NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2024
Recaps of Friday’s games, Blackhawks star Connor Bedard struggles to end his goalless streak, a unique honor for Joe Thornton, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1, securing the second-most wins through 20 games of a season in NHL history (17-3-0). Jets winger Kyle Connor had a “Gordie Howe hat trick,” scoring a goal, collecting an assist, and earning a fighting major following a scrap with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. Michael Bunting scored for the struggling Penguins, who’ve dropped seven of their last nine games (2-4-3).
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).
An overtime goal by rookie forward Jiri Kulich lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Alex Tuch and Owen Power each had two points for the Sabres, who overcame a 2-0 deficit. The Ducks got goals from Drew Helleson and Isac Lundestrom and a 30-save performance from John Gibson as their three-game win streak ended.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks sophomore center Connor Bedard is struggling to snap out of an 11-game goalless streak. His last goal was on Oct. 26 against the Dallas Stars. The 19-year-old center collected six assists during that stretch with five coming in two games.
“It’s been a tough stretch, and you just feel like you don’t have it or whatever, and you lose a bit of confidence and it just kind of goes on,” said Bedard, adding he could “name 100 things” when asked the reason behind his goal drought.
Bedard admitted he’s felt frustrated during this stretch. “I just don’t feel like I’m really doing anything. So just keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully find my game again.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard’s comments raised concerns among Blackhawks observers, who called on management and the coaching staff to address their young star’s frustration.
The Blackhawks surrounded Bedard with veteran forwards like Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Hall, and Teuvo Teravainen to take some of the burden off their franchise player as they rebuild around him. However, their production is down this season. Younger forwards Philipp Kurashev and Lukas Reichel are also struggling to score.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson has been criticized in recent weeks for his handling of the roster. If things don’t improve soon, management could face pressure to shake things up behind the bench.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The city of San Jose has named Nov. 23 “Joe Thornton Day” ahead of the Sharks’ retiring his No. 19 before their game against the Buffalo Sabres. Thornton will join former teammate Patrick Marleau as the second player to have his number retired by the Sharks.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken captain Jordan Eberle will be sidelined for at least three months following pelvic surgery on Thursday. He was injured during a Nov. 14 game against the Blackhawks.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights signed forward Brett Howden to a five-year, $12.5 million contract extension. The average annual value is $2.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Howden, 26, earns $1.9 million this season and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. He might’ve earned more elsewhere via free agency but opted for the long-term security. This benefits the Golden Knights as it’s a marginal raise over his AAV, fitting comfortably within their cap payroll over the next five seasons.
THE SCORE: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies for Sunday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club. He suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday’s game against the Golden Knights following a hit from Zach Whitecloud. Head coach Craig Berube said Knies is improving but offered no timetable for his return.
TORONTO SUN: Speaking of the Leafs, they signed Alex Nylander to a one-year, one-way $775K contract and recalled him from their AHL affiliate. In a corresponding move, they placed Knies on injured reserve. Alex is the younger brother of Leafs star William Nylander.
ROTOWIRE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York is slated to come off injured reserve and return to the lineup on Saturday against Chicago. He’s been sidelined by an upper-body injury since Oct. 24.
Time for Sully to move on?
His line juggling, D-pairing, disproportionately giving time to negatively performing players, team 29th in winning percentage, and Sully completely not motivating the team gives the overall need to escalate his exit.
Also, since a few on here still think I’m the only one dumping on Grzelcyk. Here is Adam Gretz’s take on him (article from SBnation two days ago):
“Matt Grzelcyk is unplayable
Speaking of the offseason additions, I have relatively low expectations for the Grzelcyk addition and he has failed to meet even those. I am not sure how much longer you can keep giving him a jersey. It looks bad. The results somehow look even worse.
He has played the fourth most minutes on the team, keeps getting premium roles in terms of his pairing, gets some of the most sheltered minutes on the team, and is still getting absolutely steamrolled.
The Penguins have been outscored 20-10 with him on the ice. His expected goals share and shot attempt share are both among the worst team, despite getting some of the heaviest offensive zone start usage.
He is being put into the best possible situations to produce results and perhaps even boost his trade value, and he is still getting crushed.
This is another one of those NHL additions that just makes you wonder what are they looking for and looking at when they bring in players from outside the organization?”
You spent the entire offseason complaining about the move’s Pittsburgh did or didn’t make. You complained they wouldn’t be a contender/ good enough.
Now you seemed surprised, or think a coaching change or this player in that player out will make a difference?
Haha yeah, I guess sometimes it hurts being right.
Hi Captain
I stated from the beginning that the Grzelcyk move was a bad one. Dubas has continuously made bad moves.
Grzelcyk is getting more than 3 times what he should and getting played waaaay waaaay waaaay too many minutes.
The time to move on from Sully is here. His job was and is to get the best out of the team (overall) as possible. This is not happening.
Will a change at Head Coach and/or appropriately sitting (or placing them as should be, in the press box) make a difference?
Absolutely. 100%
I’m certainly not in any way saying that makes them playoff contenders.
What it does is make the team much more competitive, game in and game out and effectively stops the rapid attendance/viewership/merchandise sales’ slide. Interest restored.
I’ve posted many times before, that picking 7th-12th is not a guaranteed pick and overall not substantially different from 13th-16th.
They are highly highly unlikely to get one of Martone, Hagens, Misa or McQueen.
So why not make a coaching change/sit players appropriately etc and get interest back from fans?
In addition, Sully is not the right person to work a team through a rebuild
He truly needs a change of scenery.
He would probably do fine for Bruins.
Sullivan may not be the guy to lead them through a rebuild, but as you’ve insisted , they’re not rebuilding.
Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Karlsson , Hayes etc. aren’t going to benefit from a develop schedule. So why bother bringing one in until they’re gone?
The rebuild has to come next year or the year after
If Dubas doesn’t have the guts to fire him while it matters (now) then he’ll keep him to start the rebuild; not s good formula.
You need a new coach that can stabilize things now and easily transition to the rebuild when it happens
Why would you ever include Hayes (another Dubas blunder) in the same sentence as Crosby, Malkin, Letang
Sorry I side with the high majority of fans and reporters on this; Sully needs to go.
Time for Sully to move on?
His line juggling, D-pairing, disproportionately giving time to negatively performing players, team 29th in winning percentage, and Sully completely not motivating the team gives the overall need to escalate his exit.
Also, since a few on here still think I’m the only one dumping on Grzelcyk. Here is Adam Gretz’s take on him (article from SBnation two days ago):
“Matt Grzelcyk is unplayable
Speaking of the offseason additions, I have relatively low expectations for the Grzelcyk addition and he has failed to meet even those. I am not sure how much longer you can keep giving him a jersey. It looks bad. The results somehow look even worse.
He has played the fourth most minutes on the team, keeps getting premium roles in terms of his pairing, gets some of the most sheltered minutes on the team, and is still getting absolutely steamrolled.
The Penguins have been outscored 20-10 with him on the ice. His expected goals share and shot attempt share are both among the worst team, despite getting some of the heaviest offensive zone start usage.
He is being put into the best possible situations to produce results and perhaps even boost his trade value, and he is still getting crushed.
This is another one of those NHL additions that just makes you wonder what are they looking for and looking at when they bring in players from outside the organization?”
This comment was so interesting that I had to read it …twice?
I have read everyday for months same thing every day.
I guess the AI algorithm on here must have thought (agreed that it was interesting) so as well to re-post it!