NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 30, 2025

by | Apr 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 30, 2025

The Hurricanes move on to the second round, the Senators stave off elimination again, the Oilers and Golden Knights are on the verge of advancing, the Norris Trophy finalists are revealed, Rick Tocchet won’t return as Canucks coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes are the first team in this postseason to reach the second round following a 5-4 double-overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images).

Sebastian Aho scored twice (including the game-winner) and collected an assist. Seth Jarvis and Shayne Gostisbehere each collected two assists and Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves for the Hurricanes, who won the series four games to one.

Jacob Markstrom kicked out 49 shots for the Devils, who blew 3-0 and 4-3 leads in this game. Stefan Noesen and Brett Pesce each had two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Dawson Mercer got a double-minor for high-sticking Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi early in the second OT period. That was the turning point, setting the stage for Aho’s winning goal.

The Hurricanes had a horrible start to this game, but their poise and experience shone through as they rallied back. Their special teams made the difference in this game, as they had throughout the series, going two-for-six on the power play and killing off three penalties.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark stopped 29 shots to shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and two assists while Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Senators, who staved off elimination for the second straight game.

Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz gave up two goals on 17 shots. The Leafs hold a 3-2 series lead and can end it in Game 6 on Thursday, May 1, in Ottawa at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Collars are tightening for the Leafs and their fans. They are 1-13 in postseason elimination games since 2017.

The Edmonton Oilers took their first series lead in their first-round tilt with the Los Angeles Kings with a 3-1 win in Game 5, taking a 3-2 lead after starting this series down 2-0.

Evander Kane, Mattias Janmark and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers while Calvin Pickard stopped 21 shots for his third straight win in this series. Darcy Kuemper made 43 saves for the Kings.

The series returns to Edmonton for Game 6 on May 1 at 10 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no mystery who’ll be the Oilers’ starting goalie for Game 6. Pickard’s steady goaltending has made the difference since replacing Stuart Skinner late in Game 2.

An overtime goal by Brett Howden lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, giving them a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.

William Karlsson and Mark Stone also scored, and Jack Eichel had two assists for the Golden Knights. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy replied for the Wild. Game 6 is back in Minnesota on Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson left this game with an illness after the second period. Backup Marc-Andre Fleury stopped six of seven shots.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets are the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy as this season’s top defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes and Makar are former Norris Trophy winners. This is the first time Werenski’s been a finalist for this award. He was the Jackets’ best player this season.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman broke the news yesterday that Rick Tocchet will not return as head coach of the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is another serious blow in a tumultuous season for the Canucks. They wanted to sign Tocchet to an extension, but he cited family reasons for his decision to move on and explore other options.

NHL.COM: The league announced the 2025 Draft Lottery will be on Monday, May 5. The San Jose Sharks have the best odds of winning the lottery for the second straight season, finishing last in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There is no clear-cut potential superstar prospect in this year’s draft class compared to 2023 (Connor Bedard) and 2024 (Macklin Celebrini) and no clear favorite as the top pick. The front-runner is defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL’s Erie Otters.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW/TAMPA BAY TIMES: Panthers defenseman Aaron Eklad received a two-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for a high hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel during Game 4 of their first-round series. Hagel has been ruled out for Game 5 between the two clubs.

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Panthers, defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000.00 for boarding Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4.

DAILY FACEOFF: Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi will return to the lineup for Game 5 of his club’s first-round series with the St. Louis Blues. Vilardi had been sidelined since late March with an upper-body injury.

Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will miss Game 5 against the Jets on Wednesday.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury and isn’t expected to be in the lineup for Game 5 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Defenseman Alex Carrier (possible concussion) is also expected to miss that game. The Canadiens face elimination, down 3-1 in the series. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backup Jakub Dobes will get the start as he did in Game 4. Jayden Struble is expected to replace Carrier on the Canadiens’ blueline.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings announced that assistant coaches Alex Westlund and L.J. Scarpace won’t return.

Former Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula announced his retirement. He spent 16 seasons in the NHL from 2005-06 to 2020-21 with the Red Wings, Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders, scoring 197 goals and 530 points in 1,056 regular-season games, and 86 points in 166 playoff games. Filppula spent the past four seasons playing in Switzerland and Finland. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2025

by | Apr 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2025

The Canadiens, Devils and Oilers pick up big wins in their first-round series. Check out the recaps plus the latest news in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Three unanswered third-period goals by Christian Dvorak, Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook gave the Montreal Canadiens a 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Newhook and Cole Caufield finished with a goal and an assist each. Connor McMichael, Jakub Chychrun and Alex Ovechkin replied for the Capitals, who hold a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is Sunday, Apr. 27, at 6:30 pm ET.

The two teams lost their starting goaltenders to injuries during this contest. Canadiens starter Sam Montembeault suffered an undisclosed injury in the second period and made way for Jakub Dobes. Capitals netminder Logan Thompson injured his left knee following a third-period collision with teammate Dylan Strome and was replaced by Charlie Lindgren. There were no post-game updates regarding their conditions.

Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most complete game I’ve seen the Canadiens play this season. After being dominated in the first two games in Washington, they fed off the energy in the Bell Centre, outshooting the Capitals 40-19, winning 53.7 percent of the faceoffs, going two-for-five on the power play, and outhitting the Caps 45-26.

Winger Josh Anderson didn’t collect any points, but made his presence felt as Montreal’s physical leader, dishing out six hits and battling Washington winger Tom Wilson in a scrap at the end of the second period that spilled into the Capitals bench. Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj made his playoff debut and led all blueliners with four hits.

Canadiens winger Patrik Laine missed this game with an upper-body injury. That might explain his subpar performances in the first two contests.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec scored in double-overtime as his club nipped the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The Devils had a 2-0 lead on goals by Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, but the Hurricanes got two unanswered third-period goals by Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho to tie it. Game 4 is Sunday at 3:30 pm ET, with the Hurricanes holding a 2-1 series lead.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A big win for New Jersey after two lifeless losses to the Hurricanes in Carolina. Nemec set the franchise record as the youngest player (21 years, 69 days) to score a playoff overtime goal.

Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler returned to action after being sidelined by a lower-body injury in early February. However, blueliner Johnathan Kovecevic left the game with an undisclosed injury.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 7-4 in Game 3 of their series. Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard scored the tying and winning goals 10 seconds apart in the third period.

Bouchard and Connor Brown each had two goals and Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists for the Oilers. Adrian Kempe and Drew Doughty each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who lead the series two games to one. Game 4 is Sunday in Edmonton at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane’s tying goal came under automatic review for a kicking motion. It was determined he did kick the puck, but then knocked it into the net with his stick, making it a good goal.

Kings head coach Jim Hiller challenged for goaltender interference but the call went against him, leading to a delay-of-game penalty with Bouchard’s winning goal on the subsequent power play.

HEADLINES

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights need more production from their top line of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbeshev if they hope to defeat the Minnesota Wild in their first-round series. The trio has yet to register a point in the series, with the Wild leading two games to one.

THE DENVER POST: Gabriel Landeskog has been promoted to the Colorado Avalanche’s second line and their top power-play unit. After being sidelined for the past three seasons by knee surgeries, the 32-year-old winger returned to action in Game 3 of their series with the Dallas Stars. The Stars have a 2-1 series lead over the Avalanche.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for a late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 of the series between the two clubs on Thursday.

Barkov left that game and remains questionable for Game 3 on Saturday.

NHL.COM: The league also fined the Ottawa Senators $25,000.00 for unsportsmanlike conduct and Senators forward Nick Cousins $2,083.33 for unsportsmanlike conduct for an incident during warm-ups for Game 3 of their series with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cousins’ offense was shooting a puck down the ice at Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: A mistrial was declared by the presiding judge in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case. A new trial will begin once new jurors are selected, which was expected to occur on Friday.

Former NHL players Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote face one charge each of sexual assault for an alleged incident that occurred in 2018 while members of Canada’s World Junior team. McLeod faces an additional charge as a party to the offense.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 6, 2024

by | Dec 6, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 6, 2024

Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk has a five-point game, Oilers forward Zach Hyman scores twice in his return from an injury, and the Blackhawks fire head coach Luke Richardson. Get the details on these stories and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk had a five-point performance (one goal, four assists) as his club recovered from blowing a 3-0 lead for a 7-5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Sam Reinhart (one goal, two assists) snapped a 5-5 tie with 1:59 remaining in the third period as the Panthers extended their points streak to five games (4-0-1). Flyers forward Owen Tippett tallied twice within 23 seconds in the second period while teammate Matvei Michkov collected three assists.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

The Edmonton Oilers got two goals each from Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3. Oilers captain Connor McDavid had four assists to move into the top 10 in the points race with 35. Draisaitl had 19 goals, tying Reinhart for the league lead in that category. Cole Sillinger had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman returned to action after missing five games with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, there is no timetable for Victor Arvidsson’s return to the Oilers lineup. He’s missed nine games with an undisclosed injury.

A five-goal first period powered the Tampa Bay Lightning to an 8-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks. Brayden Point picked up four assists, Brandon Hagel scored two goals, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves for the Lightning. Alexander Wennberg scored for the Sharks as their three-game streak ended.

The Carolina Hurricanes got a four-point performance from Andrei Svechnikov (one goal, three assists) as they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3, snapping a three-game losing skid. Martin Necas had a goal and an assist to take over the lead in the NHL scoring race with 41 points, one point ahead of Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon. Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin scored twice.

An overtime goal by Adam Lowry lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Connor Hellebucyk turned aside 28 shots while Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Gabriel Vilardi each collected two points as the Jets ended their four-game losing streak. Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens replied for the Sabres, who are winless in their last five contests (0-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres played without team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who remains sidelined with back spasms.

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine scored for the second straight game as his club blanked the Nashville Predators 3-0. Samuel Montembeault turned in a 29-save shutout and Jake Evans had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens. Justus Annunen stopped 27 shots as the Predators have lost six straight games (0-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Montembeault, his selection to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February had one observer suggesting his inclusion was to appease Hockey Quebec officials unhappy over the lack of Francophones on the team. A Hockey Canada official dismissed this theory, pointing out that the Canadiens goalie backstopped Canada to a gold medal in the 2023 IIHF World Championship. “Montembeault deserves to be there,” said the official.

The Predators played without center Ryan O’Reilly, who is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris tallied twice in a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Norris broke a 1-1 tie with 43 seconds remaining in the third period. Linus Ullmark turned aside 19 shots for the win. Alex DeBrincat scored for the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators honored the “Pizza Line” of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley in a pregame ceremony. They were among the league’s highest-scoring lines from 2005-06 to 2008-09. The trio earned their nickname from a promotion by the Pizza Pizza franchise rewarding those attending Senators home games with a free slice if the club scored five goals. It happened so often that the minimum was raised to six goals.

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

The St. Louis Blues nipped the Calgary Flames 4-3 on an overtime goal by Colton Parayko. Jordan Binnington kicked out 36 shots and Robert Thomas netted a goal and two assists for the Blues, who are 4-0-1 under head coach Jim Montgomery. Flames blueliner MacKenzie Weegar had a goal and an assist.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Fellow blueliner Adam Larsson collected three assists while goalie Joey Daccord stopped 27 shots. Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin got the hook after giving up four goals on 13 shots. The Isles have won only twice in their last 10 games (2-5-3).

HEADLINES

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday after the club compiled a record of 8-16-2. Anders Sorensen, who was the head coach of the Blackhawks AHL affiliate in Rockford, takes over from Richardson on an interim basis. Blackhawks assistant general manager Mark Eaton takes over the coaching duties in Rockford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks brought in several veterans during the offseason to bolster their roster but the club only seemed to get worse. Franchise player Connor Bedard struggled to score, raising concerns that he could be growing frustrated with the team’s performance.

Speculation over which former NHL coach might take over as the Blackhawks’ full-time bench boss has already begun. Candidates could include Jay Woodcroft, Todd McLellan, Dave Hakstol and Gerard Gallant.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko could be getting closer to his season debut. He’s been sidelined since the 2024 playoffs with a knee injury. On Thursday, Demko told reporters that he felt ready to go. However, he’s not expected to be between the pipes on Friday when the Canucks face the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks won’t rush their Vezina Trophy finalist into the lineup. They’ll want to be sure he’s 100 percent before green-lighting his return to action. Nevertheless, it sounds like he’s close to rejoining his teammates.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will play in his 800th career NHL regular-season game on Friday when his club meets the Seattle Kraken.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jani Hakanpaa underwent a “minor procedure” on his knee but is expected to return to the lineup soon. He’s been limited to two games this season and last played on Nov. 16.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 2, 2023

by | Dec 2, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 2, 2023

Could the Maple Leafs be the Flames’ next trade partner? Could the Bruins pursue Noah Hanifin? What next for the Canadiens after re-signing Sam Montembeault? Is Jakub Vrana playing his way out of St. Louis? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE LEAFS PURSUE CHRIS TANEV?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could make Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev a trade target. Tanev, who turns 34 on Dec. 20, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He carries a cap hit of $4.5 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

Friedman isn’t sure how hard the Leafs will pursue pure rentals this season. However, Tanev is what Friedman called “a Toronto guy”, noting that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving signed him to his current contract when he was the Flames GM. He also feels they’re “pretty confident” that they could keep him beyond this season.

Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev (NHL Images).

The Flames’ resurgent play in recent weeks prompted some to wonder if they might pump the brakes on any trade talk. However, Friedman thinks trading Nikita Zadorov earlier this week to the Vancouver Canucks indicates they’re willing to entertain strong offers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With John Klingberg, Mark Giordano and Timothy Liljegren sidelined by injuries, the Leafs’ battered blueline needs shoring up. If Klingberg is out of the season, that will provide Treliving with sufficient wiggle room to acquire a suitable replacement. The question then becomes how much they’re willing to part with to make it happen.

The Flames only got a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-rounder from the Canucks for Zadorov, but the latter punched his ticket out of Calgary with a public trade request that reportedly didn’t sit well with some of his Flames teammates. They could seek more for Tanev, who has gone about his business without making any demands (that we know of) for a trade.

COULD THE BRUINS STILL PURSUE HANIFIN?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: James Murphy wondered if a report by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun suggesting the Flames could agree to a sign-and-trade scenario involving Noah Hanifin might tempt Bruins GM Don Sweeney into pursuing him.

Like Tanev, the 26-year-old Hanifin is eligible for UFA status next summer unless the Flames re-sign him. LeBrun indicated the two sides were close to an eight-year contract extension worth $7.5 million annually but the deal was pulled by the Flames after Hanifin indicated he wanted to wait and see how the season unfolded.

An NHL source close to the situation told Murphy that the Flames would be willing to do a sign-and-trade with Hanifin. He also thinks the Bruins could be interested if that came to pass.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been interested in Hanifin for some time. His club will have the cap space to take on Hanifin after this season but they currently lack the space to absorb his $4.95 million AAV for this season unless they shed a comparable salary in the deal or in a separate trade.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS AFTER SIGNING MONTEMBEAULT?

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: That’s the question posed by Marc Dumont specifically aimed at their goaltending situation. They’re currently carrying three netminders in the recently re-signed Sam Montembeault, veteran Jake Allen (who has a year remaining on his contract) and young Cayden Primeau who continues to struggle at the NHL level.

One way to address this is to place Primeau on waivers and send him back to their farm team in Laval. The risk of losing him to another club is the reason the Canadiens are still carrying him on their roster. However, his sporadic starts and .875 save percentage might not be that enticing to other teams.

The Canadiens could trade Allen but he won’t fetch much of a return for him at this career stage. Dumont also suggested the possibility of trading Montembeault now that he’s under an affordable three-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I mentioned in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines, I don’t believe the Canadiens intend to trade Montembeault. They signed him to that extension to bring stability between the pipes for their rebuilding roster over the next three years

I think it’s between Allen and Primeau, neither of whom has much trade value. At this point, I believe the Canadiens will take the risk and put Primeau on waivers.

ARE VRANA’S DAYS NUMBERED IN ST. LOUIS?

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently pondered Jakub Vrana’s future with the St. Louis Blues. He’s been a healthy scratch in four games (five since Rutherford’s piece was published) and has just six points in 17 games.

Rutherford doesn’t see this ending well for Vrana, who is now on his third NHL club. He’s not a Craig Berube-type player and could eventually be moved if anyone’s interested.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vrana has shown the ability to score but not the consistency. In recent years he was plagued by injuries and spent some time last season in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Traded to St. Louis last season by the Detroit Red Wings, he had a strong finish with the Blues, netting 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games. However, he hasn’t followed that up this season as hoped.

Vrana, 27, is eligible for UFA status next July. The Blues could shop him if they become sellers by the March 8 trade deadline but there might not be much interest in him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2023

by | Dec 2, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2023

The Sharks finally win a road game, Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton is sidelined indefinitely, and the three stars and the top rookie for November are announced. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The San Jose Sharks finally won their first road game of the season by upsetting the New Jersey Devils 6-3. Kaapo Kahkonen kicked out 44 shots, Mikael Granlund had a goal and two assists while Anthony Duclair and Jacob MacDonald each tallied twice for 6-16-2 Sharks. Rookie defenseman Simon Nemec collected two assists in his first-ever NHL game while Akira Schmid gave up five goals on 17 shots as the Devils slipped to 11-10-1 on the season.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks remain at the bottom of the overall standings because of their horrific start (0-10-1) to this season. However, they’ve improved since general manager Mike Grier read them the riot act in early November, going 6-6-1 since Nov. 7.

Meanwhile, the Devils received some bad news before this game as defenseman Dougie Hamilton and forward Tomas Nosek will be sidelined indefinitely. Hamilton went under the knife to repair a torn left pectoral muscle while Nosek underwent surgery on his right foot.

Things didn’t get any better for the Devils as defenseman Brendan Smith received a two-game suspension from the league for slashing Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny on Nov. 30. Konecny was fined $5,000.00 for cross-checking Smith.

The Devils did get some good news, however, as winger Timo Meier returned to action against the Sharks after being sidelined for seven games with a lower-body injury. It was his first game against his former club since being traded to New Jersey in February and was held without a point in this contest.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merlikins stopped 41 shots as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Ottawa Senator 4-2. Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski each collected two assists while Adam Fantilli broke a 2-2 in the second period for the 8-13-4 Blue Jackets. Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux for the Senators (8-10-0), who sit four points back of the Blue Jackets at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with 16 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are a mess, winning just four of their last 10 games and dropping their last three contests. Management has stuck by embattled head coach D.J. Smith but the calls for his firing from unhappy Senators fans are growing.

They’ve played about five fewer games than most of their rivals in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, they’re nine points out of the final wild-card berth. If things don’t improve soon, they’ll be too far back to catch up.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes are the league’s three stars for November 2023.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is the league’s top rookie for November 2023.

THE SCORE: Speaking of Bedard, he condemned a baseless social media rumor regarding a member of his family and former Blackhawks teammate Corey Perry.

“It’s just a bunch of BS on the internet,” said Bedard. “It’s, of course, been an effect on myself and my family, and that’s not fair. But’s it out of our control. It’s all just fake, made-up stuff.”

Bedard also touched on Perry’s contract termination for what the Blackhawks deemed unacceptable conduct. “Obviously, what happened with Perry was serious. I think the first concern is that he’s okay, and his family are.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard handled those questions very well. He appears to have a maturity beyond his years, certainly more than those who started that disgusting rumor or those who spread it around like manure.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens yesterday signed goaltender Sam Montembeault to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.15 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An affordable move by the Canadiens to lock down their best goalie. The 27-year-old Montembeault could’ve opted to test the unrestricted free-agent market in July but he wanted to stay in Montreal and play for the Habs.

A short-term deal such as this should provide cost-effective stability between the pipes for the rebuilding Canadiens. While some have suggested this contract could boost Montembeault’s trade value, I think Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau are the more likely trade candidates.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Primeau on waivers with the intent of sending him to their AHL affiliate in Laval. While there’s a risk another club could claim him, they cannot continue carrying three goalies for much longer. If they’re not peddling Montembeault or Allen, they must trade Primeau or send him back to the farm.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin yesterday shared the news that he and his wife Kenzie, who were expecting their first child, have lost the baby. Larkin had been out of the lineup for the past two games to be with Kenzie during this time.

The Larkins were married in August. They were expecting a girl in April. Dylan is expected to return to action on Saturday against the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to the Larkins.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken winger Jaden Schwartz could be sidelined for six weeks with an upper-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Nashville Predators defenseman Alex Carrier is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

CALGARY SUN: Oliver Kylington skated with a handful of his Flames teammates on Friday. He remains on a personal leave of absence from the club since the start of last season dealing with mental health challenges. There is no timetable for his return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Kylington and here’s hoping he makes a full recovery.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2023

by | Dec 1, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2023

Does the Zadorov trade mean the Flames have more deals in store? Could the Sharks’ Tomas Hertl or the Canadiens’ Sam Montembeault hit the trade block? What’s the latest on the Sabres? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE FLAMES FOLLOWING THE ZADOROV TRADE?

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson wonders what will happen to Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev following the Flames trading Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Like Zadorov, the trio are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July.

Unless they sign contract extensions, Gilbertson believes all three will be moved before the March 8 trade deadline. He expects they’ll fetch more than the 2024 fifth-round pick and the 2026 third-rounder that the Flames received in the Zadorov deal. General manager Craig Conroy could allow interested clubs to open contract extension talks with those players or sweeten the pot by retaining some salary.

Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).

Gilbertson noted that Zadorov ensured the Flames would move him after publicly requesting a trade on Nov. 10 through his agent. It’s believed some of his teammates didn’t approve of him going that route to force a deal.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported the Flames were close to reaching an agreement with Hanifin on an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $7.5 million. However, the 26-year-old defenseman wanted to see the club’s direction as the team stumbled out of the gate, resulting in the Flames withdrawing the offer.

Despite the Flames’ improvement through November, LeBrun said that hasn’t changed management’s mindset that a roster reset is in order. That will likely lead to trades involving Hanifin and their other pending UFAs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have improved partly because of the addition of promising players such as Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil. That might explain why management is still willing to consider moving their other pending UFAs despite the club’s recent improvement to make way for returns that can help them build for the future.

It’ll be interesting to see how Conroy handles this. Does he trade Lindholm, Hanifin and Tanev? Does he retain one or two and trade the other? What happens if the Flames rise even higher in the standings than a wild-card position? Does that change the “roster reset” mindset?

Whatever happens, I daresay we’ll continue to hear a lot of trade speculation about Lindholm, Hanifin and Tanev, especially when the calendar flips to 2024 and the March trade deadline appears on the horizon.

COULD THE SAN JOSE SHARKS ATTEMPT TO TRADE HERTL?

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently examined Tomas Hertl’s future with the rebuilding San Jose Sharks and how he might best help them.

He suggested that the 30-year-old center could be their best trade asset. However, Hertl also carries a full no-movement clause through 2024-25, after which it becomes a three-team trade list through 2027-28, followed by a 15-team trade list until the contract expires in 2030. He’s also carrying an average annual value of $8.137 million.

That means Hertl won’t be going anywhere unless he requests to be moved to a club where he can win now to a team that can absorb all or a large part of his cap hit. Stephens indicated that Sharks GM Mike Grier recently said that he hasn’t received any calls from other clubs about Hertl, who has embraced a leadership role with the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The piece also noted that Hertl may not be happy with the Sharks’ current rough patch but considers San Jose home for himself and his family. He’s motivated to work harder to help the Sharks regain their winning ways.

Hertl surfaced briefly in the rumor mill earlier this season but that talk has died away. Unless he asks to be moved, I doubt the Sharks will move him.

SHOULD THE CANADIENS TRADE MONTEMBEAULT?

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Nicholas Blanchet makes the case for the Montreal Canadiens to trade Sam Montembeault.

While the 27-year-old goaltender is showing signs of becoming a reliable starter, Blanchet believes he’s only got about two more years remaining in his playing prime before he slows down. By the time the Canadiens promising young core is ready to win, Montembeault won’t be the solution they need in goal.

Blanchet felt that Montembeault’s value won’t be higher than it is now. He suggested shopping him for a second-round pick or a younger player who could fit into the Canadiens’ long-term plans.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On the other hand, the Canadiens could decide that Montembeault might be a worthwhile starter for them over the next three or four years to hold the fort while they develop a promising goalie such as Jacob Fowler or acquire a more reliable starter via trade or free agency.

I understand Blanchet’s point. Nevertheless, they need somebody reliable between the pipes to give this club some chance of improvement while they wait for those promising kids to fully develop. They can’t keep ending up at the bottom of the standings year after year. That sucks the life out of a team and can hurt the development of those talented kids.

Montembeault is completing a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1 million. Unless he’s trying to force a trade by seeking a ridiculously high number, they should attempt to retain him. Re-signing him to a three or four-year contract with an AAV of around $3.5 million won’t break the bank.

**UPDATE** The Canadiens announced they’ve signed Montembeault to a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension. The AAV is $3.15 million. 

WHAT NEXT FOR THE SABRES FOLLOWING THE KANE SWEEPSTAKES

TSN: Darren Dreger wondered if the Buffalo Sabres remain in the market for a forward after losing out to the Detroit Red Wings in the Patrick Kane sweepstakes. He believes they don’t have to rush to do so as they’ve got Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn returning soon from injuries. Dreger believes they’re open for business to add a forward but it’s not an intense search.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think the Sabres need an experienced, reliable starting goaltender and improved depth among their bottom-six defense. But hey, if they want to chase another forward, fill your boots.