NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 17, 2024
Sidney Crosby talks about his new contract with the Penguins, the Red Wings re-sign Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren, plus the latest on Ilya Sorokin, Alex Ovechkin and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby spoke to the media on Monday after signing a two-year contract extension worth $8.7 million per season with the Penguins.
Crosby claimed the negotiations went smoothly. The 37-year-old center indicated the number of years on the deal was the sticking point on his part given the difficulty in determining how much longer he’ll be playing, adding he wanted it to make sense for himself and the team.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
The Penguins captain also received assurances from general manager Kyle Dubas that the ownership was committed to building a winning franchise.
“You want to try to find every way possible to get back in (to the playoffs) and make sure we compete for the Stanley Cup,” said Crosby. “So I think that was reassuring to hear, and that helped.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby’s comments indicate Penguins management will keep retooling the roster rather than rebuild. The focus this summer was adding more youth to the lineup and restocking their depleted prospect pool.
The Penguins captain made Dubas’ job easier by accepting less than market value, maintaining his usual average annual value of $8.7 million. Speculation out of Pittsburgh earlier this summer suggested Crosby could get a three-year extension with an annual cap hit of $10 million.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed winger Lucas Raymond to an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.075 million.
Raymond, 22, was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He led the Wings last season with a career-high 72 points. The young Swede was red-hot down the stretch, scoring seven goals and five assists in the Wings’ final eight games and 14 goals over their final 18 contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raymond bounced back from a disappointing 45-point sophomore season in 2022-23 following his promising 57-point debut. His performance last season suggests bigger things ahead for the skillful young winger.
Raymond’s new contract puts him just below captain Dylan Larkin’s team-leading AAV of $8.75 million.
The Wings still have Moritz Seider to re-sign but his new deal should be announced before they hit the ice for training camp on Thursday. He’ll also likely get an eight-year contract while his AAV could be just under Larkin’s.
TSN: The Wings also signed defenseman Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $875K.
NEW YORK POST: Islanders head coach Patrick Roy inadvertently revealed starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin underwent offseason back surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s why Sorokin struggled in 2023-24 following strong performances over the previous three seasons, including being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2022-23.
Isles GM Lou Lamoriello recently said Sorokin is expected to miss only a few days of training camp. Nevertheless, he’ll now be under increased scrutiny by fans and pundits as the start of the season approaches.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin left Monday’s informal skate with his teammates after several minutes in apparent discomfort and didn’t return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word from the team or Ovechkin regarding his condition. The report indicates he’s scheduled to speak with the media on Thursday. His early departure may have been for precautionary reasons.
Ovechkin turned 39 today.
TSN: Winger Cutter Gauthier is looking forward to his first full season with the Anaheim Ducks and putting behind the drama that led to his midseason trade from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Gauthier, 20, forced the trade after telling the Flyers he wouldn’t play for them. He claimed he and his family received death threats in the weeks and months following the trade.
“At the end of the day, I don’t really care what other people think,” said Gauthier. “It’s what I think and feel as a person and what my family thinks. I can’t let all the outside noise distract me or else I’m going nowhere.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Being upset that a promising young player doesn’t want to play for your team is one thing. Feel free to voice your displeasure by booing him whenever he plays the Flyers in Philadelphia.
Making death threats is beyond the pale.
If you’re that triggered over Gauthier spurning the Flyers, step back, take some deep breaths, and seriously evaluate where you are in your life right now. That rage has no place in our game or society.
And if that friendly advice upsets you, leave this site and don’t come back.
TSN: Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach said he’s fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2023-24 campaign just two games in.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Dach will be crucial to the Canadiens’ hope of significant improvement this season. The 23-year-old could be reunited with Juraj Slafkovsky or recently-acquired winger Patrik Laine could be a linemate.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor said he’s good to go after undergoing season-ending hip surgery in March.
THE PROVINCE: The Canucks recently signed journeyman goaltender Dylan Ferguson to a professional tryout offer (PTO). He has three NHL games under his belt (one with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18 and two with the Ottawa Senators in 2022-23. The 25-year-old spent last season with KHL club Dinamo Minsk.
MTL will be an interesting squad to watch this season, they seem to be building something special.
Lane Hutson will be a household name among hockey fans. And a saint among Habs fans by season’s end.
Watching Lane Hutson play against the Leafs prospects on the weekend was like watching Circ de Soleil. If he can consistently translate those skills at the NHL level then he will be in the Norris conversation.
I certainly look forward to watching Hutson play. I think he’ll be a star with the Habs. But let’s not please expect him to be a Norris candidate as a rookie.
As for Dach, I’d play him with Laine and Newhook. The Suzuki Caufield Slafkovsky line must stay together.
I don’t think he will be in the Norris conversation as a rookie. I do think that if he can continue to perform his game at the NHL level on a regular basis then maybe one day he will be in the Norris conversation. We haven’t seen anything yet. I didn’t mean to hype him up that way.
Something else to be cautious about is how he responds to the increased physical aspects of the NHL. At 5′ 10″ 162 lbs he will face that challenge repeatedly in the NHL.
Not saying he won’t respond … just something else to keep an eye on.
I never comment. But just wanted to say I support your comments about people’s reactions to Gauthier.
Very well said Lyle. It doesn’t take much to trigger death threats these days. Too much social media and too many mentally ill folks with not enough treatment available. This certainly has no place in hockey or in society.
Please comment more Pat. The infusion of fresh opinion/thoughts would be welcome.
Hear!!! Hear!!!👍🏼
“Making death threats is beyond the pale.
If you’re that triggered over Gauthier spurning the Flyers, step back, take some deep breaths, and seriously evaluate where you are in your life right now. That rage has no place in our game or society.
And if that friendly advice upsets you, leave this site and don’t come back.”
It’s just a frick’n game. Entertainment.
Sad, but I remember the Vancouver riots over “friggen game”. And then there was the Montreal riot after a conference final win in 2008 and in 1955 (this one I was only a few months old though) over the Rocket being suspended.
For a team that waited until the last minute to bring in a p.t.o., Utah, when they did, went whole-hog, inviting no less than 7 and covering all 6 positions … most of whom fall within the category “Who?”
Robbie Russo 31 y/o RD rd4 95th overall 2011 NYI – 19 NHL gp
Dylan Wells 26 y/o G Rd 5 123rd overall 2016 Edm – 1 NHL gp
Peter Diliberatore 24 y/o LD Rd 6 180th overall Vegas 0 no NHL gp
Ryan McGregor 25 y/o C Rd 6 172nd overall 2017 Toronto – no NHL gp
Austin Poganski 28 y/o RW Rd 4 110th overall 2014 St. Louis – 22 NHL gp
Cameron Hebig 27 y/o C undrafted – no NHL gp
Hunter Drew 26 y/o RD Rd 6 178th overall 2018 Anaheim – 2 NHL gp
Obviously looking for fill on their minor league affiliates as I doubt any of them have a chance at making the main team.
And I forgot Utah had also signed a p.t.o. with Kyler Yamamoto earlier.
Remember when Chara took Pacioretty into the glass and All of Montreal wanted Chara dead. Molson, threaten, Air Canada threaten. Rumor had it Bettman told Air Canada to stand down or the league won’t be using their services.
Just a game, with highly charged emotions.
I never put much stalk into the silly talk, people says things all the time.
McGoaty forced a trade out of Winnipeg, not the first, won’t be the last. Don’t wish him any ill will, but at the same time, part of me hopes he turns out to be an ok player but not a star.
Gauthier:
In general, people’s inability to cope / live with outcomes or results that don’t fit their personal perspective / opinions has become grossly concerning! No matter how minor or irrelevant they are in their lives.
Death threats? Seriously? Anyone making a death threat about a public figure should come with an automatic straight jacket / padded walls and 10 year prison sentence.
If you can’t cope with a minor outcome that has nothing to do with you, your life, your family, how will you cope with a layoff, firing or being passed up for a promotion etc.? I won’t say it , but I’m sure you all know where I’m going here!
Automatic 10 year prison sentence!!!
Zero tolerance!
Ooops , wrong place!
@Captain obvious So you`re OK with death threats against private citizens, just not against public figures. Threats of any kind shouldn`t be tolerated, no exceptions period, against anybody. Sadly it seems to be the main focus on tv these days and it`s quickly becoming the norm in society and worse yet it`s being fueled by public figures
Holy taking things out of context Yogi!
That wasn’t my point. I used public figures because they tend to be ones that are victims of multiple / mass death threats that can gain steam through social media etc. I won’t bring up the name of the latest person in that category, because I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole and wish to stay on topic.
But even after actual attempts on that persons life, it has been followed by some cheering on , encouraging a 3rd attempt / wishing the 1st two attempts were successful. Which in my opinion, will result in more attempts!
Sick!
I don’t know one civilian that gets called out on social media by hundreds if not thousands of these type of threats. Nor do I believe it has the same type of radical effect by many people.
Not to say that a civilian being threatened shouldn’t be taken seriously, or not the same results, by any stretch of the imagination. Not sure how or why you came to that conclusion.
Had there been more severe penalties / to these type of threats , the most recent school shooting could have been averted.
So my point wasn’t “screw civilians “ or we should hold public figures to a different standard.
Hope that clears this up for you.
That was exactly my point!!!!! People make public comments whether it`s a public figure or just you or me, if we don`t choose your words carefully, people will draw conclusions from what you post. Regardless of what our intentions are. I wasn`t trying to paint you as a bad person, just how easy it is to post something and have it taken the wrong way and it was easy.
Like I said, I was really more using public figures as an example because of they’re a prime example of people taking things to a gross extreme.
If you or I change jobs, or are involved in some type of scandal, I don’t think it would garner that type of attention.
The topic was on Gauthier, I didn’t want to bring other recent events into today’s discussions. I know exactly where all that will lead to,(been there done that, and don’t really care to go there with anyone anymore) I don’t really post or come here that often anymore. Didn’t want to light that fire 🔥 today.
There were no death threats or a campaign of terror on Chats, there calls for a police enquiry. Fans were mad at what appeared to be a vicious dirty hit…..and there was a realignment of the boards and glass to avoid a reoccurance. In hindsight Chara wasn’t dirty on the play.
I remember Chara hit on Pacioretty very well, a hit that could have crippled him.
While fans were irate over the hit and a police enquiry was demanded, nothing came to pass and there weren’t death threats.
Changes were made to the boards/glass as it was realized that design error of the stanchion was the culprit and not Chara.
Very very happy days for us here.
To say there was increasing worry about Crosby’s delay in signing is putting it lightly
I found out during a lecture when I saw two students doing a high-five and cheering. Definitely not a fan of disruptions during my lectures, so I asked what was so exciting that they needed to interrupt me as well as their fellow students. They told me what it was, and I did a little dance in-front of all of them .
Once again signing a contract well below his market value just shows the character of Crosby (team/franchise/fans before himself).
Re
“The Penguins captain also received assurances from general manager Kyle Dubas that the ownership was committed to building a winning franchise.”
This, as I thought, was the likely hold up. Dollars for Crosby were fixed in his mind (Cap had to be $8.7 M). Crosby finally got his insisted upon promises from Dubas that he will definitely improve this club to be playoff bound next year.
This is great. We’ve already missed playoffs two years in a row and will miss this year (roster just not there) but Dubas has now committed to Crosby that he’ll make the necessary moves by the end of next summer so that we can compete in the playoffs in ‘26.
One more year of pain then things will look up.
Thank you Crosby for your sacrifice and determination to better this team.
Dubas answers to owner John Henry of Fenway Sports Group and your Pittsburgh Penguins!He is notorious for not spending money on big contracts! So Dubas telling Crosby he will improve the club to get them back in the playoffs is a joke! They let their best forward walk away in free agency in Guentzel and then trade for Kevin Hayes!!Keep your golf clubs ready Sid!
Yes I know Henry’s history; but Lyle’s post said Crosby got assurances that
“ownership was committed to building a winning franchise”
I’m sure Crosby isn’t dumb enough just to trust Dubas ; so he must have confidence it IS happening
After taking s very low contract; for his sake alone I have the confidence complete retool is on next summer.
@ 8787
You and I are Penguins fan but you are pessimistic where I am optimistic !
The Penguins missed the playoffs the last two years by 4 points ! 1 point 2 years ago and 3 points last year. I could see if they missed the playoffs by 10 to 12 points but they didn’t. You make them out to be cellar dwellers r=that is crazy.
The bottom six was the problem and they have improves that significantly.
Lizotte 26
Glass 25
Mc Groarty 20
Beauvillier 27
Ponomarev is only 21 and he has been brilliant in the Penguins developmental camp and he has been dominating’s the prospects tournament. So has Koivunen 21 Tristan Broz 3 goals in 3 games in the prospects challenge.
Tanner Howe, 19 who is a Pitbull didn’t even play.
This goalie from Russia 20 year ole Sergi Musharev maybe the best goalie we have and he has been terrific…We also have Blomqvist in goal.
The farm systems were ranked recently Pittsburgh is no longer 32 nd they have jumped to 26th.
we hot Ponomarev Bunting and Koivunen for Guentzel who was leaving anyway.
We fix the power play and we are in..
Beauvillier 27 will play with Sidney and Rust..and with his speed and forecheck drive that line. Drew O’Connor while a nice player is a third liner.
It’s weird that you’re Canadian and there was so much excitement in the room about a Pittsburgh penguin signing?
😄😄
Not sure where you are getting I’m Canadian?
Born and raised here.
So much excitement in the room?
I was excited for sure and so were a few other students; but we have international students and many from out of state; and I’m sure many others who aren’t necessarily hockey fans let alone Pens fans.
That said, I have a couple of faculty friends here that are from Canada. I don’t know for sure; but I doubt they are as much of a Pens fan as I am. Who knows, perhaps they had a similar student gleeful disruption if they were lecturing at the same time.
😄
You’re an American born / raised professor on Pittsburgh that sometimes spells things like a Canadian?
Center / centre
Color / colour
Etc.
Your Pengy slips out way too often there buddy!
Humm CO, so i Canadian can’t cheer for an American based team? A American can’t cheer for a Canadian based team? No one outside of North America should cheer for any NHL team?
I’m Canadian, who lives in Winnipeg, yet here i am a huge Boston Bruins fan.
Mnnnn. Caption obvious might be onto something. Ain’t seen one yinz or jagoff come out in your posts yet…. Balancing your alter egos seems to be a slippy slope for you. Gotta red up your game.
Caper that wasn’t my point at all. But the odds of 2 guys high fiving in a college classroom in Canada over Crosby re-signing seems a bit suspect to start.
I think I may have to start putting disclaimers on my posts.
This is two very misunderstood posts today.
Something tells me you replied after seeing my initial post without seeing my reply?
Anyway, some of these slips would be very unlikely slips for an American.
I have to fight my phone to type centre / colour . Auto correct in the US would not move to Canadian spelling. It will revert to the US spelling.
Chrism,
You guys are neighbors, you should meet for a beer tonight!
We can have the old scooby doo ending to this mystery!
Hell, Caper, 3/4 of the Maritimes are Boston fans. And half of the Ottawa area are either Habs or Leafs fans.
In Sask, where I was born and raised, you can find fans of almost any NHL team, especially of my age group as there were no Oilers, Jets, Flames when we started playing and watching hockey.
My cousin married a Stars fan, my dad is Leafs, I’m Bruins, my brother started Philly, but when the NHL went to Edmonton, became an Oiler fan. Bandwagon jumper.
I even played with a flippin’ Sabre fan, you don’t meet many of those. Loser.
The only team we all agree on, and it is unanimous, is the Riders.
I always find it funny that I pay close attention to the Senators, especially their goaltending woes, and yet I cannot recall a “Ferguson” in goal for them like… ever.
I must have been in hiding crying about their record at that point or something.
TheSaint, it was when a series of injuries occurred among their goaltenders in 2022-23. They got him from the Marlies on an AHL deal, where he had played 5 games, following which he played 8 in Belleville before being called up for 2 where he posted a 2.52gaa and 0.940 save %, winning 1 and losing 1.
Oh, and by the way, above is your 8 paragraph prediction from yesterday. 🙂
It always feels like Clark Kent leaves the room and Superman walked in, doesn’t it?
Never in the same room, looks exactly , sounds exactly the same but…
Here we are, none the wiser.
We are missing either Kent or Superman. I’m pretty sure pengy is dead.
Yep
What ever happen to Joe