NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2024

by | Oct 21, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2024

More suggested goalie options for the Avalanche and more proposed trade destinations for Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak recently examined the Colorado Avalanche’s goalie woes.

Masisak thinks starter Alexandar Georgiev still has enough of a track record to sort out his inconsistent play. Their internal options aren’t great if Georgiev doesn’t improve. Backup Justus Annunen is a wild card and it would be risky to make him the starter for more than a short period. Kaapo Kahkonen has never proven to be a No. 1 goalie for a significant period.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (NHL Images).

Options in this season’s trade market could include pending unrestricted free agents like Washington’s Logan Thompson or Charlie Lindgren, Detroit’s Alex Lyon, Calgary’s Dan Vladar, San Jose’s Mackenzie Blackwood or Vitek Vanecek, and Utah’s Karel Vejmelka. The latter four would require salary retention to fit them within the Avs’ limited cap space.

Masisak also looked ahead toward this summer’s free-agent market where the pickings are slim assuming the New York Rangers re-sign netminder Igor Shesterkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s also been suggested the Avs attempt to acquire John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks assuming the Ducks retain half of his $6.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 and also accept Georgiev in return.

The Avs are in a bind with no immediate solutions given their cap constraints and the lack of suitable options in the trade market this early in the season.

SPORTSNET: David Morassutti proposed several trade destinations for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren following his season debut against the Los Angeles Kings last week.

Liljegren’s future has been a topic of speculation after sliding down the Leafs’ blueline depth chart. His $3 million annual average value through 2025-26 could also create a salary-cap headache for management.

Morassutti suggested the Utah Hockey Club, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets as potential destinations for Lilejegren.

Utah’s blueline got thin with Sean Durzi and John Marino sidelined by injuries. The Stars’ defense could use more depth on the right side. The Blackhawks and Ducks are rebuilding teams that could benefit from a veteran rearguard in his mid-twenties. The Penguins need to bolster their defense and the struggling Blue Jackets have the cap space to add to their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs reportedly aren’t rushing to move Liljegren partly because of the uncertain health of their own defense corps. That could change as the season advances but it’s difficult to find suitable trade partners for a defenseman carrying a $3 million cap hit if he’s spending most of his time in the press box.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2024

by | Oct 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2024

The Jets remain undefeated, the latest on Linus Ullmark and Anthony Duclair, former Oilers Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway fitting in well with the Blues, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on three unanswered third-period goals by Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter. Eric Comrie stopped 39 shots and Nikolaj Ehlers had two assists for the Jets, extending their season-opening record to 5-0-0 for the first time in franchise history. Lars Eller tallied twice and Alex Nedeljkovic made his season debut with a 31-save effort for the Penguins.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Long-time Winnipeg forward Bryan Little signed a one-day contract with the club to retire as a Jet and was honored by the club in a pregame ceremony. Little suffered a perforated eardrum after being struck on the head by a puck on Nov. 5, 2019, ending his playing career. His 843 career games with the Jets are the second-longest in franchise history.

Pittsburgh’s sloppy defense proved costly in this contest. Meanwhile, struggling Penguins starter Tristan Jarry was a healthy scratch as Joel Blomqvist backed up Nedeljkovic.

Jets fans serenaded the Penguins with a chant of “Where is Rutger?” in the closing moments of this game, referring to forward Rutger McGroarty, who forced a trade to the Penguins this summer after telling the Jets he had no intention of signing an entry-level contract with them. The Penguins demoted McGroarty to their AHL affiliate last week.

Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, handing the latter their sixth straight loss (0-4-2). Cale Makar had a goal and two assists while Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists. William Eklund scored for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche placed winger Jonathan Drouin (upper body) on injured reserve before this game.

Third-period goals by Adrian Kempe, Alex Laferriere, Kevin Fiala and Mikey Anderson lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made 34 saves in a losing cause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dostal kept the Ducks in this contest but their porous defense couldn’t contain the Kings, who outshot them 19-5 in the third period.

HEADLINES

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators sent goaltender Mads Soogaard back to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. It’s considered the clearest sign that sidelined starter Linus Ullmark is set to return to action when the Senators face the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders’ decision to place forward Julian Gauthier on waivers Sunday implies Anthony Duclair’s leg injury might not be as serious as originally feared. Duclair suffered the injury during Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. There was no update on Duclair’s condition on Sunday.

STLTODAY.COM: Defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway have paid early dividends for the St. Louis Blues. The duo were signed away from the Edmonton Oilers by offer sheets in August.

Broberg has six points in as many games with the Blues earning quality minutes alongside defense partner Justin Faulk. Holloway has two points skating on the third line with Brayden Schenn and Mathieu Joseph.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The departures of Broberg and Holloway contributed to the Oilers’ slow start to this season. Their loss is the Blues’ gain as both players appear to fit in well with their new teammates.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll revealed he’s been dealing with “a little bit of groin tightness” since the club’s final practice before the regular season. He’s been on injury reserve since last Wednesday.

YARDBARKER: Former NHL defenseman Anton Stralman officially announced his retirement to become coach of a women’s football club in Sweden.

Stralman, 38, spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes and Boston Bruins from 2007-08 to 2022-23. He had 63 goals and 230 assists for 293 points in 938 regular-season games and 26 points in 113 playoff contests.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Bruins defenseman Jakub Zboril signed a five-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chosen 13th overall by the Bruins in the 2015 NHL Draft, Zboril struggled to crack their roster full-time. He appeared in 76 games between 2018-19 and 2022-23, finishing with 16 points.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 20, 2024

by | Oct 20, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 20, 2024

Check out the latest on Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup,

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos recently looked at the choices facing the Toronto Maple Leafs with Mitch Marner. The 27-year-old right winger will become an unrestricted free agent next July unless he and the Leafs agree to a new contract.

Kypreos believes they have two clear choices. They can find the money to sign Marner to a long-term extension or use him as though he’s a playoff rental player for the 2025 postseason before letting him depart as a free agent on July 1.

If the Leafs choose the latter option, Kypreos believes they should have a backup plan to replace Marner next summer. Wingers like Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen, Florida’s Sam Bennett or Boston’s Brad Marchand could be available.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those wingers probably won’t be available to the Leafs on July 1, leaving them to find lesser-talent, albeit more affordable replacements. Rantanen could cost as much as Marner to sign. The Panthers will likely keep Bennett and Marchand is a Bruin for life just like Patrice Bergeron was.

Speaking of Rantanen, Kypreos reports he and the Avalanche aren’t close to a contract extension. Avs management hopes to get a clearer picture of captain Gabriel Landeskog’s health and future before deciding how much to spend on retaining Rantanen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million average annual value is believed to be the Avalanche’s self-imposed cap on individual salaries. If so, Rantanen must accept less than that if he wants to stay in Colorado.

And speaking of Marchand, Kypreos wonders if Bruins president Cam Neely has 25 or 30 million reasons to keep his captain in Boston.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For those of you who missed it, Neely alluded to Jeremy Swayman having 64 million reasons to be playing for the Bruins during contract negotiations earlier this month. Swayman eventually signed for $66 million.

I don’t know where Kypreos is getting that number for Marchand. Perhaps he’s being facetious.

The Bruins got a bargain with Marchand’s contract ($6.125 million annually since 2017-18). However, he turns 37 in May. His days of signing lucrative long-term contracts are over.

Depending on Marchand’s performance, he could follow Bergeron’s example and sign a one-year, bonus-laden deal that could take him up to $6 million for 2025-26. Otherwise, he could sign a two-year deal worth around $5.5 million annually.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting contract talks between the Panthers and Sam Bennett have started. However, there is nothing imminent.

Bennett, 29, is in the final season of a four-year contract with an annual value of $4.425 million.

Friedman also noted the Panthers re-signed Carter Verhaeghe to an eight-year extension earlier this month. He believed Bennett would draw plenty of interest if he hit the open market on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett’s gritty two-way style and ability to play center or either wing has earned him a reputation as a reliable and versatile playoff performer. He’s in line for a significant raise and could seek something similar to Verhaeghe’s $7 million AAV.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 20, 2024

by | Oct 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 20, 2024

Recaps of Saturday’s 13 games, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson scored two goals and collected an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, handing the latter their first loss of the season. Jake Guentzel scored his first goal of the season with the Lightning while Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning’s special teams were their undoing in this contest, giving up two powerplay goals and a shorthanded goal. Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (lower-body strain) is close to returning to action but the club opted to err on the side of caution and kept him out of this game.

The Detroit Red Wings tallied three unanswered third-period goals to defeat the Nashville Predators 5-2. Andrew Copp scored twice and Alex Lyon made 37 saves for the Red Wings, including a highlight-reel stop with the knob of his stick on Steven Stamkos, who scored his first with the Predators in this contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators are still searching for their first win of the season (0-5-0). Stamkos believes their effort has been sporadic in those games.

Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene scored two goals in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists, Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist, and goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots for the win. Leon Draisaitl replied for the Oilers as their win streak ended at two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars announced before this game that they placed defenseman Matt Dumba (lower body) on injured reserve.

An overtime goal by Gustav Forsling lifted the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists and Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist for the Panthers. Ilya Samsonov kicked out 45 shots and Tanner Pearson had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights.

The New York Rangers got a 34-save performance by Igor Shesterkin to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. Chris Kreider scored twice and Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith each had two assists as the Rangers picked up their third straight victory. Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson scored two goals (including the winner in overtime) and an assist as his club nipped the New Jersey Devils 6-5. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin netted his first of the season and Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists. Devils captain Nico Hischier tallied twice and picked up an assist and Timo Meier had three helpers.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson scored in the ninth round of the shootout to give his team a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Dobson also had two assists in regulation play. Cole Caufield scored twice, including the game-tying tally, and Juraj Slafkovsky had two assists for the Canadiens, who overcame 2-0 and 3-2 deficits.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders winger Anthony Duclair left this game in the third period after injuring his right leg. There was no postgame update on his status.

The Vancouver Canucks got a 26-save shutout from Kevin Lankinen to blank the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers picked up an assist in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game. Nils Hoglander, Brock Boeser and Kiefer Sherwood were the goalscorers. The Flyers have lost four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier played in his 800th career game as a fourth-line left winger as head coach John Tortorella shook up his forward lines.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Filip Gustavsson got the win with a 23-save performance. Yegor Chinakhov scored for the Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Ryan Hartman missed this contest with an upper-body injury. Before this game, Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason said the upper-body injury suffered by Kent Johnson on Thursday against Buffalo was not a short-term thing. There is no timeline for Johnson’s return.

The St. Louis Blues defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Joel Hofer stopped 37 shots for the win while Mathieu Joseph and Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist each for the Blues. Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist and Sebastian Aho had two helpers for the Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko missed this game and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka scored his fourth goal in three games as his club doubled up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves for the Sabres. Craig Smith scored both goals for Chicago.

Utah Hockey Club’s Michael Kesselring scored in overtime to give his team a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Utah goaltender Connor Ingram became the first goaltender in NHL history with a season-opening five-game points streak for a team in its inaugural campaign.

An overtime goal by Jordan Eberle lifted the Seattle Kraken over the Calgary Flames 2-1, handing the latter their first loss of the season (4-0-1). Chandler Stephenson also scored for the Kraken as they picked up their third straight victory. Blake Coleman tallied for the Flames.

IN OTHER NEWS…

The Los Angeles Kings announced they’ve placed goaltender Darcy Kuemper (lower body) on injured reserve, removed defenseman Joel Edmundson from non-roster designation, and recalled goalie Pheonix Copley from their AHL affiliate.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin has returned to Colorado and is skating on his own. He’s suspended until Nov. 13 as part of Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Meanwhile, newly acquired Avalanche goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen practiced with his teammates for the first time on Saturday. Kahkonen was claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 11 but had to update his work permit and visa before joining his new team.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins recalled goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic from their AHL affiliate. He will accompany the club during its upcoming four-game road trip through Western Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins will carry three goalies as Nedeljkovic joins Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2024

by | Oct 19, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, some suggested goalie trade targets for the Avalanche plus the latest on Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Dean cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculating over possible goaltending trade targets for the struggling Avalanche.

Friedman believes the Avalanche have to be looking at other options after seeing starter Alexandar Georgiev struggle between the pipes. It doesn’t mean they will go this route but Friedman thinks they have to be considering it.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (NHL Images).

Mackenzie Blackwood of the San Jose Sharks could be one option. The other could be John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. Friedman thinks Gibson could help the Avs if he can stay healthy.

Blackwood carries a $2.35 million salary cap hit this season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million, but Friedman believes his contract could be worked out if the Avs believe he’s good enough to help them.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols also cited Friedman suggesting Blackwood as a trade target for the Avalanche. He pointed out Friedman saying Blackwood was on the Avs’ radar before.

Nichols noted that the Sharks are rebuilding so it would make sense for them to trade Blackwood while his value is high. He also pointed out their offseason acquisition of promising Yaroslav Askarov plus they also carry Vitek Vanecek.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston recently observed the Avalanche’s salary-cap limitations would hamper any efforts to improve their goaltending through a trade.

Blackwood is the more affordable option if he’s available. Some suggest the Avs attempt to send Georgiev to San Jose in the deal but the Sharks will want a sweetener like a quality draft pick or prospect. He also has an injury history.

Gibson’s hefty contract would make this a more complicated deal. He could have more upside performance-wise but it’s been a while since he backstopped a quality roster. Gibson could become an expensive gamble that fails to pay off if his skills have eroded.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes the Pittsburgh Penguins must move on from Tristan Jarry as their starting goaltender. He doesn’t see the 29-year-old Jarry improving anytime soon. Yohe noted that backup Alex Nedeljkovic and promising Joel Blomqvist have outplayed Jarry, suggesting he’s a perfect candidate to get a fresh start elsewhere.

Yohe acknowledged Jarry’s contract is likely unmoveable. However, he believes management should send him to their AHL affiliate in Wilke-Barre/Scranton. They’ll get $1.15 million in cap relief doing so, giving them some flexibility while letting Nedeljkovic and Blomqvist handle the goalie duties. Yohe also suggested buying out Jarry at the end of this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $5.35 million and a 12-team no-trade list.

Some suggest the Penguins offer up Jarry to the Avalanche straight up for Georgiev. The Avs likely won’t go for that even if the Pens retained half of his cap hit because of the three years remaining on his contract.

A buyout in June seems the most likely outcome.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2024

by | Oct 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2024

Three Jets have four-point performances against the Sharks, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Cole Perfetti, Neal Pionk, and Vladislav Namestnikov each collected four points to lead the Winnipeg Jets over the San Jose Sharks 8-3. Perfetti had two goals and two assists while Pionk and Namestnikov each had a goal and three assists. Jets winger Nikolai Ehlers also scored two goals and picked up an assist. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who are winless in their first five games (0-3-2).

Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets (4-0-0) are among three teams still unbeaten this season, joining the 4-0-0 Calgary Flames and 3-0-0 Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Sharks could also be without sidelined rookie Macklin Celebrini (hip injury) longer than expected. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Friday that the 18-year-old center could be out for another couple of weeks.

An overtime goal by Nathan MacKinnon lifted the Colorado Avalanche to their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. MacKinnon’s goal came after Ducks winger Troy Terry tied the game with 13 seconds left in the third period. Mikko Rantanen collected three assists and Ross Colton tallied twice for the Avalanche. Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 45 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Ducks announced forward Isac Lundestrom is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes scored four straight goals, including two on the power play, to down the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Frederik Anderson made 25 saves while Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each had two points for the Hurricanes. Joel Blomqvist stopped 35 shots and Drew O’Connor scored for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and center Lars Eller ripped their team’s performance following this game. “They worked harder than us, and they got rewarded for it,” said Letang. “There were so many things that needed to be better,” Eller said. “The attitude, the energy, the execution.”

HEADLINES

OTTAWA SUN: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (lower-body strain) said he felt better yesterday following practice. However, it remained uncertain if he’ll return to action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Ullmark’s last game was a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens last Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Ullmark and the Senators are being careful to avoid aggravating that injury. It’s best to ensure he’s 100 percent given how much they rely on him this season.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defensemen Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle are day-to-day with upper-body injuries, forcing the Habs to recall Logan Mailloux from their AHL affiliate in Laval. Meanwhile, winger Juraj Slafkovsky suffered an apparent shoulder injury during practice on Friday and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders.

THE SCORE: Utah Hockey Club head coach Andre Tourigny said defenseman John Marino will be sidelined for months with an upper-body injury. He was acquired in June from the New Jersey Devils but his injury has prevented him from joining his new teammates.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat believes the absence of Dakota Joshua is a key factor behind the Vancouver Canucks’ slow start. The 28-year-old energy forward is still recovering from offseason surgery for testicular cancer.

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Motte is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

RG.ORG: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly believes the best Russian hockey players still want to play in the NHL.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the country has been banned from participating in International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments. The NHL also suspended its transfer agreement with the KHL.

That’s led to speculation NHL teams could attempt to cut side deals for unofficial transfers of Russian prospects from the KHL to the NHL. Daly denies this, saying the top Russian talent wants to come to the NHL because it’s the elite league for the world’s best players. That includes players buying their way out of KHL contracts.

There’s also been conjecture suggesting some KHL clubs are limiting the playing time of young NHL prospects like SKA St. Petersburg winger Ivan Demidov, a top prospect of the Montreal Canadiens. His coach disputes the accusation, saying ice time for young players is based on merit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: KHL teams tend to limit the ice time of promising young players until they’re better established. Philadelphia Flyers fans were concerned early last season over the playing time of winger Matvei Michkov before St. Petersburg loaned him to HK Sochi.