NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2024

by | Sep 20, 2024 | News, NHL | 17 comments

The Red Wings re-sign Moritz Seider, Thatcher Demko talks about his nagging injury, Kyle Okposo calls it a career, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.55 million. Seider, 23, was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The AAV was no surprise as Wings general manager Steve Yzerman didn’t want Seider or recently-signed winger Lucas Raymond to exceed captain Dylan Larkin’s team-leading $8.75 million.

This deal will likely turn into a long-term bargain for the Wings. Seider is their established top defenseman and has yet to reach the prime years of his career. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, he had 42 points in 82 games last season. Like Raymond, he’s a foundational part of the Wings’ rebuild.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko explained Thursday that he’s been dealing with a rare lower-body muscle injury. While the 28-year-old netminder didn’t have a timetable for his return to the lineup, he said he has growing confidence in his rehab process.

Demko suffered the injury during Game 1 of the Canucks’ opening-round series against the Nashville Predators, sidelining him for the remainder of the playoffs. He also explained that he “hit a bit of a wall” with his recovery this summer but has experienced “a lot of progress” over the last couple of weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Demko’s condition is “exceptionally unique.” His medical team spent weeks scouring the world for other hockey players who’ve suffered the same injury but couldn’t find any, though they discovered five soccer players with a similar ailment.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Former Sabres captain Kyle Okposo announced his retirement on Thursday. Okposo, 36, spent 17 seasons with the New York Islanders, Sabres, and Florida Panthers from 2006-07 to 2023-24, winning a Stanley Cup with the Panthers in June.

Okposo scored 242 goals and 372 assists for 614 points in 1,051 career regular-season games and 17 points in 41 playoff games. He battled through several concussion issues since 2017 to continue his playing career.

RG.ORG: Jimmy Murphy reports Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin understands that Kirill Kaprizov will be in line for a mega-contract when his current deal expires in 2026. Nevertheless, he expects more from his franchise player this season.

Kaprizov, 27, exceeded the 40-goal plateau for the third straight season in 2023-24 with 46 goals and 96 points in 75 games. He can ensure a substantial raise if he exceeds 100 points this season.

Guerin acknowledged the cost of re-signing star players is rising but isn’t panicking when it comes to Kaprizov, saying his club will have to be ready for it when the time comes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov is earning an AAV of $9 million on his current deal. Another big season from him could put him within the $12 million to $13 million range on his next contract.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports Devils defenseman Brett Pesce remains week-to-week following offseason to repair a fractured fibula suffered during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Devils were aware of Pesce’s situation before signing him as a free agent on July 1.

The Devils received good news about Simon Nemec. The 20-year-old blueliner suffered no lingering ill effects from a shoulder injury suffered when playing in Slovakia’s Olympic qualifier last month and was on the ice with his teammates for the opening day of training camp.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the opening week of training camp following an appendectomy on Wednesday. Guhle, 22, will be re-evaluated in seven days.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture, defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shakir Mukhamadullin and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov missed the opening day of training camp. Askarov, Couture and Mukhamadullin are nursing lower-body injuries while Vlasic has an upper-body injury. No details were revealed regarding the severity of their injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couture continues to deal with a nagging lower-body injury that sidelined for all but six games last season. He’s expected to be placed on injured reserve.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks named Radko Gudas as their ninth captain in franchise history.

SPORTSNET: The Ottawa Senators invited goaltender Dustin Tokarski to training camp on a professional tryout offer. His last appearance in the NHL was a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022-23.

THE SCORE: Jaromir Jagr intends to retire from professional hockey at the end of this season. The 52-year-old forward has spent the past eight seasons with Czech club Kladno Knights. He’s also their owner and team president.

Jagr spent 24 seasons in the NHL from 1990-91 to 2017-18, sitting fourth all-time with 766 goals, fifth with 1,155 assists, and second with 1,921 points.







17 Comments

  1. Tough luck continues for Logan Couture! If he is put on LTIR that will give the Sharks 18 million to go get players through trades or free agent signings!

  2. And then there were 3. Swayman in Boston, Perfetti in Winnipeg and Mercer in New Jersey, and once (if) they are signed their team’s cap reserve is essentially depleted. When that occurs there will be 7 teams with significant cap space on which to keep a close eye in terms of possible trades as season openers approach if those approximately 18 teams either currently over the cap or right up against the limit go that route to free up space.

    The 7 “money” teams are, according to Puckpedia:
    Columbus $24,798,334 – 23 of 23;
    Anaheim $21,718,333 – 23 of 23
    Calgary $19,199,166 – 24 of 23 (1 over the max so probably $20 mil)
    San Jose $10,420,830 – 24 of 23 (1 over the max so probably $11.2 mil + Couture’s LTIR)
    Utah $9,920,357 – 23 of 23
    Buffalo $6,999,484 – 23 of 23
    Chicago $6,677,500 – 22 of 23 (1 under the max so probably closer to $5.7 mil)

    With 23 of 23 both Los Angeles and St. Louis have “modest” cap cushions of $1,271,666 and $1,267,792 respectively. Ottawa and Colorado have $1,109,285 and $2,066,250 respectively, but both are based on 22 of 23. ELC call-ups will eat the bulk of both.

    • Then there were 2. Mercer signed $4 million AAV on a 3 year deal

      • They’re getting there. With NJ settled, they now have 22 of 23 with $976,103 left in cap space – just enough to bring up an ELC to flesh the roster out to 23

  3. @George what`s the story on the Ottawa arena, press conference this afternoon, I hear

    • Yogi, I think the press conference is just to confirm what’s outlined here

      https://ottawasun.com/ottawa-senators/senators-ncc-reach-agreement-lebreton-flats

      After ups and downs for the past several years, however, I’ll believe it’s a reality when I see the first backhoe’s at work.

      If they do the whole area as first envisaged – including restaurants/clubs near the rapids – it’ll be quite the overall experience

      https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/LeBreton-Flats-Master-Concept-Plan-1.pdf

      LOL … I just hope I’m still around when it’s completed!

    • Out here they didn’t say alot made it sound like just the financing was left to go. Which could take a lifetime to accomplish. Hope they get done quick, I’d like to be around too to see it

      • I know one thing for sure – if and when it’s completed the young folk will be enjoying restaurants/clubs overlooking the rapids more on the Quebec side of the bridge than the Ontario side.

        It’s always been that way. Growing up in the 50’s there were at least 14 great clubs/restuarants to choose from in the (then) Hull, Aylmer, Gatineau, Buckingham areas whereas on the Ottawa side it was slim pickings.

        Unfortunately, my clubbing days are over … lol

      • I hear you on that George thanks for the info

  4. My 2 ….. Sweeney and the Bruins upper management weren’t prepared for what’s taking place with Sway, they jumped the gun on the Ullmark trade without a proper secure fall back …. The Bruins have no leverage in the Sway/Bruins negotiations.. it’s a shame because they do have a solid team in place from the left oks .. fast..hard to the puck .. decent scoring … size and a tough team overall .. Sweeney has done a bad job here

    • Joe ,Swayman has something to lose here also! If he doesn t sign by Dec.1 he cannot play in the NHL! He will lose a whole year meaning it will be 2 more years that he is a RFA as compared to being a UFA in 2026-2027!

  5. Just a thought and a question… the Bruins had two quality goaltenders.. one was on contract the other was a RFA … Why would you trade the goalie with a contract before you sign a goalie you want that’s without a
    contract ?

  6. I find it interesting that Ottawa wasn’t on his no trade list to begin with … maybe it the top of it

    • Why? They needed a good reliable goalie. He is a good reliable goalie.

      • You took the bait …the team is building and getting better

      • No, I was the one with the hook in the water Joe. And goalies represent the one position that knows the Senators are close better than any other positional player.