NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 28, 2023

by | Dec 28, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 28, 2023

A record-setting performance by the Penguins’ Kris Letang, the Coyotes stage a four-goal comeback win over the Avalanche, Connor Bedard snipes an overtime winner for the Blackhawks, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Kris Letang enjoyed a record-setting performance as his Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the New York Islanders 7-0. Five of Letang’s six assists came in the second period, which is a record for the most points in one period by an NHL defenseman. Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel each scored two goals while Marcus Pettersson collected four assists for the 16-13-4 Penguins (36 points), who sit three points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Islanders (16-9-9) sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 40 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Letang also became the seventh defenseman in league history to record six assists in a game, joining such luminaries as Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Pat Stapleton and Gary Suter. Malkin also surpassed Sergei Fedorov for the second-most goals scored by a Russian NHL player with 484.

The Arizona Coyotes overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on an overtime goal by Jack McBain. Sean Durzi had a goal and three assists for the Coyotes (18-14-2) as they hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 38 points. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche (21-11-3) as they sit in first place in the Central Division with 45 points. MacKinnon’s point streak sits at 19 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a dozen times this season: don’t sleep on the Coyotes. They’ll bite you if you do. This is a club loaded with blossoming talent that has made steady improvement under head coach Andre Tourigny. One of those good young players is defenseman JJ Moser, who remains sidelined with an upper-body injury but is expected to return to action soon.

Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard became the third-youngest player in NHL history to score a regular-season overtime goal in a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The 18-year-old Bedard also scored in regulation while goaltender Petr Mrazek stopped 37 shots for the 11-22-1 Blackhawks. Morgan Barron replied for the 20-9-4 Jets, who sit one point behind the Avalanche in the Central standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You know, I think this Bedard kid’s gonna have a long and productive career (insert winky face emoji here).

The Carolina Hurricanes downed the Nashville Predators 5-2. Center Sebastian Aho had a goal and three assists to surpass the 500-point career milestone while Pyotr Kochetkov made 35 saves as the Hurricanes improved to 18-13-4 and hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 40 points. Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for the 19-16-0 Predators as they hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 38 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Aho is the fourth player in Hurricanes history to reach the 500-point plateau, joining Ron Francis (1,175), Eric Staal (775) and Kevin Dineen (544).

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller had two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. Mika Zibanejad collected two assists in his 800th career NHL game as the Rangers (24-8-1) moved past the idle Vancouver Canucks into first place in the overall standings with 49 points. Anthony Mantha scored for the 17-10-5 Capitals as they cling to the final Eastern wild-card spot with 39 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers captain Jacob Trouba left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. An update on his status is expected on Thursday.

An overtime goal by Timo Meier lifted the New Jersey Devils over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Dawson Mercer had a goal and two assists while Luke Hughes tied the game late in the third period for the Devils (18-13-2) with a spectacular end-to-end rush. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 31 shots for the 11-18-7 Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils (38 points) are now one point out of an Eastern wild-card spot. They did so without forward Curtis Lazar as he’s listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski left the game with a lower-body injury following a collision with Devils winger Ondrej Palat.

The Florida Panthers nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 3-2. Sam Reinhart scored twice while Aleksander Barkov collected three assists for the 20-12-2 Panthers as they sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 42 points. Nikita Kucherov and Michael Eyssimont scored for the Lightning (17-14-5) as they sit behind the Capitals in the Eastern standings with the latter holding four games in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov remains the league’s leading scorer with 58 points but the Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon has cut his lead to two points.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson tallied twice as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit in a 4-2 upset of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Joonas Korpisalo kicked out 34 shots while Brady Tkachuk picked up his 300th career NHL point for the 13-17-0 Senators. William Nylander picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 12 games as the Leafs (17-9-6) sit third in the Atlantic Division with 40 points.

The Boston Bruins snapped a four-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Charlie Coyle netted two goals for the 20-7-6 Bruins as they sit second in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. Erik Johnson scored for the 14-18-4 Sabres, who were playing without Tage Thompson as he was absent from the club for personal reasons.

A four-goal third period carried the Minnesota Wild over the Detroit Red Wings 6-3. Marcus Johansson scored twice and collected an assist for the Wild (16-13-4) as they picked up their fourth straight win and sit two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 36 points. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist for the slumping Red Wings (16-15-4) as they sit three points out of an Eastern wild-card spot with 36 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Patrick Kane has been among the few bright spots for the Wings during their current slide. He scored in this game to extend his points streak to five games and now has 11 points in as many games, showing no ill effects thus far from his offseason hip resurfacing procedure.

St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer made a career-high 39 saves in a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Jake Neighbours and Marco Scandella scored for the 18-15-1 Blues (37 points) as they’ve won three straight to move within a point of a Western Conference wild-card spot. Jason Robertson replied for the 20-9-4 Stars as they slipped to third place in the Central Division with 44 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars and Jets have identical records but the Jets have more regulation wins with 18.

The Seattle Kraken nipped the Calgary Flames 2-1. Goalie Chris Driedger stopped 37 shots in his first NHL game since May 1, 2022, while Alex Wennberg and Kailer Yamamoto scored for the 13-14-9 Kraken as they extended their points streak to seven games. Nazem Kadri replied for the 14-16-5 Flames.

A four-goal first period gave the Anaheim Ducks a 5-2 upset win over the Vegas Golden Knights. John Gibson made 30 saves while Brett Leason scored twice for the 13-21-0 Ducks while Mark Stone and Alec Martinez replied for the 21-10-5 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 47 points.

The Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Adrian Kempe scored twice for the Kings (20-7-4) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 44 points. Fabian Zetterlund scored his 10th over the season for the 9-23-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood missed this game with an illness while teammate Jacob MacDonald (lower body) was placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov returned to action after missing five games with a lower-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 27, 2023

by | Dec 27, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 27, 2023

The three stars of the week and more as we catch up on the latest news following the league’s holiday break in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, and Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane are the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 24.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

The NHL returns to action following its three-day holiday break with fourteen games featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs facing off against the Ottawa Senators, the Tampa Bay Lightning squaring off against the Florida Panthers, the Dallas Stars meeting the St. Louis Blues, the Colorado Avalanche going up against the Arizona Coyotes, and the Winnipeg Jets versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Blown leads and a recent scoring drought are among four issues the Bruins must address following the holiday break.

ESPN.COM: Anaheim Ducks rookie Leo Carlsson will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks with a sprained right knee ligament. The 19-year-old suffered the injury during Thursday’s game against the Calgary Flames when he became entangled with Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carlsson was fortunate to escape serious injury as his leg bent at an awkward angle. In 23 games, he’s fourth among rookie scorers with eight goals and 12th in points with 15 as the Ducks carefully managed his playing time and number of games played before his injury. Carlsson’s numbers might have been higher had he played as many games as most of his fellow rookies currently ahead of him in goals and points.

SPORTSNET: Columbus Blues Jackets forward Sean Kuraly is resting at home after undergoing tests for an abdominal injury suffered in the final minute of the first period during Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The tests came back negative but there’s no indication how long he’ll be sidelined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuraly left the ice on his own but paramedics were called in after he collapsed on his way to the Blue Jackets’ dressing room, resulting in play being briefly suspended. Fortunately, the injury didn’t appear to be serious but was taken to the hospital for tests as a precaution.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes recalled goaltender Antti Raanta on Tuesday from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings placed forward Christian Fischer on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 23 and called up Jonatan Berggren, Austin Czarnik and Simon Edvinsson from their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids under emergency conditions.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators are continuing talks with the National Capital Commission for a lease at LeBreton Flats. However, they’re also studying other options in case a lease agreement with the NCC falls through.

ESPN.COM: All eyes will be on Team Canada center Macklin Celebrini during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship currently underway in Gothenburg, Sweden. He’s projected to become the top prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft class but he will face competition from players such as Team USA’s Cole Eiserman and Finland’s Aron Kiviharju.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A prospect’s performance in the WJC can affect their value in the draft. It’ll be interesting to see how the potential Class of 2024 performs in this tournament.

DAILY FACEOFF: The WJC isn’t the only international tournament currently taking place. Mike Gould lists five former NHL players worth watching at the 2023 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Young Russian NHL prospects could be staying in the KHL for four to five years before being allowed to join their NHL teams. Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov’s current KHL contract expires in 2026 but could end up staying beyond that if the KHL implements new rules that determine how long teenage prospects would have to stay and play in Russia. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was always the risk for NHL clubs drafting Russian players. The KHL currently has rules in place that prevent their best young players from bolting to the NHL soon after being drafted. If those rules change, the Flyers could wait another four or five years before Michkov finally joins their roster.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 21, 2023

by | Dec 21, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 21, 2023

The holiday roster freeze is in effect from Dec. 20 – 27 but that hasn’t stopped the trade and free-agent speculation. Here’s the latest on the Senators plus updates on Corey Perry and Andrei Kuzmenko in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE SENATORS

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos wonders if it could be long before the Ottawa Senators decide to become sellers leading up to the March 8 trade tradeline. If they go that route, Kypreos wouldn’t be surprised if Jakob Chychrun resurfaces in trade talks.

Kypreos noted that there are several teams (Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars) in “dire need of shoring up their blueline for a playoff run.”

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun was the subject of two years of trade speculation before he was acquired by the Senators before last season’s March trade deadline.

I would have my doubts about the Senators moving Chychrun if Pierre Dorion was still the general manager. With Dorion gone, perhaps it’s not that far-fetched if they go into sell mode in the New Year. Interim GM Steve Staios wouldn’t have the same attachment to the current players on this roster.

Chychrun still carries an affordable $4.6 million average annual value through 2024-25. He’s also slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025, which could also factor into where he fits in their plans.

Unlike last season, however, there are a couple of sticking points if the Senators decide to move Chychrun. He carries a 10-team no-trade clause plus there are a high number of clubs this season with limited cap space.

Speaking of the Senators, Kypreos claims there are some within the organization pushing for them to hire former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube as their new full-time bench boss. He wonders if the new ownership group is ready to make that kind of commitment right now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latest word out of Ottawa regarding the Sens’ coaching situation is they’re going to take their time and cast a wide net before making a decision. You also have to wonder if Berube would want to coach the Senators. The Blues are still paying him through next season so he can afford to take his time and find the right fit.

UPDATES ON COREY PERRY AND ANDREI KUZMENKO

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reported last week the NHL Players Association remained undecided over whether they’d file a grievance on Corey Perry’s behalf regarding the termination of his contract last month. He indicates that hasn’t stopped some teams from considering adding him to their roster before the trade deadline once he receives clearance from the NHLPA player assistance program and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of those clubs could be the Edmonton Oilers. Last month, the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson speculated Oilers GM Ken Holland might look into it.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is running out of patience with winger Andrei Kuzmenko. While his offensive skills are undeniable, he’s not an adept skater or forechecker and those flaws are becoming apparent as his production declines.

Tocchet made Kuzmenko a healthy scratch on Tuesday against Nashville, marking the fourth time in recent weeks that he’s benched the 27-year-old winger. Johnston suggests Kuzmenko could start running out of opportunities to improve his game.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat cites an interview with Kuzmenko’s agent Dan Milstein claiming his client is very happy in Vancouver and there is constant communication with management. “We have a plan and everything is going to be okay,” said Milstein. He added that his client should regain his form “with a few minor adjustments.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation over Kuzemenko’s future in Vancouver surfaced earlier this month after he’d been scratched three times and had his playing time reduced. The front office has also maintained that they want to help the winger improve his overall performance. However, he’ll likely remain the subject of trade conjecture if he fails to pick up his play.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 20, 2023

by | Dec 20, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 20, 2023

The Rangers hold onto first place in the Eastern Conference, Nikita Kucherov adds to his lead in the scoring race and Quinn Hughes becomes the first defenseman to reach 40 points this season. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2, improving their record to 22-7-1 and holding onto first place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals, Erik Gustafsson collected three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots for the Rangers. Auston Matthews scored twice to take over sole possession of the league goal-scoring lead (25) but his Leafs dropped to 16-7-6 and sit second in the Atlantic Division with 38 points, ending their nine-game points streak.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored twice in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. With 54 points, he holds a six-point lead over Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for first place in the league scoring race. Steven Stamkos and Nick Paul each had three points for the Lightning (15-13-5) as they hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 35 points. Justin Faulk scored for the 15-15-1 Blues (31 points) as they sit three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

The Vancouver Canucks extended their points streak to seven games by downing the Nashville Predators 5-2. Quinn Hughes collected two assists to become the first defenseman to reach 40 points this season (41) as his Canucks improved to 22-9-2 (46 points) and sit one point behind the league-leading Vegas Golden Knights. Predators goaltender Juuse Saros got the hook after giving up five goals on 19 shots as his club sits at 18-14-0, holding the first Western wild-card spot with 36 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks made winger Andrei Kuzmenko a healthy scratch. It’s the third time since November that he’s been scratched from the roster, which could stoke the trade rumors that have swirled about him in recent weeks.

Speaking of the Golden Knights, they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes. Michael Bunting had a goal and two assists while Sebastian Aho collected three assists for the Hurricanes (17-12-3), who own the first Eastern wild-card berth with 37 points. William Carrier tallied twice for the 21-7-5 Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored in his first game after missing six contests with an upper-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko scored a natural hat trick within a span of 8:07 as his club spanked the Buffalo Sabres 9-4. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists for the 11-17-5 Blue Jackets while Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and an assist for the 13-17-3 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo winger Jack Quinn was held scoreless in his season debut as he returned from offseason Achilles tendon surgery. Sabres head coach Don Granato is feeling the heat from unhappy Buffalo fans as they were chanting for him to be fired during this contest. Kyle Okposo and Tage Thompson spoke up following the game to defend Granato but those fans calling for his firing could get their wish if this club doesn’t turn things around soon.

The Minnesota Wild upset the Boston Bruins 4-3. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, including the winning goal in overtime, while Marc-Andre Fleury picked up his 549th career victory with a 40-save performance as the Wild improved to 13-13-4. David Pastrnak netted two goals and Pavel Zacha collected two assists for the Bruins (19-5-6) as they sit one point back of the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury needs three more wins to surpass Patrick Roy for second place on the all-time list for wins by NHL goalies. The Wild played without Mats Zuccarello as he’s week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Zacha and defenseman Charlie McAvoy returned to the Bruins lineup after missing multiple games with upper-body injuries.

An overtime goal by Owen Tippett lifted the Philadelphia Flyers over the New Jersey Devils 3-2 as they extended their points streak to nine games. Ryan Poehling scored two goals for the Flyers (18-10-3) as they hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 39 points. Michael McLeod and Jesper Bratt replied for the 16-12-2 Devils (34 points) as they sit one point behind the Lightning for the final Eastern wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Flyers center Nolan Patrick has retired to work with a hockey coaching and mentorship program founded by former NHL player Jayce Hawryluk. Patrick, 25, was chosen second overall by the Flyers in the 2017 NHL draft but his playing career was derailed by concussions and a migraine disorder. He last played in 2021-22 with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Second-period special teams goals by Anders Lee, Bo Horvat (both on the power play) and Simon Holmstrom (shorthanded) gave the New York Islanders a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. With the win, the 15-8-8 Islanders (38 points) sit one point behind the Flyers in third place in the Metro Divison. The Oilers, meanwhile, have lost three straight and dropped to 13-15-1.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 as Tyler Johnson snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period. Connor Bedard had two assists and Ryan Donato potted a goal and an assist for the 10-20-1 Blackhawks. Valeri Nichushkin scored twice and Nathan MacKinnon collected an assist to extend his points streak to 16 games for the 19-11-2 Avalanche, who remain in second place in the Central Division with 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews called out his teammates following this game. “I think we’ve got some guys who think they’re playing well, and I think they’re kidding themselves at this point,” he said, adding, “It’s tough to play in this league when you don’t know where your teammates are gonna be.”

Coach Jacques Martin’s return behind the Ottawa Senators bench didn’t go well as his club blew a three-goal lead to fall 4-3 to the Arizona Coyotes. The Senators ran up a 3-0 lead in the first but collapsed in the third period with Michael Kesselring netting the game-winner for the 16-13-2 Coyotes, who hold the final Western wild-card spot with 34 points. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 34 shots for the Senators, who’ve lost five straight and remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-16-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This wasn’t the homecoming Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun would’ve liked. It was his first game against his former team in Arizona since his trade to Ottawa last season.

The Los Angeles Kings downed the San Jose Sharks 4-1. Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist as his club improved to 18-6-4 and sit third in the Pacific Division with 40 points. Kaapo Kahkonen turned aside 35 shots for the 9-20-3 Sharks as they slipped back into last place in the overall standings with 21 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defensemen Calen Addison and Jan Rutta missed this game. Addison is dealing with a lower-body injury while Rutta has an undisclosed illness.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 19, 2023

by | Dec 19, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 19, 2023

The annual holiday roster freeze goes into effect from Dec. 20 to 27. Check out the latest on the Flames Elias Lindholm, the recent goalie trade speculation and updates on the Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE AVALANCHE PURSUE ELIAS LINDHOLM?

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying during his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast that some people believe the Colorado Avalanche could target Elias Lindholm in the trade market.

Lindholm is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July unless he and the Calgary Flames agree to a contract extension. The 29-year-old center carries a $4.85 million cap hit for this season and lacks a no-trade clause.

Friedman said some people are waiting for the other shoe to drop after the Avalanche shipped Tomas Tatar to the Seattle Kraken last Friday. He thinks they’re looking at Lindholm but is sure they could be also looking at others in the trade market.

The Avalanche have some roster and salary cap issues to sort out. Friedman believes they might have to wait but they’re “lurking out there.”

Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs have a glaring hole at the second-line center position. Lindholm would be a good fit there but acquiring him won’t be easy.

They possess $4.825 million in cap space with Gabriel Landeskog, Pavel Francouz and Artturi Lehkonen on long-term injury reserve. However, they can’t accrue any cap space plus Lehkonen is expected to return to action at some point this season.

The Avs might have to send some salary to the Flames or convince them to retain part of Lindholm’s cap hit to make the deal work. They’ll also have to offer up a suitable package to tempt the Flames. Lindholm’s value as a two-way center could prompt a bidding war involving several clubs near the trade deadline.

LATEST GOALTENDER TRADE RUMORS.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said the uncertainty over Frederik Andersen’s status has forced the Carolina Hurricanes to “cast their lines” into the NHL pond in search of a goaltender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following Friedman’s comments it was reported that the Hurricanes signed free-agent Aaron Dell to a professional tryout offer. Over the weekend, they assigned Antti Raanta to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Friedman also reported he’d heard from a couple of sources suggesting the possibility of the Columbus Blue Jackets and netminder Elvis Merzlikins deciding it’s time for him to try somewhere else.

Merzlikins is signed through through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. Moving him could be difficult given the high number of clubs with limited cap space this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Friedman sources aren’t stating for certain that the Blue Jackets are shopping Merzlikins. It’s just speculation right now.

Nevertheless, there could be changes coming for the Jackets before the end of this season. Peddling their starting goalie before the March 8 trade deadline could be among those changes.

The Los Angeles Kings are looking for goalie depth with backup Pheonix Copley lost to injury. However, Friedman doesn’t expect them to make a big move for a netminder until closer to the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings called up David Rittich over the weekend to back up Cam Talbot. Unless one of them gets hurt before Copley returns, they’ll likely wait as Friedman believes until the deadline to bolster their depth between the pipes.

Teams to watch include the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been well-documented that those teams are each carrying three goaltenders, prompting speculation they could move one. The Red Wings have taken a hit with Alex Lyon sidelined and Ville Husso suffering a leg injury last night.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes that John Gibson is available in the trade market. He noted that Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has “re-engaged” with the Anaheim Ducks regarding the 30-year-old goaltender, who carries an AAV of $6.4 million.

Nichols noted the Hurricanes, Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are in the hunt for help between the pipes. He also pointed out that the Canadiens, Sabres, Red Wings and Blue Jackets are carrying three goalies this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Gibson’s hefty salary through 2026-27 plus his 10-team no-trade clause, he’s more likely to be moved during the summer when clubs have more cap room than in a season where teams are pressed for cap space.

UPDATES ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators will make a wide search for a new full-time head coach after replacing D.J. Smith as their bench boss with Jacques Martin on an interim basis.

Sources suggest the front-runner is John Gruden, the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Gruden is a former Senators defenseman who also has ties with Sens owner Michael Andlauer and president of hockey operations Steve Staios.










Senators Fire Head Coach D.J. Smith, Bring Back Jacques Martin As Interim Coach

by | Dec 18, 2023

Senators Fire Head Coach D.J. Smith, Bring Back Jacques Martin As Interim Coach

The Ottawa Senators announced they’ve relieved head coach D.J. Smith and assistant coach Davis Payne of their duties.

Jacques Martin takes over as head coach on an interim basis. Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson joins the staff as an assistant coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This has been building for several weeks. Coming off four straight losses, the Senators have floundered with just three wins in their last 10 games. Despite holding several games in hand over their Eastern Conference rivals, they’re mired at the bottom of the Conference standings.

Ottawa Senators interim head coach Jacques Martin. (NHL.com)

Smith was hired by former Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, who was fired on Nov. 1. The club failed to reach the playoffs in his four previous seasons behind their bench.

It was excusable for most of those seasons as the club was rebuilding with young talent. This season, however, there was an expectation that the Senators would finally break through as a playoff contender.

They had a .500 record on Dec. 5 but they’ve managed just one win in their last six games since then. That slump threatens to derail their playoff hopes as they failed to gain ground in the standings.

Martin was hired earlier this month as a special advisor to the coaching staff. Many observers, however, suggested that he was brought in as Smith’s potential replacement. He has 17 years of NHL head coaching experience, including nine seasons behind the Senators bench from 1995-96 to 2003-04.

During that period, the Senators had four 100-plus points season, with Martin winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 1998-99. He was also an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins during their Stanley Cup seasons 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Alfredsson, meanwhile, is stepping behind an NHL bench in a coaching role for the first time. Revered by Senators fans and respected by his former teammates, he spent 17 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Senators, 13 of those as team captain and nine seasons playing for Martin. Their all-time leader in goals (426), assists (682) and points (1,108), he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

Martin and Alfredsson face a difficult task in reversing the Senators’ slide.

Stocked with stars such as Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux and Jakob Chuchrun, the Senators have no problem scoring goals, sitting 10th overall as of Dec. 17 with a goals-per-game of 3.35.

Keeping the puck out of their net, however, is another matter. They possess the seventh-highest goals against per game (3.42) and the second-worst penalty-killing percentage (72.4). In short, they lack reliable goaltending and a sound defensive system.

Defensive hockey was Martin’s bread-and-butter in his previous head-coaching tours with the Senators, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens. It will be interesting to see if he can get this version of the Sens to buy into his system.