THW Daily - Tracking Vezina Trophy Race & Why Lightning and Blackhawks Could Be Deadline Trade Partners Again
Also, the job status of Maple Leafs' Keefe, the unfortunate injury to Wild's Spurgeon & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have the status of the Vezina trophy race right now, why the Lightning and Blackhawks could be deadline trade partners again, the job status of Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, and much more.
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Vancouver Canucks: Canucks Weekly: Kuzmenko in the Dog House Again, Pettersson On Fire & More by Matthew Zator
Hockey History: Red Wings Rookie Rewind: Steve Yzerman by Matthew Zator
Tampa Bay Lightning: Lightning Prospect Check-In: Goncalves Earns Call-Up & Huuhtanen Hot to Start January by Jordan Orth
Chicago Blackhawks: Blackhawks: Dickinson & Foligno Signings Mean More than Points by Brooke LoFurno
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Yesterday’s Scores…
Does Sheldon Keefe Deserve to Be Fired by the Maple Leafs?
January 19, 2024 by The Old Prof
As the Toronto Maple Leafs play game two of the team’s current western road trip, there’s a huge amount of speculation surrounding the Maple Leafs and a potential coaching change. Is a shake-up being discussed – probably even as you are reading these words?
One thing that’s easy to see is that readers of THW posts are engaged in myriad conversations amongst themselves that raise questions about the future of head coach Sheldon Keefe. On one hand, it’s easy to see why such rumors are running rampant. The Maple Leafs have been playing inconsistent hockey this season, and as hard as Keefe works to improve the team’s play, it hasn’t yet happened.
2023-24 Vezina Trophy Tracker — Midseason Update
January 19, 2024 by Alex Chauvancy
Welcome to THW’s 2023-24 Vezina Trophy tracker. This will be the first in a series of articles tracking major awards for the rest of this season. We’ll be using a combination of advanced and traditional stats to determine who’s in the running for the Vezina and other trophies.
The parameters for the Vezina are simple. You have to be the team’s primary starter and have played in a majority of the team’s games. Let’s look at who’s leading the Vezina Trophy race at the season’s halfway point.
What Should the Bruins Do with Jake DeBrusk?
January 19, 2024 by Tommy Bennett
It has been a great centennial season for the Boston Bruins. The expectations going in were for them to be competitive and strive to make this special season worth something. It is tremendous what head coach Jim Montgomery has been able to do with this hockey team during a season where questions rightfully surrounded them entering it. This summer saw the team lose Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Dmitry Orlov, which created a lot of holes on the active roster.
It forced general manager Don Sweeney to go to the bargain bin, which has worked out tremendously. James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Morgan Geekie have all played vital roles and have impacted the club in major ways. Most importantly, the club had gotten players such as Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle to take the next steps and be a force. One player that was pegged to take those next steps is Jake DeBrusk. Given the departures of key goal scorers, he is the guy the club needs to produce. It has been an interesting season for DeBrusk, which begs the question what the club should do with him as the campaign enters its second half.
Jared Spurgeon’s Injury Hurts But Is Survivable by Minnesota Wild
January 19, 2024 by Mariah Stark (Holland)
The last month or so has been difficult on the Minnesota Wild regarding injuries and illness. At one time they were without seven players, six who are on the roster normally. However, as time went on, they’ve gotten nearly all those players back, with the exception of two. The first in Vinni Lettieri, who’s been in and out of the lineup most of the season. he’s out an unknown amount of time but was in a walking boot for Fleury’s 552nd win team picture.
While it’s likely Lettieri will be out for quite some time, the news for Jared Spurgeon was the worst it could get for this season. It was announced shortly before their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Jan. 18, that he would miss the rest of the season due to having both hip and back surgeries. It’s planned he’ll be back in time for the start of next season. Here, we’ll focus on this season and how the Wild will struggle and get through this without him.
Lightning and Blackhawks Could Be Trade Deadline Partners Again
January 19, 2024 by Jim Bay
On March 18, 2022, the Chicago Blackhawks made a Trade-Deadline deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning that sent Brandon Hagel to the Lightning in exchange for forwards Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk, in addition to 2023 and 2024 first-round picks. While the trade did raise a few eyebrows from the Blackhawk faithful, it is a trade that certainly benefited both teams. Hagel has played well in a Lightning sweater, and the Blackhawks picked up some young players and picks to help them rebuild. Now, in 2024, the two teams could find themselves making another deal at this year’s March 8 Deadline.
Whether in sports or anything else, a good trade usually happens when each side has something the other wants. In the case of the Blackhawks, the Lightning have good players with championship pedigrees that can help them with their lack of depth. The Lightning may want to trade one of these players as they are a team that has some salary cap issues, and the Blackhawks have some draft picks and/or some less expensive players that could be dealt.
3 Maple Leafs Who Should Be Traded This Season
January 19, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an interesting spot this season. They currently sit in the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. They are only one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the third spot in the Atlantic, but also only a point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in the wildcard. They have a little under eight weeks until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on March 8, 2024, which gives them less than 21 games to turn things around. If things are looking bleak, then the Maple Leafs’ mindset may change ahead of the deadline, and they may sell more than they buy.
With that, let’s look at those players that the Maple Leafs may move on from based on their position in the standings right now. As well as the potential of them not being the biggest buyers in the NHL at the deadline but rather setting themselves up for next season while still improving their team for a playoff run this season.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Carolina Hurricanes - Hurricanes Claim Goaltender Spencer Martin Off Waivers
Calgary Flames - NHL Helped Flames by Selecting Elias Lindholm for All-Star Game
Boston Bruins - 3 Bruins Dark Horse Trade Candidates for 2024 Deadline
NHL News & Rumors - Predators, Oilers, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Senators
From TSN - Canucks sign president Rutherford to multi-year extension
From Sportsnet - Evaluating the status of five NHL coaches on the hot seat
From ESPN - Senators' Shane Pinto inks deal prior to gambling ban return
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