NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2023

by | Jun 5, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2023

Latest on the Golden Knights and Panthers ahead of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the salary cap remains flattened for 2023-24, musing about a possible Leafs-Penguins rivalry, Patrick Roy’s future, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Only six players remain from the original Golden Knights roster that reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. None of them are taking for granted their Game 1 victory over the Florida Panthers in the current Cup Final.

Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, William Carrier and Brayden McNabb remain from the original team that took the opening game of the 2018 Final against the Washington Capitals. They never won another game in that series as the Capitals won the next four to win the Cup.

“I think we’re a little bit more humble about the situation now, and we know that it doesn’t mean anything when it’s one game in the series,” said Marchessault. “So for us, the focus is on the next game, and that’s how we approach every game.”

NHL.COM: Taking their cue from head coach Paul Maurice, the Panthers remain a loose, relaxed group as they prepare to face off against the Golden Knights in Game 2 tonight in Las Vegas.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk’s Stanley Cup Final debut was not among the finest hours in his club’s postseason run. He was held scoreless in Game 1 and finished that contest in the dressing room after earning a misconduct in the final minutes of the third period.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m looking forward to how both teams perform in Game 2. The series opener was at times a ragged affair as both clubs adjusted to each other and attempted to establish a physical edge. Vegas dominated play in the first two periods but the score was tied at 2 until the Golden Knights blew it open with three unanswered third-period goals to win it 5-2.

THE SCORE: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Saturday that the salary cap will remain flattened for the 2023-24 season, rising by just $1 million to $83.5 million.

Despite the ongoing increase in hockey-related revenue this season, the players’ share of escrow owed to the team owners from the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season will require another season before it is fully repaid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Once that escrow is repaid, the salary cap is expected to significantly jump in 2024-25. It’s been projected that it could rise by $4 million to $87.5 million but I wouldn’t be surprised if it reaches between $88 million and $89 million.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle speculates a heated rivalry could be brewing between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins after former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was hired as the Penguins new president of hockey operations.

That move came less than two weeks after Leafs president Brendan Shanahan fired Dubas after the latter’s contract negotiations broke down amid rumors Dubas wanted more money and autonomy over roster decisions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks in Leafs Nation are upset at Dubas for joining the Penguins after he stated that it was Toronto or nothing during what turned out to be his last end-of-season media availability with the Leafs. I’m sure they’d like to see this turn into an intense rivalry with Dubas as the bad guy but I don’t think it’ll garner any sustained traction with the fans of both clubs.

Perhaps the intensity rises if Dubas and Shanahan start sniping at each other in the media over the course of the summer. Maybe Dubas riles up Leafs fans by signing restricted free agent goalie Ilya Samsonov to an offer sheet and then has the Penguins PR taunt the Leafs about it on social media.

Front-office feuds usually don’t provide much fodder for a heated rivalry between two clubs. That’s often sparked by the players and the coaches in the thick of the action, not by executives high above the ice in their private suites.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Quebec Remparts won the Memorial Cup on Sunday by defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-0 in what could be Remparts coach Patrick Roy’s final game behind their bench. It would be a fitting bookend to Roy’s tenure as he also guided them to the 2006 Memorial Cup title in his first season as their coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s speculation linking Roy to the New York Rangers, though they reportedly haven’t contacted him yet for their head-coaching position. He’s also been tied to the Ottawa Senators as one of the prospective owners is reportedly interested in hiring him.

NHL.COM: Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft, became the first player to win all three major trophies when the Canadian Hockey League awards were recently announced. The Regina Pats center was the CHL Top Prospect, Top Scorer, and the David Branch Player of the Year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard is expected to be chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the draft lottery last month.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2021

by | Apr 14, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2021

​Anthony Mantha has an impressive debut with the Capitals, Artemi Panarin breaks a Rangers record, Milan Lucic reaches a career milestone and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: The Washington Capitals thumped the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 to open a two-point lead over the New York Islanders atop the MassMutual East Division with 60 points. Anthony Mantha tallied a goal and an assist in his first game with Washington since being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 728th career goal to move within three of Marcel Dionne for fifth on the overall list.

Washington Capitals winger Anthony Mantha (NHL Images).

Artemi Panarin broke Mark Messier’s franchise record for the most points (138) in the first 100 games with the New York Rangers in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves for his first career NHL shutout while Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist. The Rangers sit in fifth place with 46 points in the East Division.

Shootout goals by Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle lifted the Boston Bruins past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2. Taylor Hall was held scoreless in his Bruins debut after being acquired from Buffalo before Monday’s trade deadline. Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury. The Bruins (50 points) hold a four-point lead over the Rangers.

The Calgary Flames edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on an overtime goal by Johnny Gaudreau. Flames winger Milan Lucic collected an assist and a fighting major in his 1,000th career NHL game. John Tavares had two helpers for the Leafs, who sit in first place in the Scotia North Division with 60 points.

A two-goal performance by Viktor Arvidsson powered the Nashville Predators to a 7-2 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Defenseman David Savard had a plus-minus of minus-4 in his first game with Tampa Bay since they acquired him on Saturday from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Predators (49 points) opened a four-point lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in the Discover Central Division.

An overtime goal by Frank Vatrano gave the Florida Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. The Panthers are tied with the Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes with 58 points, but the Hurricanes hold first place in the Central and the Lightning second place on the basis of games in hand. The Panthers played without winger Carter Verhaeghe, who’s listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

ESPN.COM: The Canadian Hockey League yesterday announced the 2021 Memorial Cup tournament has been canceled. It’s the second straight year the prestigious trophy won’t be awarded to Canada’s top junior team because of COVID-19.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2020

by | Mar 24, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2020

No decision yet on the fate of the 2020 regular season and playoffs, more speculation over the format of the 2020 post-season, interim coaches facing an uncertain future, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

TSN: The NHL has not yet decided whether the remainder of the 2019-20 season will be played, or what format the 2020 playoffs might take. In a press release, the league indicated the resumption of play and format would depend upon what transpires between now and when it is permitted to resume play.

Still no word as to when the NHL will return to action.

The league reiterated it doesn’t anticipate any resumption that would affect its ability to stage the 2020-21 season in its entirety. It also stated it was premature to assume games would be closed to the public whenever the schedule recommences.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the league told the board of governors it is too soon to determine when the schedule will resume, adding it is considering every option. Sources said some team executives prefer the usual 16-team playoff field, while others like an expanded one. A larger playoff format could also affect the draft lottery.

LeBrun speculates the likely postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics (July 24 to Aug. 6) could provide the league more flexibility to return to action this summer. He also said he couldn’t recall a higher level of cooperation between the league and the NHL Players Association than he’s seen right now, but that collaboration could be tested as both sides consider difficult financial decisions that affect both sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams on the playoff bubble would prefer an expanded playoff format if the regular season cannot be staged. Whatever that might look like remains to be seen. It will depend upon when they’re approved to resume by health officials in Canada and the United States.

NBC Sports provides national US TV coverage of the NHL. They’re also scheduled to cover the Tokyo Olympics. Postponing the Olympics ensures no broadcast scheduling conflict for the league.

It’s in the best interest of the league and the PA to cooperate during this crisis. They cannot allow petty squabbles of the past to derail efforts to find a workable solution to the anticipated decline in hockey-related revenue brought about by this pandemic. If they can successfully navigate through this, the stage could be set for a rancor-free extension of the current collective bargaining agreement.

STLTODAY.COM: Jeff Gordon observes the pause in the NHL schedule leaves the league’s interim coaches in limbo. They include the Calgary Flames’ Geoff Ward, the Dallas Stars’ Rick Bowness, the San Jose Sharks’ Bob Boughner, the New Jersey Devils’ Alain Nasreddine, and the Minnesota Wild’s Dean Evason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nasreddine could face the most uncertain future. He was hired by Ray Shero, who lost his job a month later. There’s talk the Devils could replace interim GM Tom Fitzgerald. If so, that person could bring in his own bench boss.

TSN: Mark Master reports ice makers in the 31 NHL arenas will face a daunting challenge if the league returns to action this summer.

THE SCORE: The 2019-20 Canadian Hockey League playoffs and the 2020 Memorial Cup have been canceled. It’s the first time in the Cup’s 102-year history that it won’t be awarded to Canada’s top junior team.