The Calgary Flames’ rough start has not pushed Ryan Huska onto the hot seat, even with the club stumbling out of the gate. According to Darren Dreger, the coach’s job security is not the issue in Calgary right now.
In Los Angeles, the Kings are dealing with a different kind of frustration. Their problems are showing up in goal and on offense, and Pierre LeBrun said there is no simple answer. Goaltending has become a talking point, but the bigger concern internally appears to be the way the offseason unfolded.
“They’d love to get into the Larkin trade conversation, but Los Angeles is not on the list of teams under consideration by Larkin. They batted the idea around of free agent Patrik Laine, but I’m not sure they’re going to end up going there. But it’s an idea.
They really need Kevin Fiala back. He may start practicing with the team over the next couple of weeks.”
The Flyers, meanwhile, are trying to sort through a different kind of roster puzzle. After an 0-6-3 start, they’ve strung together two straight wins despite a wave of injuries, and now they may have a wing logjam once everyone gets healthy. Trevor Zegras has reportedly looked better on the wing alongside Christian Dvorak.
There had been reporting last week that Philadelphia might ask Travis Konecny about his future if the season went sideways. Now, the feeling is that the Flyers could make that approach even if the team keeps winning. Konecny, 29, has six years left on his deal after this season at an $8.75 million cap hit, and sources say there has been interest in him since last year’s trade deadline.
Owen Tippett is another name to watch. Sources say teams have shown more interest in Tippett than Konecny in the past.
Tippett is 27, carries a $6.2 million cap hit, and has a 10-team no-trade. If he were to loosen that protection, teams would likely line up with more interest in Konecny than Tippett.
A source said Philadelphia could explore moving more than one winger in order to bring in a top-six forward. The Flyers also like Seattle’s Matty Beniers, though there’s no sign the Kraken are willing to move him. The Kraken do like Tyson Foester, but a source said that would be a non-starter for the Flyers, who may instead prefer Tippett plus a center prospect such as Jett Luchanko.
On defense, Oliver Bonk’s play and maybe eventually Hunter McDonald could create another question for Cam York’s role with the team. His name is starting to come up as someone who could potentially be available. York is 25 and has three years left after this season on a $5.15 million cap hit.
As for Rasmus Ristolainen, he has been available for the right price for the past three seasons, and it seems unlikely he’ll be extending with the Flyers after this season.
In Other News...
Kings Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Quinton Byfield
Quinton Byfields night against the Capitals ended quickly, and for a Kings team already trying to steady itself in a rough start to the season, it was another unwelcome development. The young forward left the game with an upper-body injury, adding a new layer of concern around one of the clubs more important pieces as the team continues searching for its first win.
The issue apparently began at Mondays practice, when Byfield was hurt and later described himself as feeling a little tight. He made it only four shifts against Washington before exiting, leaving the Kings to navigate the rest of the game without him and waiting for clarity on how much time, if any, he might miss. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Finally Showed The Response Fans Have Been Waiting For
The frustration around the Kings had been building through six straight losses and a stretch of flat offense that had left them searching for any sign of life. Against Washington, they finally offered the kind of response their season had been missing, skating to a 5-2 win behind goals from Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin, Alex Laferriere and Erik Gustafsson, while Darcy Kuemper steadied things with 30 saves in net.
For a team that had been getting squeezed by the scoreboard and by its own inability to finish, the result mattered almost as much as the points. Peter Laviolette and several players pointed to the performance as a meaningful step forward, and now the bigger question is whether it can be the start of something more than one relieving night. [Read more 🡒]
Mats Zuccarellos Return Gives Kings Hope With One Clear Catch
Mats Zuccarellos return gave the Kings a welcome jolt in their recent win over Washington, and it came at a time when their offense could use some extra stability. After being limited by a shoulder injury during training camp and the early part of the season, Zuccarello was back in the lineup and helped the group look more connected going forward, a small but meaningful sign for a team still trying to find its best rhythm.
Zuccarello said the start had not been easy after the time away, but he sounded encouraged by the chance to settle in and keep sharpening his game with the team. For the Kings, that leaves an obvious upside if he can keep building off this latest appearance, even if there is still a little catching up to do before everything feels natural again. [Read more 🡒]