Sunday Morning Skate: Heading toward a Canadiens – Islanders Final?

Welcome to the Morning Skate, our roundup of links on Philly Hockey Now as well as other sites around the National Hockey Now network and hockey world!

Flyers News

• The Flyers may have a chance to land Jack Eichel this offseason. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Dougie Hamilton has been granted permission to talk to other teams, including the Flyers. Chuck Fletcher has to do whatever he can to land the top free-agent defenseman, right?… (Philly Hockey Now)

• …Well, maybe not. Dougie Hamilton may not be the team’s top target, but the Flyers have a lot of balls in the air and should be in on quite a few defensemen. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Seth Jones may want out of Columbus. Should the Flyers be interested in the right-handed defenseman to fill their biggest need? (Philly Hockey Now)

• Oskar Lindblom is incredibly deserving of the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy that he won on Tuesday night. (Philly Hockey Now)

• The Flyers are bound to lose a valuable asset in the expansion draft. Who might they protect and who might they lose? (Philly Hockey Now)

• The Flyers own the 13th overall pick in the NHL Draft after the draft lottery, but should they use it? Probably not. Chuck Fletcher should use that pick as a trade chip to acquire an impact player that can help the team immediately. (Philly Hockey Now)

Around the NHL

OTR: Kraken Lurking for Trade Splash, Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? | PHN+ –  (National Hockey Now)

The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick.

Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off The Record before, the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have before them.

And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that franchise in several ways.

Rapid Reaction: Islanders Zap Lightning in Game 4 Win to Even Series at 2 – (NYI Hockey Now)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game 4 at the Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders evened the best-of-seven series at two games each.

Vegas Golden Knights Wasted Chances Put Them Behind in Series – (Vegas Hockey Now)

The One That Got Away. It’s a story title so familiar to us because it’s one we’ve all employed at one time or another. Whether about a fish, our favorite car, a business opportunity or perhaps that special person, we all can relate because we’ve all been there. For the Vegas Golden Knights, Friday’s Game Three could become that tale of woe and regret.

Sasha Barkov wins first Selke Trophy for Florida Panthers – (Florida Hockey Now)

Sasha Barkov is officially underrated no more. On Friday, the captain of the Florida Panthers was named the winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy which goes to the NHL forward who “demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game.’’

Boston Bruins Sign Anton Blidh To One-Year Contract –  (Boston Hockey Now)

The Boston Bruins made their second signing in a week Thursday inking forward Anton Blidh to a one-year, two-way contract that will carry a $750,000 NHL cap hit.

Exclusive: Jared Bednar will return to coach Colorado Avalanche – (Colorado Hockey Now)

Jared Bednar will return for a sixth season coaching the Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Hockey Now has learned.

Bednar, 49, already is the longest-tenured coach in Avs history, and that tenure will continue into the 2021-22 NHL season. In his five years behind the bench, he has posted a regular-season record of 184-149-39 and 24-19 in the playoffs.

Penguins Zach Trotman Retires, ‘Cheers to the Game and Thank You’ – (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins trade whispers and free agent talk has begun. The biggest Penguins’ surprise of the 2020-21 NHL playoffs was not Jeff Carter or their puck domination of the New York Islanders. Though those were surprising, but the bigger shocker was goalie Tristan Jarry and his soft play. And so, the Penguins might be in the market for a playoff-experienced backup goalie.

Seider will be the Red Wings’ third extra-large German-born defenseman – (Detroit Hockey Now)

Detroit Red Wings’ super prospect Moritz Seider will need some time to become the leading German-born scorer in the team’s history.

Most older fans would probably guess defenseman Uwe Krupp currently holds that distinction with six points in 30 games wearing a Detroit sweater. They may not know former Red Wings defenseman Willie Huber (1978-83) was born in Strasskirchen, Germany. When he was an infant, his family moved to Hamilton, Ontario.

Is Drafting Goalie in 1st Round Actually Bad? – (San Jose Hockey Now)

Kyle and JD look into if taking a goalie in the first round is actually as bad as people say it is. We look at every goalie drafted in the first round since 2000 and decide if they were worth the draft capital and if Jesper Wallstedt should be considered when the San Jose Sharks are on the clock in the 2021 NHL Draft.

COMING SOON …. (??? Hockey Now)

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Photo: Heather Barry Images