NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2024

by | Oct 11, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2024

Recaps of Thursday’s games include milestone games for Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini and the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin. Get the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut but his San Jose Sharks blew a three-goal lead to fall 5-4 to the St. Louis Blues. Brayden Schenn tallied the winner in overtime for the Blues after teammates Radek Faksa, Ryan Suter and Justin Faulk scored in the third period. Tyler Toffoli also had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first-overall pick in this year’s draft, Celebrini (18 years, 119 days) became the third-youngest player to notch multiple points in his NHL debut, following Nathan MacKinnon (18 years, 31 days) and Bobby Carpenter (18 years, 67 days).

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin collected two assists, including the 800th of his NHL career, in a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also picked up two assists, Anthony Beauvillier tallied twice, and Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist. Alex DeBrincat scored two goals and picked up an assist for the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A solid bounce-back effort for Pittsburgh following their 6-0 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers the night before. Penguins netminder Joel Blomqvist picked up his first NHL win with a 29-save performance.

Shaky goaltending and sloppy defensive play continue to be a problem for Detroit, who pulled goalie Ville Husso after he surrendered four goals on 14 shots. Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a natural hat trick to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper got the win with a 32-save performance. Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres, who’ve dropped their first three games of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres dominated the first two periods and took a 1-0 lead into the third before the wheels fell off.

The Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 for their first win of the season. Elias Lindholm and Cole Koepke each had a goal and two assists, Mark Kastelic scored twice, and Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves in his season debut for the Bruins. Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher had two goals and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Defensive mistakes continue to plague the Canadiens while goalie Cayden Primeau’s weak glove hand remains an issue.

Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen made his NHL debut in this game. A loophole in the IIHF transfer agreement with the NHL could enable the Habs to send him to their AHL affiliate in Laval instead of returning him to his Swedish club if he stays on their roster for 60 consecutive days.

Linus Ullmark kicked out 30 shots in his debut with the Ottawa Senators in a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Tim Stutzle netted two goals as Travis Green picked up his first win as head coach of the Senators. Gustav Forsling replied for the Panthers, who also lost captain Aleksander Barkov to a lower-body injury late in the third period as he attempted to prevent Stutzle’s empty-net goal. He’ll be reevaluated on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark looked sharp in this game, especially in the third with the Panthers outshooting the Senators 16-9.

The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the New Jersey Devils 4-2. Max Pacioretty scored his first goal with the Leafs while rookie goalie Dennis Hildeby won his NHL debut with a 23-save effort, giving Craig Berube his first win as Leafs coach. Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier replied for the Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner have been held scoreless through their first two games of this season. Meanwhile, the Devils announced defenseman Santeri Hatakka underwent successful shoulder surgery on Thursday but released no timetable for his return.

Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment scored twice and Logan Stankoven had three assists as their club held on for a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Jonathan Marchessault had two assists in his debut with Nashville and Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei were held scoreless in their first games with the Predators.

The Utah Hockey Club picked up their second straight win by nipping the New York Islanders 5-4. Dylan Guenther scored twice, including the winner in overtime. Josh Doan tied the game for Utah with less than two minutes remaining in the third period. Anthony Duclair had a goal and an assist and Noah Dobson two assists for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Special teams made the difference for Utah, going two-for-two on the power play and killing off five of six penalties.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Filip Gustavsson turned aside 31 shots for the Wild. Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets also announced yesterday that captain Boone Jenner underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and could be sidelined for six months.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning’s home opener on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes has been postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Their season-opener is on Friday against the Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC.

CBS SPORTS: Speaking of the Hurricanes, they moved Jesper Fast (neck) to long-term injury reserve.

TSN: The Winnipeg Jets placed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. Eric Comrie will back up starter Connor Hellebuyck.

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Raphael Lavoie on waivers. It’s the third time he’s been on waivers this week, starting with the Oilers losing him to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, only to reclaim him off waivers on Wednesday.

TSN: Donnie Marshall, the last surviving member of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the late-1950s, passed away at age 92.

Playing his first NHL game in 1951-52, Marshall entered his first full season in 1954-55, winning five straight Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1955-56 to 1959-60.

He also played for the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring at the end of the 1971-72 season. He finished with 265 goals and 324 assists for 589 points in 1,176 regular-season games and 23 points in 94 playoff contests.

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










NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2024

by | Oct 10, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2024

Check out the latest on Igor Shesterkin, Nikolaj Ehlers, Sam Bennett and Filip Gustavsson plus updates on the Ducks and Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reports he’s had no firm confirmation that the New York Rangers offered Igor Shesterkin an eight-year, $88-million contract. However, if that was the offer that was made, it’s no surprise the 28-year-old goaltender rejected it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes first reported this story. He has a solid track record for breaking news like this. Friedman isn’t saying Weekes was given the wrong info, only that his own sources can’t confirm the numbers.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).

Friedman believes the Rangers aren’t comfortable with Shesterkin’s asking price, which would also make him their highest-paid player. He also cites teams and agents saying the percentage of the salary cap is a critical factor, especially with the cap expected to rise. “No agent or player wishes to sign something that looks relatively small if things go where predicted,” wrote Friedman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The New York Post’s Mollie Walker reported in June that the Rangers netminder would seek an average annual value of $12 million on a long-term deal.

There are fewer A-list goaltenders these days which is why their wages overall have been suppressed. Nevertheless, the Rangers have a top goalie in Shesterkin, prompting Friedman to suggest that they will eventually meet his asking price because of his value to the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve been saying that for weeks and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. You can debate whether Shesterkin deserves $12 million annually but he’s perfectly positioned to make that request.

Friedman admits there were times last summer when he thought the Minnesota Wild would trade goaltender Filip Gustavsson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild are starting this season with Gustavsson, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Jesper Wallstedt in goal. Gustavsson could be moved at some point but it could be difficult to find him sufficient playing time to generate interest among other clubs. They might have to wait until the trade deadline.

Friedman wondered if an eve-of-season contract extension was possible between the Winnipeg Jets and winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen.

Ehlers is slated to become a UFA next July. He appeared in trade rumors during the draft in June but that talks fizzled out as Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel sang his praises while offering their expectations of his role with the club this season.

After signing Carter Verhaeghe to a contract extension, the Florida Panthers are expected to focus on retaining Sam Bennett.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers will have a projected $20 million in cap space for 2025-26 if the salary cap rises as projected by $4.5 million. That would give them enough to re-sign Bennett but he will want a substantial raise over his current $4.425 million cap hit.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler will draw interest in the trade market. Friedman believes the St. Louis Blues took a long look at him. However, it’ll take time for interested teams that currently lack salary cap space to pursue him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler carries an AAV of $6.5 million through 2025-26.

Speaking of the Ducks, Friedman said things are quiet on the Trevor Zegras front. He noted there was speculation last season linking the 23-year-old forward to the Montreal Canadiens but that’s cooled off.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens made their big move for a forward by acquiring Patrik Laine in August. Laine is currently sidelined until December with a sprained knee but they’re reportedly going to ride things out with their current roster until he returns.

LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox included Mitch Marner on his recent list of 25 people who will define the 2024-25 NHL season. The 27-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Fox will be surprised if Marner accepts a contract extension with an average annual value less than teammate William Nylander’s $11.5 million.

Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could attempt to trade Marner before the March 7 trade deadline, which is unlikely given the winger’s full no-movement clause. He could re-sign him to a lucrative new offer during this season or wait and see how this season unfolds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli also wonders what the end game will be for Marner. He doesn’t think the Leafs want to let Marner walk next summer but he also doesn’t see them trying to move him at the trade deadline if they’re a 100-point team by then, especially with Marner’s NMC giving him complete control over his situation.

I think Treliving waits until the regular season is over to make his decision. He’ll likely let Marner walk if the Leafs make another early postseason exit.

Fox’s colleague Elliotte Friedman reports it sounds like the Toronto Maple Leafs are shopping Timothy Liljegren. The 25-year-old defenseman has tumbled down their depth chart.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs reportedly looked into peddling Liljegren before signing him in June to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3 million. He’s an expensive seventh defenseman for the Leafs but could be a suitable addition for clubs looking for reasonably-price blueline depth.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2024

by | Oct 9, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2024

The Panthers, Blues and Utah HC win their season-openers, the Senators sign Linus Ullmark, Panthers re-sign Carter Verhaeghe, the Kraken name their new captain, Igor Shesterkin rejects a hefty offer from the Rangers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

**BREAKING NEWS**

The Ottawa Senators signed goaltender Linus Ullmark to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8.25 million.

Ullmark, 31, was acquired from the Boston Bruins in June. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner is earning an AAV of $5 million on his current deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier reports claimed the Senators wouldn’t pressure Ullmark into signing an extension, preferring to give him time to get established and adjust to his new team and city. There was speculation that this season would be “one and done” in Ottawa, suggesting he’d either get moved at the trade deadline if still unsigned or departing as a free agent next summer. 

This move should provide the stability between the pipes that the Senators have been lacking for some time, provided Ullmark plays up to expectations. While it’s a significant raise in pay, it’s only for four years, encompassing what should be the remainder of his playing prime. 

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers raised their 2024 Stanley Cup banner and scored four first-period goals to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-4. Sam Bennett tallied twice and Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers. Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo gave up six goals on 35 shots in his first regular-season game with the Bruins. He struggled to contain rebounds but his teammates’ sloppy defense didn’t help.

At one point, Panthers fans trolled the Bruins by chanting “We want Swayman!”, referencing Bruins starter Jeremy Swayman, who missed training camp and preseason over a contract dispute before signing an eight-year deal on Monday. He was the backup for this game.

Panthers defenseman Adam Boqvist left this game after taking a puck to the face during the first period.

Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (NHL Images).

Following this game, the Panthers announced forward Carter Verhaeghe signed an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $7 million. The AAV of his current contract is $4.16 million.

Verhaeghe, 29, has flourished as a scorer with the Panthers over the past four seasons. He tallied a career-high 42 goals and 73 points in 2022-23 and had 34 goals and 72 points last season.

Dylan Guenther scored the first regular-season goal for the Utah Hockey Club in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at their inaugural game at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Guenther finished with two goals, Barrett Hayton had a goal and an assist and Nick Schmaltz collected two assists for Utah. Blackhawks center Connor Bedard picked up two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah got two goals in the first period and was up 3-0 near the middle of the second period. The Blackhawks made it interesting by narrowing that lead to 3-2 before Utah scored twice within the final minute of the third period.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou scored twice as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Philip Broberg scored his first goal with the Blues while goaltender Jordan Binnington made 30 saves for the win. Vince Dunn and Eeli Tolvanen scored for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken also introduced Jordan Eberle as their new captain during the pregame player introductions. He’s their first captain since Mark Giordano, who was traded to Toronto in March 2022.

Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell became the first woman in NHL history to work a regular season game as an assistant, associate, or head coach.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Igor Shesterkin rejected an eight-year, $88-million contract offer from the Rangers. The $11 million AAV would’ve made him the league’s highest-paid goaltender.

The offer was leaked to the media one day before the Rangers’ season opener on Oct. 9, which is also reportedly the deadline set by Shesterkin’s representatives to get a deal done. The 28-year-old netminder is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s reportedly seeking an AAV of $12 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If an agreement isn’t reached by Oct. 9, the Shesterkin camp could shelve negotiations until the end of the regular season. I’ll have more about this story in today’s Rumors update.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed winger Evander Kane on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) and signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K at the NHL level.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson will start the season on injured reserve. He suffered the undisclosed injury during training camp and missed all their preseason games.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler could miss the club’s season opener on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. He’s been dealing with numbness in his leg after taking a puck to the knee during the Flyers preseason game against the Bruins on Oct. 1.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Sabres forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel will be sidelined for three to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

SPORTSNET: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Mark Friedman on waivers Tuesday. Others on waivers include Florida Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger and forward MacKenzie Entwistle, and Golden Knights forward Raphael Lavoie.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2024

by | Sep 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Igor Shesterkin’s contract talks with the Rangers and speculation over whether we’ll see an increase in offer sheets.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh report sources claiming Igor Shesterkin’s contract talks with the New York Rangers will be shelved if there’s no deal in place once the 2024-25 regular season begins next month. The Rangers kick off the campaign in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9.

Shesterkin, 28, is in the final season of his four-year contract with an average annual value of $5.666 million. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).

Those sources also said the two sides were “not remotely close” in negotiations. There’s a risk that things could spill over into next offseason.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Shesterkin declined to comment about the status of his contract talks, preferring to keep his focus on the upcoming season. Nevertheless, she cited sources confirming those negotiations could be put on hold if a deal isn’t in place by Oct. 9.

Walker also confirmed via industry sources that the Shesterkin camp is aiming for an average annual value of $12 million on his next contract. That would make him the highest-paid goaltender in the league.

The longer Shesterkin remains unsigned, the more precarious the situation becomes for the Rangers. They’ll face competition from other clubs who can afford to pay the former Vezina Trophy winner what he wants.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers need Shesterkin to keep their Stanley Cup window open. There aren’t many suitable replacements via next summer’s trade or free-agent market.

Shesterkin’s departure would mean a shift into a transition phase for the Blueshirts. That could lead to veterans like Jacob Trouba, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider getting peddled in the trade market.

Trouba is the most likely to be traded now that he has a 15-team no-trade list this season and a 12-team list for next season. Kreider has a 15-team no-trade list. Panarin would have to waive his no-movement clause and he carries a hefty $11.6 million cap hit.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun wondered if the St. Louis Blues successful signings of former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway could lead to an increase in offer sheets.

LeBrun spoke with several NHL general managers and player agents who offered up mixed views on the subject. He believes that a well-respected general manager like the Blues’ Doug Armstrong signing Broberg and Holloway could open the door a crack to future offer sheets. LeBrun also noted the lack of rancor from the Oilers in response to those signings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Offer sheets have been part of the CBA for decades. They remain a rarely used tactic because teams often matched, making it a futile exercise.

The Broberg and Holloway signings were unique as it was the first time a team successfully signed away two players from the same team simultaneously. The Oilers’ frenzy of signings earlier in the offseason left them lacking sufficient cap space to match those offers.

There could be what LeBrun suggested as an “uptick” in offer sheet signings going forward. However, it’s still up to the player to decide if they want to sign them. History shows most usually don’t, which is another reason why they rarely occur.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2024

by | Sep 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 19, 2024

The Lightning and Blackhawks name their new captains, the latest on Jeremy Swayman’s contract talks, several notable players are already sidelined by injuries, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning named Victor Hedman as their new captain. He replaces Steven Stamkos, who signed with the Nashville Predators on July 1.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here. Hedman was the logical choice to succeed Stamkos having spent his 15-season NHL career with the Lightning.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks announced Nick Foligno as the 35th captain in franchise history. He’s the first to wear the “C” since Jonathan Toews from 2008 to 2023.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Foligno has plenty of experience as a team captain. He held that role with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2015-16 to 2020-21. This move could pave the way for franchise player Connor Bedard to succeed Foligno when the latter’s contract expires in 2026.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman will not be in training camp as he remains unsigned. He and Bruins management still haven’t agreed on a new contract.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney expressed disappointment that the 25-year-old restricted free agent is not under contract in time for training camp. He didn’t forecast when an agreement could be reached but stressed that every day Swayman is absent is detrimental to the goalie and the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed a wide gap exists between the two sides with Swayman rumored to be seeking an AAV between $8.5 million and $9.5 million while Bruins are said to be offering around $6.2 million annually.

Swayman has until Dec. 1 to sign or become ineligible to play the rest of this season. He doesn’t want to risk that as it’ll cost him a season of work and wages. I’ll have more about this situation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets will memorialize Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau this season with helmet stickers featuring the brothers’ last name and their respective jersey numbers. They’ll wear jersey patches with Johnny’s No. 13 once the regular season begins.

The brothers were killed on Aug. 30 by an alleged drunk driver while they were bicycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

SPORTSNET: As expected, Thatcher Demko will miss the start of the Vancouver Canucks’ training camp as he continues rehabbing a nagging knee injury. Checking-line forward Teddy Blueger will be out for a week with a lower-body injury and defenseman Tucker Poolman (migraines) will be placed on long-term injury reserve for the entire season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said Demko will speak to the media on Thursday about his condition. Meanwhile, Poolman also missed last season and hasn’t played since Oct. 2022.

TSN: The Washington Capitals placed winger T.J. Oshie on LTIR for the entire 2024-25 season. Oshie, 37, has been plagued by a chronic back injury that limited him to 52 games last season. The decision was made following his training camp medical.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oshie is in the final season of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $5.75 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vegas Golden Knights are reviewing their options after goaltender Robin Lehner failed to report for his mandatory training camp medical. Lehner, 33, is expected to miss his third straight season after undergoing hip surgery in Aug. 2022. He’s entering the final season of his five-year contract with an AAV of $5 million and $4.5 million in actual salary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates contract termination is among those options, which would remove his $5 million cap hit from the Golden Knights’ books.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Evander Kane reveals he’ll be undergoing surgery to repair two sports hernias and four muscle tears that took him out of the lineup for his club’s final five playoff games last spring.

TSN: Speaking of the Oilers, they’ve signed winger Mike Hoffman to a professional tryout offer (PTO).

THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug underwent season-ending surgery on his left ankle on Tuesday to address a pre-arthritic condition. Teammate Oskar Sundqvist continues to recover from offseason surgery to repair a torn right ACL. He’s not expected to participate in training camp but should be ready for the start of the season.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Blues announced they’ve signed Scott Harrington, Matthew Peca, Nikita Alexandrov and Sam Bitten to PTOs.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars winger Jason Robertson will miss most of training camp after undergoing offseason surgery to remove a cyst from his foot. He’s expected to be ready for their season-opener against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 10.

Speaking of the Stars, recently retired defenseman Jordie Benn has returned to the club as a player development assistant and AHL scout.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin left practice on Wednesday. Head coach Lindy Ruff described the injury as “mid-range” when asked if it was upper or lower body. It’s not believed to be serious.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed winger Alex Chiasson to a PTO.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators signed winger Philip Tomasino to a one-year, $825K contract.

CALGARY SUN: Former Flames forward Matt Stajan has joined the team as a skills consultant.

SPORTSNET: released their preseason broadcast schedule beginning Sept. 21 and running through Oct. 2.

TSN: Bell sold its 37.5 percent interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to Rogers Communication, giving the latter the majority stake in Canada’s most valuable sports empire.

As part of the deal, Bell Media secured access to content rights for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors on TSN for the next 20 years.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2024

by | Aug 29, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2024

Jeremy Swayman talks about his contract negotiations with the Bruins, Rutger McGroarty doesn’t reveal much about why he didn’t want to play for the Jets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Jeremy Swayman said he decided to be better prepared for this summer’s contract negotiations with the Boston Bruins after going through arbitration last summer.

During an appearance on the “Shut Up Marc Podcast”, the 25-year-old Swayman called last year’s arbitration experience “scary”.

“It’s a lot of resentment toward people that want you to succeed, and when you’re not being compensated for your endless efforts and doing what you do best, it’s a nerve-wracking feeling. Because it’s your family you’re fighting for.”

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

Swayman said he’s educated himself and better understands the business side of things.

“I understand the comparables, and how I can’t ruin the goalie market for other guys that are going to be in my shoes down the line.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Arbitration can be a bruising process for a player’s ego. The people who employ you, praise you, and give you a larger role on the team are standing before an arbitrator belittling your accomplishments.

Swayman learned the lesson and is better educated and prepared this time around. He holds the hammer this time, sitting in a better negotiating position now that he’s the Bruins’ starting goaltender. 

In contract negotiations, remember the line from the movie The Godfather: It’s not personal, it’s strictly business. 

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss suggests a fair annual salary range for Swayman on a long-term contract is between $6.75 million and $8.5 million.

Goss pointed out there are five goaltenders (Montreal’s Carey Price, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, and the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin) with average annual values over $6.4 million.

All but Sorokin have won the Vezina Trophy. Bobrovsky and Vasilevskiy are Stanley Cup champions while Price backstopped the Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman’s performance over the past two seasons is worthy of a significant raise over the $3.75 million he received last year via arbitration. Over the last two seasons, he’s taken over as the Bruins’ starter, sits among the league leaders in save percentage, and was co-winner of the Jennings Trophy with former teammate Linus Ullmark.

There’s a rumor that the Swayman camp seeks $10 million annually. A more realistic number is around $8.5 million.

I’ll have more about Swayman in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WINNIPEG SUN/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Rutger McGroarty didn’t say much about why he didn’t want to play for the Jets in his first press conference since getting traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week.

“I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and I just told them that I wasn’t going to be signing with them,” McGroarty told reporters. He praised the Jets for how well they handled the situation, saying he had “nothing but respect” for them.

McGroarty said he’s fired up and looking forward to the Penguins’ training camp next month. Despite signing an entry-level contract with his new team following the trade, he understands there is no guarantee he’ll land a roster spot this season.

“I’ve been promised a spot in the rookie tournament, and that’s about it,” said McGroarty. “I feel like I’ll get what I deserve. I’m going to come ready to work for camp. I like where my game is right now.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever McGroarty’s reasons for not wanting to play for the Jets, he has a better chance of earning a roster spot with a retooling Pittsburgh club than he would’ve had on a deeper Winnipeg roster.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit underwent successful meniscus surgery on his right knee on Tuesday. He’ll be sidelined for five to seven weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brossoit was signed this summer as the backup for Blackhawks’ starter Petr Mrazek. They’re expected to use Arvid Soderblom to fill the gap until Brossoit is cleared to return.

RG.ORG: Former San Jose Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov didn’t enjoy the rebuilding club’s style of play last season.

“The team played primitive hockey,” said Barabanov. “You run around without the puck and don’t understand why you need all this. We didn’t even try to keep the puck, play for your partner. It was the most simple hockey that kills the player in you.”

The Sharks finished last in the overall standings. However, Barabanov acknowledged it helped them get top prospect Macklin Celebrini in this year’s draft.

Barabanov has no hard feelings toward his former club. “I hope that the team will finish the rebuild. They have many good young players with great futures.”

He also said he had contract offers from several NHL clubs. However, they weren’t as enticing as the one he signed with KHL club Ak Bars Kazan.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings have invited winger Austin Watson to training camp on a professional tryout offer.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues have started up their own contract tracker called “BluesFriendly”. It’s a nod to CapFriendly, which was shut down in July after its owners were hired by the Washington Capitals.

The tracker appears on the Blues’ official NHL site. It contains the annual cap hit, contract term, expiry status and acquisition info for each player on their roster and/or players on one-way contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The site doesn’t indicate how much cap space the Blues have, which players have no-trade/no-movement clauses, those who are waiver-exempt or on injury reserve. The contract info only goes to 2028-29 but several players have deals extending beyond that season.

Still, it’s the first time an NHL club has made basic salary info available on its official site. The other 31 clubs could follow suit if this proves popular with Blues fans.