Morning Hits: 3-on-3, Knee-on-knee, Waivers and Ranking Coaches

  • Chris Johnston: The NHL could implement next season an expended video review process for goaltender interference plays.
  • Elliotte Friedman: Stephane Quintal, Department of Player Safety, said that knee-on-knee hits are at one every 14 games, which is up from one every 24 games. Can expect that knee-on-knee hits will be reviewed more often, with the possibility of one game suspensions.
  • John Shannon: From the GM meetings, new procedure starting immediately is that Hockey Operations can stop play on undetected goals where the play continues. If Hockey Operations knows 100 percent that a goal was scored but missed on the ice, they can sound a horn to stop play and award the goal.
  • Bob McKenzie: Matt Frattin (TOR) and Andrej Nestrasil (DET) were put on waivers yesterday. Frattin is only a $800,000 but has a year left on his contract. Nestrasil is on a one-year, $550,000 deal and is only 23-years old.
  • ESPN: ESPN ranks NHL coaches, asked 25 ‘experts’ on how they  predict each will perform this year.

    1. Darryl Sutter – Kings
    2. Joel Quenneville – Blackhawks
    3. Mike Babcock – Red Wings
    4. Claude Julien – Bruins
    5. Ken Hitchcock – Blues
    6. Jon Cooper – Lightning
    7. Bruce Boudreau – Ducks
    8. Barry Trotz – Capitals
    9. Alain Vigneault – Rangers
    10. Dave Tippet – Coyotes
    11. Todd McLellan – Sharks
    T12. Lindy Ruff – Stars
    T12. Michel Therrien – Canadiens
    14. Patrick Roy – Avalanche
    T15. Peter Laviolette – Predators
    T15. Mike Yeo – Wild
    17. Todd Richards – Blue Jackets
    18. Peter DeBoer – Devils
    19. Paul MacLean – Senators
    20. Bob Hartley – Flames
    21. Mike Johnston – Penguins
    22. Jack Capuano – Islanders
    23. Paul Maurice – Jets
    T24. Craig Berube – Flyers
    T24. Willie Desjardins – Canucks
    26. Ted Nolan – Sabres
    27. Randy Carlyle – Maple Leafs
    28. Bill Peters – Hurricanes
    29. Gerard Gallant – Panthers
    30. Dallas Eakins – Oilers