NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 3, 2024
The 2024-25 schedule is released, reaction to Victor Hedman re-signing with the Lightning and Pavel Buchnevich re-upping with the Blues, the latest UFA signings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL RELEASES 2024-25 SCHEDULE
NHL.COM: The 2024-25 season begins in Europe on Oct. 4 when the Buffalo Sabres face off against the New Jersey Devils at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia.
The season begins in North America on Oct. 8 with a triple-header on ESPN highlighted by the Florida Panthers raising their first Stanley Cup banner ahead of their home opener against the Boston Bruins. The Utah Hockey Club will have their first home game in Salt Lake City against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Other must-see games include Macklin Celebrini’s potential NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 10 against the St. Louis Blues, the New Jersey Devils meeting the Toronto Maple Leafs as Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe faces his former club for the first time, Nashville Predators winger Steven Stamkos returning to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Oct. 28, and the NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31 between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.
LIGHTNING RE-SIGN HEDMAN, BLUES RE-UP BUCHNEVICH
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Tuesday was a bittersweet day for Victor Hedman. He signed a four-year contract extension with the Lightning with an average annual value of $8 million while dealing with the departure of friend and long-time teammate Steven Stamkos the day before.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (NHL Images).
Hedman admitted Stamkos’ signing with the Predators was “a sad, sad day” for himself and the organization. However, he’s also “super excited and proud” to sign a new contract that will likely ensure he finishes his career with the Lightning.
Asked whether he’ll accept the captaincy vacated by Stamkos’ departure, Hedman replied it was “way too early” to discuss that.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The bottom line is the Lightning felt their top defenseman was more important to retain than their scoring winger. Hedman got the same contract that Stamkos received from the Predators.
The report indicates the Lightning’s offer to Stamkos was believed to be in the $3 million AAV range. No wonder he felt disrespected and opted to hit the open market.
Speaking of the Lightning, they signed winger Cam Atkinson to a one-year, $900K contract. The 35-year-old Atkinson was bought out of the final year of his contract last week by the Philadelphia Flyers.
STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues and Pavel Buchnevich agreed to a six-year contract extension with an AAV of $8 million beginning in 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich is among the Blues’ top forwards. Nevertheless, this contract could be a risky investment over the long term. He’ll be 30 when it kicks in, and while the Blues will likely get solid value during the first three years, it could become costly over the final three years if his production begins to fade approaching his mid-thirties.
The Blues also built up their forward depth by acquiring Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars for future considerations and Mathieu Joseph and a 2025 third-rounder from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I like these additions for the Blues. They gave up nothing for two affordable players who should improve their checking-line depth. The Blues weren’t finished making additions on Tuesday, signing former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year contract.
OTHER NOTABLE CONTRACT SIGNINGS
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed center Shane Pinto to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I speculated yesterday that Pinto would get a two-year deal for around $3 million annually. The 23-year-old had no leverage and staging a holdout wouldn’t have done him or the club any good. There was speculation his agent was angling for a contract offer from a rival club. If so, he didn’t get any nibbles.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Tomas Tatar returns to the Devils on a one-year deal worth $1.8 million. The 33-year-old winger spent two seasons with the Devils from 2021 to 2023.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Victor Olofsson signed a one-year, $1.075 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old winger spent the past six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers signed former Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt to a one-year contract worth $800K.
Jack Johnson is returning to the Columbus Blue Jackets, signing a one-year deal worth $775K. The 37-year-old defenseman spent nearly seven seasons with the Jackets from 2011-12 to 2017-18.
TSN: The Seattle Kraken traded defenseman Brian Dumoulin to the Anaheim Duck for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche inked Erik Brannstrom to a one-year deal worth $900K. The 24-year-old defenseman spent the past six seasons with the Ottawa Senators.
Bruins …. What the Bruins need to do is find a taker for JOONAS KORPISALO… use his $3 million per to get a goal scorer, Bussi in Providence has nothing else to prove there he’s going to be a good one given the chance …
In regards to the NHL schedule does anyone know how many back to back games that each team has!I saw that Boston has 7!
7 seems low (for an NHL team)
I could be wrong but I though 10 or 11 seemed the norm
I was pretty sure s few years ago Pens had 14
Sr, this site shows Boston with 10 ,,, and Ottawa 14!
I haven’t check the schedule to clarify – could these be right?
https://www.reddit.com/r/OttawaSenators/comments/1dtxulq/list_of_how_many_sets_of_back_to_back_games_each/?rdt=41032
Wow
Jets with just 8 while Canes , Habs , Leafs all with at least 15
That’s not a balanced schedule
Thanks George O! This would be an interesting study of the master schedule!
Pens have 13 back to backs in 24/25
Hell, the Leafs have SIXTEEN – more than any other team … watch the bitchin’ now.
Montreal’s next highest at 15
Why is there such a discrepancy in Backto back games! Winnepeg 8, Boston 10 Toronto 16, Montreal15 ,just to name a few!
I THINK I remember reading, some years ago, that the imbalance in back-to-backs is unavoidable so, to compensate, each year the lowest and highest numbers shift around.
Looks like the Joseph brothers get to play on the same team. That has to be exciting for them.
Yep
And P-O J obviously playing on a better roster
Dubas could have had P-OJ
Instead he paid 3 times as much for the poorer (performance wise) and tiny Gryzlyk who is 5 1/2 years older than P-O J
Dubas has our team imploding by the day
8787… Happy 4th
I kind of disagree wiyj you om P o Joseph…he has had 4 years to become a regular..and he hasnt..
He only got to play with letang at the end due to injuries..no choice
He may do better in st Louis..ur right
But make no mistake Grzyluk is better you dont stay in the Bruins line up ubless you are sound defensively
Joseph got out muscled and knocked off the puck alot.
Not consistent
Youll b surprised grzlyk will be solid $2.8 is nothing
Why is there such a discrepancy in Backto back games! Winnepeg 8, Boston 10 Toronto 16, Montreal15 ,just to name a few!
Army scores big!!
The Joseph brothers and Radek Faksa and a 3rd NEXT year for $7.15 M
Compare that to our meathead GM who got very slow footed (non 200’) Hayes and diminutive duo of Lizotte and Grzylyk and a pick 3 years from now for $8.2 M
All 3 new Blues players better than there counterparts above from Pens
The 3 new Blues average 27.7 years old
The 3 new Pens average 29.8 years old
The 3 new Blues: average 6’2”, 200.5 Lbs
The 3 new Pens avg 5’11”, 188
Pens forced to have BOTH Hayes and Lizotte for 2 years
Only M. Joseph for 2 years for Blues
New Blues trio 82 game pace in 23/24-78 points
New Pens trio 82 game pace- 61 points
Army still has $8.1 M in space
Dubas has $3.5 M
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury; which of the above two GMs literally has no clue what he is doing
I disagree.
Josephs and Faksa are at best 3rd liner.
Hayes had a down year but can play anywhere.
The upside is mich great amid the risk. Blues got dept and only that.
I’d take Faksa as 3rd line Center over Hayes any day. ANY day
Hayes is Sloth slow and definitely does not play a 200’ game
M. Joseph better and bigger than Lizotte
The age, size, and upside re P-O J vs Gryzlk is substantial
3 new Blues average taller, heavier, are younger, with higher expected output, cost less; 4 toral years of term vs 5 total years of term
It’s not even close
Army did way better than Dubas on this
Remember Hayes is Carter’s replacement
They are about the same size and pretty close on the dots
Carter is stronger and uses his size; Hayes doen’t
Cost Dubas 2 more years; more money and Hayes is not good defensively
For sure Army did waaaaay better than Dubas on the comparative trios
but isnt Hayes 6’6″?
I thought so too
But it shows he’s 6’5”
Even with that size above averages for the trio show you how small the other 3 new Pens are
Faksa 2” shorter but 6 lbs heavier
Faksa faster and stronger and uses his size. Hayes doesn’t
Faksa knows what his own D zone looks like. Not so much for Hayes
Setting aside the Hayes/Faksa debate
Trio vs trio
Blues trio taller, heavier, stronger, faster; average 2 years younger; produce better; cost less in cash and Cap; have a total of 4 years combined term vs Pens at 5 years
Army won this by a landslide
Huge landslide
In the field of professional sports, expertise is widely distributed and owners, who of course want to build a high-performing team, hire people with highly specialized talents and, for sure, having infinitely more knowledge in specific areas of the sport in question than themselves. If they, and especially rabid fans, think they know more about everything than those experts in their field, they are delusional. So please save that crap for the pub fantasy leagues. It’s getting tiresome in here.
Beeston (who was the key individual who brought Dubas to Pens and for big bucks and long term) “stepped aside” last Friday and will be working elsewhere
The murmurs here are that he was asked to leave and specifically fir the performance of Pens and Dubas; and they waited to announce it until after he found a nee job
That of course is speculative only; but certainly gives ind pause for thought
We may disagree on our viewpoints George but there is no way you can defend Dubas’ last 13 months
Setting aside the Rangers trade (Smith) where at best it’s a push; Dubas has lost every trade; failed at every acquisition; ignorantly waited 4 months too long to fire Reirdon effectively costing them very realistically at least another 3 or 4 standings points (which would have had them in the playoffs) ; made the team shorter, lighter, weaker; missed out on many opportunities (need only cite the Faksa and Joseph brothers vs Hayes, Lizotte , Gryzlyk moves; and paying more for that trio than Armstrong did, and with more term than Armstrong had to give out
I’ve never claimed I’m smarter than any GM
My claim is that Dubas is doing a bang up job on the Penguins implosion
His moves in no way can sit well with their franchise player; who Dubas needs to re-up
I truly think we ALL know by now exactly how you feel about Dubas. But believe me, repeating it in here almost daily, ad nauseam, will do absolutely NOTHING to force action by Pittsburgh authorities.
@George: Thanks. Totally agree.
@8787 (Pengy 2.0 😉)
Every day the same blablabla over and over again.
Judge the moves/players after a third of the season is played. Hayes, Lizotte and Gryzlik haven’t played a game yet.
May be they play as bad as you think, May be not.
I hope things work out well for Brannstrom in Colorado. His departure from Ottawa was partly cap-related since, as an RFA with arbitration rights he would have to have been offered a $2 mil qualifying offer and, had he gone to arbitration, may well have received a bit more – perhaps $2.5 mil.
Being almost smack up against the cap, and still with Pinto to re-up, both he and Joseph ($2.9 mil) got caught up in the numbers game.
With the moves Staios was able to get Pinto on that 2 year bridge I speculated on a few days ago, but at a lower cap hit ($3.75 mil) than I thought he’d get ($4.5 mil).
That leaves Staios with $3,600,953 with which to sign or elevate 4, one of which will be big LD Tyler Kleven, whose $916,667 ELC will drop the reserve to $2,684,286 to sign/elevate 3. I don’t see all 3 coming up from Belleville – perhaps 1 – which means we’ll likely see two more UFA signings from what’s left.
Dark G/theSaint, a week or so ago we were speculating that Ottawa could see “at least 5 or 6 new faces this coming season.” Well, with the departures of the 5 Ks (Korpisalo, Kastelic, Kelly, Kubalik and Katchouk) along with Chychrun, Joseph and Brannstrom, it looks like at least 8 with, so far, the additions of Ullmark, Jensen, Perrn, Gregor and Amadio (who is more correct ly categorized as a “familiar” rather than “new” face since he’s been here before).
That’s just over a full third of a roster in Ottawa … and counting!
It will be interesting to see if the new coaching staff are able to quickly instill cohesion and effort level. Another shaky start and the tongues will start wagging. Maybe not to the level of some unnamed Pittsburgh fan (s) … but the angst will be there if they stumble out of the gate.
I honestly wonder if one more trade may be in the works… perhaps Forsberg for a cheaper backup to Ullmark?
I think Staios could find a serviceable backup for closer to a million than what Anton is making now.
I also wonder about Norris’ status… will he actually play a full season?
THAT is the $64,000 question, theSaint. At this stage one can only hope.
I recall Tarasenko requiring 3 surgeries on the same shoulder in 18 months early in his career, but he appears to have gotten past that, at least.
According to Garrioch, Norris is Ottawa this week to meet with club doctors and the word is, the shoulder looks fine to go. Will he last a full season? The same question was asked about frequently-injured Chychrun when Dorion dealt for him … and he just put in a full 82-game season. Different circumstances I know … but the hope is, the “expert” surgeon got it right this time.
If worse comes to worse, there are options in the event he goes down again (not to mention his hefty cap hit becoming open to LTIR manipulation).
Stutzle goes back to # 1 C
Pinto moves up to # 2
Greig stays at # 3
Gregor moves to # 4 (or Amadio)
We can’t forget that C is also the natural position for Giroux (who’s very good on face-offs).
But let’s just hope none of that is necessary.
One guy still available as a UFA – I think – is RW 6′ 1″ 200 lbs Jack Roslovic who, in 59gp with Columbus/NYR, potted 9g 22a 31 pts and was a +16.
Is he worth signing to provide depth on the right side?
Like I said many moons ago. Chychrun isn’t injury prone. He had a series of unfortunate not related juries and one surgery to prevent future injury. Surprise he played a full 82 games.
As for Norris. The surgeons didn’t get anything wrong the first time. Sometimes things take time and it was clearly last season Norris was comfortable out on the ice and should have been held off but he was cleared as these things are often weighed against risks and nothing is a certainty. Hindsight being what is is. He injured himself again likely dude to not being fully health, had had another surgery and much more time off to rehab i.
Time will tell but I would not be surprised to see Norris put this injury behind him this year.
Oh yeah and the Eichel thing. To this day I still wonder why Buffalo was so hesitant in allowing him to have the disc replaced. Another non surprise to m. He is healthy and playing a full season.
I see where Ottawa just dealt Sokolov to Utah for6′ 1″ 185 lb RW (shoots L) Jan Jenik, taken 65th overall in 2018 by Arizona. He turns 24 in Sept.
This gives Sokolov a chance to get into the NHL for a good look-see – something he was never going to get in Ottawa apparently. Jenik will be in Belleville for sure.
Jeff, and like I retorted many moons ago, according to Merriam-Webster
injury-prone
idiom
: frequently injured
an athlete who is injury-prone
You just described injury-prone yourself in relation to Chychrun’s past history when you said “He had a series of unfortunate not related juries ..”
Injury-prone can be a repeated injury to the same part of the body OR be completely unrelated injuries – it’s the repetition that defines it..
As for “prone” – this
prone
/prōn/
adjective
adjective: prone
“likely to or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something, typically something regrettable or unwelcome.”
Matt Murray can be described as “injury prone” … so can Chris Tanev …. and Jack Campbell … I’m sure others can come up with more who fit the bill
George this is what I am meaning to correct. As we have seen I am correct.
Chychrun not injured all season. Suddenly when trading him no one is calling him injury prone. Seemed a non issue. So now he isn’t injury prone. Can’t really have it both ways. Is he or is he not?
Look up the definition of prone. All of chychruns injuries were unrelated non led to another injury. Fairies don’t exist waving wands like you seem to believe making players get hurt.
Another word you can look up is “unlucky” which is a more apt description.
Clearly we will never agree on the definition of “injury prone.” To me, it’s simple – if you suffer frequent injuries you are injury prone.
I seem to have support in that view by a number of research sources.
https://hub.geneplanet.com/en/being-injury-prone-what-does-it-mean-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/
Iowa Prince and other Blues fans
You just got a steal of P-O J at $950,000
Literally just turned 25 (Monday). Good speed ; has been improving steadily; played many games in top 4; complemented Letang quite well
Do not in anyway wonder why we didn’t keep him
We have a complete lunatic at GM. Complete lunatic
P-O J’s replacement has poorer numbers; and is diminutive; and older; costs more
P-O J’s replacement is
5” shorter;
14 lbs lighter;
5 1/2 years older!!!!
Worse numbers (and did that while playing on a superior team; and got to play an extra 2 1/2 minutes per game more than P-O J)
Oh, and Dubas saw fit to pay that replacement very close to 3 times what P-O J got. Replacement-$2.75 M
Also , Dubas just signed 3 new players for the Pens (including P-O J’s replacement)
Their average size:
5’ 8.3 “; 175 lbs;
Their average full season pace of only: 6-12-18
Their average Cap hit of just under $2 M
Pens still have $3.5 M left in space
Please , no one here let Dubas know that the following players are still available:
Kyler Yamamoto: 5’8”, 153
Alexander Pashin 5’8”, 154
Austin Czarnik 5’9”, 168
Nick Petan 5’9”, 171
Tyler Johnson 5’8” , 176
Mason Shaw 5’9”, 178
Victor Mete 5’9”, 180
Just watch Dubas sign Yamamoto to $3 M for 3 years
As at right now
14/23 Pens are shorter than league average (6’ 1/2”)
18/23 Pens are lighter than league average (202 lbs)
11/23 are in their 30’s
5 are in their mid/late 30’s
Come next January our Commander-in-Chief will be 39-43 years older than Dubas but likely will be 3-5 times as smart as Dubas . LOL
Size queen much, Pengy8787?
8787
Grzlucyk is a prove nhl defender and was in Boston’s line up for yesrs.
Boston has a culture and defensive scheme if you cant skate move the puck and be sound defensively you dont plat..he has
P o on the oyjer hand while at times showing flashes other acez and at times in Pittsburgh he was a regular healthy scratch so he wasnt getting it done
My X timeline is blown up over Jacob Trouba and his wife!
Larry Brooks with the article in the New York times, stating Trouba wife residency is preventing Trouba from leaving New York.
The nastiness from the fans towards Trouba. Wow
Trouba is following his contract. had a no move clause and used it.
Was asked for he 15 team no trade list and submitted it.
Did he craft the 15 teams to benefit himself, of course he did. why wouldn’t he.
Trouba, not the first nor will he be the last player to get traded that effects his family.
I hope the fans of the rangers are classy enough not to harass Trouba wife, it’s unfortunate that her name is brought into a newspaper article and made to be the focal point.
Drury can still do his job but Detroit is probably on the no trade list so he’ll need another trade partner.
Hey Caper, and that is why I will never be on Twitter, or any of the other SM sites.
I don’t care or want to read what some twit who knows nothing about hockey, posts on Twitter while trying to get attention by posting the vile crap he can think of. I see no value in doing that.
Pretty sure the vast majority of them know nothing about how a NTC works, or how Drury didn’t care about what was best Goodrow when he made his decision to waive him.
While Drury was well within his rights to do that, and may also have been best for the team, we also need to understand that the rest of the players in NY and elsewhere get to make decisions too. And I would bet the majority of them took note of that decision.
So why would Trouba upend his life to help out a team that will not reciprocate.
Agree Caper
No player should be challenged on exercising the rights that he negotiated in good faith for
The flip side of course is that we shouldn’t challenge a team (GM) for exercising their rights under the CBA (and individual contracts) to make the team better
If Trouba has no desire to be a Wing; then they’ll be on his 15 team blocked list
He can still be moved to 16 other cities
Transparency here; I’m not a Trouba fan
That said; I am certainly compassionate re his family (wife and still one more year later of residency in NY)
However many players have family decision rationale behind their negotiated NTCs or partial NTCs and often forgo term and/or AAV to get that clause; but do end up getting moved (for those without a full NMC)
It is a business after all
Re those angry at Drury for waiving Goodrow to effectively “trade” him to Sharks (for no return) and calling that move underhanded or sly; it is his right to do so
Goodrow obviously not happy
But his contract allowed for this possibility
Now, what would be shallow/sly by Drury is IF (no idea on this) he didn’t at least give Goodrow the courtesy heads/up that this is what he was going to do
Drury is certainly not contractually obligated to tell Goodrow ahead of time; but I truly believe he morally should have had the balls to give Goodrow the advance warning
Again, not actually required to do so; but should have
Anybody here know if Drury did give heads up to Goodrow?
He did. Barclay balked. He made a decision based on Goodrows answer.
Ray, you’re missing out on some great entertainment! and some of these twits you speak of, are media.
I will say when i first started on twitter and the amount of trolls was like wow.
Then one day i read this beautiful and i said to myself, no way anyone has anything negative to say on this, so i clicked on the comments and the very top comment was a negative.
X has good stories and information, just don’t read the comments unless your bored or looking for a laugh.
Maybe one day Caper. Like many others, rude or stupid annoys me. I would rather not get annoyed for no reason. Combine the 2, and I’m not sure I could contain the urge to jump into the fray. Now I’m rolling in the mud with the swine, and we all know that saying.
Trouba, while a dick on the ice, seems like a standup guy off it, hence the C. Good for him IMO.
Like Captain said yesterday, the Rangers don’t need to move him, and he’s still a good player.
Wait a year.
Didn’t Drury redeem himself of being a heartless ogre to a decent guy again by not moving Trouba at his request?
I’m fairly sure the deal was, no move until the Mrs. finished school.
She deffered a year at college for reasons unknown, so she isn’t finished school until most likely next year.
Nice of Drury to honor the deal, imo.
Depends which rumor is true, if any, SOP.
First one was they asked him to waive his NMC before July 1, to move him to Detroit he said no.
If that one is true, then they were not honoring the deal. They can, but cheesy.
Brooks is now writing that both parties are trying to work it out. So is that after they tried the first move or from the get go?
If the former, all good. If the latter, pretty cheesy IMO.
Regarding Goodrow, players agree to NTC’s to have control over where they are traded. He said no to SJ, they put him on waivers and SJ claimed him. Again, they can, but pretty cheesy.
I guess all I am saying is they are allowed to make those decisions, but I also believe players pay attention to those types of things, and they get to make them too.
Not disagreeing with you at all, Ray. I tried to write it with a hint of sarcasm, but you know how that translates.
It’s a business and guys are going to start treating it a such. Every player talks and knows how everyone operates.
It will absolutely have bearing on where certain guys sign.
I have no idea how the guys in the Rags dressing room feel about Drury today as opposed to 12 weeks ago.
Business as usual because they’re all pros, but maybe guys filed it away for future reference. Idk
Well said SOP.
I fail at sarcasm on here more than most, and not big on emoji’s to communicate so I guess I will keep failing at it.
How’s the Newfie doing?
She’s such a good girl, Ray. It took me a while, but I finally have the grooming down pat. She’s a bit of work, but it’s definitely worth it.
Thanks for asking.
There are back to backs, and then……
Rangers and Isles is not the same as Panthers and Nashville; especially difficult can be the ones where the second half is on the other side of the US Canada border.
Making up a schedule has got to be a job from hell, with all the shared buildings, special days, and traditional rivalries that TV wants.
It’s tough enough that we should be looking at 25-27 man rosters, because that’s what most teams end up using; and it seems unavoidable — there is also a tendency to needing a third goalie you can trust for a few games. I worry that my team (the Lightning) has gotten older — the best of conditioning can’t beat father time on average even if there are freaks like Ovi & Crosby aroung