Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 4, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 4, 2024

Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel plus updates on the Bruins and Wild in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST GUENTZEL SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos making an off-hand comment during his Friday show that he’d heard the Penguins offered Jake Guentzel a six-year, $50 million contract, but it had not yet been signed.

Kingerski would be surprised if Guentzel rejected such an offer from the Penguins. He might get a little more than that on the open market, but his stats are a little inflated from skating on Sidney Crosby’s wing for most of his career.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That rumored offer cited by Kypreos breaks down to an average annual value of $8.33 million. I agree with Kingerski that it’s unlikely Guentzel would reject that deal unless it comes without some no-trade protection. That could be a sticking point as a lot of high-end pending unrestricted free agents prefer to have no-trade or no-movement clauses to give them a measure of control over the life of their contracts.

The Montreal Canadiens trading Sean Monahan on Friday to the Winnipeg Jets has prompted some to ponder how much the Penguins might get for Guentzel in the trade market. Kingerski looks at what the Canadiens got for Monahan and the Calgary Flames for sending Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks and doubts the Penguins would get significantly more for Guentzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski noted that any first-round pick the Penguins might get as part of the return for Guentzel would likely be somewhere between 20th and 32nd overall. Recent draft analysis indicates a 35 percent probability that a player selected in that range will even play 200 career NHL games.

It’ll be interesting to see what Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas does with Guentzel leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. He could put the winger on the trade block if the club remains out of playoff contention or if there’s no progress in contract talks.

What he could fetch in the trade market should be better than what the Flames got for Lindholm and the Canadiens got for Monahan. Kingerski pointed out that there are more buyers than sellers in this year’s trade market but little money to spend. As a result, he believes the return for Guentzel might not be the manna from heaven that some Penguins fans believe it could be.

CAN THE BRUINS AFFORD CHRIS TANEV OR NOAH HANIFIN?

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss pointed out the Bruins still need to add another veteran defenseman to their blueline before the trade deadline. He suggested the Calgary Flames’ Chris Tanev as he would fit the role of physical d-man who can log big minutes, kill penalties, block shots and clear the front of the net.

Goss cited TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicating the general price tag for Tanev is believed to be a second-round pick plus another asset. A team could probably get him now if they offered up a first-round pick. The Bruins, however, don’t have a second-rounder until 2026 and don’t own a first-rounder in this year’s draft. Giving up their 2025 first-round pick would be too much for a 34-year-old defenseman.

Tanev’s teammate Noah Hanifin would be a better long-term fit. He’s 27 and possesses a very good two-way skill set. However, it would cost the Bruins a lot to acquire him, assuming he’s willing to sign a contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored Bruins GM Don Sweeney would love to land Hanifin. That seems something more likely to occur in the offseason when he becomes a UFA and the Bruins have the cap space to pursue him.

Given the Bruins’ lack of tradeable assets and limited salary cap space, I don’t see them landing Tanev or Hanifin by the trade deadline. They’ll have to pursue more affordable options on the blueline.

Boston could make it work if they were to shop Jake DeBrusk. Like Tanev and Hanfin, the 27-year-old winger is slated to become a UFA on July 1.

The Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy suggested the Bruins should attempt to move him in a blockbuster deal if they’re unable to sign him to a contract extension before March 8. However, the Flames might not be interested unless he’s willing to sign a new contract with them. He might not even suit their needs if they’re attempting to rebuild.

POTENTIAL WILD TRADE BAIT.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith recently looked at the Minnesota Wild’s potential trade candidate if they become a seller by the March 8 trade deadline.

Their pending UFAs include Pat Maroon, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brandon Duhaime, Zach Bogosian and Alex Goligoski. Connor Dewar is due to become a restricted free agent who could be available if the Wild don’t like what it could cost if he takes them to arbitration.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury has come up recently in the rumor mill but it seems unlikely he’ll agree to a trade unless he gets a significant role with a new club. At age 39 and with his career winding down, he’ll be at best a backup with a contender and that might not hold much interest for him.

Maroon and Bogosian have Stanley Cup experience which could make them enticing for contenders seeking affordable playoff depth.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2024

Recaps of Friday’s games, the Canucks sign hockey ops president Jim Rutherford to a contract extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild tallied five power-play goals to upset the Florida Panthers 6-4. Kirill Kaprizov (two goals and an assist) and Brock Faber (one goal, two assists) each had three points while Ryan Hartman tallied twice for the 19-21-5 Wild. Aaron Ekblad had a goal and three assists for the Panthers (27-14-4) as they remain in second place in the Atlantic Division with 58 points.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Wild as goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury suffered an upper-body injury and center Connor Dewar a lower-body injury. Both will be reevaluated today. Meanwhile, the Panthers sat out captain Aleksander Barkov for the second straight game as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Martin Necas and Michael Bunting each had two points for the 25-14-3 Hurricanes (55 points), who sit one point behind the second-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. Alex Lyon made 26 saves for the Red Wings (23-17-5) as they slipped into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 51 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes placed goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (concussion) on injured reserve and claimed netminder Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A four-goal second period powered the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nico Hischier and Alexander Holtz each tallied their 12th goal of the season while Vitek Vanecek stopped 29 shots for the 23-17-3 Devils (49 points) as they sit two points behind the Red Wings. Cole Sillinger replied for the 14-22-9 Blues Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils placed defenseman Brendan Smith on injured reserve with a sprained knee.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the New York Islanders 4-3 on an overtime goal by Seth Jones. Joey Anderson, Jason Dickinson and Boris Katchouk each had a goal and an assist for the 14-30-2 Blackhawks. Kyle Palmieri and Noah Dobson each had two points for the Islanders (19-15-11) as they sit behind the Devils with 49 points with the latter holding two games in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Isles are winless in their last four games (0-3-1) and have just two wins in their last 10 games.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: The Vancouver Canucks signed Jim Rutherford to a three-year contract extension as their president of hockey operations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford was hired in December 2021 by a club in turmoil as it had struggled through a period of front office in-fighting, questionable decisions by management, and inconsistent performances by their players.

Over two years later, Rutherford has stabilized management and the coaching staff, leading to considerable on-ice improvement. They’re currently sitting in first place in the overall standings with stars such as Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser on pace for career-best seasons.

The next challenge for Rutherford and his general manager Patrik Allvin is re-signing Pettersson, who intends to wait until the end of this season to open contract negotiations. Sitting among the NHL’s top-10 scorers, he’ll command a significant raise on his next deal that could make him one of the league’s highest-paid players.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Washington Capitals signed forward Aliaksei Protas to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.375 million. In his third season with the Capitals, the 23-year-old Protas has 10 goals and 42 points in 133 games.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed center Shane Pinto to a one-year, $775K contract on the eve of his return from a 41-game suspension for violating the league’s sports wagering rules.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken forward Yanni Gourde received a two-game suspension by the league’s department of player safety for charging Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

NHL.COM: Arizona Coyotes forward Liam O’Brien was fined $2,018.23 for roughing Canucks forward Sam Lafferty.

CBS SPORTS: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 18, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 18, 2024

Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jakob Chychrun, Patrice Bergeron and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS GM DISMISSES GUENTZEL TRADE SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he hasn’t had any conversations with other teams about Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old Penguins winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Dubas downplayed recent comments by Guentzel’s agent Ben Hankinson suggesting the possibility that negotiations could get ugly. He felt that Hankinson was referring to where the team is going in the next few years and that the agent didn’t mean for his comments to develop into the level of noise they received.

The Penguins GM said at some point they’ll determine together what’s best for both sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed Dubas could consider trading Guentzel by the March 8 trade deadline if the club falls out of playoff contention and an agreement on a contract extension hasn’t been reached by then. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold in the coming weeks.

WILD GM CONSIDERS FLEURY TRADE TALK PREMATURE

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin telling The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that it’s premature to start gauging the trade market for Marc-Andre Fleury. The 39-year-old goaltender is eligible for UFA status on July 1.

Guerin understands Fleury will draw interest from other clubs if the Wild fail to rise in the standings soon. Nevertheless, he said his team isn’t giving up on their season.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Fleury carries a full no-movement clause. LeBrun believes it would take a prominent role with another club for him to consider moving it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m not sure a prominent role is out there for Fleury at this stage of his career. He remains well-liked but I think interested clubs would prefer him in a backup role.

COULD CHYCHRUN BE ON THE MOVE?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch suggests we keep an eye on Jakob Chychrun as Senators GM Steve Staios weighs his trade options. He cites sources claiming Staios is getting plenty of interest in the 25-year-old defenseman from other teams.

Garrioch claims the Edmonton Oilers are among the teams that could use some help on defense. They were in heavy pursuit of Chychrun last season which is why Garrioch thinks they’d be the best trade fit.

Chychrun is signed through next season with an average annual value of $4.6 million. Garrioch thinks Staios could meet soon with the blueliner’s agent to discuss a contract extension. If the numbers don’t add up, Staios’ discussions with other clubs could heat up.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wouldn’t surprise me if Chychrun wound up on the trade block before deadline day. Staios didn’t acquire the rearguard and isn’t beholden to him. The Senators are a mess and changes must be made.

However, I’m not convinced the Oilers will be the best fit in terms of salary cap space. They’re pressed against the $83.5 million cap and only have $920K of projected trade-deadline cap room. It’ll have to be a dollar-for-dollar swap or a three-team deal with the Senators retaining half of Chychrun’s cap hit with the Oilers moving out a salaried player to make the dollars fit.

Let’s not forget that the Oilers were interested in Chychrun at the time because they were in the market for a left-side defenseman. They addressed that need before the 2023 trade deadline by acquiring Mattias Ekholm. What they need now is a right-side defenseman. I know Chychrun can play that role but he’s better off on the left side.

COULD BERGERON RETURN TO THE BRUINS?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney discussing the possibility of Patrice Bergeron returning to the Bruins during a recent episode of their “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast.

Bergeron has been skating to stay fresh for the Bruins’ alumni games. Bissonette and Whitney mused over whether the former Bruins captain might be preparing for a February comeback.

Murphy casts doubt on that possibility, citing two sources who dismissed that notion. He also pointed out that Bergeron has repeatedly said he’s at peace with his decision to retire and considers him a man of his word.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bergeron enjoyed a career that will make him a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee. He’s got a Stanley Cup ring and won more Selke Trophies than anyone in league history. He’s got nothing left to prove and now wants to spend more time with his family. I’ll be shocked if he staged a comeback.

LATEST ON THE FLYERS

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently musing over Arthur Kaliyev’s future with the Los Angeles Kings. Friedman observed that the 22-year-old winger hasn’t been playing much this season. Bailey wondered if this might be an opportunity for the Philadelphia Flyers to try and acquire Kaliyev if the price is right.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have been struggling of late. If they were to put Kaliyev on the trade block they’ll probably want a good roster player in return instead of draft picks and prospects.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz cited a recent report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting the Flyers could be interested in signing Nick Seeler to a contract extension.

However, a league source informed Kurz that no dollar figures were exchanged and the club doesn’t seem to be in a rush to do anything with Seeler or Sean Walker before the trade deadline. They could opt to retain both blueliners and try to make the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring injuries or a collapse in the standings between now and March 8, I think the Flyers will stand pat and push for the playoffs. After that, they’ll sit down with Walker and Seeler and see if they can negotiate new deals with them.

JETS IN THE MARKET

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Winnipeg Jets are looking for an affordable fit at center and on their blueline as the trade deadline approaches.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch also reported hearing the Jets would like to bolster their depth at center before the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal’s Sean Monahan could be a fit here but the Jets could face competition from other clubs to acquire him. Cost-effective blueline depth could include the Flyers’ Walker and Seeler and Anaheim’s Ilya Lyubushkin.

CANADIENS NOT PLANNING TO TRADE XHEKAJ

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said his club isn’t planning to trade Arber Xhekaj. The popular defenseman has been skating with their AHL affiliate in Laval since Dec. 4, prompting rumors that he might not fit into the club’s plans.

Hughes noted the Canadiens sent Xhekaj to Laval to work on improving aspects of his game. The improvement of Jayden Struble allowed them to do so. They want Xhekaj to improve his defensive play so he can help the Canadiens over the long term.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2024

A look at the goalie market plus the latest on Jake Guentzel and Steven Stamkos in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT DOES THE NHL GOALIE MARKET LOOK LIKE?

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman looked at how the goaltender market is shaping up ahead of the March 8 trade deadline.

Friedman noted that it’s now common knowledge that the relationship between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins has gone sideways. He thinks most clubs weren’t surprised by this and probably already knew he was available.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).

Merzlikin’s contract ($5.4 million average annual value through 2026-27) would be a complicated trade. There’s a price for the goalie as well as a price to convince the Blue Jackets to retain part of his salary.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there are no takers for Merzlikins right now. That’s in part because of his contract but he also has to improve his play to reignite his market value before the trade deadline.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline acknowledged those factors raised by Friedman and LeBrun. Nevertheless, he listed the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks as four potential trade destinations.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols examined the pros and cons of whether Merzlikins would be a good fit with the Devils. However, he cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli expressing his doubts that the Blue Jackets will be able to move the goaltender for the same reasons as noted by Friedman and LeBrun.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch pointed out that not many teams can afford Merzlikin’s contract and it’s unlikely the Blue Jackets will retain any part of it. “We’re told the market is thin because teams with goaltending issues aren’t sure Merzlikins is the answer.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: To be blunt, Merzlikins is not the answer. He’s done nothing over the past two seasons that would make any club want to pony up assets to add him to their roster and salary-cap payroll.

That could change if Merzlikins gets more starts in the coming weeks and performs well. That could prompt a desperate general manager to take a chance. For now, I don’t see a market for his services.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun spoke with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin about whether they’d consider moving Marc-Andre Fleury if some teams were to call about him. Guerin said his club hasn’t given up on making the playoffs but he acknowledged that he expects teams to call if his club falls out of the race. He’d have to go to Fleury and his agent because he’s got a no-movement clause.

LeBrun noted there are some obvious destinations for Fleury. He cited teams with goalie issues like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes. He also suggested the Edmonton Oilers as a mentor for Stuart Skinner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sounds like that could be a conversation for when the All-Star break ends on Feb. 6.

NHL NETWORK: Friedman repeated what he said on Saturday about Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom. They haven’t gone to him with any trade proposals yet plus they’ve set a high bar with their asking price. Markstrom also has a full no-movement clause.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes indicated that he might retain Jake Allen for the remainder of this season. Friedman believes Hughes has set a price on the 33-year-old goaltender and won’t move him until someone meets it.

Friedman also believes that’s the same situation going on with the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson. There’s a price for Gibson and a price if an interested club wants the Ducks to retain part of his $6.4 million annual salary.

The Los Angeles Kings could be one of the teams in the market for help between the pipes. They lost backup Pheonix Copley for the season to a knee injury and brought in Aaron Dell on a PTO contract. Friedman also believes the New Jersey Devils have been looking around in the trade market for a netminder. He wonders just how big they want to go.

WHAT NEXT FOR STAMKOS AND THE LIGHTNING

NHL NETWORK: Friedman noted that Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said yesterday that Steven Stamkos won’t be traded this season. He said that it’s not a secret that Stamkos wants to play out his career in Tampa Bay. Friedman doesn’t think it’s been easy for the Lightning captain to see some of his teammates getting taken care of a year before their contracts expired.

Teams are interested in Stamkos but everyone is operating from the position that he wants to remain with the Lightning.

TSN: Chris Johnston also noted that the Lightning already have over $41 million invested in nine forwards for 2024-25. Even with a rising salary cap, the math will be difficult here. He believes there is a mutual desire to get things done but it’s one of the issues lingering beneath the surface.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The combination of what next season’s salary cap will look like combined with Stamkos’ level of performance at this stage in his career are what I believe are the reasons why he didn’t get a contract extension last year.

It will come down to how much of a pay cut Stamkos is willing to accept to finish his career in Tampa Bay and for how long.

LATEST ON GUENTZEL

NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman believes the determining factor in Jake Guentzel’s contract talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins could be where management thinks the club is going. He thinks GM Kyle Dubas is trying to rebuild a club that doesn’t have a lot of young assets while at the same time trying to satisfy veterans like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Friedman thinks the Penguins are reluctant to trade any of their young assets for short-term fixes.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun doesn’t rule out the possibility of Guentzel getting a contract extension before March 8. However, he wondered if that would be the wise move given the club’s aging core. He thinks trading the winger would be a tougher call but the right one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Penguins slide out of contention perhaps that decision becomes easier for Dubas. As Friedman and LeBrun pointed out, even if they make the playoffs they lack the depth to contend for the Stanley Cup.

Guentzel will have to weigh carefully that the Penguins’ future could involve a rebuild and if he’s willing to be part of that. Dubas will also have to consider if there is a place for Guentzel in his plans.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2024

Marc-Andre Fleury ties Patrick Roy for career wins, Sam Reinhart and Zach Hyman have hat-trick performances, Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard is sidelined with a fractured jaw, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves for his 551st career NHL win in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fleury is tied with Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy for second on the all-time wins list. Marco Rossi scored the game-winner while Matt Boldy and Brock Faber each collected three points for the 17-17-4 Wild (38 points), who sit three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Cole Sillinger tallied all three goals for the 13-19-9 Blue Jackets.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart collected a hat trick as his club picked up its seventh straight win by dropping the Colorado Avalanche 8-4, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk each had four points and Carter Verhaeghe had three for the red-hot Panthers (25-12-2, 52 points) as they moved within two points of first place in the Eastern Conference. Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin each had two points for the 25-12-3 Avalanche (53 points) as they remain one point out of first place in the Western Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche played without defenseman Bowen Byram. He’s expected to miss “a handful of games” due to a lower-body injury suffered on Thursday against the Dallas Stars.

Speaking of hat tricks and seven-game win streaks, Zach Hyman’s three goals continued the Edmonton Oilers’ winning ways in a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Evan Bouchard collected three assists while Stuart Skinner made 29 saves for the 20-15-1 Oilers (41 points), who moved into a playoff spot for the first time this season as they hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Anton Forsberg turned aside 43 shots for the 14-21-0 Senators as their losing skid extended to three games.

A third-period goal by Travis Konecny lifted the Philadelphia Flyers past the Calgary Flames 3-2. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (20-13-6) as they snapped a four-game losing skid and sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 46 points. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 39 shots for the 17-17-5 Flames as they are two points out of a Western wild-card spot.

The Boston Bruins rolled to a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trent Frederic tallied two goals while David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm and Matthew Poitras each collected two points as the Bruins 24-8-6 sit atop the Atlantic Division with 54 points. Brayden Point netted two goals for the 19-17-5 Lightning as they sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 43 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have the same number of points as the New York Rangers and the idle Winnipeg Jets. However, the Jets hold first place in the overall standings with 23 regulation wins while the Rangers are second overall with 21 regulation wins. The Bruins have fewer victories.

Speaking of the Rangers, they suffered a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on a shootout goal by Cole Caufield. Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist as the Rangers overcame a 3-0 deficit but Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault kicked out 45 shots for the win. The Rangers (26-10-2) hold first place in the Eastern Conference while the Canadiens improved to 17-17-5.

The Vancouver Canucks held off the New Jersey Devils by a score of 6-4. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson each had two goals and an assist while Quinn Hughes collected three assists for the Canucks (25-11-3) as they hold first place in the Pacific Division with 53 points and sit one point out of first place in the overall standings. Colin Miller tallied twice for the 21-15-2 Devils as they cling to the final Eastern wild-card spot with 44 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left this game with a broken foot from a blocked shot. The Devils also played without Timo Meier as he was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 30 while Jack Hughes missed this game with an upper-body injury suffered during Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy returned to action nearly two months after being sidelined by a fractured leg. However, blueliner Nikita Zadorov is out with an undisclosed injury while Phillip Di Giuseppe was placed on long-term injury reserve.

A 40-save performance by goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave the Buffalo Sabres a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Zemgus Girgensons scored the game-winner for the 17-19-4 Sabres. Rickard Rakell replied for the Penguins (19-15-4) as they sit two points out of a wild-card berth in the East with 42 points.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored two goals and an assist in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, handing the latter their 11th straight loss. The 20-10-7 Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with 47 points while the Sharks (9-28-3) remain at the bottom of the overall standings.

The St. Louis Blues nipped the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 thanks to a 29-save effort by goaltender Jordan Binnington. Brayden Schenn netted the winning goal in the shootout as the Blues (20-17-1) sit just outside the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 41 points. Teuvo Teravainen scored for the 22-13-5 Hurricanes as they extended their points streak to six games and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scored twice in the third period as his club held off the Dallas Stars 4-3. Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist each had two points for the 22-17-1 Predators as they hold the first Western wild-card spot with 45 points. Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley each had two points for the Stars (22-11-5) as they hold third place in the Central Division with 49 points.

The Vegas Golden Knights got two goals each from Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Logan Thompson stopped 28 shots for the Golden Knights (23-12-5) as they hold second place in the Pacific Division with 51 points. Mathew Barzal and Matt Martin replied for the 18-11-10 Islanders as they hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 46 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The Chicago Blackhawks placed rookie star Connor Bedard on injured reserve after he suffered a fractured jaw during Friday’s game against the Devils. There is no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks already have several players sidelined by injuries with Bedard now their ninth player on injured reserve. He could return sometime in mid-February at the earliest but he’s almost certain to miss the 2024 All-Star Game on Feb. 3.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes recalled forward Dylan Guenther on an emergency basis with winger Jason Zucker serving a three-game suspension.

MAYOR’S MANOR: Los Angeles Kings backup goaltender Pheonix Copley is out for the season following successful ACL surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings are using Aaron Dell as Copley’s replacement but they could go into the trade market for a goaltender before the March 8 deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 1, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 1, 2024

Another milestone for Marc-Andre Fleury, the Senators make some front office changes and the Golden Knights prepare to face off against the Kraken in the 2024 Winter Classic. Details on these and other stories in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game but his club dropped a 3-2 decision to the Winnipeg Jets. Fleury made 26 saves and Frederick Gaudreau had a goal and an assist for the 16-15-4 Wild (36 points) as they sit four points out of a Western Conference wild-card berth. Laurent Brossoit stopped 24 shots while Dominic Toninato snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period as the Jets (22-9-4) extended their points streak to eight games and sit one point out of first place in the Central Division with 48 points.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury became just the fourth goaltender in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game plateau, joining Martin Brodeur (1,266), Roberto Luongo (1,044) and Patrick Roy (1,029) on the all-time list.

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-1. Anton Forsberg kicked out 45 shots while Thomas Chabot collected two assists in his first game back with the Senators since being sidelined on Dec. 2 with a leg injury. Tage Thompson tallied for the Sabres, who sank to 14-19-4 while the Senators are 14-18-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Senators announced several front-office moves. President of hockey operations and interim general manager Steve Staios becomes the full-time general manager, former NHL player and TSN hockey analyst Dave Poulin is their new senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations and Ryan Bowness becomes associate general manager.

The Senators made a management change earlier this season when Staios replaced GM Pierre Dorion on Nov. 2. They also replaced head coach D.J. Smith on Dec. 18 with Jacques Martin on an interim basis. It’s expected they’ll announce a full-time replacement in the offseason.

With Staios now fully in charge of the front office, the focus is likely to shift toward possible roster moves if the Senators fail to show any significant improvement between now and the March 8 trade deadline.

Speaking of the Sabres, Zemgus Girgensons returned to action after being sidelined since Nov. 24 by a lower-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers winger Warren Foegele had a career-high five points (two goals, three assists) as his club thumped the Anaheim Ducks 7-2. Leon Draisaitl has a goal and two assists for the 18-15-1 Oilers (37 points) as they won their fifth straight game and sit three points out of the final Western wild-card spot. John Gibson made 32 saves for the 13-23-0 Ducks.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-0 deficit in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist to become the first player to reach 60 points this season as the Lightning (17-11-6) vaulted one point over the idle Washington Capitals into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 41 points. Cole Caufield, Johnathan Kovecevic and Nick Suzuki replied for the 15-16-5 Canadiens as they dropped their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens center Christian Dvorak missed this game with an upper-body injury and is sidelined indefinitely.

Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment netted a hat trick and set up another goal in an 8-1 drubbing of the Chicago Blackhawks. Tyler Seguin had a goal and two assists for the 22-9-4 Stars, who sit in third place behind the Jets in the Central Division with 48 points. Philipp Kurashev netted the lone goal for the 11-23-2 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winnipeg and Dallas have identical records but the Jets hold second place in the Central with 20 regulation wins.

Boston Bruins forward Trent Frederic scored twice and set up another as his club defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3. Charlie McAvoy collected three assists for the 22-7-6 Bruins (50 points) as they moved to within one point of the league-leading New York Rangers. Patrick Kane’s six-game points streak came to an end as the Red Wings dropped to 17-16-4.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got a 37-save performance from Alex Nedeljkovic in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Lars Eller scored twice for the 18-13-4 Penguins (40 points) as they picked up their third straight win and extended their points streak to six games, sitting one point out of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Ilya Sorokin stopped 35 shots for the 18-15-5 Islanders as they sit in the first Eastern wild-card spot with 43 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield returned to the lineup after missing the last eight games with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman got a goal and an assist in his 500th career NHL game while Andrew Mangiapane collected three assists to nip the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Dennis Gilbert also had a goal and an assist for the 15-16-5 Flames. Travis Konecny had two helpers for the 19-12-5 Flyers as they remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points.

Third-period goals by Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Manson lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Nathan MacKinnon picked up two assists to extend his home points streak to 19 games as the Avalanche (23-11-3) hold first place in the Central Division with 49 points. Tomas Hertl scored for the 9-25-3 Sharks, who’ve dropped eight straight games and also lost top defenseman Mario Ferraro with a suspected shoulder injury following a check by MacKinnon.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights will face off against the Seattle Kraken at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park at noon PT on Jan. 1. This will be the Kraken’s first outdoor game and the second for the Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll watch it for the novelty of seeing an outdoor game as usual. Besides, there are no World Junior Championship games scheduled for today.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed goaltender Ilya Samsonov on waivers before sending him to their AHL affiliate. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres placed goalie Eric Comrie on waivers before sending him to their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both netminders are expected to clear waivers today. Samsonov has struggled this season and the Leafs intend to work with him during his time with the Marlies to help him improve his game. Comrie, meanwhile, is the third man out behind Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen among the Sabres’ goalies.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Timo Meier left Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins with an injury. There’s been no update yet regarding his status.