NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2024

by | Feb 26, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2024

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane makes a triumphant return to Chicago, the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov reaches 100 points, Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins over the Flyers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Patrick Kane set up the tying goal and scored the winner in overtime as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. It was Kane’s first game against his former club in Chicago since he was traded to the New York Rangers last February. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist for the surging Red Wings (32-20-6) as they’ve won five straight games and hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 70 points. MacKenzie Entwistle and Nick Foligno scored for the 15-39-5 Blackhawks.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane spent 16 seasons with the Blackhawks and is among the greatest players in franchise history, helping them win three Stanley Cups. He received a lengthy standing ovation as the Blackhawks honored him with a video tribute during a TV timeout and another after scoring the winning goal.

Kane’s return coincided with the Blackhawks honoring another great as they retired Hall-of-Famer Chris Chelios’ No. 7 in a pregame ceremony. Chelios spent nine seasons in Chicago from 1990-91 to 1998-99, winning two of his three Norris Trophies there.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov became the first player this season to reach 100 points in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Kucherov had a goal and three assists as he sits atop the scoring race with 102 points. With a record of 32-23-5, the Lightning hold the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 69 points. Tyler Toffoli netted his 25th goal of the season for the Devils (29-25-4) as they’ve lost three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 38 goals, Kucherov is poised to eclipse his career-best of 41 and is 26 points away from his career high of 128 points set in 2018-19.

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff took full responsibility for his club’s struggles this season but it’s not solely his fault. The Devils have been walloped by injuries while their goaltending is among the league’s worst.

The Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 7-6. Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists while Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist before leaving the game in the third period with an upper-body injury as the Penguins improved to 26-21-8. Scott Laughton and Tyson Foerster each had two goals and an assist for the Flyers (30-22-7) as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale left the game in the second period favoring his left arm following a hard hit from Penguins forward Jansen Harkins. There was no update regarding his status following the game.

An overtime goal by Kyle Connor lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes, handing the latter their 12th straight loss. Connor finished with two goals, Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists while Josh Morrissey collected three assists for the 36-15-5 Jets (77 points) as they’ve won three straight and sit one point behind the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars. Nick Schmaltz tallied twice for the 23-29-5 Coyotes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes winger Clayton Keller left the game early in the second period with an undisclosed injury. He leads the club with 52 points in 57 games.

The Nashville Predators strengthened their hold on the final Western Conference wild-card berth by doubling up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist while goaltender Kevin Lankinen stopped 29 shots for the 32-25-2 Predators (66 points) as they’ve won five straight and sit four points up on the St. Louis Blues. Brett Leason had a goal and an assist for the 20-35-3 Ducks.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 38 saves as his club upset the New York Rangers 4-2, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Dmitri Voronkov, Kirill Marchenko and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and an assist for the 19-28-10 Blue Jackets. Artemi Panarin netted his 33rd goal of the season for the Rangers (39-17-3) as they remain in second place in the overall standings.

The Buffalo Sabres have won three straight games for the first time this season with a 3-2 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Casey Mittelstadt tallied the winning goal in the shootout while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 30 saves for the 27-27-4 Sabres. Martin Necas had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (34-18-6) as they remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game the NHL department of player safety fined Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi $5,000.00 for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Joel Hanley on Saturday.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 25, 2024

by | Feb 25, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 25, 2024

Teams are calling about Canucks center Elias Pettersson, the latest on the Penguins’ Jake Guentzel and speculation that the Hurricanes could be listening on Martin Necas. Details on these and other trade conjecture on the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

GROWING INTEREST IN PETTERSSON

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported a lot of noise has developed over the past couple of weeks regarding Elias Pettersson. Teams are calling the Vancouver Canucks to ask what’s going on regarding the 25-year-old center’s contract situation and if he’s available.

Pettersson is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. He’s completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $7.35 million.

Friedman said the Canucks don’t want to comment on this. He added that they’re telling teams they are trying to re-sign Pettersson.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Canucks position in the standings (first overall) I’ll be amazed if they were to trade Pettersson by the March 8 trade deadline. It’s rumored they’ve tabled a long-term contract with an AAV of $12 million but he prefers to wait until the offseason to discuss a new deal.

Given Pettersson’s RFA status, the Canucks are under no pressure to trade him by March 8. If the two sides can’t reach an agreement on a long-term extension and it appears he’ll head to market by his UFA eligibility in July 2025 they’ll shop him in June, probably leading up to the opening round of the 2024 draft.

LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers are among the clubs interested in Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having interest is one thing. Having the cap space to absorb the remainder of Guentzel’s $6 million cap hit as well as the tradeable assets to entice the Penguins is another. It could take some creativity on the part of one of these teams to pull it off, perhaps involving another club acting as a third-party broker.

Friedman also reports teams are inquiring about the Penguins goaltenders. They’ve got Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic at the NHL level and a promising prospect in Joel Blomqvist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless Jarry wants out, the more likely to move is Nedeljkovic. Jarry is the better of the two, leading the league with six shutouts and among the leaders in goals-against average and save percentage. He’s been among the few bright spots for the Penguins this season.

Jarry would fetch a nice return but if general manager Kyle Dubas is looking at retooling the roster rather than rebuilding he’ll want to hang onto his starting goalie. I don’t see him moving Blomqvist as he’s part of that youth movement that Dubas wants for the future.

Friedman also took time to calm the waters about his musing over the possibility of Erik Karlsson returning to Ottawa. “That’s just me spitballing,” he chuckled. “Let’s not get too crazy about that one at this point in time.”

HURRICANES LISTENING ON NECAS?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports being told that the Carolina Hurricanes could be willing to entertain offers on winger Martin Necas. He also wondered if the Hurricanes would be calling the Calgary Flames about goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of spitballing, could the Hurricanes package Necas in a deal for Markstrom? Discuss it in the comments section below.

UPDATE ON THE DUCKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Edmonton Oilers are seeking some forward depth. He thinks they’re looking at Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick. He’s not sure if they’re after both players or just one of them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been mentioned that the Oilers would like to add a third-line center and a gritty checking-line forward. Henrique would handle that center role plus he can also play on left wing while Carrick would bring a more physical presence to their checking lines. Of the two, Carrick would be the more affordable to acquire in terms of return and cap hit.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports Ducks winger Frank Vatrano remains on the Rangers’ radar.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks also took notice of speculation suggesting the Rangers reacquire Pavel Buchnevich from the St. Louis Blues. However, he believes Vatrano is the better former Ranger to bring back into the fold, citing the strong chemistry he had with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider down the stretch in 2022.

TEAMS CALLING THE FLYERS ABOUT SEELER AND WALKER

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes two teams have contacted the Philadelphia Flyers about defensemen Nick Seeler and Sean Walker as a pair. They’ve been a solid defense duo this season and the Flyers have been weighing whether to sign or trade them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was talk earlier this season that the Toronto Maple Leafs had looked into Seeler and Walker after a failed attempt to acquire Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames before Zadorov was traded to Vancouver.

LATEST ON THE LEAFS, STARS, ISLANDERS AND COYOTES

SPORTSNET: Friedman said the Leafs continue to look for a right-shot defenseman. That’s been their focus for most of this season.

The Dallas Stars have been quietly among the more aggressive teams in the trade market. They’re seeking defense and depth.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello would like to add a more reliable No. 3 goaltender. Of the three they have with their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, only one has a save percentage over .900.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported Friday that Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is once again in sell mode leading up to the trade deadline. The obvious trade candidates are rental players such as defenseman Matt Dumba and Jason Zucker.

Armstrong could get calls on players with a year left on their contracts like goaltender Karel Vejmelka and Nick Bjugstad. LeBrun said the Coyotes GM doesn’t sound motivated about Vejmelka and deflected when asked about Bjugstad.

The Coyotes are already well-stocked with draft picks but Armstrong is willing to accept more via trades. He pointed out that some of those picks will be used as trade currency to add established NHL players.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2024

by | Feb 25, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2024

The Rangers match their franchise record win streak, the Canucks regain first overall, the Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi nets a birthday hat trick, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers tied a franchise record with their 10th straight win by downing the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Rookie forward Matt Rempe’s first career NHL goal was the game-winner as he snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period while Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves for the Rangers (39-16-3). With 81 points, they lead the Metropolitan Division and sit in second place in the overall standings. Tyson Foerster scored for the 30-21-7 Flyers as they remain in third place in the Metro with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers winger Travis Konecny missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He’s not expected to be sidelined for long.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser tallied two goals, including the winner in overtime, to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 and reclaim first place in the overall standings with 82 points. The Bruins (34-12-13) jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Jesper Boqvist and Danton Heinen before the Canucks (38-16-6) staged their rally. The Bruins lead the Atlantic Division with 81 points and sit third in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins and Rangers have the same number of points but the latter holds a game in hand plus they’ve got more regulation wins.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi (NHL Images).

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up their seventh straight win by nipping the Colorado Avalanche 4-3. Tyler Bertuzzi celebrated his 29th birthday with a hat trick while William Nylander collected three assists for the 33-16-8 Leafs as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 74 points. Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for the 35-19-5 Avalanche, who sit third in the Central Division with 75 points but have won only three of their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon sits second in the NHL scoring race with 96 points, two back of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.

Speaking of Kucherov, he had a goal and two assists for the Lightning in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Victor Hedman picked up three assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves for the Lightning (31-23-5), who hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 67 points. Anders Lee and Brock Nelson replied for the 23-20-14 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield missed this contest with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

The Dallas Stars downed the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on goals by Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston. Joel Oettinger turned aside 20 shots as the Stars improved to 35-16-8 and sit atop the Central Division with 78 points. Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes (34-18-5) as they’re perched in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points.

An overtime goal by Gustav Forsling gave the Florida Panthers a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Aleksander Barkov scored the tying goal late in the third period for the Panthers (38-16-4) as they sit second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the overall standings with 80 points. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played his 1,400th career NHL game but saw his 10-game points streak come to an end as his club’s record dropped to 26-21-9.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk missed this game with an undisclosed injury. Capitals forward Anthony Mantha left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

A four-goal first period carried the Detroit Red Wings over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 6-1. Alex DeBrincat led the way with two goals and an assist while Patrick Kane and Michael Rasmussen each had a goal and an assist for the 31-20-6 Red Wings, who sit one point above the Lightning in the first Eastern wild-card spot with 68 points. Blues rookie Zachary Bolduc scored his first career NHL goal as his club dropped to 30-25-2 (62 points) and sit two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are on a roll of late, winning four straight and seven of their last 10 games. They’re looking like a playoff contender for the first time since 2015-16.

Speaking of the final Western wild-card spot, the Nashville Predators took over that spot with a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Kiefer Sherwood tallied twice while Juuse Saros made 23 stops for the 31-25-2 Predators (64 points) as they picked up their fourth straight victory. Mikael Granlund and Filip Zadina replied for the 15-36-5 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic suffered an upper-body injury during practice on Friday and missed this game as a result.

The Calgary Flames kept their playoff hopes alive by dropping the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in their ongoing Battle of Alberta. Noah Hanifin scored twice and collected an assist while Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary each had two assists for the 28-25-5 Flames (61 points) as they’ve won three straight and sit three points behind the Predators. Zach Hyman scored two goals for the Oilers (33-20-2) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 68 points but have won just four of their last 10 contests.

A shootout goal by Trevor Moore gave the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Drew Doughty and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and an assist for the Kings (29-17-10) as they hold the first Western wild-card spot with 68 points and have won seven of their last 10 games. Goaltender John Gibson kicked out 48 shots for the 20-34-3 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kings placed winger Viktor Arvidsson (lower body) on long-term injury reserve and announced that defenseman Mikey Anderson is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Another team keeping their postseason chances alive is the Minnesota Wild as they defeated the Seattle Kraken by a score of 5-2. Kirill Kaprizov has two goals and an assist while Mats Zuccarello collected four assists for the 28-24-6 Wild (62 points) as they sit two points behind the Predators. Vince Dunn and Jordan Eberle replied for the Kraken (24-22-11), who are five points back of the Predators.

The Ottawa Senators upset the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on a shootout goal by Tim Stutzle. Josh Norris and Thomas Chabot each had a goal and an assist for the 25-27-3 Senators, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Chandler Stephenson scored two goals for the Golden Knights (32-19-7) as they sit second in the Pacific Division with 71 points.

New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Tyler Toffoli collected two assists for the 29-24-4 Devils (62 points), who sit five points behind the Lightning for that final Eastern wild-card berth. Nick Suzuki scored twice for the 22-28-8 Canadiens as their losing streak reached a season-high five games.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2024

by | Feb 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2024

Could the Bruins trade a goalie to address other roster needs? Who could be possible trade targets for the Golden Knights? What’s going on with Marc-Andre Fleury, Casey Mittelstadt and Vladimir Tarasenko? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST BRUINS SPECULATION

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited TNT NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette suggesting the Bruins trade one of their goaltenders to address their need for a center. He believes they should move Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman to bring in a top-two center and move Charlie Coyle back to third-line center duty.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also thinks the Bruins will have to move someone off their roster if they wish to add to their lineup. He thinks people are looking at Ullmark as a trade candidate. He doesn’t think moving the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner is impossible but wondered if it’s a good idea to sacrifice one of their greatest strengths. He felt the only reason to do it is if they can get something so good that they have to do so.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A few things to remember here.

First, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said earlier this season when Ullmark popped up in the rumor mill that it was necessary to keep his goalie tandem intact because they would help keep the Bruins competitive. I don’t doubt that teams might be calling Sweeney about Ullmark or Swayman but that doesn’t mean he’s peddling one of them.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

Second, Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade clause and loves playing in Boston. He also carries a $5 million cap hit through 2024-25 and that’s not easy to move in a season with so many teams carrying limited cap room.

Third, when was the last time you saw a goaltender (even a former Vezina winner) get traded for a first or second-line center in the salary cap era? Goalies rarely fetch big returns in trades.

And finally, which first or second-line center is currently available in the trade market? The depth of talent is so thin that third-liner Adam Henrique is considered by experts and insiders to be the best one on the market. No disrespect to Henrique, but he’s not worth Ullmark or Swayman.

I’ve been doing this long enough to know that sometimes a shocking move can take place that no one saw coming. Maybe the Bruins might be able to find that kind of deal leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. But if you recall what we’ve seen in previous trade deadlines over the years, something of that magnitude hasn’t happened in a long time.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa is concerned about what the Bruins will do if it appears that defenseman Hampus Lindholm could be sidelined beyond the trade deadline. Replacing the minute-munching blueliner could prove a big challenge for Sweeney.

Shinzawa believes the Bruins would love to acquire local boy Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames. However, he doubts they have sufficient trade assets to tempt the Flames.

The Bruins lack picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft while promising Matt Poitras is out for the season recovering from shoulder surgery. They also don’t have sufficient cap space to take on Hanifin’s $4.95 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll take some savvy horsetrading on Sweeney’s part to pull off a trade deadline deal for Hanifin. Maybe he can get a third team involved but his lack of tradeable assets makes that scenario seem unlikely.

A LOOK AT SOME POSSIBLE TRADE OPTIONS FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: With captain Mark Stone sidelined for perhaps the rest of the regular season, Ben Gotz looked at several possible trade options to replace the 31-year-old winger before the March 8 trade deadline if they place him on long-term injury reserve.

Among the most notable are St. Louis’ Pavel Buchnevich, Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel, and Seattle’s Jordan Eberle.

Others include former Golden Knight Reilly Smith (now with the Penguins), Arizona’s Jason Zucker, San Jose’s Anthony Duclair or Mikael Granlund, Washington’s Anthony Mantha, Ottawa’s Vladimir Tarasenko, and Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich or Guentzel are the best options talent-wise. With Stone on LTIR the Golden Knights could afford their cap hits but the asking prices for those guys are probably well out of their reach. They might have to consider more affordable options in terms of return.

FLEURY NOT ASKING FOR A TRADE

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is not looking for a trade. He would rather stick with the club while they’re battling for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Fleury has a full no-movement clause. Matheson wondered if Wild GM Bill Guerin would approach him about a trade if a Cup contender like the Colorado Avalanche came calling. However, Fleury already has three Cup rings and would have to discuss any move with his family.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The longer the Wild remain in the playoff chase the less likely Fleury will be traded. He could always change his mind but he seems set on finishing this season in Minnesota.

TEAMS STILL INTERESTED IN MITTELSTADT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discussing Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt. They claimed that a lot of teams were watching the 25-year-old Mittelstadt.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams might be watching Mittelstadt but Sabres GM Kevyn Adams recently denied rumors that he was shopping his leading scorer. Adams also said he intended to get him signed to a new contract following this season. Unless someone makes the Sabres a mind-blowing offer, Mittelstadt will still be in Buffalo when the trade deadline is over.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported the Senators remain interested in Flames defenseman Chris Tanev. However, the Flames need to trade Noah Hanifin before they deal with the 34-year-old Tanev. Garrioch believes if a deal with the Senators for Tanev was possible it would’ve happened by now. He mentions the possibility of signing him as a free agent in July.

Most of the Senators’ trade discussions involve pending free-agent Vladimir Tarasenko. He has a full no-movement clause but it’s thought that four or five teams have expressed interest in the 32-year-old winger. It’s believed the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers could be among the suitors. The Senators could get a better return if they retain part of his $5 million cap hit.

Pending UFA winger Dominik Kubalik has also drawn some interest but he’s been in the market for a couple of months. The Sens might also have to retain some of his $2.5 million cap hit.

Jakob Chychrun’s name has also surfaced in the rumor mill but the asking price is believed to be high. Some wonder if they should move a core player like Josh Norris, who carries a $7.95 million cap hit but has struggled to score in recent games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tarasenko and perhaps Kubalik will be playing elsewhere by March 8. Chychrun and Norris aren’t going anywhere unless someone makes a ridiculous offer for either guy.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2024

by | Feb 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2024

Recaps of Friday’s game, concern over the declining attendance at Jets games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Kyle Connor gave the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Jets took the lead on two goals by Nikolaj Ehlers but the Blackhawks forced the extra frame on goals by Colin Blackwell and Tyler Johnson. Josh Morrissey collected three assists while Connor Hellebucyk made 33 saves for the 35-15-5 Jets, who sit second in the Central Division with 75 points. Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots for the 15-39-4 Blackhawks.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winnipeg and the Colorado Avalanche have the same amount of points but the Jets have three games in hand.

The Minnesota Wild doubled up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Matt Boldy scored twice while Filip Gustavsson kicked out 41 shots (including 23 in the third period) as the Wild improved to 27-24-6 (60 points) to sit two points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Oilers captain Connor McDavid picked up two assists to extend his home points streak to 21 games. With a record of 33-19-2, the Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild played without defenseman Zach Bogosian as he’s out for at least a week with an upper-body injury.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton’s first goal of the season was the game-winner in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Zemgus Girgensons also scored while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 25 shots for the 26-27-4 Sabres. Daniil Tarasov made 35 saves while Dmitri Voronkov tallied for the 18-28-10 Blue Jackets.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman sounded the alarm over his club’s declining attendance, pointing out their season-ticket base is under 9,500 after being at 13,000 three years ago.

Chipman stressed the urgency of returning to 13,000. “This place we find ourselves in right now, it’s not going to work over the long haul. It just isn’t.”

The club’s average attendance this season is 13,306. That’s 87.4 percent capacity of the 15,225-season Canada Life Centre. That’s the third-lowest in the league this season, with just four sellouts thus far.

Chipman said the Jets are trying to win back its fans. He admitted that their “Forever Winnipeg” market campaign last year upset people by raising concerns over the club’s future. “Because of the history, it’s a bit of a tinderbox,” he said, referring to the relocation of the original Jets to Arizona in 1996.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The situation has become so serious that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is traveling to Winnipeg next week to stump for more corporate support for the Jets.

Chipman’s remarks have some observers concerned for the Jets’ future in Winnipeg while others remain steadfast that this city won’t lose its club a second time. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Murat Ates believes the franchise not only needs to do a better job attracting corporate support but also that of individual fans who’ve felt the club has taken their goodwill for granted.

I raised concerns about these issues and more facing the Jets back when they relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011. I’ve reposted that article in the Soapbox section as I believe most of the points I brought up remain valid today.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of the original Jets, the president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes insists the team will not be sold. As the club continues to seek a new location in the Phoenix area for a new arena, Xavier Gutierrez said team owner Alex Meruelo has no plans to sell the team.

“We are committed to being here, and every action we have taken has shown that”, said Gutierrez.

ARIZONA SPORTS: While on the topic of the Coyotes, they placed forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers on Friday for the purpose of terminating his contract. This move arose after Ruzicka posted a video to Instagram showing a white substance that appeared to be cocaine on a plate beside a credit card. He also showed off a vial of the substance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s hoping Ruzicka makes use of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to get the help that he needs.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: On Thursday, the Blue Jackets traded Emil Bemstrom to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for minor-league forward Alex Nylander and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals placed center Nic Dowd on injured reserve and called up forward Hendrix Lapierre.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils placed forward Nathan Bastian on injured reserve.

CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (upper body) is also on IR.

TSN: Former NHL defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot passed away at age 91. He spent 17 seasons in the league with the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars and Buffalo Sabres from 1954-55 to 1970-71.

Talbot spent 13 seasons with the Canadiens, winning seven Stanley Cups, including five in a row from 1955-56 to 1959-60. He had 43 goals and 285 points in 1,056 career regular-season games and 30 points in 150 playoff contests.

Talbot also served as a head coach with the Blues from 1972 to 1974 and with the New York Rangers in 1977-78.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Talbot’s family, friends and former teammates.










Revisiting My Concerns Regarding The Winnipeg Jets’ Future

by | Feb 24, 2024

Revisiting My Concerns Regarding The Winnipeg Jets’ Future

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The following was written on May 31, 2011, following the rebirth of the Winnipeg Jets following the sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers. I felt it worthwhile to revisit this piece after Jets owner Mark Chipman raised concerns earlier this week about the club’s declining attendance.

I didn’t foresee a pandemic and the resulting inflation that would affect the Jets’ ticket sales. Nevertheless, most of the issues I mentioned remain relevant.

I’m not trying to say “I told you so” and I’m not taking any kind of victory lap here. I wanted this incarnation of the Jets to succeed and I still do. However, my worries then (and now) are genuine and relevant because of Winnipeg’s place as the NHL’s smallest market.

I’m interested in what you think about this situation. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman (NHL Images).

The sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment and the relocation of the team to Winnipeg, Manitoba, resulted in euphoria in a city that was getting back NHL hockey fifteen years after their beloved Jets were sold and relocated to Phoenix in 1996

Since then, hockey fans in that city and province dreamed of the day when an NHL franchise might return. What at one time seemed a mere pipe dream finally became reality, and they have every right to enjoy the moment.

Long-time readers of my work – either on this blog, my website, or my Foxsports.com column – know I have expressed serious doubts over the long-term viability of an NHL franchise in Winnipeg.

I know how much Manitobans in general, and Winnipeggers in particular, love hockey, and remember well how much heartbreak there was when the beloved Jets were sold and moved to Phoenix.

It’s been said an NHL franchise in Winnipeg would enjoy considerable fan and corporate support, that it would do so much better than any struggling southern U.S. team, and this time would buck the odds and silence doubters like me.

I don’t wish any ill will toward Winnipeg or Manitoba, and genuinely hope they’ll beat the odds this time around that the league will never abandon Winnipeg again. I am happy for everyone in Manitoba that you’re getting back an NHL franchise and wish them and their team the very best of luck

I’m not trying to rain on the parade, folks, but the questions I’ve raised over the years remain unanswered.

Can a city whose current metropolitan population (just over 764,000) accounts for over half the total population of the province (just over 1.2 million) – making it the smallest market in the league by a wide margin – sustain an NHL franchise for a prolonged period?

Can it continue to do so if that population grows by the same level (just over 70K) over the next fifteen years as it did over the last fifteen?

What proof is there Winnipeg fans will support their new franchise if it continues to struggle through the same level of mediocrity it did in Atlanta? It’s one thing for fans to say it, it’s another to put your money where your mouth is.

The high cost of attending games should be a serious concern for Winnipeg hockey fans.

The average fan cost index (FCI) for a family of four to attend an NHL game this season was $313.68. The lowest for a Canadian team was $328.92 (Ottawa), while the cost in the smallest market (Edmonton), with the smallest venue, was $346.46.

True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman has said the size of the MTS Centre means they’ll have to charge higher-than-average ticket prices for NHL games. TSN reports ticket prices for the franchise’s first season will be between $39 – $129 per game, with the average ticket price next season being $82.00, the third highest in the NHL, which could push the total FCI up toward $370.00 per game.

Over time, that expensive cost of attending NHL games could adversely affect attendance, especially season ticket sales – the lifeblood of NHL franchises – regardless of the team’s performance.

Just how prepared are Winnipeg and Manitoba hockey fans for that sticker shock?

How willing could fans be to pay higher than the league average consistently?

Are they willing to keep pace with the ever-increasing costs of attending NHL games? Can they afford it over the long term?

And don’t expect those prices to remain stagnant, or to make only tiny increases in the coming years. They’re only going to go higher, pushing the FCI up with it.

If attendance suffers from a higher-than-average FCI, will True North lower prices to attract more fans? And by how much? Is it even feasible for True North to do so?

Chipman has also said the player payroll will likely be in the mid-range of the salary cap. Wouldn’t that adversely affect management’s efforts to maintain a competitive team?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have been near the upper range of the salary cap several times, including this season.

For how long can a Winnipeg franchise continue to remain a “mid-range” salary cap team?

Would it be able to keep up with a rising salary cap if it remains tied to revenue under the next CBA?

Doesn’t that suggest the risk of reaching the point where they could struggle to remain over the mandated salary cap minimum?

Wouldn’t that raise concerns regarding the club’s ability to retain its best players, or attract top free-agent talent?

Back in April, when it appeared the Phoenix Coyotes would be moved to Winnipeg, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, projected as the best goalie potentially available in this summer’s free-agent market, said he’d refuse to follow the club there.

Could Winnipeg prove unattractive to NHL free agents, regardless of how well the club performs in the coming years?

Chipman has previously said the MTS Centre cannot be expanded, meaning at some point – likely ten-fifteen years from now – a new arena with more seating capacity (over 18,000) might have to be built.

How long can the MTS Centre (now Canada Life Centre) remain a suitable venue for an NHL team before True North Sports and Entertainment starts suggesting they need a bigger one?

Sure, they could build a new venue with their own money. Billionaire David Thomson, who owns True North Sports and Entertainment, is not just one of the richest men in Canada, but also in the world.

But it must be remembered the Edmonton Oilers are also owned by a billionaire. Yet, he’s not picking up the full tab for the construction of a new arena while Quebec City and the province of Quebec are fully funding the cost for a new arena so that another billionaire – Quebecor’s Pierre-Karl Peladeau – can bid for an NHL team.

How do we know True North Sports and Entertainment will build a new venue entirely with their own money?

What if they could request the municipal and/or provincial government fund part or all of the cost of a new arena? How much would that cost?

Would a majority of Winnipeg fans support the idea of their tax dollars funding that enterprise?

Finally, the most troubling question: what will happen to a Winnipeg franchise if the value of the Canadian dollar declines?

Most Winnipeg supporters love to point to the strength of the Canadian dollar as a key reason why their city can better support an NHL franchise, and why it makes more sense for the league to have a seventh franchise – or more – in Canada.

Yet whenever it is suggested the value of the “loonie” could decline within the next ten years, those same supporters either change the subject or blithely dismiss it with the audacious claim the Canadian dollar won’t significantly decline again.

It was only nine years ago the Canadian dollar was worth roughly .61 cents US. It had gotten so low that MacLean’s magazine featured a cover story suggesting Canada should adopt the American dollar as its official currency.

The “loonie” rose significantly from 2002 to 2008, topping out at one point at $1.07 US, but in the aftermath of the global economic collapse of late 2008, the value of the “loonie” plunged by March 2009 to .77 cents US.

The Canadian dollar has since recovered and as of January 2011 has been at or over par with the American dollar.

Given these fluctuations, why isn’t there more concern over an eventual decline in the value of the Canadian dollar and the potential impact on a small-market Canadian team like Winnipeg?

Granted, it could take years to fully answer those questions. Still, it would be nice to know what the contingency plans are if the value of “loonie” goes into a steep decline, if attendance suffers due to high prices and/or a mediocre product, if ownership demands government assistance in constructing a bigger arena, if the Winnipeg market struggles to keep up with its bigger market peers, and if the club cannot afford to retain their best talent or attract top caliber free agents.

As long as those questions go unanswered, I fear Winnipeg could in fifteen or twenty years face the prospect of once again losing their NHL team, and as much as it hurt the last time, the next time could be much more painful.

Perhaps the biggest question that needs to be asked is, what assurances can the NHL and True North Sports and Entertainment give the hockey fans of Winnipeg and Manitoba that they won’t face the heartbreak of losing their team again?

Until those questions are suitably answered, I intend to keep asking them.