NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2024
Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, and the latest on Alex Ovechkin, Jeff Skinner, Patrik Laine and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers, handing the latter their sixth loss in their last seven games. Jack Hughes scored twice and picked up an assist while Jacob Markstrom kicked out 38 shots as the Devils (17-9-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points. Rangers winger Chris Kreider tallied his 10th goal of the season.
New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin lost his fifth straight game for the first time in his career. Teammate Brett Berard missed this game with an upper-body injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from a nine-game absence with an undisclosed injury while teammate Mitch Marner collected two assists in his 600th NHL regular-season game. Lukas Reichel replied for the Blackhawks, who remain last in the overall standings with 18 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won nine of their last 11 games (15-7-2) and took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points.
Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots for a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie Benn scored for the Stars as they picked up their third straight win. Nick Schmaltz scored for Utah.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game began, the Stars announced forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 1.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini was also the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2024.
TSN: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skated by himself before his club’s practice on Monday as he works his way back from a broken left fibula suffered on Nov. 18. He’s expected to return to action by late December or early January.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was fined $2,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens sent winger Joshua Roy back to their AHL affiliate in Laval, which suggests Patrik Laine’s season debut could be imminent. The 26-year-old left winger has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during preseason play.
TSN: The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Chris Driedger as starter Sergei Bobrovsky will miss their two-game road trip to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a one-year, two-way contract. He was immediately placed on waivers for assignment to the AHL.
ROTOWIRE: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Oliver Kylington is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. They also placed forward Ross Colton (lower body) on long-term injury reserve but he could return to action at some point during the Avalanche’s upcoming five-game road trip.
SPORTSNET: The Calgary Flames placed forward Justin Kirkland (lower body) on injured reserve.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings called up goaltender Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis with regular netminders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon sidelined by lower-body injuries.
SPORTSNET: Canada released its camp roster for the upcoming 2025 World Junior Championship. Notable omissions include Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, Utah Hockey Club’s Tij Iginla, and Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke was also passed over. Four of the top nine picks in the 2024 NHL Draft were not selected for Canada’s roster.
Shesterkin is playing himself out of that $12.5m. AAV contract he thinks he deserves. A Rangers fan friend of mine told me this morning that if he keeps playing like this he can leave at the end of the season.
Hey Howard
your 100% right….
the NYR $$12.M Dollar Man Igor Shesterkin is not playing well…
they may end up tradeing him if he keeps this up at the trade deadline… Shesterkin numbers so far this year,
Are G,18 GA, 3.05 SV%, 0.908⁉️😩
Let’s not forget Habs pick Michael Hage also being passed over for the WJC even though he’s playing well in the NCAA. Canada prefers to go with 19 year olds and is deep enough to do so.
It’s not Igor’s fault. It’s much more than him.
When the entire team knows their captain’s days are numbered. The result is the locker room has no leadership and the team lacks motivation and enthusiasm. This attitude shows up on the ice every game until something drastically changes.
Best thing for the Rangers is to trade Trouba ASAP AND replace Laviolette with Coach Quennville.
IMO Coach Q is exactly what this roster needs after Trouba is shipped out.
It’s certainly not all Igor’s fault but you can’t deny that his performance has not been as expected. I agree that Drury has created a tense atmosphere which is affecting the players.
Giving up odd man rushes and breakaways 20 times a game is going to be problematic for any goaltender.
The way NY is playing, and what’s plaguing them is nothing new. It’s been a problem for 2-3 years. It’s been masked by goaltending and these come from behind wins. Without even looking at the stats ( and honestly not sure where I’d even find this stat) no question they have to lead the league in wins after trailing.
Righting this ship will be difficult if not impossible because of NMC’s / NTC’s . They will have to figure out a lot of issues internally.
Zero chance they should be paying Shesterkin 11-12 per. And not because he’s the issue, but they certainly can’t fix these issues working around a contract like that.
Find a possession 2 way center, Move Zibanejad to LW, he has one of the best one timers from the left circle in the league.
This team lacks players that can possess the puck and break into the offensive zone cleanly. They have 3, 3 is not enough. They spend way too much time flopping around their own end.
“ Without even looking at the stats ( and honestly not sure where I’d even find this stat) no question they have to lead the league in wins after trailing.”
I meant over the last 3 years. Not this year.
Fair, Vinny, it’s not all on one player.
But when he wants to be the highest paid player in the league for his position then he should play like the best player for his position. He isn’t.
As for the locker room, if trade rumours shake a team to the point of not having leadership they don’t have the right players. Trade rumours affect pretty much every team every year. This is pro sports. Perform or be gone.
Thinking the NYR shake-up better happen very soon to salvage the season. They are having to attach a BIG sweetener to Trouba to rid themselves of the Trouba trouble. He might wanna rethink going to Detroit, if they still want him.
Big shake up deals like that don’t normally happen in season. I don’t see how they could move Trouba now to a team he’d accept a trade to. He’ll likely be traded next June.
Send ZiB and Lingren 1/2 retained to bruins for Zacha and Zadorov $ work changes both teams
So instead of paying Zibanejad 8.50 for three more years, they essentially need to pay Zacha 9 million for two more years? Lol. I don’t think so.
Zibanejad isn’t playing up to his contract no question. But Drury isn’t holding 50% for this year and 3 more. But I could see why this works out terrific for Boston!
After this year Zibanejad has 5 more years not 3 at 8.5 and Zacha has 2 more years at 4.75 not 9. The only contract that the Rangers would eat 50% is Lindgren`s 4,5 for this year. Cap hits are almost the same, but actual money favours the Rangers a bit. On paper the trade like MrBruin says might benefit both teams equally. From an outsiders opinion this is a do able trade. In the long run Boston takes on the bigger risk because of Zib`s NMC
I was saying 1/2 of Zibanejads 8.5 (4.25) + Zacha’s 4.75 = 9
The way it reads looks like 50% on both. Still, I’m not paying Zadorov his 5 per and 1/2 of Lindgrens. Is Zadorov worth 7.5?
Either way, I don’t think Drury makes this kind of trade. I don’t think it fixes anything for NY.
Shopping Lindgren would be a better idea at the deadline. Where they bring in a pick or prospect and don’t have money coming in the door.
50% was on lingren not Zib
Im not Rick Murray lil
Would love to see a Boston/ NY deal to shake it up! The Esposito/ Park trade was a classic,that changed the face of both organizations! This is what s missing in todays NHL!
Re; Canucks & big Trade
Just been reading about Canucks & Coach Rick Tocket & TJ.Millar fall out….🤔
Sounds like may have been asked to leave the team….❗️
Due to a big fall out with Head Coach Rick Tocchet & T.J.Millar
NYR & an other team mentioned,
However, This could be a Great trade for Buffalo as they need leadership up front…and they are looking to move a d,
Sabers are looking to move a d …? and the Canucks need a top 4 d/man..? Like Saber’s young 23 yr old Bowen Byram and a 1st pick and a 3rd or 4th line player to make up salarys