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Around the NHL: Faulk calls out Blues’ teammates, Canucks/Kraken complete deal, Flames’ Cooley heating up on trade market
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Shane Seney
Nov 11, 2024, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 11, 2024, 09:12 EST
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The Winnipeg Jets continue to be the story of the NHL with their historic 14-1-0 start to the season.
The Jets’ balanced attack continues to set the standard for offence, as Winnipeg leads the league with 67 goals scored. Don’t forget about Connor Hellebuyck, who has cemented himself as Team USA’s best option to start in goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Hellebuyck has posted an 11-1-0 record, with a 1.83 goals against average (GAA) and a .935 save percentage (Sv.%).
Even with their blazing start, the Jets aren’t the only story in town. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Justin Faulk tees off on ‘unacceptable’ Blues

The St Louis Blues were embarrassed on Saturday 8-1 at the hands of the Washington Capitals. After the game, Blues’ defenceman Justin Faulk spoke to reporters and called out the entire team for their brutal performance.
“It’s completely unacceptable,” Faulk said via the Blues team website. “It’s just not all right at all. I don’t think that should ever happen, a situation like that. We need to have respect for each other and the game. You can’t just go out there and play summer hockey for a period and think that’s all right at any point.”
“We’re grown men in this league and need to put in an effort that’s acceptable. It’s not going to go your way every night, but … that’s just unacceptable.”
It’s the second time in a two-week span in which the Blues lost 8-1. Captain Brayden Schenn tried to turn the attention to himself, instead of his teammates. “With that happening in Ottawa and happening again tonight, it all starts with me,” Schenn said. “I can’t let that happen again this season. It’s just unacceptable. You’re gonna lose hockey games, but to get embarrassed on home ice on Saturday night, you can’t let that happen.”
The Blues are 7- 8- 0 to start the season. Goaltender Jordan Binnington is in the running for a goalie spot with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off despite a slow start to the season, with a record of 4-6-0, a 3.28 GAA and .886 Sv.%.

Daniel Sprong traded back to Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks completed a minor trade last week, as the Canucks shipped forward Daniel Sprong to the Kraken for future considerations. Sprong signed a one-year, $750,000 with the Canucks during the offseason, and had posted one goal and two assists in his first nine games this season.
Sprong was a member of the Kraken during the 2022-23 season when he registered career highs in all offensive categories, scoring 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points in 66 games. The Kraken ranked in the bottom half of the league when it comes to goals scored per game, so are hopeful Sprong can return to form after reuniting with his former teammates in Seattle.
The Canucks are off to a 7-3-3 start the year, and perhaps would have kept Sprong a little longer had they’d known Brock Boeser was going to get hurt. Boeser is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury after taking a brutal hit from LA Kings forward Tanner Jeannot last week.
The hit happened mid-way through the first period in Thursday’s contest. Boeser left the game immediately, meanwhile, Jeannot was handed a three-game suspension.

Flames’ Devin Cooley becoming prime trade candidate

When Devin Cooley signed a multi-year contract with the Calgary Flames during the offseason, he knew he’d be in tough to crack the lineup with Daniel Vladar and Dustin Wolf ahead of him on the depth chart. Cooley was sent down to the AHL to start this year and hasn’t looked back since.
The 27-year-old netminder is off to a blazing hot start with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, posting an 8-2-0 record with a 1.46 GAA and .954 Sv.%, along with three shutouts. While yes, it’s the AHL and not NHL numbers, there’s little doubt Cooley is starting to turn heads at the NHL level.
According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Cooley’s quickly becoming a candidate on the trade market and could be an option for teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers to consider at some point this season. The Avs rank 31st in the NHL for goals allowed per game, meanwhile, the Flyers sit in the 29th spot.
Cooley’s contract carries $775,000 average annual value through the 2025-26 season.

Quick hits:

  • The Canucks called up top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The 2022 first-rounder has scored five goals in seven AHL games this season.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed defenseman Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Nashville Predators.
  • According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters will be announced on Dec.4.
  • Flyers’ coach John Tortorella has healthy scratched rookie Matvei Michkov in back-to-back games after Michkov was named the NHL’s rookie of the month in October, posting four goals and 10 points in 13 games.
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