Canucks Notes: Horvat, Gaunce, Gudbranson, Hutton
Based on the composition of their roster it would seem the Vancouver Canucks are approaching a transition year. Many of the players they will rely on for production – specifically Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Loui Eriksson, Alexandre Burrows, Jannik Hansen, Alexander Edler and Ryan Miller are in or nearing the twilight of their careers. Others, such as Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen, Sven Baertschi and Ben Hutton have either little experience or have yet to reach their potential in the NHL. With so few players comfortably in their respective primes the Canucks will need a few of their younger players to take the next step in their development if they want to push for a playoff spot.
One who will be given an opportunity to take that next step is Horvat, who, as Jason Botchford writes, is slated to center the top line in the Canucks opening exhibition game tonight against San Jose and whom head coach Willie Desjardins expects to spark the offense. Brandon Sutter is currently listed as the team’s second-line pivot, but he tallied just nine points in an injury-shortened first campaign in Vancouver and has only reached the 40-point plateau once in his eight-year NHL career. Horvat scored 40 points in his second season in the league last year and at 21 should be capable of more.
Henrik Sedin just turned 36 and his days as a #1 center are likely numbered. In fact, it would behoove the Canucks to try to keep Sedin away from the opposition’s top defensive players night-in-and-night-out in order to maximize his effectiveness. Sutter has yet to demonstrate he can consistently produce in a top-six role but perhaps Horvat can, if allowed the opportunity. Chances are he’ll get his chance this season.
On to other Canucks notes:
- Within the same piece, Botchford mentions Brendan Gaunce, who the Canucks drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft, as another young player who could grow into an important role this season. Scouts originally were skeptical of Gaunce’s quickness and foot speed but as Botchford notes, the young winger has made great strides in those areas since coming to the Canucks organization. Surprisingly, Gaunce believes what hindered his skating had more to do with his brain rather than his legs. “I was never slow, I just tried to read the game too much. You don’t really have time to read NHL defencemen. It was in my head. It was not necessarily changing my footspeed, it was being more instinctual. Before I would try to read the play before it happened and now, it’s move the feet first and then react.” Gaunce made his NHL debut in 2015-16 but scored only a single goal in 20 appearances. His performance with Utica, the Canucks AHL affiliate, was strong as the 22-year-old winger netted 17 goals and 38 points in 46 games for the Comets.
- Although noted more for being a strong, stay-at-home defenseman, Erik Gudbranson bested every other Canucks blue liner in a skating drill conducted during a recent four-day camp, writes Iain MacIntyre of The Province. Gudbranson’s speed caught teammate and potential defense partner Ben Hutton off guard. Hutton was beaten by Gudbranson three times and afterwards said: “I saw that. Three times. One time I had a little bit of a stumble, but the other two I was thinking he must have been cheating or something. He was bugging me about that. Honestly, I think he’s a great skater for a guy that size.” Gudbranson is expected to fill a spot in the team’s top-four and with the league becoming more of a speed and quickness game, it bodes well for the Canucks that the 6-foot-5, 216 pound blue liner is showing he can more than keep up.
Snapshots: Ristolainen, Fleury, Avs
News and notes from around the NHL:
- Buffalo Sabres unsigned RFA Rasmus Ristolainen has not yet reported to the Sabres training camp. Camp opened Monday but the young defenseman is still without a contract. Coach Dan Bylsma told WGR 550 that he would like Ristolainen at camp, but that he is confident a deal will be made soon. Ristolainen is one of 11 unsigned RFAs, including Jacob Trouba, Johnny Gaudreau, and Hampus Lindholm. Prepare to see more camp holdouts as training camps open up across the NHL.
- Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to get the majority of minutes in goal this preseason after fellow netminder Matt Murray broke his thumb in the World Cup of Hockey. Coach Mike Sullivan said that Fleury needs the time to get himself fully prepared for the regular season. This is a blow to prospect goalie Tristan Jarry as he has less opportunity to showcase his skills.
- Mike Halford of NBC Sports reports that the Colorado Avalanche plan to be a much faster team in transition come next season. Last season former coach Patrick Roy emphasized slowing the game down and passing the puck amongst the defensemen before pushing forward. According to Tyson Barrie and Nathan MacKinnon, however, new coach Jared Bednar asks the defensemen to push the pace and pass the puck up quickly. Colorado’s youth is well-suited for this speed-style system, but high-flying offense usually become defensive liabilities without the proper precautions.
2016-17 Season Preview: Boston Bruins
With NHL preseason underway, PHR continues to look at each team in-depth and the focus now turns to a team making news recently, the Boston Bruins.
Last season: 42-31-9 (93 points), 4th in the Atlantic Division, 9th in the Eastern Conference
Cap Space Remaining: $5.832MM according to Cap Friendly
Key Newcomers: C/RW David Backes (free agency, St. Louis Blues), G Anton Khudobin (free agency, Anaheim Ducks), C Dominic Moore (free agency, New York Rangers), RW Peter Mueller (PTO), C/RW Riley Nash (free agency, Carolina Hurricanes)
Key Departures: RW Brett Connolly (free agency, Washington Capitals), RW Loui Eriksson (free agency, Vancouver Canucks), RW Landon Ferraro (free agency, St. Louis Blues), G Jonas Gustavsson (free agency, Edmonton Oilers), C Chris Kelly (free agency, Ottawa Senators), C Joonas Kemppainen (free agency, KHL), C Alexander Khokhlachev (free agency, KHL), D Dennis Seidenberg (free agency, unsigned), RW Lee Stempniak (free agency, Carolina Hurricanes), C Max Talbot (free agency, KHL), D Zach Trotman (free agency, Los Angeles Kings)
Player to Watch: Jimmy Hayes – The first season in Boston for the local boy Hayes did not go as well as he, or anyone for that matter, expected. After coming over from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Reilly Smith, the “pride of Dorchester” was expected to, at the very least, be a 20-goal scorer for the Bruins. Instead, he scored six less goals than the year before and watched his point total drop to just 29 points in 75 games. He also drew much criticism from Boston fans and media for his lack of a physical game an net-front presence despite his 6’5″ frame. Hayes has reportedly been working on his crash-the-net skills and skating ability this off-season, and hopes to rebound in 2016-17. Hayes has little choice but to improve his game, or his time back in his hometown could be cut short. With Loui Eriksson, Lee Stempniak, and Brett Connolly now gone and Frank Vatrano missing the first couple months of the season with an injury, the opportunities will be there for Hayes to prove himself as a top-nine contributor. While it remains to be seen where in the lineup coach Claude Julien sees newcomers David Backes and Riley Nash playing, Hayes should nevertheless have a shot at playing on the right side of a talented center to start the new season, whether that be Backes, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, or Ryan Spooner. A strong camp for Hayes will be key, as he looks to establish himself as a top scoring option at right wing, holding off youngsters like David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Zach Senyshyn. If he’s able to find a good fit in the top nine, expect Hayes to put up good numbers this season. If not, expect Hayes to be spending a lot of time in the press box.
Key Storylines: General Manager Don Sweeney surprised many critics with his big free agency acquisition of David Backes, savvy signings of Riley Nash and Anton Khudobin, and most recently, his astonishingly affordable extension of Brad Marchand. However, Sweeney has done nothing this off-season to address Boston’s biggest need: defense. The Bruins are more than likely very interested in the likes of Jacob Trouba, Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler and others, but as of now have yet to make a move to bring one of them in. Their current group of blue liners is the same as it was at the end of 2015-16, minus Dennis Seidenberg. How is it that the defense, which has been the main reason why the Bruins have missed the playoffs the past two years, has not been improved? Does Sweeney know something that we don’t? Other than the recently-extended Torey Krug, the defense lacks much optimism this season. Zdeno Chara is still an effective shutdown defenseman, but has slowed with age. As has John-Michael Liles, who begins his first full season with the Bruins, but with few expectations. On the right side, Kevan Miller has proved himself to be a serviceable defenseman, but far from a top option and Adam McQuaid has never been more than a good stay-at-home player for the bottom pair. A lot is riding on the success of young puck-mover Colin Miller, who will be given every opportunity to stick as an NHL regular this season, and perhaps establish himself as a future star. Those six leave little for the imagination though. It is possible that Sweeney expects big things from his prospect defenseman this season. Big 19-year-old bruiser Brandon Carlo, a 2015 2nd-round pick, has especially turned some heads, and may be on track to win a spot in camp after a strong junior season, excellent World Junior Championship performance, and brief stint with AHL Providence last year. Two other 2015 top picks, Jakub Zboril and Jeremy Lauzon, may also be NHL-ready with their strong possession ability, but would have to be returned to junior if they don’t make the team out of the gate. Something has to give with improving this defense, and sooner rather than later, or the Bruins fate could be the same as the past two seasons.
The Bruins are built to win now, and the team has continually shown their belief in that with big deals for Matt Beleskey and David Backes in back-to-back years and an unwillingness to trade away veteran pieces. However, should the Bruins struggle early in 2016-17, don’t be surprised to see a flurry of moves this season. Coach Claude Julien has been on the hot seat for longer than nearly any coach in the league, and the fuse could be very short for ownership and management this season. Armed with one of the deeper prospect systems in the NHL and with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand signed long-term to usher in the next generation, the Bruins may be comfortable dealing away pieces in their prime and injecting youth into the lineup. On the other side, if the Bruins reverse their fortunes and are leading a strong campaign in the new season, expect trade talk surrounding top pair defenseman to ramp up, as Boston has the top prospect pieces to interest a seller. Just as unlikely as it is that the Bruins stick with their current starters on defense too deep into the season, it is equally unlikely that they end this upcoming season without major additions or subtractions to the roster.
League News: Olympics, World Cup, Lockout, Gretzky, Outdoor Games
Dan Rosen of NHL.com spoke with deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who said that there has been little progress in talks about the league sending players to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but that a decision will be made by November or December. The league is trying to speed up the decision-making process, Daly said, as the end of the year will be too late for schedule-makers who are trying to set up the 2017-18 season. Whether or not the NHL sends it’s players to the next Olympics will greatly impact the structure and length of next season. The reported hold up in those negotiations has been cost issues facing the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the NHL is looking for fair value in putting a halt to their season and exposing their players to injury risks only for exposure in a non-traditional hockey country. While players, like Alex Ovechkin, have already committed to playing in the Olympics, regardless of the NHL’s stance, Daly has said that it would be a “club issue” for those players that choose to leave. As far as the league goes, Daly feels more negatively toward the situation now than he did just a few weeks ago, and the NHL skipping out on Pyeongchang is becoming a real possibility. However, it has been reported by multiple sources that not competing in 2018 might not signal the absolute end of NHL participation in the Winter Games. The 2022 Olympics are scheduled to take place in Beijing, and China is a very populous country that has just begun to embrace the sport of hockey, as shown by the establishment of KHL team Kunlun Red Star, who are currently taking part in their inaugural season. In 2026, Calgary, Canada, Stockholm, Sweden, and multiple cities in both the United States and Switzerland have been confirmed as potential bids for the Games, all of which would be strong markets for NHL hockey. Whether the NHL will (or should) take part in the 2018 games will be decided shortly, but regardless the NHL and the Olympic Games have a future together.
In other league news:
- Continued participation in the Winter Olympics will not deter the extended existence of the World Cup of Hockey. ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun reports that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed that the World Cup is “here to stay”. Although the structure of the tournament could change, the games will continue to be played every fourth year. Building off the successes – and failures – of this World Cup, decision-makers moving forward will have to evaluate the viability of teams like Europe and North America, as well as consider many different locations and formats for the tournament. One way or another, expect the World Cup of Hockey to become a regular event in the future of the sport.
- While the NHL and the Player’s Association agree on the World Cup, that may be where their good terms end. At least one insider believes that another lockout is a “foregone conclusion” in 2020. Octagon Sports player agent Allan Walsh stated as much in a recent tweet, though no further evidence was provided to support it. With recent labor struggles having put a prominent stain on the league’s reputation, one has to think the commissioner Gary Bettman will do all that he can to avoid yet another lockout, which would be the third since the turn of the century.
- In happier news for hockey fans, the game’s most legendary player has returned to a role with the NHL. The league announced that it’s ambassador for it’s centennial celebration in 2017 will be none other than “The Great One”, Wayne Gretzky. The legendary player will make a multitude of appearances throughout the year, trying to bring together generations of fans for the league’s 100-year celebration.
- Part of that celebration is the addition of a second outdoor game around the holidays. The Winter Classic, between the host Blues and the Blackhawks will take place on January 2nd of 2017, as opposed to it’s regular date of January 1st, as New Year’s Day will be reserved for the Centennial Classic in Toronto between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. Later in the month, the Penguins and Flyers will also face-off in an outdoor showdown. The league released the logos for both the Centennial Classic and Stadium Series game today, as the PR machine is already running for the year-long celebration that’s on the horizon. Additionally, the league is reportedly looking to schedule yet another outdoor game, in Montreal, for the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
Training Camp Cuts: 09.27.16
As the season inches closer and closer, teams have started trimming their training camp rosters already. With exhibition games and intra-squad matches taking place this week, the fat has been rendered so to speak. Here are some cuts from today:
Philadelphia Flyers (per Dave Isaac):
G Carter Hart (to Everett, WHL)
LW Carsen Twarynski (to Calgary, WHL)
C Connor Bunnaman (to Kitchener, OHL)
LW Samuel Dove-McFalls (to Saint John, QMJHL)
C Pascal Laberge (to Victoriaville, QMJHL)
C Anthony Salinitri (to Sarnia, OHL)
D Brennan Menell (to Vancouver, WHL)
D Garrett McFadden (to Guelph, OHL)
World Cup Notes: Gaborik, Getzlaf, Babcock
After Marian Gaborik was given a timeline of eight weeks to rehab his leg injury, sustained in Team Europe’s semi-final victory, head coach Ralph Krueger has replaced him with Mikkel Boedker in the lineup. While Boedker can be an effective player and has speed to burn, Krueger admits to Helene Elliott of the LA Times that it’ll be a step down from one of their leaders:
We’re losing some leadership and smarts on the puck that were exemplary.
Gaborik obviously is one of the most important players on Europe, with 933 games and 773 points under his belt in the NHL. The three-time forty-goal man put up his worst season last year while fighting injury, only scoring 12 goals in 54 games. The 34-year old will not be ready for the start of the season, making it even harder to bounce back after the career-worst campaign.
- Team Canada hit the ice this morning before the first game of the finals versus Team Europe, and every player was present including Ryan Getzlaf, who according to Pierre LeBrun missed practice yesterday. The Ducks forward was given a “maintenance day” in preparation for the three-game series, as he’s battling a few small nagging injuries. Now 31, the big center doesn’t bounce back as easily as he did when he was young, but has still played in 77 games in each of the last three seasons. While he’s a big part of Team Canada, the Ducks are hoping he comes back fully healthy, as a bounce-back year from him and Corey Perry is integral for a successful season.
- While the talk swirls about the NHL not heading to the Olympics in 2018, especially now that the World Cup has been a success, one influential voice sounds unconvinced. When asked about the difference between the two events, Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock said “The World Cup is great, but it’s not the Olympics. Let’s not get confused.” As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports, the Maple Leafs coach would like to see the event spread across two cities so that only night games were played, while having only countries compete. These changes would make it more like the Olympics, and would seem to be a future plan for the NHL’s tournament. If the league doesn’t go in 2018 (which it doesn’t look likely to), the World Cup will have to become the preeminent international event. Having Team North America and Team Europe prevents it from ever fully replacing the Olympics, despite their success as individual story lines.
Camp Notes: Gagner, Flyers, Sergachev
Sam Gagner has had a roller-coaster career. After looking like a young all-star in his early Edmonton Oilers career, he just hasn’t been able to put all his talents together for a full season. Heading into this season with his fourth NHL club, he’s trying to show the Columbus Blue Jackets that he can be relied upon as a top-six contributor.
As Rob Mixer writes on NHL.com, he’s already starting to turn heads in Ohio. Skating alongside Brandon Saad at times, the 27-year old center has proven his ability both 5-on-5 and on the powerplay early in camp. Whether he plays with Saad during the season or not, Gagne is just happy to be a part of the squad:
At the end of the day, it’s not really my decision as far as where I play or who I play with. I’m happy to play with whoever and wherever they decide to slot me.
- The Flyers have made a round of cuts, according to Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post, and one of them is 2016 second-round pick Carter Hart. Even though the Everett Silvertips starter is only 18, many believe he is polished enough to make an NHL impact within the next few years. While many goalies don’t hit their prime until their late-twenties, perhaps it will come slightly earlier for Hart, who already logged a hefty workload last season. In 63 regular season games, Hart carried a 2.18 GAA and .918 sv%.
- After sustaining an injury earlier this summer, Mikhail Sergachev has been cleared to return to practice this afternoon. While some had speculated it was a concussion, Brian Wilde of CTV tells us that Sergachev has actually been skating by himself all week, likely removing that possibility. Wilde believes it was a shoulder injury, which would be a much better scenario for the recent draftee. Sergachev was Montreal’s first round pick, ninth overall in the past draft and won the OHL’s Defenseman of the year in his rookie season.
Calgary Begins Negotiations With Brian Elliott
After a season-long debacle in net last year, the Calgary Flames have re-built their goaltending situation by bringing in Chad Johnson and Brian Elliott to work between the pipes. Now, they’ve already started work on a long-term solution to the problem with the latter of the two.
According to Andy Strickland of Fox Sports, the team has begun extension negotiations with Elliott on a new deal. The 31-year old has just one season remaining on his current contract, and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
After beginning his career in Ottawa, the former ninth-round pick found great success in St. Louis, where he started 164 games with a 2.01 GAA and .925 sv%. Twice he was in the top 10 in Vezina trophy voting, and was a huge part in the Blues recent regular season success.
While the Blues have moved on and locked up Jake Allen long-term, the Flames will try and have Elliott backstop their squad for at least the next few years. With his success, he should be able to negotiate a substantial raise from the $2.5MM he’ll earn this year.
The Flames have ten other players who will become free agents (of some sort) next summer, making it a turning point for a franchise if they so wish. They also have Johnny Gaudreau to re-sign even now, as the 2016-17 season creeps ever closer.
Vladimir Sobotka Likely Remaining In KHL
After a long fight over Vladimir Sobotka and where he’ll spend his playing days this season, it appears that he’s made a decision. Avangard Omsk has released that the St. Louis Blues forward will report to their camp on Wednesday, and play this season in the KHL.
Both St. Louis and Omsk had previously claimed that they had valid contracts with the 29-year old, making this release at least a touch suspect. We’ve been burned before by reports out of Russia, even from the teams themselves.
For what it’s worth, Aivis Kalnins also hears that Sobotka will be remaining in the KHL, although it’s unclear whether he’s just going off the same release.
If all of this becomes a reality, the Blues will once again miss out on bringing back the former fourth-round pick who has developed into a legitimate offensive weapon. Sobotka put up 33 points in his final NHL season, and has had two successful campaigns in Russia, putting up 38 and 34 points in much shorter seasons.
The Blues will need to find some secondary scoring somewhere else this season, after also losing David Backes to free agency this summer. Omsk, on the other hand, will use Sobotka in a similar scoring role and on the powerplay.
Snapshots: Benn, Kings, Broll
News and notes from around the NHL:
- Jamie Benn is expected to miss the first few Dallas Stars preseason games as he eases back into game shape. Benn underwent surgery this summer to repair core muscles and missed the World Cup of Hockey as he recuperated. Despite the surgery, however, Benn does not plan on missing any regular season games.
- The Los Angeles Kings made some cuts Monday morning at training camp, sending six players packing. According to LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen, the Kings first sent forward Miles Koules and goalie Jonah Imoo down to the AHL Ontario Reign’s camp. They then released four players back to their respective Junior teams: defenseman Kale Clague to the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), defenseman Jacob Moverare to the Mississauga Steelheads (OHL), and both forward Matt Schmalz and defenseman Jacob Friend to the Owen Sound Attack (OHL). Kyle Clague left camp with a lower-body injury and will miss the first few weeks of Brandon’s season. Matt Schmalz returns to the OHL as an over-ager, and may make the move to the AHL as the season progresses.
- Former Toronto Maple Leafs player David Broll signed with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast. The Beast are the Montreal Canadiens’ ECHL Affiliate. Broll played for the Syracuse Crunch last season and scored 2G and 6A in 60 games. In his only NHL experience, Broll scored 1A in 5 games with the Maple Leafs in 2013-14.