NHL Rumor Mill – December 6, 2023

by | Dec 6, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 6, 2023

The latest on Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie, more suggested blueline trade targets for the Leafs, an update on Oilers rearguard Philip Broberg and the Devils need to improve their goaltending in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON BARRIE

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher cites Predators general manager Barry Trotz expressing his unhappiness with Tyson Barrie during a recent interview with Nashville’s 102.5 The Game.

Trotz was upset that Barrie’s agent leaked the news that the Predators permitted him to speak with other clubs about a trade for his client. He noted that “only four people” knew about that conversation before it was reported, adding that he was 100 percent certain it hadn’t come from the team.

Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie (NHL Images)

The Predators GM said he wasn’t pleased with the way Barrie handled it, going on to criticize his play during this season. “He has to be a good player for us so he can be a good player for anybody in the league if we do decide to move him.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how this affects Barrie’s trade value as well as Trotz’s efforts to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman looked at five possible trade destinations for Barrie. The Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames could be in the market for a puck-moving defenseman.

The Stars need to add someone to take some of the workload off Miro Heiskanen. The Devils could use some help with Dougie Hamilton sidelined indefinitely. The Jets and Blackhawks need to bolster their power play while the Flames need some offense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars, Devils and Jets are possible playoff contenders. They could be the most willing to acquire a rental player like Barrie, who’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Blackhawks could be more in the market for another forward with Taylor Hall done for the season while the Flames appear to be in sell mode.

MORE SUGGESTED BLUELINE TRADE TARGETS FOR THE LEAFS

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel looked at possible trade options to improve the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defense corps.

His categorized list includes Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames, David Savard and Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens, Jake Middleton and Jon Merrill of the Minnesota Wild, Jakob Chychrun of the Ottawa Senators, Erik Gudbranson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ilya Lyubushkin of the Anaheim Ducks, and Sean Walker of the Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tanev has been linked the most to the Leafs. Lyubushkin and Walker have also been mentioned by others as suggested options for the Leafs but there’s no indication they have a serious interest in either guy. Merrill could become available if the Wild fail to climb back into the playoff race.

The Canadiens could trade Savard to Toronto given his lack of a no-trade clause but I don’t think they’re interested in doing that as they value his experience and leadership. Siegel admits it’s unlikely Middleton, Matheson or Chychrun become available. He doesn’t advocate pursuing Gudbranson but pointed out Leafs GM Brad Treliving likes players with size and has a past connection to him.

OILERS DENY BROBERG TRADE REQUEST RUMOR

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited a report yesterday by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli saying the Oilers granted permission for Philip Broberg’s camp to seek a trade.

However, Oilers GM Ken Holland said he has not given Broberg’s agent Darren Ferris consent to speak with other clubs. Ferris, meanwhile, replied that this reflects his and his client’s frustration with the Oilers. “I’m actively collaborating with Ken to address and resolve the issue privately.”

TSN’s Ryan Rishaug said the two sides spoke frequently in recent days but things seemed to have boiled over on Tuesday. Staples believes moving Broberg could come back to haunt the Oilers as he thinks they don’t know what they have yet with the young defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Broberg, 22, spent the last two seasons bouncing between the Oilers and their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. He’s seen action in just 10 games thus far this season.

I agree there’s a risk here that Broberg could go on to shine with another NHL club. However, it sounds like he and his agent don’t believe he’s going to get his opportunity with the Oilers. If so, Holland might not have much choice but to peddle him for the best possible return, which isn’t likely to be high right now given his difficulties in cracking the lineup.

WILL THE DEVILS PURSUE A GOALIE?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes the New Jersey Devils need to upgrade their goaltending and soon if they hope to be Stanley Cup contenders this season.

Seravalli doesn’t have much confidence in Vitek Vanecek and believes Akira Schmid still has a long way to go. Given the absence of defenseman Dougie Hamilton to a torn pectoral and the blueline’s already inconsistent play this season, he doesn’t think their current goaltenders can bail them out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has reportedly been shopping around for a reliable starting goalie since the summer. He was believed to have an interest in Connor Hellebuyck before the latter re-signed with the Winnipeg Jets.

It’s thought Fitzgerald has been eyeing clubs currently carrying three netminders like the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings. However, there’s no certainty that he’s going to pursue a trade with those teams. The Devils GM could be forced to wait in the hope that better goalie options become available.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 6, 2023

by | Dec 6, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 6, 2023

The Kings tie a season-opening win record, the Hughes brothers face off for the first time, plus updates on the 2024 draft, international tournaments and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings tied the league’s season-opening road win streak at 10 games by overcoming a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Drew Doughty scored in overtime while Phillip Danault tallied twice as the Kings improved their record to 15-4-3. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and an assist as the Blue Jackets sank to 8-14-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine missed this game due to illness.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Devils center Jack Hughes (NHL.com).

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes and defenseman Luke Hughes came out on top against Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes with a 6-5 victory. Jack had a goal and two assists while Luke scored a goal as Jesper Bratt opened and closed the scoring for the Devils (12-10-1). Quinn collected two assists while J.T. Miller had a goal and two assists and Brock Boeser netted his league-leading 18th goal as the Canucks (16-9-1) overcame a 5-2 deficit to tie the game before Bratt won it in the dying seconds of regulation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the first NHL game to feature all three Hughes brothers.

The Ottawa Senators upset the New York Rangers 6-2. Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist, Brady Tkachuk scored twice and Drake Batherson had a goal and two assists for the 10-10-0 Senators, who remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 20 points. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (18-5-1), who sit in first place in the Conference with 37 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Senators learned that defenseman Thomas Chabot has been sidelined by a knee injury. An update on his status is expected on Wednesday. During the game, Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow was struck in the face by a puck in the first period and didn’t return. It appears he lost a couple of teeth.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin netted two goals in a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (14-7-3) as they picked up their third straight win. Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for the slumping Sabres (10-14-2) as they’ve dropped four straight.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo center Tage Thompson collected an assist as he returned to the lineup from an injured left arm a week ahead of schedule. The Sabres also placed forwards Alex Tuch (lower body) and Jordan Greenway (upper body) on injured reserve and recalled goaltender Devon Levi from their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

The San Jose Sharks overcame a three-goal deficit to upset the New York Islanders 5-4 on an overtime goal by William Eklund. Tomas Hertl tallied a hat trick while Eklund finished with three points for the Sharks (7-17-2) as they moved out of the bottom of the Conference standings with 16 points. Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom each had two assists while Mike Reilly had a goal and an assist for the 10-7-7 Islanders.

A shootout goal by Filip Forsberg lifted the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Ryan O’Reilly netted his 12th of the season as the Predators improved to 13-12-0. Nick Foligno scored twice and collected an assist while Connor Bedard netted his first-ever NHL shootout goal but the Blackhawks dropped to 7-16-1 and sit last in the overall standings with 15 points.

The Minnesota Wild picked up their fourth straight win under new head coach John Hynes by dousing the Calgary Flames 5-2. Matt Boldy scored twice and set up another, Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist while Mats Zuccarello picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games for the 9-10-4 Wild. Mikael Backlund and Connor Zary replied for the 10-12-3 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames played without goaltender Jacob Markstrom as he’s sidelined week-to-week with a fractured finger. The club recalled Dustin Wolf yesterday from the AHL affiliate.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Jonathan Drouin also had two assists as the Avalanche (16-7-2) remain on top of the Central Division with 34 points. Sam Carrick and Leo Carlsson scored for the Ducks as they slid to 10-15-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon also picked up his 500th career assist, joining Joe Sakic, Peter Stastny and Peter Forsberg as the only players in franchise history to reach that plateau. Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury following a big hit by Ducks forward Max Jones.

HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concerns about the delays in the construction of an arena for the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics following the league’s two-day Board of Governors meetings in Seattle. He noted that construction had not yet begun on the venue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s December 2023. The venue is reportedly expected to be completed by the end of 2025. It seems like Bettman’s already looking for an excuse not to participate in the 2026 Games.

NHL.COM: The league continues to work on its plans to stage a four-team international tournament involving NHL players in 2025. Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland are expected to be the four countries taking part.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 2016 World Cup of Hockey had a Team Europe (consisting of NHL stars from other European nations) and Team North America made up of the best under-23 NHL stars. Team Europe reached the Gold Medal round against Canada while Team North America became a fan favorite with their fast-paced play.

For whatever reason, the league has opted not to go that route again. That means superstars like Germany’s Leon Draisaitl and Czechia’s David Pastrnak will be prevented from participating in this tournament.

TSN: The 2024 NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29. It will be the last draft before it is decentralized with teams operating from their own facilities.

The Arizona Coyotes are in the process of trying to finalize the purchase of a plot of land in the Phoenix area for a new arena. TSN’s Darren Dreger said the mood around team owners and league governors is that the Coyotes are getting to the end of the line here. The league is looking ahead at scheduling for next season and needs to know whether the Coyotes will be able to move ahead with this land purchase early in the new year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted yesterday a report claiming that some owners and governors were running out of patience with the Coyotes’ situation. However, Bettman’s been the driving force keeping the club in Arizona with majority support from the team owners.

Nevertheless, any delays over the land purchase for a new arena could spark uncertainty over the Coyotes’ future. Dreger mentioned the possibility of relocation but that will require majority approval by the Board of Governors. Ultimately, that will come down to whether Bettman believes there are no more avenues to keep the Coyotes in Arizona.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 3, 2023

by | Dec 3, 2023

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 3, 2023

Which clubs might target the Predators’ Tyson Barrie? Could the Oilers look into signing Corey Perry? Are the Leafs trying to land a Flames defenseman? What’s the latest on the Sharks? Check out the latest in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHICH CLUBS COULD PURSUE TYSON BARRIE?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Nashville Predators have given permission Tyson Barrie and his agent permission to speak with other clubs about a possible trade. The 32-year-old defenseman was a healthy scratch from Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers. He is 10 games away from 800 career contests and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher looked at four clubs who might pursue a trade for Barrie. The blueliner’s former club, the Edmonton Oilers, topped the list as Gallagher believes reacquiring Barrie would improve the defense in front of their struggling goalies.

Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie (NHL Images)

The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders could use more offense from the blueline. Another of Barrie’s former teams is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who could use a right-hand shot on their injury-ravaged defense corps with John Klingberg on long-term injury reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Never say never but I doubt the Oilers or Leafs are interested in bringing back Barrie. The Oilers need a skilled shutdown defenseman while Barrie struggled to find chemistry with the Leafs during his only season in Toronto.

The Devils could be an option with Dougie Hamilton sidelined but they could continue trying out promising call-up Simon Nemec. While the Isles could use more production from their defense, they might not be enamored with his defensive game.

COULD THE OILERS LOOK INTO SIGNING COREY PERRY?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson assumes Oilers general manager Ken Holland is checking in on Corey Perry, whose contract was terminated last week by the Chicago Blackhawks for unacceptable workplace conduct. He also believes the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers could be doing the same as they need role-player help.

Matheson pointed out that Holland went out on a limb to sign Evander Kane despite his off-ice baggage. That deal turned into a home run for the Oilers.

The Oilers GM will have to wait until Perry’s completed his substance abuse treatment and will fully investigate why the Blackhawks terminated his contract. If it’s not a serious impediment, Matheson thinks Holland could be all-in on signing him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perry doesn’t face any criminal charges nor is there any indication he broke the law in what was described as an “alcohol-fueled” situation during a gathering of Blackhawks team employees and corporate partners. He’s also under no suspension by the league and can sign with any club if he wants to return to action.

Perry has a long and productive career, garnering a well-earned reputation as a leader and shift disturber who always elevates his play in the postseason. It wouldn’t be surprising if he lands with another NHL club before the March 8 trade deadline.

LEAFS ATTEMPTED TO ACQUIRE ZADOROV AND TANEV

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to acquire Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames before Zadorov was traded last week to the Vancouver Canucks.

According to Friedman, the potential deal fell apart because the two sides couldn’t agree on what it would cost the Flames to retain up to 50 percent of the salaries of both players. “The two sides couldn’t figure out that compensation, in addition to just the compensation for the players.”

The Leafs are still searching for help on the blueline. Friedman indicated their preference is for a right-handed shot. He believes they could still be in on Tanev but he has a larger cap hit ($4.5 million) than Zadorov.

Earlier yesterday, Friedman’s colleague Luke Fox opined for the Leafs to continue their pursuit of a Toronto homecoming for Tanev, who will likely be more in demand than Zadorov. He’s a right-shot who could skate alongside Morgan Rielly or Jake McCabe and help improve the Leafs’ penalty kill.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs are still awaiting clarification on John Klingberg’s status regarding his hip ailment. He’s currently on long-term injury reserve but there’s no indication yet how long he’ll be sidelined. If he needs season-ending surgery, it’ll ensure they have the cap space for the remainder of this season to acquire someone like Tanev.

LATEST ON THE SHARKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the San Jose Sharks have let it be known that they will consider a lot on the blueline in terms of who might be available and what they’re willing to do. He believes teams will be most interested in Mario Ferraro, who has two more seasons left on his contract with a $3.25 million annual cap hit. Friedman doesn’t think he’s off the table at this time.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Lizz Child recently noted The Athletic has Sharks winger Anthony Duclair, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and forward Alexander Barabanov among their top-25 trade candidates. She also pointed out that Daily Faceoff has wingers Mike Hoffman and Kevin Labanc among their top 20 trade targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other than Ferraro, the rest are eligible for UFA status next summer. The Sharks could retain Ferraro and perhaps even Duclair and Kahkonen if those two are willing to stay if their asking price is reasonable. On the other hand, this is a rebuilding club that’s on the lookout for offers of solid returns that will help them build up their long-term future.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2023

by | Nov 29, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2023

Recaps of Tuesday’s games, the Blackhawks’ move to terminate Corey Perry’s contract and acquire Anthony Beauvillier from the Canucks, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid continued his torrid scoring pace with a goal and two assists in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted the winning goal for the 8-12-1 Oilers as they’ve picked up three straight victories. The Golden Knights (14-5-4) picked up a point to retake first place in the overall standings (32 points) but they’ve managed just three wins in their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was McDavid’s third straight multi-point game. It’s not a coincidence that the Oilers have improved of late as a result.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

The Vancouver Canucks got two goals from Brock Boeser and 30 saves from Thatcher Demko to down the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Boeser now leads the league with 17 goals as the Canucks (15-7-1) sit one point back of the Golden Knights in the standings. Ryan Strome replied for the struggling Ducks (9-13-0) as they’ve dropped seven straight games.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger kicked out 27 shots to shut out the Winnipeg Jets 2-0. Joe Pavelski and Tyler Seguin were the goal scorers as the Stars (28 points) rose to 13-5-2 on the season. Connor Hellebuyck made 19 stops for the 12-7-2 Jets as they sit two points behind the second-place Stars in the Central Division.

The Nashville Predators nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 to pick up their sixth straight win. Michael McCarron scored twice while Filip Forsberg potted the winner in overtime as the Predators improved to 11-10-0 and moved into the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference with 22 points. Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust scored for the Penguins as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to force the overtime period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Penguins placed defenseman Will Butcher on waivers and released blueliner Mark Pysyk from his professional tryout offer.

The Minnesota Wild picked up their first win in John Hynes’ first game as their new head coach by beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves for his first victory since Oct. 24 while Frederic Gaudreau’s first goal of the season proved to be the game-winner for the 6-10-4 Wild. Colton Parayko had the only goal for the 11-9-1 Blues.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Curtis Lazar rallied the New Jersey Devils over the New York Islanders 5-4. Hughes finished the night with a goal and two assists for the Devils as they improved their record to 10-9-1. Islanders center Mathew Barzal also had a goal and two assists as his club dropped to 8-7-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton did not play in the third period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update as to his status.

The Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Florida Panthers 2-1 on a shootout goal by Noah Gregor, who also scored their only goal in regulation. Joseph Woll made 38 saves for the 11-6-3 Maple Leafs. Kevin Stenlund tallied for the 13-7-2 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers appeared to win this contest on a shootout goal by Evan Rodrigues but a video review determined that he touched the puck after shooting it, which is not allowed in the shootout. It was a costly win for the Leafs as defenseman Mark Giordano left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to miss some time as a result.

Two-point performances by Michael Bunting and Sebastian Aho gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 28 shots for the Hurricanes (13-8-0). Travis Konecny replied for the 11-10-1 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Flyers announced that forward Noah Cates will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

Arizona Coyotes winger Michael Carcone scored twice and Connor Ingram made 30 saves to upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1. With the win, the Coyotes improved to 10-9-2 (22 points) and sit behind the Predators for the final Western wild-card spot. Brayden Point scored for the 10-8-5 Lightning.

The Chicago Blackhawks got a 33-save performance by Petr Mrazek to hold off the Seattle Kraken 4-3. MacKenzie Entwistle scored what proved to be the winning goal for the Blackhawks (7-13-0) while Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist for the 8-10-5 Kraken, who also lost winger Jaden Schwartz to a lower-body injury in the third period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was overshadowed by the Blackhawks’ announcing earlier in the day that they had placed veteran winger Corey Perry on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Speaking of which…

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said the decision to release Corey Perry from his contract was a “workplace decision” but he declined to disclose the specifics about the incident.

Davidson did say that the situation didn’t involve any other Blackhawks players or their families, calling any suggestion to the contrary “disgusting.” He said the club first learned of the incident last Wednesday prior to a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The decision was made at that time to pull Perry from the lineup while an internal investigation was conducted. According to Davidson, the results of that investigation indicated he engaged in “conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe working environments.”

Perry, 38, was on a one-year, $4 million contract. The NHL Players Association is reviewing the matter and has 60 days from when the contract is terminated to file a grievance.

ESPN.COM: A source told Emily Kaplan that Perry traveled with the Blackhawks to Columbus last Tuesday, a day before the game, and an incident occurred that day involving a team employee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks did the right thing by attempting to address this issue with Perry immediately upon learning of the incident and launching an immediate investigation. However, they could’ve done a better job with their statements regarding his absence leading up to Davidson’s press conference.

The Blackhawks management insisted that Perry’s removal was a “team decision” but offered no other details. That was likely because they didn’t want to risk compromising the investigation. Perry’s agent attempted to address this by saying his client was dealing with a personal matter and asked that his privacy be respected.

Unfortunately, the conflicting messages raised more questions about Perry’s absence. It also resulted in baseless and salacious speculation on social media that may have caused unnecessary emotional distress to those who were the subject of such mean-spirited rumors.

THE PROVINCE: Speaking of the Blackhawks, the Vancouver Canucks traded winger Anthony Beauvillier to Chicago in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquired last January as part of the Bo Horvat trade with the New York Islanders, the 26-year-old Beauvillier struggled in Vancouver. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent and carries a $4.15 million cap hit for this season.

The Canucks didn’t get much of a return for Beauvillier. Nevertheless, this move clears his cap hit from their books, giving them room to add a defenseman or another scoring forward.

Meanwhile, Beauvillier will get an opportunity to improve his game with the rebuilding Blackhawks. They were short two wingers with Perry’s contract termination and Taylor Hall sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers yesterday placed Kaapo Kakko (lower body) and Filip Chytil (upper body) on long-term injury reserve.

TSN: The Buffalo Sabres assigned goaltender Devon Levi to their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi showed promise in a handful of late-season games in 2022-23. However, he’s really struggled this season to play up to expectations. Meanwhile, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has emerged as the Sabres’ starter this season.

NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators forward Zack MacEwen was fined $2,018.23 by the department of player safety for unsportsmanlike conduct during Monday’s game against the Florida Panthers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 27, 2023

by | Nov 27, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 27, 2023

Oilers captain Connor McDavid enjoyed a second straight four-assist game, David Perron and Shayne Gostisbehere had a big game for the Red Wings while the Predators are rising in the standings. Get the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and four assists in an 8-2 rout of the Anaheim Ducks. It’s the second straight game that McDavid has collected four assists. Zach Hyman scored twice and set up another while Darnell Nurse had three helpers for the 7-12-1 Oilers. Max Jones scored both goals for the Ducks as they dropped to 9-12-0.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the fourth player in Oilers history to have four-point performances in consecutive games, joining Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Paul Coffey. He also joins Gretzky and Kurri as the third Oiler to have consecutive four-assist games. McDavid is the fifth active NHL player with at least six career contests of four or more assists, joining Nicklas Backstrom (12), Leon Draisaitl (nine), Sidney Crosby (eight) and Blake Wheeler (six).

The Detroit Red Wings dropped the Minnesota Wild 4-1, handing the latter their seventh straight defeat. David Perron scored twice (including his 300th career goal) while Shayne Gostisbehere had a goal and three assists for the 11-6-3 Red Wings, who picked up their third straight victory. Joel Eriksson Ek replied for the 5-10-4 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Pat Maroon wasn’t pleased with his club’s performance. “F**king unacceptable…Guys should be pissed off,” said Maroon. Head coach Dean Evason claimed some players were “not pulling their weight.” 

Meanwhile, Wild forward Ryan Hartman faces a hearing with the NHL department of player safety for slew-footing Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, who avoided injury from the incident. 

Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-2. Juuse Saros made 32 saves as the Predators rose to 10-10-0, putting them just one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Josh Morrissey and Cole Perfetti scored in the third period for the 12-6-2 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On November 14, the Predators were 5-10-0 coming off four straight losses that put them near the bottom of the Western Conference. They’ve since won five consecutive games including victories against good clubs like the Jets and Colorado Avalanche.

Speaking of the Predators, defenseman Luke Schenn returned to action from a lower-body injury that had sidelined him since opening night. 

The St. Louis Blues doubled up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists while Jake Neighbours tallied twice for the Blues as they improved their record to 11-8-1. Ryan Donato had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks as they slipped to 6-13-0.

Three unanswered goals by Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Skjei and Andrei Svechnikov gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Svechnikov’s game-winner was also his first goal of the season while Seth Jarvis collected two assists as the Hurricanes improved to 12-8-0. Elvis Merzlikins made 40 saves and Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and an assist for the Blues Jackets (6-12-4), who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with 16 points.

TSN: The New Jersey Islanders traded minor-league forward Arnaud Durandeau to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for minor-league forward Tyce Thompson.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2023

by | Nov 25, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2023

The Oilers continue to dominate the media trade chatter. From Leon Draisaitl’s future in Edmonton to their reported interest in the Canadiens goalies, check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: In his latest mailbag segment, Eric Duhatschek was asked what he would do if he were the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and the club missed the playoffs this season. He said his first order of business would be determining where things stand with Leon Draisaitl.

With a year remaining on his contract, Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025. Duhatschek would want to know if Draisaitl wants to stay in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and try to win the Stanley Cup or if he’s sick and tired of the pressure of playing there and “scuttle off to somewhere warm,” like Matthew Tkachuk did last year with his trade to the Florida Panthers.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Duhatschek feels there are three paths here. One is Draisaitl stays long term, the second sees him depart as a UFA in 2025 and the third is moving on after trading him for the best possible return. If Draisaitl drags his feet over his plans beyond next season, the best option is moving him rather than wasting a year and an asset.

If Draisaitl agrees to stay, the goaltending would be the priority. He suggested going after someone like Nashville’s Juuse Saros while the rising salary cap would make it possible to leave Campbell buried in the minors if his contract proves untradeable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Duhatschek is talking about what he’d do in a hypothetical situation. He’s not saying Draisaitl wants out or that the Oilers will acquire Saros.

Nevertheless, I agree that figuring out Draisaitl’s future should be the priority after this season whether the Oilers make the playoffs or not. If he’s willing to stay and the Oilers are willing to pay him top dollar (which he’s earned), then addressing the goaltending becomes the focus if it isn’t suitably dealt with during this season.

If Draisaitl is noncommittal about staying in Edmonton then they must trade him to the highest bidder next summer. That also means letting interested clubs talk to him about a contract extension as that’ll ensure the Oilers get the best possible return. The assets they receive could help them address their immediate and long-term issues.

Trading away Draisaitl might not sit well with team captain and franchise star Connor McDavid. That’s the risk they’ll have to take. And if he’s not happy with the club’s direction, then it could be time to seriously consider trading McDavid and starting a roster rebuild under new management.

If Draisaitl wants to stay, then moving McDavid isn’t something to worry about unless the Oilers keep spinning their wheels. That means landing a true starting goaltender who can carry this team and offset their porous defense, which would be the next issue requiring serious attention.

Saros would be a prime target but he might not be available. Predators general manager Barry Trotz has repeatedly said he intends to open contract extension talks with his starting goalie next summer. Unless Saros wants to test the market in 2025, the Oilers will have to look elsewhere for help between the pipes. Speaking of which…

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico cites TSN’s Pierre LeBrun saying that the Oilers have not had any recent trade talks with the Montreal Canadiens regarding their three goaltenders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means a trade is imminent. Kidding! I’m kidding, of course.

The Oilers reportedly scouted the Canadiens goalie trio of Sam Montembeault, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau. However, they’re also scouring the rest of the league to find a suitable upgrade in the crease. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has likely set a high asking price hoping to take advantage of the Oilers’ desperate situation.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney noted recent rumors linked the Oilers to Philadelphia Flyers netminder Carter Hart. He thinks the only way the Flyers would agree to move Hart to Edmonton is if the Oilers sent them Stuart Skinner as part of the return. He suggested adding a first-round pick, a second-round pick, one or two top prospects and a roster player along with Skinner in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holy overpayment, Batman! That’s waaaay too much for Hart, though I don’t doubt Flyers GM Daniel Briere would give that offer serious consideration. Nevertheless, I don’t see the Oilers making that pitch.

TSN’s Darren Dreger said on Thursday that Briere is willing to listen to offers that will bring in a solid foundation to make the Flyers better. He’s reportedly listening on every position but not every player, with Dreger suggesting pending UFA defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler as possible trade candidates. No mention of Hart’s potential availability.