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. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2024

by | Jun 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2024

Stars forward Joe Pavelski intends to retire, several Rangers played with injuries during the postseason, the latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Joe Pavelski hasn’t officially announced his retirement, but he told reporters he doesn’t intend to return next season.

“This was it for me. It was known for a while, probably. The plan is not to play next year,” said Pavelski on Tuesday during his club’s end-of-season media interviews. “I don’t want to say this is official, but the plan is not to be coming back.”

Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski (NHL Images).

Pavelski signed a one-year contract extension last summer with the Stars. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A seventh-round pick (205th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in 2003, Pavelski is one of the greatest American-born players in NHL history. He’s played 1,332 regular-season games with 475 goals and 1,068 points. He’s a four-time NHL All-Star, sits sixth among American-born players in total points, and is their leader with 74 playoff goals.

Pavelski spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Sharks. He’s fourth among their franchise leaders in games played (963), second in goals with 355, fourth with 406 assists, and third in points with 761. He spent the past five seasons with the Stars, totaling 121 goals and 186 assists for 307 points in 369 regular-season games in Dallas, including 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games this season.

Pavelski’s teammate Chris Tanev revealed he dealt with multiple injuries from dental work to an ankle injury during the Stars’ postseason run. The latter injury occurred during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final when he blocked a shot by Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane. Tanev injured some tendons behind the ankle but indicated he won’t require surgery and should recover in two weeks.

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba revealed he suffered an ankle injury that hobbled him during the playoffs. He told reporters on Tuesday that “a big chunk of his ankle came off” earlier in the season. It wasn’t a load-bearing bone so he could walk but skating was difficult.

The injury sidelined Trouba for the final 13 games of the regular season. He played in all 16 of the Rangers’ postseason games but managed only seven points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba’s subpar performance prompted some observers to suggest the Rangers consider trading him this summer when his no-movement clause becomes a modified no-trade on July 1. They might want to reconsider that hot take after learning about his injury.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers blueliner Adam Fox confirmed he was playing with a knee injury suffered during a collision with Washington Capitals rearguard Nick Jensen during their first-round series. He injured the same knee in November following a similar collision with Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. Fox said he has to go through his exit physical to determine whether his knee will require further treatment during the offseason.

Ryan Lindgren, Fox’s defense partner, suffered a cracked rip in Game 6 of the Rangers’ second-round series against the Hurricanes. Winger Jimmy Vesey suffered a separated shoulder in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final but won’t require surgery.

Rangers winger Blake Wheeler is mulling retirement. The 37-year-old right wing signed a one-year contract last summer with the Blueshirts after the Winnipeg Jets bought out the final season of his contract. He spent the past three months rehabbing a right leg injury suffered on Feb. 15. Wheeler will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t need memories of “The Battle of Alberta” during his years with the Calgary Flames for motivation when he faces the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. “Anytime you’re playing any opponent in the Stanley Cup Final, you do not need a team rivalry,” said Tkachuk. “Right when the puck drops, it will be very intense.”

TSN: Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expects Evander Kane will be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. Kane has been battling a sports hernia and played just over four minutes during Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators added Mike Yeo and Nolan Baumgartner to their coaching staff. Former Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will also return as an assistant coach.

SPORTSNET: The NHL’s Utah franchise reportedly had more than 34,000 people place deposits on season tickets for their inaugural campaign in 2024-25. Almost 92 percent of those deposits came from non-Utah Jazz season ticket holders.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2024

by | May 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 24, 2024

The Oilers win Game 1 of the Western Conference Final in double overtime, the GM of the Year finalists are announced, the Hurricanes allow GM Don Waddell to speak to other teams, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored in double overtime to lift his club to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

The Oilers jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, but Dallas winger Tyler Seguin scored twice to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Stars had a golden opportunity to win it early in the first overtime when McDavid was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Matt Duchene but his teammates successfully killed it.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner got the win with 31 saves. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger turned aside 33 shots, including an impressive stick save on McDavid and a strong pad save on a Dylan Holloway breakaway.

McDavid and Draisaitl each finished the game with two points, with Draisaitl extending his playoff points streak to 13 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dallas keeps having difficulty winning the opening game of a postseason series. Their previous one was in 2020 and their last series-opening home win was in 2016.

The Stars were supposed to have the depth advantage over Edmonton but it wasn’t apparent in this game. They couldn’t keep most of the Oilers’ top scorers (McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman and defenseman Evan Bouchard) off the score sheet in Game 1. The Stars managed to contain the Oilers’ lethal power play but struggled against their penalty killers. Edmonton has the best penalty-killing percentage (92.5) in this postseason thus far.

Dallas center Roope Hintz remains sidelined with an upper-body injury. Oilers forward Adam Henrique remains out with a nagging ankle injury.

Game 2 of this series is in Dallas on Saturday, May 25, at 9 pm EDT.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NEW YORK POST: Adam Fox’s health remains a concern for the Rangers heading into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman has struggled since a knee-on-knee collision with Washington’s Nick Jensen in the first round. Fox has been held pointless in his last five games.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk continues to come up big for the Panthers in postseason play. He scored the winning goal in his club’s 3-0 series-opening win against the Rangers. Tkachuk has scored goals in each Game 1 of his club’s previous two series and is the first player in NHL history with four game-winning goals in his first five conference final games.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks, Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars, and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

This is the fourth time Nill has been a finalist for the award, winning it last season. It’s Zito’s third time as a finalist and Allvin’s first.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the three finalists for their fine work with their respective teams this season.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell’s contract will soon expire. Reports from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicate Waddell has been granted permission to speak to other teams. He was interviewed on Thursday for the open GM position with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Waddell has been in his current position since 2018. He played a big role in turning the Hurricanes into a perennial playoff contender and one of the top teams in the NHL. Waddell was a finalist for the GM of the Year award in 2018-19.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This comes at an awkward time for the Hurricanes. Nine of their players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, including Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce.

LeBrun reported the Hurricanes are serious about signing Guentzel but Waddell’s interviewing with other clubs could affect those negotiations. His potential departure could leave them scrambling to find a replacement but they could swiftly address that by promoting assistant GM Eric Tulsky.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said he has no plans to retire and hopes to return to action next season. Knee surgeries have sidelined him for the past two years. Landeskog didn’t indicate when he expects to be back. “Mid-September and star of April, I feel pretty good about,” he joked.

THE DENVER POST: Landeskog and Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland expressed their support for Valeri Nichushkin. He is serving a six-month suspension after being forced back into the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for the third time in 13 months. However, they both stated that it’s up to Nichushkin regarding his future with the Avalanche once his treatment is completed.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson revealed he played with a nagging knee injury since January. “The longer it went, the more pain I felt,” he said. Pettersson indicated that it won’t require surgery but needs time to heal. Head coach Rick Tocchet said Pettersson was dealing with “tendonitis”, adding the Canucks brass and medical staff felt “it was fine to keep going…We didn’t feel we had to shut him down.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Pettersson’s play was obvious as the second half of the season unfolded, especially in the playoffs when he managed six points in 13 games.

The Canucks frequently denied Pettersson was playing hurt, with Tocchet suggesting more than once that he had to play harder. It did Pettersson no favors, creating the perception that he wasn’t elevating his game in the playoffs, making him the subject of some unwarranted criticism.

Meanwhile, Canucks winger Brock Boeser was crushed that a blood-clotting issue sidelined him from Game 7 of their second-round series with the Oilers. “I asked if I could play and tried to push them, but the risks were too big. I had to protect my future,” said Boeser.

The non-life-threatening blood clot was the result of a bruised leg suffered in Game 1 of that second-round series. Boeser is on blood thinners and will be able to train during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks medical staff made the right decision here. Boeser’s desire to return to action is admirable but it could’ve put him at risk of serious medical consequences.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 3, 2024

by | May 3, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 3, 2024

The Maple Leafs force Game 7 with the Bruins in their opening-round series. Get the details plus the latest playoff news and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven opening-round series. William Nylander scored both goals and Joseph Woll made 22 saves for the Leafs, who overcame a 3-1 series deficit to force a seventh and deciding game in Boston on Saturday. Morgan Geekie scored for the Bruins with one second remaining in the third period and teammate Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots. The start time for Game 7 is 8 pm EDT.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given up for dead after their listless loss in Game 4, the Leafs have flipped the script in this series. The pressure is now on the Bruins, who return home facing the prospect of blowing a 3-1 series lead and being eliminated from the opening round for the second straight year.

Like their win in Game 5, the Leafs played a solid defensive game to contain the Bruins’ offense. Woll has been solid between the pipes. His teammates are drawing strength and confidence from his steady performance.

Leafs star Auston Matthews remained sidelined by an illness for the second straight game but has returned to skating with his teammate in practice. Nylander, meanwhile, stepped up in this game to fill the void.

After the game, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery called out his club’s leading scorer David Pastrnak. “’Pasta’ needs to step up”, he said. “He needs to be a dominant player like he used to. He’s doing it in flurries, but not consistently.” Pastrnak has two goals and two assists in this series but was held scoreless in the last two games.

Don’t expect a goaltending change for the Bruins in Game 7. Swayman wasn’t to blame for his club’s two losses, giving up only two goals in Game 5 with a .939 save percentage and two in Game 6 (.923). That’s especially true in the first period of both games with the Leafs outshooting the Bruins 11-2 in the fifth game and 12-1 in the sixth.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NHL.COM: The second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs starts Sunday with Game 1 between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We could learn the start times for other second-round series depending on the outcome of Friday night’s games. The Vancouver Canucks hold a 3-2 series lead as they face the Predators in Nashville while the Dallas Stars are up 3-2 over the Golden Knights as the two clubs face off in Las Vegas.

TSN’s Darren Dreger took to social media on Thursday reporting the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t interested in allowing head coach Rod Brind’Amour to test the open market this summer. He indicated the two sides have recently come together and it “looks encouraging an extension will get done.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brind’Amour’s contract situation drew considerable buzz earlier this week following reports claiming he was uncertain about his future in Carolina after the club pulled their offer from the table.

Brind’Amour responded saying he wanted to stay in Carolina. Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and general manager Don Waddell maintained their confidence that an agreement would be reached soon.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars are using the Golden Knights’ physical play against them by making them pay on the power play. Two undisciplined penalties by the Golden Knights in the last two games led to the Stars cashing in with the man advantage.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights need a more disciplined game from top defenseman Alex Pietrangelo if they hope to stave off elimination in Friday’s game against the Stars. He was called out by head coach Bruce Cassidy after his penalty against Dallas winger Tyler Seguin in Game 5 led to the Stars’ game-winning goal.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller brought some levity to his teammates by wearing teammate Arturs Silovs’ flashy pink and paisley dress shirt during practice on Thursday. Silovs took Miller’s prank in strike. “It looks good on him,” he laughed.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn hopes to return to the lineup for Game 6 after an illness sidelined him in Game 5.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox missed practice on Thursday for the second straight day for a maintenance day. That’s raised concern about the condition of his right knee following a collision with the Washington Capitals’ Nick Jensen on Sunday.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Goaltender Spencer Knight is back with the Panthers after spending the regular season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Knight left the Panthers in February 2023 after being admitted into the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program seeking treatment for OCD.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram, and Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington are this year’s finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the three finalists for being recognized for their perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey this season.

TSN: Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis denied a report by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan claiming he received an ultimatum from several players demanding the replacement of Dave Hakstol as head coach. Hakstol was fired on Tuesday after three seasons behind the Kraken bench.

“Zero players issued any ultimatums of any kind regarding the coach – that I can assure you,” said Francis. Kraken winger Jordan Eberle also denied the report.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Hurricanes signed a three-year affiliate agreement with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

THE ATHLETIC: Former NHL player Cody Hodgson has retired for the second time. His original retirement was in 2017 after a condition known as malignant hypothermia ended his six-year NHL career.

The 34-year-old center staged a comeback this season, earning an AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals. In 13 games, he had six goals and eight points but soon found the symptoms of his condition had returned.

Hodgson said he was at peace with his decision to retire again. His comeback effort brought him a sense of closure that he could still perform at a professional level. “I answered the question that I could play again. Maybe someone else would look at it objectively and conclude something different, but I thought I could keep up with the kids,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Hodgson in his future endeavours.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2023

by | Nov 30, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2023

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, Patrick Kane could soon make his debut with the Red Wings, plus the latest on Corey Perry and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Unanswered goals by K’Andre Miller and Jimmy Vesey lifted the New York Rangers over the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Artemi Panarin also scored for the Rangers (16-4-1) to extend his season-opening home points streak to nine games while Alexis Lafreniere collected two assists. Moritz Seider and Robby Fabbri replied for the Red Wings as they slipped to 11-7-3 on the season. With 33 points, the Rangers hold first place in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox returned to the lineup for the first time since being sidelined by an injury on Nov. 2. Meanwhile, the Red Wings played without captain Dylan Larkin as he remained in Detroit due to an injury.

A 38-save performance by Charlie Lindgren gave the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Anthony Mantha and Connor McMichael scored for the Capitals as they improved to 11-6-2. Arthur Kaliyev replied for the Kings as they dropped to 13-4-3.

The Montreal Canadiens got third-period goals from Joel Armia and Gustav Lindstrom to double up the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2. Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield also scored for the Canadiens while Sam Montembeault stopped 26 shots as the Habs improved to 10-10-2. Patrik Laine and Yegor Chinakhov tallied for the 7-13-4 Blue Jackets.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

HEADLINES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Patrick Kane’s debut with the Red Wings could come as early as next week. Earlier this week, the 35-year-old winger signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Wings.

General manager Steve Yzerman suggested Kane could return to action within the next four to seven days. The winger is discussing a plan of return with the Wings that could see his first game take place on Tuesday against the Sabres in Buffalo.

DAILY FACEOFF: Some details are emerging regarding the off-ice incident involving Corey Perry that resulted in the Chicago Blackhawks terminating his contract.

Frank Seravalli cited sources claiming it was an alcohol-fueled incident involving Perry that was alleged to have occurred during an event with corporate partners and team employees in attendance. However, it’s still not clear what allegedly took place, who witnessed it, and who reported it to the team.

What is known is Perry’s alleged misconduct didn’t involve a criminal investigation, the league was made aware of the Blackhawks’ investigation but it was a “team incident and team decision”, and Perry has not been suspended by the league.

Some observers are wondering whether this incident would’ve risen to the same level had it been any other club. The Blackhawks are still reeling over the results of a 2021 investigation into the cover-up by team executives of an alleged sexual assault of two players by former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.

Some agents and players around the NHL have expressed concern that Perry’s contract termination could set a precedent for conduct that may be improper but not illegal. Meanwhile, Perry and the NHL Players’ Association have 60 days from the termination of his contract to file a grievance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fallout from this incident will continue to be felt by Perry, the Blackhawks, the NHL, and the NHLPA in the coming months.

Based on the reported information, I believe the Blackhawks handled the incident properly for the most part. I do find fault in their inability to address the salacious rumors that spread on social media due to conflicting messages from the team and Perry’s agent regarding his absence.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore underwent successful surgery for an upper-body injury earlier this week. He’s listed as week-to-week. His last game was on Nov. 22.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights will feel Theodore’s absence on the blueline. He’s been their best defenseman this season and played a key role in their strong start to this season.

OTTAWA SUN: Good news for the Senators as sidelined defenseman Thomas Chabot is expected to return to action on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s been out with a broken hand since Oct. 26.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Look no further than between the pipes for the Kraken’s biggest issue this season. Starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer has been struggling thus far and he’s not getting much help from backup Joey Daccord.

CBS SPORTS: Buffalo Sabres forward Jordan Greenway could return to action in Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues. He missed their last three games due to personal reasons.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL goaltender Scott Darling is no fan of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He sought treatment through the program during his career but felt he never got the proper help that he needed.

“I’ve told players – what I went through – if you need help, do it on your own,” said Darling. “Don’t ever go near the PA. And I’ll say that honestly, I hope you guys f**king hear this: they’re monsters. Go somewhere else. They can hold you, like, try and break your contract, stuff like that.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No response thus far from the league or the PA regarding Darling’s accusations.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 4, 2023

by | Nov 4, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 4, 2023

The Devils fall to the Blues and lose Jack Hughes, the Flyers defeat the Sabres, Sidney Crosby approaches another milestone, and the Rangers get bad news on Adam Fox and Filip Chytil. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues center Kevin Hayes scored his first two goals of the season in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Hayes finished the night with three points while Jordan Binnington made 33 saves for the Blues, who improved their record to 4-4-1. Curtis Lazar replied for the Devils (6-3-1), who lost scoring leader Jack Hughes to an upper-body injury in the first period when he lost his balance and crashed into the boards behind the Blues net.

St. Louis Blues center Kevin Hayes (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes played one more shift and left the game before the end of the first period. Following the game, Devils coach Lindy Ruff said the 22-year-old center would be reevaluated on Saturday.

Three first-period goals carried the Philadelphia Flyers over the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 5-1. Travis Konecny scored his ninth of the season to move into a tie for the NHL goal-scoring lead with Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat and Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano. Bobby Brink and Joel Farabee each collected two points for the 5-5-1 Flyers. Henri Jokiharju scored for the Sabres as they dropped to 5-6-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (mid-body) and center Sean Couturier (lower body) missed this game and are listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson left this game with a lower-body injury.

Both clubs are off to surprising starts this season. The Flyers were expected to be near the bottom of the standings while the Sabres were considered a playoff contender. There’s still a long way to go in this season for both clubs but it’s safe to say that the Flyers have exceeded expectations thus far while the Sabres have not met theirs.

HEADLINES

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be appearing in his 1,200th career NHL game when his club faces off on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is already the Penguins’ all-time leader in games played. He will tie Owen Nolan for 127th overall on the league’s all-time list.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers placed defenseman Adam Fox on long-term injury reserve with a lower-body injury. Fox was sidelined by a leg-on-leg hit from Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho on Thursday. They also placed center Filip Chytil on injured reserve with an upper-body injury that occurred during the same game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those are significant losses for the Rangers. Fox is their top defenseman while Chytil centered their third line. The absence of former Norris Trophy winner Fox hurts the most given his workload as their blueline linchpin.

CBS SPORTS: Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He’s already missed the first seven games of this season due to an injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin was fined $25,000.00 by the NHL “for unprofessional conduct directed at the officials” during Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

TSN 1200: Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub will remain sidelined for at least the next two games as he continues to recover from a concussion.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers sent defenseman Philip Broberg to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Broberg struggled to play up to expectations this season and lost his spot on the Oilers’ blueline to Vincent Desharnais.