and Ottawa don’t do anything for the NHL on the business side.

      The Nhl would be better served having these teams in Houston and KC.

      • Not rude. “Just Nuck’n Futz” was rude.

        Why would any of us care whether or not some place in Arizona or Atlanta gets another franchise? I’m sure AZHockeyNut would love to see a team back in his state. And there are probably lots like him there … and in Georgia.

        If someone with the money emerges and is also ready to finance a new arena then why would any of us object? To what end? It’s none of our business. Besides, he follows Pittsburgh, I follow Ottawa, you follow Boston.

        Winnipeg got a second chance. Minnesota got a second chance.

  4. Hi Lyle

    Re “A three-year deal will take Crosby to within weeks of his 40th birthday.”

    A 3 year extension (25/26; 26/27; 27/28) takes him to June 30th 2028; he’ll have already played a full season at 40

    • Fixed, thanks

  5. I thought DeAngelo signed with a KHL team, no?

    Sam Gagner is signing a PTO with the Canes

    • that was a rumor about 3 weeks ago re DeAngelo, mikep … if he has signed with a KHL team , it hasn’t been announced yet ,,, same with Gagner

  6. I’m certainly never one to praise the Leafs; but credit where credit is due.

    Robertson contract was an excellent signing by Leafs

    Barely over League minimum; only 1 year. Very very cheap if he produces to his abilities; and unless he literally falls off the planet; a very trade-able contract at any time.

    • It wasn’t that long ago you were a Leafs / Pens fan and had a different persona.

  7. Flip side of cheap signing of a player who is no longer waiver exempt,….easy pickings if he doesn’t have a regular spot and is waived.

    Montreal has had success with cheap waiver pickups like Kovacevic, Montembeault and of course Byron.

    • Are you predicting another cellar season for Montreal to be in a position to grab all this good cheap talent? Just asking for a friend

  8. State tax issue:
    Allow the teams to reimburse their players the state/provincial taxes, the players would still be on the hook for the payment of taxes on the reimbursement check. Although not perfect, it does not involve a complicated formula for each team and gets the net income of each player much closer.

  9. Please don’t expand further. 32 teams is really all that’s needed (but I get that $ talks).

    As for the state taxes, I think the issue isn’t as big as portrayed. This phenomenon exists in all North America sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, etc) and it doesn’t really surface as a big factor with free agency. The players still need to pay taxes in all the locations they play, so the do get taxed on all away games. I don’t think any cap rule adjustments are needed for those no-tax states.
    Also, as many have pointed out before, Florida has been tax free for decades, and that didn’t help Tampa or Florida in years past. Their recent success was built upon solid scouting and drafting…. not some small tax impact.

  10. Expansion is only about the money from the exorbitant entry fees….The NHL higher ups care nothing about the product on the ice, the product fans are paying big bucks to see watered down hockey……Quality play will sink to low levels and historic rivalries will be a thing of the past……But Gary and his boy$ will do it…..His job is to make more money for the owners….On that he is doing a good job at the expense of the quality of play….

    • Can’t argue against that emikeyj! And for the record, all I was trying to get across above is that, IF an owner with deep pockets emerges with a firm commitment for an arena in place in either Atlanta or somewhere in Arizona, then what does the fact franchises failed in both places before have anything to do with the ultimate decision?

      Caper mentions KC as a possible site – there was a team in there once before as well. Same with Quebec City and some still clamor for a return there. The NHL’s position?? Show us the money. That is what will ultimately decide the issue.