NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2025
The Kings clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, Ivan Demidov shines in his debut as Canadiens earn a point in the wild-card race, Sharks captain Logan Couture will announce his retirement, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings clinched home-ice advantage in their upcoming first-round series with the Edmonton Oilers by blanking them 5-0. Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich combined for the shutout while Adrian Kempe had a goal and two assists for the Kings, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 103 points. The Oilers are third with 99 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings pulled Kuemper at 8:13 of the third period after going up 5-0 in favor of Rittich to give him some playing time before his start on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken.
Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Kings forward Quinton Byfield during the second period. Byfield left the ice and missed the rest of the game in concussion protocol. His teammate, Philip Danault, wasn’t pleased with the Oilers’ actions in this game. “They have their B squad in trying to hurt us,” he said.
Before the game, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss at least the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov (NHL.com).
Montreal Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov scored his first NHL goal and collected his first assist but his club dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Chicago Blackhawks. Frank Nazar tallied the game-winner and scored a goal and an assist in regulation time. Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky scored to reach 50 points for the second straight season as his club picked up a point in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. They hold the final berth with 89 points, four ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov handled the pressure of his first NHL game quite well but Montreal failed to clinch a playoff berth and are 0-1-2 in their last three games. They have one game left while Columbus has two. The Canadiens can clinch if the Blue Jackets lose in any fashion to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Speaking of Canadiens rookies, Lane Hutson collected an assist on Slafkovsky’s goal to break the franchise record for the most points by a rookie defenseman with 65. Chris Chelios held the previous record with 64 points.
A four-goal third period lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider led the way with a goal and two assists each in the third period. Jamie Benn collected two assists for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 106 points but have gone 0-4-2 in their last six games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars general manager Jim Nill said sidelined defenseman Miro Heiskanen will miss the start of their opening-round series against the Colorado Avalanche. He didn’t rule out Heiskanen’s return later in the first round.
The New York Rangers upset the Florida Panthers 5-3 with J.T. Miller, Juuso Parssinen and Matt Rempe each collecting a goal and an assist. Sam Reinhart tallied twice for the Panthers, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 98 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers center Sam Bennett picked up an assist in his return to action after being sidelined on Apr. 5 with an upper-body injury against the Ottawa Senators.
Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk scored in overtime to nip the San Jose Sharks 2-1. Linus Karlsson scored for the Canucks in regulation while Macklin Celebrini netted his 25th goal of the season for the Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Quinn Hughes collected an assist on DeBrusk’s goal to tie Alexander Edler’s franchise record for most points by a defenseman (409).
The Utah Hockey Club got a four-point performance by Clayton Keller for a 7-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Keller scored two goals and set up two others while Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot each had three points. Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for the Predators.
HEADLINES
DAILY FACEOFF: The San Jose Sharks will hold a press conference on Tuesday to announce captain Logan Couture is unable to continue his playing career due to injury.
Couture, 36, has been sidelined since February 2024 by a groin ailment. He missed all of this season and only appeared in six games in 2023-24. He spent 15 seasons with the Sharks from 2009-10 to 2023-24, sitting fifth among their franchise leaders with 933 games played and 378 assists. He was also third in goals with 323 and fourth in points with 701.
Named captain of the Sharks in 2019-20, Couture was a proven postseason performer with 48 goals and 53 assists for 101 points in 116 playoff games. He led all scorers with 20 assists and 30 points during the Sharks’ run to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: An unfortunate, premature end for Couture’s playing career. He will be remembered as one of the great players in Sharks’ history.
NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, and Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck are the league’s three stars for the week ending Apr. 13, 2025.
The department of player safety suspended New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter for two games for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech on Sunday.
THE ATHLETIC: A post-mortem analysis of the brain of former NHL player Chris Simon revealed he had severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died by suicide in 2024.
According to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Simon is one of the 19 of 20 NHL players’ brains to have tested positive for CTE following their deaths. They include Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Ralph Backstrom, Bob Probert and Derek Boogaard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meanwhile, the NHL remains in denial about CTE, claiming more study is required.
MLIVE.COM: The four US-based Original Six franchises (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers) have all missed the playoffs for the first time in the post-expansion era (1967-68 to the present).
Hoo-boy, I’ve seen it before over the years – many times – and when Demidov made it 2-0 with that great effort and the excitement in the crowd rose to a new level and decided it was time to start poking fun at the lowly Blackhawks, my initial thought was “uh oh – don’t do that.” Cheer … show your enthusiasm, that’s to be expected and kosher. But hold off on the “it’s all but over” chants in the 1st period, for Pete’s sake.
They may be among the bottom-feeders in terms of points, but they have picked up those points in 35 of their games played, 24 of them wins, and not all have come at the expense of fellow bottom-feeders. Sure enough, the chanting seemed to infuse them with determination … and the Habs’ game flattened. Their response took the crowd right out of it, and I bet you could hear a nickel drop following that early 3rd period goal by Reichel. Now Columbus smells blood and you can expect them to win tonight in Philadelphia. And should the Habs lose Wednesday against Carolina, there is no way the Blue Jackets don’t complete the turn-around with a win at home against the Islanders on Thursday.
I watched the game on Amazon prime and I don’t recall hearing any chanting against Chicago but my hearing isn’t that great anyway. I hate it when fans get smug – it’s like they never learn their lesson. For me, game shifted in Chicago’s favour after the Ghule interference hit. Chicago is a very good PP team. Habs needed to stay out of the box and they gave up 2 pp goals, I think. Habs looked flat at times and Montembeault had to bail them out. Habs got a lucky goal late and OT was uninspiring. Couldn’t buy a goal in the shootout. I think the mental pressure is sinking in and agree CBJ smell blood and look to have a better path. Great story for CBJ after their season of adversity. Habs are burning a year of Demidov’s contract for “meaningful” games. I also think if Calgary makes the playoffs and Habs do not then the Calder goes to Wolf! – from a Habs fan.
Everydayboots … just to clarify, Demidov would have had to play in 10 games in order for a year of his deal to be “burned.”
Are you sure about that, George? I thought I read that his contract was structured so that if he plays any number of games then a year is burned. But maybe that number was a minimum of ten…
I don’t think the rule has anything to do with individual contracts, Everydayboots. See an explanation of the rule here
https://puckpedia.com/entry-level-slides
Now, should the Habs get in, and given that he will have played in their final 2 seasonal games, if they go 8 games deep in the playoffs and he’s in all 8, then he will have burned a year.
I thought that too George but then I saw where Kyle posted that his contract indeed burns a year.
Holy crap, your comment made me dig deeper – and you’re right Chrisms
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=has+Montreal+burned+a+year+of+Demidov%27s+RFA+status
Sorry Everydayboots … you were bang on re he burning of a year of free agency
Crazy, eh? I guess it was more than just the fans who were overly smug last night 😉
George, he`ll burn a year off his ELC, but playing 1 or 2 games won`t get him any closer to being a UFC or arbitration rights. For that he has to play at least 10 games. That`s why teams have to decide whether to return jrs. back or keep them before they play that 10th game
Thanks for that clarification, Yogi. My head was spinning trying to figure out the in and outs of the issue with the age factor thrown in.
Does get him one more year closer to rfa and offer sheet territory. So 1 year closer to being PAID.
It gets him 1 game closer to the minimum games needed, which I believe is 40 games. But 1 game doesn`t burn off a year towards RFA, UFA or offer sheets. ELC`s can burn off a year only if the team agrees to it. 10 games is the magic marker to get things rolling
Montreal is playing desperation hockey, not structured hockey. And you can see it when firewagon speed suddenly plateaus in a game and they’re left skating in circles without any point to what they’re doing. Their defense is a little soft, coaching is out of his element. Goaltender is still a year or two a way. They’ve fluked this position based on an extremely mediocre eastern conference this year.
I kinda hope Columbus knocks them off that final wild card perch. Hab fans need une grande cup de molson realitee
DarkG no the Habs are a bit ahead in development and the timing of other teams not being as good as they should be, like the Sabers or Wings for example and others like the Bruins and whatever you want to call what happened to the Rangers not to mention an aging Isles team, made it all possible. The Habs as they are now, are still very much in development and not a powerhouse team yet.
Just because it took your Sens seven years to make it to the dance, teams like the Leafs have made it 9 yrs in a roll and still waiting to get asked to dance. That is just the way it goes sometimes. There is so little need to hate on a team, even if it’s a rival. Personally I want my teams to beat good teams and beat them often. I don’t look at victories against poor teams as much of a prize like I do when they slay giants. The league and the sport is better when all teams are tough MFers to beat.
I’m hoping Montreal gets in. It would be good for the game, and bad for the team because they are early in their development and will be losing out on a good picks they still could use one way or another. I’m sure a Habs fan will have much more to say about this.
Dark G, I don’t know what game you saw last night but I would not use the phrase “desperation hockey” to describe Montreal’s play last night. Save for Demidov and maybe Montembeault, a better phrase would be pathetic and lethargic hockey. From my perspective, the Habs have already achieved their goal this year. I’m okay with them missing the playoffs so that management can get to work in the offseason to bring in a couple of key pieces for next year which should be enough to finally get them back into the playoffs.
Sens are a year too soon too.
No hate. Just practical non-homer observances.
You can tell Stutzle has decided to play defense because O numbers are way down. He’s still an immature diving machine. Gotta clean that up.
Montreal is a year or 2 early to be in this position. You can say that the taste of the play offs will do them good and maybe they smoke Washington with their speed. Or maybe a couple of them get seriously hurt by Tom Wilson doing Tom Wilson things in the play offs.
Exactly Habman–this year is already a win.
The Columbus comment is simply that they’re a feel good story this season.
Perhaps when Bettman passes, they will find signs of early dementia. That will explain his denial of CTE.
P.S. Further study…….Is that not like saying the tundra in Alaska is melting, which it has not done before has something to do with climate change?
I would say he mostly likely has parkinsons or some form of it, given the tremors he has.
All in all despite the criticisms from Canadian fans, he has grown the game well as his time as commissioner. I give him a 7-8.5/10
All kidding aside, I believe that Bettman has the early signs of Parkinsons.
The way I see it the Habs didn’t gain a point last night they lost a point. No excuse for not wrapping up a playoff spot last night against a lowly team.
Actually, because of the way the tie breaking formula works, the Habs will clinch a playoff spot tonight even if Columbus wins in OT. For Columbus to steal the final spot, they’ll need two regulation wins and a Habs regulation loss. And George, don’t sell the Flyers short. They may be missing the playoffs again but they’ve been playing better since they fired Tortorella.
Oh, I know the Flyers can be a problem … I saw it the other night in Ottawa … but this Columbus team has been battling adversity and injuries since before the season got under way, and they are a very good, dangerous team. Now that their chances have improved ever so slightly, they won’t blow it in the City Of Brotherly Love. And should the Habs lose to Carolina on Wednesday, the Islanders would need to play THE game of their lives to upset the Blue Jackets in THEIR rink on Thursday.
Howard I could not agree more. No excuse for not coming away with 2 points . Top prospect shows he might be more than just hype and had the crowd going crazy but besides Monty the rest of the team look scared. But still only need a point or CBJ to have a bad game and they are in.
Go Habs Go
LJ, you accurately used the term befuddled to describe the Habs play against Ottawa last Friday. Well I think you are going to have to go back into your vocabulary vault and pick another gem to describe what we saw last night. Demidov within his first few shifts of his NHL career at age 19 gets a goal and an assist and the the place is going crazy and it’s like the rest of the team looked at each other and said we’re taking the rest of the night off, this kid can do it all by himself. I agree George singing ole ole ole in the first period was not a good move and neither was Guhle’s penalty which resulted in a power play goal and completely silenced the crowd because they too have seen this movie before too.
Habsman67, if you haven’t already read them, these are snippets from this morning’s Gazette – each saying a lot in their own right
News you need (Part II): Only two teams have allowed more shots than Chicago and no teams generate fewer. The Blackhawks outshot Montreal 25-21.
Shoot the f—in’ puck: Noted scorer Patrik Laine made a nice move around defenceman Artyom Levshunov in the first period. But instead of shooting, he passed to … nobody in particular.
Is this the look of a desperate team?: It took the Canadiens 9:30 — and a power play — to produce their first shot of the second period.
Thanks George O., pretty much sums it up!
Yeah, Habsman67, I have a few words bouncing around in my head, but I think I will not use them.
I have a foot in the very disappointed camp at losing to a bad team and extending games to give Demidov (and others) experience for next year. And you will have noticed my doubts about the Habs closing the deal for over a week now. Just have a feeling.
The other foot says at the beginning of the year I would have taken falling one point short of a playoff spot as success. Progress this year is money in the bank for the future.
IMO best to not engage Dark G re the Habs. One can dislike a team and still be fair about them, and he can’t do that.
I will join most everyone else in congratulating the Blue Jackets if they get in. They will have won 6 straight games in regulation, and we all know what they have been through this season. It would be a remarkable effort.
Indeed, Yoda would be wrong: it will be a remarkable effort even if they don’t get in.
I don’t know how it will finish but the CBJ deserve to be in the playoffs more than the Habs.
CBJ keeps winning do or die games while the Habs keep frittering them away.
On the bright side Demidov is quite the talented player who like Hutson can stickhandle in a phonebooth.
HabFan, how exactly have the Habs gotten to this point if they haven’t won big games? It’s an 82 game season and a team gets in based upon points in all games.
Howard,
I’d love to see the Habs make it, they have had a great run but so did all the teams down the stretch in the wild card race.
You have to admit the CBJ are punching their ticket while the Habs are backing their way in if at all.
How is MTL backing their way in? For the last week or so they have held the wild card position & are 4 pts upon CLB, win the next game and they are in.
Generally speaking, when a team gets to the stage where they need 1 win to clinch, but don’t get it and instead qualifies through a chasing team’s loss, that’s considered “backing in” … insofar as the media is concerned, anyway.
Montreal has 89 points, they earned those 89 points. It doesn`t matter when they got the points, early, middle or end of the season, they earned them and if it`s enough to get them into the playoffs, then they deserve to be there. Plain and simple. Learning to win under pressure comes with time.
Re “the NHL remains in denial about CTE”
Switch “NHL” with Bettman
AND
place “public” in between “in” and “denial”
Then the statement reads correctly
No one in private can possibly deny this correlation
Waiting in great anticipation for Betman’s retirement
This is why the NHL denies that there is a proven link between CTE and playing hockey in the NHL.
This was in court and under oath, with the penalty of perjury for lying.
They are fighting lawsuits, and I’ll let you folks decide which medical expert is right or wrong, or even, heaven forbid, both right.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-attacks-link-between-hockey-cte-in-bid-to-exclude-concussion-expert-from-trial-1.1022673
Hi Ray
That was 7 years ago and far far less studies (as at that time) and article only cites 2 Dr’s with differing opinions
If memory serves, at that time the players suing had a few experts agreeing and the defense had one with an opposing opinion
I agree that it would be impossible (as he stated) to prove a 100% correlation
That said, I am of full belief that there is a cause and effect and a strong (not 100% but strong) correlation
Put another way
I fully believe that if you experience multiple sports related brain impacts (concussions etc) that your odds for CTE are way above that of someone who has never had a concussion or brain impacts injury
I think your probably right 8787, hence my comment about them both being right. And I think the studies both sight are likely correct.
I guess the point is that folks who don’t play contact sports or suffer head injuries can also get CTE. Which is the reason the NHL keeps saying what they are saying. How do you determine that it was the cause in all these cases. What are the %’s? I don’t pretend to know.
And in fairness to Mr Bettman, he isn’t protecting his own money, he is protecting the owners money. They also employ lawyers who argue on the owners behalf. He is speaking for them.
Could the league settle and pay them? I think that would be fair and I wish they would, but easy to say from here. Just seems hard to argue that head trauma doesn’t contribute negatively to long term brain health.
But player have known that now for years, or that it is at least likely, so now they are willfully taking the risk. Can’t say I blame them.
Something else you coincidentally share emphatically with Pengy. Give it up, man.
Many on here seem to agree that there is a CTE issue for NHL players
I can’t be sure Pengy agrees on that; but since many on here do; odds would favour he does
I wasn’t talking about agreeing or disagreeing … I was talking about the exact same way of expressing that opinion. Word for word.
For one wasn’t a huge fan of DeBrusk he seem to take more than a few game off as a Bruin according to Cassidy & Monty … he wasn’t going to change this past season much for the Bruins but one thing DeBrusk could score goals and at $5.5 million per for 5 years he should’ve been resigned by the Bruins
“The four US-based Original Six franchises (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers) have all missed the playoffs for the first time in the post-expansion era (1967-68 to the present). ”
Pre-expansion, there were only 6 teams. So, this is the first time ever that all US-based Original Six franchises missed the playoffs.
Last time that both Boston and Detroit missed the playoffs. Three guesses, the first 2 don’t count.
………….. 1967
Joe I was never a fan of JDB but I can t understand why Sweeney let him and Torrey Krug walk for free as UFA s.Trade them and get something for them.I am convinced Boston is keeping Sweeney around because he has 1 year left on his contract and they don’t t want to eat it!
Sr, curious to know how much he earns as GM. Here are links to 3 different sources announcing his extension as GM …. and not one mentions salary. Why are those of players public knowledge, but for GMs it’s like a state secret!
https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-sign-don-sweeney-to-multi-year-contract-extension-334756796
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/boston-bruins-sign-gm-don-sweeney-to-multi-year-extension/
https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-bruins-sign-general-manager-don-sweeney-to-multi-year-contract-extension/40435878