NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 30, 2024
Aftermath of the 2024 Draft, Steven Stamkos is heading to free agency, the Sabres will buy out Jeff Skinner, reaction to several notable trades at the draft including Mikhail Sergachev, Kevin Hayes and Chris Tanev, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
**UPDATE** The Carolina Hurricanes trade Jake Guentzel’s signing rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.
AFTERMATH OF THE 2024 NHL DRAFT
NHL.COM: Saturday saw the completion of the 2024 NHL Draft as the 32 teams made their selections in rounds two through seven.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can see the complete list of picks by following the above link. FloHockey’s Chris Peters breaks down the selections by teams and grades how they did at the draft table.
Among the noteworthy selections on Saturday were those projected to be potential first-overall picks entering this draft who wound up being chosen in the second round.
They included winger Igor Chernyshov of KHL club Moscow Dynamo being chosen 33rd overall by the San Jose Sharks, Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Charlie Elick selected 36th by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Medicine Hat Tigers winger Andrew Basha picked 41st by the Calgary Flames, Prince Albert Raiders winger Ryder Ritchie going 45th overall with the Minnesota Wild, and winger Nikita Artamonov of KHL club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod going to the Carolina Hurricanes and 50th overall.
One of the notable stories of the first round on Friday was Jarome Iginla’s son Tij being chosen sixth overall by the Utah Hockey Club. On Saturday, another former NHL team captain’s son took a big step toward the NHL as the Montreal Canadiens selected center Aatos Koivu of TPS Jr in Finland in the third round (70th overall). His father, Saku Koivu, played 13 seasons for the Canadiens and served as their captain from 1999-2000 to 2008-09.
SPORTSNET: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos appears headed to free agency on Monday. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and Stamkos’ agent Don Meehan independently confirmed their respective positions hadn’t changed despite two noteworthy cost-cutting trades by the Lightning during the draft.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ 16 seasons with the Lightning will end when free agency begins on Monday at noon ET barring a last-minute breakthrough. The 34-year-old winger will attract plenty of interest on the open market. He’s already been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres announced they’ve begun buying out the final three years of Jeff Skinner’s contract. They will pay two-thirds of the remaining $22 million on his contract, which will count against their salary-cap payroll for the next six years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicates it will give the Sabres $31 million in cap room for 2024-25. They could use some of it in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.
NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club has shifted from rebuilding to ramping up their roster by acquiring defensemen Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning and John Marino from the New Jersey Devils.
SPORTSNET: The Tampa Bay Lightning freed up over $11 million in salary-cap space by trading Sergachev to Utah and winger Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning got a solid return for Sergachev, acquiring defenseman JJ Moser, promising young center Conor Geekie and two draft picks. They didn’t fare as well with Jeannot. They got back a 2024 fourth-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder in a move that was a straightforward salary dump. They shipped defenseman Cal Foote, a conditional 2025 first-rounder, a 2024 second-rounder, and three picks in 2023 to the Predators for Jeannot before the 2023 NHL trade deadline.
The Sergachev trade was partly because BriseBois reacquired aging blueliner Ryan McDonagh and his full $6.75 million cap hit from the Predators.
Jeannot was not a good fit with the Lightning last season. The Kings hope he can regain his form and provides some additional grit and scoring to their lineup.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs acquired the signing rights to Chris Tanev. They have until noon ET on Monday to agree to a new contract before the 34-year-old defenseman becomes an unrestricted free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicates the Leafs could be interested in adding another pending UFA defenseman like Nikita Zadorov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Matt Roy.
STLTODAY.COM: Trading Kevin Hayes to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday freed up an additional $3.571 million, giving the Blues about $15.5 million in cap space for next season. It also means they’ll have to add another center as they’re a little thin at that position.
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford suggested clearing Hayes from their books could help the Blues sign Pavel Buchnevich to a contract extension. The 29-year-old winger is a year away from UFA eligibility.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski suggests Hayes should improve the Penguins in the faceoff circle. He could skate on the second line with Evgeny Malkin or play a down-line role at center.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Logan Thompson learned an hour before an autograph signing at Sphere in Las Vegas that the Golden Knights had traded him to the Washington Capitals. Thompson said he had reached the stage in his career where he wanted to prove himself as a No. 1 goalie but felt it wouldn’t happen with Adin Hill holding that position with the Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson could’ve blown off the autograph session but did it anyway despite the awkward timing of his trade. A classy move on his part.
The Golden Knights acquired another goaltender when they got Akira Schmid (along with forward Alexander Holtz) from the New Jersey Devils. Schmid will likely serve as their third goalie as management considers other options to find a suitable backup for Hill.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS’ Ken Wiebe reports on “X” that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated Rutger McGroarty won’t attend the club’s prospect development camp next week.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A difference in opinion between the Jets and McGroarty over his path to the NHL has the Jets listening to trade offers for the promising young forward.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The NHL won’t change the qualifying offer rules for the five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal. That includes Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If those five players don’t receive qualifying offers by 5 pm ET on June 30, they will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Utah Hockey Club signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a two-year contract extension.
NEW YORK POST: The Islanders are parting ways with assistant coach Doug Houda, who ran their defense and power play. His replacement will be named on Monday.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Former Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz is returning to the organization in an as-yet undefined role. Francouz hasn’t officially retired as a player but said in April that injuries have ended his playing career.
Does the Tampa GM know what he’s doing? Even at the time, I thought he was nuts for giving up so much for Jeannot. Then he takes on the full contract of McDonagh so he had no choice but to trade one of his top D-Man for cap savings?
I thought taking back McDonagh was odd at the time, and now it does indeed look like a big mistake.
I wonder if Brisbois is concerned about Sergachev’s leg.
Is Tampa loading up for Guentzel or are they using the money to sign Stamkos and extend Hedman?They pulled the plug awful fast on Jeannot!
Utah adding 2 top 4 defenseman was nice to see after the last years of the Arizona owner doing little.
still 28 million to spend with just Durzi and Hayton needing new impactful money deals.
not a bad top 4
Sergahev-Durzi
Valimaki-Marino
Lifelong Bolts Fan here-Tampa does not want Stamkos back…full stop. He is a one trick pony and a floater. He rarely back checks or pushes the rush, constantly fumbles passes, passes to nobody to relieve pressure and loses far more battles along the wall than he wins. Bolts won a cup without him and will improve with a solid two way replacement. Love Serge, but not a #1 defenseman getting #1 money. Both non move and moves will improve the Bolts who were fading. Great ballsy GM in my opinion.
Unkind but not factually awful; Stamkos even with 40 goals and his lethality on the PP has reached the point of diminishing returns on the ice — Off the ice? We are not in the room. Jeannot was a legit effort by a GM trying to keep a cup window open that failed; sometimes one makes mistakes and has to cuts one’s losses and we here are merciless to GM’s that ride them. Sergy is the middle of an interesting trade tree – he came to the Bolts for the troubled Drouin, and now leaves for Geekle and a functional NHL D. Lightning overall D this year quite possibly better tho McD is long in the tooth. There is no question that Sergy can make you love him on one play and tear your hair out on the next, but the Lightning probably never tapped his full value as a PP QB. The Cap space JBB now has, if there is no Stamkos signing, can return the Lightning to the kind of four line hard to play against team they were in the cup years; Kuch, Point, and Hegel anchor a decent scoring offence. So a GM in Tampa keeping the window open while a world-class goalie is still in his prime and doing what he has to do, popular or not, is what I see.
Then why did you give him No. 1 money!Talk about being a floater,did you watch Kucherov all year,when he gets back into the D zone?Hedman got in Sergachev way and development!
Draft day was, in some respects, a bit of a letdown for long-suffering Ottawa fans. It began great with the drafting at # 7 of RD Carter Yakemchuk at # 7 (who, unfortunately, will likely have to go back to Major Junior for the honing of his skating and defensive-zone skills rather than the logical AHL). But the rest of the 2-day draft was confined to picking the best of what was available, most of whom will likely never play a minute in the NHL if past drafts are any criterion.
After Staios was able to acquire goalie Ullmark from Boston for Korpisalo, Kastelic and the 25th draft pick, many among the faithful were hoping this would continue at the draft with the departures of some among Chychrun, Brannstrom, Bernard-Docker and Joseph for either NHL players, prospects and/or picks.
Now we’re hearing that RFAs like Brannstrom and Kelly may not be qualified later today, turning them into UFAs for Monday, similar questions regarding Bernard-Docker, the growing possibility that the only way they’ll be able to free up Joseph’s $2,9050,000 cap hit is to waive him and, if not taken, bury him in Belleville, the likelihood that Ullmark’s back-up will be his one-time partner in Sweden, Anton Forsberg, Hamonic, instead of being bought out, will be retained as the 7th D (to which I ask “WHY?”), and that Chychrun may not be going anywhere until later this summer – if then!
Clearly, Staios continues to be confronted with some of the less-than-brilliant moves of his predecessor Pierre Dorion.
Yeah, George, but the chatter was that this was not a deep draft past the first 25, so there was no way for the Sens to improve through the draft beyond their #7 pick.
But things are not done. Teams will go back and think about where they are post draft. There is free agency and then a long trade period (Chychrun?) so how the Sens – and all other teams – do is yet to be determined.
Besides, George, you got Ullmark so the Sens were better before the first pick was announced.
So, as expected, RFAs Brannstrom and Kelly not qualified and now can sign anywhere. Same with Boris Katchouk, picked up on waivers last season from Chicago. He too joins the UFAs.
Re Kingerski on Hayes and Pens “He could skate on the second line with Evgeny Malkin or play a down-line role at center.”
How slow do you want line 2?
Down the line at center? So that’s slow Hayes moving to :rd line Center and 35 year old Eller at $2.5 M cap hit as 4th line Center
And, only $7M left for 5 slots; and we still have Accairi and Smith; and we are no better than last year (and we missed playoffs for 2nd year in a row)
Absolute idiotic move by Dubas
Here’s your choice
2 years of slow footed (sloth-footed) Hayes (13-16-29) at $3.6 M
Or
2 years of swift footed Skinner (82 game pace of 27-24-51; 1 year removed from 82 G pace of 36-49-85) at *$4M
*what media was projecting his expected UFA signing might be
Pretty easy decision IMHO
Dubas , an idiot
I wasn’t so sure on Dubas being our GM but I think he has done a good job with what was left from Hextall and Rutherford.
#65 looked better , in my eyes, late in season…he dumped some useless players for Erik.
I don’t mind the Hayes deal…good face off guy, played every game last 2 seasons, was even for +-…. avg. 50 points….not bad. plus a free 2nd round pick..not bad either.
Dubas had a good draft, I felt he picked some bigger D and hopefully found a gem in the two forwards.
Hopefully Dubas can dump Smith today or tomorrow…find some better bottom six.
Don’t forget we are not a contender…barely a playoff bubble team
Sorry I can’t disagree with you more re Dubas
Yes improvement later in year by Karllsson
That said; Dubas overpaid; had to retain on Petry; and had to give up Legere and DeSmith; just to get Karllsson and at $10 M Cap!!!
Dubas did fairly well (at least as at now) re first 3 pics of this draft; but time (at least 3 years) will tell on that. No knowledge re late round picks???
Dubas has lost every single trade. Every one
The Guentzel deal was an absolute embarrassment
Almost every media outlet had said multiple teams willing to give up a 1st, Roster, good prospect
We got the roster player; no 1st (got a mid 2nd); and prospects that are not expected to be NHL players
Absolutely spanked by Waddell
Armstrong saw how badly Dubas loses deals; absolutely wanted nothing of the underperforming Hayes; knew Dubas was a pushover; offered out-year 2nd to punt $3.6 M of overpayment onto Pens
Pens in no way need a slow footed 3rd line Center; let alone one that costs $3.6 M in Cap for 2 more years AND that forces Pens to have $2.5 M on 4th line Center (35 year old Eller)
Pens needed to get younger, bigger, stronger; faster; grittier; better
All they did was replace Carter (basically same size) with Hayes; AT larger Cap hit; for another 2 years
The size, strength, speed, ability did not change
Literally only difference between Carter and Hayes is age; and Hayes is for 2 mote years, at higher Cap hit
One could argue that Carter is faster than sloth-footed Hayes
Lyle
As you’ve pointed out; Utah seems to be moving faster on it’s trajectory with these moves
Plenty of space; still has the valuable $7.9 M in Weber LTIR space for this year and next; that they will likely not need
Has there been any rumblings regarding trading Weber’s contract?
Nothing. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen but there’s no indication it will.
Thanks
I thought the trade for Tanevs rights was a sneaky good move.
Some may feel his upcoming contract will be too long but for that instance (if it is) that is where LTIR can come into effect, so a 6 year deal does not panic strike me as maybe it would others.
Tree will offer him front end loaded bonuses while keeping his cap hit reasonably lower on his aav.
Hopefully the talk surrounding Zadorov goes the Leafs way.
He may have balked at 5 mil per in Vancouver but imo he is worth 6 million considering his fortes and Big D men that can hit like how Wendel use to are far and few between.
I crave a bigger, meaner, “tougher” and “nastier” D core.
Trev seems like the type of gm that will cure my craving, so I dig Trevs desire to pull off that type of defensive core.
If a player is interested in free agency, I see little value in trading for the right to make the first offer to him.
Why would the player sign before hearing what other offers are? Tanev can, and should, say, thanks for the offer, I’ll consider it with others to come. A team that has paid for the right to negotiate pre free agency is hardly going to say, well, we’re withdrawing our offer then.
Habs traded for Joel Edmundson signing rights when he was a 27y/o UFA and he signed a 3 yr contract pretty quickly.
Sometimes getting in first and “showing the love” is more appealing than sitting and waiting.
Unless you have confidence other teams will show you love as well, which is the case for Tanev, Guentzel and others.
Players know if they have market value, so unless, like Domi, you want to sign with a specific team, agents will surely advise their players to consider the options.
Kent Hughes, all is forgiven. An outstanding draft for the Habs.
I was quite disappointed with the Reinbacher pick last year. They should have gone with Ryan Leonard. Last years defensive crop was average at best. Indeed, Reinbacher might not have been one of the top 5 D-men chosen this year. But winding up with Demidov, and Hage for that matter, makes it worthwhile. Reinbacher and Demidov will work out better than Leonard and whichever D-man they’d have chosen this year.
Of course luck has a lot to do with it. Last year, I’d think that Will Smith was the guy they wanted and that looked reasonable for a while. Unfortunately he wasn’t available. This year, the guy that should have been #2 dropped to them at #5.
Sometimes luck smiles on you and sometimes it craps on you.
I think the Habs won the draft to be honest.
Calgary also did well.
As did the Sharks. Isles lucky to have Eiserman drop to them
What do you get for winning the draft!? The Vice President trophy!
Howard, it will take several years before we know if the Habs made the right choice with Reinbacher over Leonard, and more than that to know how Reinbacher compares to this year’s drafted D.
I’ve been banging on about the Habs drafting a center, but the best 4 projected centers from last year’s draft and the best two from this year’s draft we’re taken before the Habs could choose one. Mind, it sounds like the Habs had Demidov as their first choice this year so they may have passed on Lindstrom.
And we are yet to know if drafting Reinbacher allows the Habs to give up a D in a trade that they otherwise would not.
Draft choices need to be considered in a much broader context, and almost always retrospectively.
And as you so correctly note, this draft looks wonderful, at this point.
Yes LJ, it’ll take at least 5 years before we can see how it turns out. But I’m happy with the way it went. The vibe around Habs World seems quite positive now. As Marc Dumont tweeted yesterday, the Habs could draft a day old ham sandwich in the 5th round and the fans would cheer.
According to article minutes ago Lightning and Guentzel agreed to contract.