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Hynes, Boudreau Not In “Imminent” Danger

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Both the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils have started slowly this season, leading to much speculation regarding their head coaching situations. In Minnesota, Bruce Boudreau was inherited, not hired, by new GM Bill Guerin and has his team off to a 1-4 record to start the year. John Hynes and the New Jersey Devils are off to an even worse 0-4-2 record even with all of the hype surrounding the team after big offseason changes. Despite the struggles, Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie report that neither is in imminent danger of being fired on the latest edition of Insider Trading for TSN.

In fact, LeBrun notes that Guerin will be patient with the entire Wild organization, taking full stock of what he has before making any major changes. Minnesota made Kevin Fiala a healthy scratch tonight in Toronto, sending a message to the young forward that no job is secure at the moment.

The Wild made sweeping changes to their core under former GM Paul Fenton, trading away Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle while adding Mats Zuccarello to a lengthy free agent deal. None of those moves have really panned out as of yet, meaning Guerin still has lots of work to do in Minnesota.

The Devils are in a much different situation. The team has made the playoffs just once in the last seven years, missing it three times under Hynes since he was hired in 2015. An 0-4-2 start may have been acceptable in some of those other years as they worked through a rebuild, but after adding Jack Hughes, P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev in one summer the team had big expectations.

Even if GM Ray Shero isn’t ready to make a change behind the bench right now, it’s hard to imagine that it wouldn’t happen at some point if the Devils continue to struggle. Hynes has just a 141-150-43 record as head coach of the team.

Denis Gurianov Recalled From AHL

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The Dallas Stars are off to a 1-5-1 record early on, and struggling to create much offense. They’ve scored just 13 goals through those seven games, but will get a boost soon with the return of Corey Perry. Today they also brought back young forward Denis Gurianov, who will get another chance to prove he can stick at the NHL level.

Gurianov, 22, played three games with the Stars earlier this season but found himself back in the minor leagues last week. It didn’t take long for him to earn a recall however, recording a hat trick on Friday night against the Iowa Wild. Gurianov scored 20 goals and 48 points in 57 games with the Texas Stars last year, really finding his game after early career struggles.

Selected 12th overall in 2015, there were questions surrounding Gurianov’s work ethic in his first few professional seasons. In the Stars’ 2018 Calder Cup run, the 6’3″ forward was even made a healthy scratch despite being one of the team’s best goal scoring threats in the regular season. In 2018-19 though things changed, with a more invested player dominating the AHL competition on a routine basis.

With Dallas struggling, perhaps they’ll give Gurianov a longer opportunity to see what he can do at the NHL level.

Detroit Red Wings Activate Frans Nielsen, Trevor Daley

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The Detroit Red Wings are getting some of their veterans back today, as they have activated both Frans Nielsen and Trevor Daley from injured reserve. To make room, the team sent Evgeny Svechnikov to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Detroit is actually off to a nice 3-2 start so far this season on the backs of their young forward core, but will get some much needed help as they continue to try and surprise the Atlantic Division and earn a playoff spot. Even now at 35 years old, Nielsen can still lengthen out the forward group and add some secondary scoring for the group.

Daley too is nearing the end of his career, but will be an interesting player to keep an eye on at the trade deadline if he can stay healthy. He has just a 15-team no-trade clause and is making just $2.2MM in actual salary this season ($3.166MM cap hit). His playoff experience, which includes two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be considered valuable if he can still log a few minutes on the back end.

Scratch Notes: Dermott, McCann, Fiala

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The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised many by sending Rasmus Sandin back to the minor leagues recently, but the decision might not have been only because of the youngster’s development as they said. Travis Dermott, who is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, shed his no-contact sweater at practice and is getting closer to a return.

Dermott, 22, was a big part of the Maple Leafs’ defense last season before his shoulder injury, logging more than 17 minutes a night and posting excellent possession numbers. The second-round pick plays an extremely aggressive style that can quickly disrupt rushes but also leaves him out of position at times. If he can learn to pick his spots a little more selectively, there’s a good chance the Maple Leafs have a future top-four option on their hands.

  • Another day, another injury up front for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jared McCann missed practice today and has been listed as day-to-day, leaving the team without another one of their key forwards for the time being. Amazingly, the Penguins have scored 14 goals over their last two games even with their banged up forward group, but have the high-flying Colorado Avalanche coming into town tomorrow.
  • It’s not an injury keeping Kevin Fiala out of the lineup, but he’ll be out all the same when the Minnesota Wild take on Toronto tonight. The team will make Fiala a healthy scratch just a few months after acquiring him from the Nashville Predators and touting him as a core member of their team going forward. The Wild have now scratched Fiala, Ryan Donato and Victor Rask this season, the three main acquisitions last season by former GM Paul Fenton.

Daniel Carr Placed On Waivers

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The Nashville Predators have placed Daniel Carr on waivers today, likely with the intention of sending him to the minor leagues should he clear.

Carr, 27, could be a very interesting candidate for several teams around the league who are dealing with injuries or inconsistencies up front. Though he played just six games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season, it was still a successful one for Carr, who dominated the AHL. Recording 71 points in 52 games, he led the Chicago Wolves in scoring and finished third league-wide.

That kind of offensive upside has always been interesting, but the veteran forward hasn’t ever really been able to land a full-time NHL role. Through 102 games in his career he has 35 points, but does carry just a $700K cap hit.

Andy Welinski Placed On Waivers By Philadelphia

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Tuesday: Welinski has cleared waivers and will head to the Phantoms.

Monday: The Philadelphia Flyers likely planned to have free agent addition Andy Welinski hit the waiver wire just before the start of the regular season, when waivers is saturated with talent and teams are not as likely to make an addition to their roster. However, Welinski suffered a lower-body injury in training camp and began the year on the Flyers’ injured reserve. Finally healthy, the team is forced to place Welinski on waivers now, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, in order to send him to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. With NHL teams having two weeks of games to look at as well as injury losses in need of a response, it’s fair to wonder if Welinksi will clear waivers.

Welinksi, 26, hit the open market this summer as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. A standout for his hometown University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Welinksi enjoyed a full four-year collegiate career before signing with the Anaheim Ducks, who had selected him in the third round in 2011. In his first two pro seasons, Welinski only played in seven games for the Ducks, instead producing at a high level as a top defenseman for the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. However, in 2018-19, Welinski became a valuable depth piece on the Anaheim blue line. His split his season between the parent club and farm team, skating in 26 games for the Ducks and recording four points. However, even with his emergence as an NHL option for Anaheim, he was still far short of the 80 games needed by age 25 to remain a restricted free agents. Welinksi opted to take his talents to Philadelphia, where a young defense corps undergoing an overhaul offered the potential for another NHL opportunity.

The question now is whether Welinski’s next appearance at the top level will be with Philadelphia or elsewhere. Although the Phantoms feature other NHL veterans, such as Nate Prosser and T.J. Brennan, Welinski would likely be the next man up in the event of an injury in Philly. However, other teams may be willing to offer him a depth role right away. Given the injuries to Niklas Hjalmarsson in Arizona and Adam Larsson in Edmonton, not to mention the depth concerns in Winnipeg and New Jersey, that is already four teams that could consider taking a flier on Welinski. He may not be a household name or even an established NHLer at this point in career, but for now he’s a free option with demand for defense on the rise.

Minor Transactions: 10/15/19

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The Colorado Avalanche stayed perfect last night by tearing apart the Washington Capitals’ defense in a 6-3 win, and now have a two-point lead in the Central Division. The Minnesota Wild, who are at the other end of that spectrum will try to build off their first win when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. That’s just one of seven games on the schedule, including a potential Western Conference playoff matchup between the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights. As teams prepare, we’ll be keeping track of all the minor moves as always.

  • Former NHL forward Alexandre Grenier has signed with Iserlohn of the German DEL for the rest of the season. Grenier played last season for the Laval Rocket, scoring 27 points and serving as an alternate captain. The 28-year old has nine NHL games under his belt, all with the Vancouver Canucks, but never did register a point at that level.
  • Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Ryan Sproul has signed a one-year deal with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Sproul played for three different AHL teams last season, but spent the most time with the Hershey Bears where he scored 23 points in 52 games.
  • The Dallas Stars have sent Joel L’Esperance and Nicholas Caamano back to the minor leagues, after the team suffered their fifth loss of the season yesterday. The Stars are in panic mode already in the young season, but should be getting some help back soon in the form of Corey Perry.
  • With Oscar Fantenberg dealing with injury, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled Ashton Sautner from the minor leagues. Sautner played 17 games for Vancouver last season, recording a single point.
  • After activating Sam Steel off of injured reserve yesterday, the Anaheim Ducks have sent Isac Lundestrom to the minor leagues. Lundestrom played three games for the Ducks this season but was held pointless, and can now continue his development in the AHL.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Chris Stewart

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After spending last season playing in the EIHL, Chris Stewart has made it back to the best league in the world. The Philadelphia Flyers have signed Stewart to a one-year, one-way contract and are expected to have him in the lineup tonight when they take on the Calgary Flames. Stewart’s deal carries an average annual value of $750K though the actual year-long cap hit will be slightly higher given he signed it in-season.

Stewart, 31, played most of last season for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, scoring 13 points in 23 games. It may be hard to remember after his last few NHL seasons that were spent bouncing around the league, but Stewart was once one of the most feared power forwards in the game. Scoring 28 goals in consecutive seasons during the early part of his career, he was an absolute force in front of the net and could protect the puck extremely well with his huge frame. His touch around the net has never really left—Stewart still carries a career 82-game average of more than 20 goals—but it’s hard to expect much of anything else at this point in his career.

For the Flyers, squeezing some bottom-six time and perhaps a few goals out of Stewart is all they will need for such a small investment. Bringing him in on a professional tryout and now signing him to a near-minimum deal means that anything he contributes is a bonus.

The team is currently 2-0-1 on the year and has young players brimming with potential waiting for their chance, but will use a veteran like Stewart to first give them some more depth in the NHL and keep those youngsters ripe in the minor leagues.

Senators Suspend Search For President Of Hockey Operations

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The Ottawa Senators have been seeking a President of Hockey Operations for some time, but they will hold on a while longer to make a hire. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the team has decided to end their search for a President, at least through this season, although he also casts doubt on whether they will renew the search. To this point, their attempts to find a man for the role have been fruitless and the team is likely to go back to the drawing board.

It was back in March that the team first announced that they were searching for someone to take on the President role. In the midst of a last-place campaign, many felt that it was the death knell of GM Pierre Dorion. However, the team was quick to note that the hiring would not be to undermine or threaten Dorion, but instead to assist and support. Owner Eugene Melnyk has remained consistent in his confidence in Dorion and it is that faith that likely led to the team feeling comfortable in suspending their presidential search.

Well, that and their failure to attract a qualified name. A report in April suggested that the likes of Dean Lombardi, Mike Gillis, Trevor Linden, Joe Nieuwendyk and current NHL GM’s Steve Yzerman and Ron Francis had all been approached about the position, but turned down the opportunity. While many might assume that the current status of the Ottawa roster is to blame for the lack of interest, the Senators actually have a strong pipeline of young talent that should intrigue any hockey mind. Instead, it is likely the reputation of Melnyk and skepticism of his willingness to spend to the salary cap that have scared off the qualified candidates. Rather than rush into a decision on sub-prime option for the job, it is likely that Melnyk and company preferred to stick with the loyal Dorion and continue to ride out this rebuild without addition supervision. Only time will tell how it will all play out and whether the team will circle back to finding a president down the road.

Overseas Notes: Toronto Targets, Zubov, Ullstrom

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Free agency is never truly over. NHL executives keep an eye on impending free agents all year long and will take any opportunity to create a positive impression on a possible target. It’s no different when it comes to foreign talent, as recently demonstrated by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. KHL insider Igor Eronko reports that while scouting in Russia recently, Dubas met with two recognizable KHLers who are set to hit the open market next summer: Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Nesterov. Grigorenko, 25, was a first-round pick of Buffalo in 2012 who played over 200 games with the Sabres and Colorado Avalanche before returning home to Russia in 2017. The power forward was a top-ten scorer in the KHL last season and helped to lead CSKA Moscow to a Gagarin Cup title. He’s picked up right where he left off this season, recording 15 points through his first 16 games, and is likely to be highly sought-after by both KHL and NHL clubs this off-season. Nesterov, 26, is Grigorenko’s teammate for CSKA, coming over with him in 2017 after three NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. Nesterov is a reliable defensive defenseman, which can often be hard to find in the KHL. He has played an important role for Moscow over the past two years, even if he doesn’t frequent the score sheet. Both Grigorenko and Nesterov are core pieces for CSKA and the team will not let them walk away easily. However, that didn’t stop Dubas from doing his due diligence on the duo in case they do become available. The Maple Leafs have been successful of late in prying talent from the KHL, including the likes of Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, and now Ilya Mikheyev. He appears to be readying himself for another run at Russia’s elite this summer.

  • While most only think of Sergei Zubov as a former NHL defenseman, and soon a Hockey Hall of Famer, he has continued his hockey career overseas as a coach. After hanging up his skates in 2010, Zubov joined the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg as an assistant coach in 2011. He spent five years as an assistant with St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow before being named head coach of HK Sochi ahead of the 2017-18 season. In two plus seasons, Zubov did not have as much success from the bench as he had on the ice in his playing career. Sochi qualified for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, but in both years they finished with a negative goal differential, last season they finished below .500 in the regular season, and they were bounced easily in the first round to end both postseason efforts. With just five wins in their first 17 games to begin this season, Sochi has opted for a coaching change. The KHL announced that Sochi has fired Zubov, who will now be left to look elsewhere for coaching work. Perhaps when he is in Toronto for Induction Weekend in November there will be NHL executives with interest in speaking to him about a full-time return to North America. A world-class talent on defense, it’s hard to imagine Zubov staying unemployed for long if he wished to continue coaching.
  • Former New York Islander David Ullstrom is on his way out of the KHL. After spending last season with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners, under contract with the Arizona Coyotes, Ullstrom returned to Europe this season, signing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL. However, he has already parted ways with Riga after playing in just eleven games. EHC Biel-Bienne of the Swiss NLA has scooped up the free agent forward, announcing that they have signed Ullstrom to a one-year contract. Ullstrom, 30, spent three seasons with the Islanders organization from 2010 to 2013, recording 13 points in 49 NHL games. While his ability was always apparent, the Swedish power forward struggled with puck security and decision-making, leading to a lack of trust at the top level. He has gone on to find success in the KHL and SHL in recent years, but never to the extent expected of him when he was a prospect. Ullstrom performed well with Tuscon last year, recording 23 points in 29 games, and some questioned his decision to return to Europe. He was never recalled by Arizona, but had his foot in the door with the organization. An NHL return seems unlikely now, but a strong season could get him back into AHL or even two-way contract consideration. He likely hopes that his first foray into Swiss hockey will produce a career season and possibly a multi-year deal, as he has played for nine different teams in the seven years since he left the Islanders and has never once spent more than a season and a half in one spot.

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