NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2024

by | Aug 4, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 4, 2024

Matthew Tkachuk talks about celebrating his Stanley Cup win with his father, former Sharks GM regrets letting Joe Pavelski depart from San Jose, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Matthew Tkachuk said he never saw his father, former NHL star Keith Tkachuk, cry before until the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

“He was bawling his eyes out like a big baby in the stands as those few minutes went by after we won,” Tkachuk said during a recent appearance on “The Jim Rome Show”. “The emotion from my family…it was something that I’ll never forget.”

Keith played 18 seasons as a power forward in the NHL but never got to win the Cup. Matthew said he was honored to celebrate the victory with his father.

“It was a dream,” he said. “Me handing the Cup to my dad when all the family came on the ice was one of the highlights of my entire life.”

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Former Sharks general manager Doug Wilson recently paid tribute to Joe Pavelski and his long NHL career. The 40-year-old forward announced his retirement last month.

Wilson admitted he regrets letting Pavelski depart as a free agent in 2019. “We should have found a way to get it done,” he said. “It was a mistake.”

Chosen in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Sharks, Pavelski leads his draft class with 476 goals and 1,068 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Patrice Bergeron and Marc-Andre Fleury are the top two players to emerge from the 2003 Draft but Pavelski will forever be its leading scorer. The only player who could’ve caught him was Eric Staal (455 goals, 1,063 points) and he announced his retirement last week.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish are the 2024 inductees into the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame. They will be honored at Rogers Place on Oct. 25 before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Gregg spent nine seasons as a defenseman with the Oilers from 1981-82 to 1989-90, winning five Stanley Cups. MacTavish spent nine of his 17 NHL seasons as a checking-line forward with the Oilers from 1985-86 to 1993-94, winning three Cups in Edmonton. He went on to coach the club from 2000 to 2009.

THE SCORE: James Hagens is setting his sights on becoming the top prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 17-year-old playmaking center netted 102 points in 58 games last season with the US National Team Development Program Under-18 team. He also made history at the 2024 U-18 Championship with a record-setting 22 points in seven games.

Hagens also hopes to make the cut for Team USA at the 2025 World Juniors after being one of the final cuts from the 2024 squad. “I want to be on that team really bad,” he said, admitting it hurt getting cut but is using it as motivation this year.

The 5’10”, 172-pound Hagens turns 18 in November and will play for Boston College this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hagens is the consensus early favorite to be chosen first in next year’s draft. It’ll be worthwhile to keep an eye on this kid throughout this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 3, 2024

by | Aug 3, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 3, 2024

Which notable stars could still get traded this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NHL NETWORK: Jamie Hersch and Stu Grimson recently looked at several notable NHL stars who could still be traded this summer.

Starting with Mitch Marner, the 27-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer unless he and the Toronto Maple Leafs negotiate a contract extension. Grimson believes the Leafs need more grit among their top-six forwards to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Grimson doesn’t blame Marner for the Leafs’ ongoing Cup drought but he believes management covets forwards who play a gritty style like Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. Marner could fetch the type of return that helps them get over the hump.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner’s no-movement clause gives him complete control over this situation. If he were to agree to be moved (and that’s a big “if”), it won’t happen until close to the March trade deadline when most of his $10.9 million cap hit for this season has been paid by the Leafs. It also depends on where they are in the standings by then.

Turning to Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers center will also become a UFA next July unless he signs an extension before then.

Grimson doesn’t see the Oilers trading Draisaitl, pointing out that the Oilers have an open window for winning the Stanley Cup. He points out the 28-year-old center is a robust complement to team captain Connor McDavid who can also carry the offensive load on the rare occasions when McDavid isn’t scoring.

It’ll take some salary-cap creativity to keep Draisaitl and McDavid together in Edmonton. Nevertheless, Grimson doesn’t expect Draisaitl will be traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have made re-signing Draisaitl the priority and could pay top dollar to keep him in Edmonton. The only question is how long his next deal will be. Some observers believe he’ll want the maximum eight-year contract while others think he could opt for a shorter deal to give him another shot at the UFA market while he’s still in his prime.

Grimson believes there’s a really solid possibility that the Anaheim Ducks could trade Trevor Zegras. He praised the 23-year-old forward’s offensive upside but felt he must improve his defensive play. Grimson also pointed out that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek inherited Zegras when he took over the job. He felt the youngster could be traded for a robust return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras surfaced in the rumor mill in January after the Ducks shipped defenseman Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers for promising winger Cutter Gauthier. His name was frequently mentioned in media trade chatter though Verbeek denied having trade talks involving Zegras following the March trade deadline.

We can’t rule anything out but if Zegras was going to be traded it would’ve happened weeks ago, possibly during the draft week. Teams may have expressed interest but Verbeek isn’t going to give him away.

Zegras’ future in Anaheim will depend on his performance this season. Verbeek will hang onto him if he breaks out as a franchise player. If he plays well offensively but his defense game is poor, the Ducks GM could consider moving him before the March trade deadline or next summer.

Turning to New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Grimson is a fan of the 30-year-old defenseman, praising his physical style and leadership. He doesn’t see the blueliner moving given his value to the identity of the club. Hersch and Grimson cited how close the Rangers came to reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season and doubt they want to mess with their chemistry.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers tried to move Trouba before July 1 to the Detroit Red Wings. to free up his $8 million cap hit and put the savings toward adding depth via free agency. His no-movement clause became a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. Management asked for his list several days ahead of time but Trouba handed it in on July 1.

Any benefit gained in the free-agent market by trading Trouba has passed with all the top UFAs signed away a month ago. They’ve reportedly decided not to move him this season. Management could revisit their attempt to peddle him to Detroit or elsewhere next summer.

WINNIPEG SUN’s Scott Billeck took to social media on Friday reporting there is no truth to an ongoing rumor claiming the Jets offered Cole Perfetti to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas.

Billeck writes Carolina wanted Perfetti in a possible trade but the Jets didn’t want to move the young forward. Any deal involving Necas wasn’t going to happen because he wouldn’t sign a long-term contract with the Jets.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2024

by | Aug 3, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2024

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is hungry for another Stanley Cup championship, the notable remaining restricted free agents, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has his heart set on winning the Stanley Cup again.

“We won the Cup, the greatest prize, but you want to feel the same feelings again,” said Barkov. That leaves you hungry. Winning the Cup helps us this coming season, but winning two in a row will no way be easy. Everyone needs to give it their all, everyone has to play his best game and, of course, you need a little bit of luck.”

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winning consecutive Cups is not an easy feat. Only two teams (the 2016 and 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning) have accomplished the feat in the salary cap era. Still, it can be done. The Panthers have been to consecutive Cup Finals and return with most of their roster core (including Barkov) intact.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau provides brief profiles of five young restricted free agents still awaiting new contracts from their clubs. He also examines the risks and rewards of signing them to long-term deals.

They include Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis, Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, and winger Lucas Raymond.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Harley are coming off their entry-level contracts, giving their clubs leverage in their current negotiations. Some could end up with short-term “bridge” deals depending on their team’s salary-cap space. Swayman, meanwhile, opted not to go through arbitration again and is still in negotiations with the Bruins.

These players remaining unsigned at this stage in the offseason suggests they’re not interested in signing offer sheets with other clubs or no rival general managers are willing to go that route.

YARDBARKER: No contract extension talks are planned between the Dallas Stars and forward Evgenii Dadonov. The 35-year-old winger wants to see how this season plays out.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Former Devils forward Michael McLeod signed a one-year contract with KHL club Barys Astana. McLeod is one of five players to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in London, Ontario involving members of Canada’s World Junior team in 2018.

RG.ORG: Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov has started training with SKA St. Petersburg for the upcoming KHL season with an eye on a possible departure to the NHL next year. He was chosen fifth overall by the Canadiens in the 2024 draft.

Demidov will spend this season in the KHL but will face competition from players such as recent addition Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Canadiens could negotiate a loan if he doesn’t secure a roster spot with SKA St. Petersburg.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 2, 2024

by | Aug 2, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 2, 2024

Check out the latest on Patrik Laine, Sidney Crosby, Igor Shesterkin and Artemi Panarin in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger reported earlier this week that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said it’s been a slow trade market thus far for Patrik Laine.

According to Waddell, only one team had reached out to express an interest in the 26-year-old winger. He’s not surprised given this stage of the offseason, suggesting this could play out for a while.

Laine requested a trade this spring. He emerged a week ago from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. That allowed Waddell to speak directly with the winger about his preferred trade destinations. Laine and his agent were also permitted to contact other teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine’s contract is a major stumbling block. He carries an average annual value of $8 million through 2025-26 and a 10-team no-trade list. Many teams invested much of their cap space in the trade and free-agent markets once he emerged from the player assistance program.

Laine’s health is likely another concern. It was reported he was rehabbing a shoulder injury he suffered last season.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

The lack of interest thus far won’t stop the speculation about potential destinations. The Hockey News’ Remy Mastey cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli recently suggesting the New York Rangers as a possibility.

THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi provided an update on the status of Sidney Crosby’s contract extension talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rossi reported a month ago that multiple sources indicated the two sides were closing in on a deal with both sides confident it would be completed soon. It was speculated the deal would be three years with an AAV of $10 million.

So far, that extension has yet to materialize. Rossi followed up with his sources, indicating both sides were comfortable with where the negotiations stood and that everyone felt comfortable going about their summer plans and taking some downtime.

Rossi noted that Crosby was born on Aug. 7, 1987. The superstitious Penguins captain honors that date by wearing No. 87 and earning an AAV of $8.7 million on his current contract. “Read into that last sentence what you will.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wouldn’t be surprising if Crosby’s new contract is announced next Wednesday. Stay tuned…

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh was asked if New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin would accept a “hometown discount” to help the club when Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller are restricted free agents next summer.

Baugh cited colleague Arthur Staple speculated recently that Shesterkin’s starting point in negotiations could be 14 percent of the salary cap, which would be $12.94 million annually. While he might not necessarily get that much, it’s hard to see him accepting a hometown discount.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is Shesterkin’s opportunity to cash in big as an unrestricted free agent. He’s established himself among the league’s elite netminders and is crucial to the Rangers’ hopes for a Stanley Cup. They have to pay him top dollar. If the Blueshirts balk, he’ll get it from another club on the open market.

Another reader asked Baugh about the possibility of trading Artemi Panarin, pointing out that his offensive game doesn’t translate in the playoffs.

Baugh noted that Panarin has a full no-movement clause giving him complete control. Even if he agreed to a trade, the Rangers won’t get equal “win-now” value in return. His production would be almost impossible to replace.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2024

by | Aug 2, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 2, 2024

Jacob Trouba talks about the recent trade rumors swirling about him, the Devils make three notable front-office hires, the Kings re-sign Jordan Spence, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba downplayed the trade rumors that swirled about him a month ago. His no-movement clause became a 15-team no-trade clause on July 1. Rangers management asked for his list several days early but his camp didn’t submit it until July 1, which may have interfered with general manager Chris Drury’s free-agent plans.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

“It was fine,” said Drury. “It’s part of the business. I knew that part of my contract turned this year (to a no-trade list), and I submitted a list. That’s what I did. All the other noise was pretty much noise.”

Trouba also said he was fine with how Rangers management communicated with him during that situation. He claimed they had a great relationship with Drury going back years, expressing gratitude for the trust Drury placed in him. Trouba said he’s happy to be with the Rangers and looks forward to the upcoming season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports out of New York last month claimed the Rangers were working on a trade to send Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings. Nothing came of it amid speculation he knew about the pending deal and put the Wings on his no-trade list. Family reasons came into play as his wife, Dr. Kelly Tyson-Trouba, has a year of residency remaining in New York.

It’ll be interesting to see how this season plays out for Trouba and the Rangers. His performance declined last season partly because of an injured foot that plagued him down the stretch and into the playoffs. There’s talk he’ll be permanently relegated to their third defense pairing, which will raise eyebrows because he carries an $8 million average annual value through 2025-26.

It’s expected the Rangers will make Igor Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history by next summer. Meanwhile, Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller will be restricted free agents and due for significant raises.

The Rangers could have $33 million in cap space if the cap rises to $92 million for 2025-26. However, new contracts for those three will take a significant bite out of that cap room, which could resurrect the Trouba trade rumors by next June.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils announced three significant front-office hirings on Thursday.

Former Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher becomes a senior advisor to team president and GM Tom Fitzgerald. Former Devils captain Andy Greene was named a hockey operations advisor and former NHL goaltender Manny Legace is their new head amateur goaltending scout and development coach.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings re-signed defenseman Jordan Spence to a two-year contract. Spence, 23, will earn an average annual value of $1.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Spence played his first full NHL season in 2023-24, finishing with 24 points in 71 games. He’ll be battling promising youngster Brandt Clarke for the second-pairing role on the right side of the Kings’ blueline.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Former Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov signed a two-year contract with KHL club AK-Bars Kazan.

Barabonov, 30, enjoyed top-six minutes with the Sharks from 2021 to 2023, including a career-best 47-point performance in 2022-23. However, he was given a reduced role as the club prioritized younger forwards throughout last season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Winger Denis Gurianov signed a two-year deal with KHL club CSKA Moscow.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gurianov, 27, spent seven seasons with the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers. His best season was with the Stars in 2019-20, scoring 20 goals in 64 regular-season games and nine goals and 17 points in 27 playoff games. However, he struggled to maintain that production and spent the past two seasons bouncing among those four clubs.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 1, 2024

by | Aug 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 1, 2024

Proposed trade destinations for Patrik Laine plus the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PROPOSED DESTINATIONS FOR PATRIK LAINE

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed what he believes are the five best fits as trade destinations for Patrik Laine.

The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger requested a trade two months ago. Interested teams can speak with him directly since his recent exit from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He carries an $8.7 million average annual value through 2025-26 with a 10-team no-trade list.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Wegman considers the Pittsburgh Penguins the best fit for Laine to rejuvenate his career. They need someone with his scoring touch on their power play. They carry $3.5 million in cap space and could create more room by adding a depth forward like Lars Eller or Noel Acciari in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman pointed out this is the type of deal general manager Kyle Dubas must make to give his aging club one last chance at a playoff run. Whether Dubas believes that’s the case remains to be seen. His attitude seems to have changed since his big acquisition of Erik Karlsson last summer failed to provide the expected big boost to their roster.

The Colorado Avalanche could be a good fit if wingers Gabriel Landeskog (knee surgery) and Valeri Nichushkin (serving a six-month suspension as part of Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program) fail to return this season. He could slot in alongside center Casey Mittelstadt and fellow Finn Artturi Lehkonen on their second line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs will need more clarity on the status of Landeskog and Nichushkin before pulling the trigger. Even then, Laine could prove too expensive for them to acquire.

The Vegas Golden Knights are known as big-game hunters in the trade market. They have limited cap space but sending someone like Nicolas Roy and/or Brett Howden in the deal might make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule anything out with the Golden Knights. However, they’re facing a serious cap crunch, sitting above the $88 million cap by over $3.6 million. That’ll be offset by placing permanently sidelined goaltender Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. Nevertheless, it could prove too expensive for the cap-strapped Golden Knights to pull off.

The Seattle Kraken could use someone with Laine’s game-breaking offensive ability. They have over $6.4 million in cap space but most of it will be used to re-sign Matty Beniers. They possess plenty of mid-size contracts that they could presumably move out for Laine.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be a bold move by Kraken GM Ron Francis but he already made his big addition up front by signing Chandler Stephenson on July 1.

The Buffalo Sabres possess plenty of promising young wingers but none of them have Laine’s goal-scoring upside. GM Kevyn Adams has shown a willingness to draw from his prospect pool for trade bait to improve his roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman wondered how well Laine would perform under Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. The Sabres could also be on his 10-team no-trade list.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports sources suggesting the Montreal Canadiens could be well-positioned to shop for a scorer after re-signing their restricted free agents.

The Canadiens have $5.4 million in cap space and if needed could get an additional $10.5 million by placing permanently sidelined netminder Carey Price on LTIR. Should GM Kent Hughes seek to pursue a top-six forward like Patrik Laine or the Winnipeg Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers, Price’s contract will be of utmost importance.

D’Amico’s source said the Canadiens are attempting to weaponize their cap space by calling teams looking to shed salary. They indicate GM Kent Hughes is “looking to do something, but not at the expense of next summer or the coming years.”

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: D’Amico also pointed out that the Canadiens have two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. In addition to their own, they have the Calgary Flames’ first-rounder. If the Flames struggle this season, the Habs could use that pick as a trade chip to land a more proven asset.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keep an eye on the Canadiens for the rest of the offseason. I have a feeling that Hughes isn’t done tinkering with his roster.

D’Amico pointed out Hughes has made some surprising moves over the past two summers. In August 2022, he acquired Sean Monahan from the Calgary Flames and last summer was part of the three-team deal that saw Erik Karlsson land with the Penguins.