NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2020

by | Jan 7, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2020

Oilers captain Connor McDavid dazzles against the Maple Leafs, the Predators fired head coach Peter Laviolette, the three stars of the week and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid tallied a highlight-reel goal to lead his Edmonton Oilers over the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4. McDavid also collected three assists while teammate Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This looks like a goal of the year candidate.

 

Connor McDavid had a four-point performance leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo via NHL Images).

Ilya Kovalchuk picked up an assist in his first game with the Montreal Canadiens, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Habs from suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets. Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers each had two points for the Jets, while former Jet Ben Chiarot tallied both Montreal goals. The Canadiens are winless in their last six games (0-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick a fork in the Habs, their playoff hopes are done like dinner. They’re six points out of a wild-card spot and struggling to score with four of their top forwards (including Jonathan Drouin and Brendan Gallagher) on the shelf. Die-hards will point to the St. Louis Blues rallying from dead-last in the league at this stage last season to win the Stanley Cup, but that was an anomaly. The Canadiens lack the Blues’ depth of talent to reach the playoffs, let alone win the Cup.

Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov turned in a 32-save shutout against his old club backstopping the New York Islanders to a 1-0 victory. Anders Lee tallied the game’s only goal.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 35 shots as his club doubled up the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Gustav Nyquist and Pierre-Luc Dubois each collected two points for the Jackets, who are 9-1-4 in their last 14 contests.

HEADLINES

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators yesterday fired head coach Peter Laviolette and associate coach Kevin McCarthy. During his 5 1/2 seasons with the Predators, he guided them to a 248-143-60 record. They also marched to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2018.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators were hoping to contend for the Cup this season, but they’re sitting second-last in the Central Division and in danger of missing the playoffs. This move is being interpreted as general manager David Poile not giving up on the season, but it might not be his only move if the club fails to respond. Laviolette’s replacement is expected to be announced later today.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 5.

AZCENTRAL.COM: The Arizona Coyotes are seeing a significant increase in attendance and local TV ratings since acquiring winger Taylor Hall last month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes are jockeying with the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. Barring a total collapse in the second half, they have the look of a playoff club.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights rookie Cody Glass is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 5, 2020

by | Jan 5, 2020

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 5, 2020

Updates on Tyler Toffoli, Matt Murray, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, plus updates on the Flames and Predators in the Sunday NHL rumor roundup.

AVS INTERESTED IN TOFFOLI?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Los Angeles Kings winger Tyler Toffoli could be moved by the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Word among league executives is the pending UFA could be available.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Adrian Dater reports the Colorado Avalanche are being linked to Toffoli. He observes the Kings had a scout at the recent game between the Avalanche and New Jersey Devils. He also cites a source claiming the Avs and Kings could be trade partners before the Feb. 24 deadline. Dater believes that doesn’t mean the Avs are no longer interested in New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider, but it’s uncertain if the Rangers have him on the trade block.

Could the Colorado Avalanche pursue LA Kings winger Tyler Toffoli? (Photo via NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I expect Toffoli will be moved by deadline day, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Avs are among the suitors. As for the Kings scouting the Avs-Devils games, it could be because they’ll face both clubs next month.

LATEST ON KREIDER, MURRAY AND PAGEAU

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports there’s talk the Boston Bruins are among the clubs interested in New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider. The Rangers, however, haven’t decided if they’ll shop him.

With Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry playing well, Garrioch wonders about Matt Murray’s future in Pittsburgh. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Garrioch doubts the two-time Stanley Cup champion will be moved this season, but his situation could be worth monitoring in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Jarry should carry the Penguins on a deep playoff run this spring, perhaps Murray hits the trade block leading up to the 2020 NHL Draft weekend in June.

Garrioch cites a couple of league executives suggesting every team in the hunt for a playoff spot will be interested in Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Penguins, Flames, Bruins, Oilers, Jets, and Avs could be among the suitors, but the Senators are expected to hold contract talks with the pending UFA before reaching a decision.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unlike previous notable Senators UFAs, there’s been little new regarding Pageau’s contract status and whether he’ll be available by the deadline. He could be shopped, but no certainty’s going to happen. The Senators are a promising club and Pageau is an Ottawa native, so perhaps he’ll stay put if he gets a suitable contract offer.

FLAMES DON’T WANT TO WASTE CAP SPACE ON RENTAL PLAYERS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Calgary Flames freed up salary-cap space by trading winger Michael Frolik ($4.3 million) to the Buffalo Sabres last week. General manager Brad Treliving would like to add some scoring help.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Flames aren’t that interested in signing rental players, preferring to add a player with term remaining on his contract. They have over $4.8 million in cap space, and Treliving has indicated he intends to use it before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Elias Lindholm’s role in the roster will also be a factor. If he’s a center, Friedman believes they’ll look for right wingers. If he moves back to the right wing, they’ll consider other options.

IS LAVIOLETTE ON THE HOT SEAT?

OTTAWA SUN: With the Nashville Predators struggling, Bruce Garrioch reports there’s no shortage of talk suggesting head coach Peter Laviolette is on the hot seat. In a radio interview last week. Predators GM David Poile didn’t exactly give Laviolette a ringing endorsement, saying he’s not contemplating a coaching change “at this time”. Garrioch suggests former New Jersey Devils bench boss John Hynes as a possible replacement for Laviolette.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted Poile said he’s not replacing Laviolette, but he’s burning up the phone lines to see what’s out there in the trade market. If the Predators don’t improve soon, Friedman speculates some kind of roster change could be coming.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Predators fail to gain ground in the standings, Poile could become a seller rather than a buyer. That could mean shipping out pending UFA forwards Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith, and perhaps continuing his efforts to shop Kyle Turris. If a coaching change is necessary, it could come in the offseason.










NHL Weekend Bets – Canucks, Predators Among Favorites on Saturday NHL Odds

by | Jan 4, 2020

NHL Weekend Bets – Canucks, Predators Among Favorites on Saturday NHL Odds

 










NHL Rumor Mill – January 4, 2020

by | Jan 4, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – January 4, 2020

Potential trade destinations for Chris Kreider, potential trade targets for the Flames, plus the latest on the Predators and Jets in today’s NHL rumor mill.

POTENTIAL DESTINATIONS FOR KREIDER

SPORTSNET: suggests the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Colorado Avalanche as possible destinations for Chris Kreider if the New York Rangers decide to move him before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Which clubs will get into the bidding for New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider? (Photo via NHL Images)

The Blues could use a short-term replacement for sidelined winger Vladimir Tarasenko. With Tarasenko on long-term injury reserve, they have the cap space to take on Kreider’s $4.65-million annual average salary. The Blues are currently riding high in the Western Conference standings, so there’s no pressure on general manager Doug Armstrong to make a major move.

Kreider would provide a welcome boost to the Bruins’ secondary scoring, but they’d have to clear salary-cap space to make room for him. Ditto the injury-riddled Penguins. The Avalanche, meanwhile, have plenty of cap space for Kreider and to add another impact player if they wish. He would give them additional secondary scoring depth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs appear in the best position to take a run at Kreider. Having passed on Taylor Hall, he could be a more affordable option.

The Blues could pursue Kreider if Tarasenko isn’t expected back until the playoffs. Even then, Armstrong could be reluctant to tinker too much with his club’s winning chemistry.

The Bruins and Penguins definitely could use Kreider, but it could cost them a good young roster player. It means shedding salary even if the Rangers are willing to pick up part of Kreider’s.

POSSIBLE TRADE OPTIONS FOR THE FLAMES

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis suggested Kreider, Los Angeles Kings winger Tyler Toffoli, Florida Panthers winger Mike Hoffman, Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Kassian, and Florida Panthers winger Evgenii Dadonov as trade targets for the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames need another top-six forward, preferably a winger. Toffoli seems the best fit, depending on what the Kings seek in return.

Kreider has a modified no-trade clause. The Flames might not be among his preferred destinations.

As long as the Panthers remain in the playoff chase, they’re not parting with pending UFAs Hoffman and Dadonov. Ditto Kassian to the Flames. Indeed, I think the Oilers intend to re-sign him.

PREDATORS GM NOT CONSIDERING A COACHING CHANGE

YAHOO! SPORTS: Thomas Williams cites Nashville Predators GM David Poile telling a local radio station he isn’t considering replacing head coach Peter Laviolette. With the Predators struggling and the Feb. 24 trade deadline on the horizon, Williams speculates they could be buyers or sellers depending on where they are in the standings in the coming weeks.

“I think the standings are so close right now that when things get closer to the trade deadline, you could possibly see more action,” Poile said. “I guess the point I’m saying today is, sitting here outside of the playoffs, we have for the last several years been buyers at the trading deadline. If we don’t improve here shortly, we might be a seller for the first time in a number of years.

“I’m hoping that’s not the case, but as I said, I am open for business and I’m certainly going to be willing to listen to different teams’ thought processes on any of our players at this point.”