Evan's Daily
Evan’s Daily: Jonathan Toews Considering Retirement? Kovalenko Still Crushing in KHL
Around the NHL, news has come out that Jonathan Toews might just be considering retirement. Does that alter the plans of the Colorado Avalanche in the summer?
Speaking of the Avalanche, they went into Detroit and won their 10th straight game against their former rivals. Meanwhile, one of their top prospects, Nikolai Kovalenko, scored another pretty goal for his team in the postseason.
All that and more in this Sunday edition of Evan’s Daily.
Colorado Hockey Now
How dead is this rivalry? The games are barely competitive at this point between the Avalanche and the Red Wings. On Saturday, the Avalanche stomped the Red Wings again, this time beating them 5-1.
The Avalanche actually didn’t have the best start to the game, but Alexandar Georgiev held them in the game until they got their legs going. Check out the Plus/Minus from the game, including the continued surprise play of Denis Malgin.
In Russia, Nikolai Kovalenko bust through the defense for another goal, and is tied for his team lead in scoring in the postseason. Check out video of the goal here.
Around the NHL
Credit to the Daily Herald in Chicago, but according to two of their sources, Jonathan Toews is seriously considering retirement this summer. He’s been out for almost two months with long-COVID symptoms, as well as Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. You can read more about it here.
Does it affect what the Avalanche do in the summer? Possibly. They were looking at Toews all year long as a potential deadline pickup, and they could have very easily circled back this summer if he became an unrestricted free agent. It will be another summer of looking at all options for whose going to fill the second line center role.
National Hockey Now
PHN: Penguins fans who have only ever known greatness since Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin got to town are now seeing what it’s like when those stars can’t bail the team out every night. The Rangers took it to them on Saturday, and they will be in town to face the Avalanche on Wednesday.
SJHN: Sheng weighs in on the James Reimer situation from Saturday night with his opinions on the matter.
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The only possibility I see as a 2nd line center for 2023-24 is Newhook. Once the Avs will have signed Byram, hopefully long term, replace or renew guys like Rodriguez, Cogliano, EJ and Helm, there will be no money left for a second line center. Even Toews would not ask for less than Compher will ask next summer, so…
Good article about Reimer.