NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 3, 2021

by | Sep 3, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 3, 2021

The league introduces new COVID-19 protocols for the coming season, the Coyotes submit a bid to build a new arena & the Flyers inking Joel Farabee to a long-term deal headline several of Thursday’s contract signings. Details & more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported last night the NHL and NHL Players Association finalized COVID-19 protocols for the coming 2021-22 season. Topping the list is a mechanism allowing teams to suspend unvaccinated players unable to participate in club activities, including when a player cannot travel due to local/state/provincial/federal regulations “upon return.” The player will forfeit the equivalent of one day’s pay for each day they’re unable to participate.

Exceptions include medical reasons, religious beliefs or quarantine due to being a high-risk close contact. If a full vaccinated player is confirmed with a positive test his condition will be treated as a hockey-related injury. Unvaccinated players will also face strict rules limiting social contact while on the road.

Players wishing to opt-out of this season can do so by Oct. 1. Their teams will have 30 days to determine if their contract will be rolled over to next season or this season removed from their agreement. They won’t be allowed to play in another league or the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a brief version of Friedman’s report. I recommend following the link for the full story. Needless to say, these rules will be used to strongly encourage unvaccinated players to get their necessary COVID shots if they want to play in the NHL this season. Recent reports indicate 85 percent of NHL players are vaccinated. In other COVID-19 news…

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton confirmed on social media he contracted the coronavirus while on his honeymoon. It’s unknown if he was vaccinated at the time. If this had happened a month from now when the new protocols are in place he likely would’ve been suspended.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Blackhawks fans will require proof of vaccination to attend games this season at the United Center.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights announced their fans won’t need to provide proof of vaccination to attend games at T-Mobile Arena this season. They intend to maintain compliance with state and local health regulations, as well as those of the NHL and the CDC.

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes submitted a bid to build a new arena in Tempe, located in metropolitan Phoenix. The city indicated the evaluation process would take months before there will be a vote to approve or reject the project.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes could still be seeking a temporary home if the city of Glendale maintains its decision to end its lease agreement with the club by the end of this season. If the Tempa arena deal is approved, it could take another two or three years before the building is ready for use.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed Joel Farabee to a six-year, $30 million contract extension. The 21-year-old winger lead the club with 20 goals last season and finished with 38 points in 55 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Farabee’s new annual average value is $5 million. That’s a significant raise over the $925K of his current deal, which expires at the end of this season. It’s also a big vote of confidence in the young winger, who managed eight goals and 21 points during his NHL debut in 2019-20. It could prove worthwhile if he builds on the promise of his sophomore campaign.

WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres inked defenseman Henri Jokiharju and forward Casey Mittelstadt to three-year, $7.5 million contracts. Each will earn an annual cap hit of $2.5 million.

THE DETROIT NEWS: The Red Wings signed former Anaheim Ducks forward Carter Rowney to a one-year contract.

TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Louis Domingue to a one-year, two-way contract.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes hired former defenseman Tim Gleason as an assistant coach.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) suspended Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux indefinitely after he secretly photographed an 18-year-old woman engaged in a sexual act with him while playing in Sweden last year and shared the photo and her identity with his SK Lejon teammates. Swedish police charged him with defamation and offensive photography and fined him $1, 650 USD.

Mailloux will have an opportunity to apply for reinstatement on Jan. 1, 2022.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2019

by | Dec 30, 2019

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2019

Jonathan Huberdeau enjoys a four-point performance, John Tortorella loses it with the officials, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice and set up two others as his club held on for a 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov also scored two goals. Canadiens rookie Nick Suzuki collected three assists.

Jonathan Huberdeau’s four-point performance gave the Florida Panthers a 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 53 points in 38 games, Huberdeau’s on a 115-point pace. He’s the Panthers’ leading scorer and sits sixth among NHL scorers.

Patrick Kane’s shootout goal lifted the Chicago Blackhawks over the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was sidelined during the shootout with an injury. During a post-game press conference, Columbus head coach John Tortorella ripped the officials for an apparent clock error that cost his club the winning goal in the dying seconds of overtime. That drew the ire of NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell, who spoke with Tortorella. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said the league is dealing with it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tortorella’s outburst could cost him a fine or a suspension. He’ll likely learn his fate later today.

Jaden Schwartz scored twice as the St. Louis Blues downed the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. The Blues (58 points) have won eight straight and hold an eight-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the Western Conference.

Tanner Pearson and Tyler Myers each scored twice as the Vancouver Canucks snuffed out the Calgary Flames 5-2. Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk had two assists. The Canucks have won five straight and sit in second place in the Pacific Division.

Jake DeBrusk scored two straight power-play goals as the Boston Bruins held off the sagging Buffalo Sabres 3-2. Bruins winger David Pastrnak netted his league-leading 29th goal of the season. Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

The Philadelphia Flyers nipped the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on an overtime goal by Kevin Hayes. Jakub Voracek collected two assists. The Flyers have won five of their last six contests.

Third-period goals by Ryan Pulock, Matt Martin, and Tom Kuhnhackl lifted the New York Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.  It was the Isles’ first regulation win in eight games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on a third-period goal by Brayden Point. The Wings have dropped all but two of their last 20 games (2-16-2).

A four-goal third period carried the Dallas Stars over the Arizona Coyotes 4-2. Coyotes center Derek Stepan is in concussion protocol following a high hit from Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.

Jack Hughes netted his first career NHL overtime goal in a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen collected three assists.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2019

by | Jul 2, 2019

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2019

Some of the fallout from a busy opening day of the 2019 NHL free-agent market in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Artemi Panarin signing a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers and Sergei Bobrovsky inking a seven-year contract with the Florida Panthers were just some of the notable moves that took place yesterday during the opening hours of the NHL free-agent period. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for yesterday’s noteworthy unrestricted free agent signings. TSN has a complete list of the day’s UFA and restricted free agent signings. 

NEWSOBSERVER.COM: Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said he was taken by surprise by center Sebastian Aho signing an offer sheet with the Montreal Canadiens. During a press conference yesterday, he said he hadn’t had an opportunity yet to discuss the signing with team owner Tom Dundon. The terms of the deal would pay Aho over $21 million in signing bonuses in the first 12 months. 

Will the Carolina Hurricanes match Sebastian Aho’s offer sheet from the Montreal Canadiens (Photo via NHL Images).

The Hurricanes have seven days from the date of Aho’s signing to match the deal. Waddell said the club would make an announcement soon. He appeared unconcerned over the move, saying the signing means he won’t have to spend the entire summer negotiating with the Aho camp. 

THE ATHLETIC: Aho’s agent, Gerry Johannson, believes it won’t be easy for the Hurricanes to match the Canadiens’ front-loaded offer. He also believes his client wants to play in Montreal.  

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan wonders what “Plan B” will be for the Canadiens if the Hurricanes match the Aho offer sheet. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: While most observers approved of the audacity of the Canadiens’ front-loaded offer, they expect the Hurricanes will match it. Waddell and Dundon could let the Habs twist in the wind until the last minute before matching. Because the Canadiens will be waiting for the Hurricanes’ decision, they’ll be reluctant to invest much more in other potential moves. That’ll hamper their efforts to make other roster moves as the free-agent market becomes depleted. 

THE SCORE: Goaltender Robin Lehner claims his departure from the New York Islanders had nothing to do with him. After signing a one-year, $5-million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, Lehner denied rumors claiming he walked away from any contract offers from the Isles. “I took a couple of days to think about it, and when I came back and wanted to make something work, they already went for another goalie.”

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Lehner’s signing raises questions over the future of Blackhawks starter Corey Crawford. The 34-year-old Crawford was hampered by injuries over the past two seasons. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crawford is now in the final season of his contract. He could become an unrestricted free agent next summer if Lehner outplays him. 

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: In restricted free agent news, the San Jose Sharks re-signed winger Timo Meier to a four-year, $24-million contract. The annual average value is $6 million.

CBS SPORTS: The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed defenseman Ryan Murray to a two-year. $9.2 million contract and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a one-year deal. 

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: The Bruins re-signed defenseman Connor Clifton to a three-year, $3-million deal.