Evan’s NHL Daily: Kovalenko Tussles With Blackhawks Pick, Oilers Cap Bailout

It’s August and nobody is trying to get hurt before the NHL season gets started, but that doesn’t mean you take it easy. Playing in a 3-on-3 tournament down in Florida, Nikolai Kovalenko and the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Artyom Levshunov, had a bit of a disagreement on the ice, and despite giving up a few inches to the Blackhawks pick, Kovalenko didn’t back down.

The Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams who are currently over the salary cap, but it sounds like they’re going to get a bit of a bailout thanks to an injury to Evander Kane.

Colorado Hockey Now

It might be a few more years until he gets to Colorado, but the Avalanche may have found a perfect fit for their system in Mikhail Gulyayev. (+)

We are officially one month away from Avalanche hockey returning…sort of. The tournament schedule for the 2024 Rookie Faceoff was released.

Kovalenko/Levshunov Tussle

A handful of NHL players are playing in a 3-on-3 tournament down in Florida, including Nikita Zadorov and former Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime. Nikolai Kovalenko is also taking part in it, and his team is headed to the finals. Before that happened, he got into a tussle with Blackhawks pick Artyom Levshunov.

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Kovalenko isn’t one to back down from anyone, no matter the size. Maybe these two will get to settle this in the NHL this season.

News And Rumors

X: The Oilers look like they’re in a bit of a bind with the salary cap this season…or not. It sounds like Evander Kane might be headed towards LTIR to bail them out.

Hearing there is a very good chance that the @EdmontonOilers Evander Kane won't be ready for the start of the season…that he may require surgery…and is likely to be on LTIR to start the year

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) August 12, 2024

Edmonton still has to sign Philip Broberg, who was pretty important for them in the playoffs.

Sportsnet: Toronto will have a new Captain, although their old Captain will still be on the team. John Tavares is handing his “C” over to Auston Matthews.

It seems odd to do this now and not a year from now when Tavares’ contract is up, but I guess there’s no point in delaying the inevitable. Doubt this changes their playoff fortunes.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Taking a look back at the extensions that the Penguins handed out to Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin.

Boston Hockey Now: With a month until camp opens, should Bruins fans be concerned that there’s no contract done with Jeremy Swayman?

NYI Hockey Now: What is the identity of the New York Islanders?

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings have made some strange choices the last few summers, and all along, they’ve had a good player in the AHL waiting. That guy now wants a shot in the NHL full-time, but the team has to sign Jonatan Berggren first.

Buffalo Hockey Now: The NHL is full of former Sabres running teams, but which one is the best? I’m going to guess Mike Grier is not the winner.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils have a good one in Nikolai Kovalenko’s former KHL teammate, Anton Silayev. (+)