Blue Jackets’ Clarkson Fails Physical
Columbus Blue Jackets forward David Clarkson will not start training camp with the team after failing his physical due to a back injury, as per the team’s president of hockey operations John Davidson.
According to Rob Mixer, who does social media for the Blue Jackets, Davidson said “every time he tries to work out, it’s bothersome”.
Shortly after it was announced, the Blue Jackets tweeted out that Clarkson’s contract is insured.
That wasn’t the case for Nathan Horton, who was a big-name free agent signing by Columbus in 2013. Horton was subsequently diagnosed with a degenerative back injury, ending his playing career. Because the small market Blue Jackets weren’t willing to spend $5.3MM per year until 2020 on a player who will never play another NHL game, they traded him to Toronto for Clarkson. Clarkson was struggling to live up to expectations after signing with his hometown team for $5.25MM per season, also through 2020. The Maple Leafs were willing to eat the Horton contract to move Clarkson.
Clarkson has 4 points in 26 games with the Blue Jackets since he was acquired shortly before the 2015 trade deadline. He has just 30 points in 144 games since signing a seven-year, $36.75MM contract with the Leafs in 2013.
The Blue Jackets have $3.81MM in cap space, but will get relief by placing Clarkson on long-term injured reserve at the start of the season, should he not be able to play.
Capitals And Orlov Expected To Agree To Terms
Update: Orlov and the Capitals have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.57MM. Orlov will remain a RFA next year, but he will be arbitration-eligible.
According to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and the Washington Capitals are close to getting a new contract signed.
Citing multiple sources, Khurshudyan is expecting a one-year contract worth “something in the neighborhood of $2.6 million”.
The Capitals have approximately $3.45MM in cap space for the upcoming season, according to Cap Friendly. Orlov made $2.25MM in 2015-16, his most successful campaign in the NHL.
However, Orlov is looking for a bigger role this season after averaging just 17 minutes-per-game thus far in his career. Earlier this off-season, coach Barry Trotz said he’s looking for Orlov to play top-four minutes this season with John Carlson or Matt Niskanen at even strength, and to contribute at both special teams disciplines.
More to come.
World Cup Notes: USA Loss, Clinching Scenarios, Price
Hours before being eliminated from the World Cup at the hands of their bitter rivals, Team USA forward T.J. Oshie told reporters, “If it comes down to 100 per cent skill, I think they win; 100 per cent grit, I think we win.”
During the first intermission, with Canada up 3-1, smiling Team Canada forward Joe Thornton told Sportsnet, “We have a good mixture of skill and grit on our team.”
While Canada entered the tournament as the favorite thanks to their stacked roster of elite NHLers, the USA entered as underdogs with a roster designed to defeat Canada. Highly skilled forwards like Phil Kessel, Tyler Johnson, and Kyle Okposo were left at home; so were elite offensive defensemen like Keith Yandle, Justin Faulk, and Kevin Shattenkirk. In their places went Justin Abdelkader, Brandon Dubinsky, David Backes, Jack Johnson, and Erik Johnson. Two of those were healthy scratched last night, while the other three combined for six hits, 4 PIM, and a -3 rating.
According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, a reporter asked coach John Tortorella after the game if he would “change the makeup” of the team in hindsight, and he received a short answer.
“No.”
NHL MVP and American assistant captain Patrick Kane told reporters “I’ll never say a bad thing about [Tortorella]. He’s just a great coach, and we didn’t show up for him.”
Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshnyski was a little harsher, calling the game “60 minutes of apathetic Americans flinging shots and Canadians poking a dead carcass with a stick.”
It’s time for USA Hockey to adapt to the new style of international game. They need look no further than the reason behind Team North America’s success in this tournament: fast and skilled. While the Americans didn’t have the choice of taking Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Dylan Larkin, or Brandon Saad, one has to wonder how many of those would have made the cut of a team based on grinding and physical play. That needs to change, if the Americans want to have a chance to beat the Canadians at future tournaments.
This edition of Team USA was designed to beat Canada; it turns out the only team they’ve been able to beat is themselves.
- The clinching scenarios for tonight’s games are as follows: North America can clinch a berth in the semi-finals with a regulation win over Sweden, or be eliminated if they lose by five goals or more. Finland will be eliminated if North America gets at least one point. Sweden can clinch Group B if they earn at least one point versus the North Americans tonight. Meanwhile in Group A, with the eliminated Americans and Czechs set to play a meaningless game, the winner of Canada and Europe will clinch the Group.
- Incredible stat from Tom Gulitti’s game recap over at the World Cup website: Ryan McDonagh‘s goal in the first period ended Carey Price‘s international shutout streak at 228.41. That dates back to Canada’s semi-final win over Latvia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Price proceeded to shutout the Americans in the semi-finals, Sweden in the finals, and the Czechs in the World Cup opener.
Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament Round-Up
The 18th annual NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan took place this weekend, with games kicking off on Friday afternoon and finishing up tonight. The tourney featured eight teams, split into two divisions of four teams each playing in a round robin, followed by a series of games today between corresponding finishers in each division.
The field included the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and host Detroit Red Wings in the “Gordie Howe Division” and the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and New York Rangers in the “Ted Lindsay Division”. Each team came in locked and loaded with their top prospects, as teams got the opportunity to evaluate their young talent and the players looked to impress and make a push for a shot at an NHL role.
Playing in the 7th-place game this afternoon were the Wild and Blackhawks. Minnesota went 0-3 in divisional play, while Chicago was able to pick up one win en route to a 1-2 record. However, when the teams met head-to-head, the Wild were able to finally get a “W” with a 2-1 result. The 5th-place game featured the Blues and Stars, with Dallas taking it by a convincing 5-3 score. The Stars just missed out on finishing second in their division, losing earlier in the tournament in overtime to the Rangers to fall to 1-1-1. They proved to be too much for the 1-2 St. Louis squad though and can be satisfied with a 5th-place finish.
The 3rd-place game that ended earlier tonight was between the top prospects for the Rangers and Blue Jackets, two teams who played well in the divisional round with 2-0-1 and 2-1 records respectively. The Jackets came out on top in the end, with a 6-4 win, continuing a strong offensive performance in the tournament. However, they did see their two-year championship run in Traverse City come to an end. While the Rangers couldn’t find victory, they have to be happy with the strong play of free agent phenomenon Jimmy Vesey. Finally, the tournament finale came down to the hometown Red Wings and a stacked Hurricanes team. Carolina had dominated their opponents all weekend and came into the 1st-place game undefeated and nearly unstoppable, and their luck did not change. Led by 2016 1st-rounders Julien Gauthier and Jake Bean, the Hurricanes took the title by a score of 6-4 over the 2-1 Detroit team and the best efforts of Tyler Bertuzzi.
The teams will all now head home and re-group, as they get ready for training camp and a handful of the tournament’s best players prepare for their first taste of NHL action.
Snapshots: Islanders, Las Vegas, Ekblad
News and notes around the NHL tonight:
- The New York Islanders hired former player Claude Loiselle as Hockey Operations Consultant today. Loiselle held the same position with the Arizona Coyotes last year. As a player, Loiselle netted 92G and 117A in 616 games for the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders. He has also held numerous management positions around the NHL after retiring, including Assistant GM positions with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Loiselle faced criticism during his Toronto stint, however, stemming from claims of cap mismanagement and responsibility for the much-maligned David Clarkson contract.
- The Las Vegas NHL Expansion Team hired Vince Williams as a professional scout today. Normally scout hirings are not news, but the new Las Vegas team will have the almost-Herculean task of assembling a farm system from scratch. Williams previously coached the ECHL Orlando Bears before being let go in 2015.
- Team North America GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed this evening that Aaron Ekblad suffered a concussion against Finland and will not play for the remainder of the tournament. Ekblad was pulled hours before Team North America’s games last night against Team Russia with an undisclosed upper body injury. It is believed that the young defenseman suffered the concussion after being hit by Leo Komarov.
Anaheim Ducks Invite Four More Players To Training Camp
The Anaheim Ducks released their training camp roster today, and four more unsigned players received invitations. Antoine Laganiere, Kyle MacKinnon, Scott Sabourin and Nick Tarnasky all received PTOs. The Ducks open camp on Friday September 23rd. The players will join already confirmed David Booth, Yann Danis, and Sean Bergenheim.
Antoine Laganiere is an undrafted forward who played four years for Yale University before spending the next three years with the Norfolk Admirals and San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Last season Laganiere scored 16G and 16A in 57 games for the Gulls, and could crack a roster spot at some point this year with the Ducks.
Kyle MacKinnon is an undrafted American centerman who played four years for Providence College—including captaining the team in 2010-11—before signing with the St. John IceCaps of the AHL. Last year MacKinnon netted 3G and 3A in 11 games for the San Diego Gulls.
Scott Sabourin is an undrafted right winger who scored 30G and 20A in 65 games for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL in 2012-13. Last year he bounced from the Ontario Reign to the Iowa Wild of the AHL with a stop in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarch.
Nick Tarnasky was drafted 287th overall in 2003 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and has made NHL appearances with the Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers. The Canadian forward last played in the NHL in 2009-10, scoring 1G and 2A in 31 games for the Panthers. Tarnasky has spent the rest of his career in the AHL—and a year in the KHL with Vityaz Chekhov—and is looking for one last shot at the NHL. The 31 year-old netted 15G and 5A in 59 games for the AHL Hartford Wolfpack last season.
Keep track of all the training camp invites with our Training Camp Invite Tracker.
East Notes: Kessel, Daley, Pulkkinen, Mueller, Ekblad
Penguins right winger Phil Kessel and defenseman Trevor Daley are both on track in their recovery from injuries sustained in the postseason, writes Bill West of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Kessel had hand surgery back in July and isn’t expected to participate in much (if any) preseason action but anticipates he’ll be ready when the puck drops to start the season:
“I’ll obviously be out there skating in camp. I’ll progress as it goes. But I’ll be ready to start the first game of the year. … (The hand) feels a lot better now than it did last year.”
As for Daley, who broke his ankle in the Eastern Conference Finals, he has been training hard on the ankle for the last three or four weeks. He’s set to begin his first full season with Pittsburgh after being acquired from Chicago last December.
More from the Eastern Conference:
- Red Wings right winger Teemu Pulkkinen has been cleared for contact following shoulder surgery back in June, notes MLive’s Ansar Khan. Pulkkinen struggled in his first full NHL campaign last season, spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch. He got into just 36 games, recording six goals and six assists, a disappointment considering he had scored just over a point per game in the AHL. The 24 year old is hoping to be able to get into a couple of games towards the end of the preseason with the hoping of being available for Detroit’s season opener. His recovery appears to be well ahead of schedule as he was originally expected to miss 4-6 months.
- Forward Peter Mueller, who is attending training camp on a PTO, is open to signing an AHL contract, reports WEEI’s DJ Bean. The willingness to play in the minors hasn’t always been there as two years ago Mueller requested his release after training camp with St. Louis, who had planned to send him to their AHL affiliate. Last season, Mueller played with Malmo of the SHL, picking up 13 goals and 12 assists in 43 games. His positional versatility could come in handy for the Bruins as Mueller has spent time at all three forward positions in recent years.
- The Panthers have decided to bring Aaron Ekblad back to Florida, which all but confirms that he will miss the remainder of the World Cup of Hockey, tweets Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel. Ekblad, who was on Team North America, missed Monday’s game due to an upper body injury. Still with North America’s back end, Columbus defenseman Ryan Murray missed practice today but is expected to play tomorrow vs Sweden, reports ESPN’s Craig Custance.
2016 Season Preview: San Jose Sharks
As the NHL season is now less than a month away, we continue our look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the San Jose Sharks.
Last Season: 46-30-6 record (98 points), 3rd in the Pacific Division. Defeated Los Angeles 4-1 in Round 1. Defeated Nashville 4-3 in Round 2. Defeated St. Louis 4-2 in Round 3. Lost to Pittsburgh 4-2 in the Stanley Cup Final.
Remaining Cap Space: $378K as per Cap Friendly
Key Newcomers: G Mantis Armalis (free agency, Djurgardens, SHL), LW Mikkel Boedker (free agency, Colorado), D David Schlemko (free agency, New Jersey)
Key Departures: D Roman Polak (free agency, Toronto), G James Reimer (free agency, Florida), C Nick Spaling (free agency, Geneve-Servette, NLA), D Matt Tennyson (free agency, Carolina), C Dainius Zubrus (free agency, unsigned)
[Related: Sharks Depth Chart from Roster Resource]
Player to Watch: C Logan Couture – 2015-16 was a tale of two seasons for Couture. He missed a big chunk of the season due a fractured fibula while also missing time due to an arterial leg bleed. When he was in the lineup, he didn’t produce close to the level that the Sharks expected from one of their top players; he posted his lowest points per game average since his rookie season.
Then the playoffs came around and the proverbial switch was flicked. He became arguably San Jose’s most dangerous player in the postseason, leading the entire league in assists (20) and points (30 – six ahead of the second highest point getter, teammate Brent Burns). That strong performance helped earn him a spot on Team Canada’s roster for the World Cup of Hockey.
Which Couture will the Sharks get this season? Their team is already strong in terms of their forward and scoring depth but they showed how dangerous they can be when Couture finds that extra gear and becomes a legitimate top line player. If he can even come close to his postseason play, he can give them another dimension offensively.
Key Storyline: In recent years, teams have acted quickly to try to avoid having their top players head into a season with free agency looming over their heads. That’s not exactly the case with San Jose who have three top players all entering their walk years – forwards Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton as well as defenseman Brent Burns.
Some believe the team may look to move on from Thornton and Marleau in an effort to get younger and save some money but at some point during the season, the question of whether or not the team should either sign them or trade them to avoid losing them for nothing is sure to come up.
Burns is a different case. He projects to be the top defenseman (and arguably the top player) on the market and San Jose undoubtedly will want to lock him up. Will they push to get something done early; are they comfortable negotiating in-season? How much would it cost? Or, are they prepared to let him go to the market next July? We saw the fanfare surrounding Steven Stamkos last season as he played out the last year of his deal. While Burns won’t generate quite that much hype, his contract status is going to be a looming question and story to follow throughout the season.
Snapshots: Morrow, Cervenka, Outdoor Games, Jordan
Boston’s decision to focus more on youth on their back end this offseason has given defenseman Joe Morrow the best opportunity he has had to make an impact on the Bruins, writes CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty. Haggerty adds that the commitment to getting younger was a factor in their decision to buy out Dennis Seidenberg back in June.
Morrow was acquired by the Bruins as part of the Tyler Seguin trade two summers ago and is the only player acquired in the deal that is still with Boston today. He played in a career high 33 games last season (recording seven points) but still spent considerable time as a healthy scratch.
Despite being just 23, Morrow is in his third organization and this could potentially be his last chance with Boston. He’s eligible for waivers if they try to send him down and if he fails to take a step forward into more of a regular role with the team, it’s plausible to think that they’ll be inclined to try someone else in his place before too long.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Former Calgary Flame Roman Cervenka is open to returning to the NHL next season, notes Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun. The 30 year old was lured out of the KHL in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season but didn’t live up to expectations, recording 17 points and a -13 rating in 39 games. The following offseason, Cervenka signed back in Russia and has since moved on to the Czech League (where he led the league in scoring last season) and the Swiss NLA this season where he is playing on a one year deal. Cervenka acknowledged to Francis that his age and struggles with the English language could make a return for 2017-18 much more of a challenge. A strong season in Switzerland could get him back on the NHL radar and add to an international free agent class that is expected to feature Russian forwards Evgeni Dadonov and Vadim Shipachev.
- The Senators remain interested in hosting a Heritage Classic game in December of 2017 but aren’t interested at this time in looking at TD Place (a football stadium) as a backup plan to their goal to host the game on Parliament Hill, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. The Sens met with government officials last month and have also been in consultation with the league on the logistics of building a temporary rink on the Hill. The game projects to be part of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations while it would also line up with Ottawa’s 25th anniversary of returning to the NHL. It’s believed that their preference for an opponent should they land the outdoor game is the Montreal Canadiens.
- UFA defenseman Michal Jordan has received multiple two-way contract offers including one from Carolina, tweets NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. However, Jordan isn’t interested in a two-way deal at this stage of his career. The 26 year old played in 36 games with Carolina last season and has a total of 79 NHL games under his belt over the last three seasons, all with the Hurricanes. Jordan is currently suiting up for the Czech Republic at the World Cup of Hockey.
Avalanche Invite Jiri Tlusty To Training Camp
The Colorado Avalanche continue to add veteran forward depth for their training camp as Jiri Tlusty is listed on their official training camp roster as an PTO invite.
Tlusty is coming off a rough season with New Jersey, scoring just two goals and two assists in 30 games while missing significant time due to a wrist injury. He also spent time as a healthy scratch as he struggled to earn a regular role in the bottom six for the Devils. Tlusty earned $800K last season and if he’s able to parlay this tryout into a contract, he’ll likely earn somewhere around that amount again this year.
However, the 28 year old had put up four straight seasons of 30 points or more heading into last year so there is still some offensive upside. In his career, Tlusty has played for four different teams including Carolina, Toronto, Winnipeg, and the Devils. He has 446 games of NHL experience under his belt, tallying 89 goals and 88 assists.
Tlusty is the third invite up front for the Avalanche, joining wingers Gabriel Bourque and Rene Bourque as veterans looking to earn a spot at the end of the roster.
[Related: Avalanche Depth Chart]
Many veterans have already taken tryout deals and there are more expected leading into the beginning of camps later this week. Keep track of who is trying out where with our Invite Tracker.