NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2024
A record night for Lightning winger Brandon Hagel, Hurricanes winger Martin Necas sits on top of the scoring race, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel collected a career-high five assists in an 8-2 drubbing of the Colorado Avalanche. Hagel tied an NHL record with four assists in the first period. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists and Jake Guentzel tallied twice for the Lightning. Ivan Ivan scored two goals for the Avalanche as their three-game win streak ended.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).
Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas had a goal and an assist to take over first place in the NHL scoring race (35 points) as his club downed the Dallas Stars 6-4. The Hurricanes got a goal and three assists from Sebastian Aho plus a goal and two assists from Seth Jarvis. Tyler Seguin, Mason Marchment and Miro Heiskanen each had a goal and an assist for the Stars as they blew a 3-1 lead.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov missed this game with a concussion. There is no timetable for his return. They’re also missing starter Frederik Andersen as he’s sidelined until January recovering from knee surgery. The Canes are making do with call-ups Spencer Martin and Yaniv Perets but there’s speculation they could turn to the trade market.
The Winnipeg Jets got a 43-save performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Alex Iafallo scored twice and Neal Pionk picked up two assists as the Jets (18-4-0) sat atop the overall standings with 36 points. Jake Middleton scored for the Wild, who sit second in the Central Division with 30 points, six behind the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov was held scoreless in this game as he returned to action after missing a game with a lower-body injury. Teammate Jakub Lauko left the game with a lower-body injury.
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier snapped a 10-game goalless drought with his first NHL hat trick, leading his club over the Nashville Predators 5-2. Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux replied for the Predators. The Devils have won five of their last six games and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 32 points. Predators goaltender Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after giving up four goals on 30 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Timo Meier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct in the third period for cross-checking L’Heureux in the face. L’Heureux immediately left the game for treatment.
The Washington Capitals snapped a two-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, handing the latter their sixth loss in their last seven games. Jakob Chychrun scored the go-ahead goal and picked up two assists while Lars Eller tallied twice. Niko Mikkola had the only goal for the Panthers.
St. Louis Blue head coach Jim Montgomery got his first win with his new club as they defeated the New York Rangers 5-2. Zack Bolduc scored two goals, Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist and Dylan Holloway collected two assists for the Blues. Igor Shesterkin stopped 38 shots for the struggling Rangers as they dropped their third straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers winger Chris Kreider missed this game with an upper-body injury, resulting in the recall of Matt Rempe from their AHL affiliate in Hartford.
The Rangers’ slump has sparked plenty of trade rumors amid reports general manager Chris Drury has informed his 31 NHL counterparts that he’s open for business. I’ll have more in today’s Rumor Mill.
A shootout goal by Jack Eichel lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 5-4. Eichel also had a goal and an assist in regulation as did teammate Ivan Barbashev as their club sits in first place in the Pacific Division with 30 points. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights played without Zach Whitecloud (upper-body injury) and William Karlsson (personal reasons).
San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini had his first three-point game (two goals, one assist) in a 7-2 upset of the Los Angeles Kings. Fellow Sharks rookie Will Smith picked up two assists and rookie netminder Yaroslav Askarov stopped 22 shots for his first win with the Sharks. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe each had two points for the Kings, who’ve dropped five of their last eight contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Nico Sturm scored in his return to action after missing five games with an upper-body injury.
The Ottawa Senators nipped the Calgary Flames 4-3. Senators forwards Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist to snap a five-game winless skid (0-4-1). Jonathan Huberdeau, Yegor Sherangovich and Nazem Kadri scored for the Flames as their four-game winning streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators Defenseman Artem Zub was sidelined by a broken foot suffered during Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and could be out for a while. Teammate David Perron missed this game with an upper-body injury.
Three unanswered third-period goals by Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri were the goalscorers for the Islanders, who’ve dropped six of their last eight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Isles defenseman Alexander Romanov missed this game due to an illness and is listed as day-to-day.
The Seattle Kraken got a goal and an assist from Shane Wright to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Joey Daccord picked up the win with a 21-save performance. Trevor Zegras and Frank Vatrano replied for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Mason McTavish was held scoreless as he returned to the roster after missing six games with an upper-body injury. Ducks center Leo Carlsson left the game with an upper-body injury in the second period following a hit from Kraken forward Tye Kartye. Before the game, the Ducks placed Brock McGinn (lower body) on injured reserve.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll were the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 24, 2024.
SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser could return to action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. He’s missed the last seven games with a concussion.
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine participated fully in his club’s practice on Monday. It’s an encouraging sign that Laine is making strides in his recovery from a sprained knee but he’s not expected to return before the end of this week.
THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded forward Philip Tomasino yesterday to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Tomasino was a first-round pick of the Predators (24th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. General manager Barry Trotz explained that he shipped out the 23-year-old center because of a lack of production over the past two seasons. He believed it was time for a change.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tomasino could have a better shot of becoming an NHL regular with the retooling Penguins as they transition younger players into their lineup.
NEW YORK POST: Former NHL player turned analyst Paul Bissonnette was assaulted by six individuals at a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona on Sunday evening. He said he was trying to intervene after seeing a group of drunken golfers being abusive to the restaurant staff.
Five of the six men face misdemeanors while a sixth faces a felony. Bissonnette said he took a few shots but gave more. He went to the hospital to get checked out following the melee but said he was “all good”, thanking the restaurant staff and the responding police offers.
Bizz back to business 🤓
Dubas finally won a Penguins trade. Good to see; just hoping he didn’t make this minor move only for the purposes of diminishing spotlight on need to fire Sullivan
To Sens fans,
I’ve only seen a couple of your games this year so I didn’t have much to go on, but looks like Yost praising Chabot as a top defenseman in league:
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/travis-yost-thomas-chabot-cementing-himself-as-a-top-nhl-defenceman-1.2209528
Not a Chabot fan but I will admit he has played much better this year. Especially when he is paired with Jensen.
Chabot is a good puck mover but not physical enough in the D zone IMO.
Sanderson has taken a step back so far this year. He would benefit from another Jensen type RD to play with. Zub could have been the guy but he seems to be too injury prone to stay in the lineup for any length of time.
And Green, in his panic, is starting to do with Sanderson what D.J. Smith did with Chabot – over-playing him and wearing him out.
Zub out awhile, will be on LTIR
Offered George (below) Karllsson
Taking a shot:
To Sens: Karllsson (50% of Pens current Cap hit retained); so $5 M Cap hit; O’Connor; Sens must also take Gryzelzyk
Pens get Yakemchuck, Andonovski; Reinhardt
Yeah, right. The lynch mobs would have Staios running for the Gatineau Hills.
The ONLY was Karlsson returns to Ottawa is in retirement to live in his home here.
I’d rather be picking in the Top 7 again than give up Yakemchuk. Especially since they have to yet relinquish that 1st round pick as a penalty for screwing up the Dadonov trade.
@8787 whatever you are smoking…please share.
This is a Leafs fan level of absurdity. “Please take our trash and help us build our team, thanks!”
If Staios ever did a move like this I would officially wash my hands of the whole thing as it shows a level in inanity I could hardly believe….
@George – I am REALLY not a fan of Green… I do not think he has any patience whatsoever and he is already trying too hard to “make a splash” or “have immediate impact” and now the team looks even more confused than before.
Totally agree re Green theSaint … as I say elsewhere, he’s doing to Sanderson what Smith did to Chabot – trot him out there as soon as his breathing on the bench comes down a couple of notches.
And on the unwanted trash for top flight players scene, there is even a suggestion somewhere in these pages today that Ottawa relinquish Carter Yakemchuk for some of that crap.
How do they dream this stuff up and then present it as reasonable??
@George… it boggles my mind honestly… why do these fans always think we are desperate to give them our top prospects and take their trash and help them with the cap?
Pens have to realize they are STUCK with Karlsson…
The Saint
we are absolutely desperate here
Our GM has only won a single trade (yesterday) since he got here; all UFA signings (but one- Pulljarvi) were for has been playing very poorly defensively AND all of those UFAs were signed at much higher than they should have been; and he has still not fired our coach.
Re “ This is a Leafs fan level of absurdity. “Please take our trash and help us build our team, thanks!””
We’ll accept 1/2 that deal; “please take our trash”; zero in return necessary
Grzelcyk, Hayes, Accairi for “future considerations”. No need to “consider” this century!
I realize that your proposal re Grzelcyk, Acciari and Hayes is delivered tongue in cheek (I think) ,,, but really, if they are viewed as total crap by you – and at a combined cap hit of $8,221,529 – two of them for this season and next – why would ANY team take them under ANY circumstances?
@thesaint, where do you get this silly idea that people like pengy are Leafs fans. Just because somebody talks stupid, doesn`t mean they`re Leaf fans. A lot of these so called Leaf fans hate the Leafs more than you do. So please stop referring to these silly people as Leaf fans
Bissonnette was lucky. What if one of those golfers had produced a gun.
Ya maybe Alan, but I don’t think he was thinking about that.
A bunch self indulgent dick wads had a temper tantrum because they got cut off and started taking it out on the restaurant staff that he knew, as he was a regular. He stood up for folks he considered friends, and took some serious shots by the sound of it. Good on him.
Taking on 6 guys and lasting that long and kept on going into the parking lot is impressive to say the least. Stick tap to Bizz.
Just goes to show, folks think their tough, but when you take on a guy who had to throw them as part of his job and been involved in as many as he has, you realize in a hurry, you’re not.
Too bad their isn’t a cell phone video or security camera footage of that out there. Guessing there is, just isn’t public yet.
Bizz pass on some of that toughness to your TML and you might have something there!
Thanks for that link 8787. VERY interesting – and revealing – article, especially the graphics showing the differences for key Fs when on the ice with – and without – Chabot.
There can be no doubt that, when he was experiencing consistency problems in recent years, much of it stemmed from his being on the ice upwards of 36 minutes a game under D.J. Smith – who clearly didn’t trust the rest of his D to adequately do their jobs. Which, in and of itself, was ridiculous since you can’t learn much with under 10 minutes of ice time.
Smith was a classic example of a coach “trying to cover his own ass” by over-playing his top players despite the fact he was brought in to develop a young re-building team.
Not sure if Green’s approach is any better. In last night’s game against Calgary, for example, it looks like Sanderson is his “go to frequently” guy on D when it comes to minutes
Sanderson 30.29 -1
Hamonic 20.23 -1
Jensen 20.12 -1
Kleven 14.37 E
Chabot 12.52 +1
Bernard-Docker 10.03 +1
With RD Artyem Zub out long-term with a fractured foot it’s reported Staios is burning up the wires trying to deal for a top 4 RD.
How about Karllsson back?
LOL
Heh. Yeah. a guy who couldn’t clear 4 peas off his plate.
Well George
We have a D-Man that can’t clear but 1 Pea off his plate. Karllsson even this year; is Bobby Orr on steroids next to this other guy.
But Sully thinks light shines out of his butt even at his nightmare of a +/- per 60 minutes; all because he’s from the greater Beantown area just like Sullivan.
8787,
Nobody is taking E.Karllsson at $10.m for 3.5 more years,😂 unless the pen’s retained 50% salary❗️
However i could see Kris Letang going back to Canada to play his final 3 years in
Ottawa and Or Montreal as a 2nd pairing RD….
for a 1st round pick,❓
As the Pens start there slow re-build they must know by now there is no chance of them making the playoffs….
there are 4-5 teams looking for 2nd RD,
Oil, Sen’s, Habs,canucks,and…
Hi Williew
My first response to George was for a joke
My later post of offer of Karllsson WAS at $5M
You are right, no one (not named Dubas) takes Karllsson @$10 M
8787..Penguins have no retention slots left !
Only way Karlsson goes back to Ottawa is if there is a third team involved.
Maybe George knows better is Josh Norris available? He is the only guy I see them moving because of a longer contract and injury history.
Both teams would move a contract and maybe Karlsson fores up to go home and Norris stays injury free.
Three moves I would make and can easily get made because all parties are available.
Nils Hoglander 23 and a second to PITT
Marcus Petrsson to Vancouver
Nic Robertson 23 to Pittsburgh
Drew O’Connor and a pick to Toronto
Kirby Dach 23 Pittsburgh
Justin Barron 24
Kris Letang Montreal
Penguins add three 23 three old players with talent not fitting in with the team they are on and need a change of scenery.
Dach Hoglander Robertson instantly play in Pittsburgh and get that chance to thrive.
Montreal gets a rejuvenated Kris Letang to pair with Matheson Savard and their young corps
Toronto has been rumored to move Roberston forever and Drew O’Connor gives Toronto a young 26 big body with some jam for their bottom six 15 goal potential.
Vancouver gets that bigger more dependable top 4 d they need for the playoffs and affordable.
Thoughts?
Awful, awful and more awful: goaltending and defensive effort. Avalanche demonstrating how inconsistent the team is at executing the game plan. Takes all the air out of the balloon or undoes all the good they worked hard at establishing. Chose your appropriate metaphor. Just pure aggravation. Who are the leaders on this team?
8787
Agreed, i could see some one taking EK @$5.M
lots of teams looking for RD,
Sen’s may look at Both Pen’s RD, KL, and EK to get one at $5.M
Hey Tommy Boy! Flames are looking for a young centre with potential, you guys have Mack & Mittlestat but goaltending is ughhhh. How about Vladar 2.2 mill & Brz for Georgiev 3.4 mill & Ritchie? Just spitballing.
Hate seeing that Moosehead on Moosehead violence last night!
I seem to recall someone in these pages offering the opinion a year or two ago that Necas was overrated.
Me, maybe, George? I recall HF30 called him a “budding star.” I was less enthusiastic about the Habs acquiring him at that time.
Time, or this season anyway, has proven me wrong. But then I rationalize that had the Habs signed him, would he have bumped us down a draft pick and the Habs missing on Demidov?
At least for ONE night Montgomery and the Blues made Iowa Prince a happy old man! Hopefully many more to come.
IP
Ivan Ivan?