NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2025
Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews scored two goals and added an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Mikko Rantanen extended his points streak to 14 games with an empty-net goal as the Avalanche have won seven of their last eight games. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers (50 points), who remain four points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (NHL Images).
The Buffalo Sabres snapped a three-game losing skid by nipping the Washington Capitals 4-3 on shootout goals by Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka. Tuch also tallied twice and Peterka collected two assists in regulation. Tom Wilson scored two goals for the Capitals and teammate John Carlsson had two assists to become the seventh US-born defenseman to reach 700 regular-season points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals picked up a point to sit two points ahead of the Leafs for first place in the Eastern Conference with 56 points.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves and Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist to down the Seattle Kraken 3-2, ending a four-game losing skid. Adam Larsson and Shane Wright replied for the Kraken, who are winless in their last three contests (0-2-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Twelve members of the Kraken’s roster were named to the club’s Quarter-Century Team. That’s not unusual since this franchise has existed since 2021-22. Jordan Eberle, Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn comprise part of their First Team while Matty Beniers, Brandon Montour and Philipp Grubauer are part of the Second Team.
Meanwhile, Devils forward Erik Haula is expected to miss several weeks with a sprained ankle.
An overtime goal by Nick Suzuki capped a three-point night for the Montreal Canadiens captain as he led his team over the Vancouver Canucks 5-4. Lane Hutson also had a goal and two assists and Cole Caufield tallied his 22nd goal of the season for the Canadiens, who’ve won eight of their last 10 and moved into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 41 points. Canucks center J.T. Miller scored two goals and two assists and Quinn Hughes collected two assists after missing four games with an undisclosed injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first wild-card berth but the Lightning hold three games in hand. The Pittsburgh Penguins also have 41 points but have played one more game and have two fewer wins. The Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets are one point back and the Philadelphia Flyers are two points behind.
Hutson leads all rookies this season with 30 points. The Canucks placed forward Dakota Joshua (leg injury) on injured reserve and recalled Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who scored his second goal of the season in this contest.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry, and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 5.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Minnesota Wild placed defenseman Jared Spurgeon (lower body) on injured reserve.
DAILY FACEOFF: Nashville Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon is on IR with a lower-body injury.
TORONTO SUN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (upper-body injury) was placed on IR. Meanwhile, Leafs forward Max Domi was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL’s department of player safety for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway during Sunday’s game between the two clubs.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker was helped off the ice during practice on Monday after suffering an injury to his left leg.
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers claimed winger Arthur Kaliyev off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.
DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL forward Alex Chiasson announced his retirement. He spent 11 seasons in the league (2012-13 to 2022-23) with the Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings, winning a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2017-18. Chiasson had 120 goals and 113 assists for 233 points in 651 regular-season games and seven points in 37 playoff contests.
ARIZONA INSIDER: Craig Morgan reports that newly elected Maricopa Board of Supervisors Chairman Tom Galvin announced the formation of a committee dedicated to bringing the NHL back to the Phoenix Metro Area. The Arizona Coyotes relocated to Utah last spring after their former owner’s plans for a new arena fell through.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL hasn’t given up on returning to Phoenix. However, it will require stable ownership and a new arena in metro Phoenix.
TSN: Former NHL player, coach and executive Al MacNeil passed away at the age of 89. MacNeil played 11 seasons (1955-56 to 1967-68) as a defenseman with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
MacNeil was head coach of the Canadiens for one season, winning the Stanley Cup in 1970-71. He also spent six seasons with their AHL affiliate in Halifax, NS, winning three Calder Cup championships. He also spent three seasons coaching the Atlanta/Calgary Flames (1979-80 to 1981-82) and served as an interim coach with the Flames in 2002-03.
MacNeil also spent stints as the Flames’ assistant general manager and director of player personnel and scouting.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL forward Dwight Foster passed away at age 67. He spent 10 seasons in the NHL (1977-78 to 1986-87) with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings. In 541 games, Foster scored 111 goals and 163 assists for 274 regular-season points and had 17 points in 35 playoff games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to the families, friends, former teammates, and associates of MacNeil and Foster.
I can only hope the Senators have taken notice of the Habs’ ability to shake off goaltending issues, key injuries and defensive breakdowns and build an overall cohesive and consistent approach to each game.
If they manage to continue that over the second half and lodge themselves into a playoff spot, they’ll be a team no one wants to meet in the opening round. And Hutson has firmly lodged himself into the lead in the Calder race.
The Sens went on their own little run. But still need confident goaltending to force the rest of the team to play the right way. And while the Habs are on a nice little run, how quickly the memory fades regarding the stain they were in the NHL toilet bowl a couple of weeks ago. “fire everybody and trade everybody” was the nice stuff being said. Winning fixes all.
George,
I Really hope they give both there young goaltenders a shot Especally 22 yr old
Leevi Merilainen
and
24 yr old Mads Sogaard to see what they can do….?
By the UFA period the will know if the need to sign a real back up if they cant handle it….?
A bit to early to panic, The Trade deadline is 9+ weeks away⁉️
Merilainen, yes. Sogaard? I think what you see is what you get … and what I’ve seen – in my opinion anyway – I’m not encouraged, Not only is he not showing progress of any sort when he does get into an NHL game, he shows the same in Belleville. There just simply seems to be no progress being made.
Well well well
Musical chairs for last WildCard spot in the East (Sens, Pens, Habs over last 3 days; and could be Jackets by end of today).
Pens had a whole day in the Wildcard spot. Wow!
We’re almost at 1/2 way point of the season and the above teams while IN the Wildcard spot had/will have after tonight a winning percentage of between .500 and .538 (Sens with a Victory tonight). Over 82 games that’s 84-88 points for making the playoffs.
Teams of course will make trades and bottom dwellers get worse; more potential points for WC team , but still!!! Are we going to have a team make playoffs with mid 80’s points????
Over the second half probably at least 2 or 3 of Tampa, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Columbus, Detroit will string together enough 10 game stretches of .600 to .700 hockey to bring the cut-off to more in the range of 90-92 points.
In the West, it’ll likely be more in the range of 92-94 points.
You may be right, but I wouldn’t be surprised if 88 or 89 points gets the East WC spot
George o so Boston is out?
Oh and for 90 points for Pens; they don’t need stretches of 600; they have to average 600 from now on to get to 90 points.
And they aren’t doing that with the current line-up thrown out there right now
Sr, Boston definitely not “out” – but it will be a dog fight, with the surprising Habs right in the mix.
Over their first 15 games of this season Montreal went 4 10 1 9pts – a .300 pace – with 39gf and 62ga (minus 23), and most were naturally ready to consign them to another early summer. But in their 25gp since they have gone 15 8 2 32pts – a .640 pace – with 83gf and 74ga (+9). If they can keep up that .640 pace, and with the 84 pts left in their schedule, they’d end up with a solid 95 pts. Let’s compared that to the teams closest to them in the playoff hunt.
Ottawa, over their first 15gp, had a record of 8-7-0 16pts – a .533 pace – with 51gf 44ga (+7). In their 23gp since they have gone 11 10 2 24pts – a .522 pace – with 61gf 67g (minus 6). So, they are more or less marking time. A .522 pace the rest of the way would finish them with 84 pts, and that would not be enough. Detroit and Philadelphia both project to finish in that same range.
Pittsburgh, over their first 15gp, had a record of 5 8 2 12pts – a .400 pace – with 42gf 59ga (minus 17). In their 26gp since they have gone 12 9 5 29pts – a .558 pace – with 83gf and 93ga (minus 10) – a marked improvement that has them in the thick of the race. However, if they can’t improve on that .558 pace down the stretch. and even maintain it, their 87 pts will either again bring them up just short or, as 8787 postulates re 88 pts, right in the thick of things.
Columbus, over their first 15gp, had a record of 5 8 2 12 pts – a .400 pace – with 46gf 54ga (minus 8). In their 25gp since they have gone 12 9 4 28pts – a .560 pace – with 91gf 91ga (E) – indicating they are not about to fade from sight, and maintaining their .56- pace will also finish them with 87 pts.
Tampa, over their first 15gp, had a record of 8 6 1 17pts – a .567 pace – with 53gf 46ga +7. In their 22gp since they have gone 12 9 1 25pts – a .568 pace – with 84gf 59ga (+25) – a consistently decent record indicating they will definitely remain in a solid playoff position, especially with all those games in hand. Maintaining .568, and with a possible 90 pts left in their schedule, would give them 93 pts at the end.
Boston, over their first 15gp, registered a 7 8 0 14pts record – a .467 pace – with 38gf 49ga (minus 11). In their 27gp since they have gone 13 9 5 31pts – a .574 pace – with 73gf 82ga (minus 9). Their overall .536 pace, if maintained, would give them 88 pts – a definite dog-fight range – but should they maintain their .574 pace over their final games they’d wind up with a more comfortable 91 pts.
George O looks like a real dogfight! I can see all teams affected being both a buyer and a seller!Let s hope for no injuries in the 4 Nations Tournament! That would throw a wrench into it!
Not to nitpick, but the above projections for the remainder of the season did leave out one important factor: Detroit under Lalonde was 13-17-4 (0.441 pace) getting outscored 88-111, under McLellan they are 4-1 (0.800 pace) outscoring team 19-15. At their current pace under the new coach they will finish with almost 107 points. And obviously a 0.800 pace is definitely sustainable. It’s certainly not just the new coach motivation bump or anything.
A 5 game run is not a valid indicator of anything. And I doubt ANY team is going to finish with an .800 mark, let alone Detroit.
An .800 pace by Detroit is not only not sustainable – even over half a season – only two teams have accomplished that over the course of a full schedule in the past 20 seasons – Chicago .802 in 2012-13 and Boston ,823 in 2022-23 – and Detroit, despite their recent improvement, is not in THAT class.
Nor can anyone seriously suggest they’re even anywhere near the calibre of the teams posting the next 10 best % paces after the above: .780 – Tampa in 2018-19; .756 – Detroit in 2005-06; .744 – Florida in 2021-22; .738 – Washington in 2009-10; .732 – Washington in 2015-16 and Colorado in 2020-21; .720 – Colorado in 2000-01 & Washington in 2016-17; .714 – Boston in 2019-20 – San Jose in 2008-09 – Vancouver in 2010-11 – .713 – Boston in 2013-14 Nashville in 2017-18.
8787, 600 is not much better than the old 500 plus a bunch of loser points.
However, with a record of 17 wins and 24 losses, the Pens played the first half at a real clip (baseball, basketball) of 414.
Noted and with youHammer of the Gods
Not a fan of the “Loser point” system
Many teams are benefitting from this point system.
Hybrid maybe? Every game is worth 3 points. Regulation win =3 points. If it goes past 60, points are split 2 and 1
I believe Pens went to OT 13 times , and have 11 Regulation wins, 17 regulation losses; so old system : 11-17-13. 35 points of a potential 82. Ouch
Old point system, current system, future system; no matter what; so far Pens’ playing is not deserving a playoff spot
That said, if things stay tight like this into April; those last two weeks will be very interesting for the NHL
So another misguided attempt at resurrecting the corpse that is the Arizona Coyotes. If at first you don’t succeed, fail fail again.
I see a lot of taxpayer money wasted on this stupidity. I checked out Galvin’s bio on the county website. All about protecting taxpayer money and being a good financial steward of the county’s finances. Yeah, that’s the way to do it Tommy.
3rd largest tv market in the US I think is what keeps the NHL trying to make it work here
Agree Howard
There is only echos now of an Arizona NHL team.
Really only Gary wants them there; and that’s just to say “I told you so”
Dark G,
It is not the population or the size of the TV market. It’s the size now, and in the future, of a hockey viewing market. An that number is very small in Arizona.
If population was the only indicator of NHL franchise success; then the NHL would already be in North America’s largest city (which has a Metro population of over 22 million).
The next expansion teams must be from the following list : Houston, another Toronto team, Quebec City, KC
RIP Al MacNeil. A good hockey man. The 1971 Cup run is one of my earliest hockey memories.
Al had a rough ride during the finals after clashing with Henri Richard. But he and Jean Beliveau held the team together and they got the job done. As unfairly as he was treated at times, he was always loyal to the teams he worked for.
71 playoffs are one of my earliest hockey memories as well Howard, and the Habs upsetting the favored Bruins. Orr and Esposito in their prime.
I remember some kid named Dryden coming out of nowhere and stoning the B’s in game 7.
Thus began my disdain for the Habs.
MacNeil is a good hockey man, I lived in Calgary during his final stint with the Flames in the early 2000’s. By all accounts a solid guy.
$9M in deferred payments!
This is for 8787 and the titanic struggle that will be the CBJ v PIT tonight.
CBJ has not won in PIT since 2015.
CBJ has won a playoff series more recently than PIT.
PIT is paying Jack Johnson more this year to not play for them than CBj is to play for them.
Make of it what you will.
Fair points
I’m certainly not “countin’ my chickens” for tonight.
Jackets are definitely doing far better than I expected. They’ve bonded, and compete hard.
Sullivan keeps marching out (and giving more ice time to) the same guys who are either defensive errors juggernauts; AND/OR who only know how to play a 100’ game, AND/OR who skate and compete with complete apathy.
Pens did however,just coming up to the end of 2024, seem to get some needed offensive infusion. That’s fallen off the last couple of games.
Pend also are experts at surrendering leads.
I will not be surprised by any outcome tonight (including a blowout by EITHER team)