2019-20 Miscellaneous NHL/Hockey News Thread

[andyt]

Jack Kelley, the New England Whalers first coach in 1972-73 died yesterday. He was 93.

That was his only full season as head coach. He also served as GM. In 1974-75, he replaced Ron Ryan just before the playoffs. He coached the first 33 games of the 1975-76 season but was replaced as GM by Ron Ryan and coach by Don Blackburn.

Before coaching the Whalers, he coached 10 seasons at Boston University, winning back to back NCAA Championships in 1971 and 1972. He also won 6 Beanpots.

 

[jeffbear]

RIP. Cawledge hawkey legend, US Hockey Hall of Fame, WHA Hall of Fame, hockey lifer ... Jack Kelley.

 

[andyt]

Slugs trade forward Marcus Johansson to the Wild. For Eric Staal.

Staal is headed into the last year of a 2 year/$6.5 million contract, with a $3 million actual. Johansson has 1 year left on a 2 year/$9 million contract. Staal had 16 goals, 28 assists in 60 regular season games and 1 goal, 4 assists in the qualifying round. Johansson has 9 goals, 21 assists in 60 games for Buffalo.

 

[andyt]

Habs sign Joel Edmundson to a 4 year/$14 million contract. It’s a raise from the 1 year/$3.1 million contract he was awarded in arbitration with the Blues last summer.

 

[CanadaCanes]

Slugs trade forward Marcus Johansson to the Wild. For Eric Staal.

Staal is headed into the last year of a 2 year/$6.5 million contract, with a $3 million actual. Johansson has 1 year left on a 2 year/$9 million contract. Staal had 16 goals, 28 assists in 60 regular season games and 1 goal, 4 assists in the qualifying round. Johansson has 9 goals, 21 assists in 60 games for Buffalo.

What did old E. Staal do to deserve being traded to that dumpster fire in Buffalo? He had a 10 team no trade list but apparently Buffalo was not on the list. Skinny and Eric ready to spin that old Barbara Streisand classic Memories...

 

[andyt]

What did old E. Staal do to deserve being traded to that dumpster fire in Buffalo? He had a 10 team no trade list but apparently Buffalo was not on the list. Skinny and Eric ready to spin that old Barbara Streisand classic Memories...

Kevyn Adams is the GM in Buffalo. He brings in an old teammate, who has been a captain, who has a history with Skinner to maybe teach them which end is up.

 

[andyt]

Habs sign Joel Edmundson to a 4 year/$14 million contract. It’s a raise from the 1 year/$3.1 million contract he was awarded in arbitration with the Blues last summer.

LeBrun has the salary/bonus breakdown:

2020-21, $2.75M salary
2021-22, $2.5M salary plus $1M signing bonus
2022-23, $2.75M salary plus $2M SB
2023-24, $1M salary plus $2M SB

 

[andyt]

Former Stars head coach Jim Montgomery, fired on December 10 for unprofessional conduct, was hired by the Blues as an assistant.

 

[andyt]

If you subscribe to The Athletic, Wild reporter Michael Russo has a story about the Staal trade and other churnings on the roster. Supposedly, Mikko Koivu won’t be back Staal has been traded, so they have holes on the top 2 lines. And Matt Dumba Is probably available.

Wild stunner: Eric Staal dealt to Sabres, and the Matt Dumba rumors intensify

The Wild on Wednesday sent their top goal-scorer of the last four years to Buffalo, their biggest sign yet that an overhaul is in progress.

theathletic.com

 

[andyt]

The IIHF has cancelled all lower division U20 tournaments and all women’s U18 tournaments. The World Juniors are still expected to be played, per Darren Dreger, they will be played in an Edmonton hub. The tournament was originally split between Edmonton and Red Deer.

The spring tournaments, including the senior World Championship, are still scheduled to be played.

 

[jeffbear]

Kevyn Adams is the GM in Buffalo. He brings in an old teammate, who has been a captain, who has a history with Skinner to maybe teach them which end is up.

Look ... Adams did good work here. They need another center, and Johansson was terrible last year in that role. Which isn't really shocking because he's generally been terrible when playing center. The guy's a decent support line winger, but for some reason everybody wants Johansson to be a center. Just because you CAN do thing doesn't mean you SHOULD do a thing. So, he gets a professional, dependable 2nd center to play behind Eichel for a year. And unlike Johansson, Staal is paid roughly what he should be for his proven production.

Guerin? I really don't know what that boy is playin' at. One day after giving a really expensive long term deal to a very basic defenseman, he trades a pro's pro on a reasonable contract in Staal for a guy that three other franchises have already given up on. A guy with only 2-3 what you could call "good" years under his belt at age 29, and who has struggled to find a defined role and to stay healthy. Yeah ... brilliant. I mean, I really don't care about that franchise at all, but these last two moves and the rumors that he's looking to trade Dumba make me think that Billy Guerin is really swimming in the deep end with water wings. Next you'll be telling me that he's wanting to move Spurgeon as well ... oh, wait. That might actually make sense seeing as how his dipstick predecessor gave that guy a billion year long contract at age 29.

 

[jeffbear]

Former Stars head coach Jim Montgomery, fired on December 10 for unprofessional conduct, was hired by the Blues as an assistant.

No problem with that. Unlike, say, Mike Babcock, Montgomery got professional help for his problem and has openly taken responsibility for his past failings. I wouldn't hand him another head coaching gig straight away, but he's a decent coach and has something to offer to a staff.

 

[andyt]

Look ... Adams did good work here. They need another center, and Johansson was terrible last year in that role. Which isn't really shocking because he's generally been terrible when playing center. The guy's a decent support line winger, but for some reason everybody wants Johansson to be a center. Just because you CAN do thing doesn't mean you SHOULD do a thing. So, he gets a professional, dependable 2nd center to play behind Eichel for a year. And unlike Johansson, Staal is paid roughly what he should be for his proven production.

Guerin? I really don't know what that boy is playin' at. One day after giving a really expensive long term deal to a very basic defenseman, he trades a pro's pro on a reasonable contract in Staal for a guy that three other franchises have already given up on. A guy with only 2-3 what you could call "good" years under his belt at age 29, and who has struggled to find a defined role and to stay healthy. Yeah ... brilliant. I mean, I really don't care about that franchise at all, but these last two moves and the rumors that he's looking to trade Dumba make me think that Billy Guerin is really swimming in the deep end with water wings. Next you'll be telling me that he's wanting to move Spurgeon as well ... oh, wait. That might actually make sense seeing as how his dipstick predecessor gave that guy a billion year long contract at age 29.

As someone on Twitter posted last night, Guerin must have found the Staal trade in Fenton’s queue and just hit “send”. And Guerin insists that Johansson is slotted at center, where he was dreadful last year.

 

[jeffbear]

As someone on Twitter posted last night, Guerin must have found the Staal trade in Fenton’s queue and just hit “send”. And Guerin insists that Johansson is slotted at center, where he was dreadful last year.

Not just last year ... he's largely been dreadful at center his whole career. He had one halfway decent season as a full time center, but that was way back when he was with Washington, and before he had a bunch of concussions. Like I say, I don't really care if Minnesota continues to be managed poorly, but ugh ... that one was dumb.

 

[andyt]

Manny Malhotra joins the Leafs as an assistant coach, replacing Paul McFarland who rejoined Kingston in the OHL. Malholtra had spent 3 years on the staff in Vancouver, first as a development coach and then an assistant.

 

[NoMich]

Manny Malhotra is the most baseball sounding name amongst hockey players. "Now playing shortstop-op-op for the Montreal Canadiens-ens-ens, Manny Malhotra-tra-tra!"

 

[andyt]

LeBrun has some additional reporting on Staal’s trade to the Slugs. He says that the 10 team non trade list, that was updated on Tuesday just before the deadline, included mostly recent playoff teams looking for help at the deadline. In other words, he wasn’t interested in being a rental anywhere. It apparantly never occurred to him that a team like Buffalo would be interested.

He also reiterates what Jeff pointed out in Custance’s column in the other thread; Waddell’s phone is ringing off the hook on Reimer. He’s also getting calls about Mrazek. And he also thinks the Canes may be targeting Kuemper.

LeBrun: How Eric Staal was traded to Buffalo despite his no-trade list

The deal sending the veteran Wild forward to Buffalo came as a surprise to everyone, including Staal.

theathletic.com

 

[NoMich]

I don't know jack about Kuemper. Is he head and shoulders above Reimer and Mrazek? Like, this would definitely be the upgrade that the Canes are looking for?

 

[CanadaCanes]

I don't know jack about Kuemper. Is he head and shoulders above Reimer and Mrazek? Like, this would definitely be the upgrade that the Canes are looking for?

Kuemper has gotten better over time...he use to be a backup guy for the most part in Minnesota and the Wild fell in love with Dubnyk and that was kind of the end of Kuemper there...by all accounts, he had a great year in Arizona and statistically was one of the better goalies in the NHL last year.

 

[andyt]

Kuemper has gotten better over time...he use to be a backup guy for the most part in Minnesota and the Wild fell in love with Dubnyk and that was kind of the end of Kuemper there...by all accounts, he had a great year in Arizona and statistically was one of the better goalies in the NHL last year.

His career numbers are 2.46/.918 in 215 games. But his last 2 years in the desert, he’s 2.29/.926 in 84 games. He was tied for 3rd in goals against and 3rd in save % this season. He’s a big guy too, 6’5”.