NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2025
The 4 Nations Face-Off championship draws big ratings in North America, top storylines for the remainder of the regular season, the Canucks sign Kevin Lankinen to a contract extension, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
THE SCORE: The 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between Canada and the United States drew 16.1 million viewers across North America
It was the second-most-watched hockey game on the continent in a decade. Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers drew more viewers (16.3 million).
ESPN averaged 9.3 million viewers in the United States, peaking at 10.4 million, making it the network’s largest-ever hockey audience.
Sportsnet averaged 10.7 million Canadians tuning in for the championship game, peaking at 7.3 million viewers and averaging 5.7 million. It was the second-most-watched game for that network, with Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final reaching 15 million Canadians.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nearly a decade without a best-on-best tournament involving most of the NHL’s top talent whetted the fans’ appetite for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The players bought in and performed at their best. It also helped that the championship game was a closely contested match between the world’s biggest hockey nations as they resumed their ongoing rivalry.
NHL.COM: Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the playoff race, and the March 7 trade deadline are among the top storylines for the remainder of the NHL regular season.
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks signed Kevin Lankinen to a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension. The 29-year-old goaltender is currently on a one-year, $875K deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Starter Thatcher Demko’s knee injury and backup Arturs Silovs’ disappointing performance landed Lankinen his current contract. His efforts kept this struggling team in the Western Conference playoff race, earning him the long-term contract security he’d sought last summer.
Lankinen’s new contract raises questions about Demko’s future as he battles with injuries and inconsistency. The latter is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Speaking of the Canucks, center Elias Pettersson is dealing with an undisclosed injury suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is listed as day-to-day. Team captain Quinn Hughes (oblique injury) is doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body) isn’t expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.
TSN: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won’t be playing in Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues. Morrissey is dealing with an illness that prevented him from playing for Canada in the 4 Nations championship game.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils captain Nico Hischier could return for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars. He missed their last six games with an upper-body injury.
THE ATHLETIC: New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck suffered a broken finger playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The injury reportedly occurred during Monday’s game against Sweden. A source claims he’s not expected to miss any games.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery) will make his season debut on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Forward Kirill Marchenko (fractured jaw) and defenseman Dante Fabbro (concussion) will also return to action against the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This trio’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blue Jackets. They’re one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
DAILY FACEOFF: Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby will miss the remainder of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Left winger Zach L’Heureux (upper body) is week-to-week.
Seattle Kraken defensemen Brandon Montour and Ryker Evans are expected to return to action in Saturday’s game against the Panthers. Team captain Jordan Eberle was upgraded to day-to-day. He’s been out since mid-November following pelvic surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken also moved center Yanni Gourde to long-term injury reserve retroactive to Jan. 4. He’ll be sidelined for another two weeks recovering from sports hernia surgery. It’s believed they’re putting him on LTIR to free up cap space for Eberle’s imminent return.
CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Tyson Barrie cleared waivers on Friday and was sent to their AHL affiliate.
Talk about jumping right back into the grinder – 28 teams are in action today, with only Calgary, NYI, San Jose and Tampa getting an extra night off. They’re all on the ice on Sunday, though, with 16 other teams that will be playing in the second of back-to-backs right off the bat: Anaheim, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Nashville, New Jersey, NYR, Pittsburgh, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Washington. At least the latter will be the most rested of all 32, not having had one player in the 4 Nations tournament.
Ottawa hosts the Habs tonight without the services of two C – Norris and Pinto – who remain sidelined with what we were told initially in early February were “minor injuries somewhere vague on the body” . Other than that – no details of course. I mean, someone might take advantage of it when they do play again, don’t you know! What a colossal load of crap. The two had the better part of two weeks – in addition to the time lost before the break – to heal. That they haven’t suggests the injuries are more serious than we’ve been led to believe. Time for teams to be up front with the thousands who fork over a healthy percentage of their incomes to support them.
The NHL have become masters at keeping their fan bases in the dark. When we commit to buying our season ticket package (1/2 season), we don’t know what games we are getting, how much parking will be, or even which lot/deck we will be sent to. Since I no longer follow or watch the NFL, MLB,or NBA, I don’t know how they treat their fans, but we respond to surveys about the season ticket process negatively, expressing our frustration about being treated like blindfolded cash cows by the Red Wings.
I don’t know what team you are talking abut but as a Flyers season ticketholder I will tell you I know exactly what I have, what it costs, what my parking costs, and where my parking is located. That sounds like an individual team issue with your team buddy
He did say Red Wings
George,
When do you know when Pinto & Norris are coming back….❓
From minitor injury’s
I’m sure Claude moves back to centre and maybe they move up the young fella from the fourth line…❓
With LU back back the standard a good chance of winning as Sam the Hanns tender can can be very very inconsistent ❗️
williew … that’s the point – none among the fan base – especially including potential walk-up seat buyers – are being given any firm indication as to their likely return.
Yes, Stutzle will be at the 1st line C position, and they could insert Giroux at the 2nd line C slot, that being his natural position, but that simply makes them weaker at the wing where they have little real depth.
More likely we’ll see Greig move up to the 2nd line C tonight between Perron and Batherson, with Giroux remaining at RW with Stutzle and Tkachuk.
So, that leaves Ostapchuk taking over at 3rd line C between Highmore (LW) and Amadio (RW), while Gaudette lots in at 4th line C between the returning Gregor (LW) and Reinhardt (RW).
At least Jensen is back at RD beside Chabot while the 3rd D p[airing will have Kleven with Matinpalo (who performed pretty well at the 4 Nations with Finland).
Ullmark will probably start tonight, leaving Forsberg to face Winnipeg on Wednesday.
Just a gut instinct, but I see a fast Habs team skating to a 4-2 win tonight.
GeorgeO similar to your fate in Ottawa,Boston is still quiet about the return of Hampus Lindholm! He has missed 39 games! And with them being quiet on Mcavoys injury,we don’t know what to expect!
I know it sounds like corny bs, but when the Habs played Columbus earlier this year there indicators that there were runs at his shoulder.
More importantly we as fans have no reason to know in any sense that benefits the players or playing of the game.
The people that benefit are the most are the betting sites and those that use them and I happen to oppose that whole base.
The player, family and team are the only ones who need to know the specifics of injury in my opinion.
There situations where disclosure is needed such as trade talk , league for ltir and probably some others.
Players on the ice are able to tell if an opponent is favoring something there’s no need to let them advance plan on taking advantage of it,
We’ll just have to disagree there habfan30. The team owners and players haul in their healthy incomes based upon fan attendance and media royalties, which also fork over their big bucks to the pot based upon viewership from that same fan base.
If team management can’t release details of an injury for the reasons you cite … and I do see your point to a degree … why can’t they at least be more up front with their fan base on how long the player is expected to be unavailable? Surely the doctors and trainers – based upon past similar injuries – can at least provide what they believe to be a realistic time-frame in each case other than “week-to-week” or “day to day” – which more often than not turns into week-to-week (e.g. Ullmark as one recent example).
George,
Honestly speaking does your interest or attendance on Sen games depend on which player is on the ice?
Do fans lose interest in the team when a player is traded away?
There’s concern, something to talk and speculate about but it doesn’t impact interest in the team, the game.
We aren’t going to agree on this, but I get you wanting to know.
In my case, no, Habfan30. I’m basically and hopelessly pragmatic by nature – lol. But there is that element of any fan base comprising the game-by-game walk-up sector who might let it affect their willingness to attend. Why not just try and be more factual about realistic time-frames based upon advice from the medical team?
I do see your point – and totally agree – on specifics of an injury feeding the betting sites and influencing those that use them.
Remember that hockey teams share the same corridor in the arenas where they play. I was in a family room for an NHL team after the game and saw an opposition player go by with his arm in a sling.
And during games its obvious even on tv whether a player has an upper or lower body injury.
Not saying that is the case for all injuries, but it’s often hard to hide them.
So teams can and probably do target players, especially in the playoffs. With the caveat that what goes around …
It will be interesting to see which of the 12 hottest teams (.600 or better) before the break can continue their performances over their past 10 games at the same rate … or better:
Winnipeg – 8 – 2 – 0 – 16pts .800 – Streak: W8
Detroit – 7 – 2 – 1 – 15pts .750 – Streak: W1
Dallas – 7 – 2 – 1 – 15pts .750 – Streak: W1
Washington – 6 – 1 – 3 – 15pts .750 – Streak: OT 1
Florida – 7 – 3 – 0 – 14pts – Streak: W2
NYI – 7 – 3 – 0 – 14pts .700 – Streak: L2
Tampa – 6 – 3 – 1 – 13pts .650 – Streak: W4
Vancouver – 6 – 3 – 1 – 13pts .650 – Streak W3
Anaheim – 6 – 3 – 1 – 13pts .650 – Streak: W3
Carolina – 6 – 3 – 1 – 13pts .650 – Streak: W1
Minnesota – 6 – 4 – 0 – 12pts .600 – Streak: W2
Toronto – 6 – 4 – 0 – 12pts .600 – Streak: L1
Not too far back of them, having played their last 10 at between .500 and .550, are these 11:
Colorado – 5 – 4 – 1 – 11pts .550 – Streak: W2
NYR – 5 – 4 – 1 – 11pts .550 – Streak: W1
Edmonton – 5 – 4 – 1 – 11pts .550 – Streak: L1
Vegas – 4 – 3 – 3 – 11pts .550 – Streak: W2
New Jersey – 5 – 5 – 0 – 10pts .500 – Streak: W1
Buffalo – 5 – 5 – 0 – 10pts .500 – Streak: L1
Boston – 5 – 5 – 0 – 10pts .500 – Streak: L2
Ottawa – 5 – 5 -0 – 10pts .500 – Streak: L3
Utah – 4 – 4 – 2 – 10pts .500 – Streak: W1
Los Angeles – 4 – 4 – 2 – 10 pts .500 – Streak: OT 1
Chicago – 3 – 3 – 4 – 10pts .500 – Streak: OT 1
At the other end of the scale are these 9 that played their last 10 at levels below .500:
San Jose – 1 – 8 – 1 – 3pts .150 -Streak: L1
Montreal – 2 – 7 – 1 – 5pts .250 – Streak: L3
Philadelphia – 3 – 6 – 1 – 7pts .350 – Streak: W1
St. Louis – 3 – 6 – 1 – 7pts .350 – Streak: W1
Nashville – 4 – 6 – 0 – 8pts .400 – Streak: W1
Seattle – 4 – 5 – 1 – 9pts .450 – Streak: W1
Calgary – 4 – 5 – 1 9pts .450 – Streak: OT1
Columbus – 4 – 5 – 1 9pts .450 – Streak: L1
Pittsburgh – 4 – 5 – 1 9pts .450 – Streak: L1
Columbus still sniffing at playoffs is remarkable considering the loss of Gaudreau as well as the injuries they have been challenged with. I sure would like to see them make it.
So would I – and getting Jenner, Marchenko and Fabbro back today will certainly increase their chances.
Interesting take on why the U.S. keeps losing at international tournaments. The writer could almost be talking about why Canada’s Juniors are inconsistent at their similar tournaments
The insistence on “role” players as opposed to selecting the best snipers available
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/team-usa-will-keep-losing-tournaments-until-it-makes-one-major-change/ar-AA1zycqy?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=106f1c12dc264b15b0f2a14cae04e72c&ei=12
The only constant best on best is Canada. USA are our rivals in terms of being our neighbour and close connections and all that. But we are unrivaled truly best on best having won 10 of 14 or 11 of 15 if you count 1972. And we finished second in 2 of the 4 loses.
Russia…Sweden…Czech…and USA have 1 win each.
Can the lack of international success for USA best on best perhaps be attributed for going for broke. Meaning let’s structure our team in a way that gives us the best chance to beat Canada. Maybe doing so exposes a weakness to other clubs?
Just a thought.
And yet another article indicating that more and more Canadian fans might start openly cheering for Ovechkin to pass Gretzky in total goals
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/canadians-call-wayne-gretzky-a-traitor-after-tense-4-nations-hockey-final/ar-AA1zxqCu?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=94445d00450840d7b885ba1eb00ff891&ei=20
People have to remember Gretzky is a dual citizen living in the states. Like it or not they should realize his political views are from a different perspective than it would be if he only had Canadian citizenship.
But if one of your countries extends the honour of asking you to be their honorary team captain … and you accept – the least you could do was don their sweater … as they also asked … much the same as Mike Eruizone did as honorary Team U.S. captain.
I really think that will be remembered at the next Olympics.
Go Ovie!
Bull, have you listened to his wife`s comments and no he hasn`t given any indication he disagrees with her comments. Wayne is 100% American now, there`s no Canadian left in him
That’s a good point, 1oiler fan.
I assume most pro athletes are conservative politically as these parties tend to tax the wealthy less.
And I thought less of Orr when he came out and endorsed Trump. But art lovers still like Modigliani and Picasso despite their womanizing.
In art and hockey, like the artistry, not the artist. And never meet your heroes.
And don’t kid yourself, 1Oilerfan – he absolutely knew the cameras were on him as was introduced and walked out on the ice, making sure to walk past the U.S. bench and give them several thumbs-up, while completely ignoring the team he hypocritically accepted the invitation from to be their honorary captain.
They should have asked Larry Robinson or someone of that ilk.
Gretzky won’t have to worry about being asked again when the Olympics roll around.
Of the 23 players on Canada s roster,19 played for US teams and 4 including their 3rd string goalie played for Canada!After hearing of all the comments about playing for your country and the flag,how many of those 19 might chose to play north of the border if the had their choice as a UFA!
Since none of us know the answer to that question, including you Sr, the only reason you brought that up was to stir the pot. You guys couldn`t build a wall in the south but you`re well on the way to building one in the north
George,
Do you think the Sen’s can trade down from a 16th tor a 19th spot wher they finish…to A 8th to 12/13th spot in the draft
if they gave up a 1st & 2nd pick and a prospect
Or player to move into a better spot….❓
and could pick up A better player like a
1/
Victor Eklund
Ht/Wt:5’11″/161 lbs
Position:RW
Team: Djurgardens IF
2/
Ivan Ryabkin
Ht/Wt:6′ 0″/201 lbs
Position:C
Team: Dynamo (MHL) Russian.
3/
Justin Carbonneau
Ht/Wt: 6′ 1″/190 lbs
Position: RW
Team: Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJH
4/
Carter Bear
Ht/Wt:6′ 0″/179 lbs
Position:C/LW
Team: Everett (WHL)
williew, I seriously doubt Staios will do anything of that magnitude at the trace deadline – but perhaps at the draft if they miss the playoffs again.
In that event, I think you might see several fundamental changes to the so-called core.
If, on the other hand, they still hold a playoff spot at the deadline he’ll likely move picks/prospects and maybe a roster player to strengthen the bottom 6 F group and perhaps a veteran bottom-half D to add depth there.
Yogi,economics over Patriotism!Old historical saying,money is the root of all evil!
So you`re saying you`d sell your mother out for a buck, Nice
Just referring to most professional atheletes today!Mothers are sacred in my heritage!
Professional athletes are still people and you might of noticed that the Canadians desire to play for their country was as strong as any other maybe stronger. One thing I`ve learned over the past while is that Americans don`t know much about Canada or the people here. We aren`t the same