NHL Rumor Mill – March 5, 2024

by | Mar 5, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – March 5, 2024

The trade deadline is 3 PM ET on Friday, March 8. Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, Pavel Buchnevich, Vladimir Tarasenko, Adam Henrique, and many more trade candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman did a quick summary on Monday of where each club stands leading up to Friday’s trade deadline. Here are the more notable tidbits:

Friedman’s big question regarding Jake Guentzel is whether the Pittsburgh Penguins will grant permission for interested clubs to discuss a contract extension with the 29-year-old winger. They also prefer to receive prospects rather than draft picks as part of the return for Guentzel.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

Interested clubs could include the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes with the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks seen as longer shots. Other Penguins who could garner trade interest include winger Reilly Smith and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun included the Canucks and Oilers among six-plus suitors for Guentzel.

Turning to the Calgary Flames, Friedman believes defenseman Noah Hanifin remains locked in on joining the Tampa Bay Lightning. He thinks the Lightning are interested in Hanifin but if was that easy it would’ve been done by now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning’s lack of a first-rounder in the 2024 and 2025 drafts is likely a complicating factor, especially if they’re trying to outbid other teams.

Friedman noted the Boston Bruins are believed to have contacted the Flames about Hanifin. Their limited cap space means they’d have to move a roster player. That’s why goaltender Linus Ullmark has been mentioned in the rumor mill. Ullmark’s 16-team no-trade gives him some control plus the tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman gives the Bruins their best chance to win the Cup this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils have looked into Ullmark’s availability if they can’t swing a deal with the Flames for Jacob Markstrom.

Speaking of Jacob Markstrom, his disappointment over how management handled a potential trade to New Jersey hasn’t affected his performance.

The Devils haven’t given up on acquiring Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They could revisit that attempt in the offseason if a deal isn’t reached by the trade deadline. Friedman isn’t convinced that the Devils could trade winger Tyler Toffoli.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary Hockey Now’s Trevor Neufeld cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming Flames ownership spiked the deal that would’ve sent Markstrom to the Devils. If so, we can forget about the 34-year-old goaltender going anywhere at the trade deadline. It would also cast doubt over any potential offseason deals unless Markstrom asks to be moved.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has set a very high asking price for winger Pavel Buchnevich. There’s been what Friedman calls “non-stop noise” over winger Jordan Kyrou.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Kyrou, The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford recently suggested the odds are 50-50 that the Blues trade him before his no-trade clause begins in July 2025. If that move takes place my bet is it’s more likely an offseason trade.

Ottawa Senators winger Vladimir Tarasenko could be a consolation prize for teams that don’t get Jake Guentzel. The Senators could also look into the goalie market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Score cited the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch claiming the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Edmonton Oilers have kicked tires on Tarasenko. The 32-year-old has a $5 million cap hit and a full no-trade clause but is expected to waive it to join a contender.

Speaking of the Senators, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports there is growing interest in defenseman Jakob Chychrun from clubs seeking more than a playoff rental. However, the Senators remain in listening mode and haven’t set an asking price for him yet.

Friedman believes the Florida Panthers could pursue a winger such as Guentzel or Tarasenko. He said he’s heard mixed responses that they might have an interest in Hanifin.

The asking price is high for Anaheim Ducks winger Frank Vatrano. It’s more likely that pending UFAs like Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick will be moved.

With the Vegas Golden Knights placing Mark Stone on LTIR, they will be buyers. Friedman thinks they could pursue one or two wingers, including one of those near the top of the market like Buchnevich and Guentzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights always try to make a big splash near the NHL trade deadline. With over $7.3 million in cap flexibility, they will try and land a big fish by the deadline.

Jake Guentzel, Vladimir Tarasenko or Tyler Toffoli (if available) would be perfect fits for the Carolina Hurricanes. They have the prospect depth to make competitive bids. Meanwhile, Friedman believes the Martin Necas situation is coming to a head.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas has been floated recently as a trade candidate if the Hurricanes decide to pursue a big-ticket scorer.

It’s believed the Colorado Avalanche remains in the market for a second-line center. They’re looking at short-term options like Adam Henrique and medium-term ones like Arizona’s Nick Bjugstad and Alex Kerfoot.

Defensemen remain a priority for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Friedman believes they’ve been linked to most of the notable trade candidates. He also thinks they’ve looked at adding another forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan wonders if Leafs GM Brad Treliving might pursue a center such as Adam Henrique.

The Edmonton Oilers have been looking at adding a defenseman. They have also been linked to Adam Henrique and his teammate Sam Carrick in a rumored “double deal.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the Oilers, winger Warren Foegele has popped up as a possible trade candidate as the deadline nears.

There was some social media speculation suggesting the New York Islanders might move Brock Nelson. Friedman dismissed it, pointing out among other things that the Isles aren’t giving up on the playoff race.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one knows what secretive Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has in store for his team. Nevertheless, I agree with Friedman’s dismissal of the Nelson trade rumors.

The asking price for Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton is high, creating doubt that they want to move him. Contract talks continue with defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Flyers still in the thick of the playoff race, I don’t see them moving those guys unless someone is willing to overpay for them.

Friedman felt Arizona Coyotes defenseman Matt Dumba might be a good fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs as they looked into him before signing John Klingberg last summer. However, he said he received pushback on that idea.

Teams are assessing whether Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins could benefit from a change of scenery. Meanwhile, Ivan Provorov could become available as the Jackets deal with a blueline backlog.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikin’s $5.4 million AAV through 2026-27 and inconsistent play will likely keep him in Columbus for the rest of this season. As for Provorov, he has a year left on his contract. The Jackets can wait until the summer to shop him if they don’t get any suitable offers now.

Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has rebuffed requests from other clubs to discuss winger Alex Tuch. He’s prepared to move pending UFAs such as Erik Johnson. Friedman wondered if team captain Kyle Okposo would be a fit with the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers need a top-six right wing but they’re probably eyeing other options. Meanwhile, The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski reports Adams is open to trading notable young players but only if it’s a move that helps the Sabres now. In other words, he’s not interested in a return of draft picks and prospects.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson is coveted in the trade market but Friedman would be shocked if he got traded. There’s been contract extension talk with winger Jordan Eberle. Forward Brandon Tanev could be a trade deadline wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman published this column hours before the Kraken scratched center Alex Wennberg from their game last night against the New York Rangers for trade-related reasons. The 29-year-old Wennberg seems the most likely to be moved out of Seattle.

Speaking of the Rangers, Friedman noted they’ve asked about Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano and Buffalo’s Alex Tuch. He thinks they could also look at Pittsburgh’s Reilly Smith or St. Louis’ Pavel Buchnevich.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Again, this was published before the report about Wennberg becoming a healthy scratch for trade-related reasons amid speculation the Rangers were pursuing him.

Friedman still wonders if Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland might have an interest in Washington Capitals winger Anthony Mantha. Holland knows him from their days with the Detroit Red Wings.

Speaking of Mantha, Friedman thinks he’d be a good fit with the Winnipeg Jets if Gabriel Vilardi should be sidelined longer than expected.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Winnipeg Sun’s Paul Friesen anticipates the Jets will make another move before the deadline. He believes GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would like to add a puck-moving defenseman.

There’s nothing on the front burner for the Montreal Canadiens. Defenseman David Savard wants to stay and they can sit back and say, “Make us consider it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun said there are some teams interested in acquiring goalie Jake Allen after this season when he’ll have just one year left on his contract with a $3.85 million cap hit. Teams could have the same approach toward Savard. Either way, the Canadiens seem fine with both players remaining on their roster beyond the trade deadline.

Friedman reports the Minnesota Wild are working on a contract extension for defenseman Zach Bogosian.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston believes the Maple Leafs could be interested in Bogosian if he and the Wild fail to agree to an extension by March 8.

The San Jose Sharks have been open for business for a while but it’s been quiet. They’re trying to move as many of their pending UFAs as possible. Friedman noted there’s been talk about players with term left on their contracts like Mario Ferraro and Mikael Granlund but they’re more costly to acquire.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was recently reported the Sharks aren’t shopping Ferraro but could be willing to listen to offers. At this point, I’ll be surprised if he or Granlund are moved.

The Nashville Predators surge up the standings since mid-February has turned them into buyers rather than sellers.

Friedman sees the Detroit Red Wings doing something to secure a playoff berth. He wondered if they’d pursue Jake Guentzel but GM Steve Yzerman isn’t much for signing 30-year-old player to term.

The Los Angeles Kings aren’t expected to do anything major. Forward Arthur Kaliyev has been in and out of the lineup and isn’t guaranteed to move.

After acquiring Chris Tanev from Calgary last week, the Dallas Stars could make one more depth move before the deadline.

The Vancouver Canucks must soon decide if they’ll sign free agent Phil Kessel if they hope to have him for the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The deadline for signing free agents to be eligible for the postseason is the same as the trade deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2023

by | Dec 15, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2023

Lightning stars Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov enjoy milestone performances, the Blue Jackets beat the Leafs after blowing a huge lead, the Canucks honor Roberto Luongo, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos enjoyed his first-ever four-goal game while Nikita Kucherov becomes the first player this season to reach 50 points in a 7-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Andrei Vasilevskiy kicked out 53 shots as the Lightning (14-12-5) sit just outside the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 33 points. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had three points and Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist for the 13-13-1 Oilers as their win streak ended at eight games.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 40 points, McDavid now sits 10 behind Kucherov in the scoring race while his Oilers (27 points) are two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Meanwhile, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blew a 5-0 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs but prevailed 6-5 on an overtime goal by Kent Johnson, who finished the night with two goals and an assist. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 43 shots for the 10-16-5 Blue Jackets as he returned to action after missing three games to an illness. Auston Matthews scored twice and added an assist while Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists for the Leafs (15-6-6) as they sit second in the Atlantic Division with 36 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets seemed to be cruising to an easy victory entering the third period but the Leafs made it interesting with a five-goal rally. It was a costly win for the Jackets as winger Patrik Laine left this game favoring his left shoulder. Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves departed with a lower-body injury.

After inducting Hall-of-Famer Roberto Luongo into their Ring of Honour, the Vancouver Canucks blanked the Florida Panthers 4-0. Thatcher Demko turned in a 36-save shutout while Dakota Joshua tallied twice for the Canucks, who became the second team to reach 20 wins (41 points) this season and second overall in the Western Conference. The Panthers (17-10-2) sit third in the Atlantic Division with 36 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demko and his Canucks teammates are starting to look like the squad that Luongo backstopped to five division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies and a run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final from 2008-09 to 2012-13.

A shootout goal by Bobby Brink gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Owen Tippett scored the game-tying goal late in the third period while Morgan Frost collected two points as the Flyers improved to 16-10-3 to sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 35 points. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome each had a goal and an assist as the Capitals slipped to 14-8-4 (32 points) to sit one point out of an Eastern wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov missed this game due to an illness.

The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Detroit Red Wings 2-1. Jordan Staal netted the game-winning goal in the second period while Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 25 shots for the Hurricanes (16-12-1), who hold the final Eastern wild-card spot with 33 points based on wins. Ville Husso made 37 saves for the 15-10-4 Red Wings as they hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 34 points.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy’s shootout goal gave his club a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Boldy also scored in regulation while Filip Gustavsson turned aside 35 shots for the win as the Wild improved to 11-12-4 (26 points), sitting three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Yegor Sharangovich had a goal and an assist for the Flames (11-14-5) as they sit two points out of a wild-card spot in the West with 27 points.

The St. Louis Blues doubled up the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in their first game under interim head coach Drew Bannister. Robert Thomas scored twice and set up another while Jordan Binnington made 32 saves as the Blues (14-14-1) snapped a four-game losing skid to move into the final Western wild-card spot with 29 points. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 26 shots for the Senators (11-13-0), who remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Blues forward Jordan Kyrou was asked about the firing of now-former head coach Craig Berube. “I’ve got no comment. He’s not my coach anymore,” said Kyrou.

Those remarks didn’t sit well with Blues fans as they booed Kyrou during this game. He was visibly upset afterward, saying he respected Berube and was only trying to say that he was focusing on his future and helping the team win. Overcome by emotion, Kyrou said, “I love playing here, so it’s tough hearing the fans boo me.”

Speaking of coaching changes, one wonders how much longer the Senators front office will remain patient with bench boss D.J. Smith as the losses mount and another season starts to slip away.

The Seattle Kraken thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 7-1, ending Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard’s 10-game road points streak. Kailer Yamamoto tallied twice while Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and two assists for the 10-14-7 Kraken, who also sit just outside the final Western wild-card spot with 27 points. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, remain mired in last place in the overall standings a record of 9-19-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kraken indicated goaltender Philipp Grubauer is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin was the focus of an investigation following a human resources complaint by a team employee alleging verbal abuse in the workplace.

The alleged incident took place in late November. Two team sources claim the investigation is completed and determined Guerin did not commit a fireable offense.

The Wild aren’t commenting on the matter but released a statement indicating they conducted two separate investigations into alleged violations of their code of conduct and took appropriate steps to address those issues. This news comes a day after the club and assistant general manager Chris O’Hearn “mutually agreed to part ways”. Team sources say it was coincidental that the two investigations were concluded almost simultaneously.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he and league commissioner Gary Bettman had been briefed about the investigations and were satisfied with the results.

SPORTSNET: Oilers winger Zach Hyman is calling for the eradication of antisemitism. Hyman is Jewish and the grandson of Holocaust survivors. “We live in Canada, in the US, where these things (antisemitism) shouldn’t be happening. And we can’t turn a blind eye to it,” he said. “Being a Jewish person doesn’t feel comfortable right now, and that’s a scary feeling.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one should be the target of hate because of their religion. Freedom of religion is among the rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Buffalo Sabres placed winger Jeff Skinner (upper body) on injured reserve.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and center Pavel Zacha were placed on injured reserve.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (undisclosed injury) will be a game-day decision for Friday’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks. Sean Durzi (lower body) has missed the last two games and is doubtful to face the Sharks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2022

by | Dec 21, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2022

Game recaps feature the Hurricanes, Leafs and Jets moving upward in the standings, Phil Kessel’s Ironman streak could soon come to an end, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes stretched their points streak to 12 games by topping the New Jersey Devils 4-1, extending the latter’s winless skid to six games (0-5-1). Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 37 shots while Jordan Staal scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as the Hurricanes (20-6-6) moved ahead of the Devils into first place in the Metropolitan Division and second place overall in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. The Devils sit at 21-9-2 with 44 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After riding a 13-game win streak from late October to late November, the Devils are 5-6-2 in their last 13 contest. Their defense has been sloppy and they’re not cashing in on the power play, sitting 25th overall with a PP percentage of 19.2.

Third-period goals by Pierre Engvall and William Nylander gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nylander finished the night with a goal and an assist as the Leafs (20-7-6) snapped the Lightning’s five-game win streak and move into third overall in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. The Lightning dropped to 20-10-1.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes and Leafs have the same number of points but the former has a game in hand. Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin left the game late in the second period with a neck injury. He’ll undergo further evaluation today.

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor and defenseman Josh Morrissey each extended their points streaks to 10 games with a 5-1 thrashing of the Ottawa Senators. Connor had two goals and an assist while Morrisey scored and collected an assist as the Jets (21-10-1, 43 points) sit one point behind the first-place Dallas Stars in the Central Division. The Senators slipped to 14-16-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck missed this game with a non-COVID illness. Earlier in the day, the Jets placed winger Blake Wheeler on injured reserve as he recovers from groin surgery.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner as his club held off the New York Rangers by a score of 3-2, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots as the Penguins improved to 19-9-4. Chris Kreider tallied twice for the 18-11-5 Rangers.

The Seattle Kraken improved to 18-10-3 with a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Donato scored to extend his goal streak to four games while Morgan Geekie and Brandon Tanev each had two points for the Kraken. Pavel Buchnevich and Colton Parayko replied for the Blues (16-16-1) as their four-game winning streak comes to an end.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues winger Jordan Kyrou missed this game with an upper-body injury suffered during Monday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Calgary Flames forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli each collected three points in a 7-3 thumping of the San Jose Sharks. Toffoli and Dillon Dube set a franchise record by scoring within the first 30 seconds as the Flames improved to 15-12-6 on the season. The Sharks fell to 10-18-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames activated defenseman Chris Tanev off injured reserve but placed blueliner Dennis Gilbert on IR. Meanwhile, Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro returned to action after missing 10 games with an injured foot. Earlier in the day, the Sharks announced that winger Luke Kunin underwent season-ending knee surgery.

The Los Angeles Kings picked up their third win in a row by downing the Anaheim Ducks 4-1. Adrian Kempe collected two assists while Pheonix Copley kicked out 24 shots for the 18-12-5 Kings. Lukas Dostal made 37 saves for the Ducks as they slide to 9-21-3.

Philadelphia Flyers forwards Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett each scored twice and Carter Hart made 30 saves in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Flyers improved to 11-15-7 while the injury-depleted Blue Jackets (10-20-5) suffered their fifth straight defeat.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Phil Kessel’s Ironman streak (1,016 games) could be in jeopardy. He’s seeing declining ice time with the Vegas Golden Knights as he’s struggled of late, especially in his defensive play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: At 35, Kessel’s best days are behind him. The veteran winger could become a healthy scratch in the near future if his play doesn’t improve. Nevertheless, his consecutive games record won’t be falling anytime soon. The active player closest to him is 37-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns at 711 games.

YARDBARKER: Ryan McDonagh will return to the Nashville Predators lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s missed the last seven games with a facial injury.

NESN: The Boston Bruins assigned winger Craig Smith to their AHL affiliate in Providence on Monday afternoon after he cleared waivers. The move frees up $1.125 million in cap space for the Bruins. It’s unclear if he will actually report to Providence.

CBS SPORTS: Colorado Avalanche winger Andrew Cogliano will miss the next two games with a shoulder injury.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: One of the victims in a condo shooting in Vaughan, Ontario, on Sunday was the maternal grandfather of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Victor Mete. Five people were killed in the mass shooting.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Mete and his family as well as the families of the other victims.

OTTAWA SUN: NHL sources said it could take until March before we learn who the new owner of the Senators will be due to the league’s stringent vetting process of potential owners.

SB NATION: Former NHL defensemen Alex Biega and Brendan Guhle have announced their retirements.

Biega tallied 42 points in 243 career NHL games from 2014-15 to 2021-22 with the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Guhle had 14 points in 65 games with the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks from 2016-17 to 2021-22. He is the older brother of Montreal Canadiens blueliner Kaiden Guhle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to both players in their future endeavors.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2022

by | Sep 14, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 14, 2022

The Blues sign Jordan Kyrou to an eight-year contract extension, the Stars re-sign general manager Jim Nill, an update on Tom Wilson and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues yesterday signed Jordan Kyrou to an eight-year, $65 million contract extension. The average annual value is $8.125 million. Kyrou is a 24-year-old right wing who is in the second season of his two-year deal with an AAV of $2.8 million.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou followed up a promising 35-point performance in 56 games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season with 75 points in 74 games. His contract extension is similar to the one signed by teammate Robert Thomas in July.

It’s clear that Blues management sees those two as important long-term members of their roster core. Given how salaries for top players continue to rise, their identical AAVs could look like bargains in a few years if they continue to maintain or exceed last season’s point-per-game average.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars inked general manager Jim Nill to a contract extension that keeps him signed through 2023-24. He indicated the length of the deal was his idea. “Let’s do two years and let’s see where things are at after two years and just go from there,” he said, indicating he remains hopeful of staying in the role beyond ’23-’24.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nill, 64, is entering his 10th season as the Stars GM. Over the past nine seasons, they’ve reached the playoffs five times with the highlight being their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

THE ATHLETIC: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson is believed to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery on his left knee. The club is hopeful he’ll return to action sometime in early December.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe underwent cervical spine surgery and is expected to miss 10-12 weeks. His timeline to return is sometime in late November.

NEWSDAY’s Andrew Gross took to Twitter on Tuesday to report New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and forward Cal Clutterbuck are expected to be ready for training camp next week. Both players missed the end of last season with injuries.

TSN: Chris Tanev is expected to be ready for the start of Calgary Flames’ training camp on Sept. 22. The 32-year-old defenseman underwent offseason surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder suffered during the 2022 playoffs against the Dalla Stars.

The New Jersey Devils signed Thomas Hickey to a professional tryout offer. The 33-year-old defenseman spent the past nine seasons with the New York Islanders.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Seattle Kraken signed Daniel Sprong to a PTO. He split last season between the Washington Capitals and the Kraken.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Speaking of the Kraken, they promoted analytics director Alexandra Mandrycky to assistant general manager. She’s the first woman to hold that title while specializing primarily in analytics.

NHL.COM: Former NHL goaltender Scott Darling is trying his hand at standup comedy. He played five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes from 2014-15 to 2018-19, winning a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 9, 2022

by | Sep 9, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 9, 2022

Erik Karlsson intends to stick with the Sharks, Carey Price sends a message to his fans, John Tortorella has concerns about the Flyers, Nazem Kadri makes a big charitable donation, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Erik Karlsson has no plans to request a trade from the San Jose Sharks. “No, I committed here a long time ago,” he said. The 32-year-old defenseman is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $11.5 million.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Karlsson, 32, acknowledged things haven’t gone the way they wanted to earlier in his tenure with the Sharks. However, he said he’s excited about the future and believes the club can be successful again.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson has also been hampered by injuries since joining the Sharks in a trade from the Ottawa Senators in 2018. The former two-time Norris Trophy winner told The Athletic he intends to be more cautious in dealing with future injury rather than attempt to play through the pain.

Karlsson’s contract would make him difficult to move if he did want out or if new Sharks general manager Mike Grier wanted to move him. In addition to that big cap hit, he carries a full no-movement clause.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens goaltender Carey Price posted a heartfelt “thank you” message to his fans on his Instagram account. The 35-year-old goaltender is on long-term injury reserve as a nagging knee injury threatens to end his playing career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: More than a few people felt the tone of the message suggested Price may be acknowledging that his playing days are over. For now, however, neither he nor the Canadiens have suggested that he’ll be hanging up his pads.

Speaking of the Canadiens, they signed restricted free agent goalie Cayden Primeau to a three-year deal with an AAV of $890K.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Primeau, 23, is expected to start this season with the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Laval.

THE SCORE: cites John Tortorella telling SiriusXM NHL that he has “major concerns” about the mood in the Philadelphia Flyers dressing room. He was hired as their new head coach earlier in the offseason.

Tortorella made the assessment after speaking with players, management and other team personnel. “Before we even step on the ice, situations and standards and accountability in the room is forefront,” he said. “You can’t get squat done on the ice until you get your room straightened out, and I think we have a little bit of work to do there.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are coming off a hellish season that saw them endure two long, season-killing winless skids, an early-season coaching change, and the departure of long-time captain Claude Giroux at the trade deadline. It’s no wonder morale is probably low right now.

A two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year, Tortorella has a good reputation for turning around struggling teams. Improving the Flyers will be a challenge but one he’s capable of handling.

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Nazem Kadri has given back to his hometown of London, Ontario. The 31-year-old center donated $1 million to the London Health Sciences Centre. Kadri signed a seven-year contract last month with the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A very generous gift by Kadri toward an excellent cause.

BALLY SPORTS MIDWEST’s Andy Strickland reports the St. Louis Blues and Jordan Kyrou are working on a new contract. “Told talks between the two sides have been very good.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou, 24, is coming off a career-best 75-point performance. He’s entering the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.8 million and will likely get a significant raise on a long-term contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has returned to the club in a new role. The position sees him support business operations for Madison Square Garden Corp. and MSG Entertainment Corp. He’ll also return to his role as a Rangers TV analyst on MSG Network.

Lundqvist, 40, announced his retirement last year. He holds franchise records with 459 career wins, 64 shutouts, and games played (887) during his 15 seasons with the Rangers.

SPORTSNET: Shane Doan is taking a step back from the Arizona Coyotes. He rejoined the Coyotes in 2021 as their Chief Hockey Development Officer following his retirement after 1,466 games with the franchise.

“I don’t want this to be seen in any way that hurts the organization. I want the arena bid to be successful for hockey’s long-term future in the Valley,” said Doan. He added that he fully supports second-year coach Andre Tourigny and would help him in any way if asked.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report suggests Doan is making this decision for family reasons. The report said he’ll be spending more time with his four children. His son, Josh, is a Coyotes draft pick who’s starting his second year at Arizona State University.

THE ATHLETIC: Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner recently said he’s feeling much better following a season-ending back injury and looking forward to the coming season. “I’m feeling good, ready to go, absolutely,” he said. The 29-year-old center said his offseason training has gone well and he believes he can be a significant contributor to the Jackets.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Mathieu Perreault is retiring as an NHL player to move into a broadcasting position with TVA Sports. A hardworking and versatile 34-year-old forward, he spent 13 seasons with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens, netting 352 career points in 708 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Perreault in his new job.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 20, 2022

by | Jul 20, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 20, 2022

More players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team issued statements denying involvement in alleged sexual assault and Johnny Gaudreau was close to signing with the Devils before joining the Blue Jackets. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: St. Louis Blues forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou and Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Raddysh released statements on Tuesday denying involvement in an alleged sexual assault involving members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team.

The agent for free agent forward Sam Steel also released a statement yesterday on his client’s behalf denying involvement, indicating he had fully cooperated in every investigation into the matter and will continue to do so.

These statements followed a similar one issued earlier Monday by Arizona Coyotes defenseman Conor Timmins as well as those recently released by Colorado Avalanche blueliner Cale Makar and Toronto Maple Leafs rearguard Victor Mete.

Rick Westhead reports lawyers for the eight players allegedly involved in the 2018 sexual assault plan to turn over to the NHL cellphone footage of the incident and 35 text messages between the victim and one of the players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league is pursuing its own investigation into the incident while Hockey Canada has reopened its investigation. A number of players on the 2018 WJC team are now NHL players.

SPORTSNET: An affidavit filed in an Ontario court suggests Hockey Canada has maintained a fund to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault. The organization has had its federal funding cut off while a number of corporations paused their sponsorship over its handling of the case and recent settlement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Globe & Mail reports Hockey Canada used player registration fees to cover the cost of those “uninsured liabilities.” In other words, it appears they used money that parents paid to register their kids in hockey as a slush fund.

The eight players involved in the 2018 incident have not been publicly identified. However, the recently released statements by several former members of that team has fans and pundits musing about their identities on social media. It seems only a matter of time until those players are eventually identified.

Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman promised the league would be transparent in its investigation into this matter. The league intends to interview all members of the 2018 team with the cooperation of the NHLPA.

Whatever the outcome of these investigations, Hockey Canada’s reputation has been severely tarnished. A reckoning is hopefully coming soon that will bring about much-needed changes throughout the organization to address the rot that permeates its culture.

THE SCORE: Johnny Gaudreau said he was close to signing with the New Jersey Devils last week before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets. He wanted to be close enough to his family and friends in New Jersey but maintain enough distance to ensure privacy as he and his wife start their own family. He signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Blue Jackets a week ago.

NJ.COM: Speaking of the Devils, they signed restricted free agent Vitek Vanecek to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $3.4 million. The Devils acquired the 26-year-old goaltender from the Washington Capitals earlier this month.

TSN: Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said he’s looking for more offense from high-paid stars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin in the coming season. “We have far too many players who are underperforming offensively,” said Gaglardi. “We need something to change.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Age and injuries could be contributing factors behind the declining production of Benn and Seguin. Benn is now 33 and his physical style of play could also be taking its toll on him. The 30-year-old Seguin, meanwhile, played through a hip injury in the 2020 playoffs requiring surgery that sidelined him for most of the following season.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Former Stars captain Derian Hatcher and former coach and general manager Bob Gainey are the inaugural inductees into the club’s new Hall of Fame.

FLAMES NATION: The agent for Calgary Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane said the restricted free agent is willing to discuss a long-term contract with the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames may be interested in that but their priority right now is determining the future of RFA winger Matthew Tkachuk. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill.

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings named Jim Hiller as an assistant coach.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL winger Larry Jeffrey passed away on Tuesday at age 81. He netted 181 points in 368 career regular-season games over eight seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers from 1961-62 to 1968-69, winning a Stanley Cup with the Leafs in 1967.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Jeffrey’s family, friends and former teammates.