NHL Roundup: Blackhawks want offender off Cup; Hughes out 5 weeks; Eichel grievance coming; and more

New York Rangers Draft
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; From left Kaapo Kakko (New York Rangers) , Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) and Kirby Dach (Chicago Blackhawks) pose with their new team jerseys after being drafted as the top three overall picks in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL has six games on the schedule tonight, including the Rangers taking on the Blue Jackets. Of course, there is a much bigger and more important story still unfolding.

As the fallout continues from the Blackhawks investigation and Kyle Beach’s interview, the owner wants more action taken immediately.

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NHL: Blackhawks want offender off Cup

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz has asked the Hockey Hall of Fame to remove former video coach and convicted sex offender Brad Aldrich’s name from the Stanley Cup.

In a letter obtained by ESPN, Wirtz suggested “x-ing out” Aldrich’s name.

“While nothing can undo what he did, leaving his name on the most prestigious trophy in sports seems wrong,” Wirtz wrote, according to Friday’s report from ESPN.

“Names have been engraved and then changed for years,” Wirtz wrote in his letter, addressed to Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald. “Taking a stand on the unforgivable behavior of Aldrich should include erasing his name from the Cup.”

nhl roundup
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Jets GM won’t be punished by NHL

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will not be disciplined by the NHL after the league determined he was not responsible for the improper decisions made by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Brad Aldrich matter in 2010.

Cheveldayoff, who was the assistant general manager of the Blackhawks during the 2009-10 season, met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in New York on Friday morning.

“While on some level, it would be easiest to paint everyone with any association to this terrible matter with the same broad brush, I believe that fundamental fairness requires a more in-depth analysis of the role of each person,” Bettman said. “Kevin Cheveldayoff was not a member of the Blackhawks senior leadership team in 2010, and I cannot, therefore, assign to him responsibility for the Club’s actions, or inactions. He provided a full account of his degree of involvement in the matter, which was limited exclusively to his attendance at a single meeting, and I found him to be extremely forthcoming and credible in our discussion.”

Devils Jack Hughes out 5 weeks

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes will be sidelined at least an additional five weeks with a dislocated left shoulder.

Hughes, who will not require surgery, sustained the injury in New Jersey’s 4-2 win against the expansion Seattle Kraken on Oct. 19.

The Devils announced the decision on Friday after Hughes recently met with team head orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow for his one-week re-evaluation. Per the Devils, it was determined that Hughes’ left shoulder dislocation “is stable, there are no unforeseen issues, and he is on course with his rehabilitation program.”

Leafs extend Morgan Rielly

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday an eight-year, $60 million extension for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Rielly, 27, was in the final year of a six-year, $30 million contract. The extension carries an average annual value of $7.5 million and keeps him in Toronto through the 2029-30 season.

A look at the Maple Leafs salary cap situation for the 2022-23 season indicates that they will have around 58% of their salary cap dedicated to five players.

John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and now Rielly will account for $48 million in cap space next season. The Leafs will need to start considering making trades in preparation for next season.

Jack Eichel grievance

eichel grievance
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Insider Darren Dreger says that “the countdown is officially on” for Sabres center Jack Eichel. While one could assume that might mean a trade, it’s actually in reference to the grievance that Elliotte Friedman noted was likely to come this week.

“It could be a countdown to an NHLPA grievance more than a trade,” Dreger said. “That’s what Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams and those that represent Jack Eichel, Pat Brisson and J.P. Barry, CAA Hockey, are working with right now.”

Eichel, 24, was the #2 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. He last played a game on March 7th against the Islanders and suffered an injury. Jack was later diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck.

“So the hope is from both sides, the player’s perspective and the Buffalo Sabres, that they do find a trade that works,” Dreger continued. “Otherwise, his Player’s Association grievance is coming. If the trade does happen, Jack Eichel could be under the knife and having disk replacement surgery early next week.”

-Field Level Media contributed to this report

Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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