NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 28, 2017

by | Oct 28, 2017

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 28, 2017

Game recaps plus updates on Cam Fowler, Jason Garrison, Vadim Shipachyov and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Oscar Dansk made 32 saves for his first career NHL shutout while James Neal, David Perron, Jonathan Marchessault and Cody Eakin each netted a goal and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights crushed the Colorado Avalanche 7-0. The Golden Knights have won five straight games and carry a record of 8-1-0. Avs forwards Gabriel Bourque and Alexander Kerfoot left the game with upper-body injuries. 

 

Earlier in the day, the Golden Knights placed defenseman Jason Garrison on waivers. Meanwhile, center Vadim Shipachyov reported yesterday to their AHL affiliate. SKA St. Petersburg, his former KHL team, released a statement yesterday indicating he can’t negotiate a return based on the player transfer agreement between the KHL and NHL honoring each other’s player contracts. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrison frequently surfaced in this season’s NHL rumor mill. His declining performance and $4.6 million cap hit makes him difficult to trade. 

Pekka Rinne’s 43-save performance (including 15 in the third period) carried the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Shootout goals by Drew Stafford and Jesper Bratt gave the New Jersey Devils a 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Devils continue to surprise in October, now sporting a 7-2-0 record to sit one point out of first in the Metropolitan Division. 

Josh Anderson’s overtime goal lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. 

Brayden Schenn tallied the game winner as the St. Louis Blues edged the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. 

Alexander Radulov scored the winning goal in the Dallas Stars 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, handing the latter their fourth loss in their last five contests. 

TSN: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler is expected to miss four-to-eight weeks with a knee injury. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks now have four regular blueliners (Fowler, Kevin Bieksa and Sami Vatanen) on injured reserve. Vatanen is expected to return soon. 

THE WASHINGTON POST: Capitals winger Brett Connolly (concussion) is expected to miss his club’s next two games. 

Former NHL center Jay McClement has signed with Swiss League team EHC Olten.

 











NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2017

by | Oct 1, 2017

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2017

Updates on Kyle Turris, Marian Hossa, Scottie Upshall and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports contract discussions between Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and center Kyle Turris are described as “healthy”. That’s giving rise to the possibility the two sides could work out an agreement before their season opener on Thursday.

If not, however, it won’t be cause for concern. Turris is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July but the Sens could get him re-signed before then. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch also said it’s rumored the Turris camp seeks a seven- or eight-year deal in the range of $6 million annually. I can see him getting that much. If the Sens won’t pay it, another club certainly will via free agency on July 1. I think he’ll be staying in Ottawa.

THE ATHLETIC: The Chicago Blackhawks are still awaiting approval from the league to place sidelined winger Marian Hossa on long-term injury reserve on the second day of the season. Hossa will sit out the entire 2017-18 campaign because of a persistent skin condition related to his hockey equipment. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decision will come before the Blackhawks submit their cap compliant roster by the 3 pm ET deadline on Tuesday. I believe they’ll get approval to do so, probably on Monday. 

STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues brought back forward Scottie Upshall on a professional tryout offer. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Blues recent rash of injuries I expect Upshall will soon ink a one-year deal with them.

TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins released veteran center Jay McClement from his professional tryout offer. 

THE ATHLETIC: Daniel Winnik’s tryout with the Minnesota Wild is over. He’s free to sign with the Wild or another NHL team. 

Buffalo Sabres left wing Nicolas Deslauriers and Montreal Canadiens center Peter Holland are the two notable players placed on waivers yesterday. 

 











NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 26, 2017

by | Aug 26, 2017

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 26, 2017

Could NY Rangers winger Rick Nash one day return to the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Latest on Rick Nash, Drew Stafford, Jay McClement and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline wonders if New York Rangers winger Rick Nash might one day finish his NHL playing career with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nash was drafted by the Jackets first overall in the 2002 NHL Draft and played nine seasons with them from 2002-03 to 2011-12. He was dealt to the Rangers in a multi-player trade in July 2012. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I suppose you can never say never. Portzline doubts it’ll happen next summer, when Nash is eligible for unrestricted free agency, as he’ll still be too expensive to sign. More likely, it could be toward the end of his career, when he’d be more affordable to acquire via trade or free agency.  

NJ.COM: The New Jersey Devils signed right wing Drew Stafford to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800K..

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m not surprised the Devils signed Stafford, as they need experienced depth at forward. I did expect Stafford to get around $1.5 million on a one-year deal, so this is certainly a bargain for New Jersey. 

TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins signed veteran center Jay McClement to a professional tryout offer. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If McClement earns a contract with the Penguins it’ll certainly help bolster their checking line depth, which suffered the twin departures of Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen via free agency. He’s best suited for the fourth-line spot, though Pens GM Jim Rutherford recently said he was comfortable with Carter Rowney filling that role. Rutherford’s also said he’d look to the trade market to fill his third-line center position Perhaps McClement goes into the third-line spot until the Pens GM finds a more suitable option via trade.

NBC SPORTS: Former NHL coach Bob Hartley signed a five-year contract with the Latvian national team. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I find it odd that someone who was the NHL’s coach of the year just two years ago ends up coaching in Europe. Hard to imagine the NHL’s most valuable player skating for a European team just two years later because he couldn’t find an NHL club willing to hire him. 

AZCENTRAL.COM: The Gila River Arena is reducing its losses but what happens if the Arizona Coyotes leave?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Without an anchor tenant, I’m guessing those losses could increase.