NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2024

by | Oct 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 21, 2024

The Jets remain undefeated, the latest on Linus Ullmark and Anthony Duclair, former Oilers Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway fitting in well with the Blues, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on three unanswered third-period goals by Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter. Eric Comrie stopped 39 shots and Nikolaj Ehlers had two assists for the Jets, extending their season-opening record to 5-0-0 for the first time in franchise history. Lars Eller tallied twice and Alex Nedeljkovic made his season debut with a 31-save effort for the Penguins.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Long-time Winnipeg forward Bryan Little signed a one-day contract with the club to retire as a Jet and was honored by the club in a pregame ceremony. Little suffered a perforated eardrum after being struck on the head by a puck on Nov. 5, 2019, ending his playing career. His 843 career games with the Jets are the second-longest in franchise history.

Pittsburgh’s sloppy defense proved costly in this contest. Meanwhile, struggling Penguins starter Tristan Jarry was a healthy scratch as Joel Blomqvist backed up Nedeljkovic.

Jets fans serenaded the Penguins with a chant of “Where is Rutger?” in the closing moments of this game, referring to forward Rutger McGroarty, who forced a trade to the Penguins this summer after telling the Jets he had no intention of signing an entry-level contract with them. The Penguins demoted McGroarty to their AHL affiliate last week.

Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, handing the latter their sixth straight loss (0-4-2). Cale Makar had a goal and two assists while Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists. William Eklund scored for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche placed winger Jonathan Drouin (upper body) on injured reserve before this game.

Third-period goals by Adrian Kempe, Alex Laferriere, Kevin Fiala and Mikey Anderson lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made 34 saves in a losing cause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dostal kept the Ducks in this contest but their porous defense couldn’t contain the Kings, who outshot them 19-5 in the third period.

HEADLINES

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators sent goaltender Mads Soogaard back to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. It’s considered the clearest sign that sidelined starter Linus Ullmark is set to return to action when the Senators face the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders’ decision to place forward Julian Gauthier on waivers Sunday implies Anthony Duclair’s leg injury might not be as serious as originally feared. Duclair suffered the injury during Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. There was no update on Duclair’s condition on Sunday.

STLTODAY.COM: Defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway have paid early dividends for the St. Louis Blues. The duo were signed away from the Edmonton Oilers by offer sheets in August.

Broberg has six points in as many games with the Blues earning quality minutes alongside defense partner Justin Faulk. Holloway has two points skating on the third line with Brayden Schenn and Mathieu Joseph.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The departures of Broberg and Holloway contributed to the Oilers’ slow start to this season. Their loss is the Blues’ gain as both players appear to fit in well with their new teammates.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll revealed he’s been dealing with “a little bit of groin tightness” since the club’s final practice before the regular season. He’s been on injury reserve since last Wednesday.

YARDBARKER: Former NHL defenseman Anton Stralman officially announced his retirement to become coach of a women’s football club in Sweden.

Stralman, 38, spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes and Boston Bruins from 2007-08 to 2022-23. He had 63 goals and 230 assists for 293 points in 938 regular-season games and 26 points in 113 playoff contests.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Bruins defenseman Jakub Zboril signed a five-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chosen 13th overall by the Bruins in the 2015 NHL Draft, Zboril struggled to crack their roster full-time. He appeared in 76 games between 2018-19 and 2022-23, finishing with 16 points.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2024

by | May 14, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2024

The Hurricanes force Game 6 with the Rangers, the Stars push the Avalanche to the brink of elimination, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes erupted for four unanswered third-period goals to defeat the New York Rangers 4-1 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven second-round series. Jordan Staal, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Jordan Martinook and Martin Necas found the back of the net as the Hurricanes avoided elimination for the second straight game. Jacob Trouba opened the scoring for the Rangers in the second period. This series returns to Carolina for Game 6 on Thursday, May 16 at 7 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A series that seemed all but done after Game 3 has become more intriguing and entertaining.

The Rangers looked sluggish in this contest while the Hurricanes were again determined to avoid the end of their season. They didn’t fall apart after Trouba’s shorthanded goal gave the Blueshirts the early lead. Staal’s tying goal following his impressive drive to the net seemed to suck the life out of the Rangers.

Heading back to Carolina, the Rangers remain in control with a 3-2 series lead. However, if the Hurricanes take Game 6, it’ll force a seventh and deciding game back in New York with all the pressure on the Blueshirts.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (NHL Images).

The Dallas Stars are poised to advance to the Western Conference Finals following a dominating 5-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of their second-round series. Wyatt Johnston scored twice and collected an assist while Miro Heiskanen had a goal and two assists for the Stars, who’ve taken a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Casey Mittelstadt replied for the Avalanche. The series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 15 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars stormed from the gate in this game, outshooting Colorado 16-2 in the first period. They had a 3-0 lead midway through the second before the Avalanche finally got on the board.

Johnston continues to thrive in this postseason. The 21-year-old sophomore forward set a franchise record by scoring his 10th career playoff goal, the most of any Stars player before the age of 21, eclipsing Mike Modano’s previous record of nine. He added another to make it 11 goals. Johnston turns 21 today.

Stars forward Roope Hintz left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot by Avs defenseman Scott Walker. There was no immediate update on his condition.

Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews was sidelined by illness. Meanwhile, winger Jonathan Drouin returned for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury during their regular-season finale.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin’s postseason is over after entering Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports the 29-year-old winger failed a drug test.

Nichushkin entered the program in January and returned to the Avalanche in March. He will now be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and can apply for reinstatement in November.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche learned about Nichushkin on Monday morning. His teammates attempted to put a brave face on the situation but his absence affected their performance against the Stars in Game 4. Nichushkin’s nine goals in this postseason ties him with Edmonton’s Zach Hyman for the goal-scoring lead.

This is a major setback for the Avalanche and the second straight postseason that Nichushkin has required time away from the team to deal with personal matters. However, the important thing right now is he receives the treatment and support he needs to regain control of his health and his life.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy received a one-game suspension and blueliner Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid at the end of Game 3 on Sunday.

NHL.COM: The Oilers aren’t revealing their starting goaltender for Game 4 against the Canucks on Tuesday. Stuart Skinner started the previous three games but was replaced by Calvin Pickard following the second period of Game 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner has struggled against the Canucks with a .793 save percentage in those three games. Pickard could get the nod for Game 4.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney believes the league and on-ice officials should go before the media to answer questions about controversial calls. His comments come after his club was on the wrong end of a couple of calls in their second-round series against the Florida Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sweeney has a point but don’t hold your breath expecting the NHL to follow his advice. Commissioner Gary Bettman believes his league has “the best officials in the world.” Try not to let your eyes roll too far back into your head after reading that. 

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: The Fontainebleau Las Vegas will host the 2024 NHL Awards on June 27.

NJ HOCKEY NOW: New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier suffered a facial laceration playing for Switzerland against Czechia on Monday in the 2024 IIHF World Championships. He received stitches and returned to action as the Swiss won the game 2-1.

CITY NEWS: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have interviewed former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube for their vacant head-coaching position. They’re also expected to speak with former Los Angeles Kings bench boss Todd McLellan this week. They’ve also been interviewed by the New Jersey Devils.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres promoted Seth Appert as an assistant coach. He was the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Rochester.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2024

by | Apr 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2024

The Bruins downed the Leafs and the Hurricanes beat the Islanders in the opening games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Get the details plus the latest on other postseason clubs in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk scored twice and collected an assist as his club rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their best-of-seven opening-round series. Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots as David Kampf was the only Leaf to score in this contest. Game 2 of this series goes Monday night in Boston.

Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs’ efforts to establish a physical presence against the Bruins backfired. They were undisciplined, took too many bad penalties and were sloppy defensively against savvy opponents who emerged victorious by sticking to their game plan.

Leafs forwards William Nylander and Bobby McMann missed this game due to injuries. We have no more details because the Leafs won’t have daily injury updates during the playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes drew first blood against the New York Islanders by beating them 3-1 to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round series. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 33 shots while Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist. Kyle MacLean replied for the Islanders. Game 2 is Monday in Carolina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders dominated large stretches of this game defensively, especially in the second period. However, they were unable to capitalize offensively. Andersen played a big part in that but the Isles best scorers didn’t get more quality scoring chances against him.

PLAYOFF NOTES

NHL.COM: Four other first-round series begin on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Lightning face off against the Florida Panthers (12:30 ET), the Washington Capitals meet the New York Rangers (3 PM ET), the Colorado Avalanche square off against the Winnipeg Jets (7 pm ET) and the Nashville Predators face the Vancouver Canucks (10 pm ET).

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche announced on Saturday that winger Jonathan Drouin will miss the series against the Jets with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A tough break for Drouin and the Avalanche. The 29-year-old winger enjoyed a career-best 56-point performance this season.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone (lacerated spleen) and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (appendectomy) are good to go for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon sought to address critics for his club placing Stone on long-term injury reserve for the second straight year. They used the salary cap savings to bring in Anthony Mantha, Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl before the trade deadline.

It was originally reported that Stone wouldn’t be ready to return until later in the playoffs if the Golden Knights advanced past the first round. His clearance for Game 1 of their opening-round series drew accusations of salary-cap circumvention from their critics.

McCrimmon said the NHL is “100 percent involved in any of these LTIR situations”, pointing out the league had access to all medical information on Stone’s condition.

The Golden Knights did nothing wrong. Per the collective bargaining agreement, every NHL team can use LTIR for salary-cap relief whenever their players are sidelined for at least 10 games and 24 days of the regular season. Every club has at some point since LTIR was implemented in 2005.

Nevertheless, these instances have drawn grumbling in some corners that could lead to changes in LTIR rules, perhaps by making the salary cap count during the playoffs. Those changes, however, won’t occur until the next round of collective bargaining between the NHL and NHL Players Association in 2026.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks captain Logan Couture hopes that next season is better for him than the current one. The 35-year-old center missed all but six games due to a deep groin injury revealed to be Osteitis pubis.

Couture plans to resume skating in July. He said he’s drawn encouragement from other players around the league who suffered a similar condition. The Sharks medical staff are optimistic he’ll be ready for training camp in September.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Chicago Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard will suit up for Canada at next month’s IIHF World Championships in Czechia.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2023

by | Aug 30, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2023

Check out the latest on the Flames’ Andrew Mangiapane, the Avalanche’s Jonathan Drouin, the Sharks’ Filip Zadina and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CALGARY SUN: Andrew Mangiapane said he’s “healthy and ready to go” following recovery from shoulder surgery in April. The injury limited the 27-year-old Flames winger to 17 goals after a career-high 35 goals the previous season.

Calgary Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mangiapane injured his shoulder during the opening month of last season but still played the full 82-game schedule. He and the club didn’t reveal his condition until after his surgery. A return to form could help the Flames bounce back from missing the playoffs in 2022-23.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Drouin is looking forward to playing for a winning team with the Avalanche under less of a spotlight compared to what he faced during his tenure with the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens.

“There’s a little less media, a little less stuff going on,” said Drouin. The 28-year-old forward believes it will do him good to play for “a really good team” that “has a chance to make the playoffs, maybe more.” He’s also looking forward to reuniting with Nathan MacKinnon, his teammate from their days with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drouin faced a harsh spotlight in Montreal. Injuries hampered his performance while the anxiety of the pressure of playing for the Habs affected his mental health, forcing him to take a leave of absence during the 2020-21 season. Playing with the Avs could help him get his career back on its once-promising track.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former Red Wings forward Filip Zadina believes the club brought him into their lineup before he was ready. “It’s tough for a young rookie to come to a team under rebuilding like Detroit was then,” he told a Czechia reporter. Zadina, 23, joined the San Jose Sharks after his contract was terminated by the Red Wings earlier this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zadina is going from a team further along in its rebuild than the Sharks, though the latter still has a decent veteran core of forwards in Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Anthony Duclair. Perhaps he’ll have better luck in San Jose reaching his potential.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Vancouver Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev’s agent is making terrific strides in recovering from season-ending knee surgery. However, Dan Milstein wants his client and the Canucks to ensure they don’t rush his return to action.

“This is something we’re going to talk about once we get the doctor’s blessing,” said Milstein. He said he keeps reminding Mikheyev that “this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” adding that it’s not about the preseason but the full 82-game regular season and perhaps the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, don’t rush things in training camp and preseason play and risk a setback that could affect your regular-season performance.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins signed defenseman Mark Pysyk and Libor Hajek to professional tryout offers (PTOs).

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of PTOs, defenseman Jordie Benn signed one with the Dallas Stars, rejoining his brother Jamie. Jordie played for the Stars from 2011-12 to 2016-17.

CAROLINA HOCKEY NOW: Forwards Cory Conacher and Brendan Perlini are joining the Hurricanes on PTO contracts.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Penguins president Brian Burke has taken on a new role with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). He’s the new executive director of its players’ association. The PWHL plans to start its season in January 2024 with teams in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 4, 2023

by | Jul 4, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 4, 2023

Check out the latest on Blake Wheeler, Marc Staal, Cam Talbot and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

WINNIPEG SUN: Former Jets winger Blake Wheeler had nothing but good things to say about his former club, the city of Winnipeg and Jets fans during his introductory meeting with the New York media on Monday.

Blake Wheeler signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers (NHL Images).

Wheeler, 36, signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on Saturday a day after the Jets bought out the final year of his contract. He was the Jets’ longest-serving player, having moved with the club from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011. He is their franchise leader in games played (897), assists (550) and points (812).

“I have nothing but gratitude to that city and organization and that fan base…I’m really proud to leave on great terms.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wheeler handled his departure from the Jets quite well. In time, the franchise will likely honor his accomplishments once his playing career is over.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed defenseman Marc Staal to a one-year, 35-plus contract worth $1.1 million. General manager Daniel Briere said the 36-year-old was brought in to add a veteran presence for their younger players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staal was the most notable of a quiet day of contract signings with just 14 players inking new deals on Monday. Blame the combination of a flattened salary cap and a free-agent pool already short on big-name talent when the market opened on July 1.

LA HOCKEY NOW: Cam Talbot said he’s excited about playing again for Kings coach Todd McLellan. The 35-year-old goaltender’s best seasons were when he played for McLellan with the Edmonton Oilers. He indicated that was a big selling point in convincing him to sign a one-year, 35-plus contract with the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltending was considered a prime issue for the Kings to address this summer. Talbot’s age and recent injury history hampered his performance over the past two years. He will be paired with Pheonix Copley as the Kings’ goalie tandem to start the season.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Drouin is looking forward to a fresh start with the Avalanche after a difficult six-year tenure with the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old winger was hampered by injuries and personal issues during his time with the Habs. He signed a one-year, $825K contract with the Avalanche, reuniting him with his friend and former Junior teammate Nathan MacKinnon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A solid performance with the Avs this season will help Drouin get his flagging NHL career back on track. It remains to be seen if he’ll be skating alongside MacKinnon but just being his teammate again could have a positive effect on Drouin’s game.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings yesterday placed Filip Zadina on waivers. General manager Steve Yzerman said the move was made after attempting to trade the 23-year-old winger. Yzerman indicated Zadina’s agent has approached him before the draft asking for a trade to provide his client with an opportunity for a fresh start elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sixth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Zadina has struggled to play up to expectations as a scoring winger. His best performance thus far was a 24-point effort in 74 games during the 2021-22 campaign. He’s signed through 2024-25 and could remain with the Wings if he clears waivers at noon ET today.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2023

by | Apr 4, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2023

Check out the latest Canadiens speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: In his March 31 mailbag, Marc Dumont was asked if Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin will be playing in the NHL next season. He doesn’t see the Habs re-signing the pending UFA winger but thinks he could land with another club as a free agent based on his recent surge of production.

Montreal Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drouin struggled through injuries and high expectations in Montreal. With the Canadiens rebuilding with promising youngsters, I agree that the 27-year-old winger will be better off moving on to another organization.

He’ll likely have to settle for a significant pay cut on a one-year “show-me” contract. Nevertheless, I think there will be teams in need of playmaking skills willing to take the chance on him.

One reader wondered what the Canadiens could do to move up in this year’s draft into the second-overall position as whoever wins the first-overall pick won’t be trading it. Dumont doesn’t see any of the clubs ahead of the Habs in the draft order agreeing to move down unless they get a very enticing offer, such as prospect Lane Hutson or the first-rounder they received from the Florida Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming the Canadiens don’t rise in the draft lottery, general manager Kent Hughes could make inquiries with the teams ahead of him in the order. However, I agree that it will cost a lot to do so and I don’t see the Canadiens parting with someone like Hutson to do so.

Hughes could be willing to move the Panthers’ pick as that’s now likely to be middle of the pack. I wouldn’t be shocked if he used that to land an established young NHL player as he did to get Kirby Dach last summer. Dumont’s colleague Marco D’Amico suggested using that pick in a package deal for Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Dumont was asked which of the following players – Joel Edmundson, Mike Hoffman, Joel Armia or Brendan Gallagher – would be on the Canadiens roster on opening night next season. He believes all four could be back for various reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico suggested otherwise regarding Edmundson. He claimed the Canadiens tried to move the veteran defenseman at the trade deadline but his health worried a few prospective teams and prices tanked once he returned to action. He noted the Canadiens have too much depth on the left side of their blueline.

Those are good points but Hughes could decide to hang onto Edmundson for at least the start of next season in the hope that his trade value improves. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a trade this summer for the right price.