NHL Rumor Mill – December 7, 2024

by | Dec 7, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 7, 2024

Are more moves coming for the Rangers after trading Jacob Trouba to the Ducks? Will the Leafs try to bring back Nazem Kadri? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

ARE MORE TRADES IN STORE FOR THE RANGERS?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports more moves are coming for the Rangers after they traded Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Brooks claims Rangers general manager Chris Drury spent the week in trade talks with multiple clubs. He indicated that Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk is Drury’s primary trade target.

Acquiring “the Senators’ 25-year-old hardscrabble captain” would immediately change the Rangers’ identity. However, the package going to Ottawa would have to be significant and likely include winger Alexis Lafreniere.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators may have “kicked tires” on Jacob Trouba before he was shipped to the Ducks. However, they weren’t anywhere close to a deal because the veteran defenseman did not want to be traded to a Canadian team.

Garrioch also reports the Senators have no intention of trading Tkachuk. One well-placed source called the Post story “total bullshit” while another called the report “garbage.” The Senators would rather win with Tkachuk rather than trade him away. Garrioch indicated that Sens GM Steve Staios intended to speak with his captain to assure him there was nothing to the story.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those well-placed sources Garrioch referred to are probably members of the Senators’ front office, perhaps even Staios himself.

Staios could consider shaking up the Senators if they fail to end their playoff drought this season. Moving Tkachuk would be an extreme decision unless he wants out and there’s no indication he does. Something worth keeping in mind is Tkachuk’s no-movement clause begins on July 1, 2025. 

NEW YORK POST: Returning to the Rangers, Brooks believes Drury has put the club in a better place by trading Trouba and his $8 million annual salary cap hit through 2025-26. That move leaves the Rangers with a projected $21.9 million of trade deadline cap space. “No other contender comes close,” claims Brooks, believing the Rangers “will have their pickings the rest of the way.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks also walked back his claim that the Rangers were pursuing Tkachuk, but noted the Senators winger is the type of player the Blueshirts are seeking. They have the cap space to add that player at the trade deadline.

In an earlier report, Brooks suggested Drury should contact the Nashville Predators and find out if Steven Stamkos would waive his no-movement clause. He also proposed speaking with the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Hockey Club as those teams must make changes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos isn’t a young power forward like Tkachuk. The 34-year-old winger is under contract for three more seasons with an AAV of $8 million. His decline this season could be due to age and the wear-and-tear of 17 NHL seasons catching up with him. Stamkos is an expensive risk the Rangers can’t afford to take.

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports the Rangers and Ducks might not be done dealing with each other. Sources close to the situation claimed the Rangers sought winger Frank Vatrano in the Trouba deal.

They opted to move on from Trouba’s $8 million cap hit but could revisit their interest in Vatrano. Biringer’s sources say Drury spoke with Ducks GM Pat Verbeek at last year’s trade deadline about Vatrano but the Rangers GM didn’t want to part with winger Kaapo Kaako. However, Drury might be willing to move on from Kaako now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Brooks noted, the Rangers have plenty of cap space to make significant moves by the March 7 trade deadline. They can afford Vatrano’s $3.65 million cap hit. He played briefly for them in the 2021-22 season and had a solid performance during their run to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. Vatrano departed for the Ducks via free agency that summer as the Rangers couldn’t afford to retain him.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was very interested in landing Trouba but couldn’t reach suitable trade terms with the Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers reportedly tried to trade Trouba to the Red Wings in June but he used his no-movement clause to spike the deal for family reasons. Maybe Yzerman will try again next summer if Trouba doesn’t work out for the Ducks.

SHOULD THE LEAFS PURSUE NAZEM KADRI?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Evan Doerfler recently cited former Sportsnet analyst Doug MacLean telling Sportsnet 590 The Fan that he believes the Toronto Maple Leafs should bring back Nazem Kadri. The 34-year-old center began his career with the Leafs and now plays with the Calgary Flames.

MacLean claimed the Leafs were kicking tires for a second-line center. He believes Kadri’s physical two-way style is what they need to compete against the defending champion Florida Panthers as well as the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.

DAILY FACEOFF’s Jeff Marek shared MacLean’s opinion, believing it would be a good fit for both clubs. The Flames are rebuilding and won’t make the playoffs right now. He acknowledged Kadri’s leadership is helpful to the young Flames but he’d be a better fit with the Leafs if they’re to compete against a tough team like the Panthers.

SPORTSNET: Calgary Flames beat writer Eric Francis was asked where he thought the Flames would trade Kadri. He believes the veteran center would generate plenty of interest and didn’t rule out the possibility if the right offer came along. However, he doesn’t see that happening and doesn’t believe the Flames are shopping Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some fans have cited these reports as substantiation that the Leafs are trying to acquire Kadri or that he would welcome a trade to a contender. However, MacLean and Marek were suggesting the Leafs pursue Kadri, not stating it as a fact. Francis said we should “never say never” but made it clear the Flames aren’t peddling him.

None of them said Kadri wants out of Calgary. During training camp, Kadri told reporters to pump the brakes on the trade speculation that dogged him during the offseason, claiming he loved the team and the city. He might welcome a trade at some point but not right now.

Kadri is a more mature player than when his loose cannon act proved costly to the Leafs in the 2018 and 2019 playoffs. He elevated his stock with a superb effort helping the Colorado Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup and has fit well into the elder statesman role with the Flames.

He would be a better fit with the Leafs now. Nevertheless, everything linking him to Toronto right now is based on the musings of a couple of pundits.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 5, 2024

by | Dec 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 5, 2024

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored two third-period goals to lead his club to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. William Nylander scored what proved to be the winning goal and Mitch Marner collected three assists. Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Jankowski scored for the Predators, who are winless in five straight games (0-2-3).

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty indicates the Predators are on pace for their worst season in franchise history. “Winning” the offseason by signing three of the summer’s top unrestricted free agents (Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei) hasn’t translated into wins on the ice thus far.

The Boston Bruins got two goals each from Brad Marchand and Morgan Geekie to double up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. David Pastrnak collected two assists for the Bruins as they extended their win streak to three games. Alex Vlasic and Jason Dickinson replied for the Blackhawks, who’ve dropped four straight.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore tallied twice in a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl and Victor Olofsson each collected two assists. Jackson LaCombe scored the Ducks’ only goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks forward Trevor Zegras left the game early in the second period after injuring his left leg. He had surgery on his left ankle after breaking it in Nashville last year. Zegras will undergo further tests today.

Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler returned to action after missing a month with an upper-body injury. Before the game, they placed blueliner Urho Vaakanainen (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.

The Los Angeles Kings erased a 2-0 deficit to nip the Dallas Stars 3-2. Warren Foegele tallied the winning goal and also collected an assist on Tanner Jeannot’s goal which started the comeback. Joel Edmundson also scored and David Rittich stopped 26 shots for the Kings’ fourth straight victory. Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment scored for the Stars as their three-game win streak was ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Stars announced Tyler Seguin will undergo surgery on his left hip this week and will be sidelined for four to six months. The 32-year-old forward had 20 points in 19 games this season.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off were announced on Wednesday. The tournament will be held Feb. 12-20 at the Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston.

Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby and Cale Makar headline the roster for Team Canada.

Team USA features brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack and Quinn Hughes.

William Nylander, Filip Forsberg and Victor Hedman are among the notable stars skating for Team Sweden.

Team Finland will be led by Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the links above for the full rosters of each club.

Team USA must be considered the favorite to win this tournament. Deep at every position, they will be the dominant club in this series.

Canada has plenty of offensive punch but their goaltending is the weakest among the four teams and their blueline isn’t as deep as the Americans.

The Swedes have solid defensive depth and good goaltending but lack the firepower of the Americans and Canadians.

Finland is strong at the center position and could steal some games if goaltender Juuse Saros rises to the occasion. However, they lack the overall depth of the other three clubs.

As always, predictions are for gypsies and this tournament could have a much different outcome. Nevertheless, I anticipate the Americans will emerge victorious.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild announced defenseman Jonas Brodin (upper-body injury), center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) and winger Mats Zuccarello (lower body) are listed as week-to-week. Forward Jakub Lauko (lower body) is day-to-day.

CALGARY SUN: Flames forward Justin Kirkland underwent season-ending knee surgery on Wednesday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club prospect Tij Iginla underwent successful hip surgery but will miss the remainder of the WHL season. A center with the Kelowna Rockets, the 18-year-old Iginla was chosen sixth overall by Utah in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has 32 points in 21 games this season.

TSN: Discussions between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association over a new collective bargaining agreement will begin in February 2025. The current CBA expires in September 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league and the PA have a contentious history in CBA talks. However, there’s a different vibe this time with hockey-related revenues growing and no serious issues derailing negotiations. It’s a positive sign that they’re opening talks so early, setting up the possibility of an agreement on a new CBA before the expiration of the current one.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2024

by | Dec 3, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2024

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, and the latest on Alex Ovechkin, Jeff Skinner, Patrik Laine and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers, handing the latter their sixth loss in their last seven games. Jack Hughes scored twice and picked up an assist while Jacob Markstrom kicked out 38 shots as the Devils (17-9-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points. Rangers winger Chris Kreider tallied his 10th goal of the season.

New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin lost his fifth straight game for the first time in his career. Teammate Brett Berard missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from a nine-game absence with an undisclosed injury while teammate Mitch Marner collected two assists in his 600th NHL regular-season game. Lukas Reichel replied for the Blackhawks, who remain last in the overall standings with 18 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won nine of their last 11 games (15-7-2) and took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points.

Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots for a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie Benn scored for the Stars as they picked up their third straight win. Nick Schmaltz scored for Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game began, the Stars announced forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 1.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini was also the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2024.

TSN: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skated by himself before his club’s practice on Monday as he works his way back from a broken left fibula suffered on Nov. 18. He’s expected to return to action by late December or early January.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was fined $2,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens sent winger Joshua Roy back to their AHL affiliate in Laval, which suggests Patrik Laine’s season debut could be imminent. The 26-year-old left winger has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during preseason play.

TSN: The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Chris Driedger as starter Sergei Bobrovsky will miss their two-game road trip to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a one-year, two-way contract. He was immediately placed on waivers for assignment to the AHL.

ROTOWIRE: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Oliver Kylington is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. They also placed forward Ross Colton (lower body) on long-term injury reserve but he could return to action at some point during the Avalanche’s upcoming five-game road trip.

SPORTSNET: The Calgary Flames placed forward Justin Kirkland (lower body) on injured reserve.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings called up goaltender Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis with regular netminders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon sidelined by lower-body injuries.

SPORTSNET: Canada released its camp roster for the upcoming 2025 World Junior Championship. Notable omissions include Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, Utah Hockey Club’s Tij Iginla, and Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke was also passed over. Four of the top nine picks in the 2024 NHL Draft were not selected for Canada’s roster.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 1, 2024

by | Dec 1, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 1, 2024

The Capitals and Wild each get 10 wins in November, Lightning captain Victor Hedman reaches a franchise milestone, the Blue Jackets trade David Jiricek to the Wild, the Avalanche and Predators swap backup goalies, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Third-period goals within 10 seconds by Taylor Raddysh and Pierre-Luc Dubois enabled the Washington Capitals to hold off the New Jersey Devils 6-5. John Carlsson collected three assists as the Capitals (17-6-1, 35 points) vaulted over the Devils (19-9-2, 34 points) into first place in the Eastern Conference. Devils center Jack Hughes also had three assists.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Jared Spurgeon lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Spurgeon and Kirill Kaprizov each had a goal and an assist as the Wild (16-4-4, 36 points) moved into a tie with the Winnipeg Jets (18-6-0, 36 points) atop the overall standings. Fedor Svechkov and Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators, who dropped their fourth straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals and Wild were the only teams to win 10 games in November. The Jets still hold first overall based on wins. Kaprizov scored his 61st career power-play goal, surpassing Mikko Koivu for the second-most PPGs in franchise history. Zach Parise holds the record with 69.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got two assists from Auston Matthews and a goal and an assist from Matthew Knies to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3. Lightning captain Victor Hedman collected two assists to pass Martin St. Louis for the most assists (590) in franchise history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews missed nine games with an undisclosed injury while Knies missed two games with an upper-body injury. Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day.

New York Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko scored with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to nip the Montreal Canadiens 4-3. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist and Adam Fox collected two assists as the Rangers snapped a five-game losing skid. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Missed calls on both teams sparked criticism of the officiating in this game. Meanwhile, the Canadiens placed forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard on waivers.

The Florida Panthers crushed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 to sweep their home-and-home series. Spencer Knight turned in a 20-save shutout, Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist, Matthew Tkachuk collected two assists and Sam Bennett scored for the third straight game.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and forward Michael Bunting each had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Alex Nedeljkovic made 30 saves as the Penguins picked up their third straight win. Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri each had a goal and an assist for the Flames, who are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).

An overtime goal by rookie winger Matvei Michkov lifted the Philadelphia Flyers over the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Michkov also had an assist while Aleksei Kolosov made 25 saves for the Flyers, who’ve won three straight to hold the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours each scored for the Blues.

The Los Angeles Kings picked up their third straight win by dropping the Ottawa Senators 5-2. Anze Kopitar, Trevor Moore and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and an assist for the Kings. Senators center Tim Stutzle scored to extend his points streak to six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings center Trevor Lewis left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, ending a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Simon Holmstrom tallied twice and Anders Lee netted his 10th goal of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, Stuart Skinner stopped 27 shots and Kasperi Kapanen scored his first goal with the Oilers, who picked up their third straight win. Nikolai Kovalenko replied for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Avalanche acquired goalie Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators in exchange for netminder Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick in 2025. Wedgewood backed up Avs starter Alexandar Georgiev in this game.

The Avs hope the experienced Wedgewood will bring more stability to their goaltending, but he struggled with the Predators after signing a two-year contract with them during the summer.

Four first-period goals powered the Utah Hockey Club to a 6-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Jaxon Stauber made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout and Nick Schmaltz scored two goals for Utah, ending the Golden Knights’ five-game points streak.

The San Jose Sharks doubled up the Seattle Kraken 4-2 to sweep their home-and-home series. Mackenzie Blackwood kicked out 36 shots and Will Smith scored for the third straight game as the Sharks held off a late rally by the Kraken, who got goals from Jaden Schwartz and Jared McCann.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn returned to action after missing 19 games with a mid-body injury.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: The Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman David Jiricek and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild for blueliner Daemon Hunt, a 2025 first-round pick (top-five protected), a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick and fourth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets were concerned about Jiricek’s skating, which is the key reason they were willing to part with the 21-year-old defenseman, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, the Wild consider Jiricek worth the investment, hoping the big defenseman with the booming shot reaches his potential as a top-four NHL blueliner.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The NHL department of player safety fined Penguins center Evgeni Malkin $5,000.00 for slashing and Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov $5,000.00 for unsportsmanlike conduct during an incident between the two players in Friday’s game between their two clubs.

SPORTSNET: Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered during Friday’s game against the Golden Knights. However, he hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Stars.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 29, 2024

by | Nov 29, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 29, 2024

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, John Tavares and Kaapo Kakko plus the latest on the Flyers and Flames in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST RUMORS FROM TSN’S “INSIDER TRADING”

TSN: Pierre LeBrun thinks Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen believes he could make an average annual value of $14 million on his next contract if he tests the open market next summer.

Rantanen, 28, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s in the final season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $9.25 million.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

LeBrun believes it’s more likely the winger and the Avalanche sign a contract extension before July 1. However, it remains to be seen if they’ll reach an agreement below the team-leading $12.6 million being earned by Nathan MacKinnon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun indicated that player agents will focus on how much of a club’s cap percentage their clients can make rather than the AAV.

The salary cap for 2025-26 was initially projected to rise by $4.4 million to $92.5 million. There’s speculation it could go higher, rising to as much as $98 million, though NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed that conjecture.

If the cap rises higher than projected, players like Rantanen could be in line for higher raises than expected, especially if the focus is on how much of a percentage of the cap they’ll make. A player can earn no more than 20 percent. If the cap rises to $92.4 million, that’s an AAV of $18.48 million. If it’s $98 million, the maximum is $19.6 million.

Rantanen won’t get anywhere close to that but it’s understandable why he reportedly thinks he can get $14 million annually on the open market.

Chris Johnston reports the Toronto Maple Leafs are engaged in contract extension talks with John Tavares. The 34-year-old center is UFA-eligible next summer but he isn’t interested in going to market. He’s earning an AAV of $11 million on his current deal.

Johnston said they’re not close to a deal yet. He suggests deferred salary compensation might be a way to bridge the gap as it could lower the AAV.

Darren Dreger said the Calgary Flames continue to shop for a second-line center, preferably one who will play with the Flames for the next three to five years. LeBrun noted the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators are also in the market for second-line centers.

Dreger also reported that Kaapo Kakko has resurfaced in trade rumors. The 23-year-old New York Rangers winger was the subject of speculation during the offseason. He’s on a one-year contract worth $2.4 million and becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in July.

Kakko probably seeks a fresh start where he can garner more ice. Dreger believes the Rangers won’t give him away and the return must be exactly what they want. Nevertheless, he claims there’s interest in the Finnish winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Arthur Staple recently reported the Rangers were happy with the performance of their younger players, including Kakko. Still, they could entertain offers for a return that provides them with an immediate roster boost.

UPDATE ON THE FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): Kevin Kurz recently listed five centers the Philadelphia Flyers could target in a trade this season. They include Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres, Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators, and Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the above link for Kurz’s full breakdown as to why the Flyers could target those players.

Nelson is the oldest on this list and UFA-eligible next summer. He won’t be traded unless the Islanders are out of playoff contention and they decide against re-signing him. He’s 33 years old and would be a better option for a playoff contender than a rebuilding club.

Zegras, Rossi and Cozens are 23 while Pinto is 24. They’re better suited for the Flyers’ long-term plans.

Zegras struggled through an injury-shortened 2023-24 campaign, garnering a reputation as a one-dimensional forward. His overall game is improving this season but he’s been employed more as a winger than a center.

Cozens and Pinto aren’t scoring at the same pace this season as they did in 2023-24. However, their respective clubs might not be keen to give up on them. It will take a solid return to tempt them. The Sabres and Senators are trying to take the next step toward contention. A return of draft picks and prospects probably won’t cut it.

Rossi could be the Flyers’ best bet. Kurz’s colleague Michael Russo doesn’t think the 23-year-old center has a long-term future with the Wild and recently said he expects the youngster will be traded at some point. He’s off to a good start this season with 17 points in 22 games, sitting third among Wild scorers.

Landing any of those players will likely cost the Flyers a young player not named Matvei Michkov in return. Philly Hockey Now’s Jonathan Bailey speculates it could be Tyson Foerster. The 22-year-old winger is going through a sophomore slump with six points in 22 games after a promising 20-goal, 33-point effort last season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 25, 2024

by | Nov 25, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 25, 2024

The Leafs defeat the Utah Hockey Club, reaction to the Blues hiring Jim Montgomery as their new head coach, an update on the injury status of Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner scored two goals in a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club in Sunday’s only NHL game. William Nylander had a goal and an assist and Joseph Woll made 23 saves for the Leafs, who’ve won seven of their last eight contests. Logan Cooley and Jack McBain replied for Utah, who are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs opened a three-point lead over the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division. William and Alex Nylander played together for the first time in their NHL careers in this game, becoming the 13th set of brothers to play for the Leafs and the fifth set to play a game together for the franchise.

Despite several regulars sidelined by injuries (including Auston Matthews), Toronto is playing well. The Maple Leafs captain is dealing with an undisclosed injury but hinted he might return as early as Wednesday against the Panthers.

Marner has stepped up for the Leafs in Matthews’ absence. The much-maligned winger has collected two points in seven of his last eight games (6 goals and 8 assists) since Matthews’ last game on Nov. 3.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said he didn’t anticipate making a coaching change until the Boston Bruins fired coach Jim Montgomery last week. Montgomery signed a five-year contract with the Blues on Sunday.

Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister, who became the club’s full-time head coach in May. Bannister had filled the role on an interim basis after Armstrong fired Craig Berube last December.

“This was more of an opportunity to get someone of Jim’s caliber than anything else,” Armstrong said on a video call with reporters. “When I talked to Drew today I told him this was more of a decision based on the availability of someone I think is a top NHL coach, someone that we have experience with, someone I really do believe can coach this team and also coach the team when it reaches its ultimate level of competitiveness.”

Armstrong and Montgomery have worked together before. The Blues GM hired him as an assistant coach in 2020 until 2022 when he joined the Bruins.

STLTODAY.COM: Matthew DeFranks reports Armstrong now feels that coaching isn’t an issue anymore for the Blues. “If there’s an off-ramp of inexperience, that is no longer there,” he said.

DeFranks also observed Montgomery’s new contract is abnormally long for an NHL coach. Armstrong explained it’s because he believes his new bench boss can help this retooling club now and as it grows. He pointed out how Jon Cooper’s longevity with the Tampa Bay Lightning kept that club competitive for years.

Benjamin Hochman noted this move was a bold cutthroat decision by Armstrong. Hochman acknowledged the injuries that sidelined several key players affected the club’s performance this season under Bannister but also noted that other players didn’t step up.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong saw an opportunity for an upgrade behind the bench. It didn’t hurt that he had a positive history with Montgomery, giving the Blues GM the inside track. Montgomery also has longstanding ties with St. Louis and maintains his offseason home there.

Armstrong’s remark about coaching no longer being an issue could also be a shot across the bow to his players. It could be a warning that the next changes could be to the roster if the Blues fail to improve under Montgomery.

SPORTSNET: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov underwent an MRI on Sunday that revealed his lower-body injury was not serious. The team will see how he feels over the next several days.

ROTOBALLER: The Carolina Hurricanes removed Seth Jarvis from injured reserve, making him eligible to join the roster for their game against the Dallas Stars on Monday. Jarvis missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Ottawa Senators place forward Zack MacEwen on waivers.