NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2025
A historic game for Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, the Hurricanes unveil their Quarter-Century Team, the league reportedly intends to cancel escrow payments for the remainder of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING FRIDAY’S NHL ACTION
NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic became the first netminder in league history to score a goal and collect an assist in a single game in a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Nedeljkovic picked up the secondary assist on Cody Glass’ game-winning goal and sealed the victory with an unassisted empty-netter. He also made 40 saves.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (NHL Images).
Glass, Bryan Rust and Matt Grzelcyk each collected two points for the Penguins (46 points), who moved within three points of the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Owen Power and Zach Benson replied for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nedeljkovic also became the first goaltender to score a goal in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.
The Carolina Hurricanes got two goals from Seth Jarvis to hold off the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, handing the latter their fourth loss in their last five contests. Pyotr Kochetkov made 29 saves as the Hurricanes sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 57 points. Tomas Hertl and Shea Theodore scored for the Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas is tied with the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the Pacific Division with 61 points but maintains their hold on first place due to their 26 regulation wins compared to the Oilers’ 22.
The Hurricanes activated goaltender Frederik Andersen from injured reserve and sent Dustin Tokarski to their AHL affiliate in Chicago. Andersen had been out since Oct. 26 with a knee injury.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The Hurricanes revealed their Quarter-Century Team on Friday.
Forwards Rod Brind’Amour, Eric Staal and Sebastian Aho, defensemen Jaccob Slavin and Glen Wesley, and goaltender Cam Ward comprised the First Team.
The Second Team comprised forwards Ron Francis, Jordan Staal and Justin Williams, defensemen Justin Faulk and Bret Hedican, and goaltender Arturs Irbe.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cited a well-informed NHL source claiming the league will drop the escrow withholding rate from players’ salaries from six percent to zero effective Jan. 30 for the remainder of the regular season.
The source also told D’Amico that, because profits are expected to be higher than previously projected, the players will receive between two and six percent in extra earnings.
This sets the stage for a substantial increase in the salary cap for 2025-26. It was projected to reach between $92 million and $93 million but could now rise higher.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s good news for the players, especially those slated to become free agents on July 1. A higher-than-projected salary cap will also provide welcome help for teams with limited cap room for next season.
SPORTSNET: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently dismissed the theory that teams in low-tax states have an advantage over states and provinces with higher taxes. He pointed out that teams in California (with a tax rate comparable to Canadian teams) have won as many Stanley Cups as those in Florida.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As with all Stanley Cup champions, the recent success of the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning comes down to shrewd management and coaching.
The Panthers and Lightning have enjoyed low tax rates throughout their existence but that didn’t prevent them from spending years (in the Panthers’ case, decades) among the NHL’s worst teams. Improved management and coaching built them into champions.
Bettman also dispelled concern over the recent decline in the value of the Canadian dollar, pointing out that they do revenue-sharing in US dollars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s the biggest difference between now and the 1990s when a low Canadian dollar contributed to the relocation of clubs from Quebec City and Winnipeg and threatened the existence of several other Canadian franchises. Revenue-sharing was built into the CBA in 2005 to assist struggling teams.
The commissioner also said he doesn’t want to expand the playoff format as it diminishes the value of the postseason and regular season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed! The four-round postseason involving 16 teams is long enough. A play-in round is unnecessary.
Bettman hopes to sign a new collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association this year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We all want to see that.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Evgeni Malkin’s three Stanley Cup rings were found inside his house following an investigation into the recent burglary of his home. The rings were initially reported missing. The investigation remains active.
SPORTSNET: The Minnesota Wild placed forward Marcus Johansson (upper body) on injured reserve and moved winger Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) on long-term injury reserve retroactive to Dec. 23.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov is skating with his teammates and is expected to return to action soon. He was put on LTIR to allow the Wild to recall two forwards following Johansson’s injury.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed John Klingberg to a one-year, $1-million prorated contract. The 32-year-old defenseman is attempting to resume his NHL career after recovering from a hip resurfacing procedure in December 2023.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is an affordable gamble by the Oilers to add experienced depth to their roster.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: An instant on-ice chemistry between Matty Beniers and Kaapo Kakko has generated cautious optimism that the young Kraken forwards can elevate each other. Both were chosen second overall in their respective drafts (Beniers in 2021, Kakko in 2019) but struggled to meet expectations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Beniers won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 but has encountered difficulty regaining that promising form. Kakko struggled for several seasons with the Rangers but has been on a tear (10 points in 13 games) since being traded to the Kraken last month.
NHL.COM: New York Islanders winger Maxim Tsyplakov received a three-game suspension from the NHL department of player safety for an illegal hit to the head of Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Poehling on Thursday.
DAILY FACEOFF: The New Jersey Devils placed forward Erik Haula (ankle sprain) on injured reserve and called up defenseman Colton White.
I was almost hoping Nedeljkovic would grab someone and start throwing punches in the last 30 seconds to become the first goalie with a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.”
Now that would have been an accomplishment of epic proportion!
His shot on goal was also taken under pressure. Not a easy feat.
I just watched the highlights of the game! Impressive! And could you only imagine a scrap!
Personally, I’d go pick a fight just to get my name in the books! Bahaha!
He may have more points than some of his defensemen!
Klingberg????? What the actual h e double hockey sticks is Bowman thinking by wasting precious cap space on junk??? He’s definitely NOT what they need!
They need a SOLID defensive defenceman.
I hope I’m proven wrong in my assessment of this signing, but I highly doubt I will be.
I couldn’t be happier that Klingberg signed with Edmonton!!!
I was reading that the Stars were in the mix and was terrified. Klingberg would take us from the best D in the league to barely in the top 10…(that said, he may be better than Dumba)
Plus, if the Stars end up playing the Oilers in the WCF…all we have to do is attack on Klingbergs side of the ice… he’ll trip over his own skates or turn the wrong way…
🤣😂🤣Starsfan, I saw Dallas in the rumours as well and was praying they’d take him back! Lol!
I figured, given his injury and age, and that he was never regarded as defensively skilled, that any team signing him would do so at a show-me league minimum of around $850,000.
When I saw that the Oilers gave him a $1,746,667 one-year deal, my first thought was, what the heck did those other rumoured teams offer?
At a league minimum he’d have been a cheap gamble as a boost to a pp and if that failed they could waive him and, if unclaimed, bury him in the minors. Now, it he doesn’t pan out, that’s quite a chunk to “bury.”
George O, those are my exact thoughts! I heard the rumours about the interest and I would’ve been ok if it was league min. But THAT cap hit blows my mind!
George I also thought he wouldn`t get anything more than league minimum. You have to remember the 1.746667 is the prorated cap hit not his salary. Not sure whether Toronto made an offer, but still if Klingberg doesn`t work out, Edmonton will just waive him and send him to the minors, no harm done
Well, Yogi, aside from losing a couple of games that leads to the decision.
I guess it’ll all come down to who they pair him with.
Re; Oilerrs d/man pick up…
Not sure if i like that one, Howver
1/ they will have Evander kaine’s cap space $$, to go after a 4th d/man, they have 6+ weeks to test drive him
2/ they need to Trade Jeff Skinner @ $3.M to a team that needs top 6 in scoring, the Oil have 8 players that can play there and Jeff Skinner’s #9….❗️
So that helps out also
Your Skinner option may look good on paper … but I doubt there’s a team out there that sees him as a top 6 scorer any longer and would be willing to take him at any price.
He’s strictly one-way only and, through stints with good teams in Carolina, bad teams in Buffalo, and good team in Edmonton, with one exception he’s been a consistent minus F.
Adding to that is his NMC with prevents them from dealing him, demoting him or even waiving him without his approval, so they’
d pretty much have to find a top contending team willing to take a chance, as I doubt he waives to go to a re-building club.
Unfortunately Williew, we’re stuck with Skinner. I’m hoping that he can somehow catch fire, but I’m also hoping I win the lottery! Pretty sure I’ll get my money before Skinner earns his!
Agreed about Kane’s LTIR slush fund, but I’d rather use it to trade a pick or 2 to get a good shutdown D a la Ekholm as opposed to a bad gamble like Klingberg.
Last time I checked the NHL already has an 82 game play-in round for the playoffs… Only thing they need to fix is the playoff seeding.
Agreed, Brock. I’d like to see a system where 1st place in the conference faces 16th, second place against 15th and so on, but the league will never go for that. What would you like to see?
Conference? You mean league! Got it!
One thing I’d like to see – at least during the season where the disparity in the numbers of games played is to reflect the standings based upon a points % basis. As it is with baseball, it presents a far more accurate picture of where teams stand in terms of their performance pace.
As of this morning, for example, 2 teams have played 42 and 43 games while at the other end of the scale, 20 have played anywhere from 45 to 47). The rest have played 44 games.
1v8 would be the simple way, which I’d like to see. I’d also be open to just removing divisions and having 2 conferences, in which a 1v16 would make sense. If 1v16 is going to happen, there’s no reason for divisions.
Spot on Brock Landers!
Going back to 1st vs 8th in each Conference would be perfect in my opinion. I’m also not a fan of the wild card.
And the 82 game season is already way too long. I’d cut 20 games out and have a home home vs every team in the league. Games would be more significant and have higher stakes. Players would be fresher and healthier
Hey George,
They are not playing him, they know he has a NMC, he has sat 3-4 games in the past 10
He just cant Crack the Oilers top 6….
Im Sure he waves it, as they may only play him for contending Teams….❓
As will as Noah Philip a defencive Right shot very good in face offs and can Score..,
He can play C&RW To play in the bottom 6.
they also have Carter Savioe, A local 20 yr old who is Lighting it up in Bako,
there Top prospect, the Oilers also expect to call him up late Feb to give him some game’s.. he will be on the Oilers roster next season.👍
Whoops, yes, you’re right, Johnny, I meant league…;)
One thing not mentioned that may well affect hockey revenue is if Trump does put tariffs on Canadian goods, and Canada on theirs. Certainly Canadian revenue will be dramatically affected.
Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver sell out, Winnipeg, Calgary and Ottawa don’t. All would surely would see a drop in attendance in any prolonged tariff dispute.