During today's roundup of NHL rumors, a media member criticized Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane for bringing unnecessary drama to the team. There's drama in Toronto too, with people wanting to know why William Nylander is practicing and goofing around but can't play. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Flyers have also been in the news as a former Flyer retired and a new Flyer signed a contract extension. Finally, the Buffalo Sabers rehired Lindy Ruff as head coach.
Evander Cain called out by journalists for unnecessary drama
Sportsnet's Marc Spector criticized Evander Kane for causing drama for the team when it didn't need any of it ahead of the playoff series. Kane revealed he has a sports hernia, but he appeared in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday and played pretty well. He was a bottom-six forward and didn't score despite going 7-4, but still got on the puck and created chances. Still, Spector suggested that the need to draw attention to Kane's injury is just one example of why Kane's actions will go out of style with many of the teams he plays for.
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It was strange for Kane to reveal the extent of his nagging injury, since players usually don't talk much about the issue during the postseason. First, it is not always wise to allow an opposing force to identify your weak points and try to exploit them. Second, change the story to “my situation” instead of “our situation.”
The Oilers ran the same line in practice Tuesday as they did in Game 1.
Canucks' Thatcher Demko absent from Game 2
Goaltender Thatcher Demko will miss Game 2 of the Vancouver Canucks' series against the Nashville Predators, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravari and Sportsnet Insider Elliott Friedman. Both noted that Demko could be questionable for the remainder of the series.
It's clear that this is incredibly bad news for the Canucks if Demko is out for an extended period of time. They are a solid team with a strong offense, but he is a mainstay on their roster.
What is William Nylander's current status?
Sheldon Keefe told the media on Monday that William Nylander's return to on-ice action was “possible tomorrow…”. With the Toronto Maple Leafs already benefiting from winning Game 2, the expectation is that Nylander will be available for Game 3, unless for no other reason than to quiet down negotiations.
Members of the media are starting to get concerned about the fact that Nylander is moving around a lot in practice, acting goofy, but not being able to play. And since the organization hasn't said anything regarding Nylander's health, some are starting to draw conclusions.
Voracek retires, Fedotov signs contract extension
Jakub Voracek announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday. The former Flyer had a solid career in the NHL, scoring 806 points in 15 seasons. Meanwhile, Ivan Fedotov signed a two-year extension with the Philadelphia Flyers. His contract is worth $3.25 million per season.
The Fedotov contract was one GM Daniel Briere had been working on since Fedotov joined the team late in the season. With Carter Hart out and unlikely to return, the Flyers have a solid goaltending prospect, but they wanted to shore up a contract with a player they thought could be a starter.
Sabers bring back Lindy Ruff
The Sabers have rehired Lindy Ruff as coach for her third time with the team. GM Kevin Adams said it's not a nostalgic hire, even though some may perceive it as a nostalgic hire. He noted that Ruff is the right person for the job. Ruff said he was very excited to return, but he said, “We're in a 'win-win' situation right now” about returning to guard the bench.
