The latest on Oilers center Leon Draisaitl and Bruins forward Pavel Zacha, an update on the Predators’ search for a new general manager, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
TSN: Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl clarified the critical comments he made about his club’s performance following its 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
At the time, Draisaitl said the NHL is too hard for the Oilers to be lollygagging through games, adding that the team’s improvement begins with the coaching staff. He felt the club wasn’t defending well enough, and that there were many things it wasn’t doing well enough to win.
On Saturday, Draisaitl told TSN’s Ryan Rishaug that he spoke out of frustration and was trying to send the message that the team has to play better.
“I said in that interview, I said our leadership had to be better, and talking about the leadership group – I’m part of that, so I can be a lot better,” Draisaitl said. “That goes for our coaches, that goes for everybody in our organization. We all have to step up.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers believe Draisaitl should have left those remarks in the dressing room for his teammates, rather than publicly airing them before the press. Regardless, he’s not wrong in his assessment of the Oilers’ recent performance. Their sloppy play (especially defensively) cost them games against teams they should’ve defeated.
The Oilers went into the Olympic break sitting second in the Pacific Division with 64 points, but only four up on the Los Angeles Kings, who sit ninth overall in the Western Conference standings.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins forward Pavel Zacha will not play for Team Czechia in the upcoming men’s Olympic hockey tournament. Zacha, 28, suffered an upper-body injury on Jan. 29 and has not returned to action since.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a tough blow for Zacha, who was obviously looking forward to playing for his country in the Olympics.
Injuries also sidelined Canada’s Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning), Finland’s Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres), Latvia’s Rodrigo Abols (Philadelphia Flyers), Sweden’s Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks) and Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild), and the United States’ Seth Jones (Florida Panthers).
THE TENNESSEAN: Creative Artists Agency (CAA), hired by the Nashville Predators to help the club find a new general manager, informed the team on Feb. 6 that it will no longer be involved.
CAA withdrew after the NHL Players’ Association expressed concern about a potential conflict of interest involving certified agents. Several Predators players, including forwards Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault, are represented by CAA agents.
The Predators’ search for a new general manager began last week after GM Barry Trotz announced he would be stepping down for family reasons as soon as a suitable replacement could be found.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers face a daunting challenge to clinch a playoff berth this season.
Entering the Olympic break, the Panthers are eight points out of a wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference. They must win at least 18 of their remaining 25 games and collect some “loser points” along the way.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries have walloped the Panthers this season, with several core players (including Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk) sidelined for lengthy periods. Three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances resulted in shortened offseasons, which have also likely taken a toll.
NHL.COM: The league’s department of player safety fined Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron $2,343.75 on Friday for slashing Washington Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on Thursday.
DAILY FACEOFF: The St. Louis Blues claimed forward Jack Finley off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Due to the Olympic roster freeze (Feb. 4 to 22), Finley doesn’t have to report to the Blues until Feb. 17.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players can be sent down to the AHL if they are waiver exempt, except for players who appeared in 16 of the team’s 20 NHL games before the freeze, or have been on the roster for 80 league days before Jan. 21.