2023-2024 NHL Hocky Season

[Kingspoint]

Chicago Blackhawks Acquire Taylor Hall

JUNE 26, 2023 AT 1:50 PM CDT | BY GAVIN LEE

The Boston Bruins needed to clear some cap space and found a willing participant in the Chicago Blackhawks. The two have agreed on a four-player trade that includes Taylor Hall. The full deal is as follows:

To Chicago: Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno (UFA)
To Boston: Ian Mitchell (RFA), Alec Regula (RFA)
The Bruins will not retain any salary in the deal.

Hall, 31, signed a four-year $24MM contract with the Bruins in 2021 but will last just two seasons before joining the sixth NHL team of his career. The deal does include a 16-team no-trade clause (that drops to 10 teams in a few days) but Chris Johnston of North Star Bets reports that Chicago was not one of the blocked destinations, meaning Boston did not need his approval. Hall’s $6MM cap hit is not a huge overpayment, as he is still a fine middle-six winger, but the Bruins found themselves in a precarious situation with just a few days before free agency opens. They are interested in bringing back trade deadline acquisition Tyler Bertuzzi, but needed to clear cap before working out any deal. It will be interesting to see if they can close the gap and keep Bertuzzi in the fold once Hall is officially off the books. After being a part of the best regular season team in history, moving to Chicago is a significant downgrade for Hall. He isn’t joining an organization completely bereft of talent, though—he may even get to play with Connor Bedard, depending on how things shake out.

There is, of course, the possibility that the Blackhawks flip the 2018 Hart Trophy winner as they continue their rebuild. Two years of Hall isn’t going to do a ton for their Stanley Cup chances, and perhaps retaining some salary could mean even more assets for the Bedard-led club a few years from now. Foligno’s inclusion is interesting, given he is a pending unrestricted free agent. Perhaps he will join the Blackhawks on a new deal to help lend some veteran leadership to the young group. The veteran forward is set to turn 36 in October but had a bounce-back season this year with 26 points in 60 games. In terms of return for the Bruins, it’s really about the cap space. Mitchell and Regula are both fringe NHLers, who may have missed their window of real potential. Perhaps the Bruins see enough in one or both of them to make them a roster regular next season, but the young defensemen may again be destined for the minor leagues.

Mitchell, 24, played 35 games for the Blackhawks this season, registering one goal and eight points. The 2017 second-round pick has just 82 NHL games under his belt to this point, and is arbitration eligible as an RFA this summer. Interestingly, he does have a connection to Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who recruited and coached Mitchell at the University of Denver for one season.
Meanwhile, Regula is still just 22 but barely has any NHL experience. He saw just four games with the Blackhawks this season and has suited up 22 times in his career, registering a single point. Selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Detroit Red Wings, he is not yet eligible for arbitration. At the very worst, the defenders could stretch out the depth chart for the Bruins, giving them valuable options to turn to in case of injury or poor performance next season.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/

[Kingspoint]

Middlemen Off The Market: This isn’t the greatest free agent crop for centers and the crop got considerably thinner over the past week with four players coming off the market. First, Montreal re-signed Sean Monahan to a one-year contract that’s worth $2MM if he meets his games played bonus, giving the veteran a chance to prove he has recovered from his injuries this past season. Then it was Buffalo’s turn as they inked long-time Sabre Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year, $2.5MM deal to keep him as a fixture in their bottom six. Erik Haula made it known that he wanted to remain with New Jersey and he got his wish, signing a three-year contract that carries a $3.15MM AAV. Then, following reports that contract talks were stalling out, Carolina and Jordan Staal were able to reach a new four-year contract, one that carries an AAV of $2.9MM and has a full no-move clause for the first three seasons.

Coyotes Make Moves: In recent years, the Coyotes have willingly taken on unwanted contracts in exchange for future assets with those players either staying on the roster or landing on injured reserve. Now, the team is changing course as they’ve parted ways with a pair of those unwanted deals, buying out defenseman Patrik Nemeth and winger Zack Kassian. The moves result in $1.833MM in dead cap for next season and $1.983MM in 2024-25. Then, Arizona opted to trade away one of their surplus selections, sending Montreal’s 2024 second-round pick to Los Angeles to acquire defenseman Sean Durzi. The 24-year-old had 38 points in his sophomore year for the Kings and could be part of the back end for the Coyotes for several years. After that, they re-upped goaltender Connor Ingram to a new three-year deal with a cap hit of $1.95MM. In 17 appearances in 2023, the 26-year-old put up a .922 SV% and if he can stay even close to that level, it could wind up being a club-friendly deal.

Johansen To Colorado: The Avalanche decided to get a head start on their center shopping as they acquired Ryan Johansen from Nashville in exchange for the rights to pending UFA forward Alex Galchenyuk. As part of the move, the Predators are retaining half of Johansen’s $8MM for the final two seasons of his contract. The 30-year-old is coming off a down season that saw him put up just 28 points in 55 games before missing the last couple of months after undergoing emergency leg surgery. However, he’s just a year removed from a 63-point campaign so Colorado is hoping that a change of scenery could give him a spark. In a move that basically amounts to acquiring him for future considerations, it’s certainly a worthwhile chance to take for them while Nashville settles for simply clearing half of his contract off their books.

Hall Of Famers: Away from the rink, the next group of Hockey Hall of Famers was announced. A total of seven people will enter the Hall next season, including builders Ken Hitchcock and Pierre Lacroix (posthumously), goaltenders Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, and Henrik Lundqvist, plus forwards Pierre Turgeon and Caroline Ouellette. Of the seven inductees, only Lundqvist was named in his first year of eligibility. Meanwhile, it’s the second Hall of Fame honor of the year for Ouellette who was also named to the IIHF Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Departures In Calgary? Last week, there was a belief that defenseman Noah Hanifin would be on the way out in Calgary. He might not be the only one. First, reports emerged that center Elias Lindholm hasn’t accepted a long-term extension offer from the Flames while fellow middleman Mikael Backlund may also be leaning toward leaving the team. Then, another report suggested that Tyler Toffoli isn’t likely to re-sign either. All four players are eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer but if they’re not willing to stick around, GM Craig Conroy could be busy in the coming days and weeks by sending those players to teams that they might be willing to ink new deals with.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/

[Kingspoint]

The 2023 NHL Draft is Wednesday.

Here is a final mock draft from NHL.com...

https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-mock-nhl-draft-bedard-fantilli-top-picks/c-344993780

Of course, Chicago won the Wembanyama, I mean Bedard, sweepstakes and with take Connor Bedard #1. Bedard is the most anticipated Rookie to be drafted sind another Connor, McDavid, back in, what...2015? McDavid will likely win his 3rd MVP at the awards ceremonies tonight.

[Kingspoint]

Montreal Canadiens Acquire Alex Newhook

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 1:15 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

Rumors had been swirling the past few days regarding the Montreal Canadiens wanting to get their hands on a young forward. They’ve done just that, making a trade with the Colorado Avalanche to acquire the rights to promising young center Alex Newhook, parting ways with their 31st and 37th overall picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, along with defenseman Gianni Fairbrother. Already a Stanley Cup champion, the St. John’s, Newfoundland-born Newhook recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in 82 regular-season games for the Avalanche in 2022-23. They’re nice totals, but Colorado was expecting (hoping?) for him to take over the second-line center spot – a job he lost weeks into the season to J.T. Compher. After recording just one assist in seven playoff games in a first-round loss against the Seattle Kraken, the Avalanche evidently felt it was time to cut ties and get two decent draft picks in a loaded 2023 class. A first-round pick of the Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft (16th overall), the 5-foot-10, 190-pound center has accumulated 27 goals and 39 assists in 159 career games. He recorded four assists in 12 playoff games during Colorado’s run to the 2022 Stanley Cup.

For Montreal, this is awfully reminiscent of last year’s Kirby Dach trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. They’re hoping to strike gold twice after Dach emerged as a legit top-six threat for the Habs in 2022-23. In order to do that, though, they’ll need to get Newhook signed to a new contract – he’s a pending restricted free agent. It shouldn’t be much of an issue with Carey Price’s $10.5MM cap hit destined for long-term injured reserve yet again in 2023-24. NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston says the two sides don’t have an extension in place yet. It did take a little more value from Montreal’s end to acquire Newhook than it did Dach, though. The late first and early second-round picks in this draft are arguably equivalent to late first-round picks in last year’s, although the 22-year-old Fairbrother is a bit of a wild card after missing the entire 2022-23 season with a knee injury. Montreal had used the 77th overall pick on him in 2019.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/colorado-avalanche

[Kingspoint]

PHR’s 2023 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 3:04 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

The 2023 offseason is in full swing with the trade market as hot as ever – and we still have four days until free agency begins. Kevin Hayes, Damon Severson, Ivan Provorov, Taylor Hall, and Ryan Johansen will all be with new teams next season, and high-end stars like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex DeBrincat, and Norris winner Erik Karlsson could all find themselves on the move in the coming days as well. On Saturday, though, the focus will turn to a crop of players that can be had for free, at least in terms of asset management. The 2023 unrestricted free agent class may be an unusually weak one, but it still boasts a mix of high-end role players looking to cash in on career seasons and skilled veterans looking for a change of scenery. There’s still time for extensions to come in, but most of the extremely prominent players available are expected to go to market. With that being said, it’s time for another edition of our yearly Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents list here at PHR. Our rankings and predictions are all voted on by our whole writing team based on a combination of talent perception and expected demand. These predictions are independent of each other – i.e. just because we predict Orlov to sign with Washington doesn’t prevent us from predicting another free agent to land there later on. While we acknowledge retirement is a strong possibility for more than a handful of players on our list, it’s not something we predict as a possibility.

Players who were bought out or left unqualified before June 27 appear on this list...

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/newsstand

[Kingspoint]

Latest On Travis Sanheim

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 1:53 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

The Philadelphia Flyers will be one of the hottest names in trade talks all offseason long, and the second domino fell earlier today with Kevin Hayes getting shipped to St. Louis. One name supposed to be included in that trade was defenseman Travis Sanheim, who remains a Flyer thanks to Blues defenseman Torey Krug’s no-trade clause eliminating all the ancillary parts of the proposed deal. It remains clear, though, that Sanheim is a highly sought-after asset – he was expected to fetch Krug and a first-round pick from St. Louis (either 25th or 29th overall) in return. Teams are still calling on him, namely the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, says The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta. Sanheim, a former first-round pick (17th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, is Philadelphia’s most competent all-around defenseman and has been for the past few seasons. His stock took a small hit in 2022-23, seeing his offense dip to 23 points in 81 games and his defensive play falter at times, and it certainly wasn’t the best timing with an eight-year, $50MM extension with trade protection set to kick in on July 1. It seems at least a few teams are attributing that to the team around him, though, and they believe the 27-year-old is still a high-end top-four defender.

Despite having many holes to fill among their forward group, the Maple Leafs seem to keep popping up in conversations surrounding marquee defenders on the trade market. While they were already linked to Erik Karlsson earlier today, acquiring Sanheim would be a more financially sensible and palatable move for their needs. Sanheim would slot behind Morgan Rielly on the team’s depth chart of left-shot defenders, likely kicking Jake McCabe over to the right side and keeping 39-year-old Mark Giordano in a bottom-pairing role. Toronto’s been reported to have their first-round pick, 28th overall, on the block for more immediate boosts to their lineup. The Winnipeg Jets are scouring the trade market for talent, looking to retool on the fly and keep their team competitive despite the impending departures (via trade or buyout) of Blake Wheeler, Connor Hellebuyck, and Pierre-Luc Dubois. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of roster room for Sanheim with the Jets, so a potential trade could involve the final season of Brenden Dillon’s contract at a $3.9MM cap hit heading to the Flyers. The 32-year-old Jets defender does not carry trade protection.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/philadelphia-flyers

[Kingspoint]

Multiple Teams Engaging In Erik Karlsson Trade Talks

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 1:08 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

An expectedly hot trade market could soon see a rather Earth-shattering trade. Newly-crowned Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks has been on the trade block for quite some time, and he’s made it known he’d like to get dealt to a contender.

Now, we have some clarity on some teams EK65 could suit up for next season. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Seattle Kraken have reportedly initiated discussions with the Sharks regarding the possibility of acquiring the star defenseman, says Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. LeBrun also indicates, though, that Karlsson has not yet provided Sharks general manager Mike Grier with a list of preferred destinations, leaving the trade negotiations as an “open canvas.” Karlsson boasts a massive $11.5MM cap hit through 2027 and has long been considered one of the most dynamic defensemen in the league. However, injuries had plagued the Swedish defenseman in recent seasons, dampening his on-ice impact. 2022-23 saw him shake off most of the rust, though, becoming the first defenseman to record 100 points in a season since Brian Leetch in 1991-92. Nevertheless, his defensive deficiencies combined with the concern for re-injury will likely involve the Sharks, and potentially a third party, retaining massive amounts of his salary.

The Maple Leafs are definitely the team who would need the most help via salary retention to get a deal done. They are slated to have around $14.75MM in cap space with defenseman Jake Muzzin headed for long-term injured reserve, but they need to fill at least five roster spots at forward and get a new contract signed for netminder Ilya Samsonov. A trade, however unlikely it may seem, could include T.J. Brodie, who’s locked in at a $5MM cap hit next season and is a UFA in 2024. Karlsson would essentially replace his spot in the lineup. Few teams would complement Karlsson’s puck-moving style as well as Carolina. This is likely a fallback option for them if they can’t reach an extension with Brett Pesce, although it’s hard to imagine two players at further ends of the defense spectrum. One would have to wonder about the necessity of acquiring Karlsson for the ’Canes, though, as a former teammate of Karlsson’s, Brent Burns, is already under contract through 2025, and they’re still working on acquiring Anthony DeAngelo from the Philadelphia Flyers (which, legally, can’t be completed for another few weeks for cap circumvention purposes).

As for the Kraken, the budding franchise has apparently wasted no time in trying to solidify themselves as a championship contender after winning their first playoff series this spring. They’ve got a bevy of talented forwards and a true four-line attack, but their biggest roster hole lies with a second-pairing right-shot defenseman behind shutdown stalwart Adam Larsson. They do have the cap room to make it work – their only notable expenditure this offseason will be re-signing blueliner Vince Dunn, which could cost them around $7MM per season. It still would leave them with about $13MM in cap space and very few other roster holes to fill, making this a very doable task for the Kraken with 35-50% salary retention.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/san-jose-sharks

[Kingspoint]

St. Louis Blues Acquire Kevin Hayes

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 11:57 AM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

The wait is over, and it’s a bit of a letdown. The long-winded trade between the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues is complete, and center Kevin Hayes will be heading to the Blues for a 2024 sixth-round pick, the teams announced. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports the Flyers, as expected, will be retaining half of Hayes’ salary for the life of his contract. For the next three seasons, both the Flyers and Blues will be on the hook for $3.57MM in cap space for Hayes.

Fans of both teams were expecting a much larger deal to come through, but with Blues defenseman Torey Krug reportedly opting not to waive his no-trade clause, the additional pieces in the trade, expected to be Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim and one of St. Louis’ late first-round picks in this week’s draft, were removed. While most would agree Hayes was overpaid on his deal, earning him more than $7MM, a 50 percent discount is an extremely appealing acquisition for the retooling Blues. He’s still a capable middle-six center, and his acquisition will alleviate Pavel Buchnevich, allowing him to return to his natural spot on the wing after shifting to center at the end of 2022-23. St. Louis will be Hayes’ fourth team in his nine-year, 634-game NHL career. He’s had consistent offensive production throughout his career, routinely scoring between 40 and 55 points (at least in full seasons), but he was given far too lofty expectations when he signed in Philadelphia.

The messaging is clear here from the Flyers’ side: a rebuild is here, and it’s massive. Opting to retain a decent chunk of change on Hayes for three seasons – with essentially no compensation – signals they don’t anticipate spending to the cap ceiling anytime soon. While moving on from Hayes doesn’t free up cap space that the Flyers need to use, it does free up some needed roster spots down the middle of the ice. Both Morgan Frost and Noah Cates are in line for more ice time after strong campaigns in 2022-23, and with Sean Couturier slated to return to play next season, Hayes could have pushed one (or both) of Cates and Frost into a bottom-six role. Hayes’ 54 points in 81 games last season would have ranked fifth on the Blues. He’ll likely slot into a third-line center spot there behind Robert Thomas and Brayden Schenn, although he could overtake Schenn on the depth chart if things go well.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/st-louis-blues

[Kingspoint]

Los Angeles Kings To Acquire, Extend Pierre-Luc Dubois

JUNE 27, 2023 AT 3:33 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

Perhaps the first true blockbuster deal of the offseason has finally materialized. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports the Los Angeles Kings are acquiring center Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets, who receive a significant return in Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round draft pick in 2024, originally belonging to the Montreal Canadiens. Per NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston, Dubois is signing an eight-year extension (technically with Winnipeg before the trade) worth $8.5MM per season. Dubois arrived in Winnipeg over two years ago in a star-for-star trade that saw Patrik Laine head to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The two players were selected third and second overall, respectively, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. It looked like a rather disappointing trade for both sides at the time – Dubois had just 20 points in 41 games down the stretch with the Jets in 2020-21 and played a decidedly middle-six role, barely averaging over 15 minutes per game.

Things took a dramatic turn for the better over the following two seasons, though. Fresh off back-to-back 60-point seasons for the first time in his career, Dubois is now entering his prime and much closer to the player everyone thought he could be. He won’t impress anyone defensively, but he’s a very high-end play driver and is a good weapon on the power play. It’s a fresh start for Dubois on the West Coast. He’s long been posturing to get himself traded to a larger market, although most had assumed until recent weeks that it would be the Montreal Canadiens. With Winnipeg looking to retool on the fly, though, the Kings’ package of NHL-ready talent was a much more appealing return.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/los-angeles-kings

[texasdave]

Things that I did not know: Alex Ovechkin has averaged more goals per season than Wayne Gretzky. He is 72 totals goals behind Gretzky, and could very likely pass him during the '24-'25 season. Ovechkin is 78 goals away from being the first, and only, member of the 900-Goal Club.

[Kingspoint]

(btw, this is not the Chicago Blackhawks' thread, as it's very unlikely that they make the playoffs in 2023-24)

Blackhawks' Ownership Expected To Purchase USHL's Chicago Steel

JULY 29, 2023 AT 8:41 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

The Chicago Blackhawks’ ownership is adding a junior hockey powerhouse to their portfolio in the USHL’s Chicago Steel, according to a report from The Athletic’s Scott Powers. The Steel are arguably the most recognizable franchise in American top-flight junior hockey, capturing the league’s regular-season title four seasons in a row and churning out high-end NHL prospects such as projected 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and Columbus Blue Jackets star center prospect Adam Fantilli in the process. It’s a major move for the Blackhawks’ parent, the Wirtz Corporation, just days after principal owner and chairman Rocky Wirtz passed away unexpectedly at the age of 70.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/chicago-blackhawks

- - - Updated - - -

Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz Passes Away

JULY 25, 2023 AT 6:36 PM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

Chicago Blackhawks chairman and principal owner Rocky Wirtz has passed away suddenly after a brief illness, according to a statement from the team. Wirtz was 70 years old. The Wirtz family has consistently left an indelible mark on the Blackhawks, for better or for worse, and Rocky was no different. Under his ownership, the team was revitalized, to say the least – his choices to get Blackhawks home games back on local television after the team selected Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in back-to-back drafts helped regenerate a dying interest in the team, and fans’ passions were soon rewarded with three Stanley Cups in a six-year span (2010, 2013, 2015). He oversaw the longest sustained period of success for Chicago in recent memory. The team reached the playoffs in nine straight seasons from 2009 to 2017 after the team went over a decade without winning a playoff series. Things were rough for Chicago in the last few seasons, however, and not just on the ice.

As Pope notes, Wirtz’s last public appearance came over a year ago when the team introduced new general manager Kyle Davidson – a press conference that came just over a month after Wirtz was criticized heavily for comments made during a town-hall discussion regarding the team’s involvement in the 2010 sexual assault scandal involving former video coach Brad Aldrich. He shut down reporters inquiring about the team’s steps forward from the incident and how to rectify the organization’s culture, telling the media it was “none of your business” while his son, Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz, was trying to answer a question from The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus. Wirtz immediately apologized for his wording, releasing a statement that read, “I want to apologize to the fans and those reporters, and I regret that my response overshadowed the great work this organization is doing to move forward.” It’s unclear what the immediate path forward is for Blackhawks ownership, but the team will surely stay in the hands of the Wirtz family as they continue a rich family legacy in the city.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/07/blackhawks-chairman-rocky-wirtz-passes-away.html

[Kingspoint]

Patrice Bergeron Announces Retirement

JULY 25, 2023 AT 9:30 AM CDT | BY ETHAN HETU

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, one of the greatest players in franchise history and arguably the greatest defensive forward of all time, announced his retirement today.

Bergeron provided a statement regarding this decision in both French and English, which can be read in full here. An excerpt from the statement reads:

Finally, to the next generation of hockey players. I had a dream at 12 years old, and through hard work and perseverance my dreams came true more than I ever could have imagined. Respect the game and your peers. Welcome adversity and simply enjoy yourself. No matter where you go from there the game will bring you so much happiness. As I step away today, I have no regrets. I have only gratitude that I lived my dream, and excitement for what is next for my family and I. I left everything out there and I’m humbled and honored it was representing this incredible city and for the Boston Bruins fans.

Bergeron turned 38 yesterday, and has been a regular in the NHL since his rookie season in 2003-04.

For the rest of the story... https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/07/patrice-bergeron-announces-retirement.html

[Kingspoint]

Pre-season games began on Saturday.

Blackhawks 1st Pre-season game will be Thursday, hosting the Blues. Probably televised by the NHL Network.

[M2]

If you haven't seen the Rempe vs. Deslauriers fight from last night, it's epic - https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1761485820102422712.

[westofyou]

If you haven't seen the Rempe vs. Deslauriers fight from last night, it's epic - https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1761485820102422712.

Yes it was

[SteelSD]

If you haven't seen the Rempe vs. Deslauriers fight from last night, it's epic - https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1761485820102422712.

That fight is how I feel having watched the Penguins all season.

[M2]

Deslauriers went up to Rempe and asked if he wanted to go, and he was all "Hell yeah!" Later, Rempe scored the game-winner by parking his huge carcass in front of the net and having a shot bounce off his shin guard. Basically, the whole game was the plot of the movie Goon.

[M2]

The Arizona Coyotes are finally, mercifully moving. They'll be playing in Salt Lake City next year - https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/arizona-coyotes-players-informed-nhl-franchise-will-be-moving-to-salt-lake-city-per-reports/. The franchise has been a disaster, only making the playoffs 4 times in the past 22 seasons.

[moewan]

The Arizona Coyotes are finally, mercifully moving. They'll be playing in Salt Lake City next year - https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/arizona-coyotes-players-informed-nhl-franchise-will-be-moving-to-salt-lake-city-per-reports/. The franchise has been a disaster, only making the playoffs 4 times in the past 22 seasons.

Well, once the negotiations on my backyard rink fell through, what else were they going to do

[westofyou]

The Arizona Coyotes are finally, mercifully moving. They'll be playing in Salt Lake City next year - https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/arizona-coyotes-players-informed-nhl-franchise-will-be-moving-to-salt-lake-city-per-reports/. The franchise has been a disaster, only making the playoffs 4 times in the past 22 seasons.

About time, and boy such a disaster too... Gretzky even coached there in hopes he could help save it. Oh well, Roadrunners was aways a better name

[KronoRed]

Hockey should never be played in the desert.

[M2]

Hockey should never be played in the desert.

Only took Gary Bettman 25 years to figure that out.

[moewan]

Hockey should never be played in the desert.

Atlanta as well, but the third time is a charm.

[M2]

Atlanta as well, but the third time is a charm.

Wait, they're not doing that again, are they?

[Revering4Blue]

Regarding NHL franchises located in warmer climates, I find the argument that virtually no such franchises should exist to be frankly - no offense intended - an exceptionally lazy take.

It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out the common denominator with successful NHL franchises in the Southwest/Southeast: Well-run organizations can succeed virtually anywhere.

While the Atlanta Flames were considerably more successful than the Thrashers, they rarely qualified for the Playoffs and were easily eliminated when they did. And of course, were on an island as the only NHL franchise in the Southeast at the time. True story: Ted Turner was offered the Flames for nothing when he purchased the Hawks and said no because - are you ready for this? - he didn’t believe Hockey had a future as a televised sport.

The Thrashers were the NHL’s equivalent of the NBA’s then Vancouver Grizzlies. They couldn’t have been more poorly-run if they tried.

As for Phoenix, it’s obvious the market was oversaturated with pro teams once the Diamonbacks entered the league. The Coyotes were, as previously mentioned, never really successful. Throw in the arena issues in Glendale, and here we are.

With all that said, the best potential non-NHL warmer climate market, imo, is Houston. Besides, Houston Aeros is/was a cool nickname.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

Barring an unprecedented 3rd period collapse, the Rangers will clinch their first Metropolitan Divisional Title in 9 years.

Welcome back to the top! If I am not mistaken, they’ll face Washington in the first round.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

And just like the that, the Rangers have captured the Presidents’ Trophy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[M2]

Regarding NHL franchises located in warmer climates, I find the argument that virtually no such franchises should exist to be frankly - no offense intended - an exceptionally lazy take.

It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out the common denominator with successful NHL franchises in the Southwest/Southeast: Well-run organizations can succeed virtually anywhere.

While the Atlanta Flames were considerably more successful than the Thrashers, they rarely qualified for the Playoffs and were easily eliminated when they did. And of course, were on an island as the only NHL franchise in the Southeast at the time. True story: Ted Turner was offered the Flames for nothing when he purchased the Hawks and said no because - are you ready for this? - he didn’t believe Hockey had a future as a televised sport.

The Thrashers were the NHL’s equivalent of the NBA’s then Vancouver Grizzlies. They couldn’t have been more poorly-run if they tried.

As for Phoenix, it’s obvious the market was oversaturated with pro teams once the Diamonbacks entered the league. The Coyotes were, as previously mentioned, never really successful. Throw in the arena issues in Glendale, and here we are.

With all that said, the best potential non-NHL warmer climate market, imo, is Houston. Besides, Houston Aeros is/was a cool nickname.

Totally agreed about Houston, and they need to use the Aeros name if they go there. There's also a lot of hockey being played in Texas. That's a city begging for an NHL team. The problem with Arizona is the team never tried to build a hockey culture in the region and, like the Atlanta teams, never gave fans a reason to care about the team. I think the lesson with the NHL is don't just parachute into an area where no one plays hockey and just expect it to work. It requires more than Bettman's check-the-media-market vision of the game. Maybe it will work (Tampa Bay), but maybe it won't. And I wouldn't go back into Atlanta without a fairly radical community outreach program. Like, if Killa Mike and Andre 3000 aren't in the ownership group, I stay away.

[Kingspoint]

Totally agreed about Houston, and they need to use the Aeros name if they go there. There's also a lot of hockey being played in Texas. That's a city begging for an NHL team. The problem with Arizona is the team never tried to build a hockey culture in the region and, like the Atlanta teams, never gave fans a reason to care about the team. I think the lesson with the NHL is don't just parachute into an area where no one plays hockey and just expect it to work. It requires more than Bettman's check-the-media-market vision of the game. Maybe it will work (Tampa Bay), but maybe it won't. And I wouldn't go back into Atlanta without a fairly radical community outreach program. Like, if Killa Mike and Andre 3000 aren't in the ownership group, I stay away.

A lot of Northern State retirees, especially from Minnesota, retire in the Phoenix area. But, I don't know if they are willing to spend their money for the price of an NHL ticket. I doubt that they do.

[Chip R]

Regarding NHL franchises located in warmer climates, I find the argument that virtually no such franchises should exist to be frankly - no offense intended - an exceptionally lazy take.

It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out the common denominator with successful NHL franchises in the Southwest/Southeast: Well-run organizations can succeed virtually anywhere.

While the Atlanta Flames were considerably more successful than the Thrashers, they rarely qualified for the Playoffs and were easily eliminated when they did. And of course, were on an island as the only NHL franchise in the Southeast at the time. True story: Ted Turner was offered the Flames for nothing when he purchased the Hawks and said no because - are you ready for this? - he didn’t believe Hockey had a future as a televised sport.

The Thrashers were the NHL’s equivalent of the NBA’s then Vancouver Grizzlies. They couldn’t have been more poorly-run if they tried.

As for Phoenix, it’s obvious the market was oversaturated with pro teams once the Diamonbacks entered the league. The Coyotes were, as previously mentioned, never really successful. Throw in the arena issues in Glendale, and here we are.

With all that said, the best potential non-NHL warmer climate market, imo, is Houston. Besides, Houston Aeros is/was a cool nickname.


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The Florida franchises have done well.

[Revering4Blue]

The Florida franchises have done well.

Nashville and Carolina as well. The latter much to the chagrin of ESPN.

They look like idiots after predicting doom for them after they left Hartford. There are tons of people there who didn’t grow up watching NASCAR and cheering for ACC teams.


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[moewan]

When the Atlanta franchise fails again, maybe they can move to Quebec, and we can finally get the Nordiques back

[Kingspoint]

With the Blackhawks having locked in the #2 pick in the NHL draft, it's pretty exciting to see what gets added to the Connor Bedard Line. Dimitrov looks like a no-brainer to make that a pretty explosive 1st line for Chicago.

[Mutaman]

Well done you Ranger Boys! Not a bad 3rd period by that Kreider fellow.

[Kingspoint]

Dallas is really, really good.

[M2]

Well done you Ranger Boys! Not a bad 3rd period by that Kreider fellow.

Take that, Hartford Whalers!

[Revering4Blue]

Well done you Ranger Boys! Not a bad 3rd period by that Kreider fellow.

Co-signed by this ‘Canes fan. The better team definitely won the series.


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[Boston Red]

America's team is out.

[M2]

Dallas is really, really good.

Their goalie was well educated.

[M2]

Co-signed by this ‘Canes fan. The better team definitely won the series.

Canes gave 'em hell. That was definitely a heavyweight matchup.

[Mutaman]

Co-signed by this ‘Canes fan. The better team definitely won the series.




Not sure about that but I agree that the team with the better goaltender won. Shesterkin was not going to allow that 4th goal.

[M2]

If the Bruins can comeback against the Panthers and the Knicks can finish off the Pacers in the NBA playoffs, then we will get simultaneous New York-Boston conference championship series. It will be INSANE. So I'm rooting for the B's tonight (currently 1-1 in the 3rd). I want two weeks of epic,

[M2]

If the Bruins can comeback against the Panthers and the Knicks can finish off the Pacers in the NBA playoffs, then we will get simultaneous New York-Boston conference championship series. It will be INSANE. So I'm rooting for the B's tonight (currently 1-1 in the 3rd). I want two weeks of epic,

Oh well, bummer. Damn the Panthers, full speed ahead.

[Boston Red]

This Avs/Stars game is epic. OT period #2 on the way.

[Kingspoint]

Their goalie was well educated.

I see no light at the end of the tunnel regarding Chicago's future goal-tending. I don't know if they currently have anyone in the system that is capable of winning playoff series in the future. Certainly not next season even if the Offense picked it up significantly. The Blackhawks need to look outside their organization for a Veteran that another team isn't willing to pay for where that team has an adequate replacement.

[Kingspoint]

This Avs/Stars game is epic. OT period #2 on the way.

Only 1 penalty for each team the entire game. When's the last time you saw that?

And, they were both 2-minute minors.

[M2]

I see no light at the end of the tunnel regarding Chicago's future goal-tending. I don't know if they currently have anyone in the system that is capable of winning playoff series in the future. Certainly not next season even if the Offense picked it up significantly. The Blackhawks need to look outside their organization for a Veteran that another team isn't willing to pay for where that team has an adequate replacement.

They've got a BU goalie sitting right there on their AHL affiliate. He's even got Olympics experience. Drew Commesso must play.

[Kingspoint]

They've got a BU goalie sitting right there on their AHL affiliate. He's even got Olympics experience. Drew Commesso must play.

Hope he gets a chance to see some game-time next season and start prepping him for the 2025-26 season.

[Mutaman]

Well done you Ranger boys !!!!

[Kingspoint]

They've got a BU goalie sitting right there on their AHL affiliate. He's even got Olympics experience. Drew Commesso must play.

Blackhawks Might Be Leaning Toward Moving On From Jaxson Stauber

MAY 25, 2024 AT 2:59 PM CDT | BY BRIAN LA ROSE

Scott Powers of The Athletic suggests (subscription link) that the Blackhawks may opt to move on from goalie Jaxson Stauber this fall. The 25-year-old held his own in six NHL appearances in 2022-23 but spent all of this year with AHL Rockford, posting a 2.85 GAA with a .902 SV% in 31 games. A pending restricted free agent, it’s possible that Chicago would look to bring in more of an experienced netminder to work alongside Drew Commesso while also giving them some insurance if Arvid Soderblom struggles again next season.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/chicago-blackhawks

[westofyou]

Cup starts tonight, go Oilers, it would be nice to see Canada get a cup and Tkachuk take a L

[Kingspoint]

Trade targets for the 2024-25 season...

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ilya-mikheyev-lands-on-trade-targets-board-as-canucks-search-for-more-cap-flexibility

1. Mitch Marner

Right Wing, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 27
Stats: 69 GP, 26 G, 59 A, 85 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $10.9 million AAV

Scoop: President Brendan Shanahan said it: “We will consider everything,” and Marner is at the center of it all. He wants to be a Maple Leaf, that much is clear, as his camp has signaled he intends to play out his deal. But it’s way less clear if the Leafs want the one player who seems to crack under the pressure of the playoffs more than others. And it’s decision time. Marner is entering the last year of his deal, so it’s either time to extend him this summer, or move him. Yes, he holds the full ‘no-move’ clause, but if Toronto signals that no extension is coming, wouldn’t it be in Marner’s best interest facilitate a move to a preferred destination to play out a contract year?


2. Martin Necas

Right Wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 25
Stats: 77 GP, 24 G, 29 A, 53 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, due $3.5 million qualifying offer

Scoop: Necas has apparently made it clear to the Canes that he’s looking for more opportunity, which is difficult to find with Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov ahead of you on the depth chart. More than half the league has made a serious inquiry to Carolina demonstrating that they really want to get their hands on Necas. Necas is due a sizable raise and that will need to be baked into the equation of a deal. Don’t sleep on the Blue Jackets with Necas’ old GM, Don Waddell, now in Columbus. Calgary, Vancouver, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Nashville are also believed to be among the teams that have closely followed the action.


4. Linus Ullmark

Goaltender, Boston Bruins
Age: 30
Stats: 40 GP, 2.58 GAA, .915 Sv%
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV

Scoop: The Bruins very nearly traded Ullmark to Los Angeles during deadline week, agreeing to a deal with the Kings that the reigning Vezina winner nixed with his ‘no-trade’ clause. GM Don Sweeney wasn’t thrilled at the time, but said last month: “You guys do a hell of a job figuring those things out, piecing them together.” Jeremy Swayman is clearly the goalie of the present and future in the Hub. And Ullmark will be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market over the next five weeks. In addition to the Kings, keep an eye on the Sens. Ullmark reminded us his ‘no-trade’ list is in place for a reason, though.


5. Patrik Laine

Right Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26
Contract: 2 years remaining, $8.7 million AAV
Stats: 18 GP, 6 G, 3 A, 19 Pts

Scoop: Laine has reportedly requested a “fresh start” outside of Columbus and new GM Don Waddell is working to accommodate that. When asked specifically about Laine last week on Frankly Speaking, Waddell said: “We want players that want to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.” As he was making the rounds shortly after taking the reins, Waddell said the question he was posing to players was whether they’d like to be part of the solution or part of the problem. Laine’s availability has been problematic, playing just 18 games in 2023-24 and entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in late January. Waddell said he recently underwent a shoulder “cleanout” operation, but it wasn’t a major procedure and he should be back to full health soon. He also called Laine a “game breaker” and that part has always been true. He’s scored at a 34-goal pace while playing in Columbus, but he is a distressed asset to move now.


12. Pavel Buchnevich

Center, St. Louis Blues
Age: 29
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5.8 million AAV
Stats: 80 GP, 27 G, 36 A, 63 Pts

Scoop: With 206 points in 216 games in St. Louis, Buchnevich might be the most quiet point-per-game producer in the league. He was a hot commodity at the trade deadline as the Blues were asking for three first-round equivalents to move him with two playoff runs remaining at a bargain rate. Here’s the thing: Buchnevich is going to be due a serious raise, in the $8+ million cap hit range. Is GM Doug Armstrong really going to pony up to pay Buchnevich on a long-term deal in St. Louis? They like Buchnevich, no doubt about that. But how long and how much are they willing to commit to him? He’s eligible to sign a new deal this summer. It’s about to get real.

[Kingspoint]

Sharks Hire Ryan Warsofsky As Head Coach

JUNE 13, 2024 AT 10:03 AM CDT | BY JOSH ERICKSON

Sharks assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky is getting a big promotion. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, he’s filling their head coaching vacancy after being passed over for the title two years ago. San Jose promptly made the hiring official via a press release. “We’re very excited to announce Ryan as the 11th head coach of the San Jose Sharks,” said general manager Mike Grier. “His track record of success at nearly every level of hockey as a head and assistant coach speaks for itself. Ryan knows our existing group well, has the respect of the players who he will be working with, and will be a great teacher for the young players who will be joining our organization.”

Grier made the call to fire former head coach David Quinn, who they tabbed for the role over Warsofsky during their last search in 2022, in April. Quinn compiled a 41-98-25 record (.326 points percentage) while overseeing some of the darkest days of a tough but needed rebuild in the Bay Area. Warsofsky, a Massachusetts native who had a collegiate career with Sacred Heart University and Curry College, landed his first professional coaching job as an assistant with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays in 2013, one year after ending his playing career.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/newsstand

[Kingspoint]

After middling results under first-time head coaches the past few seasons, expect the Blue Jackets to opt for someone with experience behind an NHL bench as they search for Pascal Vincent’s replacement. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic lists Jeff Blashill, Dean Evason, Todd McLellan and Jay Woodcroft to be a part of a long list of interview candidates.

https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1803065684047323465

[plantmanky]

After middling results under first-time head coaches the past few seasons, expect the Blue Jackets to opt for someone with experience behind an NHL bench as they search for Pascal Vincent’s replacement. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic lists Jeff Blashill, Dean Evason, Todd McLellan and Jay Woodcroft to be a part of a long list of interview candidates.

https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1803065684047323465

Will it matter? Why have the Blue Jackets never been able to put together a good franchise?

[Kingspoint]

How long will it take Connor McDavid to get his first point of the game tonight?

I'm going with 1:08 in the 1st.

[M2]

How long will it take Connor McDavid to get his first point of the game tonight?

I'm going with 1:08 in the 1st.

15:35 of the 3rd OT would be more dramatic.

[Mitri]

Go Oilers

[Kingspoint]

15:35 of the 3rd OT would be more dramatic.

That's probably going to be his 3rd point of the night.