NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2024

by | Jun 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2024

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they prepare for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Jets could trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty, and more in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK

NEW YORK POST: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid can cement his legacy among hockey’s all-time greats if he leads his club to the Stanley Cup in Game 7 on Monday. He’s considered the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of the game’s outcome. With 42 points in this playoff run, he trails only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux for the most in one postseason.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner became the first netminder in Stanley Cup playoff history to record an assist in a game where his club faced elimination. He collected that assist on Darnell Nurse’s empty-netter in Game 6.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they prepare for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Jets could trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty, and more in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: History will be made one way or another in Game 7. The Panthers will either win their first-ever Stanley Cup or the Oilers will become only the second team to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win the Cup.

THE ATHLETIC: Sean McIndoe believes it will be the biggest collapse in Stanley Cup playoff history if the Panthers lose this series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: History will be made on Monday.

Despite the intense pressure the Panthers are feeling, they can still win after blowing a 3-0 series lead. It’ll be joy mixed with relief if they can stem the tide of momentum that’s now rolling in the Oilers favor. Their championship will still be well-deserved.

There won’t be any shame for the Oilers if they fall short. Overcoming an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final is significant.

However, an Oilers win will make this the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history. It will also be devastating for the Panthers, especially after how hard they worked to return to the Final after falling short last year.

McDavid is unquestionably the greatest player of his generation. Winning the Cup and the Conn Smythe in this series will put him in the same class as Gretzky and Lemieux.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates reported the Winnipeg Jets are likely to trade their top prospect, Rutger McGroarty.

The Jets hoped to sign McGroarty following the 2023-24 NCAA season. However, they couldn’t guarantee him NHL playing time so the 20-year-old forward is returning to the University of Michigan for 2024-25.

Ates believes there is a disconnect between how the Jets’ player development viewed and communicated its plan with McGroarty and the player’s view of his future. “He no longer believes his future is with the Jets,” writes Ates, citing a league source claiming the youngster felt his path to the NHL with another team.

WINNIPEG SUN: Scott Billeck cited a source suggesting this doesn’t look good for the Jets’ organization, pointing to how the club has handled young center Cole Perfetti and defenseman Ville Heinola.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe cite a source suggesting the Jets could regret trading McGroarty. “Winnipeg really needs to revisit its development plan”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Jets trade McGroarty it’ll be before or during the first round of the upcoming trade. They should get a solid return like a high first-round pick or another high-quality prospect. Nevertheless, this situation raises questions and criticism of the Jets’ development system.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Anthony Mantha has been informed he will not be returning with the Golden Knights. The 29-year-old winger was acquired from the Washington Capitals before the March trade deadline. He was a healthy scratch in the final four of their seven playoff games. Mantha is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Alex Turcotte to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $775K.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators added Darby Hendrikson to their coaching staff.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks have hired Rich Clune as an assistant coach.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2024

by | Jun 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2024

The Oilers defeat the Panthers to force Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, injury updates on Dylan Larkin, Roope Hintz and Chris Tanev, Andrew Cogliano retires, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: There will be a seventh and deciding game in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1, tying the series at three games apiece.

Zach Hyman scored his 16th goal in this postseason, Warren Foegele had a goal and an assist, Adam Henrique tallied what proved to be the winning goal, and Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the win. Hyman leads all active NHL players for the most goals in one playoff year. The record is 19 held by Reggie Leach and Jari Kurri.

Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (NHL Images).

Florida captain Aleksander Barkov scored in the second period to cut Edmonton’s lead to 2-1. However, the goal was overturned as offside following a coach’s challenge by Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, much to the fury of Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice.

“I have no idea (if they got it right),” said Maurice in his postgame press conference. “It may well have been offside. The lines person informed me that it was the last clip that they got where they made the decision that shows it’s offside. I don’t have those.” He went on to explain he was upset based on the video he saw at the bench.

The call was a game-changer. Hyman made it 3-0 later in the period for Edmonton. Barkov got the Panthers on the board early in the third but the Oilers managed to hang on, putting the game away on empty-net goals by Ryan McLeod and Darnell Nurse, with Skinner getting an assist on the final goal.

Game 7 is in Florida on Monday, June 24 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers made history by becoming the first team since the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to tie the series. That occurred just three years after the 1942 Leafs did the same thing and went on to win the Cup.

History didn’t repeat for the ’45 Leafs as they lost Game 7 to the Detroit Red Wings. The Oilers, however, have a golden opportunity to become just the second team since the ’42 Leafs to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the Cup.

Robert Tychowski of the Edmonton Journal points out the Oilers have gone 11-2 throughout Games 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this postseason. “When the money is on the table, they find an extra gear that nobody has been able to match.”

The Panthers look nothing like the dominant force that rolled through the first three rounds and had the Oilers on the ropes after Game 3 of this series. Edmonton’s defense has neutralized Florida’s offense, especially on the power play. After outscoring Edmonton 11-4 in the first three games, they’ve been outscored 18-5 over the past three contests.

Florida did manage to shut down Connor McDavid for the first time since Game 1. However, the Oilers didn’t need their captain to carry them as he had in the last two games. That’s a bad sign for the Panthers heading into Game 7. Keeping McDavid contained no longer assures victory in this series.

HEADLINES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin recently underwent surgery to repair an upper-body injury. The procedure should not interfere with his readiness for 2024-25.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars general manager Jim Nill confirmed Roope Hintz, Chris Tanev, Tyler Seguin and Jani Hakanpaa battled injuries during their run to the Western Conference Final. Fortunately, none of them will require offseason surgery.

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.1 million. The 23-year-old was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1. He scored 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games this season.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Forward Andrew Cogliano announced his retirement on Friday and is joining the Avalanche’s front office in a player development role. Cogliano, 37, spent 17 seasons in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and the Avalanche, helping the latter win the Stanley Cup in 2021-22. He has 494 points in 1,294 regular-season games and 40 points in 131 postseason contests.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano hopes to continue his playing career for a few more seasons. The 40-year-old blueliner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The former Norris Trophy winner has 577 points in 1,148 career regular-season games. He’s completing a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Leafs.

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Arizona Coyotes released a statement on Friday indicating they will explore all their legal options after the state canceled a land auction they expected to win for a new arena.

This could be the final blow for Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo’s efforts to bring back an NHL franchise to Arizona. The club was relocated to Utah following its sale to Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith in April.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2024

by | Jun 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2024

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins re-sign Alex Nedeljkovic, the Canucks grant Ilya Mikheyev permission to seek a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has struggled to score in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The 28-year-old forward has 30 points in this postseason but his production has been declining since the Western Conference Final, netting four points in that series and only two assists thus far in the Stanley Cup Final.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch defended Draisaitl’s play, suggesting bad puck luck could be behind his recent low production. The decline could also be due to an undisclosed injury we’ll learn about after the series ends.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers are making a change to their lineup for Game 6 tonight in Edmonton. Nick Cousins will replace Kyle Okposo and be reunited with linemates Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Stenlund. It’s Cousins’ first game since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins re-signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $2.5 million. Nedeljkovic was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nedeljkovic was Tristan Jarry’s backup in 2023-24. He appeared in the Penguins’ final 14 games of the regular season, starting 13 and picking up points in 10 games.

THE PROVINCE: Ilya Mikheyev’s agent, Dan Milstein, said he’s been permitted by the Vancouver Canucks to seek a trade for his client. The 29-year-old winger has two years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mikheyev had 28 points in 46 games in 2022-23 before undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He struggled with consistency in 2024-25.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar is expected to have fully recovered from hip surgery when training camp opens in September. The 26-year-old went under the knife in March with a recovery time of four to six months.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings unveiled their new logo on Thursday, returning to a look similar to their 1990s style.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, it’s the Oakland Raiders on ice.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 20, 2024

by | Jun 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 20, 2024

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers, the fallout from the Dubois-for-Kuemper trade, Barclay Goodrow reportedly unhappy about being claimed off waivers by the Sharks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid has put his team on his back in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. McDavid’s back-to-back four-point games rallied his club from a 3-0 series deficit against the Florida Panthers to Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday and a chance to tie the series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid has risen to the occasion with his club on the brink of elimination. The Oilers aren’t out of the woods yet as the Panthers still hold a 3-2 series lead and can win the Stanley Cup in Game 6. Nevertheless, this series would’ve ended by now if not for McDavid’s impressive play.

If the Oilers beat the odds it’ll be the biggest comeback in Stanley Cup Final history. All due respect to the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who were the first and (to date) the only team to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win hockey’s holy grail, but they weren’t led by a superstar like McDavid.

Be prepared to pay a lot for tickets to Game 6 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Prices have jumped 97 percent with the average price (according to SeatGeek) costing over $9,200.00. The most expensive is $87, 452 while the cheapest start at $1,896.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers have raised prices for their Game 6 watch party at Amerant Bank Arena.

Tickets for the first two watch parties were $10 each and seating was first come, first served. It now costs $40.00 for reserved seating in the lower bowl and $10 for reserved seating in the upper bowl.

Meanwhile, the pressure to win has shifted onto the Panthers even if head coach Paul Maurice won’t say it. They still hold a 3-2 series lead but the Oilers’ back-to-back wins may have shifted the momentum.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: History still favors the Panthers heading into Game 6 and the odds remain in their favor to win the Cup. However, it’s no longer the certainty it appeared to be heading into Games 4 and 5. There will be no denying that the pressure is getting to them if they lose Game 6.

HEADLINES

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kings general manager Rob Blake took responsibility for Pierre-Luc Dubois’ disappointing performance this season. He acquired and signed the 25-year-old center last June but traded him yesterday to the Washington Capitals for goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

Los Angeles Kings tradedcenter Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals(NHL Images)

“I don’t think I did a good enough job integrating (Dubois) in the right roles for the team,” said Blake. “It wasn’t a great fit in that aspect for us and we take responsibility for that.”

Blake didn’t hold Dubois responsible for the Kings being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Oilers for the third straight year. “I put it on us,” he said. “We’ve got to work better as a group within this organization to make that fit.”

THE ATHLETIC: Blake admitted his mistake with Dubois, shored up his goalie depth by acquiring Kuemper, and freed up $3.25 million in salary-cap space. However, history won’t be kind to Blake for acquiring Dubois, giving up forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo as part of the return to the Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As one reader put in the comments section yesterday, Blake has traded Dubois, Vilardi, Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a second-round pick for an aging starting goalie who struggled last season in Washington.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Capitals GM Brian MacLellan believes the addition of Dubois gives his club “a talented 25-year-old with immense potential to become a top-tier center in the NHL.”

MacLellan praised Dubois’ size, skating and high hockey IQ. He believes the big center will thrive with increased responsibility and opportunity.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals beat writer Sammi Silber acknowledged Dubois’ baggage but suggests the gamble could work in the Capitals’ favor if he blossoms as hoped into a reliable first-line center. He’s shown tantalizing glimpses of his capabilities during his tenures with the Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets.

This could turn into a steal for the Capitals. On the other hand, they could end up stuck with an underachieving center carrying a burdensome contract.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks claimed Barclay Goodrow off waivers yesterday from the New York Rangers. However, a report in the New York Post claimed the 31-year-old forward wasn’t pleased with how this went down. The report claimed the Sharks were on Goodrow’s 15-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Putting Goodrow on waivers was a gamble that paid off for the Rangers. This could become a problem for the Sharks if he remains unhappy.

The Sharks also made a trade yesterday, acquiring forward Ty Dellandrea from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Dellandrea was selected 13th overall by the Stars in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old forward saw a reduced role with the Stars this season, appearing in 42 games. With youngsters Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque proving they were NHL-ready, Delladrea couldn’t claim a regular roster spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dellandrea will get more opportunities with the rebuilding Sharks. This could turn into a good move for his NHL career.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders signed center Kyle MacLean to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $775K. He was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks re-signed defenseman Mark Friedman to a one-year, $775K contract.

TSN: Forward Lias Andersson has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EHC Biel-Bienne. Chosen seventh overall by the New York Rangers in 2017, Andersson has 17 points in 110 NHL games since 2017-18 with the Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins named Kirk MacDonald as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.










Kings Trade Pierre-Luc Dubois To Capitals for Darcy Kuemper

by | Jun 19, 2024

Kings Trade Pierre-Luc Dubois To Capitals for Darcy Kuemper

The Los Angeles Kings traded center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a stunning move by both clubs involving two players thought to be untradeable because of their contracts and performance in 2023-24. Cap Friendly and PuckPedia indicate that no salary was retained in this deal.

Los Angeles Kings trade  Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitas (NHL Images)

The Kings acquired Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets last June and signed him to an eight-year, $68 million contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million. His contract contains a no-movement clause that begins on July 1. It’ll be interesting to find out if Dubois knew of this deal beforehand or was asked if he didn’t mind getting traded to Washington.

Dubois was expected to fill the second-line center role for the Kings. However, he struggled this season, managing 16 goals and 40 points in 82 games. He was held to one goal in five games during their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Kuemper signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract with the Capitals in July 2022 after backstopping the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup. Like Dubois, he struggled with his new team, finishing last season with a 3.31 goals-against average and a save percentage of .890, losing the starter’s job to Charlie Lindgren. He had a 10-team no-trade list and it appears the Kings weren’t on it.

Both teams hope this change of scenery helps these players rediscover their game. However, the Capitals are taking the biggest gamble. Dubois has seven seasons left on his contract with a more expensive cap hit while Kuemper only has three years left.










Flames Trade Jacob Markstrom To The Devils

by | Jun 19, 2024

Flames Trade Jacob Markstrom To The Devils

TSN’s Darren Dreger reports the Calgary Flames traded goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Kevin Bahl and the Devils’ 2025 first-round pick.

Calgary Flames trade goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of the biggest names in this summer’s trade market is off the board.

It’s no surprise that Markstrom is heading to the Devils. It was rumored in February that he was willing to waive his no-movement clause for New Jersey but the two clubs at the time couldn’t agree on a deal.

Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said he was going “big-game hunting” this summer with a No. 1 goalie at the top of his list. He’s getting a big upgrade between the pipes with Markstrom. Fitzgerald is also taking on a hefty cap hit of $6 million annually for the next two years.

**UPDATE: The Flames are retaining 31.25 percent of Markstrom’s AAV. The Devils will be carrying $4.125 million annually for the remainder of his contract. 

Markstrom, 34, was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22. He was considered the Flames’ MVP in 2023-24, stealing wins for his struggling club in games they otherwise would’ve lost. He’ll be backed up in New Jersey by former Canadiens netminder (and trade deadline acquisition) Jake Allen.

The Devils should be set between the pipes if Markstrom maintains his form over the next two seasons. His age is a concern but Fitzgerald is betting that his new goalie tandem can help the Devils rebound from their disappointing 2023-24 performance.

Flames GM Craig Conroy was rumored to be seeking a big return for Markstrom. What he got from the Devils likely reflects the real value of goaltenders in this summer’s trade market.

The Flames are getting a first-rounder but their fans would’ve preferred the 10th overall selection in this year’s draft that New Jersey currently owns. That 2025 pick is top-10 protected but could be much further down in the first round of next year’s draft if the Devils return to their 2022-23 form.

Bahl, 23, is a 6’6”, 230-pound defenseman who finished his first full NHL campaign in 2023-24, collecting 11 points in 82 games. He has the potential to become a top-four shutdown defenseman.