NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 6, 2024

by | Oct 6, 2024 | News, NHL | 29 comments

The Bruins sign Jeremy Swayman, the Devils sweep the Sabres in the Global Series, recapping the final games of the preseason, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

**BREAKING NEWS**

The Boston Bruins have signed goaltender Jeremy Swayman to an eight-year, $66 million contract. The average annual value is $8.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides took it almost to Monday’s deadline for clubs to submit their opening-night rosters. As Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli explained on Saturday, the longer this standoff continued once the regular season began, the less money Swayman would make this season. The Bruins also would’ve faced a higher cap hit for Year One because his salary would’ve been prorated.

Swayman is getting a significant raise and long-term security with this deal. If the 25-year-old plays up to expectations, it could even become a reasonable deal for the Bruins as the contract value of goaltenders increases over time.  

It’ll be interesting to see how this affects Swayman’s play in the early going of this season. He missed training camp and preseason play because of this standoff and won’t be in their opening-night lineup later this week. It could take a week or two for him to get fully up to speed.

DEVILS SWEEP SABRES IN GLOBAL SERIES

NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia to sweep the two-game 2024 NHL Global Series. Seamus Casey scored his first NHL goal and Jack Hughes collected two assists for the Devils. Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres and Devon Levi stopped 34 shots in his season debut.

New Jersey Devils forward Seamus Casey (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward JJ Peterka left this game with a concussion after being hit in the head by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. He joined teammates Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Zach Benson (lower-body injuries) on the sidelines.

RECAPS OF SATURDAY’S PRESEASON ACTION

NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto had a hat trick and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for the win. Christian Dvorak and Arber Xhekaj replied for the Canadiens.

The Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. John Tavares snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period, Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist, and Mitch Marner collected two assists. Ville Husso stopped 30 saves for the Red Wings.

Utah Hockey Club winger Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Ivan Ivan replied for the Avalanche

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad collected three assists and Jonah Gadjovich tallied twice to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 26 shots for the Panthers.

The Washington Capitals got a 17-save shutout performance by Charlie Lindgren in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins. Aliaksei Protas and Trevor van Riemsdyk scored for the Capitals.

The Carolina Hurricanes downed the Nashville Predators 5-3 with Eric Robinson scoring the go-ahead goal with 2:29 remaining in the third period. Tommy Novak had a goal and two assists for the Predators.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard picked up three assists in a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Mathieu Joseph had two assists for the Blues.

The San Jose Sharks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 6-5 on Ethan Cardwell’s game-winner with 12 seconds remaining in the third period. Luke Kunin tallied two goals for the Sharks while Pavel Dorofeyev scored a hat trick for the Golden Knights.

HEADLINES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras hopes to rebound from a difficult 2023-24 season in which he was sidelined for 51 games by injuries. He acknowledged he wasn’t at 100 percent physically and mentally to start last season after missing training camp due to contract negotiations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras’ struggles in ’23-’24 made him a frequent subject of trade speculation. The 23-year-old forward is entering a crucial season that could determine his future with the Ducks. He’s entering the second season of a three-year contract. A sub-par campaign could turn the trade chatter into reality.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Erik Karlsson is on track to be in the lineup for the Penguins’ season opener on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. The 34-year-old defenseman was sidelined by an upper-body injury at the start of training camp. He couldn’t play in any preseason games but doesn’t expect it’ll take long for him to get up to speed.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed free-agent winger Kevin Labanc to a one-year, $775K contract. He played with the New Jersey Devils on a professional tryout offer, scoring six goals in four preseason games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jackets made this move because forwards Boone Jenner and Dmitri Voronkov were recently sidelined by upper-body injuries. Labanc received a contract offer from the Devils but has a better opportunity to see top-six minutes with the Blue Jackets.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo cited a Minnesota Wild source who said rookie forward Liam Ohgren and rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt have made their opening-night roster.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche claimed defenseman John Ludvig off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed center Skyler Brind’Amour to a one-year, two-way contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: He is the son of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour. General manager Eric Tulsky said his organization was impressed with the 25-year-old center’s defensive play last season in the AHL and his strong showing during this preseason.







29 Comments

  1. Pretty good scrap between two pretty big dudes – both 6′ 4″ 240 lbs – MacEwen from Charlottetown, P.E.I. (down your way, Lyle) and Xhekaj from Brampton, Ontario.

  2. George O I like a good physical altercation between 2 behemoths,but isn t it about time the regular season starts and see highlights of sick offensive plays and highway robbery saves of goalies!

    • LOL … yeah … I agree. Just that, if it has to happen for whatever reason, it’s far better to see two evenly-matched players settle things than a David and Goliath match … unless David is allowed to keep his stick 🙂

  3. Bruins … seriously Swayman needs to get over his hissy fit and grow up … he’s not the first person that went thru a arbitration hearing and had stuff said about him and he won’t be the last that’s how those hearings work …Neely contract offer was 8×8 or close to it … Come on Sway sign the contract and move on …

  4. Eklund is reporting (via Freidman) that Swayman has signed an 8 x $8.25 contract.

    • George according to Ralph and Bowen on the radio broadcast they expect both Pacioretty and Lorentz will be signed today. They weren`t quite sure how Treliving was going to do it, but they suspected the LTIR was going to come into play

      • Probably Hackanpaa and/or Dewar $1,470,000 and $1,180,000 respectively) are the LTIR possibilities as neither played a minute in the pre-season.

      • That would be my guess too, McCabe might be a possibility, they haven`t said much about his injury aside from upper body. Waiving Timmins or a Jarnkrok trade are less likely but possible

  5. Nice … now in 8 years Swayman at 33 years old can do it all over again …

  6. Sway signing didn’t move the SC odds yet …. Bruins 18-1 … $100 to get $1800 not bad

    • Why waste 100 dollars?

  7. Swayman contract is an overpayment at the moment. I hope it turns into a value contract.

    There is a lessen to be learned, teams need to be careful of what is said in a arbitration hearing.

    In this case we all know it bother Swayman and gave him a different perspective of Bruins management and obviously he had hurt feelings.

    I not saying Swayman would’ve have signed for less, but i do have to wonder how much did the arbitration meeting cost Sweeney in this contract.

    • Another question is – was the arbitrator, in awarding a $3,475,000 settlement, influenced more by the team’s position or Swayman’s stats? That’s something we’ll never know.

      • Anyway, now Boston sits with just $386,667 in cap reserve with 23 of 23 shown at Puckpedia.

        If Johnson is to get a deal, it looks like one of either C John Beecher ($925,000) or C Matthew Poitras ($870,000) heads to the AHL as they’re the only two with options.

      • Speaking of suddenly-reduced cap space, if Puckpedia’s assumptions are correct, Ottawa goes from a reserve of $1,884,285 to just $84,285 with C Zack Ostapchuk ($825,000) and D-men Carter Yakemchuk ($975,000) and Tyler Kleven ($916,667) all shown as being part of the 23-man roster

        13F: Stutzle, Tkachuk, Norris, Giroux, Batherson, Perron, Pinto, Amadio, Greig, Gregor, Ostapchuk, Cousins, MacEwen

        8D: Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Jensen, Hamonic, Yakemchuk, Kleven, Bernard-Docker

        2G: Ullmark and Forsberg

        Jan Jenik is shown as part of the Belleville roster. Not sure if that means they need to waive him now, or only after he’s called up – of that happens – at which point they’d need to waive him if returned to Belleville.

        Seems like Yakemchuk is getting his 9-game trial -at least – but if the decision it to keep him up after that, someone on that D will either have to go to Belleville (Kleven, Sanderson and Yakemchuk are the only ones with options), or be dealt/waived.

      • George O Iwould send Poitras after his injury to Providence and get 20 minutes a game ! Play him with Lysell and Merkulov and unlock their potential!

    • Everybody and his mother knows what goes on in arbitration, one side exaggerates the highs and the other the lows leaving the arbitrator to decide.

      It’s arbitration not mediation.

      That’s the process and it’s up to the agent to make sure the client fully understand and accept the reality before walking into it.

    • GeorgeO as far as what influenced the abritrator, isn’t the concern.

      The concern is how it effected Swayman emotionally.

      Swayman repeatedly brought up the process.

      Some can say, well it’s the process. However it effects people differently. Some can say so be it, while others say F U.

      Swayman was obviously hurt by what was said and changed his opinion and views of management.

      • I wasn’t implying that it was a “concern” … only wondering what side influenced the arbiter more – Sweeney’s or Swayman’s?

  8. The bottom line is these guys miss training camp/ or they are not ready to go. Look @ zegras comments not being physically or mentally ready to go? If you are under contract you have an obligation to report despite whatever is not going on or is going on with your next contract? Most people don’t have that luxury. Will see if it affects his play/ or the teams play early in the season……

    Concerned about the Avalanche attitude approaching games. Is it me or does the Avalanche players tune out Bednar’s message? The guy is a great coach and they wouldn’t have a SC without his system. It would behooves the Avalanche to pull their heads out of their ass!!! GO AVS!!!!

    • tommy boy, understanding “team psychology” can be a nightmare.

      In the 2016-17 season Ottawa finished 2nd in the Atlantic with 44w 28l 10ot/so 98 pts – a 0.598 pts % pace with 212gf 214ga -2

      In the playoffs they missed going to the Conference finals by losing in double-OT in game 7 to the eventual cup winner Pittsburgh

      The following season they dropped liked the proverbial rock to 2nd last with a 28 43 11 87 pts record – a 0.409 pts % pace with 221gf and 291ga for a -70. With relatively few roster changes.

      They haven’t been back in the playoffs since.

      • George O, I hear you loud/clear. Doesn’t take much? That’s interesting about Ottawa, didn’t realize!! I just fear the Avalanche could be squandering the prime years of the “big 3”. We will see, I’m already fearful and we haven’t even started yet? Oh well, here we go. Should be fun. I think Ottawa makes the playoffs. They have good young players on that team. Avalanche have to learn how to beat the Stars, Vegas and all central division teams who are no day at the beach. That is their task!!

      • tommyboy, here in Ottawa I’m sure the GM has high expectations following the changes made over the off-season, while for most of us fans it’s more in the way of cautious hope after 4 or 5 years of expectations that turned sour.

        Certainly, full seasons from Pinto (who missed exactly half the past season due to a suspension), Norris (hopefully finally recovered from his shoulder woes), and Chabot (hopefully shedding that little black cloud called “nagging injuries) hanging over his head, will boost an already decent offense, while Jensen at RD beside Chabot, a continued improvement in RD Bernard-Docker’s game that has been getting more stable over the past 2 seasons and now alongside rookie Tyler Kleven, and the additions of Perron, Gregor, Cousins, Amadio helping to stabilize overall team defense and pk – not to mention a goalie who represents a monumental improvement over what we had last season – all turns out to be the right formula for success.

        One way or another we’ll know by mid-December.

      • On December 15, 2023 Ottawa had a record of 13 – 14 – 2 for 28 pts with 89gf and 91ga

        By December 15 this season, if they are going to be a playoff threat, they have to be at something close to 17 – 10 – 2 36 pts with 96gf and 80ga – which would have them well within the mix.

        Anything close to last year’s record at that point and they can kiss this season goodbye.

  9. FYI there isa good article in The Hockey Writers that gives a great plan to settle this preseason mess!