NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 3, 2019

by | Sep 3, 2019

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 3, 2019

Several stars could reach notable milestones this season, Justin Williams takes a break, an update on Cam Talbot, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby are among several NHL stars chasing notable milestones this season. With 658 career goals, Ovechkin could reach 700 by season’s end. Crosby, meanwhile, is 89 points shy of 1,300.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is in range of reaching 700 career goals this season (Photo via NHL Images).

Others chasing statistical milestones include Joe Thornton (1,500 points), Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara (1,500 games played), and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (450 victories).

NEWSOBSERVER.COM: Justin Williams isn’t retiring but announced yesterday he’s “stepping away” from the NHL. “Because of my current indecision, and without the type of mental and physical commitment that I’m accustomed to having, I’ve decided to step away from the game,” he announced in a statement yesterday.

Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell also released a statement thanking Williams for his honesty and respecting his decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Williams may be taking a break but there’s a feeling he could return at some point this season. He’ll have until the Feb. 24 trade deadline to do so.  I’ll have more on this in the Rumors section.

THE ATHLETIC: Calgary Flames goaltender Cam Talbot returned to his roots in Caledonia, Ontario this summer in hopes of getting his career back on track. He spent six weeks at the Grainger Training Centre with his long-time goalie coach, Pat Di Pronio.

 

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2018

by | Aug 16, 2018

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 16, 2018

Update on Max Pacioretty, Ducks re-sign Ondrej Kase, latest on Brock Boeser and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens recently confirmed team owner Geoff Molson, general manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Claude Julien confirmed they will attend captain Max Pacioretty’s charity golf tournament. This comes in the wake of social media speculation suggesting the team brass would skip the tournament because of their rumored attempts to trade Pacioretty.

Anaheim Ducks re-sign forward Ondrej Kase to a three-year contract. (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You know we’re mired in the dog days of the NHL offseason when you see rumors like that floating around. Even if the Habs are trying to trade Pacioretty, they’re not going to be douchebags and snub his charity event while he’s still on the roster.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Anaheim Ducks yesterday announced the re-signing of forward Ondrej Kase to a three-year contract worth an annual average value of $2.6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a fair raise for Kase, who completed his entry-level deal and showed potential last season with his first 20-goal performance. A skilled young two-way forward, Kase could be poised for better things over the next three years. 

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Ryan Callahan has begun on-ice rehab with training camp a month away. He underwent shoulder surgery on May 31 and isn’t expected to return to action until early-November.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning intends to meet with agent Ben Hankinson next week to discuss a contract extension for winger Brock Boeser, who has a year remaining on his entry-level contract. 

TSN: Former Winnipeg Jets defenseman Paul Postma has signed with AK Bars Kazan of the KHL. Former Boston Bruins forward Tommy Wingels and former Calgary Flames winger Lance Bouma have joined Swiss League’s Genève-Servette HC.