Author: Dose

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Adam Foote is leaving to manage the Canucks (and it’s not going over well with some)

The coaching waltz continues.

After seeing Rick Tocchet head for Philadelphia (for $25 million over five years, according to reports), his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, are on the verge of finding Tocchet’s successor.

We’re talking about Adam Foote. John Shannon tweeted it, Darren Dreger tweeted it – and Pierre LeBrun retweeted it.

Adam Foote is the former first-round pick of the Nordiques. He spent most of his 1154-game career in Denver, but also played with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

His name was circulating a lot, as was that of Manny Malhotra. In the end, Foote got the job.

This is his first NHL head coaching job, so the Canucks didn’t choose (or weren’t in a position) to dip into the coaching bag again.

Does the man who coached a little in the WHL and was an assistant in Vancouver for three years have enough experience to take on his new challenge? Some people don’t like the fact that he doesn’t have enough experience, but… #RememberMartinStLouis

However, for many people, the guy’s experience isn’t the #1 criterion for crying.

What you need to know is that he’s Cal Foote’s father. And Cal Foote, for those who remember, is one of the five players currently implicated in the 2018 Junior Team Canada scandal.

Is this the most attractive fact about Adam Foote’s candidacy? No. But just because his son is at the center of such a story doesn’t mean it should stop his father from moving on with his life.

If Adam Foote has nothing to reproach himself for, and was the best candidate in the eyes of his bosses, he deserves a promotion.

overtime

– Interesting.

– Seen the same.

– Of note.

– He’s going to make money.

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Rick Tocchet leaves for Philadelphia

Clearly, Daniel Brière’s Flyers have a preferred type of coach.

After letting John Tortorella go towards the end of last season, the Flyers are on the verge of hiring Rick Tocchet as their next pilot.

Elliotte Friedman, Frank Seravalli and Pierre LeBrun have all tweeted on the subject.

Tocchet fits in with what the Flyers want to do. He started his career there. He’ll no doubt be well paid. The project is surely more attractive than that of the other clubs who wanted him, potentially including the Penguins and the Kraken.

So it’s really no surprise at lunchtime.

Will Matvei Michkov thrive under a coach like him? Will the club, which has regressed this year, be able to rebuild effectively with him?

We’ll see.

That leaves one less position for the Pascal Vincent’s of this world to find a job in the NHL this summer. Currently, the Canucks, Penguins and Kraken are looking for a coach.

In Vancouver, Adam Foote and Manny Malhotra are among the finalists.

Note also that the Bruins (who wanted Mike Sullivan and Rick Tocchet) and Blackhawks still have an interim coach. The Bruins are often mentioned in rumours for big names, but not the Blackhawks.

And finally, one wonders what the Mammoth, Islanders and Kings (who have a new GM) will do with their coach in place.

extension

– Speaking of the Kings, and keeping with the theme of personnel change: Ken Holland has arrived in L.A.

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Practice: Cayden Primeau to start tonight

Laval’s goaltenders are the talk of the town.

A few days ago, colleague Maxime Truman said that the Rocket’s plan was to play Jacob Fowler in Game #4 of the series against Cleveland and Cayden Primeau in the game after.

And that’s whether the Rocket wins or loses against the Monsters in game #4.

Fowler eventually played (and won) game #4, eliminating the Monsters. And now, on the heels of tonight’s game, the first in the series against Rochester and the first since the series against Cleveland, Cayden Primeau is lining up to play.

He’s working out like a starter in practice, which is a sure sign.

Let’s not forget that Pascal Vincent has to deal with two top-tier AHL goaltenders, which is a nice problem to have for a playoff-bound coach.

It’s no surprise to see the veteran goaltender, who has a lot of mileage and brought the Rocket to the playoffs, playing tonight. Fowler will have his turn a little later in the series, that’s for sure.

Remember that Jacob Fowler has won all three playoff games so far. And since he’s possibly the club’s future in front of the Canadiens’ net, we’ll want to give him some ice time too.

The opposite would be illogical.

In either case, it’s clear that this will create (healthy, at best) competition between the two Americans. After all, they know that the Rocket has options in the event of a poor performance.

It remains to be seen how the series will unfold.

overtime

– Will he quit?

– Hmm…

– Really?

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Sidney Crosby won’t be choosing his next coach, but…

A lot can happen in two short weeks.

On April 28, the Penguins fired Mike Sullivan, who had just completed his tenth season at the helm of the Pens. Sullivan still had two years left on his contract, but one imagines that he and Kyle Dubas were not on the same wavelength for the next few years..

On May 2, the Rangers announced that they had hired the same Mike Sullivan, a few days after firing Peter Laviolette…

And now, this morning (May 14), we learn from Josh Yohe(TheAthletic) that Sidney Crosby will not be involved in the Pittsburgh hiring process.

Crosby, currently in Europe with Team Canada, has indicated that he does not wish to interfere in the process led by Kyle Dubas.

Crosby was asked twice about his involvement (or not) in the search for a new head coach.

Why twice? Because you’d think a captain of Sidney Crosby’s stature, who somehow convinced Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin to sign contract extensions to stay with him in Pittsburgh, would want to give his opinion on the team’s next coach.

If Kent Hughes can ask Nick Suzuki for the pulse of the locker room, how do you think Dubas can’t ask Crosby?

But then again, Crosby has publicly stated that he has no say in the appointment of the team’s next head coach, and that he prefers it that way.

“I’m a hockey player. I don’t coach games and I’m not a general manager.” – Sidney Crosby

Except…

Crosby confessed a few minutes later to Yohe that he’d be available if Kyle Dubas ever wanted to ask his opinion on a particular candidate..

When you think about it, Sidney Crosby is playing with words.

Of course he’s not officially involved in the process. Of course he doesn’t take part in Zoom meetings and job interviews. It wouldn’t make sense.

But being prepared to give your opinion on candidate X or Y is still being involved and having a say in the candidates, isn’t it?

You know, it’s like when Connor McDavid told us he had no involvement whatsoever in the appointment of his former junior coach (Kris Knoblauch) in Edmonton… or in the (short-lived) promotion of his former agent to interim GM of the Oilers (Jeff Jackson).

We didn’t have to believe it.

Just because Connor McDavid wasn’t at the meetings doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved.

Whatever.

Who will be the next Pens coach ?
Who are the candidates to succeed Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh? We’re hearing several names: Rick Tocchet, Drew Bannister, Manny Malhotra, David Quinn, Mitch Love, Mike Van Ryan, Jay Woodcroft..

Knowing that Sidney Crosby holds Rock Tocchet in the highest esteem, I think Kyle Dubas will make a strong bid for Tocchet. But Tocchet is in demand. Very much in demand.

If the Penguins ever hire someone Sidney Crosby really likes, we’ll have to put an end to the 1001 summer rumours sending the kid to Montreal. IS THAT OKAY?

Overtime

– CH prospects in the BCHL final.

– For JT Miller, golf is “important”

– Will he be back in the line-up?

– Soccer or baseball?

– Tennis X Papacy.

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Hostile offer sheets: four reasons for teams to go cold

Ahh, hostile offer sheets…

One wonders if there will be at least one this summer in the NHL. After all, last summer, there were two, and they were the talk of the town. It changed the way things were seen.

And with the salary cap set to rise, more teams will be able to consider dropping them.

But if we play devil’s advocate and look at the other side of the coin, there are still reasons to believe that, on the contrary, there won’t really be an offer sheet this summer in the Bettman circuit.

Here are some reasons why there might not be.

1. Yes, the cap will go up for teams that want to submit bids. But it will also go up for teams looking to match those offers, too.

That’s something to consider, since to pull off such a maneuver, you have to trick a team.

2. Speaking of trapping a team: the Oilers got caught in the trap last year. They signed unrestricted free agents before thinking about their restricted free agents.

NHL teams will learn from these mistakes.

3. Elliotte Friedman, on the heels of his 32 Thoughts podcast, made some good points. In particular, he reminded us that Gavin McKenna is up for grabs in 2026, and that a team might be afraid of having an ugly season and trading that pick.

Some clubs will therefore be more cautious.

Clubs can figure that if the Rangers have fallen this far in 2024-2025, anyone can fall victim. And you can’t protect a top-10 pick in a hostile offer sheet.

You have to give your picks away unconditionally.

It’s worth mentioning that the 2026 picks are in play for this summer’s offers, since that would take place after the 2025 draft. Is it a coincidence that the Blues made two the year there was no consensus for the first draft pick? I don’t know.

For what it’s worth, the Habs have all their picks. They can make one – and not have to worry about retaliation afterwards.

4. Aside from the fact that Gavin McKenna (who is having a superb season in the WHL) exists, the lottery can be a game-changer in general. An “ordinary” club can, without being completely rotten, go up in the draft.

Look at the Islanders and the Mammoth last week… and look at what happened in the NBA, too: there were surprises and it changed the whole game.

Still, I think it’s possible that the stars could align for a club and circumstances could mean that yes, a hostile offer sheet would be on the table.

But a club that isn’t sure of success due to the aforementioned assumptions won’t want to insult a colleague unnecessarily by tabling a hostile offer sheet that has little chance of success.

overtime

– Lou Lamoriello: the Sabres want him.

– Serious candidates in Vancouver for head coach.

– It starts again tonight.

– Lane Hutson is too strong.

– The questioning is interesting.

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Kings: Marc Bergevin could (already) be passed over to replace Ken Holland

When Marc Bergevin took a job to back up Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille with the Kings a few years ago, we suspected it was to keep himself in the game so he could one day return to the Bettman circuit as GM.

And we suspected that if there was an opening in Los Angeles, he’d give it a shot.

However, we quickly realized that while he may have seemed like the Los Angeles Kings’ candidate in the past, that’s no longer the case. After all, it’s Ken Holland who’s going to L.A.

He will be introduced to the media tomorrow, according to Darren Dreger.

What you need to understand is that Ken Holland’s contract is expected to be short-term. Elliotte Friedman(32 Thoughts) talked about this on his podcast, which came out in the last few hours.

The fact is, Holland preferred the L.A. job to the Long Island one, not least because he can win quicker. The club wants him to get the organization where it needs to be quickly, with the base in place.

And having beaten the Kings in the playoffs many times as GM of the Oilers recently, he knows what it takes.

Of necessity, one has to wonder what this means for Marc Bergevin. In the short term, Bergevin is still being considered for the vacant position in New York, a place he knows well having played there as a defenseman.

Will he get the job? He’s clearly one of the candidates.

But it’s worth noting that if he doesn’t get the job with the Islanders, he’ll have to work with Ken Holland. Does he want to do it? Does Holland want him on his team?

We don’t know yet.

And since Elliotte Friedman, again on his podcast, said that the Kings would like Holland around in the short term to potentially form the club’s next GM in a few years’ time, it’s possible that Bergevin doesn’t want to stay either.

After all, if he’s already potentially lost the next Kings GM race, it’s possible he doesn’t exactly want to work with Holland and his runner-up.

No?

If that’s the case, I wonder if it’s because the Kings have a young talent in mind, or if it’s simply that Bergevin isn’t the kind of GM the club is looking for.

overtime

– Cayden Lindstrom was injured yesterday, but nothing too serious. He’s back in action.

– Of note.

– Victory defeat, facing elimination.

– Heading for the Final Four.

– Another injury in L.A.

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Series highlights: Mikael Granlund single-handedly gives the Stars victory

The NHL playoffs continue.

Last night, there was only one game on the menu, and it was between the Stars and the Jets. The Jets had a chance to tie the series, and the Stars could take a 3-1 lead.

And it was the Dallas club that came out on top in Game #4 by a score of 3-1, pushing the Western champions to within one game of elimination.

In the Stars’ victory, it’s not complicated: Mikael Granlund was the hero. The Finn scored all three of his team’s goals, which (obviously) made the difference.

The Jets could do nothing.

Interestingly, the only guys with a second-round hat trick (so far) this season are Finns from the Stars: Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund.

And as Guillaume Villemaire mentions on Twitter, 21 of the Stars’ last 23 playoff goals have involved Finns. That’s quite something.

In other words, the Jets now face elimination. The best club in the regular season could be going home much sooner than expected.

And if the trend continues, it’s going to happen.

I say that because the Jets have lost their last nine games away. And with a potential Dallas game left in the series and the Stars seemingly on a mission….

Let’s just say that if the Jets could count on their goalie, it would help. No?

overtime

– Last night’s top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Today’s games: Panthers vs Maple Leafs at 7pm and Oilers vs Golden Knights at 9:30pm.

– Three teams are in danger right now. The Oilers could reach the final four as early as tonight.

(Credit: NHL.com)
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Yes, Alex Newhook would make the veteran line-up even more productive

Kent Hughes has his work cut out for him before next season. He’ll have to look for a second center forward and maybe even another defenseman. Christian Dvorak is another player who needs to be dealt with.

He did the Habs proud in the final stretch of last season. Not only did he pilot the team’s most consistent 200-foot line at 5-on-5, but he brought unexpected production with Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher.

The problem is, the Habs have signed Jake Evans and Alex Newhook is expected to pilot a third line this year, having had to take on the role of second center with the loss of Kirby Dach.

Eric Engels discussed the situation with Tony Marinaro on his podcast, The Sick Podcast. He believes that adding Newhook to Gallagher and Anderson could make the line more productive.

He’s absolutely right. Newhook doesn’t have what it takes to play on a second line, but on a third line, we could see the best version of himself offensively, and he could help his two wingers.

The problem is that Anderson and Gallagher have a more defensive vocation under Martin St-Louis, and they do it wonderfully. With this in mind, Dvorak would be the ideal center, as he can help extinguish an opposing line.

The decision won’t be as simple as it might appear from the outside. Inserting Newhook in the middle of the other two veterans could provide some offensive punch, but at what cost?

The other option, and the one I prefer, would be to ask Jake Evans to take on a more offensive role with Newhook on his wing. Kirby Dach could be the option on the right, especially to start the year.

Overtime

– Lions advance to next round.

– Beautiful goal!

– An often overlooked prospect.

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“I have inside information”: Philippe Boucher “would do anything” to see Caleb Desnoyers in Montreal

Caleb Desnoyers is turning heads in the playoffs this year. His team, the Moncton Wildcats, are in the QMJHL finals, and he’s impressing.

Since the start of the playoffs, he has 28 points in 15 games, including 9 goals.

He has served up some superb passes to his team-mates, and demonstrated his skating skills on several occasions in the opposition zone.

His performances have not gone unnoticed, and Philippe Boucher, former general manager and head coach of the Quebec Remparts, goes even further.

He suggests that the Canadiens do everything in their power to secure his services. He spoke to JiC about the subject.

“Personally, there’s one forward I’d do anything to get, and that’s him. I have a little inside information, my son [Matthew] knows a lot of people in junior hockey.” – Philippe Boucher

It’s interesting because we know Boucher’s experience and it’s the kind of information that makes you think.

Desnoyers won’t slide all the way to the Habs’ 16th pick in the draft, so it’s going to take a trade for the Canadiens to go after him.

But is it worth sacrificing a lot of draft picks for a player who will take time to develop properly? He won’t become the second center overnight when there are other options with established players.

Matthew Barzal, Bo Horvat and Mason McTavish, to name but a few, have many years behind their NHL ties

This is where the debate could get interesting for the Habs. Do they like Desnoyers? If so, what would they be willing to offer and acquire him for?

We’ll have the answer in the coming weeks.

Overtime

– He gave it his all.

– It shuffles.

– Amazing.

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2025 Series: Cole Caufield still has more goals than Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in a… tricky situation. They had a 2-0 lead in their series against the Panthers, but have just lost two in a row.

And given the Leafs’ history in the playoffs, the AI was probably right to doubt them, even with a 2-0 series lead.

If the Leafs want to bounce back, they’ll have to hope Auston Matthews starts scoring goals again. The club’s star forward plays good defensive hockey… but he earns his salary by scoring goals, and right now, he’s scoring goals at this level.

In fact, since the start of the current playoffs, Matthews has 10 points in 10 games, but only two goals. And that’s less than… Cole Caufield, who’s been on vacation for the past two weeks.

The CH maverick scored three goals in five games against the Capitals.

Even worse: Matthews has yet to score a career goal in the second round of the playoffs. Even Jake Evans managed that feat… even if he had to suffer to get there, Mark Scheifele’s word.

What’s clear right now is that the Leafs must be hoping their captain returns to the elite scorer he’s capable of being. Again, it’s great to see him so solid defensively… but in Toronto, we need to see him score goals.

And right now, he’s not doing that enough. Far from it, in fact.

We know that Matthews has been playing injured for some time, but at this stage of the season, all the players are suffering from injuries. This excuse doesn’t go down well… especially when it follows the trend of recent years.

And that’s why, right now, the heat on Matthews is really, really intense… so much so that in Toronto, the decision to name him captain before the current season is currently being castigated.

Let’s see if Matthews can break his goal-scoring drought tomorrow… because if the Leafs want to avoid another early elimination, the captain is going to have to step up.

And the clock is ticking.

Overtime

– Official: Miro Heiskanen will play tonight.

– Happy listening.

– Interesting.