NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 24, 2024
The latest on the Oilers and Panthers on the eve of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, prospect Matvei Michkov could leave the KHL to join the Flyers, the Leafs hire Marc Savard as an assistant coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
STANLEY CUP NOTEBOOK
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins felt “under the weather” and missed practice on Sunday. However, he’s expected to be in the lineup for the seventh and deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday at 8 pm EDT in Florida.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nugent-Hopkins is the longest-serving member of the Oilers roster. The first-overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, he’s spent his entire 13-season career in Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images).
Nugent-Hopkins has been through a lot during that time, including part of the “decade of darkness” that befell the franchise from 2006-07 to 2015-16. He’s not missing the most important game of his career.
Oilers winger Corey Perry isn’t giving any thought to retirement. The 39-year-old dismissed the suggestion that Game 7 could be his last as an NHL player. “I’ve got lots more in me: five more years,” he replied.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was evident this season that Perry’s performance is in decline. Still, I wouldn’t bet against someone signing him to a low-cost one-year contract. He’s been in four of the last five Stanley Cup Finals with the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Oilers. That experience could still make him useful to a contender.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Aaron Ekblad missed practice on Sunday but are expected to be in the lineup for Game 7. Panthers coach Paul Maurice explained that Bobrovsky’s not skating was part of his normal routine during the regular season and playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky was outstanding during the first three games of this series but struggled over the last three. The extra day of rest could help him reset and regain his form. The Panthers need him at his best in Game 7.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Maurice believes his players must put the last three games behind them and embrace the challenge of Game 7. “I’m not concerned about it at all,” he said, saying his players must feel positive and embrace the challenge of this critical game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The pressure of this series has shifted to the Panthers after blowing a 3-0 lead. Nevertheless, it’ll be a significant achievement if they can rise to the occasion and hold off the Oilers in Game 7.
IN OTHER NEWS…
DAILY FACEOFF: Flyers top prospect Matvei Michkov is leaving KHL club SKA St. Petersburg to join the Flyers. Reports indicate the two clubs are close to an agreement to release the 19-year-old winger from his KHL contract which runs through 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov is a highly-touted scoring winger who could boost the Flyers offense if he makes their roster next season. It’s believed the KHL will release him from his contract for compassionate reasons related to the death of his father last year. He will then sign a three-year entry-level contract with Philadelphia.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired Marc Savard as an assistant coach in charge of the power play. He held a similar role with the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed depth defenseman Ian Mitchell to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K.
DAILY FACEOFF: Derick Brassard announced his retirement on Sunday.
The 36-year-old forward spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.
Brassard last played in the NHL in 2022-23. He finishes his career with 215 goals and 330 assists for 545 points in 1,013 regular-season games, and 68 points in 118 playoff games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicated Brassard missed this season due to a lower-body injury and is still undergoing physiotherapy. Here’s hoping he makes a full recovery and enjoys a healthy retirement.
Here we go game 7!
The last game 7 in the cup finals didn’t go the way i was wanting.
Jordan Binnington wasn’t great in the series but he was in 4 games. Game 7 Boston came out flying and Binnington stopped everything! Then the Blues got a soft goal. Turn out of the lights the game is over.
It was pointed out to me that McDavid turned up the heat after the scrum with Bennet taking a couple of pot shots. Best to not engage McDavid if that’s the case.
I expect a low scoring game, with very few penalties being called.
Kind of cheering for Edmonton. Or i will just enjoy the game.
Have to agree, Caper. Seems the series changed when both Bennett and Tkachuk jumped McDavid from behind and punched him. The refs called both Panthers for a 5v3 Oiler pp. Oil scored the first ppg of the series. Florida backed off the cheap shots afterward & were completely off their game
Oilers win. McDavid conn. Oddly reminiscent of Messi losing to Saudis and expected to be out and then miraculous win WC on PKs. Or maybe it’s just DraftKings officially in sports.
I’m feeling a little discombobulated, I guess? I felt like it was Florida all the way but now that Edmonton battled all the way back, it would be a shame if they didn’t do it! A little anticlimatic if Florida wins. I’m going to try and enjoy the game and not root for either team. I think it will be much closer, too? Like 2-1 or 3-2 in OT? Sticking with Florida but not sure they are capable anymore and Oilers deserve it!!!
Nope. I don’t see it as being a close game at all. As I posted yesterday – 6-2 Edmonton (including possible empty-netters).
Where the Oilers are concerned, they are riding a high after crawling their way back from being obliterated, and everyone pronouncing them dead, and there is absolutely NO pressure on them. Skinner is now as much in the heads of the Panthers as was Brobovsky in Edmonton’s head the first 3 games.
Where the Panthers are concerned, none among them have experienced being THAT close to ending it, only to see their lead relentlessly whittled away, and their goalie looking shaky at key moments. ALL the pressure is on them.
Again, as I posted before, they will likely spend the bulk of the first part of period 1 focusing on not giving up the first goal rather than playing their normal “game.”
It could be 2-0 Edmonton at the end of the 1st.
Hoping you’re right George, I am not even remotely that confident. Maybe I’m just too close to it and care more if they win or not.
Only 1 Oiler who woke up this AM with the opportunity to win the cup tonight, has been there before. Perry. How has that been working out for the Panthers?
Everybody will be nervous, excited, and everything else.
Hoping that looking around the room and seeing that the best player in the world is on your side helps calm them down.
What’s going on in Bob’s head? Can he relax and find it?
First period will be huge.
Hope you’re right, George!
Ray, what’s going on in Skinner head? Can’t let in the first one or the pressure builds.
I give momentum to the Panthers starting out at home. Skinner will have to make some early big saves.
Some say pressure on all Florida, will big the biggest collapse in Hockey history.
Oilers nothing to lose they said they were down 3 games to none.
For Florida and Edmonton it’s a one game winner take all. I don’t think any player i concern about where they were. Their mindset and focus should be what can i do to help my team win.
Ya Caper, what’s going on in everyone’s head? I can’t imagine following the swing in this series.
I think Florida will be in go for it mode, and agree they will come out flying. Oil will need to withstand the early storm.
Hopefully they come out too aggressive and the Oil can counterpunch and get one off the rush following a turnover. They can be deadly in that scenario.
Oil have been great, most games since November, of not giving up too many 5 alarm chances and holding the fort.
We may find out if they can do it when the lights are shining the brightest, and they are under fire.
Skinner seems to be a in a good place mentally, or at least good at presenting that outwards.
Ray. one guy who has impressed with his play back of the blue line is the much-maligned Darnel Nurse. For the most part he’s been steady as a rock, chipping in, in 23 grueling playoff games, with 1g 4a 5 pts and a solid +5.
Ya, George, much of the criticism, was unfair. Nurse didn’t suddenly forget how to play. He deserved some, don’t get me wrong, but plenty of it was bad luck, plus Ceci struggled against high end competition on the same team night after night. He got attacked. As did Desharnais, as the speed can be a challenge for him at times.
Young Broberg got put on Nurse’s side, and it’s worked, as he has a partner who can skate with anyone, and played tough minutes in Bakersfield. So kudos to Knoblauck for having the nuts to throw the young guy out there against tough opposition, and to Holland to not bending to the complaints and keeping the kid in the AHL playing those tough minutes and learning. And of course to Nurse, who has helped make it work.
Hopefully the young fella, can keep it together tonight. Maybe he’s young enough where it won’t get to him too much? That can happen some times.
Compassionate reasons????come on. This is Russia. Somebody paid a bribe.
Great historic game coming up tonight fellows. Either we witness a team winning their first ever cup or a team performing the reverse sweep which hasn’t been done since 1942.
Also this Oilers team is already one for the record books. A few individual records which are deserving and well earned. RNH is probably the most underrated player in the series and would be the guy I would pass the cup to first if I was McD…if they are lucky enough to win it.
Can’t help but wonder if what we are essentially seeing is a regression to the mean…Oilers weren’t as bad as the first three games went and the Panthers aren’t as good as these playoff has shown us on both sides of the puck.
Should be an epic game….l’m with George here on thinking it will be a high scoring affair but have no clue who will win.
What is the general consensus of who will win tonight? Oilers, Panthers or TBD?
I woke up nice and calm. Got dressed and put on my Oilers jersey nice and calm. Now I’m at work reading all the comments, I feel like when you are waiting to hear if you got that promotion you’ve been waiting weeks for that will be coming at the end of the day. LOL
It’s going to be a long day.
Lets go Oilers!!!
Tonight game
Looking forward to the game tonight at 6.pm our daughter & husband are coming over to watch with us.
Young Stu Skinner is on a Roll in Goal❗️
he has only let in 5 goals in 3 game’s, the Oil have Scored 18 in 3 games,
if Connor gets that Possessed Look he had in
game 5…. he will take over the game💯%
My prodiction is 5-1 or 6-2 Oiler’s
The panthers score maybe in the 1st period early, and the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period….
I think the Oil get 2 in the first & 2 or 3 in the 2nd and 1 more in the 3rd……
Not sure how long they keep Spongebob in net for…⁉️
Reason to cheer for Florida
Never won a cup
Paul Maurice never won a cup
Kyle Okposo 1051 games played never won a cup.
Reason to cheer for Edmonton:
Only once a team came back from being down 3-0
McDavid historic playoff run
Corey Perry and Evander Kane
Should be a great game hopefully sorry George but think very tight game . Oil been playing nothing to lose hockey and works great now they are the ones booking flights hotel rooms and trying to get tickets for family and friends .
Hope i am wrong but think Panthers in a tight one 3-2 . But what do i know lol . Nice to see hockey on top of the sports world tonight . Lets hope for a classic ! Go Oilers Go
Well, Swany, since I don’t have a horse in the race I can look at things without allowing “hope” and “angst” to interfere with observation, and while, over the years, I have seen some memorable comebacks – both single game and series – I have also seen leading teams wilt when they try too hard and burn themselves out with frenzied play in the early stages of period 1. Edmonton needs to keep the shooters at the perimeter and should Florida fail to score by using an opening flurry, the collars will only get tighter.
Equally, if, as I suspect, they spend that early part of the 1st simply trying to not give up the first goal, they could find themselves down heading into the 2nd.
If – as the third possibility – they come out with neither a frenzied flurry or play defensively so as not to give up the first goal, and just play their “game” as designed by the coaches, then we could well see a squeaker – maybe even OT. Hoo boy!
It is time for Leon Draisaitl to shine tonight.
True that RR.
And the 3rd line of Henrigue, Janmark and Brown can hopefully keep it going, they’ve been stellar in this series.
And of course McDavid does McDavid things.
Congratulations to the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup !!