NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 4, 2025
A big night for Blues winger Brandon Saad, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl extends his points streak, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad tallied a natural hat trick as his club blanked the Ottawa Senators 4-0. Goaltender Jordan Binnington turned in a 20-save shutout for the Blues (42 points), who’ve won four of their last five to move within two points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. The Senators (40 points) have dropped four of their last five but still cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 13 games by scoring the winning goal with 1:35 remaining in the third period in a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse had a goal and an assist. Brett Leason and Jackson LaCombe replied for the Ducks as their three-game win streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl leads the league with 28 goals. Oilers captain Connor McDavid saw his 12-game points streak end.
The Nashville Predators got a 27-save shutout by Juuse Saros to end a three-game losing skid by downing the Vancouver Canucks 3-0. Steven Stamkos, Gustav Nyquist and Colton Sissons were the goal scorers, with the last two being empty-net goals. Canucks netminder Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 of 17 shots as his club has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vancouver starter Thatcher Demko missed this game due to back spasms, forcing them to recall goalie Arturs Silovs on an emergency basis. The Canucks (44 points) hold a one-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card spot.
Shootout goals by Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell lifted the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk scored in regulation while Spencer Knight made 29 saves for the Panthers. Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell replied for the Penguins, who are tied with the Senators with 40 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold the final Eastern wild-card berth with two games in hand and two more victories (19 to 17) than Pittsburgh. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury.
The Chicago Blackhawks snapped a five-game losing skid by doubling up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2, ending the latter’s three-game win streak. Arvid Soderblom kicked out 38 shots and Nick Foligno tallied two goals for the Blackhawks. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield netted his 20th of the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were the dominant team for most of this contest but Soderblom was outstanding and Foligno was clutch for the Blackhawks. Pat Maroon lost a scrap with Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj in the first period but got the last laugh in the third with the game-winning goal.
The Blackhawks called up Colton Dach for this game. It was the first time he and his brother (Canadiens forward Kirby Dach) faced each other in NHL action.
HEADLINES
RG.ORG: Philadelphia Flyers rookie winger Matvei Michkov admits he’s still learning to adapt mentally and physically to the grind of his first NHL season. He said his English is improving and he is learning a lot from head coach John Tortorella despite the language barrier.
Michkov indicated he has a good relationship with his rival, Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. “He’s a good player and a good guy,” said the Flyers winger. “It’s exciting to watch players like him.”
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton was fined $2,000.00 for embellishment by the department of player safety. The incident occurred during a game against the New York Rangers on Dec. 23.
THE SCORE: The Colorado Avalanche hope goaltender Scott Wedgewood will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks. He suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wedgewood is still being evaluated.
SPORTSNET: Winnipeg Jets center Mason Appleton (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 28.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: The Bruins signed forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year contract extension. The average annual salary is $1.567 million.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Phillipe Myers to a two-year deal worth $850K per season.
SPORTS MEDIA WATCH: Tuesday’s NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Chicago’s Wrigley Field averaged 920,000 viewers, the smallest TV audience in the annual outdoor game’s history.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The game involved two opponents not considered among this season’s elite teams. The Blackhawks are rebuilding while the Blues are battling for a wild-card spot. It was a lopsided affair with the Blues winning 6-2.
The league also staged this game on New Year’s Eve rather than New Year’s Day as it used to and did a poor job publicizing the event.
NHL.COM: Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Hall-of-Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo highlighted the Florida Panthers’ Quarter-Century Team.
Joining Barkov, Tkachuk and Luongo on the First Team are winger Jonathan Huberdeau and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling.
Hall-of-Fame winger Pavel Bure joined forwards Sam Reinhart and Olli Jokinen, defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Robert Svehla and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the Second Team.
Wooof! In these past two games the long, crushing road grind just caught up to the Senators and no one can really be surprised at the two losses in Dallas and St. Louis. Disappointed? Sure. But as I posted just before the trip got under way, in order to remain in the mix for a playoff spot heading into the 2nd half, they need to emerge from it no worse than .500. And after 8 of the 9 games – and without their # 1 goalie in any of them – they are exactly at that point … .500, with the last game in Detroit on Tuesday before returning home for one game against Buffalo on Jan 9, then another back-to-back in Pittsburgh on Jan 11 and home against Dallas again on Jan 12.
To have ANY chance of remaining in the mix they need Ullmark back for the bulk of them, not to mention what follows – @ NYI Jan 14, at home to Washington Jan 16, then – yep – another back-to-back Jan 18/19 at home to Boston and in New Jersey.
Prior to the start of the road trip, over their first 30gp, they were averaging 3.1 goals for per game while giving up an average of 2.9. In the past 8 they scored 19 while giving up 22 for averages of 2.4 and 2.8. Overall, their goals allowed hasn’t changed much – in fact it was a small bit lower and with two rookie goalies over the 8 games – but their offense dropped 0.7 per game. Doesn’t look like much in print but, believe me, that is significant.
In addition to a healthy Ullmark they need to get Swiss Army Knife Amadio back in that bottom 6 F group, and David Perron simply in the bloody line-up to start earning that $4 mil cap hit.
And on that St. Louis game last night, the Blues certainly had pay-back on their minds following that 8-1 embarrassment in Ottawa shortly before the Senators embarked upon the trip. These guys are pros and I bet last night’s game was circled on their calendar, especially Binnington’s. That’s a good, competitive team.
Floridas second team is better than its first!
Chrisms, over their respective past 8 games the Penguins and Senators appear to be in lock-step in vying for that last WC spot, with Ottawa going 4-4 for 8 pts 19gf 22ga and Pittsburgh going 4-3-1 9 pts 25gf 27ga.
But neither can lose sight of at least three of the teams behind them in the East judging by their last 8 games each:
Montreal 6 2 0 12pts 33gf 18ga; Columbus 4-3-1 9pts 30gf 30ga; and Detroit 4-4-0 8 pts 25gf 30ga.
The others have slipped a bit further behind over their past 8, although none can be deemed out of it yet (except maybe the Rangers and Islanders and, even there, there’s still time to turn things around):
Buffalo 3 4 1 7 pts 29gf 30ga; Philadelphia 3 5 0 6pts 28gf 35ga; NYI 2 6 0 4pts 20gf 30ga; and NYR 2 6 0 4pts 13gf 26ga
It’s shaping up to be a Helluva competitive 2nd half
As was designed with the loser point. NHL did a good job with its plan to try to keep teams competitive throughout the season.
Pens: Like the push to come back to force OT; and get a game point.
I did not expect anything but a regulation loss so this was a very nice surprise.
Excellent game by Jarry.
Playing 5 Lefties on D is not cutting it.
Young Pickering (Lefty) playing RHD did fine; but it’s not sustainable.
We’ve only got 2 RDs on the roster and Letang is hurt.
Dubas HAS to make a deal for an RHD. A low cost trade for Deharnais would work extremely well
When healthy the following D line up would do well for Pens
Letang P-O J
Karllsson Pettersson
Deharnais Pickering
Depth D :
LD : Graves;
RD: Hollowell (up from WBS)
8787, close observers of the Vancouver Canucks, a team struggling a bit lately, usually point to the poor play of Vincent Desharnais as a key cause, a D most believe should not be playing anywhere above the 5/6 pairing, and preferably not even there once Forbort and Hronek return.
In fact, criticism of Desharnais in the Canucks world rivals that of your estimation of Grzelcyk, so I’m curious to know what makes you so certain that he will be the answer to making the Penguins better defensively on their 5/6 pairing? Are you somehow more tuned in as to his abilities than many Canucks’ fans and even Dubas?
Desharnais first and foremost is a Rightie. Gryzelcyk is a Leftie.
Defensively, Deharnais was certainly adequate with Oilers as a bottom pairing guy.
He doesn’t appear to be Canucks worst RD. Juulsen has played a few more minutes; has no points; is -8. Desharnais has 3 points and is -5. They have the same PIMs.
I think Desharnais would be fine with Pickering; and would benefit a change of scenery; and would do fine in Pittsburgh.
Grzylcyk vs Deharnais
Again, firstly Deharnais is a Rightie (we only have 2; and right now with Letang down, we have just Karrllsson)
But more importantly
I’ll take the extra almost 10 “ in height (much more than that in in reach); the 50 extra lbs; and the 2 years younger
Most importantly; Grycylcyk (no fault of his own) can’t move a certain Aunt Sally from in frint of Jarry/Nedjelkovic/Blomquist. The giant Deharnais can move anybody
Grycylcyk is bad enough defensively playing on his natural left side; on his right; just plain awful.
The extra PP bump from Grycylcyk doesn’t compensate for his voluminous number of defensive miscues
If somehow Dubas could convince Alvin to flip Deharnais for Gryzylcyk; we’d be dancing around the fire chanting Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Even if the flip costs us an extra mid rounder…. Take the deal and run
Healthy, this line up has a fair shot of making the WildCard cut line
Crosby Rackell Rust
Malkin Bunting Tomasino
Glass Beuvillier Puuljarvi
Lizotte Katchouk Poulin
Depth Fwds: Bemstrom/Koivenen/Pomeronov
Letang P-O J
Karllsson Pettersson
*Deharnais Pickering
Depth D :
LD : Graves;
RD: Hollowell (up from WBS)
Harry/Blomquist
*Literally the only external move required
Well, from my distant observation of the Canucks I think you’re looking through the proverbial rose-coloured glasses when it comes to Desharnais – RD or not. That alone doesn’t make him a desired trade acquisition, nor does his size, as Boston is finding out with an ex-Canuck.
I’ll simplify it….
There are no rose coloured glasses…. Quite literally Just flipping Deharnais for Gryzylcyk will improve team outcome at year end.
Put another way. Grycylcyk never playing RD ever again for Pens ; concurrent with a reduction of 5 – 6 mins avg. 5 on 5 time per game for Grycylcyk; and Pens chances improve.
He’s been putting up points on the PP; but it doesn’t make up for his defensive gaffes (including some while on the PP)
no matter what; we absolutely need another Rightie on D
Re Desharnais size ….” That alone doesn’t make him a desired trade acquisition, nor does his size, as Boston is finding out with an ex-Canuck.”
Concur that in and of itself for most teams….. they aren’t searching “just” for a big man
For Pens however it is literally comparing Grycylcyk (who can’t move ANYBODY away from his goalies) on his wrong side vs the Rightie who is almost 10” taller (probably 18” more in reach); 50 lbs heavier; 2 years younger and vastly (immensely) stronger
It’s a no brainer
Pretty well any Rightie defensemen we can get will make a difference
I’m saying Deharnais as he is someone who definitely should benefit from a change of scenery and will come relatively cheaply in trade
I’m open for other Rightie suggestions.
Are there any you would recommend that appear to (or have been mentioned as) available for trade at a reasonable cost?
You’ll “simplify it?” Gawrsh, golly … duh … thanks for that
Yikes if you`re trading for Desharnais to improve your defence then to simplify things, polish up the golf clubs seasons over
The Habs dominated but lost, and the reason is pretty obvious to all but fanboys and pundits.
The Habs got stronger immediately when they got Alex Carrier, not because he’s an amazing d-man, just a responsible RD.
Last night Savard didn’t play, so the Habs had Carrier and two out of position D-men playing out of position with predictable results, more breakdowns.
Rather than being expendable in return for unnecessary draft capital, Savard has to be resigned and another Vet RD picked up till the kids in the farm push their way in.
While there are many teams looking for RD Carrier is a prime example that the Habs don’t need a “star”.
Laine missed the game last night and clearly the PP is very different without him. Admittedly I was leery about trading for him and was satisfied with a 2nd round pick for Jordan Harris with Laine as a hit or miss but this guy is a hit with an obvious impact,
Finally! Someone who doesn’t want to give Savard away for a late round pick.
To your comments about D, I add my disappointment in Xhekaj’s accepting Maroon’s offer to fight. It meant that the Habs played extra minutes in the first period with a sub par D in Struble.
Matheson played nearly half the game and Hutson was well over 20 minutes. That affected their ability to contribute to an offence that clearly missed Laine.
Pens: Like the push to come back to force OT; and get a game point.
I did not expect anything but a regulation loss so this was a very nice surprise.
Excellent game by Jarry.
Playing 5 Lefties on D is not cutting it.
Young Pickering (Lefty) playing RHD did fine; but it’s not sustainable.
We’ve only got 2 RDs on the roster and Letang is hurt.
Dubas HAS to make a deal for an RHD. A low cost trade for Deharnais would work extremely well
When healthy the following D line up would do well for Pens
Letang P-O J
Karllsson Pettersson
Deharnais Pickering
Depth D :
LD : Graves;
RD: Hollowell (up from WBS)
It seems that Cam Fowler has definitely made an impact with the Blues! He has 7 pts in 10 games and has put a bit of stability in their defense.
Johnny z, he has for sure he has assumed the role that was held by Jay Boumeester of the big fast left dman with offensive upside. He also allows Parayko to use more of his offensive game as witnessed in the winter classic.
Now Broberg can play 2nd pair with Faulk and fill the Boumeester model on that pair. The other benefit is Suter who was playing top minutes with Parayko and was worn out, can now lead the 3rd paring and now because of 1 move the entire defense is fixed from the mess it was last year.
And George thanks for your take on the Blues. I share your opinion but I’m biased. Nice to hear from someone who’s opinions I respect. I wish I had your expertise at number crunching it would be interesting to see how the Blues 9 prospects in the world juniors stack up.
Snold 49, the Blues are definitely in the mix for at least a WC slot, just 2 pts back of Vancouver.
And having 9 prospect at the World Juniors – the most of any team in the NHL – certainly bodes well for the future.
As of today this is how the 9 are performing
From the 2023 draft
Dalibor Dvorsky C Slovakia
1st Round 10th overall – 5gp 5g 4a 9 pts -2
Otto Stenberg C Sweden
1st Round – 25th overall -5gp 1g 5a 6pts +3
Theo Lindstein D Sweden
1st Round – 29th overall – 5gp 0g 3a 3pts +2
Juraj Pekarcik LW Slovakia
3rd Round – 76th overall – 5gp 3g 4a 7pts +3
Jakub Stancl C Czechia
4th Round – 106th overall – 5gp 5g 3a 8pts +6
From the 2024 draft
Adam Jiricek D Czechia
1st Round – 16th overall – 5gp 0g 4a 4pts +1
Colin Ralph D USA
2nd Round – 48th overall – 5gp 0g 1a 1pt +1
Ondrej Kos LW Czechia
3rd Round – 81st overall – 5gp 1g 0a 1pt -1
Adam Jecho C Czechia
3rd Round – 95th overall – 5gp 2g 4a 6pts +2
If anyone else is curious as to how their favourite team’s prospect(s) is/are doing at the World Juniors here are two links – the first a list of the players by each NHL team and the second their stats as of this morning
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/a-list-of-every-nhl-prospect-at-the-2025-world-juniors
https://www.hockeydb.com/tournaments/t-8425f9.html
Snold49, I just took another detailed look at the list of prospects by NHL team and see that Seattle also has 9 players n the tournament
Thanks george you’re the greatest.
St.Louis GM has to be happy that Sadd had a great game last night,since it s no secret they are trying to trade him!
Sr, without a doubt, that’s also why he played on the first line in the winter classic. He can still play but he’s taking minutes away from Neighbors and especially Bolduc who looks like he’s ready to break out.
You know when you read things fast/skim text that shorter words don’t always register with the brain and/or are misconstrued…. Well my first scan of your post had my brain register “ happy that Sadd” as “ Happy but Sadd”. Doh!
I should be better at this; I’m only a couple of weeks removed from marking mid-terms. I wonder how many students received a lower grade than what they deserved? Did some score higher than merited?
8787, taught school for 33 years! Never stressed on correcting exams especially finals with the good weather hanging over my shoulder!All students received a grade higher than expected! For examples C+, became B- ! Never had a grade contested!
Hi Sr
That was meant tongue ‘n cheek.
I do believe I grade pretty fairly. We get heavy scrutiny over final marks doled out (average) and students do at times come to me rationalizing their position on what they presented; and I have increased marks.
I have tenure but I believe I still mark with as much enthusiasm/dedication/effort as when I was starting out as an associate.
33 years. Kudos to you.
I had originally not planned going that long; but I also hadn’t planned on changing diapers at 50 either. So I just may make it to 33.