NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2022

by | Sep 21, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2022

As training camps begin, check out the latest on Ryan Ellis, Joe Thornton, Tyler Bertuzzi and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Ryan Ellis continues to rehab a pelvic injury suffered during preseason last year. There is no timetable for the 31-year-old defenseman’s return to the lineup. Daily Faceoff first reported Ellis’ status on Tuesday. He played just four games with the Flyers last season. 

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Ellis (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This news comes a day after the Flyers announced first-line center Sean Couturier is sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Having two of their best players on the shelf for the opening weeks of 2022-23 is a major setback for a club hoping to bounce back from one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

THE MERCURY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks released their training camp roster yesterday and Joe Thornton was not among the 34 forwards. The 43-year-old Thornton has taken part in informal “captain’s skates” with several of his former Sharks teammates in recent weeks, sparking speculation he might attend camp on a professional tryout offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he isn’t sure if a PTO is in Thornton’s future but he’s happy to have him and former Shark Patrick Marleau around the team. It sounds like Grier’s angling for one or both to join the club in an off-ice capacity. So far, there’s no word from Thornton or Marleau regarding their plans.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Tyler Bertuzzi might not have to miss games in Canada this season. The Canadian government will lift the COVID-19 vaccination requirement to cross the border on Sept. 30 pending cabinet approval. Bertuzzi was the only NHL player unvaccinated last season and wasn’t allowed to play in Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: “Personal choice. Freedom of choice. And life choice,” explained Bertuzzi last season of his decision to be unvaccinated. The Red Wings won just two of its nine games in Canada last season without him in the lineup.

TORONTO STAR: Defenseman Timothy Liljegren will miss the start of Maple Leafs training camp with an undisclosed injury. The team is expected to provide an update on the 23-year-old defenseman on Wednesday but he could be for a long-term period. It’s also believed forward Pierre Engvall could also be injured heading into camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicates Liljegren’s absence isn’t expected to put more pressure on Leafs management to sign restricted free agent blueliner Rasmus Sandin.

TORONTO SUN: Speaking of the Leafs, they’ll have a “Milk” advertising patch on the right breast of their sweaters for this season. It’s part of their ongoing marketing partnership with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This news will likely enrage purists who are udderly against ad patches on NHL sweaters. It’s just part of each team’s desire to milk as much advertising revenue as possible but there will be fans who’ll find the whole scheme rather cheesy.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER’s Luke DeCock reports Jake Gardiner isn’t expected to join his Carolina Hurricanes teammates in training camp this week. He’s likely to end up on long-term injury reserve again.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gardiner spent all of last season on LTIR recovering from hip surgery. This could spell the end of his playing career. The 32-year-old defenseman is entering the final season of his four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.050 million.

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes signed restricted free agent Barrett Hayton to a two-year contract. The 22-year-old center will earn an average annual value of $1.775 million.

TSN: St. Louis Blues defenseman Marco Scandella will undergo surgery on his right hip joint. He’s expected to be re-evaluated in six months.

The Colorado Avalanche have reportedly signed forward Alex Galchenyuk to a professional tryout offer. Galchenyuk, 28, had 21 points in 60 games last season with the Arizona Coyotes.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 11, 2022

by | Sep 11, 2022

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 11, 2022

A recent look at the notable remaining restricted free agents in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently examined the status of the remaining notable restricted free agents.

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson (NHL Images)

Topping his list is the Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson. The 23-year-old winger has blossomed into a first-line scorer who was the Calder Trophy runner-up in 2021. Fox wonders if the Stars will attempt to sign Robertson to a long-term deal that could look like a bargain down the road or ink him to a bridge deal that hands the winger more leverage for his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes it’ll be a bridge deal, pointing out the Stars couldn’t do a long-term deal for Jake Oettinger, who recently signed a three-year, $12 million contract.

Cap Friendly shows the Stars carrying $6.3 million in cap space with 22 players under contract. My guess is Robertson agrees to a two-year deal worth $5 million annually to put himself in line for a major pay raise in 2024. That’s when the salary cap is expected to significantly increase.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi and Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton are second and third on Fox’s list. He reported Kings general manager Rob Blake continues to negotiate with the Durzi camp. Meanwhile, Senators GM Pierre Dorion said his discussions with Formenton’s agent were positive and he expects the 22-year-old will be under contract prior to training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Saturday, the Kings re-signed blueliner Mikey Anderson to a one-year, $1 million contract. With $1.3 million remaining in cap space, I wouldn’t be surprised if Durzi gets a similar deal. Both rearguards completed their entry-level contracts last season.

NHL training camps will start by Sep. 21 so look for the Senators to have Formenton’s new contract sorted by then.

Fox cited Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan recently reporting center Barrett Hayton should have a new deal before training camp. He doesn’t see the two sides being far apart. Fox pointed out the Coyotes have plenty of salary-cap room. He recommended a bridge deal but observed the club has a tendency of signing their promising young players to long-term contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mikey Anderson was also on Fox’s list but he was re-signed on Saturday by the Kings.

Rasmus Sandin’s contract talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly remain at a standstill. Meanwhile, Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon recently said re-signing defenseman Nicolas Hague before training camp was his top priority.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I covered Sandin’s situation in yesterday’s Rumor Mill. As for Hague, McCrimmon reportedly has had little dialogue with Hague’s representatives since early July.

Both defensemen are coming off ELCs and have no leverage other than refusing to report to training camp. We’ll find out within the next 10 days if they’ll end up signing bridge deals before camps open on Sep. 21.

Edmonton Oilers center Ryan McLeod and Calgary Flames forward Adam Ruzicka complete Fox’s list. He reported there’s little concern in Edmonton over getting McLeod signed before training camp. Meanwhile, Fox believes Flames GM Brad Treliving must decide if Ruzicka is ready to be a full-time NHLer or if he will sign him to a two-way contract.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 24, 2021

by | Oct 24, 2021

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 24, 2021

​Check out the latest on Jack Eichel and Vitali Kravtsov plus updates on the Coyotes in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Jack Eichel could consider filing a grievance through the NHL Players Association to force a resolution to his standoff with the Buffalo Sabres. He speculates that could happen within the next couple of weeks if he’s not traded before then.

Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

Eichel’s been sidelined since March with a herniated disc in his neck. He wants to undergo artificial disc replacement surgery but Sabres doctors prefer neck fusion. The NHL CBA gives the team the final say on medical treatment. The 24-year-old center requested a trade but this stalemate has complicated efforts to move him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The subject of a grievance was raised by Friedman and others last week. Most observers doubt that move will go Eichel’s way because the CBA gives the Sabres’ the last word on his medical treatment.

Jeff Marek reports New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury seeks a top prospect in exchange for unhappy winger Vitali Kravtsov, who recently returned home to Russia awaiting a trade. Marek said Drury isn’t budging from that asking price right now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Rangers off to a terrific start, Drury can set that price because he’s under no pressure to move Kravtsov right now. That might change if injuries start depleting the Rangers’ depth. Ryan Strome (COVID protocol) and Kaapo Kakko (upper-body injury) are currently out of the lineup but that hasn’t adversely affected the club’s performance.

Drury could also set that price knowing no one will pay it. That could force Kravtsov to have a change of heart and return to the Rangers.

GOPHNX.COM: Craig Morgan recently took note of the Arizona Coyotes using Phil Kessel on their top power-play unit instead of defenseman Jakob Chychrun. They could be showcasing the 34-year-old winger for a trade but could also be trying to get him up to speed after missing all of training camp and preseason play with an injured foot. Morgan also observed 15 scouts who attended the Coyotes’ recent game against the St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel will be moved at some point before the March 21 trade deadline. A free agent next July, he doesn’t fit into their long-term plans and he wants a change of scenery. Trading him early in the season, however, will be difficult.

The Coyotes carry $6.8 million of his $8 million cap hit. Even with $5 million of his actual $6 million salary for this season paid out in a signing bonus, few clubs have sufficient room to add his cap hit at this point in the season.

SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek reports Coyotes center Barrett Hayton also came up in trade speculation this week. The fifth-overall selection in the 2018 draft, Hayton is currently playing for the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in Tucson.

Hayton’s agent Pat Morris shot down rumors his client asked for a trade. Marek said it looks like he’ll be staying with the Coyotes as head coach Andre Tourigny thinks highly of him. Tourigny made Hayton the captain of Team Canada at the 2020 World Juniors.










Top 10 NHL 2020-21 Calder Trophy Candidates

by | Jan 14, 2021

Top 10 NHL 2020-21 Calder Trophy Candidates

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2020

by | Jan 10, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2020

Tony DeAngelo ties a Rangers record, David Pastrnak extended his points streak, Pekka Rinne tallied his first goal, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored a hat trick and added two assists in a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. DeAngelo tied club records for defensemen for most goals and most points in a single game. Rangers rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin made 46 saves for his second win in as many starts.

Tony DeAngelo tied club records for goals and points in a single game by a New York Rangers defenseman (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 11 goals and 36 points in 43 games, DeAngelo is on pace to reach 20 goals and 70 points by season’s end. After being forced to accept a one-year, $925K contract last summer, he’s got terrific leverage entering this summer with salary arbitration rights.

David Pastrnak tallied a hat trick to lead the Boston Bruins over the Winnipeg Jets 5-4. Pastrnak extended his points streak to 12 games and widened his lead in the league goal-scoring race (35) by four over Toronto’s Auston Matthews. Jake DeBrusk also scored twice for Boston. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara missed the game due to an abscess in his surgically-repaired jaw unrelated to his fight with Nashville Predators forward Yakov Trenin on Tuesday. Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov returned to action for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Nov. 29. They also placed Logan Shaw on waivers.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne became the 12th goalie in NHL history to score a goal in a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Rinne is also the first netminder to score a goal since Mike Smith in October 2013. It was the Predators’ first win under new head coach John Hynes. Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula returned to action for the first time since suffering a concussion on Nov. 11.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid reached 70 points as his club doubled up the fading Montreal Canadiens 4-2. McDavid picked up an assist while teammates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl each collected two points as the Oilers overcame a 2-1 deficit.

The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their ninth straight victory by blanking the Arizona Coyotes 4-0. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for the shutout while Nikita Kucherov scored twice. Coyotes rookie Barrett Hayton is listed as week-to-week with a shoulder injury suffered playing for Team Canada at the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Noel Acciari scored two goals and Jonathan Huberdeau collected two assists as the Florida Panthers downed the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. The Canucks have given up 14 goals in consecutive losses to the Panthers and Lightning.

St. Louis Blues forwards Robert Thomas and Tyler Bozak collected three points and Alex Steen scored two goals in a 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Jack Eichel netted the struggling Sabres only goal.

Cam Talbot made 42 saves as the Calgary Flames edged the Minnesota Wild 2-1, handing the latter their fourth loss in their last five games. Derek Grant and Johnny Gaudreau tallied for the Flames while Mats Zuccarello replied for the Wild.

A four-goal first period carried the Los Angeles Kings over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Adrian Kempe led the way with two goals for the Kings.

Ben Bishop turned in a 27-save shutout as the Dallas Stars blanked the Anaheim Ducks 3-0. Roope Hintz scored and collected an assist.

San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc scored and set up another in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, snapping the latter’s nine-game road points streak.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.










Canada’s Road To World Junior Gold Goes Through Finland

by | Jan 3, 2020

Canada’s Road To World Junior Gold Goes Through Finland