NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 15, 2025
Previewing Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off Games and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
4 NATIONS FACE-OFF NEWS
TSN/SPORTSNET/THE SCORE: Canada and the United States practiced Friday in preparation for their much-anticipated match-up on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Players from both clubs look forward to the next chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the two hockey nations.
Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby called it a game that you love to be a part of, regardless of previous experience. “Excited for the challenge,” he said. Teammate Brad Marchand said there was no bigger rivalry. “They’re the games that everybody dreams about playing growing up.”
Matthew and Brady Tkachuk led Team USA to their 6-1 victory over Finland on Thursday. Brady considers Saturday’s tilt against Canada the biggest game he’s ever played in his career. “Bigger than just the guys on the ice,” he said.
The last time Matthew Tkachuk faced Canada was in a 4-2 victory for Team USA in the preliminary round of the 2016 World Junior Championship. “I think I’ve thought about this game for nine years, so we’ll be ready for it,” said Tkachuk.
Team USA center J.T. Miller expects his team to be fired up when they face Canada on their home turf. Teammate Noah Hanifin expects it will be the most intense environment he’s ever been a part of.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the marquee matchup of the tournament. The two clubs could also end up facing each other again in the championship game in Boston on Feb. 20.
Travis Sanheim will replace Shea Theodore on Canada’s defense. Theodore was sidelined by an upper-body injury in Canada’s 4-3 win over Sweden and is considered week-to-week.
Sam Bennett will replace Travis Konecny among Canada’s forward lines. He skated alongside Marchand during practice on Friday.
Canada’s top defenseman Cale Makar skipped Friday’s practice due to illness but is expected to play against the Americans on Saturday. Canada has been granted permission to bring in blueliner Thomas Harley if Makar remains sidelined.
Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty spoke out against Canadian fans booing the American anthem before Thursday’s game between Team USA and Finland. “I know what’s going on and I understand Canadians’ frustration,” said Doughty. “But I think we should respect the anthems…I don’t think anyone should be booing.”
Canadian coach Jon Cooper hadn’t named his starting goalie for Saturday’s game. Jordan Binnington allowed three goals on 26 shots against Sweden on Wednesday. Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights and Samuel Montembault of the Montreal Canadiens are Canada’s other goalies.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Is this a mind game Cooper is playing against the Americans or a genuine lack of confidence in Binnington on his part? We’ll know for sure by game time if not sooner.
NHL.COM: Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks will get the start in goal for Finland in Saturday’s game against Sweden on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal (1 PM ET). Juuse Saros gave up six goals on 31 shots against the Americans on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a must-win game for Finland. A regulation loss will eliminate them from reaching the championship game on Feb. 20.
NHL.com writers selected Sweden’s Quarter-Century Team on Friday.
The First Team comprised goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Erik Karlsson, and forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Nicklas Backstrom.
The Second Team featured forwards Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin and Henrik Zetterberg, defensemen Victor Hedman and Niklas Kronwall, and goalie Jacob Markstrom.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some might question why Forsberg and Sundin aren’t on the First Team. That’s because most of their best seasons occurred in the 1990s. Forsberg won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy in 2002-03 but injuries hampered him throughout the first decade of this century.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NEW YORK POST: Kaapo Kakko has found the role with the Seattle Kraken that he always wanted with the Rangers. He’s seeing first-line duty alongside center Matty Beniers and winger Jaden Schwartz as well as playing on the top power-play unit. Following a period of adjustment where he scored one goal in his first three games, Kaako improved in his next 21 games with 16 points over that stretch.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski recently reported the Sabres have opened contract extension talks with Jason Zucker. The 33-year-old winger is currently on a one-year, $5 million deal.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed versatile forward Sam Steel to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension. The average annual value is $2.1 million beginning in 2025-26.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins traded minor-league winger Corey Andonovski to the St. Louis Blues organization for minor-league forward Mathias Laferriere.
Two great international hockey games today! Don t sleep on the Finland/ Sweden game! These rivals are close to the USA / Canada matchup!! I know some fans are concerned about potential injuries,I love the speed,skill and competitiveness of the games!After watching the BostonBruins all year this is enjoyable.
SR,
Yes its going to be Great Game with Canada & the USA….
The Amerans look Very Good, Connor Hellebuyck looks like he is going to be be tough to beat, the US d also look good.
The brother’s Tkachuk both look Possessed..‼️
Jordon BINNINGTON has has to play Great,
Drew Doughty, & Cale Makar
both need to step up tonight…We need An other Great game from the Cole Harbour duo,
Crosby & Nathan MacKinnon,
Mcdavid needs to get going tonight 100% and play well and get some points….
then it should be a dandy of a game…
Final score 4-3 to……🤔❓
Actually, the Cole Harbour Trio … don’t forget Marchand … he’s probe to rising to an occasion!
“prone”
No you had it right, he is a probe to the neither regions.
lol … but you have to admit, he can suddenly be impactful in the close, key games. Has done it his entire career.
Hey George, from your coments yesterday…🤔
They may have to trade David Peron & his $4.M Contract for 1.2 more years….
this maybe the only way ❓
With A 3rd pick or a 4th pick & prospect…. Or
To move him to A Rebuilding team who want Lots picks like the BlackHawks Or Sharks🤔
to give the Sen’s much needed
salary cap space could well be the only Way…..❓❓🤔
williew, I guess we;ll just have to develop a wait-and-see approach to that.
My view is, even with his being a close friend of Tkachuk’s, if he contributes little over the final 27 games and the team misses the playoffs once more, that could lead to an effort to move his $4 mil cap hit along with the necessary sweeteners sufficient to get some GM to bite.
But if he does contribute significantly down the stretch – as I anticipate – and they get into a playoff position, he’ll be back next year for the final year of his deal.
One thing that won’t happen, however, is a deal at the trade deadline.
With returns of Gregor and Bernard-Docker from injury following the break, that will be tantamount to getting a depth bottom 6 F and at RD through trade. At the same time, players like Jensen, Norris, Pinto, nursing various dings, should be back to 100%.
Like I posted yesterday, any big move to free up cap space in order to meet the demands of their pending RFAs and the at least one UFA they probably wish to retain (Giroux), will happen in the off season.
If I’m wrong, I’ll be anxious to see in which direction Staios intends to go – – – but much will depend upon where they finish this season in the standings.
I know these quarter century teams are meaningless but that is some nasty disrespect to Daniel Alfredsson.
Stars signing Sam Steel is perfect. Tenacious as heck. Definitely a bottom 6 forward, but is very tough to play against.
Sooo any one here has any predictions for tonight’s 🇨🇦 vs 🇺🇸?
I’m guessing the Americans will win this one simply because I have little faith in the goalies in net for Canada vs the fire power the Americans have. I could also see this going to OT unless the Canadian goalies let in a few they shouldn’t have.
Anyone else?
Fleury should have made the squad.
He would have been my starter.
The veteran should certainly have been named to the squad, Shoreorrpark. So, too, should Logan Thompson have been there from the outset.
There are a number of reasons the Capitals are pushing the Jets for the top team in the league honours at the moment, and it isn’t all due to Ovechkin, Strome, Wilson, Chychrun, etc.
All the kid has done in goal is go 24 2 5 so far with a 2.23gaa and 0.921 save %.
From what I’ve heard, George, Thompson isn’t liked by either Deboer or Cassidy. I’ve heard why, but I’ll keep that to myself.
With that said, you can’t argue about the guys numbers this year. They’re pretty stellar.
Canada 6-4! McDavid and MacKinnon . Hagel GW in 3rd!!!
Game plan today
1)Don’t let McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Marner, Makar, Hagel or Point touch the puck
2)Shoot high on Binnington
3)Stay out of the box
Re the “big” trade:Andonovski for Laferriere
I don’t get it
Both career AHLers
Both UFAs July 1st
Only $5 K difference in Sal
Neither will play in the NHL
Both are forwards ; very similar in production
Neither will make any improvement on their new team
Moving to another team gets neither an NHL job next year
Neither are moving to a “home town”
So why the trade?
Were they both “dressing room issues” guys?
Probably met positional needs of their farm teams. Deals like that happen all the time.
Hey, Pengy. Sometimes, managers like to make a small trade just to warm up and prep for a larger deal.
Army and Dumbaas are building a report most likely.