NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2025

by | Feb 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2025

A milestone game for Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the first player to reach 80 points this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick made 34 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the first US-born netminder to reach the 400-win milestone. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and two assists and J.T. Miller collected two assists for the Rangers (54 points), who sit five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Jack Eichel scored both goals for the Golden Knights (68 points), who are 1-2-2 in their last five games and remain in second place in the Pacific Division.

New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller is wasting little time making a positive impact on the Rangers. He has four points in his first two games since the Blueshirts reacquired him from the Canucks on Friday. It may have helped the struggling Zibanejad regain his scoring touch after being shifted to right wing on the Rangers’ top line alongside Miller and Zibanejad.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored to become the first player to reach 80 points this season as his club blanked the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 24 shots for the shutout as the Avalanche picked up their second straight win and hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 64 points. The Flyers have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon holds a three-point lead over Edmonton’s Leon Draisailt in the points race. He also leads all players with 60 assists.

Dallas Stars forward Evgenii Dadonov tallied twice in the third period in a 5-3 win over the Blue Jackets. Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley each collected two assists as the Stars collected their fifth straight win and sit second in the Central Division with 69 points. Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro and forward Kirill Marchenko left the game due to injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets weren’t pleased with the officiating in this game, questioning two of the Stars’ goals and Stars forward Mason Marchment going unpunished for elbowing Fabbro in the face. Marchenko was sidelined after taking a puck to the chin while sitting on the bench. Stars forward Mavrik Bourque also left this game in the third period when he was struck in the face by the puck.

Blue Jackets winger James van Riemsdyk played in this game despite losing four teeth during Friday’s game against Utah when he was crosschecked by Ian Cole. He returned to action after receiving 30 stitches, then underwent surgery following the game when an x-ray revealed one of his missing teeth was lodged in his bottom lip.

The Florida Panthers got a hat trick from Carter Verhaeghe to beat the New York Islanders 6-3, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picked up three assists as his club has won three straight and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 67 points. The Islanders sit four points behind the Blue Jackets with 55 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders played without forward Mathew Barzal and defenseman Scott Mayfield. They were sidelined by injuries during Saturday’s win over Tampa Bay.

An overtime goal by Alex DeBrincat lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Vancouver Canucks 3-2, giving the red-hot Wings their sixth straight win. DeBrincat also scored in regulation to finish the night with two goals, vaulting over the Blue Jackets into the first Eastern wild-card berth with 59 points. Filip Chytil scored in his first game with the Canucks since being acquired from the Rangers on Friday. The Canucks (57 points) sit two points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings activated Patrick Kane off injured reserve and placed forward J.T. Compher on IR. Wings defenseman Jeff Petry underwent surgery and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. He’d been sidelined since Jan. 2.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was a late scratch from this game with an undisclosed injury. Teammate Kyle Sherwood returned to action after missing four games due to injury.

Speaking of the Flames, they nipped the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Jonathan Huberdeau scored his 20th goal of the season while Morgan Frost scored his first goal with the Flames since being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. Kaapo Kakko and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, who’ve lost three of their last four games.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Thompson left the game in the third period following a blindside hit by Devils forward Stefan Noesen, who was ejected as a result. Paul Cotter scored two goals for the Devils as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ruff told reporters after the game that Thompson passed each test in the NHL’s concussion protocol. He’ll be held out of Monday’s practice as a precaution.

The Anaheim Ducks overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. Alex Killorn snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period as the Ducks picked up their fourth win in their last five games. The Canadiens (53 points) are winless in their last five games (0-4-1) and six points behind the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are plummeting back to earth following a five-week streak where they were among the hottest teams in the league, winning 13 of 17 games from Dec. 17 to Jan. 21.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou snapped a 1-1 tie to give his club a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Jordan Binnington stopped 24 shots to snap a four-game losing skid. Utah has lost five straight.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the skyrocketing salary cap has raised concern that it could create a new era of have-and-have-not teams, in which bigger markets gain a financial advantage to outspend smaller markets unable to spend toward the cap. It could invite renewed discussion of enhanced revenue sharing in the next round of collective bargaining slated to begin this month.

TVA SPORTS: Canadiens winger Patrik Laine confirmed he became addicted to video games as a refuge during a dark period following the sudden death of his father. He found they briefly eased his anxiety before he hit rock bottom, forcing him to seek help from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Laine is doing better in Montreal, regaining his love of hockey and finding solace in religion with his fiancee Jordan Leigh.

He also believes his critical comments about the Columbus Blue Jackets prompted his former teammates to target him during his first game against them in December. He regrets those remarks, and won’t say anything negative about another organization again.

OTTAWA SUN: Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman will receive an in-person hearing with the league’s department of player safety for his attempt to injure Senators center Tim Stutzle on Saturday.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Senators, they’ve returned goalie Leevi Merilainen to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. Starter Linus Ullmark is expected to return to action after being sidelined by a back injury since Dec. 22.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2025

by | Feb 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2025

Game recaps, the Penguins ship Marcus Pettersson to the Canucks in a multiplayer deal, analysis of J.T. Miller trade, Brandon Saad signs with the Golden Knights, updated salary-cap projections, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Zach Werenski lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson scored as the Blue Jackets overcame a 2-0 deficit, setting the stage for Werenski’s game-winner. The Jackets picked up their third straight win and hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 59 points. Nick Schmaltz and Alexander Kerfoot scored for Utah, who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah sophomore center Logan Cooley missed this game as he’s sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Cooley is also part of Utah’s Quarter Century Team. He’s on the First Team with fellow forwards Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller, defensemen Michael Kesselring and Mikhail Sergachev and goaltender Karel Vejmelka. The Second Team features forwards Nick Schmaltz, Alex Kerfoot and Jack McBain, defensemen Ian Cole and Olli Maatta, and goalie Connor Ingram.

A four-goal first period lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the St. Louis Blues 5-0. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 19 shots for the shutout, Jonathan Drouin had a goal and an assist, and Nathan MacKinnon collected his league-leading 60th assist as the Avalanche hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 62 points. The Blues (50 points) have lost four straight and sit seven points out of the final Western wild card.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich snapped a 3-3 tie late in the third period to give his club a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Kulich finished with two goals and teammate Rasmus Dahlin collected two assists for the Sabres. Predators defenseman Brady Skjei had a goal and an assist in a losing cause as his club has dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres inducted Rob Ray into their Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. Ray spent nearly 14 seasons as an enforcer with the Sabres from 1989-90 to 2002-03, becoming one of the most popular players in franchise history.

Predators goaltender Juuse Saros missed this game due to an illness while teammate Luke Evangelista returned to the lineup following an eight-game absence with a lower-body injury.

The Dallas Stars picked up their fourth straight victory by downing the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had two goals and an assist for the Stars (67 points), who sit one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild in second place in the Central Division. Conor Garland, Jake DeBrusk and Carson Soucy replied for the Canucks (56 points), who remain one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars placed defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) on injured reserve earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was banged up during this game. He told reporters following the game he’ll see how he’s doing over the next 48 hours.

The Canucks made bigger news off the ice on Friday. Read on to find out.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O’Connor to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, prospect forward Melvin Fernstrom and a conditional 2025 first-round pick that originally belonged to the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move came on the heels of the Canucks trading center J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. That first-round pick sent to the Penguins was part of the return the Cancusk received in the Miller deal.

Canucks president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin were familiar with Pettersson and O’Connor during their tenure with the Penguins. Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 but could end up signed to contract extensions.

Heinen and Desharnais were off-season additions for the Canucks who didn’t pan out. Both have a year remaining on their contracts at a combined cap hit of $4.25 million, making them affordable stopgap additions for the retooling (rebuilding?) Penguins. The prize for the Pens is the conditional first, which is top-13 protected. They now have two first-rounders in this year’s draft.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the hope for the Canucks in the wake of the Miller trade is Elias Pettersson will regain his scoring touch. A rift between the two players was blamed for the decline in both players’ performances.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Miller’s return to the Rangers is what the struggling club needs now and for the future. He will make them more formidable and consistent at center, keeping their Stanley Cup window open.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how this deal affects both clubs over the remainder of this season and the foreseeable future.

LAS VEGAS SUN: The Vegas Golden Knights signed Brandon Saad to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on Friday. The 32-year-old winger became a UFA on Friday following the termination of his deal with the St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are considered a Stanley Cup contender but they’ve been struggling recently. Saad could regain his scoring touch in Vegas, which could improve their offensive punch and his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.

NHL: The league and the NHL Players’ Association announced their projected payroll ranges for the next three seasons.

The upper limit is expected to reach $95.5 million for 2025-26 with a lower limit of $70.6 million. For 2026-27, the upper limit could reach $104 million with the lower limit at $76.9 million. For 2027-28, the upper limit could be $113.5 million with the lower limit at $83.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those numbers could be adjusted up or down depending on hockey-related revenue (HRR) fluctuations. Nevertheless, those projected figures indicate a significant rise in the cap after several stagnant years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Big-market teams will be delighted with those increases as they build and maintain their rosters. However, this will inevitably result in bad contracts, as some teams overpay to retain or add big-name talent.

Meanwhile, some small-market clubs could have difficulty reaching the cap floor. Revenue sharing will help but it’s unlikely to get them to the cap ceiling. That could become an issue in the next round of collective bargaining scheduled to begin later this month.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken center Yanni Gourde underwent successful surgery to repair a sports hernia. He’s expected to be sidelined for five to seven weeks.

Gourde, 33, is UFA-eligible this summer and was frequently the subject of trade rumors. However, he’ll be out until after the March 7 trade deadline, which could see him finish the season with the Kraken.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko is sidelined indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers recalled goaltender Aleksei Kolosov on Friday and placed defenseman Egor Zamula (upper body) on injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders claimed defenseman Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

by | Jan 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

Are the Blue Jackets interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Which teams might pursue free-agent winger Brandon Saad? What next for the Flyers following their multi-player trade with the Flames? All this and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BLUE JACKETS TALKING TO CANUCKS ABOUT PETTERSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are among the clubs talking to the Buffalo Sabres about Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.

The Jackets have the same question as other interested parties like the Buffalo Sabres: “Who is Elias Pettersson right now?” Is the 26-year-old center the one who warranted a massive contract extension last season or the one who’s been struggling this season?

LeBrun believes teams are waiting to see if the Canucks will lower their asking prices for Pettersson (and J.T. Miller) before engaging more fully in contract talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets were linked to Pettersson earlier this month but Aaron Portzline (The Athletic’s Blue Jackets beat writer) cited a team source claiming no trade discussions had taken place. Maybe the situation has now changed. It’s worth pointing out that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell attempted to acquire Pettersson last season while GM of the Carolina Hurricanes.

THE LATEST ON BRANDON SAAD

TSN: Chris Johnston reported winger Brandon Saad will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday afternoon following the mutual termination of his contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Former St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).

Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the suitors. They’re in the market for a center but are interested in seeing if Saad might be a fit as a potential wing option. The cost of signing him will be a determining factor. He walked away from the $5 million remaining on his contract with the Blues and might not necessarily be a cheap signing.

Darren Dreger believes the Leafs have a moderate interest in Saad, who played for head coach Craig Berube during the latter’s tenure in St. Louis. They’re interested in secondary scoring but the 32-year-old winger had difficulty filling that need for the Blues this season. The Leafs also have other needs to fill at center and on the blueline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli suggested the Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning as teams to watch regarding Saad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad won’t be a UFA for long. He could accept a cheap, prorated one-year deal with a playoff club, hoping that a strong performance with them could elevate his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.

FLYERS MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at what could be in store for the Philadelphia Flyers after trading former first-rounders Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames on Thursday for Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier.

Flyers GM Daniel Briere sees value in Pelletier and in the 2025 second-round pick he received from the Flames. That gives them seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, including four in the second round. Kurz speculates Briere could attempt to package some of those picks for a high-end asset. Shedding Farabee’s $5 million annual cap hit creates room to add a player with a significant salary and term.

Kurz also believes this move set the bar high for younger players like Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale or Noah Cates if they wish to remain with the Flyers for the long term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko is a UFA this summer. Briere could flip him for a draft pick before the March 7 trade deadline, perhaps for another second-rounder if the 28-year-old winger regains his scoring touch with the Flyers.

CAPITALS TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH CHARLIE LINDGREN

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the Washington Capitals are exploring a contract extension for goaltender Charlie Lindgren with an AAV in the range of $3.5 million and $4 million.

Lindgren, 31, is UFA-eligible on July 1. He’s in the final year of a $3.3 million deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals re-signed goalie Logan Thompson earlier this week to a six-year extension with an AAV of $5.85 million.

KINGS NOT PEDDLING BRANDT CLARKE

TSN: Chris Johnston noted an undercurrent of speculation regarding Brandt Clarke when the 21-year-old Los Angeles defenseman was scratched from their lineup to make way for the return of Drew Doughty.

Johnston stated Clarke was “not in play,” adding the scratch was merely a recharge for the promising young blueliner.

UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens won’t search for a rental defenseman before the March 7 trade deadline to replace Kaiden Guhle. The 23-year-old blueliner is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadricep.

LeBrun indicated the trade discussions the Canadiens have had with other teams involve players who will help them beyond this season. They could retain their pending UFAs as “own rentals” if they remain in the playoff chase leading up to the deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have cooled from the hot streak that had them briefly holding the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, management remains focused on their long-term picture. It’s not about quick fixes. Any additions via trades will be players carrying term on their contracts, like their acquisition of Alexandre Carrier last month from Nashville.

SALARY CAP SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports it’s expected the NHL will reveal its updated salary cap projection for 2025-26 during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 10-21). He said he’s been told that it is “very unlikely” to rise beyond $96 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman projected the cap could reach $92.4 million but didn’t rule out a higher number. It could end up between $94.5 and $96 million. Any amount over $92.4 million will be welcomed by most NHL general managers, especially those with expensive players to re-sign or those looking to add to their rosters for next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 11, 2024

by | Dec 11, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 11, 2024

Five-point performances by Avalanche stars Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is the first to reach 20 goals this season, the latest from the Board of Governors meetings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche stars Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon each collected five points in a milestone game for both players, leading their club to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rantanen had a hat trick and two assists in his 600th regular-season NHL game while MacKinnon scored a goal and picked up four assists to reach 600 career NHL assists. Cody Glass and Michael Bunting replied for the Penguins.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche picked up their third straight victory as Scott Wedgewood stopped 25 shots. Penguins backup Alex Nedeljkovic briefly left the bench after being struck in the face by an errant puck in the first period but returned early in the second.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl became the first player this season to reach the 20-goal plateau, scoring the game-winner to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Draisaitl also collected an assist on Connor McDavid’s 14th goal of the season. Jake Guentzel tallied his club’s only goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have put their slow start to this season behind them, winning seven of their last nine games. Lightning center Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Erik Cernak missed this game due to injuries suffered on Dec. 8 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Speaking of the Canucks, they dropped a 4-3 decision to the St. Louis Blues. Dylan Holloway scored the winner in overtime and Robert Thomas had a goal and two assists as the Blues have won six of their last nine contests. Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland each had two points for the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko made 21 saves in his season debut. He’d been recovering from a knee injury since the opening round of the 2024 playoffs.

The Calgary Flames nipped the Nashville Predators 4-3, handing the latter their eighth straight loss (0-5-3). Jonathan Huberdeau and Kevin Rooney each had a goal and an assist as the Flames collected their second win in their last eight contests (2-4-2). Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault tallied two goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators also lost captain Roman Josi as he left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. There was no post-game update on his condition.

An overtime goal by Auston Matthews gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Pontus Holmberg also scored and Anthony Stolarz kicked out 38 shots for the win. Ondrej Palat scored for the Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs activated Max Domi from injured reserve for this game and assigned Nikita Grebenkin to their AHL affiliate.

The Carolina Hurricanes got a late goal from defenseman Jalen Chatfield to down the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Fellow blueliners Shayne Gostisbehere and Brent Burns also scored for the Hurricanes. Luke Kunin scored both of the Sharks goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina forward Jack Drury left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said Drury’s injury didn’t look good and he could be sidelined for a while. Before the game, the Sharks placed center Will Smith (upper body) on injured reserve and activated forward Barclay Goodrow (upper body) from IR.

A two-goal performance by Travis Konecny carried the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist and rookie winger Matvei Michkov collected two helpers. Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist as his club lost for the fourth time in five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov leads this season’s rookie scorers with 11 goals and 27 points. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is second with 19 points, all of those assists. Sharks center (and 2024 first-overall pick) Macklin Celebrini is third with 16 points in 19 games.

The Los Angeles Kings picked up their sixth straight win by holding off the New York Islanders 3-1. Kings forward Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist while teammate Kevin Fiala netted his 10th goal of the season. Islanders captain Anders Lee scored while goalie Ilya Sorokin turned aside 27 shots.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored twice and collected an assist in an 8-1 drubbing of the Boston Bruins. Kyle Connor had a goal and two assists as the Jets have won three of their last four contests. David Pastrnak tallied the Bruins’ only goal.

The Minnesota Wild nipped the Utah Hockey Club 5-4 on a shootout goal by Matt Boldy. Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists while teammate Kirill Kaprizov potted his 18th goal of the season as the Wild have won six of their last seven games. Clayton Keller tallied twice and Karel Vejmelka stopped 34 shots for Utah HC.

Shootout goals by Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Barkov also scored in regulation as the Panthers have won three straight. Chandler Stephenson tallied for the Kraken.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Commissioner Gary Bettman said the salary cap for next season is projected to rise by five percent to $92.4 million under the current guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). However, he also indicated that there will be negotiations with the NHL Players’ Association in the New Year to discuss the possibility of raising the cap by more than five percent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams with limited cap space for next season or clubs with players due for significant raises in the next couple of years could be stumping for a higher cap ceiling in 2025-26.

It will be based on hockey-related revenue by the end of this regular season. Bettman projected it will be $6.6 billion but it could be close to $7 billion.

TSN: Bettman also said CBA talks with the NHLPA will begin in February. The current agreement expires in September 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman has expressed confidence that an agreement with the PA can be reached well before that expiration date. Having covered the last two lockouts I hope we don’t have to endure another.

THE ATHLETIC: Bettman said the league has no active tampering investigations. Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer raised the issue of “soft tampering” following a recent report in the New York Post claiming the Rangers made Senators captain Brady Tkachuk a trade target.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators vehemently denied Tkachuk was available and have assured their captain he’s not on the trade block.

The Florida Panthers could stage an outdoor game at the Miami Marlins ballpark (LoanDepot Park) as soon as next season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras is seeking a second opinion to treat the knee injury he suffered on Dec. 4.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is expected to return to action against the Rangers on Wednesday. He’s missed 12 games with a lower-body injury.

SI.COM: The Los Angeles Kings sent forward Arthur Kaliyev to their AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint. He’s been on injured reserve this season with a fractured collarbone.

TSN: Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement on Tuesday. The 35-year-old defenseman played 14 NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins.

Shattenkirk had 103 goals and 381 assists for 484 regular-season points and 48 points in 91 playoff contests, winning the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2019-20.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 17, 2024

by | Nov 17, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 17, 2024

A big raise could be coming for next season’s salary cap, coaches on the hot seat, and the latest on the Bruins, Blue Jackets, Predators, Canadiens and Senators in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

BIG INCREASE COULD BE COMING FOR THE SALARY CAP

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the NHL and NHLPA will examine the possibility of raising the salary cap by between $7 million and $9 million for 2025-26. He indicated that league revenue has “outpaced the guardrails on the salary cap” that were put in place as part of the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cap can rise by a maximum of five percent as per the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). However, it can increase by a wider margin if the league and the PA agree. If they stick with five percent, the cap will rise to $92.5 million for 2025-26. It is currently at $88 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league is usually cautious in raising the cap. However, they could face pressure from team owners because several notable superstars (such as New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin) seek significant raises on their next contracts. A salary cap between $95 million and $98 million next season would alleviate the cap crunch facing several teams, making it easier to retain key players or bolster their roster depth.

FOUR COACHES POTENTIALLY ON THE HOT SEAT

SPORTSNET: Emily Sadler listed Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins, Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Derek Lalonde of the Detroit Red Wings, and Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators could be feeling the heat as their clubs continue to struggle.

Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff reports no scuttlebutt suggesting Lalonde’s job is in jeopardy. Nevertheless, he thinks GM Steve Yzerman must be concerned over the Wings’ recent disappointing play. Duff believes they need something to change to avoid another season slipping away.

LATEST ON THE BRUINS, PREDATORS, BLUE JACKETS AND CANADIENS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Boston Bruins have been looking to see what they can do to shake things up. He said things are starting to get intense within the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like the Bruins would prefer to make a trade rather than a coaching change.

The Nashville Predators are in the market for a center. Friedman also believes they’re looking at their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators attempted to send defenseman Dante Fabbro to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee last week but the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed him off waivers.

Speaking of the Blue Jackets, Friedman said general manager Don Waddell is trying to sort out the situation with David Jiricek. The young defenseman hasn’t played much this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jiricek has struggled to earn a full-time spot on the Blue Jackets defense corps, appearing in only five games this season. He doesn’t need to pass through waivers to be sent to the AHL affiliate in Cleveland but publicly expressed his displeasure when demoted last season, sparking trade speculation.

The Montreal Canadiens are seeking a forward who plays with an edge. Friedman believes players like that will be highly coveted when the time comes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That time would be when the March 7 trade deadline rolls around. That would be too late to help the Canadiens.

SENATORS SHOULD TARGET A DEFENSEMAN

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie was recently asked by a reader what area the Ottawa Senators should shore up before the New Year. He believes they need a “penalty-killing, middle-pairing defenseman” who can be mainly used on the third pairing but can be bumped up in a pinch.

McKenzie suggested Jordan Harris of the Blue Jackets as a trade target. He was shipped to Columbus by the Canadiens in this summer’s Patrik Laine deal but doesn’t yet seem like a fit with the Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe the Senators might look into Jiricek’s availability, though I think the Jackets would prefer hanging onto the promising 20-year-old rearguard.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 10, 2024

by | Sep 10, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 10, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on the Leafs’ Mitch Marner and Nick Robertson, an update on the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, and why there could be more trades and waiver activity in this year’s preseason.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there’s no contract extension imminent between the Toronto Maple Leafs and winger Mitch Marner.

Dreger indicated the relationship between Leafs management and the Marner camp is in a good place. He doesn’t believe Marner faces pressure to sign a new deal, adding the 27-year-old winger is happy for it to be quiet. While there’s no heavy negotiation between the two sides, there’s a good relationship between them and they’re ok with not rushing into getting a deal done.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides seem fine with letting the coming season unfold and seeing how things play out.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nick Barden cited Dreger saying Nick Robertson seems likely to return with the Maple Leafs this season. The 22-year-old restricted free-agent winger requested a trade earlier this summer, but the two sides could soon agree to a new contract.

Robertson was unhappy with his role and limited playing time with the Leafs. However, new Leafs coach Craig Berube told him he’d be given an opportunity given their holes at the left wing position.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could be Robertson’s best chance to earn top-six minutes with the Leafs. If it doesn’t work out, his trade request could be honored.

The Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby reported Robertson preferred a trade to a Western Conference club to be closer to his family and brother Jason of the Dallas Stars. However, Nick doesn’t have much leverage in this situation.

Dreger also reports a contract between the Boston Bruins and RFA goaltender Jeremy Swayman might not be as far off as previous reports suggested. “Negotiations are probably closer than what we’re reading about,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports last week claimed the two sides were far apart, with Swayman believed seeking an average annual value of around $8.5 million and the Bruins offering $6.2 million. There is speculation suggesting they could agree to a short-term deal.

Despite the conjecture, Swayman has been skating with his teammates in Boston with training camp over a week away.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cites a source suggesting there could be more trades and waiver moves than usual during this year’s NHL training camp and preseason.

Thanks to the sharp rise in the salary cap for this season, several teams have considerable cap flexibility and lots of roster spots available. With additional youth coming into the league, there could be more trades and waiver moves. Rebuilding teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames could have the most to gain.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That period usually sparks an increase in trade activity and waiver wire moves as clubs evaluate their rosters for the upcoming season. D’Amico noted that 11 clubs have upwards of $5 million in cap space for 2024-25. Some could use it to their advantage to seek deals with cap-strapped teams looking to shed salary before the regular season begins.