NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2024

by | Jul 2, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2024

Contract extensions for Jaccob Slavin, Juuse Saros and Juraj Slafkovsky, analysis of the Jakob Chycrhun and Reilly Smith trades, reaction to some of the notable UFA signings from the opening day of free agency, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

**UPDATE**

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8 million. He has a year remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $7.875 million.

EXTENSIONS FOR SLAVIN, SAROS, AND SLAFKOVSKY

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Jaccob Slavin to an eight-year, $51.69 million contract extension. The average annual value is $6.46 million and comes with a no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina re-signed their top defenseman at a bargain price. He could’ve gotten a much bigger cap hit in next summer’s free-agent market but opted for the security of an eight-year deal with his long-time NHL club.

The Hurricanes also moved quickly to address the departures of Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce via free agency. They signed Shayne Gostisbehere to a three-year deal with an AAV of $3.2 million and Sean Walker to a five-year contract with a $3.6 million AAV. They’re more affordable but won’t fully replace the skills of Skjei and Pesce.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators officially announced Juuse Saros’ contract extension. It’s an eight-year, $61.92 million deal with an AAV of $7.74 million.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators general manager Barry Trotz indicated last week that Saros was also entitled to some trade protection toward the end of the contract. There’s currently no indication on PuckPedia and CapFriendly what that is but it’s safe to assume Saros will have some sort of no-trade clause in this contract.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens signed winger Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are betting on the promising Slafkovsky blossoming into a scoring star based on his 20-goal, 50-point sophomore season. He will be the third-highest-paid skater on the Canadiens behind captain Nick Suzuki ($7.875 million) and winger Cole Caufield ($7.85 million). Those contracts will look like bargains if this trio reaches their expected potential.

JAKOB CHYCHRUN TRADED TO THE CAPITALS, REILLY SMITH TO THE RANGERS

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators traded Jakob Chychrun yesterday to the Washington Capitals for defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. They had to lower their asking price from a first and second-round pick or a high-end prospect before the 2024 NHL Draft.

Jensen, 33, is a right-shot defenseman carrying an AAV of $4.05 million through 2025-26.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber reports Chychrun could earn a contract extension with the Capitals if he plays well for them this season. He’ll bolster their defense corps and provide some additional offense from the blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators had to move Chychrun because he’s slated to become a UFA next summer and they weren’t re-signing him. Still, this is a disappointing return. Jensen is approaching his mid-thirties when a player’s skills begin to deteriorate.

Adding Chychrun and signing former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy to a six-year contract should significantly boost the Capitals’ defense.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers acquired “a proven playoff performer” in Reilly Smith, acquiring the 33-year-old winger yesterday from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional 2025 fifth-rounder pick and a 2027 second-rounder. Smith has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $5 million but the Penguins retained $1.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smith was a reliable scoring winger during his six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2023. Traded to the Penguins last summer, he struggled in Pittsburgh amid rumors he wasn’t happy with his new club.

Smith gets a chance for a reset with the Rangers as they attempt once again to boost their depth at right wing. The Penguins, meanwhile, cut ties with a player who didn’t fit with their roster.

PREDATORS MAKE THE BIGGEST MOVES TO OPEN THE UFA MARKET

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators were the big spenders from the opening day of free agency, investing more than $111 million on Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei and Scott Wedgewood.

Trotz claimed this was a statement to the rest of the league that these players wanted to come to Nashville. “These players see what we’re doing with the franchise. We have lots to offer, and we’re very determined to win.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These moves, especially the additions of Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei, could turn the Predators into a Stanley Cup contender again. However, it’s risky because of the ages of Stamkos (34) and Marchessault (33). If those players decline quicker than expected their contracts will become burdensome for the Predators even if the salary cap continues to rise significantly in the foreseeable future.

STAMKOS DEPARTURE MARKS THE END OF AN ERA IN TAMPA BAY

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning fans and pundits, meanwhile, are mourning the departure of Stamkos as the end of an era. Chosen first overall by the Bolts in 2008, Stamkos became the franchise’s greatest star. He’s their all-time leader in games played (1,082), goals (555) and points (1,137), leading them through the franchise’s greatest era, winning two Stanley Cups and a Presidents’ Trophy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning GM Julien BriseBois cut ties with Stamkos and opted to sign the younger Jake Guentzel because he felt his captain was past his prime and on the decline. It could prove to be the right decision but BriseBois’ handling of the situation hasn’t sat well with many of the Lightning faithful.

ROUNDUP OF NOTABLE UFA SIGNINGS WE MAY HAVE MISSED

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I compiled a quick list of the noteworthy signings from the opening day of the 2024 free-agent market. NHL.com has a complete breakdown by team. Here are a handful of some other notable signings of Day 1.

The Edmonton Oilers brought back forward Adam Henrique on a two-year contract with an AAV of $3 million.

The Vegas Golden Knights signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, $1.8 million contract.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman T.J. Brodie to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year deal with an AAV of $850K.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That one’s notable because Girgensons is moving on from the Buffalo Sabres after 10 seasons.

IN OTHER NEWS…

PHILLY.COM: The Flyers officially announced Matvei Michkov signed his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Expectations are high for Michkov. The 19-year-old winger is expected to be a key piece of the retooling Flyers. He could make his NHL debut this season.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Alex Burrows has stepped down as an assistant coach with the Canadiens for family reasons. He will remain with the club as a consultant and could assist in their search for a new head coach for their AHL affiliate in Laval.

NHL.COM: The league has reinstated Joel Quenneville, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac. They had been suspended since Oct. 2021 due to what the league called an inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Chicago Blackhawks player Kyle Beach had been sexually assaulted by video coach Bradley Aldrich.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Typical of the NHL to try and sneak this in during one of the busiest days on their calendar. There’s greasy and then there’s NHL greasy.

This decision means Quenneville, Bowman and MacIsaac can now seek employment with NHL teams. The old boys’ network remains alive and well.

I’ll leave the final word on this with The Athletic’s Scott Powers:

 










NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2024

by | May 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2024

Check out the latest on the Canadiens and Canucks and find out which Kings forward reportedly requested a trade in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels responded to questions from Montreal Canadiens fans about the club’s offseason plans. Here are some of the notable tidbits:

He believes the Montreal Canadiens will retain their first-round pick (fifth overall) in this year’s draft. It’s rare to trade up from that position and it’s unimaginable that they would trade down.

Engels doesn’t see the Canadiens signing a big-ticket unrestricted free agent like Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl or Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen if they become available in the 2025 UFA market. He thinks that spending top dollar and giving maximum term to such players wouldn’t enable the Canadiens to maximize the value of that player. They’d be burning through the first couple of years of the player’s contract without having a realistic chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed. The best time to chase a big-name UFA would be 2027 or 2028 if the Canadiens are in a position where adding such a player would help them become Cup contenders. That’s assuming the current rebuild progresses as expected. However, it could prove difficult because most top UFAs avoid a high-pressure market like Montreal.

Engels also doesn’t think the Canadiens are a realistic free-agent destination for Steven Stamkos if he tests the UFA market on July 1. He acknowledged Stamkos’ ties to Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis but thinks other teams would be better positioned right now to give him a chance of winning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “Stamkos-to-Montreal” rumor came up only because of his ties to St. Louis. It’s not enough to convince the 34-year-old winger to sign with the rebuilding Habs if he becomes a UFA.

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafskovsky (NHL Images).

Asked about contract extensions for Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky, Engels believes Guhle could seek something comparable to the six-year, $27.6 million contract Alex Vlasic signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also thinks Slafkovsky would find it difficult to reject an offer similar to the eight-year deals signed by linemates Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

TVA SPORTS: Kevin Dube also looked at what Slafkovsky’s next contract might look like.

He listed New Jersey’s Jack Hughes (eight years, $8 million average annual value) and Nico Hischier (seven years. $7.25 million AAV) and Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle (eight years, $8.35 million) if the Canadiens are looking at a long-term deal.

Bridge deal comparables include Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson (three years, $7.35 million AAV), the New York Islanders’ Mathew Barzal (three years, $7 million), Columbus’ Patrik Laine (three years, $6.75 million), Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras (three years, $5.75 million) and LA’s Pierre-Luc Dubois (two years, $5 million).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s risk in both scenarios. A long-term deal could become burdensome if Slafkovsky fails to meet expectations throughout the deal. A bridge contract could lead to a far more expensive deal if he reaches his projected potential as a power forward.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Canadiens handle this situation. Based on Caufield’s contract, they could go the long-term route.

TVA SPORTS: Lists the pros and cons of the Canadiens taking a chance and acquiring Patrik Laine. The former 40-goal scorer has been hampered by injuries in recent years and in January placed himself in the NHL-NHL player assistance program due to mental health issues.

The pros include the Canadiens adding a big winger who’s proven he can score when healthy. The emergence of Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky means Laine wouldn’t have to carry the offense. The Canadiens can afford his $8.7 million cap hit. The 26-year-old winger is signed for two more years and if he doesn’t work out they can just let him walk.

Laine’s injury history is a major concern. He could struggle under the harsh spotlight in Montreal. The Blue Jackets could seek a first-round pick plus one of the Canadiens’ defense prospects as part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are unlikely to acquire Laine. The Blue Jackets are under new management and might prefer to see how he performs this season. His injury history would hurt his value in the trade market.

UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance believes the Vancouver Canucks should “take a big swing to land a star forward” as part of their offseason “to-do” list. Several intriguing names, such as Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers, and Carolina’s Martin Necas are floating around the rumor mill.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been reported the Canucks looked into Necas when they were discussing a possible trade with the Hurricanes involving Elias Pettersson. That’s not going to happen now with Petterson signing an eight-year extension but there’s talk the Canucks remain interested in Necas. If they make that big swing, he’s the guy they’ll likely target but they’ll face competition from other teams if the Hurricanes peddle him following the playoffs.

KALIYEV REPORTEDLY ASKS THE KINGS FOR A TRADE

MSN.COM: Brian La Rose cited The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta claiming Arthur Kaliyev has asked Los Angeles Kings management for a trade.

Kaliyev is coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. He showed potential as a secondary scorer during his first two seasons with the Kings but his performance declined this season. The 22-year-old winger became a frequent healthy scratch under interim coach Jim Hiller, now their full-time bench boss.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaliyev frequently surfaced in the rumor mill during the second half of this season. He could become a promising reclamation project regarding trade return and contract for teams seeking an affordable young forward with some offensive promise.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 27, 2024

by | May 27, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 27, 2024

What are some possible goaltending options for the Leafs? What could Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky’s next contract look like? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT ARE SOME OFFSEASON GOALTENDING TARGETS FOR THE LEAFS?

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan recently speculated the Maple Leafs could go with Joseph Woll as their starting goaltender next season if they succeed in changing his offseason training regimen. However, the 26-year-old’s injury history means they must cover themselves in case he’s sidelined again.

If the Leafs trade Mitch Marner and his $10.9 million cap hit, Koshan believes the focus has to be “a top-flight goalie or defenseman.” Options could include Nashville’s Juuse Saros or Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, who has two years remaining on his contract with a no-movement clause. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving authored that contract during his tenure with the Flames.

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

Koshan believes Boston’s Linus Ullmark would be a reach considering the intense rivalry between the Bruins and the Leafs.

Pickings are slim for goaltenders in this summer’s free-agent market. Ilya Samsonov could be the best of the bunch, but there’s no indication the Leafs will bring him back. Others include Cam Talbot, Alex Nedeljkovic, Kevin Lankinen and Casey DeSmith.

THE ATHLETIC: Joshua Kloke doubts the Leafs will re-sign Samsonov. He thinks Martin Jones could return as their third-string netminder.

Kloke shares Koshan’s belief that Woll could be their starter, his concern over Woll’s health, and the Leafs’ need to bring in someone to share the goaltending duties.

Markstrom and Saros make some sense as trade targets. Their current teams aren’t in a position to contend right now and they have young goalies waiting in the wings. Acquiring notable pieces from a division rival is difficult but shouldn’t prevent Treliving from inquiring about Ullmark.

The cost of acquiring one of those big-ticket goalies could prove expensive. Affordable options include Winnipeg’s Laurent Brossoit, Florida’s Anthony Stolarz or Pittsburgh’s Alex Nedeljkovic.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs goaltending has been a major issue for some time now. Woll has potential but his history of injuries is a concern. If they can free up the cap space, they must look into acquiring Markstrom, Ullmark, or Saros. Otherwise, they’ll have to consider short-term cost-effective options like Brossoit or Stolarz.

WHAT WILL JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE?

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie and Tony Marinaro recently discussed the type of contract extension Juraj Slafkovsky could receive from the Montreal Canadiens.

The 20-year-old winger has a year remaining on his entry-level contract coming off a promising 20-goal, 50-point sophomore season. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes can sign Slafkovsky to an extension when this year’s free-agent market opens on July 1.

Marinaro believes Slafkovsky will get an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $8 million. That would make him the Canadiens’ highest-paid active roster player, surpassing team captain Nick Suzuki’s $7.875 million.

Lajoie disagreed, suggesting Slafkovksy will a three-year, $15 million bridge contract “and then he’s going to break the bank.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky will become a restricted free agent next July. He’ll lack arbitration rights, leaving him little leverage in negotiations.

Hughes signed Cole Caufield to an eight-year contract with an AAV just below Suzuki’s ($7.85 million). He could prefer locking up Slafkovsky to a long-term deal rather than a bridge contract by signing him for slightly less than Caufield’s annual cap hit.

Both sides could agree to let the coming season play out and base negotiations on that. It would work in Hughes’ favor if Slafkovksy’s production dips. On the other hand, it would ensure the winger gets a more expensive deal if he exceeds this season’s stats.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2024

by | May 1, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2024

The Avalanche and Hurricanes advance to the second round, the Leafs and Predators avoid elimination, the Calder Trophy Finalists are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 to win their best-of-seven opening-round series four games to one. Mikko Rantanen scored twice and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 34 shots for the Avalanche. They await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Vegas Golden Knights series.

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev silenced his critics (including me) with his performance during this series. After giving up seven goals on 23 shots in Game 1, he allowed eight in the next four games with a .931 save percentage.

Winnipeg entered this series tied with the Florida Panthers for the fewest goals-against per game (2.41). Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy finalist who won the Jennings Trophy as the goalie who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals.

However, the Jet couldn’t contain the Avs’ offense, finishing this round with the highest goals-against per game (5.40) while Hellebuyck allowed the most goals (24) among all first-round goalies thus far. They are also the first team in NHL playoff history to allow at least five goals in five straight games in a postseason round.

Three unanswered third-period goals gave the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders to take their first-round series four games to one. Jack Drury scored the winning goal and Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who will face the New York Rangers in the second round.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina’s offensive depth proved too much to contain for the Islanders. Credit Isles goaltender Semyon Varlamov for keeping his club in most of these games but his teammates lack the scoring punch to hand with the Hurricanes.

An overtime goal by Matthew Knies lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Boston Bruins 2-1 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Jake McCabe also scored and Joseph Woll made 27 saves for the Leafs. Trent Frederic replied for the Bruins as they hold a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Thursday, May 2 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Leafs’ best game of the series. Woll’s steady goaltending gave them confidence and they did a good job containing Boston’s leading scorers. The Bruins at times appeared flat during this contest while the Leafs were fighting to keep their season alive.

The Leafs got the win without top center Auston Matthews, who missed this game with an undisclosed illness.

The Nashville Predators overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in Game 5 of their first-round series on goals by Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier. Juuse Saros made 19 saves for the win. Nikita Zadorov scored and Arturs Silov turned aside 20 shots for the Canucks, who hold a 3-2 lead in this series. Game 6 is Friday (start time TBA).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a goaltender’s duel through the first two periods. It looked like the Canucks were going to put this one away following Zadorov’s goal but the Predators refused to quit.

The Predators caught a break on Josi’s goal as the puck squirted behind Silov. The Canucks goalie tried to roll over to cover the puck but was inadvertently pushed during a goalmouth scramble, knocking the puck across the goal line.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber, and New Jersey Devils blueliner Luke Hughes are this season’s finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the finalists. Bedard is considered the favorite to win but Faber could make this interesting. He enjoyed a strong debut with the Wild, finishing among the rookie leaders in points and sitting among the league’s top-10 skaters in time on ice per game.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: T.J. Oshie said he has much to consider regarding his future as a player. The 37-year-old Washington Capitals winger said he’s been dealing with chronic back issues for years among other ailments.

Oshie has a year left on his contract. He said he’d love to play next season but needs assurances that he can do so without his back giving out. The Capitals winger intends to seek treatment during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oshie has never played a full NHL season due to injuries. He saw action in only 52 games in 2023-24.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers captain Sean Couturier recently changed agents and is now represented by Pat Brisson. One reason behind the change could be due to his former agent criticizing Flyers coach John Tortorella for benching Couturier for two games. The veteran center took responsibility for his poor play leading to his benching.

Speaking of the Flyers, top prospect Matvei Michkov might be able to join the club next season if the KHL allows him out of his contract with SKA St. Petersburg. Michkov’s contract runs through 2025-26 but SKA chairman Alexander Medvedev said he has a good relationship with the Flyers front office and has regularly spoken with them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s nothing set in stone here but Medvedev said a decision on Michkov’s future could come by the end of June.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot could undergo wrist surgery in the coming weeks. The recovery time would be between two and three months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sooner Chabot has the surgery the more likely he’ll be fully recovered in time for training camp in September.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, they reportedly interviewed Travis Green for their vacant head-coaching position. Green is currently the interim coach of the New Jersey Devils.

THE ATHLETIC: And speaking of New Jersey, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas denied speculation that head coach Mike Sullivan could become the next Devils head coach. Dubas said the Devils haven’t sought permission to speak with Sullivan nor have they been granted permission.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This sounds like another example of the hockey media “telephone” game. A pundit wonders whether Sullivan would be interested in coaching the Devils because he’s friends with their general manager. People start talking about it and it morphs into Sullivan trying to get out of his contract with the Penguins to coach the Devils.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Juraj Slakovskiy is undergoing some medical procedures in Montreal. It will delay him joining Slovakia at the upcoming World Championships in Czechia but isn’t expected to prevent him from playing in the tournament.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2024

by | Apr 10, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2024

Alex Ovechkin sets a scoring record, Auston Matthews reaches another goal milestone, hat trick performances by Nathan MacKinnon, Steven Stamkos and Juraj Slafkovsky, and the Predators clinch a playoff berth. The details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin set an NHL scoring record in a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to reach the 30-goal plateau 18 times. The Capitals improved to 37-30-11 and regained the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth. Patrick Kane scored his 20th of the season for the Red Wings, who slipped to 38-32-8 to sit one point back of the Capitals.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin had a slow start to this season with just nine goals in 44 games before the All-Star Break. He’s had 21 goals in his last 31 games. Red Wings forward Andrew Copp suffered a broken cheekbone after being struck by a high stick by Capitals winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel. No penalty was called on the play.

Auston Matthews is the only active NHL player to score 66 goals in a season as his Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice and collected an assist for the Leafs (46-23-9) as they sit ninth in the overall standings with 101 points. Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (37-37-5) as they were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews is also the first player in the salary-cap era to exceed 65 goals. With four games remaining in the regular season, he has time to become the first player in 31 years to reach 70 goals. Meanwhile, Devils star Jack Hughes missed this game and will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. It’s been that kind of season for the Devils as they struggled through a disappointing follow-up to last season’s promising performance.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied a hat trick to reach the vaunted 50-goal plateau for the first time in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Cale Makar and Jonathan Drouin each had three points for the 49-24-6 Avalanche as they sit sixth overall with 104 points. Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the 37-32-9 Wild, who were officially eliminated from the playoff race.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 137 points, MacKinnon sits two back of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. With 51 goals, he’s the fourth player to reach 50 this season.

Speaking of hat tricks, Steven Stamkos scored three goals to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. Kucherov picked up three assists to lead the scoring race with 139 points for the Lightning (44-27-7), who hold the first Eastern wildcard spot with 95 points. Kirill Marchenko scored both goals for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 39 goals, Stamkos is poised to reach the 40-goal plateau for the seventh time. The Lightning extended their points streak to six games and are 11-2-1 in their last 14 contests.

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky potted his first career NHL hat trick in a 9-3 rout of the Philadelphia Flyers. Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak each scored two goals for the Canadiens. Owen Tippett and Erik Johnson collected two points each for the Flyers, who slipped to 36-32-11 (83 points) and sit two points out of the final Eastern wildcard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canadiens announced defenseman Arber Xhekaj will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. He had similar surgery last season on his right shoulder. Meanwhile, the Flyers are winless in their last eight games (0-6-2), leaving head coach John Tortorella somberly observing his club has reached “rock bottom.” They overachieved for most of this season but are running out of gas as the schedule winds down.

The Nashville Predators dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets but picked up a point to clinch a playoff berth. Kyle Connor scored the game-winner and Connor Hellebucyk kicked out 45 shots for the Jets (48-24-6), as they sit in eighth place in the overall standings with 102 points. Predators captain Roman Josi collected assists on goals by Spencer Stastney and Ryan O’Reilly as they rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force the extra frame. With a record of 45-29-5, the Predators hold the first Western Conference wildcard with 95 points.

A three-goal first period powered the New York Islanders to a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Bo Horvat and Noah Dobson picked up two points each and Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves for the 36-27-15 Islanders, who hold third place in the Metropolitan Division with 87 points. Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (53-22-4) as they hold first place in the overall standings with 110 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette was furious following the game over a pair of what he deemed “vicious hits” on forwards Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck. The hit on Zibanejad appeared to be accidental but the one on Trocheck was deliberately hit from behind by Dobson. Both players escaped injury but Zibanejad was shaken up after the collision with Adam Pelech.

The Dallas Stars moved to within one point of the league-leading Rangers by nipping the Buffalo Sabres 3-2, eliminating the latter from postseason contention. Jake Oettinger made 19 saves for his eighth straight win while Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Joe Pavelski scored for the 50-20-9 Stars. Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch replied for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres set the NHL record for the longest playoff drought. Buffalo is a great hockey town but their fans continue to be disappointed by years of mismanagement and bad coaching.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov tallied a lacrosse-style goal and collected an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. Teuvo Teravainen, Jake Guentzel and Seth Jarvis also scored for the 50-22-7 Hurricanes (107 points), who moved ahead of the Bruins into third place in the overall standings. Charlie McAvoy replied for the 46-18-15 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the third straight season the Hurricanes have reached the 50-win mark.

The Florida Panthers blanked the Ottawa Senators 2-0. Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves for the shutout. Anton Lundell and Nick Cousins were the goal scorers as the Panthers improved to 49-24-6 and sit seventh overall with 104 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators will finish the schedule on a high note in terms of attendance. Despite another disappointing season, they enjoyed the fourth-highest change in attendance (5.9 percent). They’ve played to 95 percent capacity, averaging 17,536.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 36 shots in a 3-1 upset of the Los Angeles Kings. Frank Vatrano, Alex Killorn and Trevor Zegras were the goal scorers. Akil Thomas netted the only goal for the 41-26-11 Kings (93 points) as they hold third place in the Pacific Division.

The Seattle Kraken blanked the Arizona Coyotes 5-0. Philipp Grubauer made 39 saves while Matty Beniers and Oliver Bjorkstrand each picked up two assists. Earlier in the day, the Coyotes announced defenseman Travis Dermott will miss the remainder of the season with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Andrei Kuzmenko gave the Calgary Flames a 3-2 decision over the San Jose Sharks. Kuzmenko and Nazem Kadri each had two points for the Flames. Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 37 shots for the Sharks.

IN OTHER NEWS…

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The club recalled forward Dylan Holloway as McDavid will decide if he’ll play on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. His injury is not the same one that forced him to miss two games earlier this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is one assist away from becoming the fourth player in NHL history to reach that plateau. Nevertheless, the priority for the Oilers is to ensure their captain is healthy for the upcoming playoffs. They have six games left in the regular season.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues defenseman Justin Faulk could miss the remainder of the regular season with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 27, 2024

by | Mar 27, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 27, 2024

The Rangers become this season’s first team to reach 100 points and clinch a playoff spot, Artemi Panarin and David Pastrnak reach the 100-point plateau, Josh Doan has a memorable NHL debut with the Coyotes, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers became the first team to clinch a playoff berth and to reach 100 points this season as they nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5. Adam Fox scored in overtime, Artemi Panarin collected three assists and Alexis Lafreniere tallied twice for the 48-20-4 Rangers. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton had a goal and an assist each for the Flyers (36-27-10) as they cling to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin (102 points) reached the 100-point plateau for the first time, sitting fourth among this season’s leading scorers.

Third-period goals by Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha lifted the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Zacha, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (42-16-15) as they sit third in the overall standings with 99 points. Sam Reinhart netted his 51st goal of the season as the Panthers (46-21-5) slipped to fifth overall with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak reached 100 points for the second straight season and sits fifth in the scoring race.

Josh Doan scored two goals (including the game-winner) in his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2. Matias Maccelli and Nick Schmaltz had a goal and an assist each for the 30-37-5 Coyotes. Boone Jenner and Zack Werenski had a goal and an assist each for the 23-37-12 Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doan is the son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who was in attendance watching his son’s first NHL game.

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston scored twice and collected an assist in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists for the Stars (45-19-9), who sit second in the overall standings with 99 points. Mikael Granlund picked up two assists for the 16-47-8 Sharks.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored his 59th goal of the season but his club fell 6-3 to the New Jersey Devils. Jack Hughes tallied twice and Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Curtis Lazar had three points each as the Devils (36-33-4) kept their playoff hopes alive with 76 points, who sit five points back of the Capitals. William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi replied for the 40-22-9 Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 89 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe roasted his club in his postgame presser, ripping their “immature” performance in this contest. They also played with defensemen Morgan Rielly and Joel Edmundson. Both players are day-to-day with injuries.

The Edmonton Oilers downed the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on an overtime goal by Zach Hyman, who now has 51 goals on the season. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid each collected two points for the Oilers (43-23-4), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 90 points. Sean Monahan scored his 22nd goal of the season for the Jets (44-22-6), who have 94 points but are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).

Two goals by Dylan Strome, including the winner in overtime, lifted the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. John Carlson collected two assists for the Capitals, who improved to 36-26-9 (81 points) to hold the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Patrick Kane scored the game-tying goal and Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (36-29-7) as they dropped two points behind the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These clubs are going in different directions in the battle for that wildcard berth. The Capitals are surging with seven wins in their last 10 games while the Red Wings have just three victories in their last 10.

The Nashville Predators scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 on an overtime goal by Roman Josi. Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists each for the Predators (43-25-4) as they hold the first Western Conference wildcard berth with 90 points. William Karlsson and Anthony Mantha each had a goal and an assist for the 39-25-8 Golden Knights, who hold the second Western wildcard with 86 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 38 shots in a 4-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping the latter’s seven-game points streak. Dmitry Orlov replied for the Hurricanes as they slipped to 45-21-7 (97 points) to remain three points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers. The Penguins improved to 31-30-10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins also honored Jake Guentzel with a video tribute highlighting his nearly eight seasons in Pittsburgh before his trade to Carolina earlier this month. Following the game, Guentzel told reporters he intended to re-sign with the Penguins but he felt management had other ideas. The 29-year-old winger will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Speaking of upsets, the Montreal Canadiens downed the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 to end the latter’s nine-game win streak. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves while Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia scored for the 27-32-12 Canadiens. Nathan MacKinnon scored to extend his home points streak to 35 games and his overall streak to 19 games for the Avalanche (46-21-5), who sit two points behind the Central Division-leading Stars with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon is tied with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race with 123 points but Kucherov holds two games in hand. Suzuki reached a single-season high of 67 points and is one goal from reaching 30 in a season for the first time. Meanwhile, linemate Juraj Slafkovsky set a franchise record for the most points by a teenager (40) in a single season. Slafkovsky turns 20 on March 30.

The Chicago Blackhawks got two goals from Jason Dickinson to defeat the Calgary Flames 3-1. Petr Mrazek kicked out 38 shots while rookie Landon Slaggert collected two assists for his first NHL points as the Blackhawks improved to 21-46-5. MacKenzie Weegar replied for the 33-33-5 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dickinson reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his nine-season NHL career.

Seattle Kraken forwards Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen each had a goal and two assists to blank the Anaheim Ducks 4-0. Joey Daccord picked up the shutout with 12 saves for the 29-29-13 Kraken. Trevor Zegras was held scoreless in his return to the Anaheim lineup since fracturing an ankle in early January. The Ducks dropped to 24-44-4.