NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 23, 2024
The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they prepare for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Jets could trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty, and more in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTEBOOK
NEW YORK POST: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid can cement his legacy among hockey’s all-time greats if he leads his club to the Stanley Cup in Game 7 on Monday. He’s considered the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of the game’s outcome. With 42 points in this playoff run, he trails only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux for the most in one postseason.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner became the first netminder in Stanley Cup playoff history to record an assist in a game where his club faced elimination. He collected that assist on Darnell Nurse’s empty-netter in Game 6.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
The latest on the Oilers and Panthers as they prepare for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Jets could trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty, and more in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: History will be made one way or another in Game 7. The Panthers will either win their first-ever Stanley Cup or the Oilers will become only the second team to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win the Cup.
THE ATHLETIC: Sean McIndoe believes it will be the biggest collapse in Stanley Cup playoff history if the Panthers lose this series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: History will be made on Monday.
Despite the intense pressure the Panthers are feeling, they can still win after blowing a 3-0 series lead. It’ll be joy mixed with relief if they can stem the tide of momentum that’s now rolling in the Oilers favor. Their championship will still be well-deserved.
There won’t be any shame for the Oilers if they fall short. Overcoming an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final is significant.
However, an Oilers win will make this the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history. It will also be devastating for the Panthers, especially after how hard they worked to return to the Final after falling short last year.
McDavid is unquestionably the greatest player of his generation. Winning the Cup and the Conn Smythe in this series will put him in the same class as Gretzky and Lemieux.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates reported the Winnipeg Jets are likely to trade their top prospect, Rutger McGroarty.
The Jets hoped to sign McGroarty following the 2023-24 NCAA season. However, they couldn’t guarantee him NHL playing time so the 20-year-old forward is returning to the University of Michigan for 2024-25.
Ates believes there is a disconnect between how the Jets’ player development viewed and communicated its plan with McGroarty and the player’s view of his future. “He no longer believes his future is with the Jets,” writes Ates, citing a league source claiming the youngster felt his path to the NHL with another team.
WINNIPEG SUN: Scott Billeck cited a source suggesting this doesn’t look good for the Jets’ organization, pointing to how the club has handled young center Cole Perfetti and defenseman Ville Heinola.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe cite a source suggesting the Jets could regret trading McGroarty. “Winnipeg really needs to revisit its development plan”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Jets trade McGroarty it’ll be before or during the first round of the upcoming trade. They should get a solid return like a high first-round pick or another high-quality prospect. Nevertheless, this situation raises questions and criticism of the Jets’ development system.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Anthony Mantha has been informed he will not be returning with the Golden Knights. The 29-year-old winger was acquired from the Washington Capitals before the March trade deadline. He was a healthy scratch in the final four of their seven playoff games. Mantha is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Alex Turcotte to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $775K.
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators added Darby Hendrikson to their coaching staff.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks have hired Rich Clune as an assistant coach.
Sitting here sipping my Stella Blue Coffee which is delicious…..I’m going thru my Bruins wish list for adds this offseason…..with around 21 million to spend now and trading Ullmark gets them to 25 million here it goes
1…trade Ullmark for a draft pick use his $$$ plus to sign Sway
2..add C Stephenson not E Lindholm reason $$$
3…add A Mantha …..like his size and game
4….B Dillon….wanting him a Bruin for years ..keep the crease clean puck up the ice
5….D Joshua…nice add to 4th line
6…pick between Bertuzzi & Toffoli both would help the cause
If Mantha could give a consistent effort he would be a stud for any organization. Problem is that he hasn’t shown he can. I can see a team like Utah taking a chance on him but not Boston.
Here are my Pens’ wish list
1.
trade with Columbus:
Smith + Accairi + Eller ; + choice of Gruden or Boz (might have to give up both) + 3rd (‘26)
For Laine + 3rd (this year)
2.
UFA or RFA signing (or trade for) of mid/late 20’s 3rd line *Centre with grit; who is at least 6’1” and 205
Result:
Crosby Laine Rackell
Malkin Rust Bunting
?? O’Connor Poulin
That top 9 can get them in the playoffs
Dream trade:
Retain 50% on Karllson; trade to **Knights for Roy, Whitecloud , 1st
**This addition of Karllsson makes Theodore move easier, $5.2 M out for assets
Then sign Deharnais (I don’t think Oilers will be able to resign him)
Crosby Laine Rackell
Malkin Rust Bunting
Roy O’Connor Poulin
Yaeger Puustenen Puuljarvi
Bemstrom ???
Letang Petterson
Deharnais PO J
Whitecloud Graves
St Ivany Pickering
That roster younger, bigger, faster; grittier than last year and definitely makes the playoffs
AND currently Pens don’t have a 1st or 3rd this year; above trades just added a 1st and 3rd
8787
I don’t think the Pens have enough Assets…❓the Farm system is quite Bare
they are tight for cap space And draft pick to Resign All these players
DON’T be surprised if the
Edmonton Oilers Trade
LD man Daniel Nurse..❓❗️
Lots & Lots of chatter about this in Edmonton
And Toronto,
With the emergence of young Broberg and have well he is playing they say he has the 2nd paring LD spot locked down for next season that makes Nurse expandable
These teams Ducks, Hawks, Utha, are all looking for Top 4 D:men (2 or 3)
All have lots of cap space 32.M,Hawks 33.M ducks have 33.M.
Utha
Has $44.M with 3 RFA defencemen 1 is top 4 the other 2 are 5,6,7,….❓
They need a couple of Nurse types🤔
Oil would take back there 6th pick and winger Lawson Crouse or an other good winger
They do have the required assets proposed with a prudent GM
You are right they don’t have the assets in that their GM loses every deal by overpaying
Media has suggest Smith for Laine
This is Waddell v Dubas Part Deux ; and Waddell kicked the living crap out of Dubas on the Guentzel deal. He will in no way let Dubas steal Laine for Smith alone
It will be more required for sure
Thst is why I’m suggesting making an offer Wadell can’t refuse…. Basically a 4 (or 5) for 1; but Accairi, Smith; Eller must go over
Those three plus Gruden and/or Broz; and 3rd (‘26)
For Laine and a 3rd this year
Wadell rids Laine contract; saves $8.2 M cash; does a 4 (or 5 for 1)
Pens get a Guentzel replacement (much much bigger; younger; cheaper; less term) and a 3rd this year (they don’t have 1 right now) and net $750 K in Cap savings; but more importantly jettison Accairi; Smith, Eller
Pens better, younger; bigger; stronger
That move alone has them making the playoffs
I m ok with everything but no. 3! Mantha was a healthy scratch during the playoffs! And we killed JDB including myself for being so inconsistent!
Joe, it’s like we’re on the same page.
Adding Stephenson, Mantha, Dakota and Dillion doesn’t kill the bank.
Bertuzzi over Toffoli, speed matters and grit.
Joe,
That’s a Big Bruins Shopping List……⁉️😃
Winnipeg has lost their trade value with McGroarty, now that his intentions have become public. The way Briere and Jones handled Gauthier was very smart because they kept Cutter’s intentions quiet and thus were able to acquire a 2nd and Drysdale.
Not sure what a GM will offer now, knowing Winnipeg is on the ropes, but if McGroarty didn’t go public, I am confident Chevy would have benefitted with a much better return.
Kent Johnson (RFA) straight up for McGroarty. CBJ have not been real clear on how they want to use Johnson and he could probably flourish elsewhere. It appears ditto for McGroarty.
I think Johnson has a much bigger upside than McGroarty and that would be a big overpay
Berggren and a 2nd for Rutger.
Jets get an NHL ready scoring wing for their top 9, which is better than a 1st for a win-now team.
I’d be good with that!
Winnipeg will not be trading McGroarty. He’s a cornerstone piece, they need to work it out and I agree with KenWiebe they need to review their development plan.
The Jets are not in immediate contention for the cup as evidenced by their first round exit. Their best path is to start integrating the next wave of prospects into their lineup. There is lots of room on this roster for McGroarty, Perfetti and Lambert.
The first thing they need to do is move Lowry to 4th line center, give him Appleton and Gustafson. They need to be utilized as a shutdown line which is what they really do with them today.
Then use your third line to infuse youth and succession plan. Dallas had Johnston and Stankoven on third line and they will be moving into top six.
The problem with Jets is they play their checkers on third line and then convince themselves that these talented kids who are drafted to be top six players have to go to AHL because playing them on fourth line stifles them.
This could all be just a misunderstanding between McGroarty and the Jets. I think they should be patient with him. Don’t trade him now. Let him go back to school and hopefully have another strong season. Then they could sign him in the spring when he’ll be better prepared for his NHL debut. The player also has to realize that playing time is earned not given. His time will come.
I think that’s the problem Howard. These young players enter the NHL with an attitude as if they are Wayne Gretzky before they ever play in an NHL game.
It’s a different generation of prospects that other sports have seen already, and it’s now happening in the NHL.
I agree with you you on the attitude problem Vinny. But that is the only reason why the Jet might have lost a bit of trade cache for McGroarty. It might turn some teams off.
Otherwise, the Jets have lots of time to trade him, this year, or next. And it might dawn on the kid that going back to college takes a year off of his pro career, so he would pay a price for this attitude.
And he may need more education: even if he liked whatever plan a team has for him, what if he didn’t play the way the team thought he would, and sends him to the minors?
I don’t know that this should be a surprise. Most of these kids have been told for years that they are the greatest thing since Gretzky. Then throw in 17-18 year olds on countless press tours, photoshoots, and draft blogs and now every year has a generational talent. It may tend to inflate the ego a little.
Unfortunately it’s usually the people around the player that provide the bad advice. The Jets have run into this before with USNDT players. Put on a pedestal and pampered. Also first opportunity to bail out so they can pick their destination. This is very disappointing. McGroarty was such a nice kid, great attitude, he should really get another agent (family advisor) who has a more responsible view of the kids long term best interests.
Could it be that their agents,family advisers put them up to this to line their own pockets!Look at college sports and NIL money being offered!Many HS athletes parents aren t asking about education anymore,but how much money are their kids going to get! Legendary college coaches are retiring because it’s getting out of hand!
You are 100% correct Sr.
Vinny P, I don’t think the trade value for McGroarty has diminished at all. There will be multiple teams wanting to acquire him and the Jets still hold his rights for two years.
If they trade him, they shouldn’t have any problem getting back what they consider equal value.
I also think it was well known Cutter was never going to sign with Philly and they made out pretty damn good on that deal.
I completely agree with what you said about the players attitudes. Do they really expect to start their careers as a top six forward in the NHL when they haven’t proven themselves?
What is the hulking (6’5”, 235) Mantha worth on the UFA mkt
Just finished 4 x $5.7 M
This year 82 game pace of 26-23-49
Will be 30 to start next season
He’s certainly not getting $5.7 M
What IS he worth???
Term??
Mantha will get a prove it deal for one year, maybe two. At no more than half the AAV he’s been getting
A hulking bag of hockey pucks
8787
Think he gets no more than
$3.M for 2 or maybe 3 years MAX…❓❓
Did not play that great last year
I think GM’s will be watching there Cap moneys more carefully this season, 👀
NIl money could factor in but, I’m not sure hockey players get close to what football players do. AHL doesn’t really pay much either. McGroarty is physically ready for NHL. He’s also 2 seasons of college away from becoming a FA. Maybe he just doesn’t want to go to Winnipeg
Rutger has played in SE MI since 2017, he wants to be a Wing!😊
That’s the answer, Slick. If I was running an NHL club in Canada I’d be wary of drafting American kids, not Russians.
PLD, Josh Anderson and Mantha
All 3 players can dominate a game.
All 3 players could be at the top of the list for power forward.
All 3 leave you shaking your head. Trying to understand why they don’t play their top end game with more consistency.
I think of it I’m terms of dollars, how many more millions (exclude pld he got paid) did Anderson and Mantha leave on the table.
Why do I think their going to change.
I think PLD scores 30 plus goals this season.
Here I wouldn’t mind Mantha on Boston but he got scratched for 4 playoff games. If you can get up for a playoff game, how do you motivate.
Anyone want to guess what Ray Bark is wearing today?
Good luck, Ray!
If I was an Oilers fan I would bet $100 on the Panthers to win game 7 ….it would guarantee an Oilers win…..
Joe, they’re going to win anyway – going away – 6-2 my guess
GeorgeO I don’t see that score.
I’m picking a low score with Panthers winning 3-1 including an empty netter.
Doesn’t mean I want Florida to win.
On the lighter side; just seen a picture of two guys wearing Oilers sweater with the name plate “Hawk Tuah”
Earlier this week the Oiler girl fan signed a contact with playboy.
You cab now buy Hawk Tuah tshirts and hats.
Men really are simple. Doesn’t take much to get our attention and make someone famous.