NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 31, 2024

by | Oct 31, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 31, 2024

Milestone games for Anze Kopitar and Kyle Connor, the latest valuations of the league’s 32 teams, an update on Connor McDavid’s injury status, the Leafs trade Timothy Liljegren,  and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and two assists (including his 800th career assist) to lead his club to a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke picked up three assists and Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist in his return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch from the Kings’ previous game. Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice for the Golden Knights, who remain winless on the road (0-3-1).

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor also had a goal and two assists (including his 500th career assist) as his club defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-2. Neal Pionk tallied twice for the league-leading Jets (9-1-0, 18 points). Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond each collected two assists for the Red Wings.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 20 shots to shut out the Vancouver Canucks 6-0. Devils captain Nico Hischier scored his league-leading 10th goal and picked up two assists as his team moved atop the Eastern Conference standings (7-4-2, 16 points). Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs was in net for all six Devils goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not to take anything away from the Devils’ dominant performance but the Canucks made it easy for them. They were a listless bunch in this game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a goal and two assists from Nikita Kucherov to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2. Jake Guentzel scored twice and Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 33 shots for the Lightning. Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each collected two points to extend their season-opening points streaks to 11 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-battered Avalanche played without forwards Ross Colton (broken foot, out six to eight weeks) and Miles Wood (upper-body injury, out seven to 10 days). They did get some good news as sidelined forward Artturi Lehkonen is expected to return to action next Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. He’s been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

Another player with a goal and two assists was Mikhail Sergachev, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Connor Ingram made 30 saves for the win while Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther each collected two assists. Anthony Mantha scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary captain Mikael Backlund played in his 1,000th career regular-season game.

Since winning five of their first six games, the fizzling Flames have dropped four straight.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins turned in a 26-save shutout to blank the New York Islanders 2-0, handing the latter their fourth loss in their last five games. Damon Severson and Justin Danforth were the goal scorers as the Blue Jackets end their October schedule with a record of 5-3-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a testament to the Blue Jackets’ character that they’ve played as well as they have considering everything they’ve endured since late August.

Meanwhile, the Islanders have been shut out in four of their first 10 games. As of Oct. 30, their goals per game average (2.10) is last in the league.

HEADLINES

SPORTICO: released their annual evaluation of all 32 NHL franchises. All of them saw significant increases in their value since last year, with the average being 37 percent.

The top five were the Toronto Maple Leafs ($3.66 billion), New York Rangers ($3.25 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($2.93 billion), Boston Bruins ($2.67 billion) and Los Angeles Kings ($2.5 billion).

The Utah Hockey Club ($1.2 billion), Ottawa Senators ($1.14 billion), Buffalo Sabres ($1.13 billion), Winnipeg Jets ($1.1 billion) and Columbus Blue Jackets ($1.06 billion) made up the bottom five. Utah HC saw the biggest increase (78 percent) because of its relocation from Arizona.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s James Mirtle explained the reasons behind these significant increases. The current CBA with its hard salary cap, robust revenue sharing with smaller markets, and the expansion into Las Vegas and Seattle are among the notable factors.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid will be sidelined with an injured ankle for two to three weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid could miss up to 12 games during that period. Nevertheless, the Oilers are probably breathing a sigh of relief that he’ll only miss at most three weeks.

TORONTO SUN/NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: The Toronto Maple Leafs traded defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks for blueliner Matt Benning, a conditional third-round pick in 2025 and a sixth-rounder in 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Liljegren is signed through next season with an average annual value of $3 million. Benning’s contract also runs through 2025-26 and has an AAV of $1.25 million. The move frees up $1.75 million in much-needed salary-cap space for the Leafs. It also clears room for Jani Hakanpaa’s impending debut with the Leafs.

Liljegren struggled to establish himself as a top-four puck-moving defenseman with the Leafs. He’ll get a better opportunity to do so with the rebuilding Sharks, away from Toronto’s harsh spotlight.

DAILY FACEOFF: Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

RG.ORG: An in-depth analysis of the relationship between faster players and elite offensive production in the NHL. Unlike the past where size and shot mechanics were determining factors, faster players in today’s NHL are more likely to become elite stars, though it is no guarantee of stardom. The Colorado Avalanche appear to have tapped into that, sitting third over the past three seasons in total points (335) and winning the Stanley Cup in 2021-22.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

by | Oct 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

Could Connor Bedard’s frustration over the Blackhawks’ slow start force the club to seek help in the trade market? Are there some potential blueline trade options for the Oilers and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episode, Elliotte Friedman observed Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard’s frustration over his club’s slow start to this season.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images).

Friedman dismissed any suggestion that Bedard is unhappy in Chicago and wants to be traded. However, he thinks the rebuilding Blackhawks might want to consider short-term roster improvements to keep Bedard happy without derailing their long-term plan.

According to Friedman, the Blackhawks attempted to acquire Jake Guentzel in the offseason before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed him to a long-term contract. That shows they’ve tried to land a high-caliber star to play with Bedard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chicago has added veterans to their young roster over the last two years, bringing in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, TJ Brodie, Alec Martinez and Laurent Brossoit.

The Blackhawks have plenty of trade bait in prospects and draft picks to make a competitive bid for a star. They’ll also have plenty of salary cap space to pursue one in next summer’s free-agent market.

Finding a star in their playing prime, however, is a difficult task. Most don’t want to join a rebuilding team that could be years away from contender status.

It’s believed the Blackhawks would like to add a second-line center, with some observers wondering if Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be available. It will take time to address that issue and might not occur during this season.

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell recently looked at five righthanded defensemen who should be trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers. One of them is Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitchell acknowledged the notion of the Flames trading Andersson to Edmonton is slim at best but felt he’d be the ideal option for the Oilers. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that trade to go down.

Meanwhile, Julien McKenzie examined some potential defensive trade targets for the Ottawa Senators. They included Timothy Liljegren of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Liljegren’s reportedly been available for nearly a month but his $3 million cap hit and lack of playing time hurts his trade value. Fowler has a four-team trade list but he’s reportedly willing to expand it to double-digits. Whether the Senators would be among his preferred destinations is another matter.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2024

by | Oct 28, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2024

The Maple Leafs and Blackhawks need second-line centers plus the latest on the Wild in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SHOULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE FOR A CENTER?

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel observed the Toronto Maple Leafs lack depth at the center position. Head coach Craig Berube is reluctant to use the 34-year-old John Tavares as the second-line center but his fallback option (Max Domi) isn’t working.

Berube tried William Nylander at center during the preseason. Siegel doesn’t see 20-year-old Fraser Minten as part of the solution when he returns from a high-ankle sprain.

Siegel believes a trade is the only way to address that issue this season. However, a lot of teams need centers, there may be few available, and the Leafs have little trade ammunition.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could hold things together until the March 7 trade deadline approaches. There should be more trade options by that point. However, it could cost the Leafs a promising prospect or their 2026 first-rounder since they traded away their 2025 pick.

LATEST ON THE BLACKHAWKS

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Brooke LoFurno recently cited The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying the Blackhawks would love to add a second-line center.

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

LoFurno indicated that Pagnotta mentioned Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks as a trade target, as he’s been mentioned in rumors since last season. Young centers are a luxury but the Blackhawks have plenty of draft capital to draw on for trade bait.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson mentioned many times he’d be willing to use draft capital in a trade to address a specific need. LoFurno believes a trade seems likely at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LoFurno noted the Blackhawks have 13 picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts, including two first-rounders in 2025. She thinks Davidson might be willing to part with one of them for the right price.

Zegras was a promising foundation player for the Ducks but his stock has dropped since his injury-shortened 2023-24 campaign. He’s been relegated to the wing this season and has only two points in eight games. The 23-year-old Zegras carries an average annual value of $5.75 million through 2025-26.

Changing teams could help Zegras regain his once-promising offensive form. However, he could be unsuitable for the Blackhawks’ second-line center role.

The same goes for the Leafs.

DO THE WILD NEED A REPLACEMENT FOR SPURGEON?

THE ATHLETIC: A reader recently asked Michael Russo if the Minnesota Wild would place sidelined defenseman Jared Spurgeon on long-term injury reserve. The 34-year-old Wild captain hasn’t played since Oct. 12 because he’s still feeling the effects of last year’s season-ending back and hip surgeries.

Spurgeon doesn’t appear to have suffered a medical setback. The discomfort he felt is believed to be part of the recovery process. They’re allowing him time to let things calm down before he resumes skating.

Russo doesn’t believe the Wild are interested in Toronto’s Timothy Liljegren if they must find a replacement for Spurgeon. Who they pursue will depend on whether GM Bill Guerin believes they’re a right-shot defenseman away from being a legitimate contender.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 27, 2024

by | Oct 27, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 27, 2024

Are the Bruins close to a contract extension with Brad Marchand? What’s the latest on the Canadiens? Are the Leafs any closer to moving Timothy Liljegren? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON MARCHAND’S CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE BRUINS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman claims the Boston Bruins are closing in on a contract extension with captain Brad Marchand. The 36-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. He carries an annual cap hit of $6.125 million on his current contract.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

Friedman said the word is the two sides were getting close to a three-year deal.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Asked about Friedman’s report, Marchand said it was false and wouldn’t make any further comment about his contract situation.

“Elliotte likes talking about me this week,” said the Bruins captain. “I’m not going to talk about contract stuff in the media. That report from Elliotte is false. If I was going to sign a three-year extension, it would be signed. Clearly, Elliotte is just wrong here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An emphatic denial from Marchand. Nevertheless, the two sides have held contract talks. Boston Hockey Now’s Andrew Fantucchio referred to comments by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on Sept. 30 indicating they’ve had “plenty of discussions”.

Marchand has spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Bruins. He’s been very loyal to the franchise but he’s also been underpaid on his current contract. Because of his age, he’s unlikely to get a significant raise on his next deal. Still, he might not be interested in a big pay cut to stay in Boston.

The two sides might not be close to a deal right now but it wouldn’t be surprising if Marchand ends up staying in Boston on a short-term contract.

CANADIENS SHOPPING FOR A FORWARD

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman pointed out the Montreal Canadiens were in the market for a defenseman. He indicates they’re also considering adding a forward who plays with an edge. However, they’re telling teams they won’t do anything that interferes with their long-term plans.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’re not moving their young core players or top prospects. There is speculation suggesting defenseman Arber Xhekaj could be available but there’s no indication he’s being shopped or if the Habs are entertaining offers.

AN UPDATE ON LILJEGREN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said he’s been asked on social media what’s going on with Timothy Liljegren. The 25-year-old defenseman was the subject of media trade chatter earlier this month.

Friedman believes it’s something the Leafs continue to work on.

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and James Mirtle recently listed several teams they believed to be potential destinations for Liljegren. They include the Utah Hockey Club, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah and LA need some experienced depth for their injury-depleted bluelines while the rebuilding Sharks need all the help they can get. So far, however, they don’t seem interested in Liljegren.

Liljegren’s been a healthy scratch from eight of the Leafs’ nine games this season. That won’t improve his value in the trade market.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2024

by | Oct 25, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the Canadiens and the Utah Hockey Club are exploring the trade market plus updates on Panthers forward Sam Bennett and Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson.

CANADIENS, UTAH SHOPPING AROUND FOR DEFENSEMEN

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports he’s been talking with teams around the league who say that Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has started making calls to conduct due diligence and determine which players might be available in the trade market.

He believes Hughes is open to making a move that could shake up his roster a bit and help his rebuilding club win some games this season. So far, there’s no activity in the trade market and nothing imminent for the Canadiens.

LeBrun points out the Canadiens aren’t going to mortgage their future as their long-term plan remains in place. They also have limited cap space this season so any deal would have to be dollar-in, dollar-out.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli told Sportsnet the Canadiens are checking prices for a top-four, right-shot defenseman.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens aren’t the only team looking for that kind of blueliner…

LeBrun also said the Utah Hockey Club is looking to plug some holes in their defense with Sean Durzi and John Marino sidelined for months recovering from surgeries.

They’ve reportedly contacted the Columbus Blue Jackets about Ivan Provorov. The 27-year-old rearguard is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July and could be in demand as a playoff rental player by the March 7 trade deadline. However, the Blue Jackets aren’t ready to part with him yet as they don’t want to take away from their roster this early in the season.

LeBrun mentioned the Toronto Maple Leafs might be open to moving Timothy Liljegren. However, the 25-year-old might not appeal to Utah because he has term remaining on his deal. Liljegren is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $3 million.

Darren Dreger pointed out that Dante Fabbro of the Nashville Predators might be available. The 26-year-old has been available before in the trade market. He also carries an affordable $2.5 million cap hit. Dreger noted the Predators are in the market for a center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also mentioned Utah could shop around for a right-shot defenseman. He also mentioned the emergence of Michael Kesselring has partially alleviated that problem. LeBrun believes they’ll look to within and see if they can ride this out. Nevertheless, they could be worth monitoring if losses mount because of their depleted defense.

Friedman also pointed out that Predators GM Barry Trotz wants to add a center. Maybe there’s a deal there to be had with the Canadiens or Utah.

LATEST ON BENNETT AND GIBSON

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reports the Florida Panthers could find it trickier getting Sam Bennett under contract compared to their signings of Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe. He claims both sides are miles apart with little chance of a resolution anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson will soon return to the lineup following an emergency appendectomy earlier this month. Kypreos claimed the Carolina Hurricanes were close to acquiring the 31-year-old netminder in the offseason but the deal fell through. Interest in Gibson could heat up with Colorado, Detroit and Pittsburgh having problems between the pipes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson carries an AAV of $6.4 million through 2026-27. Kypreos claims Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is willing to retain part of it if he gets a top asset in return. We’ll see if one of those teams will bite.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 24, 2024

by | Oct 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 24, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, three teams seek a center, contract speculation about Alexis Lafreniere and Wyatt Johnston, and the latest on Utah HC and the Leafs.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz said that not much is happening in the NHL trade market right now.

“No one is trading anyone right now. I would like to get a center, but no one is giving their centermen away,” said Trotz during a recent interview with The Game in Nashville.

The Calgary Flames are in the market for a right-shot center. GM Craig Conroy said he’s not parting with a first-round pick for a player who would only be with his team for a year. “But if it was a first-round pick for a guy who would be here long term, we would be open to that,” said Conroy.

Friedman indicated the Florida Panthers are also looking for a center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since the implementation of the salary cap in 2005, October tends to be a dead month in the trade market once the regular season begins. The few deals that occur usually involve low-cost depth players. The Predators, Flames, and Panthers could be waiting until the calendar flips to 2025 to find those centers. 

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (NHL Images).

The New York Rangers prefer to sign Alexis Lafreniere to a maximum-term eight-year contract. However, Friedman isn’t convinced the 23-year-old winger wants that as it would take him up to age 31 before he’s eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Rangers and Lafreniere discussed eight years with an average annual value of $8 million. The length of that deal could be the sticking point in their negotiations.

Friedman speculates the Dallas Stars could offer forward Wyatt Johnston over $8 million annually on his next contract. They signed goaltender Joel Oettinger to an $8.25 million AAV while defenseman Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz each received $8.45 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston is in the final season of his three-year entry-level contract. He lacks arbitration rights, which gives Stars management leverage in their negotiations.

The Utah Hockey Club is determined not to overpay finding replacements for sidelined right-shot defensemen Sean Durzi (four to six months) and John Marino (three to four months). “No panic, short-term moves,” writes Friedman, noting the emergence of Michael Kesselring has helped.

Friedman also noted that Utah is deep with forwards and 21-goal scorer Michael Carcone is off to a slow start this season. He believes someone will give Carcone a spot if he can’t find one in Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carcone was a healthy scratch in four of Utah’s seven games leading into Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. He could become a trade chip for a defenseman.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan noted Utah HC’s blueline dilemma, suggesting that club could be a good trade destination for Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren.

Liljegren, 25, has been the subject of frequent trade speculation this month. With an AAV of $3 million, he’s been an expensive healthy scratch for the Leafs. He could benefit from a change of scenery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah currently has over $8.2 million in cap space so they can easily afford Liljegren’s cap hit. He’s the right age and under contract through 2025-26. The question is, do they see him as a suitable addition to their blueline? Stay tuned…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau wondered if the Leafs will eventually attempt to move forwards Ryan Reaves and David Kampf. He believes roster changes are coming once their sidelined players return from injury.

Reaves hasn’t done much in his four games thus far, averaging a team-low 8:15 of ice time. Meanwhile, Kampf has played five games and his ice time has decreased since last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It won’t be easy moving either guy. Reaves carries an affordable $1.35 million cap hit through next season but at 37 he’s past his prime as an agitating forward. Kampf, 29, carries an AAV of $2.4 million through 2026-27 and a 10-team no-trade list.