NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2024

by | Aug 30, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2024

Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau has passed away. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau have died after being struck by a vehicle while riding their bikes in Oldman Township, Salem County, New Jersey. The accident occurred on Thursday evening.

The Blue Jackets confirmed the tragic news this morning. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement expressing shock and sadness over Gaudreau’s tragic passing.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).

The Gaudreau family was together for the wedding of their sister Katie, who was supposed to be getting married on Aug. 30.

Gaudreau emerged as an NHL star with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15. Nicknamed “Johnny Hockey”, he was regularly among the Flames’ leading scorers, tallying a career-high 115 points in 2021-22 and 99 points in 2018-19.

Signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent, Gaudreau was their leading scorer during the last two seasons. He was entering the third season of his seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets.

In 763 NHL regular-season games, Gaudreau had 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points. He also had 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 42 playoff contests.

Gaudreau leaves behind his wife Meredith and two young children. Johnny was 31 years old, his brother Matthew was 29.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m in shock right now over this devastating news. My heart goes out to Gaudreau’s family, his friends, his current and former teammates. My sincere condolences as well to the Blue Jackets and the Flames.

*****

OTTAWA SUN: Senators head coach Travis Green said his players should be ready to work when they report for training camp on Sept. 18.

Green was named head coach of the Senators on May 7. He indicated he’s met with all of his players, informing them of his expectations for this season, emphasizing their offseason conditioning, and the importance of being in shape for camp.

Center Josh Norris is fully recovered from his season-ending shoulder surgery. Green said Norris will be a full participant in training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Norris will be crucial to the Senators’ playoff hopes this season. He had a promising 35-goal, 55-point performance in 66 games during 2021-22 but has been derailed by shoulder surgeries limiting him to 58 games over the past two seasons.

The Senators also announced free agent forward Nick Cousins signed a one-year $800K contract. Cousins, 30, won the Stanley Cup last season with the Florida Panthers.

Meanwhile, team president Cyril Leeder said the club expects to have a decision on the future of their proposed LeBreton Flats arena project by the end of September. Leeder admitted he’s disappointed there hasn’t been more progress in negotiations with the National Capital Commission (NCC) but remains cautiously optimistic they’ll get a deal in place.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicated Senators owner Michael Andlauer remains bullish on constructing an arena in downtown Ottawa but seeks a lease agreement that is fair to both sides. The Senators play at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, over 22 km (13.6 miles) from downtown.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Evander Kane posted a video on Instagram alleging a white man on a bicycle spat on his vehicle and used racist language toward him.

“That’s what you just said: “You people don’t belong here,” Kane is heard addressing the man. A third man identifying as Kane’s friend adds, “That’s not a good statement.”

“It’s incredibly disappointing,” said Kane following the incident. “There are still people like this today.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s beyond disappointing.

THE ATHLETIC: In an interview with Michael Russo, Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz explained why he traded promising Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks last week.

Trotz believes Askarov has the skills and confidence to become an excellent goaltender. However, he felt the 22-year-old netminder currently lacks the elite mindset and mental preparation to reach that level.

He based that opinion on his years working with well-respected goaltending coach Mitch Korn. “The mental part, the physical part, the emotional part all have to get to a very mature state to have a lot of consistency in this game.”

The Predators signed starting goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year extension and added veteran backup Scott Wedgewood last month with a two-year contract. Askarov told the club he wouldn’t report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee and requested a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz believes Askarov will reach that elite level with more consistency. However, he’s invested in Saros for the next eight years as he’s attempting to build the Predators into a Stanley Cup contender.

The Predators are in “win-now” mode following their offseason signings of wingers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei. Trotz wanted established NHL goalies on his roster. He and his staff had a plan to develop Askarov’s game but the young netminder saw that as an obstacle in his path to becoming an NHL starter.

DAILY FACEOFF: Carolina Hurricanes winger Jesper Fast is expected to miss the 2024-25 season following neck surgery on Aug. 6. The 32-year-old winger is in the final season of his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fast will be placed on injured reserve rather than long-term injury reserve. That’s because the Hurricanes have over $6.4 million in cap space this season.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs won’t be playing for Latvia in their upcoming Olympic qualifier this weekend. The 23-year-old goaltender is dealing with knee ligament inflammation but it’s not expected to keep him out of Canucks training camp, which opens on Sept. 19.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are already dealing with the potential absence of starter Thatcher Demko during training camp and preseason as he rehabs a nagging undisclosed injury.

They’re reportedly considering their options to shore up their goaltending depth. Silovs’ ailment could put more urgency into their search.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced Steve Sullivan will join their AHL affiliate as an assistant coach.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2024

by | Aug 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2024

The Predators trade Yaroslav Askarov to the Sharks, Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won’t be ready for preseason, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators traded Yaroslav Askarov on Friday to the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks received Askarov, minor-league forward Nolan Burke, and a 2025 third-round pick (originally from the Colorado Avalanche), while the Predators received prospect forward David Edstrom, goaltender Magnus Chrona, and a conditional 2025 first-rounder that originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights.

If that first-round pick falls within the top 10, the Sharks have the right to transfer Vegas’ pick or its own to the Predators.

PUCKPEDIA: The Sharks signed Askarov to a two-year, $4 million contract extension starting in 2025-26. The average annual value is $2 million.

Nashville Predators trade goaltender Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move comes less than a week after the 22-year-old Askarov requested a trade after telling Predators management he wouldn’t report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

THE TENNESSEAN: Predators general manager Barry Trotz knew he’d have to move Askarov at some point after signing starting goalie Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension in July. However, the young netminder’s trade request forced Trotz to move the young netminder sooner than preferred.

Trotz had had discussions with the Askarov camp for several weeks about a trade but the club wanted time to develop his game before doing so. After Askarov’s request became public, Trotz felt he had to move him sooner rather than have an unhappy goalie become an unnecessary distraction.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Sharks general manager Mike Grier conferred with his goaltending staff (Evgeny Nabokov, Thomas Speer and Ryan Miller) for their assessment of Askarov’s ability as a goaltender and his character. He also said he wasn’t worried about the goalie’s emotional side, saying he believes it can be harnessed the right way.

The Sharks already have netminders Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek under contract for this season. Grier isn’t ruling out starting the season with three goalies on the roster. Vanecek underwent offseason surgery for a lower-body injury but is expected to be ready for training camp next month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Askarov has a more certain path to the NHL in San Jose than he would’ve had in Nashville. He addresses the Sharks’ need for a goalie with starter potential within their prospect system. The young netminder could become part of the Sharks’ future core that one day turns this rebuilding club into a Western Conference powerhouse again.

Askarov has two full seasons of AHL experience and believes he’s NHL-ready now. He could end up joining the Sharks’ AHL affiliate for this season but that two-year extension with its $2 million AAV ensures he’ll be a full-time NHLer by next season at the latest.

Trotz may have preferred taking more time to develop Askarov and improve his trade value but the Predators GM still got a decent return. The Predators have three first-rounders in next year’s draft, one or two of which could be used as trade chips to address more immediate roster needs. Edstrom is a former first-round pick of the Golden Knights and has potential as a two-way center. Chrona will replace Askarov on their AHL affiliate.

SPORTSNET: cited a report by The Athletic’s Rick Dhaliwal and Thomas Drance indicating Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko won’t be ready for training camp or preseason as he continues to rehab an injured knee.

Demko’s status for the Canucks’ season-opener against the Calgary Flames remains uncertain, but the club hopes he’ll be ready by then.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s sparked speculation the Canucks could head into the trade or free-agent markets for additional depth between the pipes. Playoff hero Arturs Silovs and Jiri Patera are their current netminders in Demko’s absence. I’ll have more about this situation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE SCORE: Don Waddell is attempting to change the culture of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He took over as their general manager and president of hockey operations in May. Since then, he replaced head coach Pascal Vincent with Dean Evason and traded unhappy winger Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens.

In an interview with NHL.com, Waddell indicated that some people within the organization had succumbed to a culture of losing.

“The one thing, I’m not saying it was everybody, but losing was acceptable (here) and losing is not acceptable,” said Waddell. “We have a ways to go building this, but our goal every year should be to win the Stanley Cup, not just to win some games. It’s a mindset.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Waddell faces a daunting challenge. The Blue Jackets have only reached the playoffs six times in 23 seasons, the last being 2019-20. They’ve got plenty of promising young players and established stars like Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski to work with, but they need the right direction and work ethic to put it all together.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights will visit Mexico in September to stage hockey clinics and fan activities. The club hopes to expand its fan base and the sport’s popularity.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former Red Wings masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov died of cancer in Florida at age 71. He suffered debilitating brain injuries from a limousine crash that also permanently injured Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov less than a week following the Wings’ 1997 Stanley Cup championship. He was also paralyzed from the waist down.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Mnatsakanov’s family, friends, and the Red Wings organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2024

by | Aug 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2024

Could the Oilers go shopping for a defenseman? Should the Sharks or Avalanche pursue Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman believes the Edmonton Oilers must add a top-four defenseman by the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline after declining to match the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheet to Philip Broberg.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard (NHL Images).

Potential right-shot rentals include the Seattle Kraken’s Adam Larsson and Will Borgen, David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens, and Jeff Petry of the Detroit Red Wings. Larsson and Petry are former Oilers.

Left-shot options include Jakob Chychrun of the Washington Capitals, Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers must compete against other clubs seeking blueline help at the trade deadline. That will mean further depleting their prospect pipeline or sacrificing their second-round pick in 2025 or a first or second-rounder in 2026 or 2027. They’ll likely have no qualms doing so given their “win-now” mindset.

Wegman also suggested pursuing players with term on their contracts like Montreal’s Mike Matheson, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks, and Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those players will be tougher to land and would drain their cap space for 2025-26 when they’ll need every available dollar to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. If they pursue a defenseman it’ll be a rental player.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng wondered if the Sharks would be interested in acquiring Yaroslav Askarov. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported the 22-year-old Nashville Predators goaltender requested a trade.

Much would depend on what Sharks director of goaltending Evgeny Nabovkov thinks of Askarov. The youngster has puck-stopping talent but his maturity is in question.

Peng also wondered why the Predators signed starter Juuse Saros to an eight-year extension rather than anoint Askarov as Saros’ successor. He mused about whether Askarov would accept another season in the minors with the Sharks after being unwilling to do so with the Predators.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal believes the Avalanche should consider acquiring Askarov. He’s concerned about the Avs’ goaltending depth and thinks the young Preds netminder has the potential to become a reliable NHL starter. Rawal thinks the Avs should at least look into it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators received calls about Askarov heading into the NHL Draft in June. At the time, they were in a hurry to move him and reportedly set a high asking price.

Things have changed since then. Askarov doesn’t want to return to the minors but Saros and veteran backup Scott Wedgewood blocking his path to the NHL. He’s unhappy with that situation and wants out but most NHL clubs have already addressed their goaltending needs for the coming season.

Predators GM Barry Trotz said he expects Askarov to report to training camp and compete for a job. That’s probably his polite way of telling the youngster that he’s in no position to dictate where he plays this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2024

by | Aug 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2024

The Flyers intend to terminate Ryan Johansen’s contract, the Kraken signed Matty Beniers to a seven-year contract, concerns are raised over Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko’s readiness for this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers announced Tuesday they were placing center Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract due to a “material breach.”

Johansen, 32, was acquired by the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6. He was placed on waivers to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley. However, he missed the remainder of the season with a hip injury despite playing his final game with the Avs two days before the trade.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Johansen (NHL Images).

Kurt Overhardt, Johansen’s agent, released a statement claiming his client has a severe hockey injury and is scheduled for surgery. He indicated his client has been working “in good faith” with the club, its medical staff, and authorized third-party physicians.

Calling the Flyers’ move “disappointing,”, Overhardt stated he’s been in contact with the NHL Players’ Association to defend his client and his rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Johansen camp intends to contest the contract termination by filing a grievance. This will drag out for several weeks before a decision is reached.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Flyers’ termination of Johansen’s contract could create additional salary cap space for the Nashville Predators. They retained half his $8 million contract when they traded him to the Colorado Avalanche last summer.

Johansen is in the final year of his eight-year contract. If a mediator rules in favor of the Flyers, it will clear $4 million from the Predators’ books for 2024-25.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed Matty Beniers to a seven-year, $50 million contract. Beniers, 21, was a restricted free agent. The average annual value is $7.142 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Beniers won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2022-23 with 24 goals and 57 points in 80 games, helping the Kraken reach the playoffs in their NHL second season. However, he followed up with a disappointing sophomore performance, netting 37 points in 77 games.

The Kraken are betting that Beniers’ 20-point slide last season was merely a blip in his development.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the lack of offseason news about Thatcher Demko has raised media speculation over the health of the Vancouver Canucks goaltender,

Demko, 28, played in Game 1 of the Canucks’ first-round series before being sidelined by a lower-body injury. He missed the remainder of that series and the entirety of their second-round matchup with the Edmonton Oilers but was reportedly close to returning to action before that series ended.

On July 1, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin claimed Demko would be ready for training camp. However, CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reported Tuesday that the netminder is progressing but there’s no timetable for when he’ll be 100 percent healthy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston suggested the Canucks could end this speculation by publishing a statement about Demko’s health. Meanwhile, Dhaliwal speculated they might “continue to poke around the goalie market again” seeking insurance between the pipes.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said limited salary cap space was why his club opted not to match the offer sheets signed last week by Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway with the St. Louis Blues.

Bowman said the decision wasn’t reflective of Broberg and Holloway but rather concerns over the club’s short and long-term salary cap flexibility. The Oilers must ensure they have sufficient cap space to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard next summer and Connor McDavid in 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Over the weekend, the Oilers acquired winger Vasily Podkolzin from the Canucks and shipped defenseman Cody Ceci to San Jose for blueliner Ty Emberson. Those moves were to address the imminent departures of Broberg and Holloway.

SPORTSNET: Blues GM Doug Armstrong dismissed the belief that he wouldn’t have signed Broberg and Holloway to offer sheets if his friend Ken Holland remained as Oilers general manager.

Armstrong claimed that was the furthest from the truth. “Honestly, I’d do it to my mother if she was managing the Oilers.”

He also laughed off the notion that there was an agreement among general managers not to target each other’s players with offer sheets. “I’ve read what people are writing – if there is a GM code not to do offer sheets, nobody emailed it to me.” He added that offer sheets are a tool everyone uses, “and should use.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General managers rarely share their true intentions about trades or player signings with friendly pundits. Most trades and free-agent signings take place that media insiders never see coming.

Offer sheet signings are few and far between in the salary cap era. Most general managers prefer not to use that tool as Armstrong suggests. There could be more efforts to go that route but restricted free agents seem to favor negotiating with their clubs.

TSN: At the same time it was confirmed the Oilers wouldn’t match the offer sheets for Broberg and Holloway, the Blues traded prospect defenseman Paul Fischer and a 2028 third-round pick to the Oilers for future considerations.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights signed free-agent forward Tanner Pearson to a professional tryout offer. An 11-season NHL veteran, the 32-year-old winger had 13 points in 54 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens.

CBC.CA: Allan Andrews, the founder of Andrews Hockey School in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, passed away on Monday at age 83.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand, and former NHL star (and PEI native) Brad Richards are among the graduates of Andrews Hockey School.

Following the news of Andrews’ death, Crosby and Richards praised the impact he and his hockey school had on their lives and careers.

Andrews was awarded the Order of Canada in 2017 and inducted into the PEI Hall of Fame in 2021.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to Andrews’ family, friends, colleagues, and the staff and alumni of his hockey school.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2024

by | Aug 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2024

A look at potential trade destinations for Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Tony Ferrari listed five NHL trade destinations for Yaroslav Askarov.

The 22-year-old Nashville Predators goalie prospect informed the club he wouldn’t report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee and requested a trade.

Ferrari noted Askarov may no longer fit in the Predators’ plans after they signed starting goalie Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension.

Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (NHL Images).

He suggested the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Utah Hockey Club as possible trade destinations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored teams inquired about Askarkov leading up to the NHL Draft in late June. Those clubs could revisit their interest, though his reluctance to return to the AHL could dampen their enthusiasm if they see him as a future piece rather than an immediate member of a goalie tandem.

Askarov has potential as a future NHL starter. He and his agent believe he’s ready to challenge for that role. However, the Predators don’t see him as ready, hence their contract extension to Saros and signing veteran backup Scott Wedgewood this summer to a two-year contract.

The Leafs have cycled through Frederik Andersson, Jack Campbell, Matt Murray, and Ilya Samsonov in recent years before settling on Joseph Woll this season with Anthony Stolarz as his backup. Askarov would likely end up with the Marlies unless Woll should become sidelined again.

The rebuilding Blackhawks and Sharks need all the help they can get at every position. Utah has Karel Vejmelka and Connor Ingram as their tandem but Askarov could supplant one of them.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont believes the Canadiens are currently set in goal. They have the underrated Sam Montembault as their starter with Cayden Primeau as his backup. Both goalies put up solid numbers last season backstopping a young defense while enduring a three-goalie system. The Habs also have promising Jacob Fowler within their pipeline who could push for the starter’s job within four years.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Rob Couch included the Sharks on his three-team list of possible destinations. He believed Askarov could fit in well with the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils and Kings could use some prospect depth between the pipes. However, the Devils have Jacob Markstrom as their starter through 2025-26 with Jake Allen as his backup this season. Askarov would end up in the minor this season if they acquire him. The same goes for the Kings, where they’ve got Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich.

Julian Gaudio believes the Seattle Kraken should look into acquiring Askarov. He points out that starter Philipp Grubauer hasn’t played to the expectations of his expensive contract. Meanwhile, backup Joey Daccord remains unproven despite his stellar play last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Grubauer’s performance and contract will make it difficult to move him. The Kraken could trade or demote Daccord to make room for Askarov.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey believes the Flyers should pursue a trade for Askarov because of the uncertainty surrounding Alexei Kolosov’s willingness to play for them.

Bailey noted the Flyers have Samuel Ersson as their starter and Ivan Fedotov as their backup. He believes they would offer up Ersson to the Predators as part of the return for Askarov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers might provide Askarov with the best opportunity to be part of an NHL goalie tandem this season. It remains to be seen if they feel he’s worth the pursuit.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 20, 2024

by | Aug 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 20, 2024

The fallout from the Canadiens acquiring Patrik Laine from the Blue Jackets, the Oilers decline to match the Blues’ offer sheets for Broberg and Holloway, Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov requests a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the Canadiens acquisition of Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets is a low-risk move that could be a big reward. The Jackets sent the 26-year-old winger and a 2026 second-round pick to the Canadiens on Monday in return for defenseman Jordan Harris.

The Canadiens needed more scoring to become a playoff team. Laine is a former 44-goal scorer with two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.7 million. However, he’s struggled with consistency and injuries in recent years.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he spoke with Laine before making the trade. He believes the winger is mentally in a good place and is energized and excited about playing in Montreal. He also spoke with people who knew Laine from his days with the Winnipeg Jets.

Laine’s cap hit makes him the Canadiens’ highest-paid player. However, the fact that he only has two years left on his deal factored into their decision to acquire him.

Montreal Canadiens acquired winger Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Aug. 19. (NHL Images).

Hughes believes Laine’s potential success in Montreal lies not with how many goals he scores but by his ability to contribute and help the team. He also hopes that he’ll help their younger players.

The Canadiens felt they could afford to part with the 24-year-old Harris. They have considerable depth in young left-shot defensemen. Harris was a healthy scratch from eight games last season.

SPORTSNET: Laine said he’s been cleared to skate after having an operation to address a shoulder injury suffered last season. He claims his shot is as powerful as ever. He declined to explain why he wanted to leave the Blue Jackets but said he’s excited about a fresh start in Montreal, adding he’s “always enjoyed the spotlight.”

Laine indicated he wasn’t enjoying himself off the ice, which affected his on-ice performance. Since seeking help for his mental health earlier this year through the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, he’s now happier than ever away from the rink and working hard to prepare for the coming season.

TVA SPORTS: Laine said he wasn’t just content to be a 30-goal scorer again. “I want to be a 40 or 50-goal scorer again. I’ve done it before. It wasn’t by accident,” he said.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Canadiens took on the full value of Laine’s cap hit, putting them above the $88 million salary cap by $1.85 million.

They can get cap relief by placing permanently sidelined goalie Carey Price and his $10.5 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. However, they’re not doing it immediately because they’re allowed to be above the cap by 10 percent in the offseason. By placing Price on LTIR after the start of the season, they’ll leverage the full benefit of the cap relief.

D’Amico noted the Canadiens could make a trade to shed salary. Another player could suffer an injury that delays the inevitable, or they could play musical chairs with their roster to start the season. He cited sources suggesting the third option is currently their best choice.

Under that scenario, they could place sidelined forward Raphael Harvey-Pinard ($1.1 million) on LTIR and demote youngsters like Jayden Struble and Joshua Roy to their AHL affiliate in Laval. That would make them cap-compliant to start the season with a 20-man roster. They could then place Price on LTIR and recall the necessary reinforcements to fill out their roster to 23 men.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger reports Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell released a statement on the Laine trade.

“We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him,” said Waddell. “We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal, which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best.”

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports it was only last weekend when the Canadiens’ talks with the Blue Jackets about Laine took hold, but they quickly turned serious. The Habs were the only team that didn’t ask the Blue Jackets to retain part of Laine’s cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can read my take on the trade here.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers declined to match the offer sheets from the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway. 

The Oilers received a second-round pick from the Blues as compensation for Broberg and a third-rounder for Holloway. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was assumed the Oilers acquiring Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks and shipping out defenseman Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks for blueliner Ty Emberson was setting the stage to clear cap room to match one or both offers. TSN’s Ryan Ryshaug reports they would’ve boxed themselves in quite badly with the salary cap had they matched both offers. They want to keep some salary cap flexibility for new contracts for Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Clay Brewer cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting Predators top prospect goaltender Yaroslav Askarov informed the club he will not report to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. The 22-year-old also requested a trade.

The move comes nearly two months after the Predators signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension. That makes the starter’s job unlikely for Askarov in the near future. That’s a role he and his agent believe he should have sooner rather than later.

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports that Predators GM Barry Trotz is aware of Weekes’ report but expects Askarov to report to training camp next month. The goaltender’s agent declined to comment.

If Askarov is demanding a trade, Trotz should consider acting on it. With Saros locked in on his long-term deal, getting the most out of Askarov as a trade asset would be ideal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed Trotz was getting trade inquiries about Askarov during the draft weekend in June. Those calls could start up again soon if they haven’t already. If Askarov isn’t traded before training camp opens next month he could refuse to report and stage a holdout until moved.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins made nine new front-office moves yesterday. Among them was assistant general manager Jason Spezza’s promotion to GM of their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Special assistant Amanda Kessel was named manager of minor hockey operations and assistant GM of their AHL affiliate. She’ll also oversee their ECHL affiliate in Wheeling.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Cody Ceci said he’s excited to join the rebuilding Sharks. On Sunday, he was traded by the Edmonton Oilers in a cost-cutting move. He believes he can play a leadership role for promising youngsters like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. 

PUCKPEDIA: Ty Emberson was part of the return to the Oilers in the Ceci trade. If he plays 50 games this season, he’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. If he plays less than that, he becomes a Group 6 UFA.