NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2024

by | Aug 29, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2024

Jeremy Swayman talks about his contract negotiations with the Bruins, Rutger McGroarty doesn’t reveal much about why he didn’t want to play for the Jets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Jeremy Swayman said he decided to be better prepared for this summer’s contract negotiations with the Boston Bruins after going through arbitration last summer.

During an appearance on the “Shut Up Marc Podcast”, the 25-year-old Swayman called last year’s arbitration experience “scary”.

“It’s a lot of resentment toward people that want you to succeed, and when you’re not being compensated for your endless efforts and doing what you do best, it’s a nerve-wracking feeling. Because it’s your family you’re fighting for.”

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

Swayman said he’s educated himself and better understands the business side of things.

“I understand the comparables, and how I can’t ruin the goalie market for other guys that are going to be in my shoes down the line.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Arbitration can be a bruising process for a player’s ego. The people who employ you, praise you, and give you a larger role on the team are standing before an arbitrator belittling your accomplishments.

Swayman learned the lesson and is better educated and prepared this time around. He holds the hammer this time, sitting in a better negotiating position now that he’s the Bruins’ starting goaltender. 

In contract negotiations, remember the line from the movie The Godfather: It’s not personal, it’s strictly business. 

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss suggests a fair annual salary range for Swayman on a long-term contract is between $6.75 million and $8.5 million.

Goss pointed out there are five goaltenders (Montreal’s Carey Price, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, and the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin) with average annual values over $6.4 million.

All but Sorokin have won the Vezina Trophy. Bobrovsky and Vasilevskiy are Stanley Cup champions while Price backstopped the Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman’s performance over the past two seasons is worthy of a significant raise over the $3.75 million he received last year via arbitration. Over the last two seasons, he’s taken over as the Bruins’ starter, sits among the league leaders in save percentage, and was co-winner of the Jennings Trophy with former teammate Linus Ullmark.

There’s a rumor that the Swayman camp seeks $10 million annually. A more realistic number is around $8.5 million.

I’ll have more about Swayman in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WINNIPEG SUN/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Rutger McGroarty didn’t say much about why he didn’t want to play for the Jets in his first press conference since getting traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week.

“I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and I just told them that I wasn’t going to be signing with them,” McGroarty told reporters. He praised the Jets for how well they handled the situation, saying he had “nothing but respect” for them.

McGroarty said he’s fired up and looking forward to the Penguins’ training camp next month. Despite signing an entry-level contract with his new team following the trade, he understands there is no guarantee he’ll land a roster spot this season.

“I’ve been promised a spot in the rookie tournament, and that’s about it,” said McGroarty. “I feel like I’ll get what I deserve. I’m going to come ready to work for camp. I like where my game is right now.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever McGroarty’s reasons for not wanting to play for the Jets, he has a better chance of earning a roster spot with a retooling Pittsburgh club than he would’ve had on a deeper Winnipeg roster.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit underwent successful meniscus surgery on his right knee on Tuesday. He’ll be sidelined for five to seven weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brossoit was signed this summer as the backup for Blackhawks’ starter Petr Mrazek. They’re expected to use Arvid Soderblom to fill the gap until Brossoit is cleared to return.

RG.ORG: Former San Jose Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov didn’t enjoy the rebuilding club’s style of play last season.

“The team played primitive hockey,” said Barabanov. “You run around without the puck and don’t understand why you need all this. We didn’t even try to keep the puck, play for your partner. It was the most simple hockey that kills the player in you.”

The Sharks finished last in the overall standings. However, Barabanov acknowledged it helped them get top prospect Macklin Celebrini in this year’s draft.

Barabanov has no hard feelings toward his former club. “I hope that the team will finish the rebuild. They have many good young players with great futures.”

He also said he had contract offers from several NHL clubs. However, they weren’t as enticing as the one he signed with KHL club Ak Bars Kazan.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings have invited winger Austin Watson to training camp on a professional tryout offer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues have started up their own contract tracker called “BluesFriendly”. It’s a nod to CapFriendly, which was shut down in July after its owners were hired by the Washington Capitals.

The tracker appears on the Blues’ official NHL site. It contains the annual cap hit, contract term, expiry status and acquisition info for each player on their roster and/or players on one-way contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The site doesn’t indicate how much cap space the Blues have, which players have no-trade/no-movement clauses, those who are waiver-exempt or on injury reserve. The contract info only goes to 2028-29 but several players have deals extending beyond that season.

Still, it’s the first time an NHL club has made basic salary info available on its official site. The other 31 clubs could follow suit if this proves popular with Blues fans.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2024

by | Aug 28, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Nick Robertson still wants the Leafs to trade him, free-agent winger Filip Zadina is close to signing with a new club, and the latest on the Flames. 

ROBERTSON STILL WANTS OUT OF TORONTO

TSN: Chris Johnston reports no resolution in the standoff between the Toronto Maple Leafs and unhappy winger Nick Robertson. The 22-year-old restricted free agent requested a trade earlier this summer. 

Johnston noted Robertson has little leverage here. If he doesn’t want to sign and the Leafs won’t move him, all he can do is sit out and hope to put pressure on the team. However, it’ll be costly to Robertson in terms of contract and preparation for the coming season. 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson (NHL Images).

Earlier this summer, Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said he wasn’t planning to move Robertson despite his trade request. He believes the young winger has a great opportunity this season with the Leafs to become a better player. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson has grown frustrated over his playing time thus far with the Leafs. Holding out for a trade likely won’t help his cause unless the Leafs get an offer too good to pass up. 

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: A reader asked Dan Kingerski what it might take for the Penguins to acquire Robertson. 

Kingerski observed Robertson is “an unproven commodity with loads of talent but a delayed progression.” He estimates his salary range at around $2 million. Kingerski reports Penguins general manager (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas “really likes Robertson.” 

The Penguins could attempt to offer sheet Robertson but Kingerski believes the Leafs would match. It would have to be a trade with the Leafs getting a player with value in return. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt that Dubas likes Robertson and might like to include the winger among his efforts to add more affordable young talent to the Penguins. Whether a trade is possible remains to be seen, especially if Treliving remains unwilling to trade him. 

ZADINA CLOSE TO SIGNING WITH A NEW CLUB

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski reports the agent for Filip Zadina denied a report out of Czechia claiming the 24-year-old winger was close to signing a contract with the Sabres. 

Darren Ferris told Lysowski he’s in the process of securing a professional tryout offer for his client with another team. 

Zadina was chosen sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Draft. He’s struggled to establish himself as a scoring winger, lasting four seasons with the Wings. Zadina spent last season with the San Jose Sharks, scoring 13 goals and 23 points in 72 games. 

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources tell him three teams are in discussion with Zadina. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a crucial period in Zadina’s sputtering NHL career. He’ll need a strong training camp and preseason to earn a contract for this season, and must significantly improve his performance to ensure he can stick in the NHL after that. 

LATEST ON THE FLAMES

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson and Daniel Austin were asked by a reader what Flames GM Craig Conroy might have up his sleeve in the lead-up to training camp. 

Gilbertson indicated Conroy has informed cap-strapped clubs that he’s willing to use his cap space to help them, for a price. That would be not just the player received in the deal but also a sweetener like a draft pick or prospect. 

The Flames have nearly $20 million in cap space, making them a perfect partner for a club looking to shed salary. 

Asked about possible PTO targets for the Flames, Gilbertson suggested center Steven Lorentz or winger Kailer Yamamoto. Austin suggested Filip Zadina.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 28, 2024

by | Aug 28, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 28, 2024

The latest on Panthers center Sam Bennett, the Canucks’ goalie options if Thatcher Demko is unavailable for training camp, Wild GM Bill Guerin talks about his expectations for this season and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett offers no apologies for his physical style of play and that of his teammates.

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (NHL Images).

“There’s definitely a lot of people that don’t like the way I play,” said Bennett during his appearance on TSN’s “First Up with Korolnek and Colaiacovo”. “I think it goes for a lot of guys on our team. It’s kind of part of what makes us successful, I think. We have so many guys willing to do what it takes to win.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final and a championship this season speaks to the success of the Panthers’ style of play. However, physicality isn’t the only reason. They have stars like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Sergei Bobrovsky, underrated players like Carter Verhaeghe and Gustav Forsling, and skilled, gritty versatile two-way players like Bennett.

This season could be more challenging for Bennett and his teammates. The Panthers lost Brandon Montour, Vladimir Tarasenko, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anthony Stolarz, Nick Cousins and Kevin Stenlund to free agency this summer. Meanwhile, injuries have hampered long-time defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

The Panthers face a daunting challenge reaching the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year. The Tampa Bay Lightning did it in 2022, making them the first team to do so since the 1985 Edmonton Oilers.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston examined the options for the Vancouver Canucks to shore up their goaltending depth. Starter Thatcher Demko remains questionable for training camp as he rehabs an undisclosed injury.

Netminders Arturs Silovs, Jiri Patera, and Nikita Tolopilo will be in training camp, with Silovs and Patera having some NHL experience.

Options include a professional tryout offer to unrestricted free agent goalies, signing a UFA like Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract, claiming a netminder off waivers, or making a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The cost of adding another goalie will be a factor. Vancouver is pressed against the $88 million salary cap but can garner some cap relief by placing sidelined defenseman Tucker Poolman and his $2.5 million contract on long-term injury reserve.

THE SCORE: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin acknowledged the difficulties his club has faced due to the ongoing salary-cap constraints from the contract buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Nevertheless, he’s expecting a bounce-back performance following their disappointing 2023-24 campaign.

Guerin believes injuries were to blame for his club missing the playoffs last season. “If we can stay healthy, we can get back to our 100-point seasons and get back into the playoffs and improve on what we’ve done.”

The Wild GM also believes his scorers must get off to a better start this season. He’s also hoping 2022 draft pick Liam Ohgren can be an impact player and expects promising goalie Jesper Wallstedt will see more playing time.

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have concerns about Jani Hakanpaa’s knee injury.

The Leafs reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the 32-year-old defenseman. However, Johnston reports he hasn’t signed a deal with them.

Johnston claims Hakanpaa’s knee is “basically bone on bone by this point”. The blueliner believes he can still play but medical opinions suggest otherwise.

The longer this goes, the less likely Hakanpaa will have a contract with the Leafs for the coming season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston noted the last time Leafs GM Brad Treliving spoke about Hakanpaa’s status was during the introduction of Auston Matthews as their new captain two weeks ago.

At the time, Treliving said the situation would be resolved one way or another soon. We’ll likely know by the start of the Leafs training camp on Sep. 22.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford hired Justin Pogge as their new goaltending coach.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2024

by | Aug 27, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2024

Is Jeremy Swayman seeking more than the Bruins can accord? Could the Oilers trade for a defenseman? Will the Jets shop Nikolaj Ehlers this season? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SWAYMAN SEEKING $10 MILLION ANNUALLY?

INSIDE THE RINK: Matt Barry cites WEEI Sports Radio’s Rich Keefe claiming goaltender Jeremy Swayman is seeking an average annual value of $10 million in contract negotiations with the Boston Bruins.

Swayman, 25, is a restricted free agent who opted to forego arbitration this summer to negotiate with Bruins management. He’s completing a one-year, $3.75 million contract received via arbitrations last summer.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

If the Bruins agree to pay Swayman that much, it’ll make him the second-highest-paid goalie in the league. He’s been among the top five in save percentage over the last two seasons and won the Jennings Trophy last season with former teammate Linus Ullmark.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins president Cam Neely and head coach Jim Montgomery expressed confidence that Swayman will be signed when training camp opens in mid-September. Nevertheless, Keefe’s report could explain why Swayman hasn’t been signed yet.

The Bruins currently have just over $8.6 million in cap space, most of which is expected to go toward signing Swayman. It was projected he could receive between $7 and $8 million annually. If he’s insisting on $10 million, they’ll have to shed over $1.4 million to fit him in.

Swayman holds the hammer here. He went through arbitration last summer, didn’t enjoy the experience, and is determined to get a lucrative deal this time. He’s considered among the NHL’s top goalies and is a crucial part of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes this season.

OILERS CONSIDERING A “SIGNIFICANT TRADE”?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cites Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the Oilers are considering a significant trade that could “shake things up a little bit more” than going the professional tryout offer route.

Seravalli made those comments during an interview with Oilers Now on Monday. He believes a trade could be made before training camp opens next month.

“The thing is things are so fluid right now,” said Seravalli. “I believe there are seven different scenarios that (Oilers general manager) Stan Bowman and his staff are probably looking at. They’re looking at lots of different options around the league.”

Seravalli also believes the Oilers should consider free-agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo. He acknowledged some of the 28-year-old’s previous personal baggage but felt he’s a better blueliner than fellow UFAs Tyson Barrie, Justin Schultz and Kevin Shattenkirk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli didn’t mention which defensemen he thinks the Oilers could be looking at. It wouldn’t be surprising if they were considering all their options as he suggests. Nevertheless, finding a better addition than a PTO signing isn’t easy at this stage in the offseason even if the Oilers could free up the cap space to do it.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR NIKOLAJ EHLERS?

THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre responded to a reader’s question about whether winger Nikolaj Ehlers could end up signing a contract extension with the Jets.

Ehlers, 28, was considered a trade candidate entering the offseason. However, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and new head coach Scott Arniel frequently sang the winger’s praises, stressing his importance to their lineup for the coming season.

McIntyre doesn’t rule out a resolution similar to Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele last year. After months of speculation, the Jets signed both players to contract extensions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McIntyre also points out that a lot depends on Ehler’s performance, where he sees his future, and the Jets’ position in the standings this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 27, 2024

by | Aug 27, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 27, 2024

The players prepare to protect their contracts from future labor strife, the Blue Jackets take protective measures with 2024 first-rounder Cayden Lindstrom, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Travis Yost believes there are “early signs” that the NHL and NHL Players Association could be preparing for a labor fight when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in September 2026.

Yost cites the slowdown in year-over-year revenue growth from several factors (“Canadian macroeconomics, increased competition in the North American sports landscape, challenges with broadcast rights holders in the United States, and even a de facto forced relocations) following the pandemic created fiscal headwinds that slowed the growth of the salary cap year-over-year.

He believes there will be “a fight of some kind of the apportionment and sharing of hockey-related revenues between the parties.” One way the players are preparing themselves is through contracts containing signing bonuses.

Such contracts can be “lockout proof” because signing bonuses are paid during the offseason. Those bonuses ensure the players receive most of their salary upfront before the regular season begins, preceding any potential labor strife if there isn’t a CBA extension by September 2026.

Yost anticipates more contracts with signing bonuses that carry through the 2026-27 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The signing bonus tactic as lockout protection started several years ago as players and their agents prepared themselves for the possibility of a disruption to the 2022-23 season when the CBA was projected to expire on Sept. 15, 2022. However, the CBA was extended (with some modifiers) in 2020 because of the pandemic to Sept. 15, 2026.

I agree with Yost’s belief that we’ll see more contracts over the next two years with signing bonuses running through 2026-27. Whether there’s another lockout, however, remains to be seen.

The rise in the salary cap from 2020-21 to 2023-24 was slowed by mutual agreement between the league and the PA. That was because league revenue dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, creating an imbalance in the division of hockey-related revenue resulting in the players paying higher escrow to offset the owners’ losses.

Once the owners were finally “made whole” last season, the salary cap jumped from $83.5 million in 2023-24 to $88 million this season. I’ve heard projections suggesting it could reach $92 million for 2025-26 and $100 million by 2027-28.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the relationship between the league and the PA has “never been better than it is.” Friedman noted CBA talks between the two sides haven’t started yet but believes that’s something “not to be concerned about, plenty of time, and there’s zero credible reason for any stoppage.”

A lot can happen over the next two years to derail negotiations and spark another lockout or a player’s strike. Even if the relationship between the league and the PA is currently rosy, it’s still understandable why the players will want some form of lockout insurance for 2026-27 in the form of signing bonuses.

However, it’ll be the star players who’ll benefit the most from signing bonuses. Few in the rank and file will likely get to have that luxury because they’ll lack the leverage to negotiate for them.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are being patient with 2024 first-rounder Cayden Lindstrom. The 18-year-old center suffered a back injury (disc herniation) last season and is still working back to full health.

The Blue Jackets expected Lindstrom’s recovery would take time when they drafted him. As a result, they’ve ruled him out of participating in next month’s NHL Prospects Challenge in Buffalo.

“Before we drafted him, we had all the MRIs, all the tests, and everything else from his agents and his doctors,” said Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell. “This is something he’s going to get better from, but we want to be really careful with it. I’ve said all along, we’re going to slow-play this one.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets can afford to be patient with Lindstrom. He’s projected to become a power-forward center, which is why he was considered a top-10 prospect entering this year’s draft and why the Jackets selected him with the fourth-overall pick. There’s no reason to rush his recovery or his development.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Former Oilers forward Sam Gagner has received some professional tryout offers and hopes to turn one into an NHL contract for the coming season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary is dealing with a minor injury that could prevent him from participating in Slovakia’s upcoming Olympic qualifier.

FLAMES NATION: Former Calgary Flames forward Sven Baertschi has joined the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks as an assistant coach. Baertschi spent 10 seasons in the NHL with the Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights from 2011-12 to 2021-22.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2024

by | Aug 26, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2024

The latest on Hurricanes winger Martin Necas, Islanders winger Oliver Wahlstrom,  Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, and an update on the Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reports Martin Necas was “50-50” about re-signing with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 25-year-old forward said he didn’t have the best season and was unhappy.

However, Necas said he and the club “turned the page”, figuring out a way for him to stay for two more seasons. “I feel like Carolina is my home”, he said, adding that he’s happy to stay and looks forward to a better performance this season.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).

Necas is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $6.5 million. Before signing his new deal, it was reported that multiple teams expressed interest in him after his father criticized the Hurricanes’ handling of his son’s role with the club. Necas said the Columbus Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets were among the suitors but his Hurricanes teammates convinced him to stay.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was talk of the Blue Jackets offering up Patrik Laine for Necas and the Jets dangling promising center Cole Perfetti.

Necas will likely play more of a top-six forward role with the Hurricanes this season. The trade rumors have died since he signed his new contract last month. His role and performance this season will be worth watching.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias noted the recent activity in the NHL trade market and wondered if the Islanders might get into the fray by attempting to move Oliver Wahlstrom.

The Isles made Wahlstrom available at the end of last season but he couldn’t have had much value in the trade market. Nevertheless, they’re in a salary-cap bind and must free up space for offseason addition Maxim Tsyplakov.

Macias suggested the Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins as possible trade partners.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Macias is right about Wahlstrom’s trade value. They could send him to the minors to make room for Tsyplakov. He’s on a one-year deal with a $1 million cap hit.

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Shayna Goldman report Filip Gustavsson could be sticking around with the Minnesota Wild.

Gustavsson was considered a trade candidate after the Wild re-sign Marc-Andre Fleury and with Jesper Wallstedt waiting in the wings. The 26-year-old goaltender surfaced in trade rumors earlier in the offseason. He could be part of a three-goalie rotation with the Wild this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson’s struggles last season combined with his $3.75 million AAV through 2025-26 explains why he’ll likely be back with the Wild this season.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Toronto Maple Leafs could consider adding a left winger before training camp opens in mid-September.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Free-agent options at left wing include Max Pacioretty, who reportedly has firm offers from a couple of clubs. Former Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins could be another if GM Brad Treliving maintains last summer’s obsession with adding “snot” to his lineup. Former Leaf James van Riemsdyk is also available.