NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 28, 2024

by | Dec 28, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 28, 2024

Recapping Friday’s eight games and the notable news of the past four days in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen tallied his first career hat trick in a 4-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Nathan MacKinnon collected three assists to become the first player this season to reach 60 points while Mikko Rantanen netted his 20th goal as the Avalanche picked up their fourth straight win. Nick Schmaltz replied for Utah as they’re winless in three straight (0-2-1).

Colorado Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche also announced on Friday that they signed Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $5.25 million. That’s a big raise over his current $2.35 million AAV. The 28-year-old goaltender was due to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

The Avalanche acquired Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9. He’s won three of his four appearances for Colorado with a .931 save percentage. Nevertheless, this is a significant commitment by Avs management based on a short sample size of his work, raising skepticism among some observers.

In other Avs news, defenseman Cale Makar was the NHL’s first star for the week ending Dec. 22. Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander was the second star and Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine was the third star.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner scored a natural hat trick as his club clipped the Detroit Red Wings 5-2. John Tavares had two assists as the Leafs snapped a two-game losing skid. Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson scored for the Red Wings, losing their fourth straight and the first under new head coach Todd McLellan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde, who was fired as Wings head coach on Dec. 26. Assistant coach Bob Boughner was also relieved of his duties. McLellan has considerable NHL head-coaching experience but he’ll need some time to get the struggling Wings on a winning track.

Meanwhile, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews missed this game. He remains hampered by a nagging upper-body injury that sidelined him for nine games in November. Matthews isn’t expected to be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against Washington.

The Buffalo Sabres got their second straight win by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2. Alex Tuch led the way with a hat trick while Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and an assist. Tyler Bertuzzi and Seth Jones scored for the Blackhawks, who pulled goaltender Petr Mrazek following the first period after giving up four goals on 11 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres ended a 13-game winless skid on Dec. 23 by crushing the New York Islanders 7-1. Chicago has lost three in a row.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski collected four assists in a 6-2 upset of the Boston Bruins. Dmitri Voronkov scored two goals and had an assist while Sean Monahan tallied twice for the Blue Jackets, who are 3-0-1 in their last four. Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle were the Bruins’ goal scorers as their five-game points streak (4-0-1) ended.

A four-goal third period powered the Vegas Golden Knights over the San Jose Sharks 6-3. Alex Pietrangelo had three assists while Jack Eichel and Mark Stone were among four players with a goal and an assist each for the Golden Knights, who’ve won nine of their last 10 to take over first place in the overall standings with 51 points. Will Smith and Fabian Zetterlund each had two points for the Sharks, who are winless in their last six (0-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game marked Tomas Hertl’s return to San Jose for the first time since the Sharks shipped him to the Golden Knights at last season’s trade deadline. He was held off the score sheet but received a video tribute from the Sharks before the game. Injuries kept Sharks forward William Eklund and defenseman Jake Walman out of the lineup for this contest.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 29 shots in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist as the Devils won for the sixth time in their last seven contests, sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 51 points. Eric Robinson and Brent Burns replied for the Hurricanes as they’ve dropped four of their last five.

The Minnesota Wild overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Dallas Stars 3-2 on an overtime wraparound goal by Brock Faber. Jonas Brodin and Marcus Foligno also scored for the Wild while Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves for the win. Evgenii Dadonov and Wyatt Johnston scored for the Stars as they’ve lost three of their last four (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov missed this game with a lower-body injury. Stars forward Mason Marchment was taken to a Dallas hospital after being struck in the face by a shot in the first period. There was no update regarding his condition.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler had a goal and two assists in a 7-4 victory over the Nashville Predators. Robert Thomas tallied twice while Jordan Kyrou and Dylan Holloway each had two points for the Blues. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who pulled goalie Juuse Saros after he gave up five goals on 15 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Dec. 23, the Predators placed forward Cole Smith (lower body) on injured reserve. He’s expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

HEADLINES OF THE PAST WEEK

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a brief look at some notable news during my holiday break (Dec. 24-27).

The NHL’s holiday roster freeze ended at 12:01 am on Dec. 28.

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected his 1,030 career NHL assist in a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 23. He’s tied with Mario Lemieux for the most assists in franchise history.

SPORTSNET: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin) skated on his regular line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas for a portion of Friday’s practice. Sidelined by a fractured fibula since Nov. 18, he could return to the lineup against Toronto on Saturday.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and center Elias Pettersson missed practice on Friday due to injuries. They could miss Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Senators starting goaltender Linus Ullmark could miss the next five games after experiencing tightness in his back in a Dec. 22 game against the Edmonton Oilers.

THE ATHLETIC: The New York Rangers raised eyebrows by scratching winger Chris Kreider from their Dec. 23 games against the Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That led to speculation that Kreider could be traded once the NHL’s holiday roster freeze ended. So far, there’s no indication a deal is afoot.

SPORTSNET: Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens called up goaltender Jakub Dobes and intend to place Cayden Primeau on waivers Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Primeau was expected to share the goaltending duties this season with starter Sam Montembeault. However, his shaky performance led to Montembeault starting the last 10 games. The Canadiens carried three goalies last season because they were concerned a rival club would pluck Primeau off waivers. This move indicates they’ve lost confidence in him as a backup.










Happy Holidays!

by | Dec 24, 2024

Happy Holidays!

I’m taking my annual Christmas break from Tuesday, Dec. 24 to Friday, Dec. 27. Updates will resume on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. 

 via GIPHY










NHL Rumor Mill – December 23, 2024

by | Dec 23, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 23, 2024

The holiday roster freeze remains in effect until Dec. 27 but that hasn’t stopped the trade and free-agent speculation. Check out the latest on the Canucks, Sabres and Sharks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MILLER DENIES RIFT WITH PETTERSSON

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller denies any rift with teammate Elias Pettersson, blaming the media for the speculation.

Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images)

“You guys in a sense of that outer world have created this thing,” said Miller. “This isn’t a thing. So, am I bothered? No. But you guys are just wasting your time. I don’t care. You can ask me all you want.”

Miller volunteered to bring in Pettersson so they could do the interview together if it would please the media. He said his focus was on improving his game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This story picked up last week, reaching the point where the media is questioning both players, their teammates and head coach Rick Tocchet.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the front office hopes the two players can resolve their differences but suggested the clock was ticking. Some observers suggest Miller or Pettersson could be traded if this continues.

The gossip about a rift between the Canucks’ top two centers coincides with the club struggling to meet expectations raised by last season’s 109-point performance. Instead of building on that, they’re clinging to a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with Miller and Pettersson playing well below their respective pay grades.

Improvement by the two players in question and the Canucks as a whole would bring the gossip to an end. Otherwise, it’ll continue to be an unnecessary distraction that could have consequences for the club’s playoff hopes and the futures of Miller or Pettersson in Vancouver.

THE LATEST ON THE SABRES

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington noted recent reports claiming Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams unsuccessfully pursued Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas in last summer’s trade market.

An NHL source told Harrington that Necas “never had a deal to ponder with Buffalo,” adding that his most likely destinations out of Carolina would’ve been Columbus or Winnipeg. The 25-year-old forward instead signed a two-year contract with the Hurricanes.

Harrington wondered if Adams attempted to acquire Andrew Mangiapane before the Calgary Flames traded him to the Washington Capitals or Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. He also indicated that his sources said the Sabres may have pursued Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers and Mangiapane are eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July. Whether they’d want to sign with the struggling Sabres is another matter.

Sharangovich’s 31-goal, 59-point performance last season earned him a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.75 million starting this season. However, he has only six goals this season. The Flames might be open to offers but his new contract makes him a risky trade option for any club.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sam Carchidi suggests the Philadelphia Flyers should aggressively pursue Sabres center Dylan Cozens.

Despite the 25-year-old forward’s struggles this season, Carchidi believes he can regain his scoring touch if he played at his natural position at center rather than the wing where he’s spent much of this season. He thinks Cozens could become a high-scoring center, something the Flyers lack.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cozens has been a fixture in the rumor mill as the Sabres continue to flounder in the standings. Mired in a 13-game winless skid (0-10-3), some sort of shakeup has to be coming for this team despite their owner’s assurances of patience.

Cozens could be part of that change but they’ll want a good young player in return.

SHARKS OPEN CONTRACT TALKS WITH ZETTERLUND

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng recently reported Fabian Zetterlund wants to remain with the Sharks and the team is interested in keeping him. The two sides have reportedly started contract discussions.

Zetterlund will become a restricted free agent next July. The 25-year-old winger has emerged among the rebuilding Sharks’ best players. He’s in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.45 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zetterlund led the Sharks last season with 24 goals and was third in points with 44. He’s tied for second in goals this season (11) with Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini and is fifth with 23 points.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 23, 2024

by | Dec 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 23, 2024

The Avalanche and Oilers tie for the most wins in December, Sam Reinhart reaches a milestone for special-teams goals, Matt Rempe receives a lengthy suspension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta tallied a natural hat trick in a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Cale Makar had a goal and two assists and Nathan MacKinnon had two assists for the Avalanche as they picked up their third straight win, Kappo Kakko scored his first goal as a member of the Kraken as they’ve lost five straight games.

Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have eight wins in December, tying them with the Edmonton Oilers for the most in this calendar month. MacKinnon sits first in the scoring race with 57 points, holding a five-point lead over Oilers center Leon Draisaitl.

Speaking of the Oilers, they got their eighth victory by defeating the Ottawa Senators 3-1, snapping the latter’s six-game win streak. Draisaitl collected an assist while Viktor Arvidsson, Zach Hyman and Adam Henrique scored for the Oilers. Nick Cousins replied for the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark left this game following the first period with an upper-body injury. Head coach Travis Green said Ullmark indicated his back had tightened up. Meanwhile, Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed this game due to illness.

The Florida Panthers got shorthanded goals by A.J. Greer and Eetu Luostarinen within 42 seconds in the second period to double up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart opened the scoring on the power play, tying Hall-of-Famer Dave Andreychuk for the fourth-most special team goals in a calendar year with 31. Nick Paul and Brayden Point scored for the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andreychuk is also the all-time leader for most special-team goals in a calendar year with 38, followed by Mario Lemieux (37) and Pat Lafontaine (33). The Panthers have won four straight games while the Lightning’s four-game win streak ended.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 22 shots and collected two assists in a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. William Carrier, Jack Roslovic, and Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes. Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey scored his club’s only goal as they’ve lost four of their last five.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers played without enforcer Matt Rempe. He received an eight-game suspension from the league’s department of player safety for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen during Friday’s game between the two clubs.

The Washington Capitals (48 points) regained first place in the Eastern Conference standings by downing the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Aliaksei Protas tallied twice and Pierre-Luc Dubois collected two assists against his former team. Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings dropped into third place in the Pacific Division with 43 points.

A shootout goal by Mason McTavish lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Club. The Ducks overcame a 4-1 deficit to force overtime and the shootout. Robby Fabbri tallied two goals while Cutter Gauthier and Olen Zellweger each had two assists for the Ducks. Utah forward Clayton Keller had two goals and two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A disappointing finish for Utah (38 points) as their four-game win streak ended. However, their points streak extended to eight games (6-0-2) as they sit within one point of the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 22, 2024

by | Dec 22, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 22, 2024

An apparent rift between Canucks forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson plus a look at the Rangers trade candidates in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON THE MILLER-PETTERSON RIFT

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports on the apparent rift between Vancouver Canucks forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson that has been going on for a while.

Friedman said the Canucks thought this situation was resolved last year as the team and both players had a great year. It’s bled into their on-ice performance and affecting their play, taking a toll on their teammates, the coaching staff and the hockey operations department.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Management prefers Miller and Pettersson to resolve their differences and remain long-term players within the organization. However, something will have to give if they can’t sort this out and maintain a professional relationship.

Iain MacIntyre noted that the two players have been teammates for over five years, becoming linemates and All-Stars while earning lucrative contracts with the Canucks. However, he believes their underperformance this season has adversely affected the club.

Meanwhile, Pettersson denied any rift with Miller in a post-game interview, accusing the media of “making shit up.” When a reporter asked if the rumors were distracting, Pettersson replied, “Oh my God. Next question”, then quickly left when there was nothing else asked.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Henkel cited a February report by Friedman indicating the Carolina Hurricanes had had trade discussions with the Canucks regarding Pettersson before the center signed his contract extension.

Henkel suggests the Hurricanes revisit their interest in Pettersson and see what the Canucks’ asking price might be. They would have to free up sufficient cap space to accommodate his $11.6 million average annual value and come up with the necessary pieces to make a tempting offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This won’t be the last time we hear speculation suggesting rival clubs contact the Canucks about Pettersson or Miller. Friedman’s report suggests management isn’t at that stage yet where they’d consider moving one of them. That could change if it remains an unnecessary distraction threatening their season.

RANGERS TRADE CANDIDATES

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently looked at New York Rangers’ trade candidates after they shipped winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.

Forwards Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Will Borgen are most likely to be moved. The four are eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll be shopped if the Rangers are out of playoff contention before the March 7 trade deadline.

Other possibilities include defensemen K’Andre Miller and Zac Jones and forwards Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller and Jones will become restricted free agents in July. Miller’s decline this season has prompted some to suggest he could be moved by the trade deadline or peddled during the offseason.

Kreider was reportedly on the list of trade candidates sent around the league by Rangers general manager Chris Drury. He has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. The usually reliable power forward has struggled this season with 11 goals in 29 games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2024

by | Dec 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2024

Check out the recaps of Saturday’s action and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 19 saves for his league-leading fourth shutout of the season to blank the Minnesota Wild 5-0. Cole Perfetti had a goal and two assists as the Jets sat atop the overall standings with 49 points. It’s the fourth straight loss for the Wild.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck tied Jonathan Quick and Tim Thomas for the most shutouts in one calendar year by an American NHL goaltender.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand scored to extend his points streak to nine games in a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 38 points. JJ Peterka replied for the Sabres, who are winless in 13 straight games (0-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the Sabres’ hopes of reaching the playoffs. Stick a fork in ’em, they’re done. What a waste.

The New York Islanders upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Bo Horvat led the way with a goal and two assists and Anthony Duclair had an assist in his return to action after missing 28 games with a leg injury. William Nylander scored twice for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs captain Auston Matthews missed this game as his status remains uncertain after re-aggravating the upper-body injury that sidelined him for nine games in November. Meanwhile, the Leafs sent goaltender Matt Murray back to their AHL affiliate and recalled Dennis Hildeby to back up Joseph Woll.

An overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Connor McDavid collected two assists as the Oilers have won seven of their last eight games. Rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 38 shots for the Sharks as they’ve dropped seven of their last eight (1-6-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl moved into second place in the NHL scoring race with 51 points, four behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 in an entertaining back-and-forth contest. Shane Pinto scored twice and collected an assist for the Senators as they picked up their sixth straight victory, winning eight of their last nine games. Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists and Brock Boeser tallied two goals for the Canucks, who’ve dropped three straight (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators (38 points) hold a three-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Canucks (39 points) hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Speaking of the Penguins, they were blanked 3-0 by the New Jersey Devils. Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists while Jacob Markstrom only had to make 12 saves for the shutout. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots for the Penguins. The Devils sit first in the Eastern Conference with 47 points, two back of the league-leading Jets.

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up their seventh win in their last eight games with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as his club sits in first place in the Pacific Division with 47 points, two behind the league-leading Jets.

Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg scored in overtime to nip the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Predators winger Filip Forsberg had two assists while captain Roman Josi collected an assist in his return to a lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere scored as the Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit to force OT.

Calgary Flames forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato and Connor Zary each had a goal and an assist to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4. The win pushed the Flames (39 points) into the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi finished the night with three points each.

The Montreal Canadiens picked up their third straight win by downing the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 to sweep their home-and-home series. Patrik Laine scored his eighth straight power-play goal while Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson each collected two assists. Joe Veleno tallied the Wings’ only goal as they dropped their third straight game.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett scored in overtime and collected three assists in regulation in a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Travis Konecny had three assists and Morgan Frost tallied two goals for the Flyers to snap their three-game losing skid. Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov collected two assists.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe was offered an in-person hearing by the league’s department of player safety for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen during Friday’s game between the two clubs.

The hearing will take place over Zoom on Sunday. Rempe could face a suspension of six games or more.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL players Sam Gagner, Josh Jooris and Matt Irwin will be part of Canada’s roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Canada has won the tournament a record 16 times but hasn’t taken home the title since 2019.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Christmas holidays are the most wonderful time of the year for international tournaments with the Spengler Cup and the World Junior Championships.

MLIVE.COM: Long-time Detroit sports broadcaster John Keating announced his intention to retire at the end of the Red Wings season. He’s covered the Red Wings and MLB’s Detroit Tigers since 1997.