NHL Rumor Mill – December 20, 2024

by | Dec 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 20, 2024

The annual holiday roster freeze is in effect (Dec. 20-27) but the trade and free-agent rumors persist. Check out the latest on the Predators, Canadiens and Sabres plus updates on Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett and Trent Frederic in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TROTZ CLAIMS THE PREDATORS AREN’T IN SELL MODE

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz claims his club is not rebuilding its roster after trading defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens for Justin Barron.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has been the busiest GM in this season’s trade market thus far. Before the Carrier deal, he traded winger Philip Tomasino to the Pittsburgh Penguins and sent goaltender Scott Wedgewood to the Colorado Avalanche for netminder Justus Annunen. He also waived defenseman Dante Fabbro, who was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Trotz claimed he’d been trying to acquire the 23-year-old Barron since last season, adding he wanted to add a right shot to his blueline who was “age appropriate”. He said the moves he’s made thus far are to reset the roster for the offseason, when he intends to be more aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz was aggressive in this summer’s UFA market, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. Those moves had observers (including yours truly) crowning them as offseason winners but they haven’t yet translated into on-ice success.

Trotz also shot down recent musings over whether he’ll try to peddle Stamkos by the March 7 trade deadline. “There’s no chance,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s also no indication Stamkos regrets his decision to sign with the Predators. If anything, he and Marchessault and Skjei appear determined to help their new team overcome their early-season struggles.

The Predators GM acknowledged he’s made lots of moves already, suggesting he could be quiet the rest of the season unless he gets an offer that knocks his socks off.

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer cites a source claiming the Carrier-for-Barron trade isn’t the only move the Predators could make. “They’re clearing their cap space for something. It may not be for right now, but it’s coming.”

The Predators have been linked to Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens in the rumor mill. Their cupboard of tradeable assets is getting bare apart from Tommy Novak and Fedor Svechkov. They might have to move one of them to bolster their depth at center if they intend to turn their season around.

They also want a top-four defenseman. D’Amico noted Cozens teammate Bowen Byram has recently surfaced in the rumor mill.

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz’s remarks to LeBrun suggest he intends to focus on next summer’s free-agent market to address his club’s needs. It’s doubtful that Novak or Svechkov would be enough to pry Cozens or Byram away from the Sabres.

COULD THE FLAMES TRY TO BRING BACK SAM BENNETT?

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis recently pondered whether a reunion between the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett makes sense.

Bennett, 28, was the Flames’ first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. He spent nearly seven seasons in Calgary until he was traded to the Panthers before the 2021 trade deadline. Over the past four seasons, he’s played a big role in that club’s development into a Stanley Cup champion.

The Flames have sought an impact center since trading Elias Lindholm last season. Bennett is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Panthers will try hard to re-sign him but Francis suggests a trade could happen if negotiations fail to produce a new contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will depend on whether Bennett is open to returning to Calgary. Francis pointed out that the coaches and general manager who presided over his frustrating early years in Calgary are gone, which could make that path more enticing. The Flames have plenty of cap space to sign him to a lucrative deal. He’d also be returning as a leader and a respected playoff performer.

If the Flames want Bennett, they might have to wait until next summer to pursue him. However, it seems unlikely that the Panthers move Bennett at the deadline even if he’s not under contract by then. There is a risk of losing him to free agency in July but the Panthers need him if they intend on defending the Cup next spring. Repeating as champions with Bennett in the lineup would soften the blow of his departure next summer.

LATEST RUMORS FROM TSN’S “INSIDER TRADING”.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner remain focused on winning games this season rather than negotiating a new contract. Marner, 27, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

As the calendar flips to January, Dreger believes time will be of the essence, so they’ll have to have some definition and direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides remain tightlipped about this situation. Marner said at the start of the season he wouldn’t answer questions about his contract while GM Brad Treliving said the club would not negotiate with the Marner camp through the media.

The two sides seem to prefer waiting to open serious talks until the end of this season. Marner likely wants to stay and the Leafs want to keep him, but everything depends on his performance and that of the Leafs. Another disappointing playoff outing could lead to his departure on July 1.

Dreger said he’s been told that Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has been on the phone non-stop for the past week. He indicates Adams is willing to make a big move. Teams are interested in the Sabres’ top players but are only offering decent players in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams are trying to take advantage of Adams, hoping he’ll panic if the losing skid continues and trade away one of his best young players for peanuts. He likely seeks a one-for-one swap of comparable talent similar to his trading Casey Mittelstadt to the Avalanche last season for Bowen Byram.

Dreger believes the Canadiens’ acquisition of Alexandre Carrier provides the club with backfill in case someone makes an offer for blueliner Mike Matheson or David Savard before the March 7 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dreger’s colleague Pierre LeBrun also believes the addition of Carrier could lead to Savard getting dealt later in the season. However, he also indicated they’re not in a hurry to move.

Dreger believes the Boston Bruins must soon decide what to do with Trent Frederic. The big, rugged 26-year-old forward is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Teams are wondering if they’ll sign or trade him at the deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could depend on the Bruins’ position in the standings by March 7.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 18, 2024

by | Dec 18, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 18, 2024

A hat trick for Patrik Laine, a record-setting milestone for Connor Hellebuyck, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Patrik Laine tallied three power-play goals for his 11th career hat trick as the Montreal Canadiens thumped the Buffalo Sabres 6-1. Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist while Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson each collected two assists. Dylan Cozens has the Sabres only goal as their winless skid stretched to 11 games (0-8-3).

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The pep talk the Sabres received from team owner Terry Pegula on Monday landed on deaf ears. Their defensive play was atrocious, especially on the penalty kill. Laine was left undefended on all three goals from his wheelhouse at the top of the faceoff circle. He has six goals and seven points in his seven games since returning from a sprained knee.

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets became the fastest American-born goaltender to reach 20 wins in a season as he backstopped his club to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Hellebuyck made 32 saves as Adam Lowry tallied the game-winner with 1:13 remaining in the third period. Kyle Connor scored twice and Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist for the Jets. Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks backup goalie Vitek Vanecek left the game in the second period when he was struck in the face by an errant puck while sitting on the bench. There was no postgame update on his status. Before this game, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky was fined $25,000.00 by the league for “inappropriate conduct” during Saturday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.

The Jets also made history when they signed prospect Kevin He to an entry-level contract. Chosen by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, He is the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.

Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros had a 25-save performance to shut out the New York Rangers 2-0. Jonathan Marchessault and Adam Wilsby were the goal scorers, with the latter getting the first of his NHL career. Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves for the Rangers, who’ve lost three straight games and five of their last six.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch from Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Blues. He didn’t hide his frustration over the situation. “I know you’ve got to do something as a coach when you’re losing games, but I think it’s just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out. That’s how I feel, to be honest,” he said, adding that he hasn’t been the worst player on the Rangers roster.

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 32 shots in a 4-0 shutout of the New York Islanders. Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Isles netminder Ilya Sorokin made 19 saves as his club has lost three of their last four.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist to extend his goal streak to seven games and Nick Paul had a goal and an assist as the Lightning have won three in a row. Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. He has seven points in 17 games since being claimed off waivers by the Jackets on Nov. 10.

An overtime goal by Rickard Rakell lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Rakell and Michael Bunting each had two points while Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 29 shots for the win. Adrian Kempe and Alex Turcotte replied for the Kings.

New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen scored in his 400th regular-season game as his club beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Jake Hughes picked up two assists as the Devils leapfrogged the Washington Capitals into first place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points. Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Curtis Lazar was activated off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined by a lower-body injury since Oct. 27.

Speaking of the Capitals, they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks. Ilya Mikheyev, TJ Brodie and Ryan Donato netted three unanswered third-period goals as the Blackhawks picked up their second straight victory. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane scored for the Capitals as they’ve lost two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals received approval from the Washington D.C. city council to conduct a major arena renovation to Capital One Arena earlier in the day.

David Pastrnak scored in overtime as the Boston Bruins nipped the Calgary Flames 4-3. The Bruins forced the extra frame with unanswered third-period goals by Morgan Geekie and Marc McLaughlin. Matt Coronato, Nazem Kadri and Ryan Lomberg scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Brayden Pachal to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.187 million.

The Ottawa Senators picked up their fourth straight win by blanking the Seattle Kraken 3-0. Linus Ullmark stopped 30 shots for the shutout while Shane Pinto, Noah Gregor, and Tim Stutzle were the goal scorers. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord made 24 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 34 points, the Senators hold a one-point lead over the Penguins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be out for four to six weeks as he’ll undergo a procedure to remove a pebble-sized bump from the back of his knee.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Leafs, they’ve sent forward Fraser Minten to their AHL affiliate and activated forward David Kampf off injured reserve.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Zach Hyman missed practice on Tuesday as he had a medical appointment regarding his broken nose. He suffered the injury during Monday’s loss to the Florida Panthers when a shot from teammate Evan Bouchard struck him. Hyman is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche forward Chris Wagner and New Jersey Devils forward Justin Dowling were placed on waivers yesterday.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 15, 2024

by | Dec 15, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 15, 2024

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest Rangers speculation, the Blues might not be done dealing, the Kings could be shopping before the upcoming holiday roster freeze, and updates on Bruins forward Trent Frederic and Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais.

THE LATEST RANGERS RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the New York Rangers are “open for business.” They’ve already traded Jacob Trouba and let it be known that winger Chris Kreider is available.

Friedman said they have some untouchables like goaltender Igor Shesterkin and some players with no-movement clauses. However, they’re willing to consider all options and to entertain offers.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple wondered who’s next to walk the plank off the Rangers’ sinking ship following their 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, dropping nine of their last 12 games.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Staple believes head coach Peter Laviolette’s tenure could come to a premature end. General manager Chris Drury has already shaken up the roster by trading Trouba but the club’s reaction is indifference.

Defenseman Ryan Lindgren has been available for some time but no one’s buying high on an underperforming pending unrestricted free agent. There isn’t much interest in the 33-year-old Kreider, who has two years remaining on his contract. Teams are calling about young winger Kaapo Kakko but his play hasn’t been the main issue.

Staple also brought up K’Andre Miller as a trade candidate. However, he’s currently sidelined for an indefinite period which doesn’t help his trade value.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks disagrees that Laviolette could pay the price for the Rangers’ stunning decline in recent weeks. “The hierarchy has no stomach to fire Laviolette after firing Gerard Gallant two years ago and David Quinn four years ago. There is no stomach to afix the blame on yet another coach instead of taking care of the coach-averse core.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers believe the Rangers’ problems began with Drury’s heavy-handed efforts to free up cap space in the offseason, waiving popular forward Barclay Goodrow and attempting to trade Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings before free agency began on July 1.

Changing management might be necessary to help the players regain their spark. They’ve been playing like they don’t give a damn ever since word of Drury’s memo to his fellow GMs listing potential trade candidates was leaked to the press.

Whatever it is, the Rangers must do something quickly to address their issues or risk this season going completely off the rails, leaving questions about the current roster’s future to carry over into next summer.

MORE MOVES COULD BE COMING FOR THE BLUES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the St. Louis Blues might not be done in the trade market after acquiring defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

The Blues made Brandon Saad a healthy scratch during Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract with a $4.5 million cap hit.

Friedman said the Blues would like to move Saad, who has a no-trade clause. However, he’s willing to consider other options.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the Fowler trade, Blues GM Doug Armstrong indicated he wanted to keep his club competitive while he retools the roster. He could try peddling Saad for a promising young NHL-ready player or attempt to clear the winger’s cap hit from his books by accepting draft picks in return.

Saad had been struggling to score this season. He went 13 games without a goal before being scratched from the lineup on Saturday. Nevertheless, he has Stanley Cup experience which could be of interest to contenders before the March trade deadline.

KINGS MIGHT MAKE A MOVE BEFORE THE HOLIDAY ROSTER FREEZE

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes the Los Angeles Kings might be active in the trade market before the upcoming holiday roster freeze from Dec. 20-27. He thinks they’ve been talking to some teams as they attempt to gauge the market.

Seravalli wondered if they might attempt to land a good young player, perhaps from a struggling club like the Buffalo Sabres.

THE BRUINS ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT TRENT FREDERIC

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman indicated that the Boston Bruins are getting a lot of calls about Trent Frederic. The versatile 27-year-old forward is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Teams are wondering if the Bruins intend to sign him or peddle him by the March 7 trade deadline.

THE CANUCKS ARE TRYING TO MOVE VINCENT DESHARNAIS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Vancouver Canucks are looking to move Vincent Desharnais. The 28-year-old defenseman signed a two-year contract with the Canucks in the offseason but it hasn’t worked out as hoped. It’s believed they’re willing to consider all options for returns but would prefer draft picks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2024

by | Dec 15, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2024

Nathan MacKinnon is the first to reach 50 points this season, Leon Draisaitl extends his multi-point streak, David Pastrnak reaches a scoring milestone, and more from a busy Saturday night of action in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon became the first player to reach 50 points this season in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist, Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice and Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves in his debut with the Avalanche. Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista replied for the Predators, who’ve dropped nine of their last 10 games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

The Edmonton Oilers picked up their fifth straight win by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 6-3. Leon Draisaitl netted his league-leading 22nd goal and added two assists to extend his multipoint streak to five games and Stuart Skinner made 38 saves for the win. Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin had two assists.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 drubbing of the Vancouver Canucks. Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Max Sasson tallied for the Canucks, who’ve lost three of their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak reached the 400-assist milestone in this game. Earlier in the day, the Bruins claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders.

Los Angeles Kings forwards Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Warren Foegele and Alex Turcotte each had a goal and an assist as they downed the New York Rangers 5-1. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin got the hook in the second period after giving up five goals on 21 shots as the Kings picked up their seventh win in their last eight games. Filip Chytil scored for the Rangers, who’ve dropped nine of their last 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Rangers coach Mike Keenan told RG.Org that he believes the Rangers are built for success with the right goalie in Shesterkin to lead them to the Stanley Cup. Their performance in recent weeks suggests otherwise, so I’ll have more about the Rangers in today’s Sunday Rumor Roundup.

Four goals in the third period powered the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Jason Dickinson had the Blackhawks’ only goal.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice to reach the 20-goal plateau as his club rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin each collected an assist as they returned to the lineup. Travis Sanheim scored for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild called up goalie Jesper Wallstedt on an emergency basis and placed forward Jakub Lauko on injured reserve.

An overtime goal by Brady Tkachuk lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist and Linus Ullmark got the win with a 25-save effort as a surprise starter after Anton Forsberg was injured in the warmup. Blake Lizotte and Kris Letang scored for the Penguins, who lost defenseman Marcus Pettersson in the first period to a lower-body injury. There was no postgame update about his condition.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win vaulted the Senators over the Flyers into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They’ve won seven of their last 10 games.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry tallied twice as his club doubled up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Wings netminder Ville Husso stopped 23 shots for his first win of the season. Leafs winger Mitch Marner had two assists for the Leafs, who welcomed back winger Bobby McMann from his seven-game absence as he recovered from a lower-body injury.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson scored two goals in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, handing the latter their ninth straight loss (0-6-3). Dylan Strome snapped a 2-2 tie and John Carlson collected three assists for the Capitals, who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with 43 points.

The Anaheim Ducks got two goals and an assist from Alex Killorn (including the winning goal in overtime) to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. John Gibson kicked out 39 shots and Jackson LaCombe had a goal and an assist for the Ducks. Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger and James van Riemsdyk replied for the Blue Jackets, who’ve lost six of their last seven games (1-4-2).

An overtime goal by Matt Duchene lifted the Dallas Stars over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the Stars while Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues, who’ve lost three of their last four.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cam Fowler wasted no time joining the Blues. Traded earlier in the day from the Ducks, the defenseman hopped a plane to Dallas and was in the lineup for this contest, averaging over 17 minutes of ice time. You can read my take on his trade by following this link.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots for the victory as his club regained first place in the overall standings with 45 points. Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson scored his first NHL goal as his club lost for the third time in their last four outings.

Calgary Flames rookie goalie Dustin Wolf made 32 saves for his second shutout of the season to blank the Florida Panther 3-0. Mikael Backlund had a goal and an assist while Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman also scored as the Flames picked up their third win in their last 10 games. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov missed this game due to illness.

A power-play goal by Clayton Keller with 44 seconds remaining in the third period lifted his team to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Mikhail Sergachev each finished with two points for Utah HC (33 points), putting them within two points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Fabian Zetterlund had a goal and an assist and Vitek Vanecek stopped 36 shots for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks activated Will Smith off injured reserve for this game and placed forward Klim Kostin on IR.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel scored twice to down the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to six games while Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each collected two points. Brandon Montour scored for the Kraken.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2024

by | Dec 13, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2024

A four-goal performance for Scott Laughton, a six-point game for Nikita Kucherov, and much more as we recap a busy Thursday night in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Scott Laughton tied a Philadelphia Flyers record with a four-goal performance to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Travis Konecny collected two assists for the Flyers, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 32 points). Ben Chiarot replied for the Red Wings, who’ve dropped six of their last seven games (1-4-2).

Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laughton became the 17th player in Flyers history to score four times in a game and the first to do so since John LeClair in 2002-03. He also passed the 100-goal milestone.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a six-point performance (one goal, five assists) in an 8-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Jake Guentzel tallied a hat trick, Anthony Cirelli had a goal and two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves as he became the first Lightning goaltender to play 500 regular-season games. Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist and Nazem Kadri got his 10th of the season for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning captain Victor Hedman missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Bolts hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 32 points while the Flames (33 points) sit one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final Western wild-card spot.

Six unanswered third-period goals powered the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Montreal Canadiens 9-2. Bryan Rust had a hat trick and picked up an assist while Rickard Rakell scored twice and collected two helpers. Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia scored for the Canadiens as they remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists as his club thumped the Minnesota Wild 7-1. Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin each had two assists for the Oilers and Calvin Pickard made 20 saves for the win. Frederick Gaudreau replied for the Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard left the game late in the third period after being knocked into the goal post by a dirty hit from Wild forward Ryan Hartman. Earlier in the day, the Oilers placed defenseman Travis Dermott on waivers. Meanwhile, Wild defenseman Jake Middleton left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

The Vancouver Canucks blanked the Florida Panthers 4-0 on a 27-save shutout performance by Kevin Lankinen. J.T. Miller collected two assists as he returned to the Canucks following a leave of absence. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 15 shots for the Panthers as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks forward Teddy Blueger’s mother Jana was also a winner, taking home over $100K as she won the Canucks nightly 50-50 draw. She’s visiting from Latvia and attended last night’s game to watch her son.

San Jose Sharks rookie center Macklin Celebrini scored two goals and an assist in a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stopped 17 shots and Nikolai Kovalenko collected three assists in their Sharks debut as their new club snapped a three-game losing skid. Blues forward Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Klim Kostin left the game with an undisclosed injury. Blues forward Radek Faksa missed this contest with a groin injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Max Pacioretty led the way with two goals and an assist and Joseph Woll turned aside 19 shots for the win. Jackson Lacombe had a goal and an assist for the Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Woll replaced Anthony Stolarz as he left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. He’ll be reevaluated on Friday. Before this game, the Leafs activated defenseman Jake McCabe (upper body) from injured reserve. Meanwhile, the Ducks announced that sidelined forward Trevor Zegras will miss six weeks following knee surgery. They also activated forward Robby Fabbri (knee surgery) off injured reserve.

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, snapping the latter’s six-game win streak. Ondrej Palat had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who sit second overall in the Eastern Conference with 41 points. Jordan Spence replied for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils scratched forward Tomas Tatar in favor of getting Kurtis MacDermid into the lineup.

Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, to lead his team over the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Jakob Chychrun had two assists and Charlie Lindgren kicked out 32 shots as the Capitals (42 points) hold first place in the Eastern Conference. Zach Werenski scored for the Blue Jackets as they’ve dropped five of their last six.

New York Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists as his club held on for a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves and Jean-Gabriel Pageau had three assists for the Islanders. Tyler Bertuzzi tallied twice and Connor Bedard had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, who’ve dropped seven of their last 10 contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Isles head coach Patrick Roy was fuming over his club’s performance in the final eight minutes of the third period as the Blackhawks scored three goals to make it interesting. “In my day, if my team would have done that to me, I would break a stick in that room,” said Roy. “Our goalie (Sorokin) deserved more respect than this from ourselves.”

The Nashville Predators got two goals and an assist from Ryan O’Reilly in a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. Justus Annunen made 35 saves for his first win with the Predators as they snapped an eight-game winless skid (0-5-3). Stars rookie Lian Bichsel tallied his first NHL goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators played without defensemen Alexandre Carrier and Roman Josi. Carrier is week-to-week with an upper-body injury while team captain Josi (lower body) is day-to-day. Stars defenseman Matt Dumba missed this game with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Ivan Barbashev lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. Victor Olofsson tied the game late in the third for Vegas while teammate Shea Theodore collected two assists. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots for the Jets, who hold first place in the Central Division with 43 points.

The Utah Hockey Club rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist and Karel Vejmelka stopped 23 shots for his club’s fifth straight road win. Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avalanche as their three-game win streak ended. They’re clinging to the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 34 points.

Seattle Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice to beat the Boston Bruins 5-1. Philipp Grubauer stopped 33 shots as the Kraken are 4-1-1 in their last six games. Bruins captain Brad Marchand scored on a penalty shot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins center Elias Lindholm left this game with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 8, 2024

by | Dec 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 8, 2024

A milestone game for Kings captain Anze Kopitar, Paul Maurice becomes the Panthers’ winningest coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings picked up their fifth straight win by taming the Minnesota Wild 4-1. Trevor Moore scored two goals and Adrian Kempe a goal and an assist for the Kings while Yakov Trenin replied for the Wild.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a milestone game for Kings captain Anze Kopitar as he played in his 1,400th regular-season NHL game. The franchise leader in games played, the 37-year-old Kopitar needs 66 points to surpass Marcel Dionne (1,307 points) for most points by a Kings player. He’s their leading scorer this season with 31 points in 27 games.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk tallied two goals to defeat the San Jose Sharks 3-1, making Paul Maurice the winningest coach in franchise history with 111 wins. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also scored and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots. Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood kicked out 49 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk has been red hot offensively of late, with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his last six games.

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Tom Wilson scored twice in the third period and Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (19-6-2), who sit in first place in the overall standings with 40 points. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist and sits among the league leaders with 17 goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wilson was struck on the left cheek by a shot from teammate Jakob Chychrun in the first period but remained in the game, icing his cheek on the bench between shifts. Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to illness.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele snapped a 2-2 tie in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton each had two points for the Jets as they became the first team to reach 20 wins this season (20-8-0). Alex Vlasic and Alec Martinez replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martinez left the game after being struck in the face by a puck in the third period. Earlier in the game, Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek left the game with a lower-body injury. Interim coach Anders Sorensen said Mrazek will be sidelined “for a little bit.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust each getting a goal and an assist. Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the Penguins, who’ve won five of their last six contests. Mitch Marner and William Nylander scored for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite their sub-.500 record (.483), the Penguins (28 points) are jockeying with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Flyers for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino missed this contest with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Leafs activated Max Pacioretty off injured reserve and placed defenseman Jake McCabe on IR.

An overtime goal by Pavel Zacha lifted the Boston Bruins over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 for their fourth straight victory. Trent Frederic tallied twice and Brad Marchand netted the tying goal. Rookie Matvei Michkov scored twice for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers coach John Tortorella benched winger Travis Konecny in the third period. “He was pulled by the (concussion) spotter, and then I stopped playing him,” said Tortorella, claiming Konecny was “undisciplined.” The move came after the Flyers forward took an interference penalty against Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, spoiling the return of former Oilers Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to Edmonton. Leon Draisaitl had two assists and Zach Hyman scored as the Oilers picked up their fifth win their last six games. Holloway and Jake Neighbours scored for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway and Broberg signed offer sheets with the Blues this summer.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored the winning goal as his club nipped the Detroit Red Wings 2-1. Valeri Nichushkin also scored and Alexandar Georgiev turned aside 29 shots for the win. Lucas Raymond scored for the Red Wings, who’ve lost five straight.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche forward Ross Colton returned to action after missing 17 games with a broken foot. The Avs also placed winger Jonathan Drouin (upper body) on injured reserve.

The Utah Hockey Club scored five straight goals to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2, handing the latter their sixth straight defeat (0-4-2). Michael Kesselring had a goal and an assist and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves. Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak scored his first NHL goal.

New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Isles forwards Bo Horvat and Maxim Tsyplakov each had a goal and an assist. Andrei Svechnikov scored two goals for the Hurricanes, who’ve lost four of their last five games.

The Ottawa Senators got a 37-save performance from Linus Ullmark in a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators. Claude Giroux scored what proved to be the winning goal and Tim Stutzle collected two assists. Fedor Svechkov replied for the Predators, who are winless in their last seven (0-4-3).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers officially finalized Igor Shesterkin’s eight-year, $92-million contract extension on Saturday. The deal begins next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The average annual value is $11.5 million. Shesterkin will earn over $15 million in actual salary in the deal’s first two years. He’ll earn $9.5 million in actual salary over the remaining four years. It also comes with a full no-movement clause for the duration of the contract.

THE SCORE: The Rangers will take time to name a new captain after trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Mark Scheifele, Zach Hyman and MacKenzie Weegar are among the potential injury replacement players for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

NEW YORK POST: Tony DeAngelo is at peace playing in the KHL knowing that his NHL career is probably over. The 29-year-old defenseman spent eight seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, Rangers, Hurricanes and Flyers but couldn’t find a new NHL club this summer as a free agent. He signed with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg.