NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2024
The Leafs down the Lightning, the latest on Panthers center Anton Lundell and Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, and injury updates on Anthony Duclair, Alexis Lafreniere and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in the only NHL game on Monday. William Nylander scored twice and collected an assist, Auston Matthews scored for the third straight game and Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves for the Leafs. Nick Paul and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning, who pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy after he gave up four goals on 14 shots.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports Panthers center Anton Lundell is gaining more recognition for his two-way play. He’s performed well filling in for sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers’ first-line centering Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lundell started drawing attention around the league during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup last spring, earning the nickname “Baby Barkov”. The 23-year-old is off to a hot start this season, sitting second in team scoring with eight points in seven games.
Lundell will move out of that first-line role when Barkov returns but he’s shown that he can handle top-line minutes when required.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Lane Hutson is settling in well with the Canadiens. The 20-year-old defenseman has four assists in his first six games while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game, including over 30 minutes during the Canadiens’ 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson began this season among the favorites to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. It remains to be seen how the rest of his season pans out but he’s off to a good start, drawing positive reviews from his coaches, teammates and Canadiens fans for his creativity and puck-possession skills.
NEW YORK POST: Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said winger Anthony Duclair will be sidelined for a while. He injured his right leg during Saturday’s game against the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello also said the injury won’t end Duclair’s season. Nevertheless, his absence will deplete the Isles’ popgun offense.
Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere missed practice on Monday with an upper-body injury but skated on his own after the session ended. He’s listed as day-to-day and isn’t expected to miss much time.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks GM Mike Grier said Macklin Celebrini is expected to be out for at least two more weeks as he recovers from a hip injury. The 18-year-old rookie center suffered the injury during training camp but played in the Sharks’ season opener on Oct. 10.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Grier indicated that Celebrini’s injury was an off-and-on issue, adding the youngster claimed he felt great in the lead-up to their season opener.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Kraken placed defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) on long-term injury reserve retroactive to Oct. 17. The earliest he can return to action is Nov. 12.
OTTAWA SUN: Goaltender Linus Ullmark (strain) and center Ridly Greig (upper-body injury) are expected to return to action in Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils sent defenseman Seamus Casey to their AHL affiliate in Utica after eight games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated the return of sidelined defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce is imminent.
DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered during last Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Kennedy reports a source told him the next NHL collective bargaining agreement could include a rule permitting AHL eligibility for 19-year-old Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players.
Under the current CBA, CHL-eligible players must be 20 years old by Dec. 31 of the select calendar year or have played four years of Junior A hockey to become eligible for pro hockey in the AHL. Unless 18- and 19-year-old players play more than nine NHL games, they must return to their CHL team, which retains their rights until age 20.
A Marchand Monty meeting better have already taken place this isn’t good for anyone … I have a feeling this goes deeper than what was shown…
Joe, are you seeing some story line that I’m not? What goes deeper?
This
A heated confrontation between Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery and captain Brad Marchand during the playoffs has sparked concerns about their relationship. Montgomery’s public outburst and minor physical contact with Marchand could indicate underlying tensions, possibly affecting the team’s dynamic and Marchand’s future with the Bruins. NHL insiders have expressed that such aggressive exchanges are rare and may point to unresolved conflicts or specific triggers behind Montgomery’s reaction. The situation raises questions about Marchand’s ongoing contract negotiations and how this incident may impact them moving forward.
I agree with Joe. I’m sure that those two have not seen eye to eye for a while now. There also seems to be some sort of a chemistry problem for the first time since before Chara.
This wasn’t your normal coach player blow up … Monty was PO … they don’t clear the air Monty won’t survive this
On topics that are here, Habs fans had better hope that St.Louis doesn’t start trotting young Hutson out there for 30 minutes plus every night like D.J. Smith did with Chabot.
And that would be THE best change in the Collective Bargaining Agreement in quite some time. Get it done before someone tests the current “arrangement” in court.
On topics that are here… are we only able to comment on topics that are here … I seem to think that the Montgomery Marchand issue is a huge Story .. it wasn’t behind closed doors it was for all to see
No need to get testy, Joe, My initial question was a valid one, considering that I don’t possess the qualities of mind-reading and divination.
I read up and down the topics a couple of times before posting, and was genuinely curious as to why you were thinking “this goes deeper than what was shown.”
As to “on topics that are here” forgive me for being a bit facetious. Since I don’t follow the Bruins closely I was unaware – or perhaps simply forgot – that anything had occurred between Marchand and Montgomery, and certainly had never seen that report you posted.
If you don’t know what a person is talking about then there’s no need to comment.. or you can read what the person wrote and google it .. read it … then comment if you choose
Google this, Joe!
No need to get testy
Sorry
But I’ll be commenting/querying a topic not raised today:
What’s with this weird scheduling?
Only 3 games Sunday. Only 1 last night. ALL teams playing today (a Tuesday night!!!); then just 1 game tomorrow
????
How bout that Russel Wilson eh? 😉
Tee Hee!
I sn sure Berube was happy with the teams performance from last night !
It was the best effort , buying into Berube ‘s system ….
George , Can you look into Stanley Cup finals tickets for me
Not sure who the Leafs will be playing , my thought likely will be Dallas
LOL. Now there’s confidence.
They don’t play the finals in rd 1 😞
Nhl missing the boat on the first day of the NBA season scheduling 16 games for the same night!The Marchand – Monty confrontation should bring to light that both are playing, coaching for a new contract!
Sr… wonder if this leads to Patrice Bergeron coaching the team next season
They would probably look at long time assistant Joe Sacco who has head coaching experience but it would be smart to look at Bergeron as an asst. coach to gain experience! Montreal brought in Martin St. Louis with little coaching experience I believe!
George,
Lane Hutson isn’t being overused, he had one game of 30 min. and that was on account of Matheson being injured in the first period.
Matheson regularly plays 25 min and somebody had to pick up the slack that game
Good to know habfan30. He’s a special find … be a shame to do with him what Smith did with Chabot. In fact he had him up to 35+ minutes a game regularly, and that’s when the repeated injuries began – probably something to do with the law of averages, i.e., the longer you’re out there game to game, the greater the chance of getting dinged – or something to that effect..
as for on topic- every day is bruin topic for Bruins fans especially when they aren’t mentioned.
That’s why 11/20 comments are about them so far today
You have Boston mixed up with your rival the TML !
TML were actually a topic today and there was a grand total of one post about them.
No, I don’t have them mixed up at all .