NHL Weekend Bets – Stars, Leafs Heavy Home Favorites on Saturday NHL Odds
NHL Weekend Bets – Stars, Leafs Heavy Home Favorites on Saturday NHL Odds
The Minnesota Wild Facing An Interesting Summer
The Minnesota Wild Facing An Interesting Summer
NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2020
The latest on Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug, Josh Anderson and Joe Thornton in today’s NHL rumor mill.
WILL PIETRANGELO AND KRUG RE-SIGN WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE CLUBS?
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the respective contract situations of St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and Boston Bruins blueliner Torey Krug won’t be resolved one way or the other until the season is over. The Bruins’ limited salary-cap space makes it difficult to fit in a new contract for Krug unless they shed some salary in the off-season.
Will Alex PIetrangelo re-sign with the St. Louis Blues? (Photo via NHL Images)
LeBrun expects whatever offers Pietrangelo and Krug receive from their respective teams will be less than what they can get on the open market on July 1. He thinks the Blues could offer Pietrangelo something comparable to the eight-year, $64-million contract John Carlson signed with the Washington Capitals. The Bruins, meanwhile, could be reluctant to pay Krug more than teammates David Pastrnak ($6.6 million AAV) and Patrice Bergeron ($6.875 million).
If Pietrangelo doesn’t re-sign with the Blues, LeBrun speculates the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs could come calling.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for Pietrangelo and Krug this summer. Krug has indicated a willingness to accept a hometown discount, while the Pietrangelo camp was rumored to be seeking $9 million annually.
WILL THE BLUE JACKETS TRADE ANDERSON THIS SUMMER?
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes there’s a strong possibility the Columbus Blue Jackets trade Josh Anderson this summer. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer and a year away from UFA eligibility. LeBrun also thinks there’s been a difference of opinion between the Blue Jackets and the Anderson camp over how to treat a shoulder injury suffered in December that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was plenty of speculation about Anderson leading up to the recent trade deadline. The 25-year-old power forward will draw lots of interest if the Jackets shop him this summer, provided he’s fully recovered from his shoulder injury. Recent reports indicate he could require surgery. If so, the length of his recovery period could adversely affect his trade value.
THORNTON HOPES TO RETURN WITH THE SHARKS
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports Joe Thornton fully intends to return with the San Jose Sharks after this season. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently speculated Thornton could sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs if he’s not sold on the Sharks bouncing back next season.
“It’s an iconic team for sure. But I’m a Shark. I’m a Shark. I’ve been privileged to play here and understand what it is to be a Shark. I’m trying to pass it on to the younger guys and how much pride we take out here playing in front of these fans. I’ve always said I’m a lifelong Shark and that I will make no apologies for that.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: And if the Sharks want Thornton back, they’ll be happy to sign him to another one-year, bonus-laden deal.
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2020
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2020
Bobby Ryan scores a hat trick in an emotion return with the Senators, Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik nets his first NHL hat trick and more in today’s morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Bobby Ryan scored a hat trick to lead the Ottawa Senators over the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. It was Ryan’s second game since returning from the player assistance program for alcohol abuse. He was overcome with emotion as his teammates and Ottawa fans cheered after he scored his third goal. The loss left the Canucks with 74 points, four behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division.
Bobby Ryan tallied a hat trick to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks (Photo via NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Well done, Bobby Ryan.
David Pastrnak scored his league-leading 46th goal as the Boston Bruins held off the Dallas Stars 4-3. The league-leading Bruins (92 points) widened their lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning by seven points in the Eastern Conference standings.
Chicago Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik tallied his first NHL hat trick as his club netted five unanswered third-period goals in a 5-2 win over the Lightning, handing the latter their fourth straight defeat. Kubalik leads the Blackhawks and all NHL rookies with 29 goals. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos missed the game with a lower-body injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to down the Florida Panthers 5-3. Auston Matthews, Zach Hyman, and Justin Holl each had a goal and an assist. With the win, the Leafs (76 points) moved four ahead of the Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Colton Parayko’s overtime goal lifted the St. Louis Blues over the New York Islanders 3-2. The Blues (86 points) widened their lead atop the Western Conference standings by five points over the Colorado Avalanche. With 78 points, the Islanders cling to the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Nashville Predators winger Mikael Granlund scored the tying and winning goals in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames. Ryan Ellis collected three assists for the Predators (72 points), who hold the final Western wild-card berth with three games in hand over the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets (72 points) got a 34-save shutout from Connor Hellebuyck to blank the Washington Capitals 3-0. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist. The Capitals (84 points) hold a four-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins atop the Metropolitan Division. Jets winger Patrik Laine left the game with a lower-body injury in the first period. The Jets also played without defenseman Josh Morrissey and Sami Niku. Morrissey is expected back in the lineup on Saturday, but Niku could be sidelined for weeks.
The New York Rangers overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2, picking up their ninth straight road win. Ryan Strome scored two goals and Mika Zibanejad extended his goal streak to six games. Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin missed the game with an injured ankle. The surging Rangers (74 points) have won nine of their last 10 and sit two points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Matt Dumba scored twice as the Minnesota Wild crushed the Detroit Red Wings 7-1, handing Wings goalie Jimmy Howard his 20th straight defeat. Kevin Fiala had a three-point performance for the Wild (69 points), who sit three points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Logan Couture scored in overtime as the San Jose Sharks edged the New Jersey Devils 3-2.
IN OTHER NEWS…
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights re-signed William Carrier to a four-year contract with an annual average value of $1.4 million.
TSN: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Josh Anderson (shoulder injury) could be done for the season.
Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion hopes to make Mark Borowiecki a “Senators for life”. He’s due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
What We Learned This Week In The NHL: Post-Trade Deadline Edition
What We Learned This Week In The NHL: Post-Trade Deadline Edition
Did Early Success Derail The Leafs?
Did Early Success Derail The Leafs?