NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2023

by | Jul 12, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 12, 2023

Pierre-Luc Dubois believes he’s been misunderstood, Ed Belfour and Ken Hitchcock named to the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame, the Rangers re-sign K’Andre Miller, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Pierre-Luc Dubois said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to fully be himself with the Los Angeles Kings. He was traded to the Kings on June 27 and signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the club.

Dubois felt he’s been misunderstood at times stemming from his trade requests from the Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets. He said he had “three unbelievable years in Columbus” and “three great years in Winnipeg,” the 25-year-old forward felt he was ready to move on and do what was right for him and his career. He believes he’ll get that opportunity with the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubois’ departure from Columbus and Winnipeg stoked the opinion among fans and pundits that he puts himself above his team. Nevertheless, he has the right to do what he believes is best for himself over the remainder of his playing career.

This move to the Kings could work out quite well for Dubois and his new teammates, so his tenures in his last two NHL cities will become footnotes to his career. On the other hand, if things go sideways and he requests a trade it will only feed the perception of Dubois as a selfish player.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Ed Belfour and Ken Hitchcock will be enshrined this season into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame. Belfour backstopped the Stars to the 1999 Stanley Cup with Hitchcock as their head coach. Belfour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 while Hitchcock will be inducted as a builder among the Class of 2023 in November.

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s fair to say that the Stars wouldn’t have won the Stanley Cup without Belfour in goal and Hitchcock behind the bench.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed defenseman K’Andre Miller to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.872 million. Miller, 23, is completing his entry-level contract and coming off a career-best 43-point season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers’ limited cap space for 2023-24 combined with Miller’s lack of arbitration rights made this bridge deal possible. It’s an affordable contract for Miller, who is quickly becoming a key part of the Blueshirts’ defense corps.

Miller will be in line for a more substantial raise on his next contract when the salary cap will be significantly higher. By that point, the Rangers should be able to pay him a more lucrative salary.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens signed forward Alex Newhook to a four-contract contract with an AAV of $2.9 million. Newhook, 22, was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche where he tallied 33 points in his rookie season (2021-22) and 30 points last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A speedy forward who can play center or wing, Newhook saw checking-line minutes on a deep Avalanche roster. He could be skating on the second line with the rebuilding Canadiens. It’s an equitable contract that could become a real bargain if Newhook exceeds expectations.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed Brendan Lemieux to a one-year, $800K contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are adding more grit to their lineup after getting swept from the Eastern Conference Finals by the Florida Panthers. They signed winger Michael Bunting on July 1 to a three-year deal.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators signed winger Denis Gurianov to a one-year, $850K contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Arizona Coyotes signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800K at the NHL level.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks hired Brent Thompson and David Rook as assistant coaches to head coach Greg Cronin. Thompson is the former head coach of the New York Islanders AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Rook spent five years as the goaltending development coach with the Nashville Predators.

TSN: The Ottawa Senators have parted ways with assistant general manager Trent Mann. The move comes a day after Anthony LeBlanc resigned as president of business operations. These changes come as the club completes an ownership change led by billionaire Michael Andlauer.

NEW YORK POST: The Philadelphia Flyers have issued an apology after members of their social media team were heard making disparaging remarks about a reporter’s question to new Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway during a live stream on Twitter.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2023

by | Jul 11, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2023

More speculation linking Erik Karlsson to the Penguins and Hurricanes plus the latest on Vladimir Tarasenko and Victor Olofsson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KARLSSON REMAINS LINKED TO THE PENGUINS AND HURRICANES

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes it’s down to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes as the front-runners to acquire San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. He thinks it’s a bit of a poker game with the Sharks knowing what the Penguins and Hurricanes want to do and those clubs knowing what the Sharks want to do.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Friedman feels that this will get done with Karlsson “most likely” going to the Penguins or Hurricanes. The question is, which club is willing to bend to make it happen?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For the Penguins and Hurricanes, it’s how much they’re willing to give up in return to acquire the three-time Norris Trophy winner. For the Sharks, it’s how much of his $11.5 million average annual value they’re willing to retain.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nick Horwat believes Penguins president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas needs a backup plan in case they fail to land Karlsson. He noted a report claiming Boston Bruins blueliner Matt Grzelcyk could be on Dubas’ list. Horwat suggested UFAs such as Matt Dumba and Ethan Bear as potential targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney recently dismissed speculation that he was shopping Grzelcyk. It’s believed he’s received calls about the 29-year-old defenseman but he isn’t shopping him.

LATEST ON TARASENKO

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch speculates the Senators could have the cap room to sign UFA winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a short-term contract now that they’ve traded Alex DeBrincat to Detroit.

The Senators and Hurricanes were believed to be among the front-runners for the 31-year-old winger until he fired his agent last week. Both clubs have remained interested.

NHL NETWORK (stick tap to NHL Watcher): Elliotte Friedman told NHL Network that he believes it’s more likely that Tarasenko will take a one-year contract and bet on himself to play well and see what happens when the salary cap rises next summer.

Friedman also noted the Senators and Hurricanes have been linked to Tarasenko. He also noted the Sharks, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators have had some interest in the veteran sniper.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that Tarasenko had a multi-year deal with one club worth around $5.5 million but rejected all offers and changed agents. While Friedman thinks he’ll take a one-year deal in the hope of cashing in next summer under a higher cap, some observers believe the veteran winger is still trying to score a lucrative long-term contract now.

SABRES COULD WAIT TO MOVE OLOFSSON

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Michael Augello recently speculated that the Sabres might have to wait “until a few more dominoes fall” before moving Victor Olofsson. It was reported last month that the 28-year-old winger expected to be traded at some point this summer.

Olofsson is a year away from UFA eligibility and carries a $4.75 million cap hit for 2023-24. With the Sabres deep at forward and unlikely to re-sign the winger, it was thought the Sabres might shop him for a goaltender or a defenseman on a short-term contract.

Those plans may have been held up by the availability of Alex DeBrincat in the trade market (Note: this report was written prior to DeBrincat getting traded to Detroit) as well as Vladimir Tarasenko’s ongoing quest to find a new club.

Winger Jack Quinn’s recent Achilles’ tendon injury could also have held up plans to move Olofsson this summer. With Quinn out for four-to-six months, the Sabres could retain Olofsson for the coming season and attempt to move him at the trade deadline once Quinn returns to action.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2023

by | Jul 11, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2023

The arbitration hearing dates are set while the Flyers avoid arbitration with Noah Cates and Cam York, the Bruins avoid arbitration with Ian Mitchell, the Sharks sign Filip Zadina, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LATEST NHL ARBITRATION NEWS

NHLPA.COM: The hearing dates for the 2023 NHL arbitration period (July 20 – Aug. 4) have been set:

July 20
Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks)
Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota Wild)
Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov (NHL Images).

July 21
Ilya Samsonov (Toronto Maple Leafs)

July 24
Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights)
Vince Dunn (Seattle Kraken)
Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay Lightning)

July 27
Ross Colton (Colorado Avalanche)

July 28
Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)

July 30
Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
Jack McBain (Arizona Coyotes)

August 1
Trent Frederic (Boston Bruins)

 

August 2
Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets)
Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks)

August 4
Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers)
Brandon Scanlin (New York Rangers)
Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild)
Drew O’Connor (Pittsburgh Penguins)

 

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers avoided arbitration with forward Noah Cates and defenseman Cam York. The 24-year-old Cates inked a two-year, $5.25 million contract while York, 22, agreed to a two-year, $3.2 million deal.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins avoided arbitration with defenseman Ian Mitchell as the two sides reached an agreement on a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed winger Filip Zadina to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. Zadina, 23, became an unrestricted free agent last week after he and the Detroit Red Wings mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

NEWSDAY: Andrew Gross reports the New York Islanders offered forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom as part of a package deal to the Ottawa Senators for winger Alex DeBrincat. The Senators, however, didn’t want to take on the remaining three years and $5 million average annual value of the 30-year-old Pageau’s contract. They traded DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Long-time professional and junior hockey coach John Paddock announced his retirement. He spent the past nine seasons with the WHL’s Regina Pats, hired as their head coach in 2014 and becoming their general manager in 2015.

Paddock coached the Winnipeg Jets from 1991-92 to 1994-95 and the Ottawa Senators in 2007-08. He was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14. Paddock also spent 15 seasons as an AHL head coach, winning the Calder Cup with the Maine Mariners in 1983-84, the Hershey Bears in 1987-88, and the Hartford Wolf Pack in 1999-2000.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Paddock for a relaxing retirement.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Rochester Americans have hired former NHL players Nathan Paetsch and Vaclav Prospal as their new assistant coaches. The Americans are the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

OTTAWA SUN: Anthony LeBlanc has resigned as the Senators president of business operations. He’s said that he’s leaving on good terms. It’s believed his decision was based on incoming owner Michael Andlauer’s plans to make some changes in the front office.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have reached a one-year affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2023

by | Jul 10, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2023

Would Mark Scheifele be a good fit with the Bruins? What’s going on with the Flames? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE BRUINS TURN TO SCHEIFELE?

BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont feels the Winnipeg Jets will seek a return for Mark Scheifele comparable to what they got from the Los Angeles Kings for Pierre-Luc Dubois. He doesn’t think they’ll allow Scheifele to walk away next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

The Jets got forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari that they can plug into their roster right away.

Dupont believes Scheifele could slot in with the Bruins as their No. 1 or No. 2 center for the next four or five years. However, he thinks it would cost them Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha and perhaps prospect Fabian Lysell to tempt the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’ve been few reports in the rumor mill regarding Scheifele in recent weeks as all the focus was on Dubois, Blake Wheeler (who was bought out and signed with the New York Rangers) and Connor Hellebuyck. That could change over the summer as teams in need of depth at center (like the Bruins) look for help in the trade market.

The Bruins have yet to learn if centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci intend to return for 2023-24 or retire. They’re reportedly not waiting to find out as they’re proceeding with their offseason plans as though they’re not coming back.

Whether Scheifele fits into their plans to replace Bergeron or Krejci remains to be seen. As Dupont points out, it could get expensive to attempt to acquire him from the Jets. The Bruins could be reluctant to make that kind of investment. If they do, they’ll have to ensure they have sufficient cap space to sign him to a lucrative long-term contract extension or lose him to the open market next summer.

LATEST ON THE FLAMES

TSN: Salim Valji recently reported on why the Calgary Flames haven’t made more trades since shipping Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils nearly two weeks ago.

Valji said the Flames’ Noah Hanifin is highly regarded around the league as a top-four defenseman. He suggested the issue could be the difficulty most teams are having in moving money under a flattened salary cap this summer despite Hanifin being on a team-friendly contract for 2023-24.

According to Valji, it’s possible the Flames go into next season with players like Hanifin, Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund who are a year away from UFA eligibility still on the roster.

Speaking of Lindholm, the Flames management still believes they can re-sign him to an extension as he hasn’t given a definitive no toward returning after 2023-24. However, there is concern about the possibility of losing him to free agency the same way they lost Johnny Gaudreau to Columbus last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames at least know that Hanifin has informed them of his intention to hit the open market next summer. They could find a suitable trade partner later in the summer or perhaps during training camp.

They’ll need more definitive answers from Lindholm and Backlund. They cannot have those two simply walk away for nothing next summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2023

by | Jul 10, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2023

The Red Wings acquire Alex DeBrincat from the Senators and sign him to a four-year contract. Check out the details in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Detroit Red Wings acquired forward Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Dominik Kubalik, defense prospect Donavan Sebrango, a conditional first-round pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2024.

OTTAWA SUN: The conditions of the first-round pick are as follows:

Ottawa Senators trade winger Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings (NHL Images).

The Red Wings have the option of sending the Senators their own 2024 first-round pick or the 2024 first-rounder they acquired from the Boston Bruins. However, if Boston’s selection is a top-10 pick, the Bruins have the option of retaining that pick and sending the Wings their 2025 first-rounder. The Wings will then have the option of sending that pick or their own 2024 first-rounder to Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This looks like a steal for the Red Wings and an underwhelming return for the Senators.

DeBrincat, 25, is a two-time 40-goal scorer who should help Detroit address their need for more scoring punch. He’s also a Michigan native who wanted to play for the Red Wings.

Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion apparently wanted to move DeBrincat before his arbitration hearing later this summer. He didn’t want a player on his roster who didn’t want to be there becoming an unnecessary distraction for his club as they try to reach the playoffs in 2023-24.

Nevertheless, if this return is the best Dorion could find it doesn’t say much about the offers he received from other interested clubs.

Kubalik, 27, tallied 20 goals and 45 points in 81 games last season. He is a middle-six winger who might only be a Senator for one season given his unrestricted free-agent status next July. The 21-year-old Sebrango was ranked 14th among the Wings prospects in The Athletic’s midseason prospect evaluations.

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports getting a first-round pick was crucial to the Senators. If Kubalik and/or Sebrango fail to become significant long-term additions to the Senators, the only saving grace could be that first-round pick.

Acquiring DeBrincat without any assurances of signing him to a long-term contract was a risky move by Dorion that failed to pan out. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, on the other hand, didn’t make the same mistake…

The Red Wings also signed DeBrincat to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.875 million. He’ll also get a 16-team no-trade clause commencing in 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrincat was a restricted free agent. His camp reportedly sought an eight-year deal worth $8.8 million. He gets half that term for $1 million less but I doubt the winger is unhappy given his desire to play for the Wings.

MLive.com’s Ansar Khan believes Yzerman got DeBrincat on his terms and I concur with that assessment. As Khan observed, he got the winger signed to a team-friendly contract without parting with any core players or prime prospects. If DeBrincat regains his high-scoring form this will be a big win for the Wings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE PROVINCE: Recently-signed Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole has withdrawn his request to wear No. 28 after learning that number was last worn by the late Luc Bourdon, who died in a motorcycle accident in May 2008.

Cole wore the No. 28 for most of his career and had received permission from the Canucks to wear it. Following an outcry from the team’s fans, the 34-year-old blueliner issued a statement indicating he was unaware that Bourdon was the last player to wear that number.

To honor Bourdon’s memory, Cole will instead wear No. 82 with the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an oversight by Canucks management that put Cole in a difficult spot. They should’ve known about the significance of Bourdon’s memory to the club’s fans and informed Cole that the No. 28 was not available.

TSN: Speaking of the Canucks, they signed restricted free-agent forward Nils Hoglander to a two-year, $2.2 million deal.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Cale Fleury by signing him to a two-year, $1.6 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken also avoided arbitration with blueliner Will Borgen last week. That brings the original 22-name list of NHL players who filed last week for arbitration down to 20.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vladimir Tarasenko and Matt Dumba are among the notable names still available over a week into the 2023 NHL free-agent period.










NHL Random Takes – July 9, 2023

by | Jul 9, 2023

NHL Random Takes – July 9, 2023

The Montreal Canadiens created a stir among their fans with their selection of Austrian defenseman David Reinbacher as the fifth-overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. If social media was anything to go by, most of them preferred much-touted – and little-scouted – Russian winger Matvei Michkov, who was chosen seventh overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Disagreeing with a team’s first-round draft choice is fair play. No fan worth their salt should blindly accept every decision made by their favorite team at the draft table.

The initial critique was about the Canadiens choosing a defenseman in a draft filled with promising young scorers. Many correctly pointed out that the Habs haven’t had a scoring superstar since Guy Lafleur in the 1970s or a 50-goal scorer since Stephane Richer in 1990. “We’re starving for a scorer!” was the refrain.

Montreal Canadiens prospect defenseman David Reinbacher (NHL.com).

Nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, some of the numpties among the Canadiens faithful decided to take out their outrage on the 18-year-old Reinbacher via Twitter and Instagram with some vile comments. The type of gutter talk that pathetic fools spew from behind the safety of anonymity and distance on social media because they lack the courage to say it to the person’s face.

Some Twitter trolls masquerading as “insiders” tweeted that Reinbacher received “thousands” of direct threats (nowhere close), that he didn’t want to suit up for the Canadiens (which he did just two days following the draft ahead of their prospect development camp) and was so upset that he didn’t want to sign a contract with the Habs (which he did following the development camp).

It’s a reminder that, contrary to popular belief, Twitter is not the real world. Several Canadiens fans preferred Michkov but most seem fine with the player dubbed the top defenseman in the 2023 draft.

*****

Late in the 2012-13 season, goaltender Roberto Luongo bemoaned that his expensive contract was to blame for hurting his chances of the Vancouver Canucks trading him before the 2013 trade deadline.

I wonder if Erik Karlsson feels the same way a decade later. The 33-year-old Norris Trophy-winning defenseman would prefer a trade to a contender and the San Jose Sharks are trying to accommodate him. So far, however, no deal has emerged, mostly because of Karlsson’s $11.5 million AAV through 2026-27 and his full no-movement clause.

There’s reportedly legitimate interest in Karlsson from several playoff contenders but they cannot afford to take on his full contract. Those clubs would prefer if the Sharks retained half of his annual cap hit but they’re reportedly only willing to pick up between 20 and 30 percent.

Thanks to a flattened salary cap for 2023-24, there aren’t many teams that can comfortably afford to take on the entirety of Karlsson’s remaining cap hit, let alone pay what’s expected to be an expensive asking price by the Sharks.

Unless San Jose general manager Mike Grier is willing to retain more of Karlsson’s cap hit, or somehow swing a three-team trade where everybody takes on a third of it, Karlsson will be suiting up next season with Los Tiburones.

*****

Twenty-two players filed last week for salary arbitration. Among the notables were Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Ilya Samsonov and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabe Vilardi.

The period for their hearings is between July 20 and Aug. 4. However, don’t be surprised if all of them end up re-signing with their clubs before their soon-to-be-appointed dates with the arbiter.

It’s a rare occurrence when players and teams end up making their case before an arbitrator. In the past, the two sides would in most instances reach an agreement within the 48-hour period before the arbiter’s decision was rendered. That option, however, was removed in the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NHL and NHL Players Association extending the collective bargaining agreement to 2026.

Most players file as a means of setting a deadline for hammering out agreements on new contracts rather than have them drag on throughout the offseason or into training camp. That’s also usually the motivation for teams that take players to arbitration.

That number has already dropped by two with the Seattle Kraken re-signing defensemen Will Borgen and Cale Fleury. The others will likely follow suit in due course.