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Jon Merrill Traded To Montreal

04/11/2021 at 1:40pm EDT

MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced on Sunday that the team has acquired defenseman Jon Merrill from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2021 (previously acquired from Ottawa) and forward Hayden Verbeek.

added 2:05pm,

added 2:32pm, Detroit release is below.

On Waivers Today

04/11/2021 at 12:03pm EDT

Video- The Shoulder Nudge

04/11/2021 at 10:57am EDT

added 11:40am,

Video- Hearing Today For Michael McCarron

04/11/2021 at 10:08am EDT

Video below.

added 3:43pm, Two game suspension for illegal check to the head, explanation is below.

Jon Merrill Drawing Interest From The Boston Bruins

04/11/2021 at 9:48am EDT

from Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now,

There were whispers on Saturday night that the Bruins are one of the teams in the running for veteran Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jon Merrill as the deadline approaches on Monday.

The “Friedman” is, of course, Elliotte Friedman during Saturday night’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. The 29-year-old Merrill has five assists in 36 games along with a plus-2 rating for the Wings this season but has been a solid veteran left shot defenseman for the New Jersey Devils and Golden Knights over the previous seven seasons. He’d be a cheap acquisition ($925,000) and would bring some needed veteran defensive presence to the left side where youngsters Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril have struggled this season, and where Matt Grzelcyk has missed 12 games over three plus months as a top-4 defenseman this season.

The cost wouldn’t be much more than a non-first round draft pick or a B-level prospect for Merrill, and that may be part of the draw to him at this point.

more options at defense for the Bruins...

Being Ken Holland

04/11/2021 at 9:38am EDT

from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

...what’s it been like to be Ken Holland?

“For me, I go to my condo and the rink when I’m in Edmonton,” he said of the two destinations that are only 400 or 500 steps across the street from each other.
“When I’m on the road, I go down from my hotel room down to the meal room, go to the rink and then to the plane to fly to the next spot.

“There’s no social activity. There’s no going out anywhere. That’s the NHL-NHLPA (Players Association) protocol.

“We love our job. That’s what we do. And we have to do what we have to do to keep not only ourselves safe but, obviously, decisions we make can impact our team and other teams in our division.

“It’s been a trying time but it’s been a trying time for everybody, whatever walk of life you’re in. It’s been a challenge for everybody with this virus.”

more

Hockey Notes

04/11/2021 at 8:17am EDT

from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- There will be a lot of noise in the coming days about Patrick Marleau’s pursuit of Gordie Howe on the all-time list of NHL games played. Howe played 1,767 NHL games. Marleau, heading into Saturday night, had played 1,762. What doesn’t get mentioned often enough is that Howe played 419 WHA games and somehow that gets forgotten in the record books

- Alex Ovechkin is five goals away from passing Marcel Dionne for fifth overall in NHL goal scoring. Ovechkin has 727 goals. After he moves past Dionne, he’ll be 10 goals away from passing Brett Hull for fourth overall. And a weird Ovie stat: He has the least penalty minutes of his career this season and might be a longshot Lady Byng candidate.

- If I’m Team USA general manager Stan Bowman, my choice to coach in Beijing — if there is NHL involvement in China, and that’s still to be finalized — would be Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan … Sullivan is on a long list of those with coach of the year credentials this season. The others: Rick Tocchet in Arizona, Rod Brind’Amour in Carolina; Sheldon Keefe in Toronto; Dean Evason in Minnesota; Joel Quenneville in Florida; Barry Trotz, again, every year, in Long Island. That’s seven strong candidates and only three can be finalists.

more

A Hot Adam Erne

04/11/2021 at 7:39am EDT

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

It was Erne’s 10th goal in 35 games, a pace equivalent to 23 goals over 82 games. He has one fewer goal than team leader Anthony Mantha.

This is what Yzerman, as GM of the Lightning in 2013, hoped to see from Erne when Tampa Bay selected him 33rd overall, just three spots outside of the first round.

Opportunities on a stacked Lightning team were tough to come by. In Detroit, he has been an established fourth-line grinder and energy player and has played almost exclusively on a line with Luke Glendening and Darren Helm.

But that hasn’t prevented him from tapping into his offensive ability.

“Adam’s got good hands and he scored in juniors, scored in the American League,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I know that’s a big reason Steve made the trade, because he believed there was some in him in terms of offense and that he could be a good 200-foot player that could provide offense. And that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. He blocks a shot, goes down and scores. Nice handsy goal around the net with a backhand shot.”

Blashill added, “He wasn’t given anything. He’s had to earn every inch of ice he’s got, and he’s done a good job of it.”

more

Below, watch the extended game highlights of Detroit's 5-4 shootout win.

U Mass Wins Their First NCAA Championship

04/11/2021 at 7:26am EDT

from College Hockey Inc,

Massachusetts, with an impressive championship game performance, captured the school’s first national championship Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The Minutemen’s convincing 5-0 win against St. Cloud State marked the culmination of an uncertain season in college hockey, one that was abbreviated and for many teams paused due to the pandemic.

Saturday, however, was a showcase of the sport, with UMass even close to full strength thanks to the return of goaltender Filip Lindberg and forward Carson Gicewicz from Covid-related quarantine. Lindberg was perfect, stopping all 25 shots he faced and setting an NCAA Tournament record with his fourth career shutout in the event.

UMass is only four years removed from a last-place finish in Hockey East and a 5-29-2 record in 2016-17, head coach Greg Carvel’s first with the program. This season’s team finishes 20-5-4, the fewest losses for an NCAA champion since 1993 (Maine, 40-1-2). Its 11-0-3 run to end the season is the longest unbeaten streak to end a season since Union in 2014 (16-0-1).

“I can't say a lot to describe it. The feeling's unbelievable,” said captain Jake Gaudet. “To be here four years, the guys that have come through this program and worked really hard, to wear a letter and help lead our team to the biggest national stage is one of my proudest achievements and it's something I'll never forget.”

continued

Below, watch the final minute of play and the celebration.

NHL Short Notes

04/11/2021 at 4:19am EDT

THREE HARD LAPS

* Auston Matthews found the back of the net on Saturday and stands as the only U.S.-born player in NHL history to begin his career with five straight 30-goal seasons.

* The Blues tied the game late in regulation and captain Ryan O’Reilly scored late in overtime to propel St. Louis into a playoff spot.

* The Stars and Blackhawks had rookies play pivotal roles in their wins as they gained crucial points on the Predators in the Discover Central standings.

Video- Bonus Edition Of Saturday Headlines

04/10/2021 at 11:33pm EDT

Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston are back and joined by late night host David Amber and the topics were-

The Oilers are shopping for a defenseman, teams waiting on price to drop on Taylor Hall, it may be quiet in Calgary and the Blues have had some scoring issues so why is Mike Hoffman's name being floated.

Also, the Sharks not done selling, the Kings talking contract extension with Andreas Athanasiou plus a few more topics.

via Sportsnet,

Videos- Media Wrap After A 5-4 Shootout Win Against Carolina

04/10/2021 at 10:50pm EDT

First up, Adam Erne And Jeff Blashill, below find the game highlights and full 7 round shootout.

Quick Recap- Wngs/Canes

04/10/2021 at 9:53pm EDT

A decent game from the Wings, remember Carolina is a good team and in a race fro the #1 spot in the Central.

In OT the Wings had numerous chances but could not scorre.

Adam Erne in a long shootout put the Wings in the win column with a 5-4 win.

Detroit goals are below.

Team Stats

Video- Saturday Headlines

04/10/2021 at 9:26pm EDT

via Sportsnet,

Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman go over all the news and rumours around the league with the NHL Trade Deadline on the horizon.

Hockey Observations

04/10/2021 at 8:59pm EDT

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- The ownership mandate is to win now. The Penguins do not have a first-, third- or fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft. Their pool of prospects is dry. Ron Hextall, who succeeded Rutherford as GM, was all about building from the bottom up in Philadelphia.

As sands rush through the hourglass, would Pittsburgh consider further depleting its future prospects by offering next year’s first-rounder in order to bolster this group’s chances? Jake Guentzel has been a more than worthy left-side partner for Crosby, but could the Penguins take a shot at the Sabres’ Taylor Hall?

Would the opportunity to play for a contender for the first time in his career rouse Hall from perhaps the worst season proximate to a Hart Trophy Award in NHL history? Or is Hall not Sullivan’s kind of player?...

- Is Carter Hart more Tom Barrasso, who was sent to the AHL for a spell by the Sabres in his second year after winning the Calder, the Vezina and being named to the first All-Star team as a rookie, or is the Flyers’ young netminder more in the Jim Carey category?

- In the era of parity, a reminder that the Panthers have not won a playoff round since 1996, the Maple Leafs since 2004, the Sabres since 2007, the Canucks since 2011, the Devils and Coyotes since 2012.

more on the Penguins plus other topics...

Video- From Michigan, To Texas, To Winnipeg For Connor Hellebuyck

04/10/2021 at 7:03pm EDT

via Sportsnet's YouTube page,

Before winning the Vezina Trophy, before being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck began his path to the NHL in Odessa, Texas.

Tara Slone with the feature.

Thirteen Games To Go

04/10/2021 at 6:30pm EDT

Including tonight's game, let's just say we're lucky that there are only thirteen games left to go in this season. Most nights I wonder why anyone shows up here. Then I remember that we're all a bunch of Wingaholics. We may as well have some fun at the expense of this hapless team. Thanks to all 19 of you for playing along. Cheers!

It's a Live Blog!

Wings Involved In A Three Team Trade

04/10/2021 at 5:17pm EDT

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired defenseman David Savard from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Brian Lashoff and subsequently traded Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

After drafting an NHL-high 33 players over the last three Entry Drafts, the Red Wings currently own 19 picks over the next two drafts. For this summer’s 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Detroit has its own pick in the first six rounds, in addition to two additional second-round choices (Edmonton and NY Rangers), a second pick in the third round (Vegas) and the fourth-round pick acquired in this trade from the Lightning. In the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Red Wings have their own picks in all seven rounds plus two additional selections in the fourth round (Colorado and Vegas).

added 5:21pm,

added 5:37pm,

Impressive Numbers

04/10/2021 at 3:33pm EDT

from Matt Porter of the Boston Globe,

From the wizards in the NHL’s stats department, we find that entering Thursday, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand had factored on the same goal 329 times in the regular season:. That’s 135 Bergeron goals with a Marchand assist, 127 Marchand goals with a Bergeron assist, and 67 goals assisted by both Bergeron and Marchand.

Thus, Marchand factored on 329 of Bergeron’s 902 career points (36.5 percent), and Bergeron factored on 329 of Marchand’s 691 career points (47.6 percent).

By number of times factoring on the same goal, they rank third among active player duos:

487 — Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom (Capitals)

399 — Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry (Ducks, no longer teammates)

329 — Bergeron and Marchand

321 — Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (Penguins)

291 — Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown (Kings)

They also rank second in Bruins history:

406 — Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge

more plus other hockey topics...

Where Should Joe Veleno Play Now That His Season Is Over In Sweden?

04/10/2021 at 3:28pm EDT

Pending Trade Call, David Savard Headed To Tampa

04/10/2021 at 2:59pm EDT

update 5:26pm, Trade completed, details here.

Buffalo/Florida Trade Is Official

04/10/2021 at 2:33pm EDT

Devan Dubnyk Now A Member Of The Colorado Avalanche

04/10/2021 at 2:09pm EDT

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Dubnyk, 34, has a 3-9-2 record, 3.18 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage with the Sharks this season. He has skated in 537 NHL games over a 12-year career with the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild and San Jose, recording a 250-204-54 career record with a 2.60 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 33 shutouts. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound netminder has an 8-18 record, 2.72 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all with Minnesota, and is the Wild’s all-time leader in playoff games played (26), wins (8) and shutouts (2).

Roster Moves

04/10/2021 at 1:11pm EDT

Below, watch Svechnikov for 26 seconds.

added 3:04pm, A longer version of Svechnikov and coach Blashill this morning, watch below.

A Friday To Remember For Cole Caufield

04/10/2021 at 11:28am EDT

from Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette,

Cole Caufield was already trending on Twitter in Canada early Friday night.

Part of the reason was the Canadiens’ top prospect was named the Hobey Baker Award winner as the top player in U.S. college hockey. About 30 minutes after that announcement, Caufield made his pro debut with the AHL’s Laval Rocket in Toronto against the Marlies.

The fact a 20-year-old who has yet to play a game in the NHL was trending is a sign of just how excited Canadiens fans are about Caufield. The game was also televised on RDS and broadcast on TSN 690 Radio.

Caufield didn’t disappoint, scoring two goals — including the winner — and adding an assist in a 5-3 Rocket victory.

Caufield’s first goal came at 1:28 of the second period with a one-timer blast on the power play from the faceoff circle to the right of Marlies goalie Joseph Woll. His second goal at 9:43 of the third period came after streaking down the left side, taking a shot and then roofing his rebound.

continued

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