NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2024

by | Oct 1, 2024

Recapping Monday’s preseason action, the Canadiens awaiting word on Laine and Reinbacher, the Bruins indicate who their starting goalie will be in their season-opener, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We are experiencing technical difficulties today affecting the site’s layout and comments section. We hope to have these issues rectified today and appreciate your patience as we deal with this matter. 

GAME RECAPS (PRESEASON EDITION)

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 in split-squad action for the Wings. Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Joel Blomqvist stopped 20 of 21 shots for the Penguins.

An overtime goal by Konsta Helenius gave the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings in split-squad action.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jeremy Brodeur made 29 saves in a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. Brodeur is the son of Hall-of-Fame netminder Martin Brodeur.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Rangers announced that forward Jimmy Vesey is expected to be sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during practice on Sunday.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists as his club nipped the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in a shootout.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers released winger Mike Hoffman from his professional tryout offer (PTO) earlier in the day. He had a goal and four points in four preseason contests. Meanwhile, the Canucks released forward Sammy Blais from his PTO contract.

The New York Islanders beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 as Kyle Palmieri scored the tiebreaker with 51 seconds remaining in the third period.

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored his first preseason goal with the Washington Capitals in a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dubois and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist and Logan Thompson turned aside 24 shots for the Capitals.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a 26-save performance by goalie Jonas Johansson to beat the Florida Panthers 3-1.

An overtime goal by Nazem Kadri lifted the Calgary Flames to a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Tyson Barrie had two assists and Dan Vladar kicked out 30 shots for the Flames.

Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper turned in a 23-save shutout to blank the Anaheim Ducks 4-0. Tanner Jeannot and Akil Thomas each had a goal and an assist.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens were still awaiting word on Monday of the severity of the lower-body injuries Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher suffered during Saturday’s preseason game against Toronto.

Laine was injured following a knee-on-knee collision with Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare. Reinbacher left the same game in the opening seconds following a check from Leafs forward Marshall Rifai.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine watched practice on crutches from the Canadiens’ bench yesterday. The Montreal Gazette’s Stu Cowan reports hearing Laine could be sidelined for four-to-six months. There was no confirmation from the team. An update could be made on Tuesday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said Joonas Korpisalo will be the club’s starter for their season-opener on Oct. 8. The news comes amid the ongoing contract standoff between Bruins management and goalie Jeremy Swayman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman’s stalled negotiations got spicy yesterday when Bruins president Cam Neely seemed to reveal how much the club offered the 25-year-old netminder. I’ll have more details in today’s Rumor update.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The NHL will honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with helmet stickers displaying their uniform numbers worn by all NHL players starting with games on Friday and Saturday in Czechia during the league’s Global Series.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning captain Victor Hedman and his wife, Sanna, have pledged to donate $150, 000 to charities helping those affected by Hurricane Helene in the Tampa community.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators released forward Nikolay Kulemin from his PTO contract.

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2024

by | Sep 30, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2024

Recapping Sunday’s preseason action, Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was fined, an update on Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SUNDAY’S PRESEASON RESULTS

NHL.COM: Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick and an assist and Sidney Crosby tallied twice to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Ottawa Senators 5-2 in the Kraft Hockeyville game on Sunday in Sudbury, Ontario. Nick Cousins and Tim Stutzle replied for the Senators.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins forward Blake Lizotte was struck in the face by an errant puck while sitting on the bench during the first shift. He missed the remainder of the game. No update was provided regarding his condition.

The Utah Hockey Club rolled to a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Dylan Guenther scored two goals and picked up an assist while Clayton Keller scored and set up two others. Justus Annunen made 32 saves for the Avalanche.

Dallas Stars rookie forward Logan Stankoven netted two goals as his club doubled up the Minnesota Wild 4-2. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 25 shots for the Wild.

IN OTHER NEWS…

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The NHL department of player safety fined Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj $3,385.42 for unsportsmanlike conduct on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare on Saturday. Xhekaj pummeled Pare in retaliation for the latter’s knee-on-knee hit on Canadiens winger Patrik Laine.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard suffered a sore neck from a goal-mouth collision that forced him to leave Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken. However, the injury isn’t serious and he’s expected to return to the ice in a few days.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey left practice on Sunday with a lower-body injury.

NHL.COM: Tom Gulitti reports Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said forward Sonny Milano’s preseason performance was “just OK”. He’s given the 28-year-old veteran the benefit of the doubt but expects him to ramp up his effort for the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some veterans don’t put forth a full effort in training camp and preseason because they’re already assured of a roster spot but they step it up when the regular season begins. That could explain Milano’s effort thus far He is skating on the Capitals’ third line alongside Hendrix Lapierre and Aliaksei Protas.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Top prospect Fabian Lysell was a surprise roster cut by the Bruins yesterday. The 21-year-old was a candidate for the right wing spot on their second line. He had a slow start to training camp but improved as the preseason rolled on.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2024

by | Jun 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2024

Stars forward Joe Pavelski intends to retire, several Rangers played with injuries during the postseason, the latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Joe Pavelski hasn’t officially announced his retirement, but he told reporters he doesn’t intend to return next season.

“This was it for me. It was known for a while, probably. The plan is not to play next year,” said Pavelski on Tuesday during his club’s end-of-season media interviews. “I don’t want to say this is official, but the plan is not to be coming back.”

Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski (NHL Images).

Pavelski signed a one-year contract extension last summer with the Stars. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A seventh-round pick (205th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in 2003, Pavelski is one of the greatest American-born players in NHL history. He’s played 1,332 regular-season games with 475 goals and 1,068 points. He’s a four-time NHL All-Star, sits sixth among American-born players in total points, and is their leader with 74 playoff goals.

Pavelski spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Sharks. He’s fourth among their franchise leaders in games played (963), second in goals with 355, fourth with 406 assists, and third in points with 761. He spent the past five seasons with the Stars, totaling 121 goals and 186 assists for 307 points in 369 regular-season games in Dallas, including 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games this season.

Pavelski’s teammate Chris Tanev revealed he dealt with multiple injuries from dental work to an ankle injury during the Stars’ postseason run. The latter injury occurred during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final when he blocked a shot by Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane. Tanev injured some tendons behind the ankle but indicated he won’t require surgery and should recover in two weeks.

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba revealed he suffered an ankle injury that hobbled him during the playoffs. He told reporters on Tuesday that “a big chunk of his ankle came off” earlier in the season. It wasn’t a load-bearing bone so he could walk but skating was difficult.

The injury sidelined Trouba for the final 13 games of the regular season. He played in all 16 of the Rangers’ postseason games but managed only seven points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba’s subpar performance prompted some observers to suggest the Rangers consider trading him this summer when his no-movement clause becomes a modified no-trade on July 1. They might want to reconsider that hot take after learning about his injury.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers blueliner Adam Fox confirmed he was playing with a knee injury suffered during a collision with Washington Capitals rearguard Nick Jensen during their first-round series. He injured the same knee in November following a similar collision with Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. Fox said he has to go through his exit physical to determine whether his knee will require further treatment during the offseason.

Ryan Lindgren, Fox’s defense partner, suffered a cracked rip in Game 6 of the Rangers’ second-round series against the Hurricanes. Winger Jimmy Vesey suffered a separated shoulder in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final but won’t require surgery.

Rangers winger Blake Wheeler is mulling retirement. The 37-year-old right wing signed a one-year contract last summer with the Blueshirts after the Winnipeg Jets bought out the final season of his contract. He spent the past three months rehabbing a right leg injury suffered on Feb. 15. Wheeler will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk doesn’t need memories of “The Battle of Alberta” during his years with the Calgary Flames for motivation when he faces the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. “Anytime you’re playing any opponent in the Stanley Cup Final, you do not need a team rivalry,” said Tkachuk. “Right when the puck drops, it will be very intense.”

TSN: Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expects Evander Kane will be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. Kane has been battling a sports hernia and played just over four minutes during Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators added Mike Yeo and Nolan Baumgartner to their coaching staff. Former Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will also return as an assistant coach.

SPORTSNET: The NHL’s Utah franchise reportedly had more than 34,000 people place deposits on season tickets for their inaugural campaign in 2024-25. Almost 92 percent of those deposits came from non-Utah Jazz season ticket holders.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2024

by | May 26, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2024

The Stars down the Oilers to tie the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Panthers and Rangers ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, tying the series at one game apiece. Stars captain Jamie Benn opened the scoring early in the first period but the Oilers’ Connor Brown tallied less than a minute later. Mason Marchment scored the winning goal early in the third period and Esa Lindell put the game away with an empty netter.

The series shifts to Edmonton for the next two games with Game 3 on Monday, May 27 at 8:30 pm EDT.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton dominated the first period, outshooting Dallas 16-4. Thanks to goaltender Jake Oettinger, the Stars’ defense weathered the storm, limiting the Oilers to 13 shots over the next two periods. They also held the Oilers’ top offensive players without a point.

The Oilers are puzzled by the lack of penalty calls on the Stars. Their lethal powerplay had just three opportunities with the man advantage in this series thus far. When asked about it, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged it’s tougher to draw penalties in the playoffs. “The standard is the same for both teams. I’m not saying it’s unfair to us, but we would like the same standard.”

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey is listed as week-to-week after suffering an apparent shoulder injury in Game 2 on Friday. Veteran winger Blake Wheeler could replace Vesey for Game 3 on Sunday in Florida at 3 pm EDT.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York winger Kaapo Kakko was a healthy scratch in Game 2, raising questions about his role with the team going forward in this postseason and perhaps beyond. He has two points in 11 games during this postseason.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers dropped Game 2 to the Rangers but received solid performances from Gus Forsling, Ryan Lomberg, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

THE SCORE: Reports indicate the Columbus Blue Jackets are poised to hire Don Waddell for their top hockey operations position. His exact title has yet to be determined.

Waddell resigned Friday as president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes.

IIHF.COM: San Jose Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta received a one-game suspension for elbowing Sweden’s Isac Lundestrom during Saturday’s game between Czechia and Sweden in the IIHF World Championships. Rutta will miss Sunday’s gold-medal game between Czechia and Switzerland.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2024

by | May 25, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2024

The Rangers tie the Eastern Conference Final at a game apiece, Don Waddell steps down as Hurricanes GM, the Blackhawks and Islanders swap 2024 first-round picks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Barclay Goodrow gave the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, tying the Eastern Conference Final at a game apiece. Vincent Trocheck opened the scoring and finished with two points and Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 shots for the win. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 28 shots. The series shifts to Florida for the next two games with Game 3 on Sunday, May 26 at 3 pm EDT.

New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A better effort from the Rangers following their flat performance in Game 1. They were more engaged and physical with improved puck movement. The Panthers expected this, making for a well-balanced game that should be a harbinger of what’s to come in this series.

Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey left the game in the second period following a hard hit to the shoulder by Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg. There was no post-game update other than he suffered an upper-body injury.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers and Dallas Stars face big decisions about two sidelined players heading into Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Saturday.

Oilers center Adam Henrique is close to returning from a lower-body injury. Stars center Roope Hintz has resumed skating after missing the last three games with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Don Waddell stepped down on Friday as president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes after six seasons. Assistant GM Eric Tulsky takes over from Waddell on an interim basis while a search is underway for a full-time replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This announcement followed reports that Waddell was permitted to speak with other teams, including the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Hurricanes are considered to be at a crossroads with nine players slated to become unrestricted free agents and six others due to become restricted free agents. This will be an interesting offseason in Carolina.

NHL.COM: The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders swapped draft picks on Friday. The Blackhawks receive a 2024 first-round pick (18th overall) and a 2024 second-rounder (50th overall) while the Islanders get a 2024 first-rounder (20th overall) and two 2024 second-round picks (#54 and #61).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal raised questions among fans of both clubs on social media.

The Athletic’s Arthur Staple and Scott Powers believe the Blackhawks saw the value of moving up two spots in the first round and four in the second.

As for the Islanders, they could package that extra second-rounder with a player they’d like to move to escape a burdensome contract like Jean-Gabriel Pageau or Anders Lee. It could also be used as draft capital to acquire a top-six forward.

WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets promoted Scott Arniel to replace the retired Rick Bowness as their new head coach. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach. 

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have brought back Manny Malhotra as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Malhotra played three seasons with the Canucks during his 16-season playing career. He was also part of their coaching staff from 2016 until joining the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach in 2020.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2023

by | Jan 5, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2023

Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild over the Lightning, the Red Wings make some roster moves, the 2023 Winter Classic ratings improve over last season’s, plus updates on Nicklas Backstrom, Max Pacioretty and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and Calen Addison had a three-point performance in a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kaprizov has 22 goals on the season as the Wild (22-13-2) move to within three points of the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division with 46 points. The Lightning (24-12-1, 49 points) remain four points back of the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning’s Brayden Point also tallied his 22nd goal of the season.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-1. Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Holtz each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (24-11-3), who hold a three-point lead over the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division with 51 points. Lucas Raymond replied for the Red Wings, who fell to 16-13-7 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri made his season debut since suffering a lower-body injury last March. Jakub Vrana cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids while goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was assigned to Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint.

No surprise that Vrana cleared waivers. With a large number of teams carrying less than $3 million in salary-cap space, there were no takers for his $5.25 million annual cap hit through 2023-24.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson turned in a 35-save shutout to upset the Dallas Stars 2-0. Mason McTavish scored and collected an assist on Adam Henrique’s goal as the Ducks sit with a record of 11-24-4. The Stars (23-11-6, 52 points) remain two points behind the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: 1.8 million viewers tuned in on Jan. 2 to watch the Boston Bruins down the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in the 2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park. That’s up 31 percent over the 2022 event.

ESPN.COM: The NHL has revamped its All-Star Game selection process to make it more inclusive for fans. The league’s hockey operations department has selected the first 32 All-Stars (one from each team), leaving the fans to vote for the rest.

THE ATHLETIC: Nickas Backstrom and Tom Wilson are close to making their season debuts for the Washington Capitals. Backstrom has been recovering from hip resurfacing in June while Wilson underwent surgery on his right knee in May.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals will have to free up cap room when Backstrom and his $9.2 million AAV come off long-term injury reserve. They could put defenseman John Carlson ($8 million) on LTIR as he’s sidelined indefinitely with a facial injury suffered on Dec. 23.

SPORTSNET: Max Pacioretty could soon make his season debut with the Carolina Hurricanes as the club activated him off LTIR. The 34-year-old winger has been sidelined since suffering a torn Achilles during offseason training.

DAILY FACEOFF: Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk reportedly suffered a fractured fibula. It’s uncertain if he suffered the injury during the Winter Classic (when he scored both goals for the Bruins) or sometime afterward.

PHILLY.COM: The Flyers activated goaltender Carter Hart from injured reserve. He’d been sidelined with a concussion since Dec. 23.

OTTAWA SUN: Cam Talbot is willing to re-sign with the Senators. The 35-year-old goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s interested in signing a contract extension but indicated there haven’t been any formal discussions yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That conversation might not happen until the end of the season. Much will depend on how the Senators end the season and if Pierre Dorion remains general manager under the club’s new ownership. It’s expected the team will have a new owner in place sometime in March.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed winger Jimmy Vesey to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension. The average annual value is $800K.