NHL | Trotz calls out Craig Smith, Sergei Kostitsyn

Latest Headlines

Trotz calls out Craig Smith, Sergei Kostitsyn

Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz called out Craig Smith and Sergei Kostitsyn for their lack of production this season.

"We expected production from Sergei and Craig Smith and we got none," Trotz said. "Both those guys, we were looking at them to be top-six, top-seven forwards and we got no production." Ouch. Smith finished with four goals and 12 points while Kostitsyn scored three goals and 15 points. Both were pretty big disappointments for a Predators team that finished tied for last in the NHL in scoring with 2.27 goals per game.

Source: The Examiner

Mon, Apr 29, 2013 10:04:00 PM

Report: Flyers could unload Wayne Simmonds

The Philadelphia Flyers "are gearing to potentially trade" forward Wayne Simmonds, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.

Simmonds has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $3.975 million. The 29-year-old 24 goals and 46 points in 75 games last season, but he managed to score at least 28 goals in each of his previous four seasons. Simmonds has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to block a trade to 12 teams. There should be a significant amount of interest in his services across the league.

Source: The Athletic

Jun 19 - 11:04 PM

Patrice Bergeron undergoes groin surgery

Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron underwent groin surgery 10 days ago.

Bergeron made the announcement during his media availability in Vegas ahead of the NHL Awards ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday night. He's expecting to be back at full strength by early August. Bergeron had 30 goals and 63 points in 64 games last season.

Source: Boston Bruins on Twitter

Jun 19 - 10:54 PM

Report: Kessel willing to leave PIT via trade

Phil Kessel is reportedly willing to leave the Pittsburgh Penguins via trade, according to The Athletic.

It's important to note that beat reporter Josh Yohe opened his story by reminding people that Kessel is also willing to stick around Pittsburgh, so he isn't demanding a trade even though his relationship with Mike Sullivan is rocky. Kessel would also be willing to play for former assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who's now the head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, but that's unlikely to happen. There's a very real chance that the 30-year-old winger could find himself on another team in the coming weeks. He had 34 goals and 92 points in 82 games last season.

Source: The Athletic

Jun 19 - 7:21 PM

Report: Columbus testing market for Panarin

Columbus is reportedly testing the market for Artemi Panarin, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

This comes after Panarin apparently told the Blue Jackets that he is not ready to consider an extension "at this time." Panarin won't become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2018-19 campaign. There isn't necessarily a rush to get something done at this time, whether that be an extension or a trade, but this could be a situation to monitor.

Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter

Jun 19 - 2:47 PM

Sharks flip Mike Hoffman to Florida for picks

San Jose has dealt Mike Hoffman to the Florida Panthers.

Hoffman and a 2018 seventh-round pick will head to the Panthers in exchange for Florida's 2019 second-round pick, a 2018 fourth-round selection and a 2018 fifth-round draft choice. The Sharks acquired Hoffman from the Senators earlier this morning along with Cody Donaghey and a fifth-round pick in 2020 in exchange for Mikkel Boedker, Julius Bergman and a sixth-round pick in 2020.

Source: FloridaPanthers.com

Jun 19 - 10:57 AM

Ottawa acquires Boedker in trade with Sharks

Mikkel Boedker has been shipped to the Ottawa Senators in a four-player trade.

Ottawa also acquired Julius Bergman and a sixth-round pick in 2020 from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mike Hoffman, Cody Donaghey and Ottawa's fifth-round draft choice in 2020. Boedker scored 15 goals and recorded 37 points 74 games last season. He added six points in 10 playoff contests.

Source: Ottawa Senators on Twitter

Jun 19 - 8:57 AM

Sharks obtain Mike Hoffman from Senators

Mike Hoffman has been traded to the San Jose Sharks.

The Ottawa Senators acquired forward Mikkel Boedker, defenseman Julius Bergman and a sixth-round choice in the 2020 NHL Draft from San Jose in exchange for Hoffman, Cody Donaghey and Ottawa’s fifth-round pick in 2020. Hoffman scored 22 goals and 56 points in 82 games last season amid plenty of trade rumors.

Source: Ottawa Senators on Twitter

Jun 19 - 8:42 AM

A. Svechnikov separates himself from the pack

Andrei Svechnikov has apparently separated himself from the rest of the field eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft.

"If you want to know the truth," one scout said, "Svechnikov may be closer to [Rasmus] Dahlin for No. 1 than the rest of the field is to Svechnikov." Bob McKenzie's TSN Final Draft Rankings has Svechnikov as the consensus No. 2 prospect.

Source: TSN.ca

Jun 18 - 5:43 PM

Capitals announce Barry Trotz has resigned

Barry Trotz has decided to step down as coach of the Washington Capitals.

"Barry Trotz informed the organization today of his decision to resign as head coach of the Washington Capitals," said the team in a statement. "We are obviously disappointed by Barry's decision, but would like to thank Barry for all his efforts the past four years and for helping bring the Stanley Cup to Washington. Barry is a man of high character and integrity and we are grateful for his leadership and for all that he has done for our franchise." Trotz has been the head coach of the Capitals for the last four seasons and he helped guide the team to a Stanley Cup championship in his final year behind the bench of the club. An automatic two-year extension activated when he won the Cup, but the value of the deal was below market value. Trotz and the Capitals reportedly couldn't come to terms on an extension and he will be granted permission to speak to other organizations as a free agent following his resignation.

Source: WashingtonCaps.com

Jun 18 - 3:03 PM

Zach Werenski will be 'healthy' for next year

Zach Werenski (shoulder) is still expected to be healthy for next season.

Werenski underwent shoulder surgery in early May after he played hurt for at least half of the year. He was given a five-to-six month timetable for his recovery, so if he isn't ready for the start of the campaign then he should available shortly afterward. "He played with a brace that he could hardly move with and tried to shoot with that brace. When your arm moves, like, this much, it's pretty hard, battling for loose pucks in the corner," said Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. "It affects everything, and he didn't ever complain or use it as an excuse. He just kept playing through it and playing through it, and now he'll be healthy for next year."

Source: BlueJackets.com

Jun 18 - 1:30 PM

Jesperi Kotkaniemi's draft stock is rising

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is attracting plenty of attention going into the 2018 NHL Draft as a potential top-five pick.

"Here's a guy who has been playing the whole season with men and against men and has played extremely well," NHL director of European scouting Goran Stubb said. "He has improved his skating. His skating was always OK, but he's improved and this is a guy with a guy with a very special understanding of the game. He makes very intelligent decisions on the ice. He can shoot, pass, score and is a very nice young man too." The 17-year-old center posted 10 goals and 29 points in 57 games for Assat in Finland's Liiga last season. He could be an option for the Montreal Canadiens at No. 3.

Source: Joe Yerdon for NHL.com

Jun 17 - 6:21 PM