NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2024

by | Sep 10, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2024

The Blue Jackets, Flames, and NHL dignitaries pay respects to the Gaudreaus, Sidney Crosby is optimistic he’ll get a new contract with the Penguins, the latest on the Senators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and the NHL joined the Gaudreau family in memorializing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during the funeral for the brothers on Monday in Philadelphia.

An alleged drunk driver killed the brothers while they were riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).

Groups from the Blue Jackets and Flames attended the funeral along with NHL dignitaries including league commissioner Gary Bettman and former Blue Jackets Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Pallbearers included new Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan and former Blue Jackets Eric Robinson.

Johnny’s wife Meredith revealed she is pregnant with the couple’s third child as she eulogized her late husband.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The tragic, senseless deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has been a blow to the hockey world, but the grief and pain that their loved ones are going through is unimaginable. Once again, I send my sincere condolences to the Gaudreau family.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby remains optimistic he’ll have a new contract in place soon with the Penguins.

“I don’t know what day specifically, but it’s been really positive and hasn’t been a difficult process,” said the Penguins captain.

Crosby remains hopeful that the Penguins can be a playoff contender, pointing to the club’s strong finish last season despite missing the cut. He believes they can get over the hump if they can gain consistency in a few areas of their game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of news over the status of Crosby’s contract extension negotiations with the Penguins has sparked rising speculation about his future with the retooling club. His comments on Monday provide some clarity to the issue but no timetable for when a deal could be done.

TSN: Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle denied rumors that his change of agents during the offseason is related to any desire to be traded. “I love being in Ottawa,” he told reporters during the club’s charity golf tournament on Monday.

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports the change is related to marketing opportunities in Europe for the German forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Senators’ difficulties in ending their long postseason drought have some observers wondering how long core players like Stutzle are willing to stick around. That’s why his changing agents gave rise to those trade rumors. Another struggling effort this season will only prompt more questions about their futures in Ottawa.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, Thomas Chabot admitted a wrist issue hampered him for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old defenseman said he took care of it during the offseason and is fully healthy for the coming season. He appeared in just 51 games last season. Injuries have prevented Chabot from playing a full season during his seven-year NHL career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Chabot will be crucial to the Senators’ playoff hopes this season.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Brock Boeser will be taking preventative measures to prevent another blood-clotting issue like the one that caused him to miss Game 7 of his club’s second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers last spring.

Boeser is now off blood thinners and has resumed contact training. His condition will be carefully monitored, including getting up and moving every hour during flights rather than sleeping and wearing compression socks.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the Seattle Kraken are close to signing Adam Larsson to a four-year contract extension worth between $5 million and $6 million. The 31-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a four-year, $16 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the AAV on Larsson’s extension will be $5.25 million. It’s expected to be announced on Tuesday.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Predators signed forward Juuso Parssinen to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K. They also signed defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to a one-year, two-way deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Goaltender Alexei Kolosov is not expected to attend Philadelphia Flyers training camp. If so, his contract will likely be tolled forward to allow the Flyers to retain Kolosov’s rights at the same details and pay.

TSN: Mike Gartner will succeed Lanny McDonald as Chairman of the Board for the Hockey Hall of Fame after McDonald’s 10-year term limit next June.










NHL Headlines & Rumors – September 9, 2024

by | Sep 9, 2024

NHL Headlines & Rumors – September 9, 2024

What the future could hold for signing bonuses in player contracts, an update on NHL CBA talks, and more in NHL Headlines & Rumors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a shortened edition published early because I’m taking a personal day. Normal updates will resume on Tuesday, Sep 10.

TORONTO STAR: Dave Feschuk examines why players are signing contracts with hefty signing bonuses.

One reason is they make the contract “essentially buyout proof”. Another is based on “the time value of money,” meaning getting the money upfront is worth more than money later. Most importantly, they offer protection for the player in case of a lockout, ensuring they’ll get the bulk of that season’s earnings in one lump sum.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (NHL Images).

Players who live in the United States but play for Canadian teams traditionally enjoy substantial tax savings on signing bonuses, paying a rate of 15 percent. However, a dispute between Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares and the Canada Revenue Agency could change that.

If Tavares loses his case, he’ll owe $6.8 million in back taxes plus interest. Plenty of players and agents along with the Canadian NHL franchises, are monitoring this situation closely.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the ruling goes against Tavares it could make it difficult for Canadian teams to attract unrestricted free agents.

ESPN: Greg Wyshynski reports NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh said there haven’t been any major discussions yet with the NHL regarding the collective bargaining agreement. The CBA will expire in two years (Sep. 15, 2026) unless the two sides agree to extend or update the deal.

“We’ll be talking to players about the agreement coming down the road and how we lay the foundation for that agreement,” said Walsh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two sides have plenty of time to work out a new agreement. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly recently sounded upbeat about the relationship between the league and the PA.

This could also be Commissioner Gary Bettman’s last round of collective bargaining. Now 72, Bettman presided over three lockouts, including the one that killed the entire 2004-05 season, leading to the current salary cap system.

However, there’s been labor peace since the last lockout ended on Jan. 6. 2013. With league coffers swelling, Bettman will likely want the next round of collective bargaining to go as smoothly as possible. Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael DeRosa cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculating that Radko Gudas could become the next captain of the Anaheim Ducks. The 34-year-old defenseman is a 13-season NHL veteran.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks haven’t had a team captain since Ryan Getzlaf retired in 2022. Their alternate captains last season were Cam Fowler, Mason McTavish and Troy Terry.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj could be an inspiration to the club’s rookies. Entering his third NHL season, the 23-year-old Xhekaj was never selected in the OHL or NHL drafts but made the Canadiens after being invited to their rookie camp in 2021.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted several clubs, like the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres, might need to shore up their depth between the pipes this season.

Kingerski wondered if this might provide the Penguins with a trade opportunity, suggesting Tristan Jarry or Alex Nedeljkovic as possible options. He also mused over whether a rival GM might pry away prospect Joel Blomqvist from the Penguins for the right price.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry’s surfaced in the rumor mill over the past couple of seasons but Kingerski admits his trade value is low. His contract and inconsistent play are significant obstacles.

If Blomqvist has a good camp and preseason, Nedeljkovic could become a trade option. He’s starting a two-year contract with a cap-friendly annual cap hit of $2.5 million.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines & Rumors – September 8, 2024

by | Sep 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines & Rumors – September 8, 2024

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes on his goals for the upcoming season, the Wild attempted to acquire Patrik Laine, an update on Ryan Johansen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is proud of winning the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 but is putting that behind him to focus on his club’s goals and his personal ones for the upcoming season.

Hughes, 24, finished last season with a career-high 17 goals and 75 assists for 92 points. He believes he can reach 20 goals and doesn’t rule out 100 points this season, explaining that he felt he missed a lot of scoring opportunities last season.

The Canucks captain also believes his club will be better in 2024-25, pointing to the addition of forwards Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood and Daniel Sprong and defenseman Derek Forbort.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes doesn’t see his club enduring the inconsistency of the previous years before last season’s improvement, noting that they’re no longer an up-and-coming club as they were back then. He indicated core players like himself, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser are older and more experienced.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes and his teammates will face significant pressure to build on their 109-point performance last season, the third-best record in franchise history. How they handle the heightened expectations could determine the outcome of this season.

SI.COM: Nick Horwat cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claiming the Minnesota Wild attempted to acquire Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 26-year-old winger was traded to the Montreal Canadiens last month.

Friedman believes the Wild were “very interested” in Laine. However, Horwat pointed out the cap-strapped Wild would’ve had to ship out some salary to absorb the winger’s $8.7 million cap hit through 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored last month the Wild could look into acquiring Laine. There was also talk that they were on his 10-team “no-trade” list.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports the Philadelphia Flyers hope to receive further clarification regarding their efforts to void Ryan Johansen’s contract.

According to Kurz, whether Johansen was healthy enough to report to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate following his acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche is at the heart of the disagreement. The Flyers originally thought they’d receive clarification before the start of the season but a team source suggests it’s “going to be a few weeks”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansen has a year remaining on his contract. The average annual value is $8 million, of which $4 million was retained by the Nashville Predators when they traded him last summer to the Avalanche. The Flyers took on that portion of his AAV when they acquired him earlier this year.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Steve Warne wonders if veteran winger Mike Hoffman has played his final NHL game. A 70-point producer in 2018-19 with the Florida Panthers, the 34-year-old winger has been unable to land a contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman’s production has tumbled since then, partly due to two COVID-shortened seasons but also because of three injury-shortened campaigns with rebuilding clubs in Montreal and San Jose.

The knock on Hoffman is he’s a one-dimensional offensive player whose defensive play leaves something to be desired. Age could also be catching up with him.

DAILY FACEOFF: Edmonton Oilers winger Corey Perry helped WWE wrestler Kevin Owens in his triple-threat match against Austin Theory during WWE Smackdown in Edmonton on Friday night.

Perry got involved when Owens and Theory battled outside the ring, grabbing Theory and holding back his arms, allowing Owens to deliver a chop across Theory’s chest. Owens high-fived Perry afterward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nice little bit of cross-promotion there.

SPORTSNET: Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder paid tribute to the Gaudreau brothers during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Vedder noted he and bassist Jeff Ament lost people close to them in tragic accidents. He cited his friend, Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, saying what good men the brothers were. Hearing the Gaudreaus came from Philadelphia and grew up watching games in that city, the band dedicated the song “Given To Fly” to the brothers, their families, loved ones and teammates.

RUMORS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying he expects a bridge deal between the Devils and Dawson Mercer. The 22-year-old winger completed his entry-level contract last season.

Friedman doesn’t see how a long-term deal is possible given the Devils’ limited cap space. They have just over $4.9 million for 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll probably be a two or three-year contract with an AAV between $3.5 million and $4 million.

Nichols also tweeted on Friday that former New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck remains focused on signing an NHL contract. He indicated a handful of teams have inquired about professional tryout offers.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins believes a reunion between the Oilers and Justin Schultz is possible, saying the two sides have talked. He also noted the rumors linking the club to Kevin Shattenkirk but feels it’s more likely they sign a more affordable defense option like Travis Dermott.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schultz, 34, began his NHL career with the Oilers, playing 3 1/2 seasons before getting traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 27, 2016.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 7, 2024

by | Sep 7, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 7, 2024

The latest on Sidney Crosby’s contract talks with the Penguins, the Ducks are discussing a trade with Cam Fowler, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast episode, Elliotte Friedman believes the Pittsburgh Penguins have made “a bunch of different offers” to team captain Sidney Crosby. He thinks the 37-year-old center is weighing whether he’ll be able to handle if the retooling Penguins miss the playoffs again while he’s still on top of his game.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Friedman still thinks Crosby will re-sign with the Penguins but believes the future Hall-of-Famer wanted to take his time to decide.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby and the Penguins could announce an agreement by the opening day of training camp. Nevertheless, the closer we get to camp without an extension for Crosby, the more speculation about his future in Pittsburgh.

Cam Fowler’s tenure with the Anaheim Ducks could come to an end. Friedman reports the 32-year-old defenseman is engaged in discussions regarding trade options with Ducks management. He believes at some point they’ll have to start taking some ice time away from Fowler to allow their younger blueliners to develop.

Fowler has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million with a four-team trade list. Friedman indicates the veteran rearguard could consider more teams as trade destinations. He also adds that it’s been a “positive working relationship” between the two sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It doesn’t sound like the Ducks are rushing to trade Fowler. Nevertheless, it’s worthwhile to determine where he sees himself and where they feel he fits in their future roster.

Fowler will become an unrestricted free agent in July 2026. He’ll likely no longer fit into the Ducks’ long-term plans by then. Attempting to trade him this season would enable interested clubs to have him on their roster for two postseason runs. The Ducks could also use their cap space to retain part of Fowler’s cap hit if it’ll sweeten the return.

Friedman speculated the St. Louis Blues might’ve been one of the teams interested in Fowler. However, he doesn’t think they have the room to acquire him now.

Speaking of the Ducks, Friedman believes they’ve been working with goaltender John Gibson to find him a new home. “That’s just been going on longer,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson first surfaced in the media rumor mill two years ago and has continued since. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list.

The Ducks’ unwillingness to retain salary is believed to be why Gibson hasn’t been moved. The recent decline in his performance is another factor but that can be chalked up in part to the quality of the team in front of him during that time.

Friedman reported the Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to be discussing a contract extension with Jake McCabe. The 31-year-old defenseman is in the final season of his contract with an AAV of $4 million with a modified no-trade clause. Half of that cap hit is carried by his former club, the Chicago Blackhawks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2024

by | Sep 7, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2024

An update on Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko’s injury, Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin could be nursing an injury, the latest on free-agent defensemen Mark Giordano and Kevin Shattenkirk, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Max Miller cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman providing an update on the injury plaguing Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko.

Friedman revealed Demko won’t fully recover from his injury. He said the situation remains shrouded in mystery but the injury isn’t fixable via surgery.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (NHL Images).

“It’s something he’s going to have to learn to play through and he can play through to a high level,” said Friedman. He believes Demko was never fully healthy entering the 2024 playoffs and the club rushed him to return before he was completely healed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks and Demko have not commented yet on Friedman’s report. It’ll be interesting to hear their response. Their silence has reached the point where speculation has become an unnecessary distraction as training camp approaches.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias cited Friedman reporting Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin was “battling something”. He noted that no one within the organization would comment on the 28-year-old goalie’s situation. Sorokin’s agent wouldn’t comment out of respect to Isles general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Macias wondered if Sorokin’s injury could be related to the dropoff in his performance last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Any team run by Lamoriello is well-known for its silence regarding its players’ status. We’ll likely have to wait for the Islanders’ response when training camp opens in less than two weeks for the Islanders’ response.

SPORTSNET: Mark Giordano’s agent, Ritch Winter, said the 40-year-old defenseman isn’t ready to retire. Winter indicated he’s spoken with the Edmonton Oilers and two of his client’s former teams, the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Winter said his client’s priority is winning the Stanley Cup. He hopes to join a rebuilding club that could move him at the trade deadline or an established contender. He said Flames GM Craig Conroy wasn’t that interested in bringing Giordano back to Calgary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Giordano’s performance was apparent over the past two seasons as age takes its toll. That will affect his efforts to continue his NHL career.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the agent for Kevin Shattenkirk is engaged in discussions with several teams hoping to find a fit for the 35-year-old free-agent defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman claimed he’d heard that Shattenkirk would love to be part of the Oilers if there’s a spot for him. The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson reports the blueliner’s agent George Bazos is trying to get a contract for his client rather than a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Darren Dreger reports Cole Perfetti continues to skate and practice with his Winnipeg Jets teammates while contract negotiations between the two sides continue. He also intends to represent the Jets at next week’s NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s promising news given the circumstances. It suggests Perfetti could be under contract when training camp opens in less than two weeks.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks prospect Will Smith will live with former Sharks captain Patrick Marleau while the young center attempts to make the club this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smith’s fellow Sharks prospect Macklin Celebrini will stay with Joe Thornton this season.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL player Alex Formenton has walked away from his playing career and is pursuing a career in construction. Formenton, 24, is among the five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team facing charges of sexual assault related to an incident in London, Ontario, in 2018.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports Montreal Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen could steal a roster spot during the club’s upcoming training camp. Kapanen, 21, is a 2021 draft pick who starred during the 2024 Finnish Liga playoffs and is playing well in preseason action with Swedish Hockey League club Timra IK.

Timra head coach and former NHL all-star Olli Jokinen praised Kapanen’s two-way skills and hockey sense. Jokinen said his club has been planning for the possibility of Kapanen’s absence once he signed his entry-level contract with the Canadiens in July.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 6, 2024

by | Sep 6, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 6, 2024

An update on the notable remaining restricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox provides an update on the notable remaining restricted free agents.

Fox noted a recent rumor claiming goaltender Jeremy Swayman seeks $10 million annually from the Boston Bruins drew skepticism. Another report claimed the Bruins offered the 25-year-old netminder a lowball $6.2 million average annual value for four seasons.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

The Bruins training camp opens on Sept. 18. They possess $8.6 million in cap space. Meanwhile, Swayman was participating in captain’s skates with his teammates this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The AAV on Swayman’s new contract will likely be between $7 million and $8 million, depending on the length of the deal. It could be anywhere between four and eight years.

Fox cited an Aug. 28 report by Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff claiming the Red Wings are close to a deal with defenseman Moritz Seider. Meanwhile, some observers wonder how Seth Jarvis’ new contract with the Carolina Hurricanes affected Lucas Raymond’s negotiations with the Wings. Both wingers had comparable stats last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seider could get an eight-year deal worth between $8 million and $8.5 million. Jarvis is getting an AAV of $7.9 million (though the deferred salary actually reduces the annual cap hit to $7.42 million. Raymond’s negotiations have likely reached the point where it’s late in the game to introduce the concept of deferred payments into the discussions.

Nothing new to report on Thomas Harley’s negotiations with the Dallas Stars. Fox theorizes that the 23-year-old defenseman’s agent could be waiting to see what Seider gets with the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If so, the Stars aren’t going to meet that demand given their $6.2 million in cap space.

Fox cited NHL Network Radio’s Dave McCarthy claiming some teams would be willing to sign Cole Perfetti to a two-year offer sheet with an AAV of $4.5 million. However, the Jets would surely match that offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have over $5.7 million in cap space with only Perfetti to sign among their active roster players.

According to a recent report by The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta, the New Jersey Devils aren’t close to a new contract with forward Dawson Mercer. However, discussions continue between the two sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils have nearly $5 million in cap space. Mercer’s coming off his entry-level contract so he lacks leverage here. He could end up with a bridge deal worth between $3.5 million and $4 million annually.

Nothing new on Peyton Krebs’ contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres. Fox speculates the 23-year-old center will either get a short-term “prove-it” deal but isn’t ruling out a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo Hockey Now’s Jason Moser believes Krebs’ limited options could leave him no choice but to accept his qualifying offer ($874,125). The Sabres could explore trade options but Moser believes the return would be minimal.

Fox believes Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson has three options: sign his qualifying offer, let his agent Pat Brisson negotiate an offer sheet or an extension, or withhold his services and await a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun last night reported Robertson still wants to be traded. He’s reportedly training at home and waiting for a resolution but the process isn’t moving as fast as his camp was hoping for. LeBrun noted that the youngster lacks leverage in this situation.

That lack of leverage prompted The Athletic’s James Mirtle to join those observers who believe it doesn’t make sense for Robertson’s career to sideline himself at this point. He thinks the youngster should sign his qualifying offer, play for the Leafs this season, and establish himself as a roster regular. That would give him arbitration rights next summer and improve his value in the trade market if he still wants to be moved.

Nothing new to report on Nashville Predators forward Philip Tomasino and Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev. Both are in the same position as Robertson.