NHL Rumor Mill – April 27, 2020

by | Apr 27, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – April 27, 2020

Recent speculation on the Leafs and Coyotes in today’s NHL rumor mill.

THE LEAFS’ GOALTENDING AND DEFENSIVE NEEDS

NBC SPORTS: James O’Brien recently examined the long-term needs of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Goaltender Frederik Andersen will be due for a new contract after 2020-21 and defenseman Morgan Rielly following 2021-22. The Leafs’ defense needs improvement but limited salary-cap space means they’ll need to get the most out of entry-level blueliners like Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren. Cap constraints could force them to part with players they like but don’t need, like winger Kyle Clifford.

Should the Toronto Maple Leafs consider replacing Frederik Andersen after this season? (Photo via NHL Images)

 THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel recently debated whether the Leafs should find an upgrade on Andersen between the pipes. Mirtle feels they should at least explore that option, especially if Andersen seeks a raise on his next contract. He pointed out Robin Lehner could be available in this summer’s UFA market. Siegel still thinks the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup with Andersen, but suggested trading for Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray as an option.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen’s future in Toronto will be determined by his performance this season (assuming it resumes this summer) and next, as well as the Leafs’ cap payroll. According to Cap Friendly, they have over $68 million tied up in just 12 players for 2021-22. That won’t leave much wiggle room to sign Andersen to a larger deal. And if the Leafs fail to advance beyond the first round this year and next, they could consider other goaltending options.

As for adding Lehner or Murray this off-season, the Leafs have nearly $77 million invested in 16 players for next season. With the salary cap expected to remain around $81.5 million, they can’t afford to add another netminder unless they intend to trade Andersen. I think they’ll hang onto him for another season and focus instead on improving the blueline.

LATEST ON THE COYOTES

THE ATHLETIC: Craig Morgan speculates Taylor Hall, Michael Grabner, and Brad Richardson stand a good chance of leaving the Arizona Coyotes in the off-season. Hall and Richardson are unrestricted free agents following this season. Hall and his agent want to sign with a playoff contender, and the Coyotes’ second-half swoon could hurt their chances of retaining him. They also have to shed some salary to re-sign him.

Grabner has a year left on his contract worth an annual average value of $3.35 million. However, he was a frequent healthy scratch late in this season,  making him a potential cost-cutting candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes GM John Chayka remains hopeful of having productive discussions with the Hall camp. Nevertheless, the Coyotes’ limited cap space will make it difficult to come up with suitable cap space to keep the former Hart Trophy winner in Arizona.










NHL Goaltenders Carey Price and Frederik Andersen Ride Struggle Bus

by | Mar 5, 2020

NHL Goaltenders Carey Price and Frederik Andersen Ride Struggle Bus

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 8, 2020

by | Feb 8, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 8, 2020

Game recaps, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Jack Campbell made 26 saves in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut to backstop his new club to a 5-4 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks. Campbell and Kyle Clifford were acquired on Wednesday night from the Los Angeles Kings. John Tavares scored twice (including the game-winner), Auston Matthews tallied his 40th goal of the season, and Mitch Marner collected three assists. With the win, the Leafs vault into third place (65 points) in the Atlantic Division. They played without Frederik Andersen (neck injury) and William Nylander (flu). The Leafs also recalled defenseman Timothy Liljegren to replace sidelined Cody Ceci.

A two-goal performance by John Tavares carried the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks (Photo via NHL Images)

The Buffalo Sabres kept their playoff hopes alive by edging the New York Rangers 3-2. Sabres goalie Carter Hutton made 37 saves, Sam Reinhart scored his 20th goal while Jack Eichel and Jimmy Vesey each collected two points. Mika Zibanejad also netted two points for the Rangers. The Sabres (56 points) are nine points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

A 42-save effort by Jimmy Howard wasn’t enough to prevent the Detroit Red Wings from falling 2-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner were the goal scorers, while Elvis Merzlikins picked up his fifth shutout in his last eight games.  It was the 18th consecutive defeat for Howard. The Jackets (69 points) hold third place in the Metropolitan Divison.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Howard deserved better. He played well enough to pick up the win, but the flatlining Wings simply aren’t good enough.

The Minnesota Wild overcame a 2-0 deficit to edge the Dallas Stars 3-2. Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice, including the game-winner in the third period. The Wild (58 points) moved to within two points of the Calgary Flames for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

CBS SPORTS: The Florida Panthers got some good news as sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov will return from a lower-body injury tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Panthers have dropped three of their last four games and slipped out of a playoff berth. 

TRIBLIVE.COM: Speaking of the Penguins, rookie defenseman John Marino could be sidelined for a while. He suffered a broken left cheekbone after being struck by a shot from Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marino will reportedly require surgery that could keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. It’s another blow for the injury-ravaged Penguins. Marino was enjoying a fine debut season, becoming an invaluable part of their blueline.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere tossed his stick and stormed off the ice following practice yesterday, raising questions over the source of his frustration. The blueliner’s trying to work himself back into the roster following a lengthy absence recovering from recent arthroscopic knee surgery.

TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs defenseman Brian Glennie passed away yesterday at age 73. He spent nine seasons in the NHL, most of those with the Leafs. The hard-hitting blueliner netted 114 points and 621 penalty minutes in 572 NHL games. He was also a member of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series and a bronze medal with Canada in the 1968 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Glennie’s family, friends, and former teammates.










Have the Maple Leafs Finally Found a Reliable Backup in Jack Campbell?

by | Feb 6, 2020

Have the Maple Leafs Finally Found a Reliable Backup in Jack Campbell?

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2020

by | Feb 5, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2020

Alex Ovechkin moves closer to 700 goals, Joe Thornton reaches his 1,500th career point, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines

NHL.COM: A natural hat trick by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin rallied his club over the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. He now has 698 career goals and reached the 40-goal mark for the 11th time in his career. Teammate John Carlson had a three-point performance while Kings forward Jeff Carter scored twice.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is just two goals shy of 700. (Photo via NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has taken over sole possession of first place in this year’s goal-scoring race. He’s just 10 goals away from his ninth 50-goal season, which would tie the record held by Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy. He also needs just 11 more goals to surpass Mike Gartner (708 goals) for seventh on the all-time scoring list.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton became the 14th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 career points during a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. The 40-year-old Thornton picked up two assists. Flames defenseman Mark Giordano left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jumbo Joe also sits seventh among the league’s all-time assist leaders with 1,085.

Tuukka Rask turned in a 25-save shutout as the Boston Bruins blanked the Vancouver Canucks 4-0. Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist as the Bruins (76 points) sit one back of the Capitals for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the overall standings.

A four-point performance by Andre Burakovsky (one goal, three assists) powered the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-1 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres. Valeri Nichushkin had a goal and two assists. The Avalanche have won four of their last five contests.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy tied a franchise-record 16-game points streak as his club doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Brayden Point had a goal and an assist for the Bolts while captain Steven Stamkos tallied the game-winning goal. The Bolts are on a four-game win streak.

Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford each scored twice as the St. Louis Blues downed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3. Blues center Ryan O’Reilly collected three assists.

An overtime goal by Anthony Beauvillier gave the New York Islanders a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Beauvillier scored two goals for the Isles (66 points), who hold the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Columbus Blue Jackets nipped the Florida Panthers 1-0 on an overtime goal by Zach Werenski. Elvis Merzlikins picked up the shutout with 32 saves.

The Arizona Coyotes got their first win in six games by shutting down the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Antti Raanta posted a 30-save shutout while Lawson Crouse had a goal and an assist. With 61 points, the Coyotes hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Matt Dumba tallied in overtime and Kevin Fiala scored twice as the Minnesota Wild beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane was held scoreless for the first time in 12 games. The Wild (54 points) are six points out of a Western Conference wild-card berth, while the Hawks are three points out.

Mikael Granlund scored in overtime as the Nashville Predators downed the Winnipeg Jets 2-1. With 57 points, the Predators and Jets are three points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored the only goal in the shootout as the Montreal Canadiens edged the New Jersey Devils 5-4. The Habs scored four straight times to overcome a 3-0 deficit before Kyle Palmieri forced the game into extra time with a power-play goal in the dying seconds of regulation. Montreal (57 points) sits seven points behind the Florida Panthers for third in the Atlantic Division.

Shootout goals by Ondrej Kase and Rickard Rakell gave the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Ducks have won five of their last seven, while the Senators have dropped three straight.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen is day-to-day with a neck injury. The Leafs have recalled Kasimir Kaskisuo from the Toronto Marlies to back up Michael Hutchinson in tonight’s game against the New York Rangers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2020

by | Feb 4, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2020

Game recaps, three stars of the week, plus updates on Frederik Andersen, Carey Price and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An upper-body injury to Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen overshadowed their 5-3 defeat to the Florida Panthers. Andersen suffered the injury following a first-period collision with Panthers winger Frank Vatrano. Before that, the Leafs goalie was a bit slow getting re-set after being bumped twice. No word yet regarding his status for Wednesday’s game against the New York Rangers. Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk tallied his first career NHL hat trick. The Panthers (63 points) moved into third place in the Atlantic Division, pushing the Leafs out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen suffered an upper-body injury during Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs were down 1-0 before Andersen’s injury. They took as 3-1 lead after backup Michael Hutchinson came in, but gave up four straight third-period goals. If Andersen’s sidelined long-term it’ll be a serious blow to the Leafs playoff hopes. It could also push general manager Kyle Dubas into the trade market for help. I’ll have more in the Rumors section.

Stephen Johns scored his first goal in nearly two years as the Dallas Stars downed the New York Rangers 5-3. Johns recently returned to action after being sidelined since 2018 by a head injury. Stars center Joe Pavelski scored twice within 16 seconds in the first period.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Brian Elliott made 16 saves in a 3-0 blanking of the Detroit Red Wings. Scott Laughton, Kevin Hayes, and Matt Niskanen were the goal scorers. The Flyers (65 points) have won six of their last eight games and hold the first wild-card in the Eastern Conference.

HEADLINES

Edmonton Oilers winger Leon Draisaitl, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, and Vancouver Canucks winger J.T. Miller are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 2.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs winger Kasperi Kapanen revealed his recent one-game benching was due to missing practice on Friday because he overslept.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: The flu has sidelined Canadiens netminder Carey Price from tonight’s game with the New Jersey Devils.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg (upper body) was placed on injury reserve. He’s expected to miss three-to-four weeks.

TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks claimed defenseman Nick Seeler off waivers from the Minnesota Wild.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Local police have cleared Flyers mascot Gritty in the alleged assault of a 13-year-old fan in November.