NHL Headlines and Rumors – September 14, 2024

by | Sep 14, 2024

NHL Headlines and Rumors – September 14, 2024

Check out the latest on Ilya Sorokin, Phil Kessel, the latest Flyers speculation, and more in today’s NHL Headlines and Rumors.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Ilya Sorokin suffered an injury during offseason training. The 29-year-old goaltender is skating and could miss the first couple of days of training camp. Lamoriello doesn’t believe Sorokin’s ailment will keep him out of the lineup for the regular season.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last week that Sorokin was dealing with something. We’ll likely learn more about his status following his training camp medical next week.

NEW YORK POST: Speaking of the Islanders, they’ve invited winger Matt Martin to training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martin, 35, spent 13 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Islanders.

SPORTSNET: Phil Kessel isn’t ready to hang up his skates. Elliotte Friedman reports the 36-year-old winger still hopes for another NHL opportunity. The league’s reigning Ironman’s last NHL game was an Apr. 13, 2023 playoff contest with the Vegas Golden Knights.

The report suggests interest in Kessel among NHL clubs is lacking given his age and that he missed all of last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe someone will take a chance on Kessel with a PTO but it’s unlikely that he’ll land a job at this stage.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen won’t be a full participant when training camp opens next week. The 29-year-old had shoulder surgery during the offseason and there’s no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs were already facing the start of the season without Valeri Nichushkin as he’s in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and remains suspended until mid-November. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog hopes to stage a comeback from knee surgeries but his status remains uncertain.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers hired Wayne Simmonds as a community relations ambassador and hockey operations consultant. Simmonds, 36, spent nearly eight seasons with the Flyers, scoring 203 goals and 175 assists for 378 points in 584 games.

THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of the Flyers, Kevin Kurz believes forward Joel Farabee will be in the spotlight early on this season. The 24-year-old forward struggled last season and Kurz doesn’t have him pencilled in among their top-six forwards.

Training camp will determine how things shake out. Kurz suggests Farabee and his $5 million average annual value through 2026-27 could hit the trade block if the Flyers try to free up cap space for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Farabee sometimes popped up in last season’s rumor mill due to his inconsistent production. This season could determine if he has a future in Philadelphia beyond this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Rob Couch suggests Flyers prospect goaltender Alexei Kolosov could be a good option for the Nashville Predators to replace the departed Yaroslav Askarov, who was traded last month to the San Jose Sharks.

Kolosov, 22, is not attending Flyers training camp despite being on an entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Flyers will toll Kolosov’s contract a year if he stays in Europe this season. However, they might be willing to entertain trade offers for him.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs performance coach Greg Harden passed away Thursday from complications due to surgery. He was 75.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Harden’s family, friends and the Leafs organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2024

by | Sep 10, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 10, 2024

The Blue Jackets, Flames, and NHL dignitaries pay respects to the Gaudreaus, Sidney Crosby is optimistic he’ll get a new contract with the Penguins, the latest on the Senators, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and the NHL joined the Gaudreau family in memorializing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during the funeral for the brothers on Monday in Philadelphia.

An alleged drunk driver killed the brothers while they were riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).

Groups from the Blue Jackets and Flames attended the funeral along with NHL dignitaries including league commissioner Gary Bettman and former Blue Jackets Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Pallbearers included new Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan and former Blue Jackets Eric Robinson.

Johnny’s wife Meredith revealed she is pregnant with the couple’s third child as she eulogized her late husband.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The tragic, senseless deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has been a blow to the hockey world, but the grief and pain that their loved ones are going through is unimaginable. Once again, I send my sincere condolences to the Gaudreau family.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby remains optimistic he’ll have a new contract in place soon with the Penguins.

“I don’t know what day specifically, but it’s been really positive and hasn’t been a difficult process,” said the Penguins captain.

Crosby remains hopeful that the Penguins can be a playoff contender, pointing to the club’s strong finish last season despite missing the cut. He believes they can get over the hump if they can gain consistency in a few areas of their game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of news over the status of Crosby’s contract extension negotiations with the Penguins has sparked rising speculation about his future with the retooling club. His comments on Monday provide some clarity to the issue but no timetable for when a deal could be done.

TSN: Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle denied rumors that his change of agents during the offseason is related to any desire to be traded. “I love being in Ottawa,” he told reporters during the club’s charity golf tournament on Monday.

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports the change is related to marketing opportunities in Europe for the German forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Senators’ difficulties in ending their long postseason drought have some observers wondering how long core players like Stutzle are willing to stick around. That’s why his changing agents gave rise to those trade rumors. Another struggling effort this season will only prompt more questions about their futures in Ottawa.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, Thomas Chabot admitted a wrist issue hampered him for the past two seasons. The 27-year-old defenseman said he took care of it during the offseason and is fully healthy for the coming season. He appeared in just 51 games last season. Injuries have prevented Chabot from playing a full season during his seven-year NHL career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Chabot will be crucial to the Senators’ playoff hopes this season.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Brock Boeser will be taking preventative measures to prevent another blood-clotting issue like the one that caused him to miss Game 7 of his club’s second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers last spring.

Boeser is now off blood thinners and has resumed contact training. His condition will be carefully monitored, including getting up and moving every hour during flights rather than sleeping and wearing compression socks.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the Seattle Kraken are close to signing Adam Larsson to a four-year contract extension worth between $5 million and $6 million. The 31-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a four-year, $16 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the AAV on Larsson’s extension will be $5.25 million. It’s expected to be announced on Tuesday.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Predators signed forward Juuso Parssinen to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K. They also signed defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to a one-year, two-way deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Goaltender Alexei Kolosov is not expected to attend Philadelphia Flyers training camp. If so, his contract will likely be tolled forward to allow the Flyers to retain Kolosov’s rights at the same details and pay.

TSN: Mike Gartner will succeed Lanny McDonald as Chairman of the Board for the Hockey Hall of Fame after McDonald’s 10-year term limit next June.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines & Rumors – September 8, 2024

by | Sep 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines & Rumors – September 8, 2024

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes on his goals for the upcoming season, the Wild attempted to acquire Patrik Laine, an update on Ryan Johansen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is proud of winning the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 but is putting that behind him to focus on his club’s goals and his personal ones for the upcoming season.

Hughes, 24, finished last season with a career-high 17 goals and 75 assists for 92 points. He believes he can reach 20 goals and doesn’t rule out 100 points this season, explaining that he felt he missed a lot of scoring opportunities last season.

The Canucks captain also believes his club will be better in 2024-25, pointing to the addition of forwards Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood and Daniel Sprong and defenseman Derek Forbort.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes doesn’t see his club enduring the inconsistency of the previous years before last season’s improvement, noting that they’re no longer an up-and-coming club as they were back then. He indicated core players like himself, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser are older and more experienced.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes and his teammates will face significant pressure to build on their 109-point performance last season, the third-best record in franchise history. How they handle the heightened expectations could determine the outcome of this season.

SI.COM: Nick Horwat cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claiming the Minnesota Wild attempted to acquire Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 26-year-old winger was traded to the Montreal Canadiens last month.

Friedman believes the Wild were “very interested” in Laine. However, Horwat pointed out the cap-strapped Wild would’ve had to ship out some salary to absorb the winger’s $8.7 million cap hit through 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored last month the Wild could look into acquiring Laine. There was also talk that they were on his 10-team “no-trade” list.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports the Philadelphia Flyers hope to receive further clarification regarding their efforts to void Ryan Johansen’s contract.

According to Kurz, whether Johansen was healthy enough to report to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate following his acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche is at the heart of the disagreement. The Flyers originally thought they’d receive clarification before the start of the season but a team source suggests it’s “going to be a few weeks”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansen has a year remaining on his contract. The average annual value is $8 million, of which $4 million was retained by the Nashville Predators when they traded him last summer to the Avalanche. The Flyers took on that portion of his AAV when they acquired him earlier this year.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Steve Warne wonders if veteran winger Mike Hoffman has played his final NHL game. A 70-point producer in 2018-19 with the Florida Panthers, the 34-year-old winger has been unable to land a contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman’s production has tumbled since then, partly due to two COVID-shortened seasons but also because of three injury-shortened campaigns with rebuilding clubs in Montreal and San Jose.

The knock on Hoffman is he’s a one-dimensional offensive player whose defensive play leaves something to be desired. Age could also be catching up with him.

DAILY FACEOFF: Edmonton Oilers winger Corey Perry helped WWE wrestler Kevin Owens in his triple-threat match against Austin Theory during WWE Smackdown in Edmonton on Friday night.

Perry got involved when Owens and Theory battled outside the ring, grabbing Theory and holding back his arms, allowing Owens to deliver a chop across Theory’s chest. Owens high-fived Perry afterward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nice little bit of cross-promotion there.

SPORTSNET: Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder paid tribute to the Gaudreau brothers during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Vedder noted he and bassist Jeff Ament lost people close to them in tragic accidents. He cited his friend, Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, saying what good men the brothers were. Hearing the Gaudreaus came from Philadelphia and grew up watching games in that city, the band dedicated the song “Given To Fly” to the brothers, their families, loved ones and teammates.

RUMORS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying he expects a bridge deal between the Devils and Dawson Mercer. The 22-year-old winger completed his entry-level contract last season.

Friedman doesn’t see how a long-term deal is possible given the Devils’ limited cap space. They have just over $4.9 million for 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll probably be a two or three-year contract with an AAV between $3.5 million and $4 million.

Nichols also tweeted on Friday that former New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck remains focused on signing an NHL contract. He indicated a handful of teams have inquired about professional tryout offers.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins believes a reunion between the Oilers and Justin Schultz is possible, saying the two sides have talked. He also noted the rumors linking the club to Kevin Shattenkirk but feels it’s more likely they sign a more affordable defense option like Travis Dermott.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schultz, 34, began his NHL career with the Oilers, playing 3 1/2 seasons before getting traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 27, 2016.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 3, 2024

by | Sep 3, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 3, 2024

​Could the Oilers attempt to get Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid to accept deferred payments on their next contracts? Could that also be an option for the Devils and Dawson Mercer? Would it make sense for the Flyers to pursue Nicholas Robertson? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parsons wondered if the Edmonton Oilers will follow the Carolina Hurricanes’ lead and attempt to use deferred payments with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid to lower their cap hits.

The Hurricanes recently signed forward Seth Jarvis to an eight-year, $63.2 million contract in which Jarvis will defer part of his annual salary to the end of the contract. Instead of an annual cap hit of $7.9 million, it’ll be $7.42 million.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July and could receive an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $14 million from the Oilers. McDavid is eligible for UFA status in July 2026. 

Parsons believes the Oilers could free up considerable cap space if both players agree to defer part of their salaries. He cited a hypothetical scenario by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli in which Draisaitl agreed to defer $33.6 million of his contract to be paid out over 40 years following the completion of the deal.

Draisaitl would receive $80 million over the eight years of his contract in that scenario, lowering the AAV to $10 million. If McDavid’s deal was similarly structured, it could mean almost a combined $10 million annually not counting against the Oilers cap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The deferred payment option has been part of the NHL CBA since 2005 but it’s rarely used because players prefer getting paid as much salary upfront as possible. Nevertheless, the Jarvis contract could result in more teams attempting to sign expensive talent to similar deals.

Deferred payments could help the Oilers lower the AAV on new contracts for Draisaitl and McDavid. That would make it possible for the club to put the cap savings toward maintaining a Stanley Cup contender by improving the roster depth.

Selling it that way to both players could be a convincing strategy. However, Seravalli also indicated that it’s uncertain how much of a salary-cap discount the league will allow before this blurs the line of salary-cap circumvention. A 40-year deferral could test those boundaries.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols also wondered if the Devils might attempt to go the same route in their negotiations with restricted free-agent winger Dawson Mercer.

The Devils have just over $4.9 million in cap space for 2024-25. That’s enough to sign the 22-year-old Mercer to a short-term deal worth less than 4 million annually but not enough to lock him up to a long-term contract unless he agrees to defer salary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Contract talks between Mercer and the Devils probably advanced too far to toss deferred payments into the equation. Nichols suggests it might be a better option for Luke Hughes. The 21-year-old Devils defenseman becomes an RFA next July.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey believes acquiring winger Nicholas Robertson from the Toronto Maple Leafs would make sense for the Flyers.

Robertson, 22, has requested a trade from the Maple Leafs. Bailey thinks Robertson’s youth and skills could make him a good fit for the rebuilding Flyers. He was also a former teammate with Flyers Cam York and Bobby Brink on Team USA’s U20 squad.

Bailey acknowledged the Leafs’ asking price could be an obstacle along with finding a suitable role with the Flyers. However, Robertson is younger and cheaper than most of the current Flyers’ wingers and could become a top-six forward with more playing time in Philadelphia.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs general manager Brad Treliving insists he’s not trading Robertson and believes the young winger has a great opportunity to elevate his game this season in Toronto. There’s no indication that the Flyers are kicking tires on Robertson. Still, we can’t dismiss that possibility though it’s likely a remote one.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2024

by | Aug 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: The latest speculation about Linus Ullmark’s next contract, rumored PTO destinations for free-agent winger Filip Zadina, and several Flyers face uncertain futures.

MORE SPECULATION OVER ULLMARK’S NEXT CONTRACT

NHL insider and podcaster Shawn Simpson noted the Nashville Predators signed Juuse Saros earlier this summer to an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $7.74 million.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

Simpson believes an extension for Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark will have a similar AAV but will be six years long.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There has been plenty of buzz recently about Ullmark’s plans with the Senators following a report that he bought a house in the Ottawa area. The 30-year-old goalie was traded to the Senators by the Boston Bruins in June.

So far, there are no recent reports from the Senators or the local media regarding a contract extension for Ullmark. We’ll likely hear more about it once training camp starts in mid-September.

WHERE WILL ZADINA LAND?

TVA SPORTS: Czech journalist Pavel Barta recently reported the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche were interested in signing free-agent winger Filip Zadina to a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Earlier in the week, Barta reported the 24-year-old Zadina had signed a PTO with the Buffalo Sabres. However, the winger’s agent denied this, adding that they were working on signing with another club.

It would be intriguing if the Canadiens bring in Zadina, as the club’s management at the time skipped over him to select Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Chosen sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings, Zadina vowed to make the Canadiens pay by “filling their net”. However, he struggled to establish himself as a scoring winger with the Red Wings and San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zadina’s status as a top-10 draft pick who has yet to pan out as hoped makes his potential PTO situation a subject of interest in the rumor mill. The trade market has also quieted following last week’s frenzy of moves including the Canadiens acquiring Patrik Laine.

SEVERAL FLYERS FACING THEIR LAST CHANCE?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey listed a handful of Flyers coming off bad seasons who could be on their last legs with the organization.

Rasmus Ristolainen has become a reliable if overpaid defense-first, bottom-three defenseman for the Flyers. He was getting mentioned as a trade candidate before suffering a triceps injury that prematurely ended his 2023-24 season. With top prospect Oliver Bonk developing rapidly, Ristolainen’s days as a Flyer seem numbered. He has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen lacks no-trade protection but the Flyers might have to include a sweetener if they want to move the entirety of his cap hit.

Noah Cates also suffered an unproductive, injury-shortened campaign. The 25-year-old forward managed 18 points in 59 games last season. He’s entering the final season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.65 million and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July.

Time is running out for Morgan Frost to show he’s a reliable middle-six center. He struggled last season but had a solid second half to finish with 41 points. The 25-year-old carries an AAV of $2.1 million and is also slated to become an RFA with arbitration rights in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cates and Frost could have value as reclamation projects by other clubs. The Flyers won’t get much of a return for either player if they struggle again this season. If they improve, however, management could decide to keep them around.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 26, 2024

by | Aug 26, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 26, 2024

More details on why the Flyers terminated Ryan Johansen’s contract, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki on how the addition of Patrik Laine should help his club, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman shed more light on why the Philadelphia Flyers terminated Ryan Johansen’s contract last week citing a material breach.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Johansen (NHL Images).

“I don’t like to question injuries, especially since anyone who’s played 905 games (like Johansen) is guaranteed to have legitimate ones. I’m told the key will be everyone navigating how he went from not missing games and practices in Colorado to how he was unable to play for either Philadelphia or AHL Lehigh Valley. The timing is a little weird, which probably has something to do with video of Johansen dancing at his wedding. Again, I wouldn’t try to handicap this, except for saying the NHL and NHLPA hate risking precedent from an arbitrator, so a settlement is always the preference without an air-tight case.”

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey noted Johansen played in 63 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season before getting traded to the Flyers on March 6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers reportedly attempted to send Johansen to their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley following the trade. He informed them of his injury which prevented that move and kept him sidelined for the rest of the season.

Johansen’s agent vowed to fight his client’s contract termination. He claims the 32-year-old forward has a “severe hockey injury” scheduled for surgery, adding his client worked “in good faith” with the Flyers, its medical staff, and authorized third-party physicians.

THE ATHLETIC: Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki believes adding Patrik Laine will improve his team’s roster this season. The Canadiens acquired the 26-year-old winger last week from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I think we can beat anybody,” said Suzuki last Thursday. “I thought last year we competed against really good teams all the time.” The 25-year-old Canadiens captain believes adding Laine and a healthy Kirby Dach makes their forward unit “look pretty scary.”

Suzuki contacted Laine following the trade, telling the winger he’d be a “great addition.” He added that Laine is excited about joining the Canadiens and ready to go.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A motivated Laine and the return of Dach should bolster the Canadiens offense which relied heavily on the top line of Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky for the bulk of its production last season. If both players stay healthy they’ll provide the Habs with much-needed scoring depth.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Canadiens, a local restaurant chain created a burger honoring Arber Xhekaj called “The Sheriff”, taken from the defenseman’s nickname. Xhekaj appeared in the promotion holding the burger, but the restaurant had to edit the picture to make the blueliner’s huge hands appear smaller so as not to dwarf the product.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: A torn hamstring will sidelined Jaromir Jagr for six weeks, forcing him to miss the start of Rytiri Kladno’s season in the Czech Extraliga. The 52-year-old former NHL star and future Hall-of-Famer owns the club and had hoped to play in every game for them this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jagr’s spent the past seven seasons playing for Kladno since ending his 24-year NHL career midway through the 2017-18 season.

TSN: The American Hockey League last week announced it has mandated cut-resistant gear for all its players and on-ice officials.

The decision was made after former AHL and NHL player Adam Johnson died when his throat was cut by a skate during a game in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League.

The Canadian Hockey League instituted a similar policy last November. USA Hockey implemented a policy that dictates all players 18 years and younger to wear neck protection in all games and practices.

The NHL does not yet have a similar policy but numerous players started wearing neck guards following the incident.