NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2024

by | Aug 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2024

The potential effect of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault on the Predators’ power play, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond could take on leadership roles with the Red Wings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE TENNESSEAN: Last month’s signings of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are expected to bolster the Nashville Predators power play. The Preds struggled with the man advantage during their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks.

Stamkos and Marchessault will likely be part of the Predators’ top power-play unit alongside Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly. Stamkos will mostly stay on the left side, Marchessault and O’Reilly will play around the net and in the slot, while Forsberg and Josi keep pucks in play and shots from the points.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators improved on the power play in 2023-24, finishing 16th overall with a PP percentage of 21.6. Adding Stamkos and Marchessault could push them into the top 10 this season.

THE SCORE: Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde intends to have Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond take on greater roles with the club this season.

In an interview with Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Lalonde said he’d spoken with the pair over the summer about an increased leadership role with the team.

Seider and Raymond are restricted free agents but Lalonde isn’t concerned that both remain unsigned.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seider and Raymond are expected to be under contract when training camp opens next month. They’ve already taken on larger roles as their play improves and their experience grows. They’ll play important roles with the Red Wings in the coming years.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald explained his recent acquisition of Paul Cotter from the Vegas Golden Knights. He anticipates the 24-year-old forward will replace the physicality the Devils lost when Miles Wood departed last summer as a free agent.

Cotter had 25 points in 76 games last season with the Golden Knights along with 233 hits and forcing 35 turnovers.

LAS VEGAS SUN: The Vegas Golden Knights are taking steps to expand their fan base by touring in Jackson, Wyoming; Boise, Idaho; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Billings, Montana; and Reno.

In addition to participating in on-ice clinics, fans will get the opportunity to meet players, broadcasters and other members of the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smart move by the Golden Knights to grow their fanbase by extending their reach outside the Las Vegas region, especially in areas with no NHL franchises.

TSN: Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod are listed on KHL rosters as they await trial in London, Ontario after being charged with sexual assault in February. Dube is listed on Dinamo Minsk’s roster and McLeod with Astana Barys.

Both players became unrestricted free agents when their NHL clubs declined to qualify their rights.

A trial date is expected to be set on Aug. 13.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2024

by | Aug 3, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2024

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is hungry for another Stanley Cup championship, the notable remaining restricted free agents, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has his heart set on winning the Stanley Cup again.

“We won the Cup, the greatest prize, but you want to feel the same feelings again,” said Barkov. That leaves you hungry. Winning the Cup helps us this coming season, but winning two in a row will no way be easy. Everyone needs to give it their all, everyone has to play his best game and, of course, you need a little bit of luck.”

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winning consecutive Cups is not an easy feat. Only two teams (the 2016 and 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning) have accomplished the feat in the salary cap era. Still, it can be done. The Panthers have been to consecutive Cup Finals and return with most of their roster core (including Barkov) intact.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau provides brief profiles of five young restricted free agents still awaiting new contracts from their clubs. He also examines the risks and rewards of signing them to long-term deals.

They include Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis, Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, and winger Lucas Raymond.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Harley are coming off their entry-level contracts, giving their clubs leverage in their current negotiations. Some could end up with short-term “bridge” deals depending on their team’s salary-cap space. Swayman, meanwhile, opted not to go through arbitration again and is still in negotiations with the Bruins.

These players remaining unsigned at this stage in the offseason suggests they’re not interested in signing offer sheets with other clubs or no rival general managers are willing to go that route.

YARDBARKER: No contract extension talks are planned between the Dallas Stars and forward Evgenii Dadonov. The 35-year-old winger wants to see how this season plays out.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Former Devils forward Michael McLeod signed a one-year contract with KHL club Barys Astana. McLeod is one of five players to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in London, Ontario involving members of Canada’s World Junior team in 2018.

RG.ORG: Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov has started training with SKA St. Petersburg for the upcoming KHL season with an eye on a possible departure to the NHL next year. He was chosen fifth overall by the Canadiens in the 2024 draft.

Demidov will spend this season in the KHL but will face competition from players such as recent addition Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Canadiens could negotiate a loan if he doesn’t secure a roster spot with SKA St. Petersburg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 31, 2024

by | Jan 31, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 31, 2024

The Blue Jackets and Sharks get shutout victories, four players face charges in sexual assault investigation, Jesper Bratt will participate in the All-Star Game, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. Dmitri Voronkov scored for the 16-24-10 Blue Jackets. Jordan Binnington turned aside 21 shots for the Blues (26-21-2) as they hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 54 points.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich will be re-evaluated following the upcoming NHL All-Star Game for a lower-body injury. He was sidelined during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

The San Jose Sharks got a 32-save performance by Mackenzie Blackwood to shut out the Seattle Kraken 2-0. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jan Rutta were the goal scorers for the 14-32-4 Sharks. Joey Daccord stopped 20 shots for the 21-19-10 Kraken (52 points) as they remain two points behind the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks center Tomas Hertl missed this game with a lower-body injury that could sideline him from Wednesday’s contest against the Anaheim Ducks and possibly the upcoming NHL All-Star Game.

HEADLINES

TSN/SPORTSNET: Four NHL players have been charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario in connection with an alleged incident that took place at a Hockey Canada event in June 2018.

They are Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, and New Jersey Devils players Michael McLeod and Cal Foote. Lawyers for the players confirmed the charges in statements to the media yesterday.

They join unsigned Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton, who surrendered to London police on Sunday. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland since last season.

The reports indicate that none of the allegations against the players have been proven. A trial date has not yet been set.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This comes as no surprise given all five players recently took indefinite leaves of absence from their respective teams within days of each other.

The Flames have been criticized on social media for their initial statement on Jan. 21 indicating Dube’s leave of absence to attend to his mental health. The club released a statement yesterday saying they took this matter “very seriously” and they had “no knowledge of pending charges” when they granted his leave of absence.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils winger Jesper Bratt will replace sidelined teammate Jack Hughes in the upcoming 2024 NHL All-Star Game. Hughes has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Jan. 5.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Islanders center Mathew Barzal will replace Hughes in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game skills competition.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (upper-body injury) won’t play in Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. The club has decided that Kane will make his return to action following the upcoming All-Star break. He’s been out with a lower-body injury since Jan. 14. The injury is unrelated to his surgically repaired hip.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Former NHL defenseman Trevor Daley is applauding the removal of former NHL goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck’s number from the rafters of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Arena.

Vanbiesbrouck starred with the Greyhounds as an undrafted player in 1980-81. Following his NHL retirement, he returned to the Greyhounds as head coach and general manager.

In 2003, Vanbiesbrouck used a racial slur against Daley, who left the team and informed the OHL commissioner about the incident. He subsequently resigned as coach and GM of the Greyhounds and sold his stake in the franchise, issuing a statement apologizing for the incident.

Daley returned to the Greyhounds to finish the season and went on to play 16 seasons in the NHL, winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He said the decision by the Greyhounds to remove Vanbiesbrouck’s number “eliminates a major source of anger and frustration for me and my family.”