The latest news on the Golden Knights and Stars ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Final plus updates on Jordan Staal, Frederik Andersen and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee headlines.
Las Vegas Review – Journal: The Vegas Golden Knights can advance to the Stanley Cup Final with tonight’s victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. The Golden Knights lead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Las Vegas Sun: The Golden Knights intend to step up their focus on shutting down Jason Robertson. After scoring just twice over the first two innings, the 23-year-old Stars winger scored four goals in the Conference Final, including two in Game 4 as his club avoided being swept out of the series.
SPECTATOR NOTE: It was top star players like Robertson who rose to the occasion in Game 4 (other than Jimmy Penn, who stopped two games) that sent this series back to Las Vegas for Game 5. Similar or better effort to force a game 6.
Dallas Morning News: Stars winger Evgeny Dadonov did not travel with his teammates to Las Vegas for the fifth game. He suffered a lower body injury in the third game that sidelined him in the fourth game. He is expected to return later in the postseason.
TSN: Jordan Staal said he has no plans to play for another ice hockey club and hopes to return next season with the Carolina Hurricanes. The longtime Hurricanes captain is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, after he is released from a 10-year, $60 million contract.
NHL.COM Hurricanes reporter Walt Ruff tweeted That Fredrik Andersen is also eager to return to Carolina next season. Like Staal, the 33-year-old goaltender is an NFL draftee on July 1. “My priority is to get back here,” Andersen said. “We believe with this group that we can do something special next year.”
Bystander note: I believe the Hurricanes intend to bring Stahl and Andersen back provided they are willing to accept pay cuts on short-term deals. We’ll see how it goes for them in the coming weeks.
daily face: Frank Serravalle reports that the list of potential general manager candidates to be interviewed by the Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to include Jason Bottrell, Mark Bergevin, Brad Treleving and Peter Chiarelli.
Bystander note: Leafs president Brendan Shanahan recently indicated that he’s looking for someone with experience for the job. Some critics consider Treliving to be the headliner.
Pittsburgh hockey now: Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman is cited as saying that Fenway Sports Group (owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins) is giving former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas this weekend to mull over whether he wants the Penguins GM job.
Meanwhile, hockey news Nick Hurot was killed TSN’s Chris Johnston says Dupas will “98 percent get a job there,” i.e. Pittsburgh.
Bystander note: This is the Memorial Day long weekend in the United States. This means that Dubas’ answer may come on Tuesday at the earliest.
Montreal Gazette: A strong performance by Canadian goalkeeper Samuel Montembolt saw Canada reach the semi-finals against Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championships. He has allowed just six goals on 118 shots in the five games he has played so far with a 1.19 goals-against average and a 0.949 save percentage.
Spectator note: This performance could also help Montembelt’s case if he is looking for a contract extension from the Habs. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2023-24.