NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2025
Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Kings and Predators reveal their Quarter-Century Teams, the Blues and Brandon Saad mutually agree to terminate his contract, the Kraken put Philipp Grubauer on waivers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (NHL Images).
RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES
NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils got two-point performances from Jack and Luke Hughes in a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jack and Luke each had a goal and an assist while Jake Allen made 24 saves for the shutout as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points. Flyers winger Owen Tippett left the game with an undisclosed injury following an open-ice hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. With 52 points, the Flyers sit three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils captain Nico Hischier missed this game as he’s week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson will replace sidelined Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom on Team Sweden in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes collected two assists as his club defeated the Nashville Predators 3-1. Thatcher Demko stopped 31 shots and rookie forward Linus Karlsson tallied his first NHL goal for the Canucks (56 points) as they sit one point ahead of the Calgary Flames in the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Tommy Novak replied for the Predators as they’ve dropped two straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks forward Dakota Joshua returned to action after missing 11 games with an injured leg.
An overtime goal by Sidney Crosby lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 27 shots as the Penguins (50 points) are five points behind the Lightning in the Eastern wild-card race. Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, who are six points behind the Canucks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Utah Hockey Club has narrowed its prospective team names to three choices: the current name, the Utah Mammoth, and the Utah Wasatch. Fans will vote during Utah’s next four home games.
Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky kicked out 29 shots to blank the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. Matthew Tkachuk scored and picked up two assists as the Panthers vaulted over the Toronto Maple Leafs into first place in the Atlantic Division with 63 points. Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty made his season debut after being sidelined by a broken ankle since preseason. The Kings are third in the Pacific Division with 58 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doughty’s return to the Kings lineup resulted in young defenseman Brandt Clarke being a healthy scratch.
Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Filip Gustavsson made 32 saves and Jared Spurgeon netted what proved to be the winning goal for the Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 64 points. William Nylander tallied for the Leafs (62 points) as their losing skid extended to three games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Max Pacioretty was activated off injured reserve for this game. Winger Matthews Knies went on IR with an upper-body injury but could return to action on Saturday.
HEADLINES
The Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators unveiled their Quarter-Century Teams on Wednesday.
Forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez, and goaltender Jonathan Quick made up the Kings’ First Team. The Second Team comprised forwards Justin Williams, Adrian Kempe and Zigmund Palffy, defensemen Mattias Norstrom and Lubomir Visnovsky, and goalie Felix Potvin.
The Predators’ First Team featured goaltender Pekka Rinnie, defensemen Roman Josi and Shea Weber, and forwards Filip Forsberg, Paul Kariya and Mike Fisher. The Second Team comprised forwards David Legwand, Ryan Johansen and Steve Sullivan, defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Kimmo Timonen, and goalie Juuse Saros.
STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues and winger Brandon Saad agreed to terminate his contract once he clears unconditional waivers today. Saad had a year remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million. He had cleared waivers and was slated to be assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad will become an unrestricted free agent, enabling him to sign with another team. I’ll have more about him and the Blues in today’s Rumor Mill update.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken placed goaltender Philipp Grubauer on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.9 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Kraken doesn’t have to send down Grubauer but gives them the option. Given his contract, he’s unlikely to be claimed by another NHL team. This also raises questions about his future with the team, including a potential contract buyout in June.
Grubauer was the Kraken’s starter when he signed his contract in 2021 but Joey Daccord outplayed him for the job last season. He’s struggled this season with a 3.83 goals-against average and an. 866 save percentage.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadriceps muscle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guhle is the Canadiens’ best shutdown defenseman so his absence is a big blow to the blueline in their quest for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve recalled Jayden Struble from his conditioning stint in Laval.
TSN: Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins is out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury.
CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek was assigned to his club’s AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint as he works his way back from a fractured cheekbone.
NESN: The Boston Bruins are talking with former captain Zdeno Chara about returning to the club as a front-office consultant.
RG.ORG: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was surprised by Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer suggesting his club play some regular-season games in Quebec City.
He made those remarks during a recent press conference announcing his team will play two preseason games there in September.
Andlauer also said he believes Quebec City deserves an NHL franchise but acknowledged that’s not his decision.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andlauer will likely get a gentle reminder from the commissioner’s office about speaking out of turn regarding potential NHL expansion destinations.
Re “SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andlauer will likely get a gentle reminder from the commissioner’s office about speaking out of turn regarding potential NHL expansion destinations. ”
Now someone can’t voice an opinion even about expansion speculation? How can that possibly be construed as “speaking out of turn?”
Andlauer will politely tell Bill to f-o and ask for his first round pick back over a debacle that nothing to do with him.
It’s been suggested that Andlauer is eyeing the Quebec City arena for his Bellville AHL team. With the idea of then bringing the Bulls back to the OHL in the building he owns there. Belleville doesn’t really have the heart or the draw of a true AHL city. And the OHL has worked well there.
Simple. Anything Der Furher Bettman doesn’t like is wrong.
Just like every other commissioner or league president in any major pro sports league.
Agree Paul
Bettman says to everybody “I’m always tight”
So THAT’S his problem. He’s always tight!
That was a rypo. Oooops . typo
It isn’t “someone”, an owner and management are restricted on what they can and should comment on.
You and I can muse whatever you want, it doesn’t mean sh*t to a tree .
The league as other organizations wants to give out a unified message, filtered through the commissioner.
All pro ;eagues do this and in fact give out large fines to players, coaches, owners for various reasons such as tampering, which is given a wide scope.
Yeah … well, that is your opinion. But I still think it’s bulls##t that someone who just paid close to a billion dollars for a franchise can’t voice a simple opinion about the merits of a specific expansion site.
How, by any stretch of the imagination, can that be viewed as a “violation” of some artificial “code.”
That’s my opinion. So – like it or not – I don’t stand “admonished.”
In the meantime, for anyone interested in Division vs division and conference vs conference results to date, this table by ESPN is interesting
https://www.espn.com/nhl/standings/_/view/vs-division
Bingo! I don’t agree with it, but that’s the way all sports leagues prefer to conduct their business.
There is another aspect to this George, that being it is, intentional or not, a poke at Quebec not getting another NHL team in our lifetime.
I completely get the importance of language on all the important aspects of a society, and why Quebecers want to protect their language.
But the xenophobia expressed through the language bills of the Parti Quebecois in matters big and small is too much to take.
And it makes Quebec City a no go zone for most would be NHLers. Enjoy the Ramparts, Legault. That’s as good as it will get in your lifetime too!
And – désolé les amis – that is my opinion, like it or not 😉
That’s been my take on Quebec City all along LJ.
The Draconian language laws, complete with their own dedicated “police” whistle-blowers cannot be anything BUT a detriment to a major sports franchise trying to function in a largely English North American market.
It’s too bad, really. I happen to be functionally bi-lingual and absolutely love the area. But attracting free agents with families who are unilingual English would certainly limit their activities in that regard, not to mention being added to most player’s “no trade” list.
That would make an already-difficult task by any GM trying to flesh out a competitive roster that much more difficult.
Perfectly stated, George. The phrase that comes to mind is: cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Speculation from writers, media, insiders is fine. But I’d guess there is some code of conduct around existing NHL owners talking about expansion and/or preferred locations for new teams. It def can be a conflict of interest for an existing owner to go public about future plans and locations.
But Andlauer did not say anything in public about future plans and locations … other than the downtown location for his own team,
As for Quebec City, the only thing he said was that he felt they deserve an NHL franchise … and was quick to add that that, ultimately, was not his decision.
In what way could that be even remotely construed as a “conflict of interest?”
What does the NHL want? Billionaire owners who fork over the big bucks and then toe the line and keep their mouths shut?
I hope Boston allows Chara to make some decisions! It s been 10 years since the Sweeney/ Neeley team have had a new voice to help them!This group is one step away from a playoff team or extinction!
would it not be nice to see Chara and Bergeron take over control of this team.
I’d go with Utah Wasatch. If you’re going to pick a ridiculous name you may as well go all the way.
Wasatch is the name of the mountain range that runs through SLC… and yes it’s stupid, but i bet that what gets voted in. They are proud of their city.
I lived there for 11 years. Given the choice, the people of UTAH will always pick wwrong.Well that’s not totally true, they will pick whatever their church leaders tell them to pick…brainwashed???? maybe???
I am wondering what makes the Washington Capitols “tick”
Number 1 in the conference
Number 1 Powerplay
A legit Stanley cup Contender
Ever since thy purchased CapFriendly! 🤔
At a glance I’d say the key has been little injury time lost by key players, with Ovechkin being the one exception, having missed 16 games, but there he is, among their top 8 points producers (2 of whom are D) all currently with 30 points upwards, a good spread of contributions from their bottom 6 forwards and bottom 4 D, and 2 goalies on whom they can rely.
Being able to nightly roll 4 lines with confidence, with their 174 goals scored tied with Vegas and just 10 back of league-leading Winnipeg, and their 119 goals against only the best in the entire league hasn’t hurt either.
The difference between their “re-tooling” from last season and others who tried (hello Nashville) – or plan to try (hello Pittsburgh) – that route, is that Washington had a much more solid base to begin with.
Honestly at this point “Utah Hockey Club” is the least horrible option.
I still think they should have gone for Skinwalkers, but of the 3 left, I prefer Hockey Club..
I note Shea Weber made both the Habs and the Preds’ quarter century team.
Has there been another player who made two different teams quarter, half or all time team?
A few, LJ, Joe Thornton for one.
Good catch, Hud.
How about an all star team of those who made two or more clubs all star teams?
Thanks George
Wasatch?
Whasup with that?
Well, I posted before that SLC club should consider naming team with something reflective of the beautiful scenery/topography etc of thr state. They have 5 spectacular National Parks
Wasatch IS about their topography/scenery (an area and s mountain range that abuts Salt Lake.
With that in mind; good idea
For all that is sacred; please don’t chose “Hockey Club”
Are they going to have twin mascots (in light blue snd black): a capital H and a capital C
Why not Hockey Club? You can choose that and still come up with a marketable logo … a host of football clubs in the U.K. that simply call themselves “F.C.” do alright in that regard
https://britishcountyflags.com/football-club-badges/
And right in the NHL – albeit in French – is one of the most famous franchise logos recognized everywhere C.H.C. forLe Club de Hockey Canadien
Ok, clever boy, George. But the Canadiens are known as just that.
Utah hockey club sounds too much like soccer teams (football to euros): FC.
Aside from being dull as dishwater …
LJ
Dull as a dishwasher
Your giving too much credit there
Waay duller than a dishwasher
Tell that to Manchester City, Sheffield United or West Ham United, to name just a few F.C.s whose profits from logo-mounted sales would dwarf that of any NHL team.
Ahh well, you have t remember that Utah kept the “Jazz” nickname when the New Orleans franchise transferred there in the NBA. Jazz has about as much connect to Utah as F lames does to Calgary.
So, why not retain the Coyotes logo? They must have those as well in Utah.
“Club”, although not restricted to or unique to soccer; definitely representative of it
Utah Hockey Club was just something to call it until they came up with a likeable brand
A dull and safe stop-gap was how they proceeded last summer.
They needed time to listen to new fan base about a permanent name
“Hockey Cub” was (at the time) not going to be confused with the eventual name. Innocuous and bland.
Dull, straightforward, zero chance then (time of that decision) of being a conflict with or detractor from, the eventual name chosen
Yeti was where it was to be…. Patent/copyright nixed that.
Scramble time.
Now they have to struggle to come up with something
Mammoth is something that all people everywhere can identify with.
Wasatch has an identity and meaning to the greater SLC area. Showing respect for and pride in it’s local mountains, and area.
Hockey Club is just plain dull.
I disagree with LJ
Hockey Club is much duller than a dishwasher
All that said; the decision will come from about 45,000 votes (per announcement, only those in attendance at yesterday’s (plus next 3) games.
A good chunk of those will be season ticket holders going to more than 1 (maybe all 4) of those games.
So maybe 30,000 – 35,000 individuals will make the final decision
We can laugh all we want; but they will choose the name.
Lets not forget that s chunk of the decision makers are non-locals (visitors’ fans). So at least a couple hundred Pens fans will have cast their ballots last night.
Apparently they didn’t think much of your preference either as it’s been removed from the ballot in favour of Outlaws. I guess that way they can have a logo with a gun of some sort.
I can’t believe the Kings left Dubois off their lists
LOL