NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2024

by | Aug 17, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 17, 2024

A poll indicates Red Wings fans are losing confidence in their club’s management, three Predators with the most to prove this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman examined a recent poll indicating Detroit Red Wings fans are losing confidence in the club’s front office led by general manager Steve Yzerman.

Two years ago, the Wings ranked third in The Athletic’s annual survey of front-office confidence. They dropped to 12th in 2023 and are 21st in this year’s ranking.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL Images).

Wings fans aren’t happy with how the club has built the roster and managed its salary cap. They’re also critical of the club’s recent trades and free-agent additions.

Bultman believes Wings fans aren’t jumping ship but are losing faith despite the club’s upward trend in the standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings’ long playoff drought is taking a toll on their fans’ patience. They’ve missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons. That’s the longest drought in the franchise’s history, including the “Dead Things” era of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Yzerman took over as Wings GM in April 2019, by which point the Wings missed the postseason for the third straight year. Their fans were willing to be patient with him because of his great career as their team captain and his success building up the Tampa Bay Lightning into an eventual Stanley Cup champion.

The Wings have steadily improved over the past three years, narrowly missing last year’s playoffs. Nevertheless, the fans are getting restless awaiting their club’s return to playoff contention. Coming up short last season did little to restore their trust in Yzerman’s plans.

Yzerman isn’t in danger of losing his job yet. However, questions could be raised about his future if the Wings come up short this season.

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty lists Tommy Novak, Gustav Nyquist, and Juuse Saros as the three Nashville Predators players with the most to prove this season.

Novak’s production dipped after signing his three-year, $10.5 million contract extension in March, especially during their playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.

Nyquist is coming off a career-high 75-point performance, but the 34-year-old must repeat that output, potentially with different linemates. He clicked with Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg last season but could be moved down to make way for Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault.

Saros must rebound from a sub-par performance last season. He signed an eight-year, $61 million contract extension this summer, making him the fifth-highest-paid goaltender in the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saros has the most to prove of the three given that huge contract extension. Daugherty believes the Predators will have immediate buyer’s remorse if Saros’ struggles continue.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes hired Tyler Dellow as their assistant general manager.

Dellow spent the past five seasons with the New Jersey Devils as senior vice president of hockey strategy and analytics. He previously spent two seasons (2014 to 2016) as an analytics consultant with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dellow was a lawyer in Toronto who started making his name in hockey analytics in 2006 with his blog mc79hockey.com. He was also a hockey analytics columnist with The Athletic from 2017 to 2019.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2024

by | Jul 8, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 8, 2024

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins could be close to a contract extension, plus the latest on the Leafs, Red Wings, Lightning and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi cites sources claiming Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are closing in on a contract extension. Both sides are confident a deal will be agreed upon and formalized soon.

Crosby, who turns 37 in August, remains intent on finishing his career with the Penguins, despite missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

The full details of Crosby’s new contract are unknown. Previous reports suggested it could be a three-year deal with an average annual value of $10 million. It will require a “35-plus” designation, which prevents a team from front-loading a contract that is at least two years in length or delaying a signing bonus to or after the second season.

Crosby’s current average annual value is $8.7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Confirmation of Crosby’s new contract could come this week, maybe as early as today. Some observers raised eyebrows last week when July 1 came and went with no sign of a deal. Sometimes, reaching an agreement on a new contract takes a little longer than expected.

The “35-plus” designation also means the Penguins won’t garner any cap relief if they were to buy out that new contract.

TORONTO STAR: Bruce Arthur and Dave Feschuk examine what’s gone wrong for the Maple Leafs under team president Brendan Shanahan. “The Shanaplan” invested heavily in the “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.

The Leafs’ regular season record is exemplary, boasting a .636 win percentage since 2016-17 which is the NHL’s third-highest. No team has scored more goals (2,117) and they have the third-best power play percentage (24.1) over that time.

It’s a different in the playoffs. They ranked last in goals (150) among 16 playoff teams that have played over 40 postseason games during that period. They’re 15th among those clubs in power-play percentage (16.9).

No one doubts the individual skills of the “Core Four”, it’s the combination that has been less than the sum of its parts. Their defenders point to the Leafs’ lack of a true starting goaltender or a proven No. 1 defenseman or depth scoring. The counterpoint is those four could’ve taken a little less money, leaving more to address those issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of all those signings, the Tavares deal is the one that hurt the most. Again, I’m not making Tavares the scapegoat. The Leafs pursued him and offered him $11 million annually for seven years. He didn’t force them to sign him to that contract and I don’t blame him for taking the opportunity to play for his hometown club.

The Leafs were coming off a season (2017-18) with the third-best regular-season offense (3.29 goals per game) in the league when they signed Tavares. There was no reason to pursue a scoring center when their pressing needs at the time were right-side blueline depth and reliable playoff goaltending.

That $11 million could’ve and should’ve been put toward addressing those needs. I said it before and after they signed Tavares. That contract handcuffed their efforts to bolster their depth elsewhere in the lineup.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons wonders what happened to Steve Yzerman’s golden touch that built the Tampa Bay Lightning into a Stanley Cup champion. Since becoming general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, that club has missed the playoffs five straight years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve been wondering about that as well. Granted, Yzerman took over a mess in Detroit. He faced a similar scenario when he became the Lightning’s GM but he had Hall-of-Famer Martin St. Louis and future Hall-of-Famers Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman to build around.

Nevertheless, Yzerman drafted or acquired most of the players who formed the core of the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. So far, he hasn’t had the same level of success with the Red Wings.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina believes Lightning GM Julien BriseBois’ recent difficult decisions make the Lightning his team and could define his legacy. They include letting franchise player Steven Stamkos depart as a free agent and trading defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

BriseBois inherited the roster core that went on to win Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 from former GM Steve Yzerman, even though he was Yzerman’s right-hand man. Salary-cap constraints forced him to make tough choices that will shape the direction of this team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: BriseBois and the Lightning benefited from the lack of a state tax in retaining many of those core players. Nevertheless, a flattened salary cap over the previous four seasons forced him to trade or cut loose some complementary players important to the Bolts’ success.

Encina points out that BriseBois is banking on Jake Guentzel replacing Stamkos, J.J. Moser filling Sergachev’s skates on the blueline and promising center Conor Geekie meeting expectations. If those gambles pan out, he’ll look like a genius. If not, they could eventually lead to his dismissal.

THE SCORE: Speaking of Mikhail Sergachev, he said he was in shock when he learned the Lightning had traded him to the Utah Hockey Club. However, he’s looking forward to a leadership role with an up-and-coming franchise.

“Talking to my agent, talking to some players, and talking to (Utah forward Clayton) Keller, everybody said great things about Utah and the new franchise,” said Sergachev. “It’s pretty amazing, honestly. “The whole setup, the city. I’m very excited. It’s a big opportunity for me to prove myself, be a leader. I’m looking forward to it.”

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is focusing more on the mental side of the game as part of his offseason training. He still works out five days a week, but his primary focus is mental exercise and meditation.

“The more you take care of your mental side, the better you are as a person and as a hockey player,” said Josi.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed defenseman Egor Zamula to a two-year with an AAV of $1.7 million.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2022

by | Jan 13, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2022

​Check out which clubs aren’t expected to pursue Evander Kane, plus an update on John Klingberg and the Red Wings approach to this year’s trade deadline in today’s NHL rumor mill.

LATEST ON EVANDER KANE

Former San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).

THE ATHLETIC’s Joe Smith tweeted yesterday the Tampa Bay Lightning considered signing Evander Kane but decided on Tuesday to pull out of the running. In his latest Lightning column, Smith reported general manager Julien BriseBois didn’t elaborate but said in general it’s a club’s job to conduct due diligence on a player to determine if he’s the right fit.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy reports we shouldn’t expect to sign Kane suiting up with the Bruins anytime soon. Sources say at most the club made an inquiry but Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said general manager Don Sweeney hasn’t consulted him about signing the former San Jose Sharks winger.

TORONTO SUN: Michael Traikos believes the Edmonton Oilers’ interest in Kane is a sign of GM Ken Holland’s desperation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning are riding high in the standings with very strong roster chemistry among their players. The Bruins are surging of late and also possess a solid roster core. Neither club has a dire need for a power forward, especially one with Kane’s well-documented issues.

Meanwhile, the Oilers are free-falling in the standings leaving Holland willing to consider any option that might reverse that skid. I don’t know if he’s feeling any heat from his bosses. However, the bloom is definitely off the rose for Oilers fans upset over his stewardship of their club over the past couple of seasons.

UPDATE ON KLINGBERG

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently examined whether Evander Kane or Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg would be good fits with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He rules out the former Sharks winger given the Leafs’ limited salary-cap space and the possibility of Kane disrupting a tightly-bonded dressing room.

Klingberg, on the other hand, is a more intriguing possibility. Should the Stars shop him, it might be worth the Leafs’ while if they can accrue sufficient cap space by the trade deadline. He pointed out GM Kyle Dubas’ willingness to spend big and get creative to secure a trade target.

Fox suspects the Stars asking price could be a first-round pick plus much more. He envisions the Leafs pursuing a more affordable stay-at-home option for their blueline.

Rory Boylen, meanwhile, examined what it could cost a club to acquire Klingberg and the cost of a contract extension. He suggested a first-round pick and a top prospect plus more if Klingberg’s agent can work out a contract extension with an acquiring team. Boylen pointed out the Klingberg camp seeks an eight-year extension with the Stars worth an annual average value of $7.875 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think we can rule out the Leafs as a destination for Klingberg. Cap Friendly indicates they’re already pressed for cap space and they might not be able to come up with enough accrued cap space by the trade deadline to take on his current contract. With a projected $76 million invested in 15 players for 2022-23 and Jack Campbell and Rasmus Sandin among their notable free agents, they can’t afford to sign Klingberg.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said he doesn’t see his club being aggressive in the trade market leading up to the March 21 trade deadline or in this summer’s free-agent market. His decisions regarding the trade deadline will depend on where his club sits in the standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings improved play this season has sparked some conjecture over whether Yzerman will attempt to shore up his roster at the trade deadline to help them secure a playoff spot. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility if they’re holding a postseason berth by March 21. Yzerman has also shown he’s unafraid to make bold trades, shipping Anthony Mantha to Washington at last year’s deadline and acquiring Alex Nedeljkovic last summer from Carolina.










What Next For The Detroit Red Wings?

by | Apr 30, 2021

What Next For The Detroit Red Wings?

 










Red Wings Will Be Better, But Still Far From Good

by | Jan 6, 2021

Red Wings Will Be Better, But Still Far From Good

 










NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2020

by | Dec 1, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2020

An update on Patrik Laine plus recent Blackhawks and Red Wings speculation in today’s NHL rumor mill.

SPORTSNET: Ken Wiebe prefaced his latest mailbag segment by wondering if the Winnipeg Jets could attempt to trade Patrik Laine to the Seattle Kraken if unable to sign him to a new contract. The 22-year-old winger becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.

Could Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine end up with the Seattle Kraken next summer? (NHL Images)

Wiebe believes few teams could afford to pay Laine a hefty long-term salary or the type of return the Jets would seek. The Kraken, however, enter the league next summer unencumbered by the salary-cap constraints faced by the other clubs. Laine could prove a tempting star to build around.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wiebe is merely kicking around a theory here. We don’t know what the Jets will do with Laine or what Kraken GM Ron Francis might do if the winger hit the trade block next offseason. Nevertheless, it could be something worth monitoring as next summer’s expansion draft draws near.

Wiebe goes on to suggest there could be some unresolved issues between Laine and the Jets. However, there’s no concrete evidence suggesting the two sides have reached the point of no return and a trade becomes inevitable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those issues are likely Laine’s rumored unhappiness over his role with the Jets. His agent suggested weeks ago his client might be better off playing for a club that would provide him first-line minutes.

It’s believed the Jets brought back Paul Stastny to address that issue. However, that will depend upon whether those two can rekindle their offensive chemistry from Stastny’s brief appearance with the club in 2018.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: In a recent mailbag segment, Charlie Roumeliotis was asked how the Blackhawks will address a surplus of players on their roster if everyone is healthy to start the season.

If Dylan Strome is re-signed and Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith are medically cleared to play, the Blackhawks will have 15 forwards and only 12 spots available. A healthy Brent Seabrook will also result in a crowded blue line with prospects like Ian Mitchell and Wyatt Kalynuk hoping to crack the roster.

As of now, the Blackhawks intend to let training camp sort itself out. If a player gets squeezed out, that’s when a trade could be explored.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shaw (head) and Smith (back) appear headed for LTIR. Seabrook claims he’s fully recovered from shoulder and hip surgeries and intends to play. The Hawks have the option of demoting one or two lower-salaried players if they have a fully healthy roster. If they go the trade route they could seek a draft pick or prospect.

NHL.COM: Nicholas J. Cotsonika reports Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman will continue trying to find ways to improve his roster for 2020-21. He acknowledged his club’s restrictions in trying to improve each season, pointing out it’s not as simple as swinging trades for a bunch of good players and signing a bunch of free agents.

Yzerman, however, didn’t rule out making moves before the start of the season. He’s aiming to improve in the short term while maintaining flexibility for long-term growth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yzerman proved last season he’s willing to use the trade market to bolster his rebuilding club. One of those moves netted Robby Fabbri, who become one of the few brights spots for the Wings amid an otherwise miserable season.

Cap Friendly indicates the Wings have over $9 million in cap space for 2020-21. If the right opportunity presents itself, Yzerman could use some of that cap room to perhaps add a player who could address some of their short and long-term needs.