In today’s NHL news and rumors rundown, we highlight some of the top stories over the weekend. There was a rumor of a former Boston Bruins captain potentially coming out of retirement for one last run. The NHL also saw a signing in Edmonton that could make or break the Oilers. Will this signing compromise the chemistry of the red-hot Oilers? Could this add to the hot streak the team is on? Additionally, with a few positions to fill for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, the NHL announced a couple of replacements for the injured All-Stars. Finally, the newly hired head coach of the New York Islanders, Patrick Roy, has secured his first win at the team’s helm.
Bergeron Is Not Coming Out Of Retirement
Usually, where there is fire, there is smoke. In this case, there’s nothing. Patrice Bergeron does know why the rumor started and understands why the fans are being fans and adding fuel to this fire. Boston’s previous captain spends his Fridays on the ice skating with friends and fellow ex-NHL players in the Boston area.
Last week, the online chatter of Bergeron returning became intense. He retired this summer following his long and illustrious career, but he quickly shut down the potential for a return to the NHL. The 38-year-old mentioned that the skates are a slow pace and that the rumor would stay as pure fantasy.
Bergeron now enjoys retirement and also mentions that his work with Kraft Hockeyville is where he feels he belongs. The 2023-24 Bruins have been exceeding expectations as they remain competitive after the departures of Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and more. This has impressed Bergeron as he has consistently kept up with the Bruins’ success this season, but it hasn’t been enough to revive the competitive spirit in their former captain.
Perry Signs 1-Year Deal with Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have filled a depth position by signing veteran forward Corey Perry to a one-year deal. The 38-year-old winger will bring a wealth of experience to the Oilers, including multiple appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
Perry’s contract carries an average annual value of $775,000, accompanied by performance bonuses. CapFriendly outlines the potential for Perry to earn an additional $325,000 if he meets certain criteria.
- $225,000 for competing in 10 games.
- $50,000 contingent upon the Oilers winning the second round of the playoffs, provided Perry either a) participates in 50% of the second-round games or b) plays in 50% of the total games encompassing the first and second rounds.
- An additional $50,000 in the event of the Oilers emerging victorious in the third round of the playoffs, provided Perry either a) participates in 50% of the third-round games, or b) contributes in 50% of the total game spanning the first, second, and third rounds.
The Oilers would later waive forward Adam Erne for cap purposes and a roster spot for Perry. He made his practice debut for the Oilers, per Mark Spector, and will likely make his Oilers season debut against the Nashville Predators.
Typically, teams make an addition like this when they’re going through adversity in the season. This isn’t the case for the Oilers, who are currently on a 13-game win streak. Perry’s presence and addition to the lineup will be crucial and provide a strong veteran presence that the team could use if they want to go on a long playoff run.
NHL Names Kyle Connor & Vincent Trochek to All-Star Weekend
The National Hockey League announced that the New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck and Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor have been added to the roster for the 2024 NHL All-Star weekend. Connor and Trocheck replace injured players Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Trocheck has recorded 15 goals and 44 points in 46 games played this season for the Metropolitan division-leading Rangers. The Rangers currently sit with a win-loss record of 29-15-2 with 60 points. The Rangers forward is tied for first on the team in points and power-play goals. He is on pace to set new single-season career highs for assists and points in 2023-24.
Connor has recorded 18 goals and 29 points in 28 games played this season for the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets. This is his second All-Star Game appearance in the Jets star forward’s NHL career. He leads the Jets in goals despite being sidelined with an injury for 16 games. If he keeps up his scoring pace, he will become the second player in franchise history to record multiple 40-goal campaigns.
Patrick Roy Gets First Win as New York Islanders Head Coach
The recent firing of Lane Lambert and replacement with new head coach Patrick Roy was certainly a choice decision. The Hall of Fame goaltender hasn’t found an NHL coaching job since he left the Colorado Avalanche before his fourth season as the team’s head coach.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello believes in Roy and the team that has been built. Roy’s most recent success came when he won the 2023 Memorial Cup as the head coach of the Quebec Remparts. Roy has said he learned from his experience with the Avalanche, and his abrupt resignation just seven and a half years ago was a minor bump in the road.
After the first game as Islanders head coach, Roy admitted that he was nervous. The Islanders played for the coach and found a way to get a big win for their new coach. Ilya Sorokin’s 40 saves lifted the Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars.
The Montreal Canadiens’ 1984 third-round draft pick has never been afraid to speak his mind. The Remparts rallied behind the coach and proved that Roy is a player-first coach. Lamoriello hopes this will be the start of success for the New York Islanders since they’ve fallen out of playoff contention for now.
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