NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2025
Connor McDavid moves up among the Oilers’ all-time scoring leaders, the Sabres accomplish a unique feat, Leafs center John Tavares is injured during practice, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry goes on waivers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING TUESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid moved into second place among his club’s all-time leading scorers as his club defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3. McDavid scored twice and collected an assist to move past Jari Kurri with 1,044 points while the Oilers picked up their seventh win in their last eight games. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild as they’ve lost three of their last four games.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wayne Gretzky is the franchise leader with 1,669 points.
McDavid angered the Wild by going unpenalized for elbowing Marcus Johansson in the jaw during the second period. Johansson left the game with an upper-body injury.
Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the third straight game. He has 15 points in 40 games.
Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan McLeod collected his first NHL hat trick in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots and Jason Zucker collected two assists as the Sabres picked up their third win in their last four contests. Jacob Slavin and Martin Necas replied for the Hurricanes
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres accomplished a unique feat by scoring a goal without registering a shot during a full 20-minute period. The goal occurred in the final minute of the third period with the Sabres hanging onto a 3-2 lead.
As per Daily Faceoff, McLeod attempted a shot on the empty Hurricanes net but his stick snapped and didn’t make contact with the puck. Meanwhile, Carolina defenseman Brent Burns’ attempt to get the puck out of the slot caused him to trip McLeod. That resulted in what would’ve been a penalty shot, but with the net empty, became an automatic goal, giving McLeod a hat trick and the Sabres the win.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres revealed their Quarter-Century Team on Wednesday.
The First Team consists of forwards Daniel Briere, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, defensemen Brian Campbell and Rasmus Dahlin, and goaltender Ryan Miller.
The Second Team is comprised of forwards Chris Drury, Derek Roy and Jack Eichel, defensemen Jay McKee and Tyler Myers, and goaltender Dominik Hasek.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares left practice on Wednesday favoring his right leg after getting tangled up with defenseman Chris Tanev. Head coach Craig Berube said Tavares was still being evaluated and he’s hoping he’ll be okay. Meanwhile, defenseman Jake McCabe took part in his first full practice after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed goaltender Tristan Jarry on waivers and plan on assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. They have called up netminder Joel Blomqvist.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely that a rival club will pluck Jarry off waivers. He has a record of 8-8-4 with a 3.31 goals-against average and a save percentage of .886. Jarry also carries an average annual value of $5.375 million through 2027-28.
NESN: Boston Bruins president Cam Neely said his club is looking at two approaches leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. They could be buyers or they could be “retooling a little bit” depending on where they are in the standings by the deadline. They’re holding one of the two wild-card berths in the Eastern Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll likely be retooling if their play throughout the first half is anything to go by. Their lack of a reliable first-line center is a significant factor in their struggles this season. However, they might have to wait until the offseason to address that need.
DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings winger Alex Laferriere has been sidelined by an upper-body ailment. A further update on his status is expected later this week.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 23-year-old Laferriere has had a solid sophomore season with 13 goals and 26 points in 41 games.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic was fined $1,996.53 by the NHL’s department of player safety for cross-checking Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk.
Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain was fined $4,166.67 for high-sticking Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher.
RG.ORG: The upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off is forcing NHL general managers to move up their timelines to prepare for the March 7 trade deadline. The tournament takes place from Feb. 12-20, with 28 of the 32 NHL teams being off from Feb. 9-22, leaving the general managers less than two weeks to prepare for the trade deadline.
Teams are moving up their pro scouting meetings to narrow down their trade boards.
TSN: The Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks made a minor trade on Wednesday, with the Jets acquiring defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Blackhawks for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin.
Impressive win by the Sabres over Carolina last night.
A couple of days ago I voiced the thought that the Sabres are not a “bad” team in any sense other than, being on the young side on average, they’re still learning to deal with adversity. Since that spirit-crushing 13-game winless skid from November 27 to December 21 they have actually been playing very well, going 6-3-1 in their last 10.
In that skid, during which they went 0 -10 – 3, 8 of the losses were by 1 goal (not counting empty-netters, of which there were 4), with 28gf and 54ga for averages of 2.2gf and 4.2ga.
Today they sit with 44gp and a 17 22 5 39 pts record – a .443 % pace – with 136gf and 148ga for averages pf 3.1gf and 3.4ga.
Their record – discarding that 13-game struggle – is 31gp 17 12 2 36 pts – a .581 pace – with 108gf and 94ga for averages of 3.5gf and 3.0ga.
Had they picked up just 1 point from one of the those 3 OT/SO losses and 4 points from taking 4 of those 8 1-goal losses to OT/SO – a what-if to be sure but not out of the realm of possibility – they’d be sitting with 44 points this morning and so right in the thick of the playoff race.
This is a team that is going to wreak havoc on the positional aspirations of a lot of playoff-bound and would-be playoff teams teams over the second half.
Cam Neeley stating the obvious! Plan to be buyers and sellers! Bruins should have plenty of company in that quest! Lindholm signing looks bad now! I think the Bruins thought he could add to their center corps with Zacha and Coyle!Problem is they both had career years and have not come close to last years performance!GeorgeO big Sens/ Bruins game Saturday!?Almost a must for Boston!
Heh, yeah Sr … too bad it couldn’t involve an Ullmark – Swayman meet — maybe later in the season.
Right now I’m hoping for a solid 60-minute effort tonight against the Capitals.
What’s on the encouraging side for Ottawa is that they have managed to hang in with the WC seekers without the services of 6 regulars
F Michael Amadio – back skating – now day-to-day
RD Jacob Bernard-Docker – high ankle sprain – 6 weeks (about 2 1/2 weeks into that)
RD Travis Hamonic – knee – 4 weeks (about the same as Bernard-Docker)
F David Perron – back skating – day -to-day
F Noah Gregor – lower body – out for a long spell
G Linus Ullmark – back issues – week to week – skating on his own now
They’ve also lost first call-up F Cole Reinhardt – upper body – no update
One benefit – if it can be called that – is the invaluable experience being picked up by replacements Highmore, Ostapchuk, MacEwen, Matinpalo and, above all, goalie Leevi Merilainen.
And Sr, although this is posted late (I was tied up elsewhere), Boston fans need to take a deep breath and consider this: despite the worry over their apparent dwindling offense, they sit just 7 points back of the Division-leading Leafs, having scored just 14 goals less than the high-powered Leafs – over 45/46gp.
What an embarrassment for Pens
Now Dubas has the arrogance to try and fool the public about whose to blame for Pens’ abysmal record by attempting to show that it’s all on Jarry instead of where the blame really lies; with Dubas and Sullivan.
Pens record is NOT due to goaltending. As I said yesterday “Put Hellybuck in Pens net and you’ll get a few more wins; but his (Helleybuck’s) numbers would plummet; and definitely not enough extra wins to get them in the playoffs”
This is NOT a goaltending issue.
It’s a repeated clusterf%#£k of defensive play, apathy, and collective bunch that just won’t put in a full 60 minutes effort every game.
Dubas did not get a RHD; and acquired defensively deficient and sluggish/apathetic players. Sully compounds the problem by refusing to sit same defensively deficient /apathetic/low effort players and in fact rewards them with TOI and moving them up the roster. That’s why Pens are where they are at.
You can’t get into playoffs by only relying on Crosby, Rackell, Pettersson, Rust and while simultaneously allowing all 3 of your goalies to be repeatedly hung out to dry; and repeatedly letting the same defensively backward players get away with only putting in an effort for 1/2 the game and only on 1/2 the ice surface and by repeating the same errors over and over again.
Not on the goalies
Jarry’s demotion is for one purpose and one purpose only.
Deflecting blame away from the two men that are the actual culprits.
They don’t NEED the extra $1.15 M in Cap space as they aren’t buyers.
If they want to bring Bloomquist up; then send Shea or Nieto down. Pretty well neutral change in Cap; you bury a player who is a defensive problem , and give Blomquist some starts.
What a politically arrogant and repugnant move.
Next steps for Dubas:
Trade Pettersson and lose badly in trade
Trade Rackell and lose even worse in that trade; blame p
Extend Grzylcyck, $5 M , 5 years
Extend Shea , $2M , 3 Years
Extend Nieto , $2 M , 3 Years
Trade Pickering for future considerations
Lobby public for Sully to be coach of year
@8787
First of all it is a goaltending issue….that’s the reason he was waived.
Look this kid was a 2 time all star that doesn’t happen easily…last year he had 6 shout outs lead the nhL and a .904 save %.
He has been horrible in shoot outs, terrible in overtime games, has given up a goal on the first shot of the game 7 times this year (like the last game vs Seattle) and he is leaky, and gives up soft goals..he is just inconsistent. The organization stuck with him like may goalies he is just fighting it right now and has lost confidence.
Dubas at the press confidence came out and faced the music, took the blame and faced the reporters and the music…admitted a mistake
I look at the glass 1/2 full you look at it half empty…which is fine two Penguins fans different mind sets
You name me one GM who has hit on every move…100 % aahhh none
He did well in the Guentzel trade especially because everyone knew Jake was leaving hard to clean up in a trade..yes a 1st would have been nice.
he got Bunting a 20 goal score, 13 this year again on pace for 20, he is younger than Jake not by much and we get a physical player, we got Ville Koivunen a 21 year old skilled Finn who is close we got Ponomarev decent player and a second round pick
Lars Eller was good in Pittsburgh
Phillip Tomasino
Blake Lizotte
Rakell signing looks pretty good right now
yes Grlzelyck was a bust Graves while good in Colorado and New Jersey has been a bust in Pittsburgh and the Jarry signing was a mistake
But the farm system is better with Guys Like Broz Mc Groarty Tanner Howe Harrison Brunicke, Emstromand goalie Blomqvist and Musahrev.
Lets see what he doess at the trade deadline.
Look if we had John Gibson (lets just say) we win half the over time and shoot out losses that’s 5, 6 points we are in the playoffs right there.
Has the defense let him out to dry at times yes the have you are 100 right. lazy ass Malkin and a few others defense isn’t just the defenseman bro
lets see what’s ahead…
Nah, 8787 looks at the glass as completely empty. All the time.
His posts remind of me of that Bruins troll that used to rant every single day with the exact same complaints ad nauseum… just replace “Sweeney” with “Dubas” wash and repeat.
theSaint, you mean good ol’ dubya?
@george yes I think so…it’s been so long I actually forgot his username ha
Rick W. Murray, I believe – never could figure out why the “W” in a site moniker, so I started referring to him as Dubya along the lines of George W. Bush
@George yes! That’s the name… not sure if Lyle finally banned him, or if he just stopped posting because his predictions of Sweeney creating a bottom dweller team went quite the opposite that year.
Hi BlackN Gold
It is not a Goaltending issue. Again , even with Helybuck in net; same crew in front of him with same TOI for those brutally defensive players on the team; still no playoffs for Pens
Jarry’s GAA is better than Ned’s, they have the same save percentage. Re OT/Shootout losses, 6 of those should never have gotten to OT; Pens were ahead and through all defensive skills out the door for opponents come from behind victories.
I wish I could find the post (not here) where someone had done a deep stats job on Jarry and had hid save percentage this year at almost 930 when none of Grzylcyck, Hayes, Accairi, or Nieto were on the ice.
Both Ned and Jarry have allowed a cumulative total (in 18 games where we were scored on in the first 5 shots) of 12 goals EACH. In all those 24 , maybe 4 (2 each ) were actually Ned’s/Jarry’s faults (the rest 2 on Ohs, 2 on 1’s, 3 on 1’s, full screens, deflections/multiple bounces etc)
Re “You name me one GM who has hit on every move…100 % aahhh none”
None. I certainly don’t expect anywhere near 100%
50% would be nice from Dubas
25% would be nice
He’s won and/or broken even only only 3 trades/moves: Glass, Tommassini, P-O J
In no way did Dubas win the Guentzel trade
This move was plain and simple for Dubas: find a scapegoat for hiding his and Sully’s mismanagement causing rapid drops in the standings
Re: “Dubas at the press conference came out and faced the music, took the blame and faced the reporters and the music…admitted a mistake”
That’s him admitting “A” (one) man stake and still laying all blame on standings at Jarry’s feet
He did not admit to all his lost trades; or all his brutal UFA signings; etc
Tristan Jarry played 22 games this season.
He allowed a goal on the first shot he faced 6 times
On the second shot 4 times
On the third shot 2 times
On the fourth shot 4 times
On the fifth shot 3 times
The only thing arrogant and repugnant is your continued character assassination of Dubas. His error was signing the guy to that contract. He owns that. But when your goalie puts you behind the 8 ball each and every game you can’t be expected to compete
Chrisms…well said bro The stats you presented on Jarry are even worse than i thought damn.. I didn’t realize he had given up that many second shot of the game goals and third shots wow !
yeah 8787 just rips Dubas like the proverbial mule.
Jarry has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after going unclaimed on waivers.
Ottawa did much the same a few seasons ago with Matt Murray and he went to the AHL without complaining and actually came back and played pretty well … until he got hurt. Again.
From what I read, Jarry has a “wicked sense of humour and is well-liked by his teammates. He could “find his game” in the minors. It’s happened before.
Only hope for the pens to get anything outta that contract.
While I can appreciate that concern, chrisms, it isn’t so much the amount – $5,375,000 – but the length, especially if it comes to buying him out.
The thing is, in one of their recent “assessments” the Hockey Writers compiled a list of what they consider the 10 worst current contracts, and Jarry is not among them.
As I recall … without Googling it – it included names like Nurse, Jones, Hronek, Huberdeau.
Hi Chrisms,
See numbers above (response to BlackNGold) re Ned/Jarry. Equal re goals in first 5 shots; equal in save percentage; Jarry has better GAA
Re: “His error was signing the guy to that contract.”
You see exactly what he’s (Dubas) done with this move, he’s got you (and trying to convince others) believing that he erred but once : “His error” (singular).
Dubas has erred over and over and over again. Yes he started with a mess; but had some space and proceeded to repeatedly fail at UFA acquisitions and has only broken even or won 3 moves/trades: Glass, Tomassino, P-O J
Pens record is not on goalies or goalie (singular).
Put Hellybuck in and change nothing else (TOI, roster) and Pens still don’t get in. Only thing that changes is Hellybuck’s GAA rises substantially; and his save percentage plummets. Pens may get 3 more wins until end of year (over what they would have got from current tandem), but still below the cut line.
The team has quite a few on the roster that play with rampant apathy; more who only play a 100’ game, with a group of players who repeatedly make defensive miscues and costly errors leaving their goalies completely out to dry. 3 or 4 players are in at least 2 of those sub-groups; 1 or 2 in all 3.
I have pointed out Dubas’ faults but have never said he is alone in blame for where the Pens are in the standings. Sully has to shoulder some blame.
You can’t keep rewarding (more TOI, moving up the depth chart) completely awful defensive play
Dubas dealt the cards. How they are played is on Sully.
Pens cannot make the playoffs with the attitude that Crosby, Rackell, Rust and Pettersson plus the unexpected “playing well ahead of his original projected trajectory” 20 year old ; is all they need to get into the playoffs.
The Pens will not be in the playoffs this year; and the reason in no way, is because of a single goalie.
This move (waiving Jarry) was just a magician’s go to move: Misdirection.
Bear this in mind:
Do not expect Dubas to win trades before this trade deadline, and do not expect Sully to all of a sudden start doling out ice time (and where players deserve to play on the depth chart) appropriately.
We’ve been blessed with 5 cups where other franchises have yet to win one; and others still have droughts longer than our teams’ existence.
That said, we could have, and should have, been in a much better place in the standings right now.
Gryz is scoring ½ point per game. He breaks out the puck as well as Karlsson and Letang. No he isn’t a physical defenseman, but that’s not what he’s deployed to do.
I don’t understand the disdain you fellows have for him. He’s doing his job and his contract is sensible.
Hi ShoreOrrPark
He’s doing his job effectively only on the far side of center ice
He is actually average at best on breakout passes; and id in no way as good as either Letang or Karllsson on breakouts. Pettersson for sure is better at breakouts than Grzylcyck. I see Grzylcyck/P-O J/Pickering on par re breakout passes.
Under pressure in out zone and trying to get the puck safely out; hr ranks behind all of the above
His downfall is in our end.
His negative impact in our end is in no way overcome by his points total.
His game is good on PP or when we’ve already got control in their end. He’s actually noticeably above pay grade in those situations.
He is however, very poor regarding true defensive skills.
If Sully dropped at least 5-6 minutes per game off his ice time; gave him only offensive zone starts; and actually penalized him (sitting) when he repeatedly creates costly errors; and never played him in top 4 or on the PK or in OT; then it would be ok
Just do 2 or 3 of those and we’d be happy.
@ 8787 (Pengy Junior) You can’t get into the playoffs with a goalie that repeatedly sets the “loser” tone by allowing multiple goals on the first handful of shots in any given game.
Hi SomeOldGuy
Glad you acknowledged my juniorness to Pengy. I’m 50 and I’m pretty sure he’s mid/late 60’s
Never forget that Pengy is a split personality: both a Pens’ and a Leafs’ fan.
That out of the way
See response to BlacknGold above regarding that
Ned/Jarry have equal numbers on first 5 shots
Their save percentage is the same
Jarry’s GAA is better
The above is a product of repeated and extremely poor defensive play in front of them
Odd man rushes abound against Pens
Pens players seem to have a great knack for screening their goalies and a better knack for leaving their man uncovered in front of Jarry/Ned
Put the league’s best goalie (and potential Hart and almost assuredly Vezina winner) Helleybuck in for 70% of the remaining starts and change nothing else, Pens still don’t get into playoffs
Have any of Pens current 3 goalies start 70% of the remaining games; while concurrently acquiring an RD; NOT trading Pettersson, and appropriately giving ice time commensurate to positive play; and Pens, even where they stand right now; have a reasonable shot at playoffs.
8787 those Boston connections keep showing up!
Yep they certainly do.
Zero, zip, zilch chance Jarry is ever waived if he’s from Beantown
It must be a magical mystery tour from Sully’s lens/viewpoint on Grzylcyck…. I actually believe Sully sees lightning and unicorns flying out of Grzylcyk’s butt
Where is Pengy?
Yes you criticize Dubas at Nauseum but I have never seen you put blame on others like Hextall Burke etc. Unless someone says it to you and you have to admit it
Lets see what Dubas does the next couple weeks many moves are a coming…..
The Guentzel trade he broke even no GM was going to win that trade because everyone knew Guentzel was leaving..he did fine
a 2nd line 20 goal scorer
a 21 year old FInn who will be a good third line player
a second round pick
a bottom six forward in ponomarev
yeah we didnt get a first thats the one bad thing but overall not too bad
Hi 8787, Re A Split Personality…🤔
I would not call it that Pengy is a split personality: both a Pens’ and a Leafs’ fan.
I Enjoy 2 sports, Socer & Hockey and support.
2 NHL team’s…..
Edmonton Oilers are my 1st team for 35+ years
and
Ottawa Senator’s are my 2nd team
I don’t have a NBA team, NFL Team, MLB Team,
This is just just my thoughts on your comment’s
8787, your rants are longer than Lyle’s headlines and rumors.
Not only that but they are repetitive, almost like penguin therapy.
OOOUUUCCCHHHHHHH
We Penguins fans need therapy
Try being a Buffalo, Detroit or Ottawa fan.
Putting Jarry on waivers while he has a m-ntc is so slimy! No UFA will want to sign in Pittsburgh now!
Dubas should honor the deal until the end because this is NOT a business. It’s all about sentiment and honoring d the deal even when it’s wrong!!!
🤪😁🤪😁🤪😁🤪
Lol. I see what you did there.
That was cleverly composed. I was among those who mentioned the “mean” approach to dumping Goodrow … lol – touché CaptainObvious
Man, I can see both arguments watching a lot of penguins games this year, seems like they are always on tv! Always love watching Crosby play and historically penguin games but they are always suspect defensively @ times over the years. Watching them this year I can see where 8787 is coming from but I agree jarry is leaky and I believe I have stated that before. All those years of penguins hockey that has been fun to watch, it must be hard to accept watching them now? Some of their guys like rust& rackell I like too but they are not very good overall and getting older. However, Crosby is still great. It is a difficult position to be in for that guy: dubas. IDK maybe their younger guys can make a difference and possibly make the playoffs? I thought that bloomquist the young goalie wasn’t bad what I saw. They have a lot of competition from those other teams: Ottawa, Columbus, Detroit , Philadelphia. They may not make it? Boston and TB struggling, who knows?
Fair point Captain, and I usually agree with you, and you do have a point, mine is just different.
IMO the difference is the Rags thought, I would suggest knew, that Trouba would get claimed. If Jarry gets claimed, I will come on here and eat crow. He won’t. Pens know it, Jarry knows it.
Hence the NTC actually mattered with Trouba, and the move was an end around.
Ray, in the final analyses it’s a loophole open to GMs – whether the GM who doled out the clauses or the one who inherited them. Much like “banking” LTIR cap relief.
I suppose that’s going to be one more subject to discuss at the next go-round between the NHLPA and management.
I was more talking Goodrow than Trouba. Who imo with his term and cap hit was as undesirable as Jarry.
But my real point is, it can’t be slimy when Drury does it, and genius when Dubas does it.
Odds of getting claimed aside, you can’t have it both ways. Hypothetically, Jarry could have been claimed by a team on his modified no trade list. There’s no possible was for Dubas to know with 100% certainty that he wasn’t.
So is it slimy or brilliant?
IMO, it’s business.
“Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain was fined $4,166.67 for high-sticking Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher.”
It didn’t seem like an egregious highstick, no blood drawn, no complaints on ice.
It was completely overlooked in fan commentary regarding the game.
Go figure.
It will be interesting to see how many teams jump in to the trade mix early before the 4 nations face – off tournament break starts and who will be patient.
I’m throwing this out there anyone think the trade deadline in the NHL should be moved up like the NBA.
The NBA trade deadline starts February 7th almost a month earlier than the NHL.
Really if you make a deal trade deadline day that player is guaranteed maybe 18 to 2o games with that team barring injury, visa issues, and anything else.
Seems like teams give up alot for a player and what 18 games?
I agree, but you notice that a lot of teams don’t exactly wait for the deadline to make their moves anymore.
This is why TDL day is a snoozefest now.
So very true … most of the day watching the talking heads desperately trying to come up with subject matter that will hold an audience.
And usually among the first to get things going well before the deadline date has been Lou Lamoriello.
Frank Seravalli wrote an article in the Daily faceoff about Dubas yesterday. Basically a timeline about what Dubas has accomplished from the time he got canned in Toronto. What Seravalli wrote seems to be pretty accurate
I remember when youse guys thought Dubas was the best GM in the league, and would go full defensive mode when anyone said otherwise.
What happened?
Shoreorrpark…I think Dubas is a solid gm but he was dealt a bad hand and the cupboard left dry for him by Bumbling Hextall and old ass Brian Burke.
Considering he has done oretty well in less than 2 years… We have younger players, we have mre draft picks, and a better farm system.
Still alot of work to be done…we will see
Marcus Petersson is going lets see if he can get a solid return in that deal.