NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2022

by | Aug 8, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2022

The latest on Jonathan Huberdeau, John Tavares, Jonathan Drouin and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Steve Macfarlane believes the Flames should name a captain for the coming season after playing without one in 2021-22. He suggests Jonathan Huberdeau for the role with Johnny Gaudreau departing via free agency and Matthew Tkachuk traded to Florida last month.

Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau (NHL Images).

Acquired from the Panthers in the Tkachuk trade, Macfarlane points out Huberdeau quickly embraced his identity as a Flames. He’s made his intentions clear that he wants to be a leader on and off the ice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames could decide to play without a captain for the coming season before reaching a decision on who should wear the “C”. Then again, they could make that determination after evaluating their players in training camp and preseason play. Though Huberdeau hasn’t yet played a game for the Flames, his experience should make him a front-runner for the job.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said he’s free of the body aches that plagued him since last summer. The 31-year-old took part in a charity game last week in Barrie, Ontario that helped to raise $155K in conjunction with the John Tavares Foundation.

Tavares remains determined to lead the Leafs in overcoming their recent playoff disappointments. He also praised management for keeping most of the club’s core intact while finding ways to fill the holes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt Tavares’ resolution to helping his club finally stage a deep playoff run. Whether they’ve got the goaltending this coming season to pull it off remains to be seen.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Drouin is looking forward to playing a full season under Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. The 27-year-old winger played only two games with St. Louis behind the bench last season before a wrist injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2021-22 schedule.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season will be a crucial one for Drouin. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’ll need a healthy and productive performance if he hopes to garner a new deal with the Canadiens or to boost his free-agent stock.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets avoided salary arbitration with winger Mason Appleton as the two sides agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $2.166 million. Appleton was scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Aug. 11.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 7, 2022

by | Aug 7, 2022

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 7, 2022

Should the Avalanche forget about bringing back Nazem Kadri? What are their options if they do? Should the Islanders trade Mathew Barzal to make room for Kadri? What’s the latest on Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SHOULD THE AVS SIGN KADRI OR CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS?

THE DENVER POST: Mark Kiszla doesn’t blame Nazem Kadri for wanting top dollar on the open market. However, he points out that Colorado Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic doesn’t have a reputation for overpaying talent.

Former Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Kiszla suggests Kadri should fit in somewhere between Valeri Nichushkin’s $6.125 million annual cap hit and Gabriel Landeskog’s $7 million. He believes it would be foolish for the Avalanche to pay more than $26 million over four years for him. The Avs would also have to make a cost-cutting trade to fit him into their cap payroll for the coming season.

Sakic could opt instead to look outside the organization to replace Kadri. Former Avalanche center Paul Stastny remains available via free agency. Kiszla also suggested attempting to acquire Jonathan Toews from the Chicago Blackhawks sometime before next year’s trade deadline.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh also looked at possible options if the Avalanche can’t afford to bring back Kadri. Stastny, Sonny Milano and Evan Rodrigues remain on the open market plus he didn’t rule out going the rental player route at next year’s trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche would love to bring back Kadri and he’d love to return but the cost of doing so is simply too much. They can’t afford him unless they ship out someone like Samuel Girard to free up the cap space and that’s apparently not something they want to do. So, they’ll either have to go with a more affordable option via free agency or the trade market or look within the organization.

The New York Post’s Larry Brooks reports that “the usual suspects” claim Kadri still seeks a long-term deal starting around $9 million annually. He believes that explains why he remains unsigned. Meanwhile, there’s been ongoing speculation linking Kadri to the Islanders. Speaking of which…

SHOULD THE ISLANDERS TRADE BARZAL TO MAKE ROOM FOR KADRI?

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Stefan Rosner believes the Islanders must soon decide if Mathew Barzal remains part of their future before it’s too late. The 25-year-old center becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer and will also be a year away from UFA eligibility.

Barzal has said he views his long-term future with the Islanders but Rosner reminds us that John Tavares said the same thing before he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He cited colleague Jimmy Murphy tweeting a hypothetical trade in which Barzal is traded to the Detroit Red Wings to clear cap space to sign Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello could surprise us by trading Barzal to the Wings or another club and use the $7 million savings for 2022-23 to sign Kadri. However, I don’t see that scenario happening. Lamoriello can find other ways to shed sufficient salary for Kadri such as shopping Anthony Beauvillier or packaging Josh Bailey with a draft pick or prospect.

Trading Barzal would be a rather extreme measure on Lamoriello’s part. Since he wouldn’t want to take back much salary in return, he’d be getting pennies on the dollar for a gifted playmaking center in his playing prime just to make room for a soon-to-be 32-year-old center seeking big bucks on a long-term deal.

UPDATE ON BERGERON AND KREJCI

THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci technically remain unsigned. However, the word around town is Bruins general manager Don Sweeney remains confident they’re done deals with the veteran centers to sign on for one year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation since June has Bergeron and/or Krejci already having agreed to one-year contracts while Sweeney takes the time to determine how to fit the duo within his limited cap space. If so, the Bruins GM is taking a page from the Lamoriello playbook as the Isles GM has done the same thing in the recent past.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 7, 2022

by | Aug 7, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 7, 2022

Jason Zucker hopes to rebound in 2022-23, the chair of Hockey Canada’s board of directors steps down, Lawson Crouse and the Coyotes make their arbitration filings, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Jessi Pierce recently reported that Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jason Zucker is feeling better and is optimistic about the coming season. He’s hoping to rebound from an injury-shortened 2021-22 campaign that saw him play in just 41 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jason Zucker (NHL Images).

Zucker, 30, is currently playing in Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer hockey league for professional and college players from Minnesota. He’s also feeling positive about the Penguins’ chance in 2022-23 in part because they kept most of their roster core intact during the offseason. That included re-signing Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Zucker could help the Penguins’ chances in the coming season. A four-time 20-plus goal scorer earlier in his career with the Minnesota Wild, he’s been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons.

SPORTSNET: Michael Brind’Amour will be stepping down as the chair of Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors. This move comes as the organization has been battered in recent weeks by accusations of sexual assault involving players from the 2003 and 2018 World Junior teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour’s resignation may not be the last for the scandal-plagued organization. For those who are wondering, he is not related to Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Arizona Coyotes and Lawson Crouse made their arbitration filings yesterday. Crouse seeks $4 million for 2022-23 while the Coyotes are looking for $2.5 million. The hearing is slated for Monday, Aug. 8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crouse, 25, earned an annual cap hit of $1.55 million on his previous contract. He’s coming off a career-best 20-goal, 34-point performance.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed forward Tyler Benson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K at the NHL level.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Maxime Lajoie as the two sides agreed to a one-year, two-way deal worth $750K.

MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings will honor their 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup championships teams during separate ceremonies early in the coming season. The 1997 team will be recognized in a pregame ceremony on Nov. 3 against the Washington Capitals while the 1998 club will be honored prior to Nov. 5 game against the New York Islanders.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 6, 2022

by | Aug 6, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – August 6, 2022

MacKenzie Weegar could start contract talks soon with the Flames plus updates on the Penguins and Sharks in today’s NHL rumor roundup.

LATEST ON WEEGAR AND THE FLAMES

TSN’s Salim Valji took to Twitter to report a source said MacKenzie Weegar has a “strong, genuine desire” to re-sign with the Calgary Flames. He believes the two sides could start contract talks next week.

Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames acquired Weegar last month as part of the return from the Florida Panthers in the Matthew Tkachuk trade. He and Jonathan Huberdeau both indicated a willingness to discuss contract extensions with their new club.

With Huberdeau now signed to an eight-year extension, the focus shifts to the 28-year-old defenseman. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

After signing his new contract, Huberdeau told the media that he wanted to sign with the team that wanted him. Weegar could feel the same way. Following the trade, there was a report out of Florida indicating both players weren’t pleased with their contract discussions with the Panthers.

UPDATE ON THE PENGUINS AND SHARKS

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Rob Rossi was asked if the Pittsburgh Penguins could afford to trade one of their left-side defensemen. He doesn’t believe they can.

Rossi felt the Penguins need left-side blueliners such as Brian Dumoulin and Marcus Pettersson to perform at as close to peak level as possible if they hope to contend for the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins are sitting nearly $1.5 million above the $82.5 million cap for the coming season. There was speculation they might shop Dumoulin or Pettersson to free up cap space and clear a path for a more affordable young rearguard such as Pierre-Olivier Joseph or the recently-acquired Ty Smith.

However, they’re also sitting one player over their 23-man roster limit and could clear some of that cap space by placing a player or two on waivers. And to those readers advocating a trade of Jason Zucker, no, they’re not going that route. There’s not much of a market for an oft-injured 30-year-old winger with a $5.5 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade clause.

THE ATHLETIC: In an Aug. 1 mailbag segment, Corey Masisak was asked how the San Jose Sharks intend to address their glut of goaltenders. They currently have seven under NHL contracts, including James Reimer, Kaapo Kahkonen and Adin Hill.

Masisak suggested one of them could be traded during training camp or preseason if another team has a goalie sidelined. They could also put Hill on waivers and if he clears keep him in the minors until Reimer or Kahkonen gets hurt.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 6, 2022

by | Aug 6, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 6, 2022

A look at what David Pastrnak’s contract extension could look like plus the latest notable contract signings in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss recently examined what he believes David Pastrnak’s contract extension could look like. The 26-year-old Bruins winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

Goss points out Pastrnak’s value to the Bruins as one of the NHL’s most-skilled forwards. Since 2019-20, only five players (Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid and Kyle Connor) have scored more goals than Pastrnak. He suggests an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per season would be fair for both sides, matching defenseman Charlie McAvoy as the highest-paid Bruin.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Joe Haggerty believes Jonathan Huberdeau’s eight-year, $10.5 million contract with the Calgary Flames sets the table for Pastrnak’s new deal. He points out the Bruins winger is three years younger than the 29-year-old Huberdeau but has averaged more goals and points in his career with the Bruins than Huberdeau did in his career with the Florida Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak is going to get a lucrative long-term contract between $9.5 million and $10.5 million per season. He’s getting it from the Bruins on an eight-year deal or from another club in next summer’s free-agent market on a seven-year contract.

The Bruins’ expensive commitment to McAvoy indicates they have no plans of rebuilding their roster. I expect they’ll pay out a massive raise to Pastrnak and use those two as their foundation players going forward.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators forward Yakov Trenin has signed the two-year contract he was awarded via arbitration. The deal is worth an average annual value of $1.7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trenin, 25, is coming off a career-best 17-goal performance in 80 games last season. The 6’2”, 201-pound forward plays a physical two-way game and can skate at left wing or center. The arbitration award is a significant raise over the $725K AAV of his previous contract.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights avoided salary arbitration with Keegan Kolesar, signing the 25-year-old forward to a three-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A versatile, physical checking-line forward, Kolesar had 24 points in 77 games last season with the Golden Knights. He earned an AAV of $725K on his previous contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 5, 2022

by | Aug 5, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – August 5, 2022

Will the Blues trade Vladimir Tarasenko this summer? Could Patrick Kane be a fit with the Sabres? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD TARASENKO HIT THE TRADE BLOCK?

NHL.COM: In a recent mailbag segment, Dan Rosen was asked if the St. Louis Blues have any trade talks going on with other clubs about Vladimir Tarasenko.

St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).

Rosen doesn’t think Tarasenko rescinded the trade request he made last summer. However, that doesn’t mean the Blues want to trade the 30-year-old right winger. They held onto him last season and he responded with a career-best 82-point performance.

If the Blues did shop Tarasenko, Rosen believes they’d want a top-six forward in return, especially after losing David Perron to free agency last month. He doesn’t see a team willing to part with that type of return for an older winger with a history of shoulder injuries who’s a year away from unrestricted free agent eligibility.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rosen believes the Blues will hang onto Tarasenko for the coming season to take one more run for the Stanley Cup. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford shares that view, writing that he believes general manager Doug Armstrong would rather have Tarasenko’s production in 2022-23 and let him walk next summer via free agency than not have him around for the coming season.

That doesn’t mean a trade can’t happen if a club desperate for scoring punch came calling with a great offer. I just don’t expect that’s going to happen this summer. The only realistic scenario I see for a Tarasenko trade is if the Blues are out of the playoff race by next year’s trade deadline.

COULD PATRICK KANE BE A FIT WITH THE SABRES?

THE BUFFALO NEWS: In a recent mailbag segment, Lance Lysowski was asked if the Sabres should attempt to sign Patrick Kane next summer if he’s interested in coming home to Buffalo.

Lysowski believes Kane could be a fit under the right circumstances. They’d have to move out someone like Victor Olofsson whose contract expires after 2023-24 and reduce the ice time of a young winger. He must also be willing to accept a short-term contract that doesn’t take away too much cap space from future seasons.

Mentioning the chatter on social media suggesting the Sabres attempt to trade for Kane this summer, Lysowski doesn’t think the longtime Blackhawks star is a fit in Buffalo for the coming season. He believes the return would involve a haul of draft picks and prospects. “The Sabres don’t want to part with those yet,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Lysowski’s take. If the Sabres want Kane and if he wants to finish his career in his hometown, it’s best to wait until free agency next summer. It’ll take a big chunk out of their cap space but they won’t have to part with promising young assets.

Nobody knows right now what Kane’s plans will be following this season. There were reports of clubs making inquiries last month but it’s believed he hasn’t reached the stage yet where he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause. That might not happen until the trade deadline approaches and it’s expected he’d only be interested in joining a playoff contender.