NHL Rumor Mill – May 13, 2024

by | May 13, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 13, 2024

What’s the latest Canadiens’ speculation? Would Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev be a good fit with the Penguins? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

MONTREAL GAZETTE: In Stu Cowan’s latest mailbag segment, a reader asked if the Canadiens might trade their first-round pick (fifth overall) in this year’s draft given their prospect depth.

Cowan believes Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes intends to keep that pick and use it to draft a scoring forward. The only way he sees Hughes moving that pick is for a young, established NHL scorer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors linked the Canadiens to Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras this season. That first-round pick would be part of the Ducks’ asking price.

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

Speaking of Zegras, a reader asked Cowan how strong the Habs’ rumored interest might be in the 23-year-old forward. He doesn’t know because Hughes can’t publicly comment about players under contract with other teams.

If it were up to Cowan, he’d definitely be interested in Zegras if he’s available given his scoring ability. He also pointed out that Zegras is close friends with Canadiens winger Cole Caufield. The duo are playing together on Team USA at the 2024 World Championships.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowan speculated Hughes could keep an eye on how well Zegras and Caufield perform together in that tournament.

We must remember that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has repeatedly denied Zegras is available in the trade market. That doesn’t mean he won’t entertain offers. Verbeek might listen if Hughes pitched a package with the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft as the centerpiece.

WOULD KALIYEV BE A GOOD FIT WITH THE PENGUINS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Austin Stanovich believes the Los Angeles Kings have a natural trade partner for Arthur Kaliyev in the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A promising young winger, the 22-year-old Kaliyev struggled this season with the Kings. He’s completed his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent without arbitration rights.

Stanovich believes Kaliyev might interest the Penguins. They need to get younger and improve their power play. He suggested a swap for winger Jesse Puljujarvi, who has a year left on his contract at an affordable $800K.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaliyev is expected to be traded this summer and could regain his scoring touch elsewhere. Whether the Penguins could be a destination remains to be seen. The Kings probably won’t be interested in Puljujarvi given his offensive struggles and the double hip surgery he underwent last summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2024

by | May 13, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2024

The Panthers push the Bruins to the brink of elimination, the Canucks regain the lead in their series with the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Boston Bruins 3-2 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven second-round series. The Panthers got a controversial game-tying goal from Sam Bennett after he cross-checked Bruins center Charlie Coyle into goalie Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins challenged for goaltender interference but the goal was upheld. Nearly four minutes later, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored the winning goal. David Pastrnak and Brandon Carlo scored for the Bruins.

The series returns to Florida for Game 5 on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett was already Public Enemy No. 1 among the Bruins and their fans for his questionable hit on Brad Marchand in Game 3 that sidelined the Boston captain from this contest. There was no immediate explanation from the league as to why Bennett’s goal was allowed to stand.

Boston’s lack of offense in this series has put them on the verge of elimination. Since the Bruins’ 5-1 victory in Game 1, the Panthers have limited them to two goals or less over the past three games. If they don’t address this by Game 5, they’ll be emptying their lockers by Thursday.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Two-goal performances by Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm and a 42-save effort by Arturs Silovs gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round series. Boeser also collected an assist to finish the night with three points. Mattias Ekholm, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard replied for the Oilers. Game 4 is on Tuesday at 9:30 PM EDT with the Canucks holding a 2-1 lead in the series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers outshot the Canucks 36-7 during the second and third periods but Silovs’ strong goaltender enabled his club to hold off the Oilers. Lindholm’s goal late in the second made the difference after Draisaitl cut the lead to 3-2 earlier in the frame.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner gave up four goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Calvin Pickard for the third period. That’s raised criticism over Skinner’s performance in this series and questions about whether Pickard will get the start in Game 4.

Canucks defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Carson Soucy could face supplemental discipline for cross-checking Oilers captain Connor McDavid at the end of the game. Zadorov hit McDavid from behind while Soucy nailed the Oilers star in the face. Soucy got a two-minute minor with no time left on the clock. McDavid appeared to be unhurt following the incident.

Oilers forward Adam Henrique missed Game 3 with a nagging ankle injury. He missed Game 1 but returned to action in the following game.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NEW YORK POST: The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to decide if Frederik Andersen or Pyotr Kochetkov will get the start for Game 5 of their second-round series against the New York Rangers on Monday. Andersen played in three of the last four games but gave up a soft goal to tie Game 4 before Brady Skjei scored to give the Canes a 3-2 victory. The Rangers hold a 3-1 lead in this series and can wrap it up tonight.

The Rangers, meanwhile, are hopeful that center Filip Chytil will play in Game 5 after being sidelined from the previous game by an illness. Chytil skated in Game 3 in his first game since suffering a suspected concussion in November.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nicklas Backstrom denied false reports out of Sweden claiming the Washington Capitals center was not really injured but instead refused to play because of a “big schism” with head coach Spencer Carberry.

Backstrom, 36, appeared in eight games this season before taking an indefinite leave of absence related to his hip resurfacing procedure in June 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backstrom’s hip condition is well-documented. If healthy, he is contractually bound to play. Refusal to do so would violate the terms of his deal. The Capitals wouldn’t grant him a leave of absence because of a supposed dispute with the coach.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The International Ice Hockey Federation announced sanctions on Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov, his former KHL team CSKA Moscow, and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation for their roles in disregarding the contract he originally signed with the Flyers last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This won’t affect Fedotov’s new contract with the Flyers after CSKA released him from their deal earlier this year. He will be banned from playing in IIHF-sanctioned events for three years.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 12, 2024

by | May 12, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 12, 2024

A look at three possible offer-sheet candidates plus the latest on the Kraken’s search for a new head coach in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

COULD PERFETTI, LUNDELL, OR SWAYMAN BECOME OFFER-SHEET TARGETS?

THE SCORE: John Matisz recently looked at three possible offer-sheet targets this summer.

One is Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti. He’s completing his entry-level contract and was a frequent healthy scratch near the end of the regular season and in four playoff games. He might get a clean slate now that Rick Bowness has retired as head coach.

However, the Jets only have $13 million in cap space for next season. A rival general manager could try to make life miserable for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff by pitching a bridge deal with an average annual value of $5.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matisz acknowledged the rarity of offer sheets in the salary cap era. The last one occurred in 2021 when the Carolina Hurricanes successfully signed away Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Montreal Canadiens. Considering how that’s turned out for the Hurricanes, it’s a prime example of why an offer sheet can be a risky move.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

A player has to be willing to sign an offer sheet. Perfetti and the other two on this list could receive offers from rival clubs but they’re meaningless if those players prefer signing with their current teams.

The Jets’ limited cap space could make Perfetti a tempting target but I don’t see anyone making a pitch. While the 22-year-old has potential as a scoring forward, his inconsistent production thus far doesn’t make him an enticing candidate.

Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell is another possibility given his untapped potential. The Panthers have 11 players slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer, including Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour. Matisz suggested a similar pitch for Lundell as he did for Perfetti.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given his solid two-way play and offensive ability, Lundell is a more attractive offer-sheet target than Perfetti. The Panthers would be more vulnerable cap-wise than the Jets. While there’s a greater possibility of Lundell getting an offer sheet, it’s unlikely he’ll get one. I believe he’d prefer to stick with the Panthers.

Matisz mentioned Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, suggesting perhaps he’d entertain a “Godfather offer” like a yearly salary 50 percent greater than his actual market value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matisz admits it’s a wild scenario. He also acknowledged Swayman’s value to the Bruins and he’ll likely be their starter for the next several years. Anything’s possible but it’s the least likely of these three.

LATEST ON THE KRAKEN’S SEARCH FOR A NEW COACH

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Geoff Baker recently reported Kraken GM Ron Francis isn’t wasting time interviewing potential candidates for his club’s vacant head coach position. He met with former Los Angeles Kings bench boss Todd McLellan earlier this month.

Baker speculates Francis could also be waiting until the end of the playoffs when he might have an opportunity to pursue Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. There’s speculation the Hurricanes could part with him if they fail to advance past the second round. While a recent report claimed management pulled its contract offer from the table, both sides subsequently claimed talks were back on with each believing a deal could be done.

One rumor making the rounds claimed Brind’Amour was resentful of Francis for not promoting him to head coach during the latter’s tenure as Hurricanes GM. That was based on a Feb. 2023 interview with the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, but Brind’Amour never said anything negative about Francis. Brind’Amour gave Francis a glowing recommendation to Seattle executives in 2019 that likely sealed their decision to hire him as GM.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Baker noted that Francis is still interviewing coaching candidates. He could be keeping an eye on Brind’Amour but there’s no certainty he’ll be available. If the Hurricanes do let him go, Francis will have plenty of competition trying to hire him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2024

by | May 12, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2024

The Hurricanes avoid elimination against the Rangers, the Stars take the lead against the Avalanche, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes avoided being swept by the New York Rangers with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 of their best-of-seven second-round series. Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei tallied the winner on the power play late in the third period after the Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit. Frederik Andersen returned to the net for this contest and made 22 saves for the win. Igor Shesterkin stopped 27 shots for the Rangers as this series returns to New York for Game 5 on Monday, May 13 at 7 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes stormed from the gate in this one, taking a 3-1 lead in the first period. Nevertheless, they nearly blew it as the Rangers rallied back to tie it. Only three penalties were called in this contest with the Hurricanes the only team to cash in, going 1 for 2 and netting their first goal with the man advantage in this series.

Alexis Lafreniere continued to torment the Hurricanes. He had two goals in Game 2, a goal and an assist in Game 3 and scored the tying goal in this contest. His breakout performance in the regular season has carried over into this postseason, sitting third among the Rangers playoff scorers with 10 points in eight games.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (NHL Images).

The Hurricanes avoided being swept but face the daunting challenge of overcoming a 3-1 series deficit. Expect the Rangers to step up their performance in Game 5 back on home ice as they attempt to close this out.

Dallas Stars forwards Tyler Seguin and Logan Stankoven each scored twice in a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round series. Jake Oettinger turned aside 28 shots for the win. Mikko Rantanen replied for the Avalanche. Game 3 is Monday in Denver at 9:30 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those were Stankoven’s first two NHL playoff goals. Meanwhile, Seguin scored the winner for the second straight game.

The Avalanche controlled the play for most of this game but were thwarted by the Stars’ stingy defense and Oettinger’s solid goaltending. Neither team was able to score on the power play in this contest.

HEADLINES

THE SCORE: Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is day-to-day with an upper-body injury following a collision with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett during Game 3 on Friday. Marchand didn’t practice with his teammates on Saturday and his status for tonight’s game is uncertain. The Panthers hold a 2-1 lead in this series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett was not penalized on the play and did not receive supplemental discipline from the league. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery believes there was intent to injure on Bennett’s part, alluding to the forward’s history of questionable hits.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is contemplating changing his forward lines for Game 3 of his club’s second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers. Forward Nils Hoglander could become a healthy scratch after managing one assist and four shots through eight games in this postseason.

NHL.COM: Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Ron Ellis died Saturday at age 79. A skilled two-way forward, Ellis spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Leafs. He overcame a club foot to become one of the NHL’s best skaters and struggled with depression that in part led to his premature retirement in 1976.

Ellis’ first tenure with the Leafs was from 1963-64 to 1974-75, during which he won the Stanley Cup in 1967 and was part of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series with the Soviet Union. Returning from retirement in 1977, he played four more seasons with the Leafs before hanging up his skates for good midway through the 1980-81 campaign.

In 1,034 career regular-season games, Ellis had 332 goals and 308 assists for 640 points. He also had 18 goals and 26 points in 70 playoff games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Ellis’ family, friends, former teammates and coworkers. He was one of the best two-way players I ever saw and was by all accounts a gentleman and a class act.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 11, 2024

by | May 11, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 11, 2024

We look at some possible trade destinations for Mitch Marner and goaltending options for the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

POTENTIAL TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR MITCH MARNER

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau recently looked at five destinations for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger is willing to waive his no-movement clause.

Pittsburgh Penguins: They’re desperate to make the playoffs next year. Marner could be open to playing for Kyle Dubas again. He’d also have the opportunity to skate with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.

Chicago Blackhawks: Marner would play alongside rising superstar Connor Bedard. Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones could be a good fit on the Leafs blueline if he would agree to waive his NMC to go to Toronto as part of the deal.

New York Islanders: They’re seeking a new direction. He would play alongside Mathew Barzal under head coach Patrick Roy on a team that wants to win immediately.

Anaheim Ducks: Winger Trevor Zegras has surfaced in trade rumors this season. The rebuilding Ducks need some veteran help. Marner might thrive playing in a market where there’s less media scrutiny.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Utah: Acquiring Marner would make a big splash for this club entering its first season in its new market. He would be instantly beloved there but without the harsh glare of the media spotlight.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve summarized Proteau’s article. He goes into greater detail regarding the pros and cons of those destinations.

We don’t know what teams Marner would agree to go to, if any. They could balk at the Leafs’ costly asking price. His $10.9 million cap hit for next season could be too expensive to acquire even if the Leafs agreed to retain part of it.

Nevertheless, expect Marner’s name to continue surfacing in the rumor mill in the coming weeks.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently suggested four trade scenarios the Maple Leafs might consider for Marner.

Columbus Blue Jackets: In return for Marner, the Jackets part with their 2024 first-round pick and promising forward Kent Johnson

Seattle Kraken: They part with young center Shane Wright and defenseman Adam Larsson.

Calgary Flames: They get Marner, prospect Fraser Minten, defenseman Timothy Liljegren and winger Nick Robertson. The Leafs get Jacob Markstrom (with 25 percent of his $6 million cap hit retained) and defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

Philadelphia Flyers: In a three-way deal involving the San Jose Sharks, they get Marner, the Leafs receive forward Scott Laughton, Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro, and San Jose’s 2024 second-round pick, and the Sharks get Flyers prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Credit Dixon for his creativity with these proposals, especially the three-team swap. Of course, it’s merely conjecture on his part as we don’t know if those clubs would be interested if Marner became available. Nevertheless, they provide at least a framework of the type of deal the Leafs would be looking for if Marner agreed to be traded.

Feel free to debate the merits of these proposals in the comments section.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber looks at whether the Washington Capitals should look into acquiring Marner. She believes the acquisition of a single player won’t resolve their roster issues. The Leafs will set a high asking price and must retain part of his salary for the Capitals to take him on. Still, Silber thinks it’s at least worth looking into if the Leafs are willing to listen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wouldn’t hurt to ask but I don’t see the Capitals as a serious bidder for Marner if he hits the trade block. They’re transitioning out veterans in favor of younger, affordable talent.

GOALIE OPTIONS FOR THE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving will find it difficult to bolster his goalie depth behind Joseph Woll. Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are due to become UFAs on July 1. Samsonov is willing to return but will want more than a one-year contract.

Promising Dennis Hildeby will get an opportunity in training camp this fall to prove his worth, However, Koshan doesn’t expect the Leafs will go into next season with a Woll-Hildeby tandem. They need more experience between the pipes.

The free agent market provides few decent options. The notables include Cam Talbot, Laurent Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz, Kevin Lankinen, Alex Nedeljkovic and Scott Wedgewood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could surprise us by acquiring Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, Boston’s Linus Ullmark, or Nashville’s Juuse Saros. Otherwise, goaltending will remain a question mark next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 11, 2024

by | May 11, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 11, 2024

The Oilers tie their series with the Canucks, the Panthers take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins, the latest on the Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Evan Bouchard gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, tying their best-of-seven second-round series at a game apiece. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and three assists for the Oilers. Elias Pettersson tallied his first goal of the playoffs while Nikita Zadorov and J.T. Miller each had two points for the Canucks. The series moves to Edmonton for the next two games with Game 3 on Sunday, May 12 at 9:30 pm EDT.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid and Draisaitl were the difference, answering criticism that they didn’t step up during the Oilers’ loss in the previous game. Draisaitl was a game-day decision after being listed as day-to-day after dealing with “cramping and equipment issues in Game 1.

Canucks starting goaltender Thatcher Demko has been sidelined since winning the opening game of their first-round series with the Nashville Predators. However, reports suggest he could be ready to return to action if this series reaches Game 6 or 7.

The Florida Panthers scored six goals for the second straight game to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-2 in Game 3 of their second-round series. Evan Rodrigues scored twice and Matthew Tkachuk collected three assists for the Panthers as they took a 2-1 series lead. Jake DeBrusk had a goal and an assist while Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots for the Bruins. Game 4 is on Sunday at 6:30 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are in deep trouble. They were dominated for the second straight game, outshot 33-17 and allowing four power-play goals. Team captain Brad Marchand left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury and received little production from their other top-six forwards. Swayman did his best but couldn’t stem the onslaught.

Panthers center Sam Bennett returned to action after being sidelined by an injury during Game 2 of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke returned from a finger injury suffered during Game 2 of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes remain confident despite facing elimination entering Game 4 of their series with the New York Rangers. They’re attempting to become the fifth team in playoff history to win a series after overcoming a 3-0 deficit. The Canes are vowing to address the mistakes that have put them into their current predicament, including a punchless power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are putting up a brave front but some observers consider it empty talk. They’ve put themselves into a hole that history suggests is too deep to escape. Game 4 is Saturday at 7 pm EDT.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog appears no closer to returning to action a year after undergoing cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee. The timeline for his potential return was 12 to 16 months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog’s last game was the Avalanche’s Cup clincher in 2022. He’s been traveling with the team and skating in morning practices in warm-up clothes. It remains unlikely he’ll return to the lineup in this postseason.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, and general manager Brad Treliving met with the Toronto press yesterday for their season-ending media session.

Pelley said the team’s goal remains winning the Stanley Cup while Shanahan and Treliving took responsibility for another early playoff exit. After years of patience with their roster core. they all indicated that changes could be afoot.

“Everything is on the table,” said Shanahan. “We will discuss everything.”

“We have really good players, but it hasn’t worked,” said Treliving. “We have to analyze why it hasn’t worked.”

Shanahan indicated a new head coach will have a say in those decisions. Treliving said they will conduct a thorough search for a new bench boss. Speculation suggests former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube is the front-runner.

Treliving also provided details on the injuries suffered by several Leafs players in the first round. Auston Matthews battled an illness and suffered a head injury in Game 4 that didn’t clear until the day of Game 7. Migraines sidelined William Nylander from the first three games. Bobby McMann sprained a knee in the last game of the regular season while forward Connor Dewar was scheduled for shoulder surgery on Friday.

TORONTO SUN: The Leafs granted permission to the New Jersey Devils to speak with former head coach Sheldon Keefe, who was fired by the Leafs on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve cited the main highlights of this press conference. Whether any of those issues are suitably addressed before the start of next season remains to be seen.

Asking Mitch Marner and John Tavares to waive their no-movement clauses could be what they’re referring to when they said everything was on the table. Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July. Tavares previously indicated he intends to fulfill the final season of his contract with the Leafs while Marner remains hopeful of signing a contract extension.

The Leafs could hire someone other than Berube as their next coach but he appears to be the favorite for the job. His NHL experience and the Stanley Cup on his resume are strong enticements.

It was rumored Keefe might end up joining former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas with the Pittsburgh Penguins if bench boss Mike Sullivan resigned or was fired by Dubas. Another theory had Sullivan planning to leave Pittsburgh for New Jersey to fill their vacant head-coaching job. Both rumors seem unlikely with the Leafs permitting the Devils to speak with Keefe.