Yesterday was a relatively quiet news day, although things heated up as the evening went on. Did general managers forget when the deadline actually was? Anyway, while the usual “will they/won’t they” conversation dominated the Twitterverse, news pieces were generally hard to come by. However, there were some things worth covering, so to ease you into this Monday morning…here ya go:
-Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde and Lightning head coach Jon Cooper both had thoughts about today’s deadline. In general: Stay the course.
“I think we want to improve every single night,” Gourde said. “Our leadership group has been very good, very sound of keeping us humble and making sure we’re working hard every single night. Every game is very important for us. It’s a chance to get better at basically everything we do on the ice. We always want to get better, and I think we approach every single game like a chance to get better. Some opponents that we face are maybe a first-round opponent, so it’s always important to go into those games and be ready because we might face them and see what they bring and what we bring.”
Gourde on the trade deadline: “It’s those days where you look at twitter the most probably of the year. You want to see what’s happening around the league. But for me, it’s just worry about hockey and not worry about what’s happening out there.” #Bolts
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) February 24, 2019
Coop on trade deadline: “It’s not make a trade to make a trade. We like our group. Every year, management’s done an excellent job making sure nothing’s been disrupted when things have been added and I’m sure whatever happens, it’ll be good for us. And that could be nothing.”
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) February 24, 2019
-Could the Lightning “win” the trade deadline simply by staying pat? Well…
In fact, given their domination of the league and the available depth within their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning are in a position to win the 2019 Trade Deadline without even having to make a move.
(Y’all have no idea how hard it is for me to not add on commentary to this that, you know, Syracuse has their own run to the playoffs going on, and…and…and….)
-Speaking of Yanni, that adorable, jolly man never disappoints during our new favorite game from the Lightning:
Yanni is forever our favorite player to ponder what we’re asking him to touch without seeing or having any context as to what he’s doing. 😂 pic.twitter.com/DJCOhDwHUT
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 24, 2019
-Tonight is the Lightning’s You Can Play/Pride Night game:
Monday is Tampa Bay @TBLightning Pride Night. 🏒🏳️🌈
Still time to get tickets and use the promo code “PRIDE”: https://t.co/JHT2wZbRCq#GoBolts #HockeyIsForEveryone #YouCanPlay @NHL @NHLPA
❤🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/5pjRmFEjIy— You Can Play Project (@YouCanPlayTeam) February 24, 2019
-A group of local students were chosen as recipients of a monetary awards through the the Take Stock in Children program. They were awarded the money for their college education during the Lightning’s recent game.
Congrats to Isabella Saa, (Farnell MS), Joseph’Lafay Washington-Clements (McLane MS), Julian Brito (Roland Park K-8 MS), & Nicolas Legeret-Harris (Strawberry Crest HS) – recognized on Thursday by @stantec and @hillsedufnd! pic.twitter.com/oOTfzHu3fO
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 24, 2019
The money is awarded through the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
-These therapy pigs make me so happy.
Does this red carpet make my butt look big 🐷🐷⚡️ #oscars #whosready #watchparty #redcarpetready #passthe🍿 pic.twitter.com/lUS2eBiqlG
— Thunder Bolt Pigs 🐷🐷⚡️ (@ThunderBoltPigs) February 24, 2019
-Syracuse Crunch head coach Ben Groulx is not known for mincing words. This past weekend’s performance by his team clearly did not thrill him.
“I think discipline was a problem all weekend long.”
Ben Groulx on his team taking numerous penalties against Toronto. #TORvsSYR pic.twitter.com/LzyRSXdrMO
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 24, 2019
-Syracuse did manage three points in two games against a tough Toronto opponent. Crunch captain Gabriel Dumont felt his team made strides as the weekend went on.
“Tonight, we were more structured, more focused, a lot harder to play against.”
Gabriel Dumont on the team play on Saturday compared to the night before. #TORvsSYR pic.twitter.com/OjYndK7Yms
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 24, 2019
-The Crunch are going to be in the Syracuse community again this week with their Celebrity Bartending series. Lightning prospects Taylor Raddysh and Ross Colton will be slinging drinks on Wednesday.
The @Molson_Canadian / @MillerLite Celebrity Bartending Series is back this Wednesday.
Join @Raddy1998 and @roscoldash at Bosco’s Village Pub from 7 to 9 p.m. We’ll be raising money for the Solvay Police and Fire Departments.
Details: https://t.co/tT1w2vRouv pic.twitter.com/sLVG7sgPNN
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 24, 2019
-The Orlando Solar Bears are doing very well at home!
How do you spell out an eight-game point streak on home ice?
WWWWWOWW. 😏
Read up in our @AdventHealth Postgame Report! https://t.co/XA3sdSULSW
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) February 24, 2019
Look for more on the Solar Bears later on this morning from Tracey.
-Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of the US Men’s Olympic Team’s historic gold medal victory at Lake Placid in 1980.
3️⃣9️⃣years ago today, we played our 7️⃣th and final game of the 1980 Winter Olympic tournament. We won the #Gold medal with another come from behind victory, this time over Finland 4-2! 🏒🏅🇺🇸 #miracleonice #80miracleteam #roadtogold #Believe pic.twitter.com/cDWL5gAg3x
— 1980 Miracle Team (@1980MiracleTeam) February 24, 2019
-Henrik Lundqvist reminds us rather poignantly about the human side of trades as he discusses Mats Zuccarello, something that is probably needed as we go into today:
Henrik Lundqvist gets choked up talking about the Mats Zuccarello trade.
We’re with ya Hank. #NYR pic.twitter.com/HyyfIS1NWS
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 24, 2019
-Meanwhile, in Dallas…
Mats Zuccarello is heading back to Dallas for evaluation, but the early assessment is that he is expected to miss at least 4 weeks.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 24, 2019
Zuccarello said it’s his arm and thinks it’s broken. Doesn’t know anything else and said he’ll see doctor tomorrow or Tuesday for better idea if recovery plan
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) February 24, 2019
-Another series of trades that have impacted lives are the ones that saw Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel traded to Columbus. Travel to get to the Blue Jackets apparently ended up like this:
Matt Duchene chartered a private jet, flew back to Ottawa today and picked up his wife, baby, dog and Ryan Dzingel and then flew back to Columbus.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) February 24, 2019
…And as an adorable follow up:
Duchene flew to Ottawa and grabbed his family…oh and Ryan Dzingel 😂 pic.twitter.com/Atvc41F5E1
— The CBJ Artillery (@TheCBJArtillery) February 24, 2019
-It was reported last night that Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks completed a trade involving Brendan Guhle and Brandon Montour.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired defenseman Brendan Guhle and a first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Brandon Montour.
Read more about the acquisition, including which BUF first-round pick we receive: https://t.co/Bd5lObcnDE pic.twitter.com/BHdZKAZiPz
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 25, 2019
Guhle was hopped by Pilut on the depth chart and has had some ups and downs in Rochester. Lots of talent, but a guy you can feel OK moving for a player like Montour who’ll make an immediate impact on the NHL roster.
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) February 25, 2019
-Former Lightning goalie prospect Adam Wilcox has earned his way from an AHL contract to an NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The move came after the Sabres lost goalie Jonas Johansson to injury for the rest of the season.
Sabres signed Adam Wilcox, who’s been in Rochester on an AHL deal, to a two-way NHL deal for the remainder of the season. He’s on waivers for the purpose of signing him.
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) February 24, 2019
-The Chicago Blackhawks and the LA Kings swapped forwards, with Spencer Watson going to Chicago (and getting assigned to the AHL) and Matheson Iacopelli going to the Kings organization.
ROSTER MOVE: Forward Spencer Watson has been acquired from the Kings in exchange for forward Matheson Iacopelli.
Watson (AAV of $705,833) will report to the IceHogs. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/BuQO5H1Cav
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 25, 2019
-The Nashville Predators and the Toronto Maple Leafs also crafted a minor league trade, with Nicholas Baptiste going to Toronto for Future Considerations. Baptiste was then assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In a possibly related move, the Marlies then traded forward Emerson Clark to the Milwaukee Admirals in exchange for future considerations.
-Lee Stempniak has been signed by the Boston Bruins and was placed on waivers yesterday because of it.
-The Ottawa Senators did something new and rather special at their game last night: They hosted the largest Citizenship Ceremony in Canadian sports history.
In partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and @Ottawa_Tourism the #Sens will host the largest Citizenship Ceremony in Canadian sports history. 188 new Canadians from 40 different countries will sing the national anthem ahead of tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/3vzcWEOA1H
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 24, 2019
-Late last night, the San Jose Sharks landed Gus Nyquist from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2019 2nd round pick and a 2020 conditional 3rd round pick. The Wings also retained 30% of Nyquist’s salary. The 2020 pick becomes a 2nd rounder if San Jose makes it to the Stanley Cup Final or if they re-sign Nyquist. Those aren’t bad conditions for Detroit and that could easily end up being two 2nd rounders.
Trade call hasn’t happened yet but I’m told two draft picks going from San Jose to Detroit if the deal is approved. https://t.co/oURSP5mfhb
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 25, 2019
