NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 7, 2024
The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov regains the scoring lead, the Capitals reach a franchise record for road wins, reaction to the Rangers re-signing Igor Shesterkin and trading Jacob Trouba, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES
NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Anaheim Ducks 5-1, extending his points streak to five games and regaining the NHL scoring lead with 42 points. Matt Boldy also had a goal and two assists and Marco Rossi tallied twice and collected an assist as the Wild become the first team to reach 40 points this season. Brock McGinn replied for the Ducks.
Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks played without Jacob Trouba, who was acquired from the New York Rangers on Friday. He’s expected to be in the lineup for the Ducks’ game against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 9.
The Washington Capitals extended their road winning streak to a franchise-record eight games with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Connor McMichael snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period and Nic Dowd had a goal and an assist as the Capitals (18-6-2, 38 points) move into first place in the Metropolitan Division. John Tavares scored for the Leafs (16-8-2) as they remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 34 points.
New York Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had three points to double up the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Panarin scored two goals, Trocheck had two assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 20 shots for the win. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino scored to extend his points streak to four games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win came after a hectic day for the Rangers as they traded Trouba to the Ducks and re-signed Shesterkin. More about those moves following the game recaps.
The Vancouver Canucks overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. Pius Suter tallied twice in the third period and Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist for the Canucks, extending their points streak to four games (3-0-1). Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson scored for the Blue Jackets, who dropped their third straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a milestone game for Boeser as he collected his 400th career regular-season point. Goaltender Thatcher Demko returned to the lineup in a backup role after missing the start of the season with a knee injury.
The Blue Jackets also lost defenseman Ivan Provorov to a broken thumb during this game.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had an assist in his return to the lineup during a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Stone has missed 14 games with a lower-body injury. Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy scored for the Golden Knights. They’ve won seven of their last nine games and sit atop the Pacific Division with 39 points. Mavrik Bourque and Mason Marchment scored for the Stars.
The New Jersey Devils nipped the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist and Luke Hughes netted his first of the season as the Devils have won six of their last eight games. Andre Burakovsky and Shane Wright replied for the Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils had the same number of points as the Capitals (38) but the latter holds the lead in the Metro Division with three games in hand and a .731 win percentage.
HEADLINES
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension beginning in 2025-26. Shesterkin, 28, becomes the NHL’s highest-paid goalie with an average annual value of $11.5 million. The deal is expected to be officially announced on Saturday.
Shesterkin is in the final year of a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.666 million. He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one is surprised Shesterkin became the league’s highest-paid goalie. It was reported in June that was what he sought. There was an assumption he would hold out for over $12 million. However, this deal comes in closer to the eight-year, $88-million offer by the Rangers as reported by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes earlier this season.
Shesterkin wanted to remain with the Rangers and they were determined to keep him. They still see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders with Shesterkin playing a crucial role. Losing the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner to free agency would’ve been a significant setback to those plans.
Trading away Trouba and his $8 million cap hit for 2025-26 makes it easier for the Rangers to absorb Shesterkin’s hefty raise. If the cap rises as projected to $92.5 million, they’ll have over $21 million in cap space next season, enough to re-sign some key players and replace others.
NEW YORK POST/SPORTSNET: Speaking of Jacob Trouba, he was “not overly thrilled” with how things went down which led to his trade on Friday to the Ducks. “It’s a rite of passage to get fired at MSG,” he said, adding that he’s quite happy to be heading to Anaheim.
Trouba indicated management pressured him to accept a trade or be scratched. He also said he was told he would be placed on waivers, removing his ability to decide where he landed next.
The 31-year-old defenseman defended his rejection of an offseason trade for family reasons but he wasn’t happy that it became public knowledge. He admitted it affected his play this season.
Trouba reflected on his five seasons with the Rangers, saying he loved his time in New York. He pointed to the club’s two trips to the Eastern Conference Final and winning the Presidents’ Trophy during his tenure.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can read my reaction to the Trouba trade by following this link.
Rangers winger Chris Kreider declined to comment about the trade. “Yeah, but not today,” he said when asked if he had any thoughts about the move. Kreider and Trouba were the prominent names mentioned in recent trade rumors regarding the Rangers.
Mika Zibanejad won’t be following Kreider out the door this season. The Post’s Mollie Walker reports he has not waived his no-move clause, meaning he won’t be going anywhere for the time being.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade chatter about Kreider and Zibanejad will continue to swirl if the Rangers don’t improve following the Trouba move.
Like Trouba, Kreider has a 15-team no-trade list this season. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.5 million.
Zibanejad would be more difficult to move given his NMC and his $8.5 million AAV through 2029-30. Nevertheless, Drury could find a creative way around that but it might have to be an offseason move when teams have more cap space to work with.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said the Trouba trade went down quickly. He indicated he was seeking a right-side defenseman with a right-hand shot. Verbeek believes this move also brings a more physical edge and leadership to his blueline, adding that they’re excited about Trouba joining them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see if Trouba regains the intensity he lost during his final weeks with the Rangers.
TSN: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams explained his team is not a destination for unrestricted free agents. He cited the higher taxes in Buffalo and the lack of a warm-weather climate. Adams believes there are better ways of building a sustainable winner than adding UFAs who are key players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams’ remarks didn’t sit well with some members of the Buffalo media.
The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington agrees with Adams about signing UFAs but believes the Sabres GM should do more in the trade market to help his struggling team. He points out that Adams’ core of young players is failing and he overpaid Mattias Samuelsson, Dylan Cozens and Owen Power.
Harrington points out Adams is now in his fifth season as Sabres GM but the club remains far from ending its long playoff drought. “His clock is ticking and everyone’s patience here is just about gone.”
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes put forward Brendan Lemieux on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. GM Eric Tulsky said the move was made at Lemieux’s request.
I suspect that the “we will put you on waivers if you don’t ignore the NTC we put in your contract” will be a point of contention in the near future. I would expect the players union would like to make it “play me or pay me to sit, your choice, but you signed a legally binding contract and I’m not interested in moving.”
don’t see that changing in the CBA. It’s on the agent to get a NMC clause instead of NTC for their client
Neither would have made a difference, mike. One of the supposed threats was that Trouba would be a healthy scratch. At some point a player has to accept they aren’t wanted and if they have any pride at all a bad location becomes better than the embarrassment of continuing to be told they aren’t wanted.
Harsh, but that’s the reality of pro sports. And 8 million a year is a lot of solace.
Dont think players would be wise to open that can of worms. Ownership could come back with where’s our protection when we pay $10million to produce/perform at a particular level & when that doesnt happen, do we get money back or will the contract become void for nonperformance? Its a two way street.
Adams can blame the climate all he wants for players not wanting to play in Buffalo, but that team has been stuck in a neverending wasteland for over a decade. the team just doesn’t seem to have a plan on how to move forward. issue is that the team handed the leadership over to young player but didn’t provide enough supplemental veteran leadership that is needed to help the core in the locker room. Franchise has really floundered under the Pegulas, maybe the only chance of success is if they sell the team and a brand new leadership takes over
It’s a sure bet that most Canadian teams are on players’ no trade list, surely including Montreal and Winnipeg. Yet Winnipeg made the playoffs 6 of the last 7 years, and the Habs have a young core who are glad to be there.
The Sabres handling of Eichel and Lehner did them no favours, and as you note MikeP Kim Pegula had a bad rep. Karma.
The Ducks wanted Trouba’s entire cap hit to stay above the cap floor when and if they deal Vatrano, Fowler, Zegras and whomever else. So it looks as though Trouba stays there because other Ducks will bring back a much larger return!
Trouba has been reduced to just being ballast! 😬
If Pat wanted to deal Vatrano, he would have done it already when his stock was higher. Frank plays the game just like Verbeek did (albeit not as consistently well); I bet he signs a long term deal to stay in Anaheim. Fowler on the other hand is probably on the move sooner rather than later.
As for Trouba… this guy can absolutely be an elite defenseman in the league. And, I expect he will be on a small market Ducks team with low public expectations.
Buffalo and Ottawa appear to be in a rut! Both teams have young,talented,high priced corps that have not seemed to turn the corner! In Ottawa Tkachuk,Sanderson,Stutzle,Sanderson,and Batherson. Buffalo has Thompson,Dahlin,Cozensand Power! All these players are very talented but they still look to be out of the playoff picture!People in Buffalo although right,must be tired of Adams excuses especially after they see the success that Eichel and Rhinehart have turned out! I get it that Eichel wore out his welcome but the return on him was very low!
SR,
I can see both the Sen’s and Buffalo going after
T.J. Millar….🤔❓
You hear lots of stuff out West… like
>Pesonal Reason’s,
>Not getting on with Elias Pettersson
>Fighting with Head Coach Rick Tockett
> Jim Rutherford saying he is not getting Traded
> yesterday He has asked for a Trade out of Vancover❓
Sen’s could offer right up 25 yr old Centre Josh Norris for Centre 31 yr old TJ.Millar it would be the same money……..🤔
Buffalo could offer up a d/man…like a
Big Mattias Samuelsson 24 yr old LD
and C Sam Lafferty……❓
Williew,not sure of Millers contract and the clauses in it! Would be surprised if he would accept a trade to Buffalo or Ottawa,although the Rangers can t be counted out!
Re; Ducks & Truba,
I think thats a good move by the young Ducks
team now they are above the minim Cap..
Good leadership and very good RD… along with RD, Radko Gudas
JT, is good for 30 points each year, teams in the West will have to keep there Heads up…👀
if they could extend him for 6 years they would be well set on d…❓
Ducks have lots of Very good young LD to train up and 2 good RD in the AHL…
Tristan Luneau RD, an offencive d/man who will be 21 in Jan.
Noah Warren Big RD, 6’4″& 216lbs who will be 21 next year also is a Hard Hitting d/man who can Skate Very Well
with the Ducks 1st pick in 2025, they need to go for Centre or Winger as they will pick 6- to-10 like a
C/LW Anton Frondell
LW Malcolm Spence
C–Caleb Desnoyers
C–Ivan Ryabkin
They also have some trade bate in players they want to trade….like J. Gibson there goaltender,
as they have 24 yr old Lukas Dostal who is playing very well this year again…
G, 15 GA, 2.73 SV% 0.921👍
they could pick up a UFA like Kevin Lankinen 3 years at $3.M…🤔
Trevor Zegras, Frank Vatrano, Robby Fabbri
and d/man LD/man Cam Fowler…❓
Im not sure they want to trade Cam Fowler.. they may keep him to play with one of the RD-men in Jacob Truba or Radko Gudas…❓
I was very happy when Rangers acquired Trouba. That pllayer is long gone. He fell off a cliff last year. Would’ve been better to do this in offseason but let’s not blame his on ice failings solely on the drama. Instead of playing victim he should count his blessings he was able to play in NY where his wife’s thing could pursue her career. I doubt the folks in Winnipeg have much sympathy for him. Let’s not forget his extended holdout and trade request in 2016 that had nothing to do with “family”. He eventually signed a 2 year deal that when finished, he forced his way out.
I was thinking yesterday, how quickly people forgot Trouba’s behavior leading up to his end with Winnipeg.
I don’t think he fell off a cliff last year, he was injured and not close to 100%.
This year, he looks like he didn’t really care anymore after the botched trade attempt last offseason. Looked like a completely different player.
When he is on his game, he is a solid guy. Miller is more of an issue than Trouba (taking cap hit out of the equation).
Trouba was never going to do well on an $8M cap hit, he simply doesn’t have the offensive point totals to back it up. As a Jets fan, I’m glad we dodged that bullet of overpaying him because I’m sure Chevy would have it he hadn’t forced his out.
Brendan Lemieux is still in the NHL? Wow.
At first I thought Ducks acquiring Trouba was strange.
Then sitting back and looking at bigger picture:
Allows bigger trades while still being above floor THIS year; and
Could retain 50% on July 1st and get a much larger return than what they just gave up;or
If they still stay above floor this year; retain 50% at trade deadline; move him for a bigger return than they gave up
In the interim, another Veteran presence now for mentoring youngsters
In summary, not as bad a move as I first thought
Certainly not a fan of Drury’s tactics (although well within the bounds of CBA and the actual Trouba signed contract) but this was certainly an ongoing distraction for Rangers (manifested for sure in part by Dury)
I am in no way a Trouba fan. Let’s get that part very transparent. That’s my view of him as a player. That said; I certainly feel for him personally.
Was hoping for the day’s distraction to hamper/hinder/disrupt Rangers last night.
That didn’t happen. Nedjelkovic wants 2 softies back; but Pens didn’t deserve to be on same ice last night.
Would have been better to stay home and prepare for today’s game. Same result; no points; but rested and prepared.
Obviously couldn’t do that; but at least Penguins could have “shown up” to the game.
One single player (Pickering) actually putting in an effort, doesn’t make a team.
I’m sure Rangers fans were happy with 2 points but couldn’t have been really “entertained” by the game.
Hoping for back-to-back losses by Leafs
Kinda funny that Smith had the game winner.
We weren’t laughing
You can see how poor we are defensively as a team