NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2023

by | Oct 23, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2023

Could Patrick Kane return to the Rangers? Are the Blues Jackets still shopping a defenseman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KANE MIGHT NOT BE A FIT WITH THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks doesn’t believe the Rangers will bring back Patrick Kane when the 34-year-old free-agent winger is ready to return to action. Kane is currently rehabbing from an offseason hip resurfacing procedure and is expected to start fielding offers from interested clubs in early November.

The Rangers acquired Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks before last season’s trade deadline even though he wasn’t at 100 percent because of his hip ailment. Brooks claims the experience left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth despite the best intentions.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Kane’s health would be the main concern. Brooks pointed out that Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom was a shell of himself when he returned last season from a similar procedure while former NHL center Ryan Kesler was unable to continue his playing career.

The Rangers would have the cap space to sign Kane to a one-year, $3 million contract without having to go through the salary-cap gymnastics to acquire him at last season’s deadline. However, his addition would mean a younger winger such as Alexis Lafreniere or Kaapo Kakko would see less playing time.

Brooks thinks the Buffalo Sabres (Kane’s hometown club) might make sense. If Kane wants to pursue a Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings do not. The Florida Panthers have been linked to the future Hall-of-Famer. Kane is also said to be intrigued by the cap-strapped Toronto Maple Leafs but Brooks doesn’t think he’s what the Leafs need.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks makes a number of good points here, especially about the Rangers.

I disagree about Kane being a fit with the Sabres. They’re a team loaded with scorers that still have some defensive concerns that he can’t address.

Many of these clubs also possess limited salary-cap space which could make it difficult to sign him.

Still, we can never say never. One of those teams mentioned by Brooks could decide that Kane is worth the gamble if they can squeeze him within their salary-cap payroll.

THE BLUE JACKETS ARE STILL SHOPPING A DEFENSEMAN

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is still working the phones trying to trade a defenseman. They’re currently carrying eight on the roster.

Adam Boqvist and Andrew Peeke have been healthy scratches of late. They’ve been supplanted by David Jiricek but he’s the only one who can be sent to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland without having to clear waivers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Interested teams might prefer seeing Boqvist and/or Peeke play a couple of games before committing to making a trade. Moving either guy could also be difficult because so many teams have limited cap space. Boqvist’s average annual value is $2.6 million through 2024-25 while Peeke’s is $2.75 million annually through 2025-26.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 23, 2023

by | Oct 23, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 23, 2023

The Red Wings Alex DeBrincat leads the NHL scoring race, the Bruins remain undefeated and Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been sidelined by an injury. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Detroit Red Wings got a hat trick performance from Alex DeBrincat to douse the Calgary Flames 6-2. DeBrincat also collected an assist to take over the NHL lead with eight goals and 12 points. Lucas Raymond and Justin Holl each had three assists while James Reimer made 29 saves for the Red Wings, who moved into second place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 5-1-0. Andrew Mangiapane and Yegor Sharangovich replied for the 2-3-1 Flames.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Getting traded to the Wings certainly agrees with DeBrincat as he’s off to the best start of his NHL career. He’s provided a welcome boost to their offense which struggled at times to score last season.

Speaking of the Flames, defenseman Rasmus Andersson is appealing his four-game suspension for elbowing Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine in the head on Friday.

The Boston Bruins remain undefeated (5-0-0) as they downed the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Rookie center Matthew Poitras tallied his first two NHL goals, Brad Marchand netted his fourth goal of the season and Linus Ullmark got the win with a 30-save performance. Mason McTavish scored for the Ducks as they dropped to 1-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger Milan Lucic was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

HEADLINES

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid will be sidelined for one to two weeks with an upper-body injury. He suffered the injury during Saturday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things just went from bad to worse for the struggling Oilers with McDavid on the sidelines with a suspected oblique strain. It’s not a lengthy absence but he will miss five games, one of them being the Heritage Classic against the Calgary Flames in Edmonton on Oct. 29. This will be a significant test of character for a club that’s trying to right the ship after lurching to a 1-3-1 start to this season.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky will be out for six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second significant absence from the roster for Burakovsky in this calendar year. He suffered a season-ending groin injury in February.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils got some good news over the weekend as captain Nico Hischier is expected to resume practicing with his teammates on Monday. Hischier was injured during Friday’s game with the New York Islanders.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Arizona Coyotes have an emerging superstar in Clayton Keller. Having tied the single-season franchise points record (86) last season, the 25-year-old winger is off to a hot start with three goals and six points in his first five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keller’s been heading into superstar territory since 2021-22 when he had 63 points in 67 games before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He’s become the foundation for the Coyotes’ rebuild and a key reason why I anticipate that they could become a wild-card contender this season.

THE SCORE: Ted Nolan recently released his memoir chronicling his journey as an indigenous player and coach through the ranks into the NHL. He’s also hopeful for the future, pointing out that his sons Brandon and Jordan didn’t experience the overt racism that he encountered during his career.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 22, 2023

by | Oct 22, 2023

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 22, 2023

An update on Noah Hanifin’s contract talks with the Flames plus the latest on the Canucks’ Conor Garland, the Capitals’ Anthony Mantha, the Canadiens’ Joel Armia and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

UPDATE ON HANIFIN’S TALKS WITH THE FLAMES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Calgary Flames have made progress with Noah Hanifin in their discussions regarding a contract extension. The 26-year-old defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).

Friedman cautions that nothing is done until it’s done. Nevertheless, he indicates that there is optimism the two sides can reach an agreement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hanifin was the subject of considerable trade speculation throughout the offseason following reports claiming he informed management about his reluctance to sign an extension. However, the blueliner indicated during training camp that he merely wanted time to digest what had happened during a disappointing 2022-23 season. He subsequently said that he wouldn’t rule out re-signing with the Flames.

The Flames already had one key potential free agent under contract when they signed captain Mikael Backlund to a two-year extension last month. If Hanifin agrees to stay it could help management in their efforts to re-sign first-line center Elias Lindholm.

TRADE TARGETS WORTH WATCHING

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman notes there isn’t much going on in the NHL trade market right now. However, there are a few situations worth watching.

The Montreal Canadiens recalled winger Joel Armia from their AHL affiliate where he started the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been rumored the Canadiens are exploring possible trade options for Armia. The 30-year-old two-way forward lacks no-trade protection and carries a $3.4 million average annual value through 2024-25.

The Habs are already retaining salary on Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry but have one retention slot remaining for this season. Perhaps they’ll consider using it if they can find a decent return for Armia.

Everyone knows Conor Garland’s situation as the Vancouver Canucks have given him permission to speak with other clubs about a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garland’s been linked to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets. The Canucks are reportedly willing to retain 30 percent of the 27-year-old winger’s $4.95 million AAV which runs through 2025-26.

The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner reported the New York Islanders inquired about Garland after he recently changed agents. Given the Isles’ limited cap space, Rosner believes a third team would have to get involved to broker the deal by taking on part of Garland’s AAV.

San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc played his first game of the season on Oct. 19.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Labanc, 27, was a healthy scratch through their first three games. The club swiftly denied a recent report claiming that the Sharks intended to place him on waivers.

The Washington Capitals have been “looking around” on winger Anthony Mantha.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals have been peddling the 29-year-old Mantha since last season without success. Given his declining production, his $5.7 million cap hit for this season and $6.5 million in actual salary, it’s unlikely they’ll find many takers with so many clubs carrying limited cap room at this stage in the schedule.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke has played only one game this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peeke was mentioned as a trade candidate following a recent report claiming the Blue Jackets were looking into trading one of their defensemen. He’s been a healthy scratch since their season opener. They’ll have to get him into more games to showcase him for a trade.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2023

by | Oct 22, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2023

The Golden Knights set an NHL record, Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard reached a milestone, Oilers captain Connor McDavid suffered an injury and Kings captain Anze Kopitar set a franchise record. Details on these and other stories in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights became the first defending Stanley Cup champion to start a season with a 6-0-0 record in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago rookie Connor Bedard opened the scoring with his first NHL goal on home ice but the Golden Knights put the game out of reach with third-period goals by Nicolas Roy, Mark Stone and Paul Cotter. The loss dropped the Blackhawks to 2-4-0.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Mark Scheifele capped a three-goal rally in a 3-2 win by the Winnipeg Jets (2-3-0) over the Edmonton Oilers. However, their win was overshadowed by an injury to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who missed the final minutes of regulation and the overtime period. McDavid appeared to injure his hip in the first period after getting entangled with Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The loss dropped the Oilers’ record to 1-3-1. We should get more details about McDavid’s condition on Sunday. With the Oilers stumbling from the gate, losing their best player for any significant period could be a significant blow.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand scored two goals and added an assist to double up the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied his fifth goal of the season while Jeremy Swayman got the win with a 32-save performance as the Bruins improved to 4-0-0. Kings captain Anze Kopitar set a franchise record by skating in his 1, 297th game as his club’s record dropped to 2-2-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk was a healthy scratch from this game as he was late for a team meeting.

The Colorado Avalanche are 5-0-0 after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 6-4. Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and three assists while Logan O’Connor scored a shorthanded goal for the third straight game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jaccob Slavin each had a goal and an assist for the 3-3-0 Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-depleted Hurricanes lost another player as Brett Pesce missed this game with a lower-body injury. He joins center Sebastian Aho and goaltender Frederik Andersen on the sidelines.

The Detroit Red Wings downed the Ottawa Senators 5-2. Dylan Larkin had a goal and two assists, Joe Veleno tallied twice and Ville Husso made 35 saves as the Wings improved to 4-1-0. Jake Sanderson and Ridly Greig replied for the 3-2-0 Senators, who managed to hold Alex DeBrincat scoreless in his first game in Ottawa since being traded to Detroit in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators fans gave DeBrincat a “warm” welcome by booing him every time he touched the puck. Nevertheless, the Wings’ convincing victory gave him the last laugh.

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots in a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Jason Zucker and Clayton Keller scored for the Coyotes (3-2-0) while Frank Vatrano tallied for the 1-3-0 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zucker left this game with a lower-body injury while teammate Michael Carcone suffered an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott became the first NHL player to defy the league’s ban on using Pride Tape, sporting a few strands of the rainbow-colored tape near the top of his stick.

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New York Islanders 3-1. Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist while Casey Mittelstadt collected two assists as the Sabres moved to 2-3-0. Semyon Varlamov made 40 saves and Noah Dobson scored for the 2-1-1 Islanders.

Third-period goals by Andrei Kuzmenko and Brock Boeser gave the Vancouver Canucks a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Kuzmenko and Elias Pettersson each had a goal and an assist, Ilya Mikheyev collected an assist in his first game since his knee surgery in January, and Casey DeSmith kicked out 34 shots for the 3-2-0 Canucks. Sam Reinhart scored two goals for the 2-3-0 Panthers.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield lifted the Montreal Canadiens over the Washington Capitals 3-2. The Canadiens (2-1-1) led 2-0 on goals by Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher but Capitals forward Dylan Strome netted two goals to force the extra frame. Jake Allen got the win with a 31-save performance while the Capitals sank to 1-2-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin remains stalled at 822 career goals four games into his season as he’s yet to find the back of the net.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (3-2-0) overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on an overtime goal by John Tavares. Matthew Knies scored twice and collected an assist while Joseph Woll made 29 saves for the win after Ilya Samsonov got the hook when he gave up three goals on four shots. Nikita Kucherov also scored twice and collected an assist while Jonas Johansson stopped 48 shots as the Lightning dropped to 2-2-2.

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski scored in overtime to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4. The Flyers overcame a 4-2 deficit to force the extra frame. Stars forward Wyatt Johnston had a goal and two assists as his club improved to 3-0-1. Travis Konecny scored twice for the 3-1-1 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers defenseman Marc Staal is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury after being placed on injured reserve on Friday. He was sidelined during Thursday’s win over the Edmonton Oilers.

An overtime goal by Jack Roslovic lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli netted his first career NHL goal while his club improved to 3-2-0. Filip Gustavsson made 49 stops for the 2-2-1 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Blue Jackets announced that center Patrik Laine is day-to-day after being elbowed in the head on Friday by Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who received a four-game suspension for the incident. Earlier in the day, the Blue Jackets lost forward Liam Foudy as he was plucked off the waiver wire by the Nashville Predators.

Speaking of the Predators, they got two goals from Tommy Novak to down the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Juuse Saros stopped 31 shots to backstop his club to a 3-3-0 record. Tomas Hertl replied for the 0-4-1 Sharks.

A two-goal performance by Brandon Saad gave the St. Louis Blues a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jordan Binnington got the win with 31 saves as the Blues improved to 2-1-1. Evgeni Malkin scored to extend his goal streak to four games but his Penguins dropped to 2-3-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second period has been death for the Penguins in their last three games as they’ve been outscored 6-0 in that frame.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin scored twice in a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Filip Chytil collected three assists as the Rangers moved to 3-2-0 on the season. Justin Schultz tallied for the Kraken as they sank to 1-4-1.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2023

by | Oct 21, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2023

Check out the latest on remaining free agents such as Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Jesse Puljujarvi and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston believes it remains an open question as to where Patrick Kane signs once he’s ready to return from his offseason hip resurfacing procedure. The Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers are among the clubs with an interest in the 34-year-old winger. The plan for the Kane camp is to wait until early November before engaging more seriously with those potential suitors.

In a recent mailbag segment, Johnston’s colleague Matthew Fairburn was asked about the possibility of the Sabres landing Kane. He noted the winger’s ties to general manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Don Granato during their time with Kane in Chicago.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Kane would bring plenty of playoff experience to the young Sabres. However, there’s the question of whether they actually need him and how well he’d fit within the lineup.

Meanwhile, Eric Duhatschek noted the Detroit Red Wings have been mentioned as a destination for Kane along with the Sabres and Rangers. He believes compensation could be a factor as the Wings and Sabres have the cap space to sign the veteran winger while the Rangers would have to shed salary to bring him back.

Roster need would be another, pointing out the Rangers’ scorers have struggled in the early going this season. He suggested the Red Wings’ need for scoring might not be as acute given the offseason additions of Alex DeBrincat, J.T. Compher and Daniel Sprong.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted that Kane’s been linked to the Sabres, Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, who acquired him before last season’s trade deadline. He suggested the Dallas Stars might be a good destination for Kane if he wants to chase a Stanley Cup this season. One downside, however, is the Stars’ travel schedule given their location.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Except for Friedman’s mention of the Stars, there’s not much really new here regarding possible destinations for Kane.

The Sabres could use his experience but they’re loaded with young scoring forwards. The Wings have the cap space but adding someone like Kane might not be as pressing a need as it once was.

Like the Panthers and Rangers, the Stars lack the cap room to take him on unless they dump some salary to create space for him. While the Panthers have some wiggle room with Aaron Ekblad on long-term injury reserve, they must be cap-compliant when he returns in December or January.

THE ATHLETIC: As for other notable remaining UFAs, Johnston reports Phil Kessel had a couple of close calls with contracts in recent weeks. A few interested clubs could attempt to free up cap space to sign the 36-year-old winger. Kessel is the NHL’s reigning Ironman but he understands that he might not be playing every night wherever he signs.

Johnston also indicated that interest may be high in Jesse Puljujarvi, who has recovered from offseason hip surgeries and is skating in his native Finland. The 25-year-old winger is aiming at a return in late November or early December. Johnston suggested he could be an intriguing low-cost, low-risk signing.

Winger Danton Heinen continues to skate and travel with the Boston Bruins. He joined the club on a professional tryout offer in September. The Bruins are trying to sort out their salary-cap issues to free up space to sign him.

Johnston expects Sam Gagner will soon sign an AHL contract with the Edmonton Oilers affiliate in Bakersfield.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston also mentioned Zach Parise could be getting the itch to return after taking some time to ponder his future. As I noted in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines, if he does return it’s expected he’ll sign a one-year contract with the New York Islanders at the league minimum salary of $775K.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2023

by | Oct 21, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2023

The Devils down the Islanders, the Blue Jackets douse the Flames, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Jack Hughes capped a two-goal, two-assist performance by the New Jersey Devils star in a 5-4 win over the New York Islanders. Jesper Bratt had three assists, Timo Meier collected two helpers and Jack’s brother Luke netted his first goal of the season as the Devils improved to 2-1-1. Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson each scored two goals for the Islanders, who are 2-0-1 in their first three games of the season.

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils captain Nico Hischier left this game in the third period with an upper-body injury. He’ll be re-evaluated on Saturday. His teammates Erik Haula (upper body), Tomas Nosek and Colin Miller (lower body) missed this game due to their injuries.

The Columbus Blue Jackets improved to 2-2-0 by defeating the Calgary Flames 3-1. Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist in his return from injury while Spencer Martin made 36 saves for the win. Elias Lindholm replied for the Flames, who sit 2-2-1 after their first five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was ejected following a hit to the head of Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine in the dying seconds of this game.

Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they placed forward Liam Foudy on waivers earlier in the day and announced a long-term, multi-year affiliation extension with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Unrestricted free agent Zach Parise has resumed skating after taking time to consider his future. If the 39-year-old winger does return to the NHL this season it’s expected he’ll sign a one-year contract with the New York Islanders at the league minimum. Parise joined the Islanders in 2021 after being bought out by the Minnesota Wild.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri is expected to be sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks denied a report early Thursday claiming Kevin Labanc would be placed on waivers. The winger and head coach David Quinn each said that waivers had not been discussed, with Quinn adding he had no idea where it came from.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres rookies Devon Levi and Zach Benson are day-to-day with lower-body injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi started the Sabres’ first three games in net. This means Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Eric Comrie will get the start tonight against the Islanders.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Artem Zub will miss this afternoon’s tilt with the Detroit Red Wings after being struck by a puck during their 6-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. He’s listed as day-to-day.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators center Cody Glass will miss the next seven to 10 days with a lower-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Arizona Coyotes president Xavier Gutierrez said the club hopes to make an announcement regarding its search for a new arena within the next 60 days.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: And no, that announcement will not be about relocation to another city. The franchise remains committed to staying in its current area and is looking at multiple sites to build a new venue.

SPORTSNET: Calgary Flames prospect Topi Ronni is taking a leave of absence from Finnish club Tappara Tampere after receiving a court summons regarding a rape allegation. The alleged incident took place when the 19-year-old center was still a minor. Ronni was chosen by the Flames in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.