NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2024

by | Jun 18, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2024

The latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Blue Jackets make a coaching change, the Blues are talking contract extension with Pavel Buchnevich, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

NHL.COM: Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad did not practice with their Florida Panthers teammates on Monday. Head coach Paul Maurice said they are expected to play in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. “All good,” said Maurice when asked specifically about the three players.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of Tkachuk, Frank Seravalli believes his performance compared to last year’s playoffs has been disappointing. The winger has 20 points in 21 playoff games this year, but he hasn’t scored a goal since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final and has four assists and a plus/minus of minus-3 in his last nine games.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk, Bennett, and Ekblad could be nursing injuries that necessitated skipping practice yesterday. Most players are banged up by this point in the postseason. Those three played through serious injuries in last year’s Stanley Cup Final.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Maurice also suggested that Ryan Lomberg could draw back into the lineup for Game 5. He was skating in Steve Lorentz’s spot on the Panthers’ fourth line during practice on Monday. He and Nick Cousins have been out of the lineup since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Speaking of the Panthers, the Savannah Ghost Pirates will become their new ECHL affiliate starting next season.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers are saying all the right things before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Leon Draisaitl talked about drawing the positives from his club’s lopsided victory in Game 4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said he and his teammates were taking it one game at a time. Darnell Nurse believes his club has plenty of motivation heading into this crucial game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The answers are cliches but there is also truth to what they’re saying. Despite that big win in Game 4, they’re still facing elimination down 3-1 to the Panthers in this series. Drawing positives from Saturday’s win, being motivated, and taking things a game at a time is the best approach for the Oilers right now.

Meanwhile, Oilers fans continue to hope that their team can garner momentum from their Game 4 victory to equal the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup Final history. Only one team, the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, overcame a 3-0 series deficit to win hockey’s holy grail.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs’ achievement has not been equaled in 82 years. That shows how difficult it is to overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final. If the Oilers pull it off, it’ll be the greatest playoff comeback of the post-expansion era.

HEADLINES

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets fired head coach Pascal Vincent after one season. General manager Don Waddell said no further decision had been made regarding the coaching staff. The search for Vincent’s replacement has begun.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets’ recent management change combined with the club’s poor performance last season made this change inevitable. Vincent did the best he could last season, taking over after Mike Babcock stepped down before training camp amid allegations of invasion of privacy related to players’ cell phones. However, he also made some questionable moves that likely greased the skids for his firing.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said he and assistant Alexander Steen met with Pavel Buchnevich’s agent to discuss the possibility of a contract extension. Buchnevich, 29, has a year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $5.8 million. He’s eligible to sign an extension on July 1.

Armstrong said the talks “have been really good.” He added they have to consider the type of term Buchnevich will seek approaching his 30s, as well as the fact he’ll be dealing with Steen when he takes over from Armstrong in two years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has Buchnevich on his summer Trade Targets list. He wondered if Armstrong was prepared to pay Buchnevich a hefty raise on a long-term deal as the winger approaches his 30s. The Blues GM seems willing to consider it depending on how many years Buchenvich wants on his next contract.

Speaking of the Blues, Brian Elliott is returning to the club as a goaltending coach and development scout. He played 181 games with the Blues during his 16-season NHL career. He last played professionally in 2022-23 as a backup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Elliott played 543 games (starting 496) with a record of 279 wins, 167 losses, and 54 overtime losses with a 2.57 goals-against average, a save percentage of .909, and 45 shutouts. He played for the Ottawa Senators, the Blues, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning from 2007-08 to 2022-23. He won the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2011-12.

TSN: The Winnipeg Jets hired Dean Chynoweth and Davis Payne as assistant coaches. Chynoweth spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Payne worked as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators for the last five seasons.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 17, 2024

by | Jun 17, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 17, 2024

The latest on the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers as they prepare for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, five veterans whose careers could be ending, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

MIAMI HERALD: The Florida Panthers are keeping their emotions in check following their blowout loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. They hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and can wrap things up with a win in Game 5 on Tuesday.

THE SCORE: Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk believes there were lessons to be learned from that loss. “We gave up eight goals, and zero of them were the goalies’ fault,” said Tkachuk. “So, a lot to learn from. Yeah, a lot to learn from.”

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov believes his teammates need to manage the losses. “Obviously, it only counts as one win. It doesn’t matter how much you lose, 2-1 or 8-1, so just obviously we need to bounce back. We need to recover now and think about the next one.”

Barkov dismissed the notion that being poised to win the Stanley Cup in Game 4 distracted the Panthers. “The Cup is going to be in the building at some point anyway,” he said. “So we have to be ready for that.”

SUN-SENTINEL.COM: The silver lining in the Panthers’ loss in Game 4 is their fans now have an opportunity to witness the club’s first Stanley Cup championship win on home ice in Game 5.

Meanwhile, the Panthers have been pushing to grow the game in Florida’s Latino communities with help from the NHL. The Panthers Learn To Play initiative introduces boys and girls to hockey while reducing barriers to entry for the sport.

Hispanic and Latino participation in the Learn to Play initiative increased 15 percent from 2023 to 2024. The club’s recent on-ice success has also helped increase their popularity.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Build and maintain a playoff contender, reach out, and be active in the community, and you’ll grow your fanbase and garner strong, sustained support from them.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Oilers captain Connor McDavid believes the pressure is off his club following their lopsided Game 4 victory over the Panthers. He thinks they need to build on what they achieved in that contest. “We’re still in a hole but there’s no pressure on us, really. We just need to find a way to get a win in Game 5 and go from there.”

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Third-liners Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown played a big role in the Oilers’ win in Game 4. Their efforts gave their club an early 2-0 lead that became the foundation for their victory in that contest.

SPORTSNET: Oilers winger Evander Kane missed Games 3 and 4 with a nagging sports hernia. He could be ready to play in Game 5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton must be prepared for a more motivated effort by Florida in Game 5. If the Oilers take Game 5, it could change the course of this series.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski and Colorado Avalanche winger Zach Parise have indicated they’ve played their final NHL games. Five other notable veterans, including Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano, could find it tough to continue their playing career following this season.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor was officially connected last week. The target for completion of the bridge is September 2025.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 16, 2024

by | Jun 16, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 16, 2024

The Oilers stave off elimination in the Stanley Cup Final with a lopsided win over the Panthers. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination from the Stanley Cup Final by trouncing the Florida Panthers 8-1 in Game 4.

Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists, Dylan Holloway scored twice and collected an assist, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman each had two assists, and Mattias Janmark had a goal and an assist. Stuart Skinner made 32 saves for the win.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

McDavid has 32 assists in this postseason, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 31 in a playoff year.

Vladimir Tarasenko scored Florida’s only goal. Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Anthony Stolarz in the second period.

The series returns to Florida for Game 5 on Tuesday, June 18 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers dominated this game from start to finish. Their biggest stars – McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman – finally came through. So did their special teams, finally tallying a power-play goal and picking up a shorthanded goal while killing off four penalties. They also continued to get production from their role players. 

The Oilers also caught a break early in the game when defenseman Darnell Nurse was only assessed a minor penalty for a knee-on-knee hit on Florida forward Sam Bennett. The Panthers struck the post twice on the ensuing power play before Janmark’s shorthanded goal opened the scoring. Adam Henrique scored to give the Oilers their first two-goal lead of the series.

Florida momentarily quieted the fans at Rogers Place when Tarasenko cut the lead to 2-1. Holloway restored the two-goal lead minutes later and the Oilers never looked back. They blew it open in the second on goals by McDavid, Nurse and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

The reaction by Oilers fans on social media was a mixture of joy, relief, and incredulity. Many wondered where that offensive effort was earlier in the series.

Desperation to avoid elimination was likely a factor for the Oilers. So was the determination not to be swept on home ice. This was also a total team effort on their part. They were better defensively and won the puck battles at both ends of the ice. The biggest factor was lighting up Bobrovsky after he stoned them in the first three games.

Meanwhile, the Panthers lacked the energy from their last two games. Bobrovsky had a rough night but so did his teammates. The solid defensive effort they’d used to nullify the Oilers’ offense in Games 2 and 3 was nowhere to be found in this game.

The Panthers return home still holding a commanding 3-1 lead in this series and can wrap this up in Game 5. We can expect a more determined effort from them in front of their fans in that contest. However, the Oilers served notice that they’re not going quietly. If the Panthers aren’t careful, they could find themselves heading back to Edmonton for another game on Friday.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced assistant coach Guy Boucher will not return for next season. He was brought in last year to run the Leafs power play. It was assumed his position wasn’t secure after the club struggled with the man advantage in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Radim Simek is returning to Czechia as he signed a three-year contract with Liberec of the Czech Extraliga. He spent five seasons with the San Jose Sharks from 2018-19 to 2022-23. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings this season but spent the entire season in the AHL.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators announced David Bell, the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Belleville, has signed a two-year contract extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2024

by | Jun 15, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 15, 2024

The latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

ESPN.COM: The Florida Panthers hold a 3-0 series lead in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final and can win hockey’s holy grail with a win in Game 4 on Saturday.

Teams that previously sat in this position in the Cup Final have won 27 out of 28 times. The sole exception was in 1942 when the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame that deficit to upset the Detroit Red Wings in seven games.

Teams that were down 3-0 in the Final have avoided the sweep only eight times. The most recent examples were the Montreal Canadiens winning Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021 and the New York Rangers doing the same against the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk indicated he and his teammates aren’t thinking about that as they approach Game 4. “We’ve done such a good job of having that one game, simple mindset. Win your first few shifts. It’s all you’ve got to do tomorrow,” he said on Friday. “It’s really calm, kind of chill and relaxed group today. We’ll use that to our advantage.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers may be outwardly calm approaching Game 4. Carrying a commanding series lead, however, they must be feeling some excitement and anticipation about being a win away from winning hockey’s greatest prize. How they handle those emotions will factor into their performance in Saturday’s crucial contest.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun and Shayna Goldman suggested Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and defenseman Gustav Forsling as Conn Smythe Trophy candidates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems premature to start debating which Panthers will be named playoff MVP. Still, you can’t blame the pundits given everything we’ve seen in this series thus far.

Barkov, Bobrovsky, and Forsling certainly appear the most likely candidates. I think it’s down to Barkov or Bobrovsky. If I had a vote, I’d cast it for the Panthers’ goalie.

WINNIPEG SUN: Two-and-a-half years after resigning as coach of the Jets, Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice is on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup.

After nine seasons, Maurice stepped down from the Jets believing that the team needed somebody else behind the bench to help them get to the next level. They’re now on their third coach since his departure. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maurice guided the Jets to three of their best seasons, including the franchise-best 114-point performance in 2017-18 and marching to the 2018 Western Conference Final.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards wonders where the Panthers will hold their Stanley Cup parade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers haven’t won Lord Stanley’s Mug yet but you can’t blame Richards or any of the club’s followers if they’re a little giddy with excitement right now. If there was ever an apt opportunity for the phrase “plan the parade” without sarcasm, it’s now.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski reports the Oilers are clinging to hope but things are looking bleak for them approaching Game 4.

Zach Hyman was the latest Oiler to remind everyone that his club had been counted out earlier this season when they were near the bottom of the standings. However, Edmonton’s offense has been stymied thus far by the Panthers.

Hyman, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins don’t have a single point between them. The Oilers’ vaunted power play is 0-for-10 in this series.

Meanwhile, Jim Matheson reports the Oilers are trying to reignite their offense and find ways to score against Bobrovsky. Hyman acknowledged they must find a way to get to the dirty areas and cash in on rebounds and other opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers believe they’re getting their chances but must bear down more and create more opportunities. The problem is they haven’t yet solved the riddle of Bobrovsky. If they can’t crack the code tonight, they’ll be watching the Panthers celebrate their first Stanley Cup championship.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2024

by | Jun 14, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2024

The Panthers are poised to sweep the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, management changes in store for the Blues, the Sharks name their new head coach, the Rangers re-sign Kaapo Kakko, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers are on the verge of sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final after holding on for a 4-3 victory in Game 3. Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves and Aleksander Barkov tallied the game-winning goal as the Panthers scored three times within a six-minute span in the second period.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

The Oilers made things interesting with third-period goals by Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod. However, it wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling into a 3-0 series deficit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton faces the daunting challenge of doing something that hasn’t been done in the Stanley Cup Final since 1942: overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win hockey’s holy grail.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner believes his club can do it. So far, however, they’ve shown nothing to indicate they can pull it off.

Skinner’s mishandling of a dump-in by the Panthers led to Vladimir Tarasenko snapping a 1-1 tie in the second period. That opened the floodgates as Sam Bennett and Barkov capitalized on defensive miscues by the Oilers.

The Panthers have done a masterful job of shutting down the Oilers’ big guns in this series. Connor McDavid has three assists and Evan Bouchard has one. Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have yet to dent the score sheet.

Bobrovsky has been solid throughout this series. He’s had help from his teammates as they’ve clogged up the shooting lanes while reducing the amount of traffic around their net.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong signed a five-year contract extension with the St. Louis Blues as president of hockey operations. Alexander Steen was named special assistant to the general manager through 2025-26, after which he’ll take over as GM from Armstrong.

The Blues also promoted Tim Taylor from his previous role as director of player development to assistant general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Team chairman Tom Stillman approved Armstrong’s proposed transition. He’ll remain general manager for two more years to prepare Steen for the GM role.

Steen spent 12 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Blues. He retired as a player in 2020 and joined the Blues’ management team last year as a European development consultant. Armstrong was so impressed by Steen’s effort that he felt he would be a worthwhile successor.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks promoted assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky as their new head coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NBC Sports Bay Area’s Sheng Peng reported Warsofsky’s ability to build relationships with his players, his record for developing young players, and his communication skills factored into the Sharks management tapping him as their new bench boss.

The Sharks are rebuilding their roster with promising young talent. Warsofsky’s coaching will play a crucial role in their development.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed winger Kaapo Kakko to a one-year, $2.4 million contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko accepted what would’ve been the Rangers’ qualifying offer, foregoing his arbitration rights this summer. That’s not surprising given his struggles this season.

On the one hand, this is an affordable short-term deal that enables the Rangers to remain patient with the 23-year-old winger’s development. On the other hand, it’s an easily tradeable contract if they decide to trade him.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes signed Jalen Chatfield to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million. The 28-year-old defenseman was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chatfield made himself invaluable to the Hurricanes’ blueline depth. He’s getting a significant raise, earning $765K per season on his previous two-year contract.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers captain Sean Couturier said he’s rehabbing from a recent sports hernia injury. “Feeling great now. About to head back home here this week and start the full training,” said Couturier.

NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club officially joined the NHL on Thursday. The team revealed its home and away jerseys for 2025-26. They could have a new name by then as fan voting is open until June 20. Details on the name will be revealed in the coming months.

TSN: Executive Laurence Gilman and the Toronto Maple Leafs mutually agreed to part ways. He worked as assistant GM from 2018-19. His contract was due to expire at the end of this month.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens extended their affiliate agreement with the ECHL’s Trois-Rivieres Lions for three more seasons.

FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS: The Florida Panthers have ended their affiliation with the ECHL’s Florida Everglades.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2024

by | Jun 13, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2024

Updates on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, plus the latest on Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, Rangers blueliner Adam Fox, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Aleksander Barkov could play in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

The Florida Panthers captain left Game 2 in the third period after taking an elbow to the head from Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Barkov was on the ice with his teammates for their final skate before flying to Edmonton for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

“He got through the skate today, felt better,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “We will get him on a plane, get him off a plane, get him on the ice and make a decision tomorrow (Thursday). But he looked good today.

Speaking of that plane, its departure was delayed by over three hours due to inclement weather in Miami. It finally took over at 4:25 pm EDT and arrived in Edmonton around 8 pm local time.

The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Barkov’s promising progress, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s in the lineup with his teammates for Game 3. If he’s unable to go, Anton Lundell (AKA “Baby Barkov”) will take his place on the roster.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers must find a way to break through on the power play if they hope to rally back against the Panthers and win this series. They’ve gone 0-for-7 in the first two games and were shut out in eight of the Oilers’ last 11 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The power play played a crucial role for the Oilers during the regular season and playoffs. So far, however, they’ve been thwarted by the Panthers’ solid penalty killing and the goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky.

TSN: Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse and winger Corey Perry are expected to play in Game 3 tonight. Nurse was hampered by an injury in Game 2 that limited him to just over four minutes of ice in that contest. Perry was scratched from the lineup for Game 2.

Winger Evander Kane (sports hernia) remains questionable for Game 3.

THE LATEST ON JACCOB SLAVIN AND ADAM FOX

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Carolina Hurricanes are working on a long-term contract extension for Jaccob Slavin. The 30-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on his seven-year contract with an average annual value of $5.3 million. He’s eligible to sign that extension on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slavvin is the linchpin of the Hurricanes’ defense corps. They’re expected to part ways with Brett Pesce and could also lose Brady Skjei to this summer’s free-agent market. Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov are eligible for UFA status next summer. Retaining Slavvin will be crucial to maintain a level of stability and to give them someone to build around on the blueline.

It’ll be interesting to see how much of a raise Slavvin receives and for how long. He’s among the league’s best all-around defensemen and recently won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the second time. It could be a five or six-year deal worth over $8 million annually.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox suffered a mild MCL strain following a knee-on-knee hit with Washington Capitals blueliner Nick Jensen during their first-round playoff series. The injury affected Fox’s play for the remainder of the Rangers’ postseason run.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox’s injury contributed to the Rangers’ elimination from the Eastern Conference Final by the Florida Panthers. He struggled to play up to his usual performance level as the postseason went on.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is expected to be named Team Canada’s bench boss for next year’s 4 Nations Faceoff and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild shot down a report claiming they were changing their color scheme to the green and yellow of the Minnesota North Stars as part of their 2025-26 rebrand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s too bad, I was looking forward to seeing that. The old North Stars jersey was one of the best.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins named Jay Leach as an assistant coach and promoted Joe Sacco to associate coach. Leach spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken. Before that, he was head coach of the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence from 2017 to 2021.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche will soon have a new director of amateur scouting. Wade Klippenstein is leaving on July 1 to join Notre Dame Hounds Hockey as their director of hockey development. He’d been with the Avalanche since 2016 and was promoted into his current role in 2021.

DAILY FACEOFF: A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of former NHL player Steve Montador will go to trial in March 2025. Paul Montador has been embroiled in a nine-year legal battle with the league. Steve suffered at least 11 documented concussions during his NHL career, including four in 12 weeks in 2012. He passed away in 2015.