Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

World Cup

Quotable: Hall, McDavid, Karlsson

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Various NHL players are in Toronto for the BioSteel Camp going on from August 22nd-25th, including Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin and Connor McDavid. TSN caught up with a variety of players talking about different topics.

Hall on joining New Jersey:

I’m excited for a new opportunity, a new start, a new group of guys and a new city.  I enjoyed my time in Edmonton, but I’m trying just to look forward at the situation in New Jersey. It’s going to be a lot different, I’m looking forward to maybe having a little more anonymity.

On the possibility of playing with former junior teammate Adam Henrique:

I get asked that all the time, and you know lines switch all the time in a season. There are going to be a few guys I play with most of the time. Adam is certainly a great player and we had a lot of success in junior so that’d be a lot of fun to play with him. In that top-six in Jersey there are a lot of guys that have skill and look like they’d be great linemates to play with.

Read more

NHL-Olympic Future Still Undecided, Decision To Come This Winter

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

In a new article in the Globe and Mail by Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press, he reports that the league is still weighing their options with respect to the 2018 Olympics and whether or not they will include NHL players. While the league has been a part of every games since 1998, with the upcoming launch of the World Cup and a debate over who should pay the fees associated with travel, insurance and accommodation, the league is unsure of its stance on heading to Pyeongchang.

Shutting down the league for weeks at a time has never been a positive thing for commissioner Gary Bettman:

It’s not good to shut down, the question is whether or not it’s worth it to go to the Olympics. You need to satisfy yourself that it’s worth it.

The players want to suit up for their country, but also have their careers and health to worry about.  NHLPA president Donald Fehr spoke to the Canadian Press and said as much:

Hockey is unique in terms of the Olympics because essentially, what is being asked, is shut down for close to three weeks, shut down your revenue, change your marketing approach, run the risk that the athletes are going to be injured and that’ll affect the fortunes of their teams and … and in addition, pay a lot of money. So we’ll have to see.

It seems as though neither the NHL or NHLPA is focused on the 2018 Olympics as of right now, with both putting all their effort into the upcoming World Cup in Toronto. If the tournament is a success perhaps the need to go to the Olympics is lessened even further, with the league instead putting on their own international competition.  According to Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, the sides are expected to come to a final decision in December or January.

Logan Couture To Replace Jamie Benn At World Cup

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this summer, Jamie Benn will not play for Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.  Instead, Logan Couture will join the team in his place.

Benn was originally given a six-week timeline for his injury recovery, endangering his World Cup status. Six weeks will have passed this Thursday, but that doesn’t mean that Benn is at the level necessary to play in a tournament of this nature.  He’s still expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Couture will edge out a group of talented forwards headlined by Corey Perry and Taylor Hall for Benn’s roster spot, after a spectacular playoff run with the San Jose Sharks last season. The 27-year old put up 30 points in the postseason, almost matching his output for the entire season after battling injury – one that almost cost him his leg.

As Dan Rosen of NHL.com points out, with the swap of Benn for Couture, Team Canada trades one of their few remaining wingers for another center. Brad Marchand is now the team’s only true winger, though many have played there at times during their careers.

Couture will be joining fellow Sharks Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Team Canada, while Tyler Seguin now remains as the only member from the Dallas Stars to make the team. Seguin was also presumably set to skate alongside Benn, and will now be matched with other linemates.

Koivu Named Captain For Finland At World Cup

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

As speculated this summer, reported by many this morning, and now confirmed by the NHL, the Minnesota Wild’s Mikko Koivu has been named captain of the Finnish team in next month’s World Cup of Hockey.

Koivu, who has also captained the Wild since 2009, is no stranger to a leadership role. He has captained Finland’s national team multiple times, including three IIHF World Championships. However, the stakes will be a bit higher as Koivu leads a young Finland team into the World Cup. Among his teammates up front are up-and-coming NHL stars like Aleksander Barkov, Teuvo Teravainen, Sebastian Aho, and 2016 second overall pick Patrick Laine. Although Koivu will be comforted by some veteran assistance in net between Tuukka Rask and Pekka Rinne, the majority of the weight falls on his shoulders to lead a team that is somewhat inexperienced in major international play to the podium.

The World Cup will help to prepare Koivu for the upcoming season, where again the Wild will face a tough path to playoff success. Koivu has 556 points in 763 NHL games, all with Minnesota. His best season was back when he was first named captain for the 2009-10 season, and he responded with 71 points. However, his numbers have begun to dip down into the 40’s and 50’s since he turned 30 in 2013. The Wild hope that he can return to form and help to lead their equally young squad deep into the postseason. As Finland’s captain, he may just get the boost he needs from the World Cup to start the NHL season off strong.

West Notes: Rakell, Rattie, Gaudreau

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the World Cup of Hockey fast approaching, another unsigned restricted free agent is headed to Toronto. According to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press (who we interviewed just yesterday on PHR) Rickard Rakell will join the Swedish club replacing the injured Alexander Steen.  Steen had surgery in June on his shoulder, and is still trying to be ready for the opening of the regular season.

Rakell will be rewarded for last season’s breakout that saw him score 20 goals and 43 points in his second full season. Rakell remains one of the Ducks priorities this summer, along with fellow unsigned RFA Hampus Lindholm. The team, with only $6.6MM in cap space at the moment, may not have enough to sign both to long-term deals and may have to settle for the player-friendly bridge deal.

  • Among the news at Pro Hockey Talk’s St. Louis Blues day is that Ty Rattie will be given a real chance to stick with the big club this season.  Adam Gretz writes that with the team losing veteran forwards like David Backes, Steve Ott and Troy Brouwer to free agency, there is plenty of opportunities for young players like Rattie. This is in line with a similar article on NHL.com today, that quoted GM Doug Armstrong: “I think the game is getting faster, and youth is being served. I think we were going to transfer to this (youth movement) regardless.” Rattie has suited up for just 26 NHL games, but has proven his scoring ability at the AHL level with three straight 40+ point seasons.
  • After signing Sean Monahan earlier today to a seven-year deal, the Calgary Flames will now turn their attention to Johnny Gaudreau. Craig Custance of ESPN thinks that his deal will come in very close to Monahan’s, as the team views the situation as similar to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in Chicago. The Blackhawk stars signed identical $84MM deals in July of 2014, despite Kane having more career points (493 vs. 440). Monahan also has a full season more of NHL duty under his belt than Gaudreau, despite being more than a year younger than him. If the Flames can get both on long-term deals under $7MM, they’ll be set up nicely for the future with two underpaid superstars.

PHR Interview With The AP’s Stephen Whyno

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Associated Press sports writer Stephen Whyno was kind enough to sit down with PHR and touched on a number of hockey issues. Whyno is based out of Washington, so we also touched on the Capitals and how Washington will fare this year. You can find Stephen’s work here at the AP (he does a great job with other sports as well), and give him a follow at Twitter @SWhyno.

PHR: Barring any significant injuries in the World Cup of Hockey, or in training camp, who do you have as an early favorite this season? What about sleepers?

Whyno: It’s hard not to love the Tampa Bay Lightning, especially in an era in which no NHL team ever repeats. Sorry, Penguins. If Pittsburgh bucks the trend, there’s plenty of talent there to make it happen, but a long way into June makes it tough on Pittsburgh and the San Jose Sharks. A return to the top for the Chicago Blackhawks would also not be all that surprising. Let me throw out the New Jersey Devils as an Eastern Conference sleeper because Cory Schneider is capable of carrying a team to plenty of points and there will be better all-around play with the additions of Taylor Hall and Ben Lovejoy. In the West: How about the Roy-less Avalanche? Give this bunch the right up-tempo system and let the talent of Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene and Co. take over.

PHR: The Capitals had a great season but ran into the Pittsburgh buzzsaw. What do you see out of them in 2016-17? 

Whyno: I see a Capitals team that will be far less interested in the odd Tuesday game in November or even the Saturday night in January after losing in the second round with the Presidents’ Trophy. Washington would love to be like the 2014-15 Blackhawks, cruising and then turning it on to win it all. The team is almost the same as last season so there’s no doubt it’s a contender, so as always the proving ground comes in April and May.

PHR: A Canadian team has to make the playoffs…right? 

Whyno: Yes. I mean–probably. Assuming Carey Price is healthy for most of the–if not the entire season, the Montreal Canadiens will make it back – P.K. or no P.K. Beyond that, it’s a crapshoot.

PHR: How is Las Vegas doing with their front office work? And who do you think they tap to be the bench boss? 

Whyno: George McPhee is turning Las Vegas into Captials West. There is plenty of Washington influence there with the exception of assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon, who had significant NHL interest and is very well-respected in hockey circles. Looks like it’s going well so far but a long time until Las Vegas has even one player. I’d expect someone with a connection to McPhee (Ron Wilson? Dean Evason of the Milwaukee Admirals?) to be among the top candidates as coach. But it will also be a long time until that hire is made.

Snapshots: Pavelski, Trouba, Orlov, DiPauli, Sobotka

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

According to CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz, Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is expected to be named captain of Team USA at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey. After being named San Jose’s captain last October, Pavelski led the Sharks to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Sharks managed to do this despite whatever acrimony may have been caused by having two veteran stars, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who had previously been stripped of the captaincy. The captain of the last American Olympic team, Zach Parise, is expected to play in this tournament.

Pavelski, 32, is the second oldest American player at this tournament, two months younger than Boston’s David Backes. He has scored 116 goals over the last three seasons, second only to Alex Ovechkin in that time. He also led this year’s playoffs in goal scoring with 14. Pavelski has previously represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, as well as the 2009 IIHF World Championships.

Here are some more links from around the league.

  • Being out of a contract won’t stop players from appearing at the World Cup. Kurt Overhardt, the agent for Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba confirmed today that his client will still suit up for Team North America. Mark Gandler, the agent for Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, told the Washington Post that Orlov will still play for Russia.
  • CBC’s Tim Wharnsby reports that the Penguins will sign free agent forward Thomas DiPauli from the University of Notre Dame. His agent, Peter Fish, called this report “a little premature,” adding that “nothing has been signed or agreed to yet.” DiPauli was a fourth round pick of the Capitals who, like Jimmy Vesey, went unsigned and became a free agent. DiPauli scored 14 goals, 32 points in 37 games for the Fighting Irish this year. He was, for two years, a teammate at Notre Dame of Penguins forward Bryan Rust.
  • Despite reports out of Russia to the contrary, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong says that he spoke with the agent for forward Vladimir Sobotka yesterday, and that he has been assured of Sobotka’s return to the team for this coming season. Sobotka has played the last two seasons in the KHL for Avangard Omsk, but has committed to returning to the NHL this season. Sobotka had nine goals, 33 points in 61 games for the Blues in 2014, his last season in the NHL.

 

Friedman’s Latest: Gaudreau, Avalanche Coach

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

While Elliotte Friedman is out of the country working the Rio Olympics, he’s still in touch enough with the hockey world to give us a couple of tidbits today.  In his latest column, Friedman reports that Johnny Gaudreau will be playing in the upcoming World Cup regardless of his contract situation.  He’s purchased extra insurance for himself to guard against any injury that could happen during the tournament.

Friedman also adds that Gaudreau will not negotiate on his new deal while he’s at the tournament; he’s scheduled to arrive for practices on September 4th. It still seems likely that a deal will get done, as Gaudreau has publicly stated his desire to stay in Calgary long-term.

On the Avalanche coaching vacancy Friedman adds that Jared Bednar, currently the head coach of the Cleveland Monsters (the Columbus AHL affiliate), is another candidate. After winning the Calder Cup last season, he’s received praise from around the league, and has a connection to Avalanche assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, who spent time in the Blue Jacket’s organization.

Puck And Player Tracking To Be Used At World Cup

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The World Cup of Hockey had a press conference today in Toronto, announcing several things about the upcoming tournament.  Among the most interesting, was the revelation that player and puck tracking will be in full effect. Players will have microchips sewed into their sweaters, with the puck also having a sensor embedded inside of it.

Data will be calculated on puck and player speed, trajectory, acceleration and spacing, and will be used during the live broadcasts.  For the analytics community, this is huge news, as more data is always a good thing, and the precise movement of each player with and away from the puck will lend itself to stronger analysis. The NHL will use this as a test for a possible future league-wide roll out, though no information has been given on a possible timeline.

The team jerseys at the tournament will also feature advertising for the first time, as the NHL and NHLPA came to an agreement with SAP (a German software corporation) to be the prime sponsor. Shoulder patches will be sewn into each sweater, opening the door for future advertising.  The Air Canada Centre will also have animated board advertising installed, much to the chagrin of fans.

World Cup Notes: Price, Tavares, Crosby

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Worry not, fans of Canada and the Canadiens. Carey Price is healthy and ready to go for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In an interview with Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Team Canada’s GM Doug Armstrong said Price is “100 per cent and he’s ready to go” for the start of Team Canada’s training camp, which kicks off on the Labour Day long weekend.

Price hasn’t played an NHL game since November 25, so “he’ll have to shake off some of the rust”, according to Armstrong. The Canadian GM has been in touch with Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin since naming Price to the initial roster on March 2. Armstrong said Price may be the best goaltender in the world based on his play since the Sochi Olympics.

Here are some other notes from Canada’s World Cup roster:

  • Islanders captain John Tavares spoke with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox about the challenges that come with the early end to the summer, compounded by the Islanders making their longest playoff run since he was drafted in 2009. “You lose two weeks that you normally use for training or getting settled in your home city,” said Tavares. However, he’s excited to take part, especially after being forced to miss Canada’s last two games in Sochi. There’s no one player that Tavares is looking forward to lining up beside; instead its the chance to learn from the great leaders.
  • Tavares also commented on the possibility of the NHL not attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. He enjoys the best-on-best tournaments, and despite the return of the World Cup, says that there’s “something special” about the Olympics.
  • Unlike Tavares, there’s one player in particular that Sidney Crosby is looking forward to having on his team: fellow Nova Scotian and noted pest Brad Marchand. Crosby told Fox that “having [Marchand] on your team is going to be so much more enjoyable than having to play against him.” He added that Marchand is a “really good player” who plays “right on the edge”. The two skate together in the off-season with another local kid by the name of Nathan MacKinnon, who will play on Team North America.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top