NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2024

by | Jan 30, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2024

The Senators rally to defeat the Predators, the three stars of the week are announced, plus updates on Jack Hughes, Tomas Hertl, Adam Fantilli, Jack Quinn and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators overcame a 3-0 deficit to upset the Nashville Predators 4-3 on an overtime goal by Claude Giroux. Second-period goals by Drake Batherson, Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk set the stage for Giroux’s game-winner for the 19-25-2 Senators. Roman Josi and Philip Tomasino each collected two points for the Predators (26-22-2), who’ve dropped four of their last five and sit outside the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 54 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators and St. Louis Blues have the same number of points but the Blues hold the final wild-card spot with two games in hand. Preds defenseman Alexandre Carrier left this game in the second period with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, and Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 28.

ESPN: Greg Wyshynski reports the NHL remains hopeful that New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes can still participate in the NHL All-Star Game and the skills competition this weekend. Hughes, 22, has been sidelined since Jan. 5 with an upper-body injury. The Devils star wants to take part in the All-Star weekend and continues to be evaluated.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes should be careful not to push too hard to take part in this weekend. While it means a lot to him to take part in the All-Star Game, aggravating his injury in a meaningless tournament could prolong his absence from the Devils lineup as they try to secure a playoff berth down the stretch.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Sharks center Tomas Hertl wants to know how long it will take the rebuilding club to become competitive and where he fits into their long-term plans. The 30-year-old Hertl has six years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.135 million and a no-movement clause.

From all indications, Sharks general manager Mike Grier is in no hurry to move Hertl, who’s been his struggling club’s best player this season. Nevertheless, Grier has indicated that he would listen if Hertl or team captain Logan Couture reached a point where they wanted to be moved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Hertl decides he doesn’t fit into the Sharks plans his hefty contract will make it difficult to move him during the regular season. That type of trade would likely be an offseason move when clubs have more cap space to work with.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets rookie center Adam Fantilli suffered a lacerated left leg after he was cut by a skate blade during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Kraken. He won’t participate in tonight’s road game against the St. Louis Blues and will receive further evaluation when the club returns to Columbus.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantilli sits second among Blue Jackets scorers with 27 points and is fourth among this season’s rookie class.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres winger Jack Quinn underwent surgery to repair a lower-body injury suffered on Saturday in a game against the Sharks. He’s expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s another blow for Quinn, whose sophomore season was already shortened by a ruptured Achilles tendon during offseason training. His latest injury isn’t related to that nor was it a knee injury. He has 12 points in 17 games.

STLTODAY.COM: The Blues are awaiting the results of an MRI on defenseman Scott Perunovich, who suffered a lower-body injury during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Minnesota Wild claimed defenseman Declan Chisholm off waivers from the Jets.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Seattle Kraken placed forward Devin Shore on waivers.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former NHL forward Zack Kassian’s retirement was a brief one. After hanging up his skates before the start of this season, he’s resumed his playing career by signing a one-year contract with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2023

by | Sep 1, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2023

Patrick Kane provides an update on his status, Phil Kessel hopes to continue his NHL career, Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is prepared for the coming season and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Patrick Kane provided an update on his recovery from his hip resurfacing procedure in June. He said he’s been on the ice about 20 times and is well on track in his four-to-six-month recovery timeline.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Kane, 34, said he’s progressing so well that he’s at the point where he could return to action earlier than projected. However, he intends to stick with the six-month rehab schedule to ensure his complete recovery.

Regarding where he’ll play next, Kane said he’ll remain patient as he expects to receive offers when training camp opens later this month. He indicated he’d be willing to listen if a club made an offer and a situation that he would be excited about.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane probably won’t receive contract offers until later in the fall when clubs have had time to evaluate their rosters and salary-cap situations.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Phil Kessel hopes to land with another NHL team for the coming season and isn’t concerned if he isn’t an everyday player. The 35-year-old winger holds the NHL’s Ironman record of 1,064 consecutive regular-season games.

With 14 goals and 36 points last season, Friedman believes Kessel can still be a factor. He’s also just eight points away from 1,000 career points. He’d also be an affordable signing as he’s now eligible to sign a one-year 35-plus contract for the league minimum salary with bonuses that could slide to next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel could land with an NHL club for this season, especially since there wouldn’t be any pressure about whether or not to scratch him because of his Ironman record. He could be a very affordable addition for a club seeking some experienced depth on the wing.

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis recently reported that Rasmus Andersson is ready to “embrace the chaos” when he returns to Calgary next week to prepare for the start of the Flames training camp later this month. The 26-year-old defenseman is prepared for the barrage of questions he and his teammates will get from the local media over the club’s offseason changes and moves.

“You can’t hide from it,” said Andersson. “You’ve just got to embrace it and stick with it, and believe in guys in management.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson’s role as a team leader and his willingness to face the press has some observers calling him a candidate to be the club’s next captain. That role has been vacant since Mark Giordano was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.

THE SCORE: Charlie Coyle is looking forward to the challenge of taking on a larger role with the Boston Bruins following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

During a recent appearance on WEEI’s “The Gresh & Fauria Show,” Coyle acknowledged that he and his teammates will miss Bergeron and Krejci. “We all wish they could play,” he said. “But those are job opportunities right now, right? That gets me fired up, it only gets our team fired up.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyle is saying all the right things as his club faces the daunting task of overcoming the absence of their top two centers. He’s under no illusions that this season will be more difficult for the Bruins, admitting that they will have to work harder this season. We’ll find out in the coming months whether he and his teammates are up to the challenge.

TSN: The Seattle Kraken signed forward Devin Shore to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K at the NHL level. Shore, 29, spent the past three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

Speaking of former Oilers, the Anaheim Ducks signed forward Zack Kassian to a professional tryout offer.

CAROLINA HOCKEY NOW: The Hurricanes announced the addition of Daniel Bochner as a development coach. He spent five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with SKA St. Petersburg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 8, 2021

by | Nov 8, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 8, 2021

​The Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane reaches a milestone, the Ducks’ Troy Terry’s point streak reaches 11 games, the Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond regains the rookie goals lead, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Alex DeBrincat lifted the Chicago Blackhawks (2-9-2) over the Nashville Predators 2-1 to give interim head coach Derek King his first NHL win behind the bench. Patrick Kane set up DeBrincat’s goal to earn his 1,100th career NHL point, becoming the third player in Blackhawks history and the fourth American-born NHL player to reach that plateau. Brandon Hagel also scored for the Hawks while Alexandre Carrier replied for the Predators.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry scored the game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Terry has a team-leading 14 points in 12 games and extended his points streak to 11 games. Benoit-Olivier Groulx had a goal and an assist while John Gibson picked up the win with 35 saves.

The Detroit Red Wings (6-5-2) picked up their second straight win by beating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Winger Lucas Raymond scored his sixth goal of the season to regain the rookie goal-scoring lead, Thomas Greiss kicked out 38 shots and Tyler Bertuzzi and Pius Suter each had a goal and an assist. Wings captain Dylan Larkin returned to action after missing three games for personal reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raymond also leads the rookie points race with 14 points and sits one back of Bertuzzi for the lead among Red Wings scorers. He and teammate Moritz Seider (10 points) are emerging as the early favorites for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Four unanswered third-period goals by Ryan Hartman, Brandon Duhaime, Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba rallied the Minnesota Wild over the New York Islander 5-2. Anders Lee scored both Islanders’ goals while Semyon Varlamov gave up three goals on 37 shots in his season debut for the Isles.

J.T. Miller scored twice while Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat each had a goal and two assists to give the Vancouver Canucks (5-6-1) a 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars (4-5-2). Quinn Hughes picked up three assists and Brock Boeser collected two points for the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars are the only NHL team without a regulation win thus far this season.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed goaltender Petr Mrazek on injured reserve with a groin injury retroactive to Nov. 4. He’s expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs will rely heavily on starter Jack Campbell during that period as they lack a decent third goalie within their system. They’ll be in deep trouble if Campbell should become sidelined.

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers forward Derick Brassard was fined $2,000.00 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators will be without Austin Watson, Nick Holden and associate coach Jack Capuano. They were placed on the COVID protocol list over the weekend. They’ve also reassigned goaltender Filip Gustavsson to their AHL affiliate in Belleville.

SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers forward Devin Shore will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

STLTODAY.COM: The NHL will not be providing salary-cap relief for teams dealing with COVID-related absences. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said it is no different than dealing with players sidelined by short-term injuries. The St. Louis Blues were among the clubs hit hard with COVID-related absences this season with as many as six players at one point on the protocol list.