Portzline’s Latest: Columbus Coaches, Dubois, PTOs
Among one of the best at hiding interesting nuggets of information in his columns, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch has released his latest Truths & Tidbits piece. In it, he goes through a bunch of smaller stories on the Columbus Blue Jackets as the season creeps closer. It’s worth a closer read, but here are the highlights:
- With the Colorado coaching vacancy still unfilled, the Avalanche seem to be targeting current and former Jackets coaches. Kevin Dineen, Bob Boughner, Jared Bednar have all been linked to the opening and have ties to the Columbus organization. Portzline posits that Av’s AGM Chris McFarland might have something to do with it, as he formerly held the same position with Columbus.
- The bulk of the post is dedicated to looking back at former drafts, and seeing if the Blue Jackets’ decision to draft Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall instead of Jesse Puljujarvi, the expected pick, was justified. The most interesting tidbit out of this is that back in 2005 Columbus actually had Anze Kopitar ranked as their #3 prospect, ahead of their eventual selection Gilbert Brule (who they had ranked in the 6-8 range). The Jackets would go with Brule at #6 instead of Kopitar (who dropped to the Kings at #11) because of the view that the Slovenian was a less conventional pick. “I’m not drafting a kid who pushes rocks up a mountain and jumps over milk crates and calls it training” is a quote from Doug MacLean, then-GM of the Jackets on why he passed on Kopitar. Brule had just 95 points in his NHL career before heading to the KHL, while Kopitar has collected 684 across his 764 career games, while widely being thought of as one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
- Portzline also mentions that the Blue Jackets are not expected to extend any PTOs to camp this fall. “We’re pretty full already” says GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Keep up with who has been given tryouts around the league here, with our PTO tracker.
Tim Jackman Retires From NHL
According to Elite Prospects, long-time journeyman Tim Jackman has decided to hang up his skates and retire from professional hockey. Jackman played 483 games across parts of twelve seasons, suiting up for the Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Kings, Islanders, Flames and Ducks along the way.
Now 34-years old, Jackman was originally picked in the second round of the 2001 draft, and would contribute 75 points and over 800 penalty minutes across his career. The North Dakota native got into nine playoff games in 2014-15 with the Ducks, his first taste of NHL postseason.
Playing with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL last season, Jackman put up two points (1-1) and 33 penalty minutes in 22 games. Don’t be surprised to see Jackman’s name in a coaching staff in the future, as often tough guys and journeymen find success behind the bench after their playing days are over.
NHL-Olympic Future Still Undecided, Decision To Come This Winter
In a new article in the Globe and Mail by Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press, he reports that the league is still weighing their options with respect to the 2018 Olympics and whether or not they will include NHL players. While the league has been a part of every games since 1998, with the upcoming launch of the World Cup and a debate over who should pay the fees associated with travel, insurance and accommodation, the league is unsure of its stance on heading to Pyeongchang.
Shutting down the league for weeks at a time has never been a positive thing for commissioner Gary Bettman:
It’s not good to shut down, the question is whether or not it’s worth it to go to the Olympics. You need to satisfy yourself that it’s worth it.
The players want to suit up for their country, but also have their careers and health to worry about. NHLPA president Donald Fehr spoke to the Canadian Press and said as much:
Hockey is unique in terms of the Olympics because essentially, what is being asked, is shut down for close to three weeks, shut down your revenue, change your marketing approach, run the risk that the athletes are going to be injured and that’ll affect the fortunes of their teams and … and in addition, pay a lot of money. So we’ll have to see.
It seems as though neither the NHL or NHLPA is focused on the 2018 Olympics as of right now, with both putting all their effort into the upcoming World Cup in Toronto. If the tournament is a success perhaps the need to go to the Olympics is lessened even further, with the league instead putting on their own international competition. According to Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, the sides are expected to come to a final decision in December or January.
Logan Couture To Replace Jamie Benn At World Cup
After undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this summer, Jamie Benn will not play for Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey in Toronto. Instead, Logan Couture will join the team in his place.
Benn was originally given a six-week timeline for his injury recovery, endangering his World Cup status. Six weeks will have passed this Thursday, but that doesn’t mean that Benn is at the level necessary to play in a tournament of this nature. He’s still expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Couture will edge out a group of talented forwards headlined by Corey Perry and Taylor Hall for Benn’s roster spot, after a spectacular playoff run with the San Jose Sharks last season. The 27-year old put up 30 points in the postseason, almost matching his output for the entire season after battling injury – one that almost cost him his leg.
As Dan Rosen of NHL.com points out, with the swap of Benn for Couture, Team Canada trades one of their few remaining wingers for another center. Brad Marchand is now the team’s only true winger, though many have played there at times during their careers.
Couture will be joining fellow Sharks Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Team Canada, while Tyler Seguin now remains as the only member from the Dallas Stars to make the team. Seguin was also presumably set to skate alongside Benn, and will now be matched with other linemates.
Alex Nylander To Use AHL Loophole
According to OHLInsiders, Alex Nylander is expected to use a loophole in the AHL agreement to head to Rochester and play for the Buffalo affiliate next season. Nylander, 18, was drafted from the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, and would normally not be allowed to join the minor-league until he turned 20. He’s not a normal OHL player however, as according to The Hockey News he played all of last season on loan from his original Swedish club. Nylander then qualifies as a European player, and is allowed to become a professional whenever the Sabres want him to.
The tweet compares the situation to a similar one in Dallas two years ago, when the Stars sent their first round pick, Julius Honka, to the AHL the season after his draft. Just 18 at the time, Honka had played his draft year with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL on loan like Nylander.
Alex’s brother William Nylander, currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, also entered the AHL as an 18-year old two seasons ago after coming over from MODO in Sweden. He made his debut last season at just 19, something Alex will try to match – he already matched William’s draft number at 8, why not follow his older brother’s path to the NHL, at least somewhat.
For Buffalo, sending Nylander to Rochester will allow him to test his game at a professional level against men, instead of dominating the junior ranks. He could also still head back to his native Sweden to play in the Elite League, another option where he would be playing against older competition.
Latest On Avalanche Coaching Search
After the unexpected departure of Patrick Roy earlier this month, the Avalanche have been scrambling to try and find a head coach prior to the beginning of training camp. While Joe Sakic has previously said that the current assistants are not options, many have speculated on other names around the league. As Terry Frei of the Denver Post reports, the Avalanche are considering two more well known names in Bob Boughner and Kevin Dineen.
Boughner finished his 10-year NHL career in Colorado, playing 41 games for the club in 2005-2006. Immediately afterwards he was given the head coaching job with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, and quickly turned around a struggling franchise. The team won two championships under his leadership, in just his third and fourth years coaching. Boughner spent last season on the bench with the San Jose Sharks, and has always been considered a strong leader. During the 2004-05 lockout, Boughner was selected to serve as NHLPA vice-president by his peers and is seen as a natural fit on the bench.
A little more experience comes in the form of Dineen, who previously held the head coaching job with the Florida Panthers and Portland Pirates of the AHL. Dineen is currently an assistant for the Chicago Blackhawks, and is a “major candidate” according to Frei.
The other name that Frei mentions, is that of Jared Bednar. We already heard the name of the Cleveland Monsters’ head coach in relation to the opening. Bednar led the Monsters to the Calder Cup last season, and has yet to crack an NHL coaching staff.
Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch also chimes in on the search, telling us that Scott Arniel, a former Blue Jackets head coach and current assistant with the New York Rangers has not been granted an interview and thus is not a candidate for the opening. It’s going to be a tough process for the Avalanche, as most of the experienced candidates have already found positions with other clubs.
Pacific Division: Remaining RFAs
We’re now in the dying days of August, less than a month away from the start of the World Cup and training camps. However, there are still 15 restricted free agents remaining, and many of them are not who you would expect to be unsigned at this point. Two NHL teams’ leading scorers, four top-four defensemen, and several other high quality players are still looking for new deals.
Let’s break down the remaining RFAs by division, starting out west in the Pacific Division:
Anaheim Ducks – $7.52MM in cap space, according to Cap Friendly – The Ducks have mostly stood pat this summer after bringing back Randy Carlyle to replace the fired Bruce Boudreau. However, the budget-bound Ducks still have some work to do – their best defenseman, Hampus Lindholm, and World Cup-bound center Rickard Rakell still need new contracts. Lindholm logged the most minutes on the Ducks and put up 28 points as a dependable two-way force. Rakell is behind Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler on the center depth chart, but finished fourth on the Ducks in points with 43. The Ducks would like to get both signed long term, but will need to get creative to fit it all under their self-imposed budget. Cam Fowler has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the summer as the Ducks ready themselves for these two contracts and next summer’s expansion draft.
Arizona Coyotes – $7.85MM in cap space, according to Cap Friendly – Arizona has been locked in tough negotiations with Tobias Rieder all summer. It’s believed the talented scorer and reliable two-way winger is looking for a contract similar to new Coyotes forward Jamie McGinn, who signed a three-year, $10MM contract. However, new GM John Chayka isn’t budging, and Rieder has threatened to head to the KHL if the two sides can’t come to an agreement.
Calgary Flames – $8.59MM in cap space, according to Cap Friendly – The Flames have been in an unenviable situation this summer, with their two top forwards needing new contracts. GM Brad Treliving locked up center Sean Monahan to a seven-year, $44.625MM contract last week, but has yet to sign the team’s leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau has said he won’t negotiate during the upcoming World Cup, where he’ll suit up for Team North America. Their camp starts on the long weekend, so there’s just two weeks remaining for Gaudreau and the Flames to put pen to paper. The Flames also have to sign Freddie Hamilton, minor league center and brother of Dougie. Hamilton played four NHL games last season, potting a goal and an assist.
Snapshots: ELC Bonuses, Neal On Subban, Nichushkin
The contact of the newest member of the New York Rangers is now confirmed. Jimmy Vesey will make the maximum allowable salary for a rookie: a base salary of $925K with $2.85MM in signing and performance bonuses. Vesey is just the fifth college player to sign for the maximum amount, according to Cap Friendly. The other four are Tyler Bozak with the Maple Leafs in 2009, Justin Schultz with the Oilers in 2012, Corban Knight with the Flames in 2013, and Vesey’s soon-to-be teammate Kevin Hayes in 2014.
There are 22 total players who have signed the maximum rookie contract since the first salary cap was instituted more than a decade ago. In addition to the five college players, the list includes all 13 first overall picks since Alex Ovechkin, notable second overall picks Evgeni Malkin and Jack Eichel, and two players who came from the KHL in Evgeni Kuznetsov and Sergei Plotnikov.
Here are some other notes from around the NHL:
- Predators sniper James Neal is looking forward to playing with his new teammate P.K. Subban, instead of against him. Neal told the Predators website that Subban is “a guy that gets under your skin, and plays the game well when he’s under a guy’s skin.” Neal is entering his third season with the Predators, having scored 54 goals and 95 points in his first two seasons.
- Mark Stepneski, writer for the Dallas Stars official website, reports that negotiations between the team and restricted free agent (RFA) winger Valeri Nichushkin are continuing. Nichushkin has struggled to build on a decent rookie season; he tallied 14 goals and 34 points in 79 games, but has only posted 30 points in the next 87 games after missing all but eight games of his sophomore season.
Snapshots: Prust, Hrabarenka, Bissonnette
News and notes from around the NHL:
- The Toronto Maple Leafs extended a training camp invitation to Brandon Prust. Prust played for the Vancouver Canucks last season, amassing only 1G and 6A in 35 games. The gritty forward peaked in 2012, garnering a four-year, $10MM contract from the Montreal Canadiens in free agency. The Habs then traded Prust in his final contract year to the Canucks for Zach Kassian and a fifth rounder—a change of scenery deal for both sides. Prust could not regain what made him popular early on, and faltered in Vancouver. We predicted Prust would get a PTO partly because teams believe he may have something more to offer. The Leafs take no risks with this move, points out GM Lou Lamoriello, and can sign Prust for cheap if he impresses.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs also extended a training camp invite to former New Jersey Devils Raman Hrabarenka (a.k.a. Roman Graborenko). The Belarusian defenseman went undrafted before signing a three-year ELC with the Devils in 2012-2013. Hrabarenka scored 20G and 37A in 142 games for the Albany Devils in the AHL, and was called up for one NHL game last season. The obvious connection here is that the Leafs current GM Lou Lamoriello was previously the GM of the New Jersey Devils. It’s unclear where Hrabarenka fits in as the Leafs have a logjam of average defensemen. This move looks more like an AHL restocking than a move to bolster the big club’s blueline.
- The Los Angeles Kings extended a training camp invite to former Arizona Coyotes Paul Bissonnette. Bissonnette last played in the NHL for the Coyotes, but has since been playing on AHL contracts with the L.A. Kings AHL Affiliates Manchester Monarchs and Ontario Reign. Last year Bissonnette scored 2G and 1A in 35 games for the Reign, and 1G and 1A in 13 playoff games. The Kings are up against the cap with just over $1MM in space, and if Bissonnette can regain his form he’ll be a nice addition for the team.
Keep track of all the NHL training camp invites with ProHockeyRumor’s Training Camp Tracker.
Atlantic Division Snapshots: Radulov, Holland, Larkin, Kempfer
One of the summer’s more interesting free agent signings, winger Alexander Radulov, met for the first time with the Montreal media and Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette transcribed the event. It’s worth a read in full but here are some of the highlights.
- Radulov talked about how “things change,” as you grow older, implying he feels is a more mature player than the one who left Nashville. Of course Radulov, along with then teammate Andrei Kostitsyn, is notoriously remembered for missing curfew the night before a playoff game in Nashville’s second round series against the Coyotes in 2012. After the Predators were eliminated, Radulov left the NHL to return to the KHL.
- He addressed where he might fit into the Canadiens lineup and gave an answer typical of a player by deferring to his coaches.
- Even though Radulov had other options, Florida and Detroit were both rumored to be interested in the skilled winger, his experience as a junior player in Quebec led to him choosing to sign with Montreal.
“We played and we won the Memorial Cup. It was a lot of fun and I saw those fans when they were the happiest people in the world. What can be better than when you make people, fans happy, and that’s the best time.”
Radulov has the skill to be one of the elite offensive wingers in the game and ordinarily securing a player of his ability to a one-year deal worth $5MM would be considered an absolute steal. But given his baggage, no team wanted to go beyond a one year commitment in case it doesn’t work out. Montreal made a similar addition in the summer of 2015 when they signed Alexander Semin to a cheap contract, one which didn’t work out. It’s possible the Radulov signing won’t work out either but it’s a good gamble to take for Montreal given their need for more offensive firepower.
More from the Atlantic Division…..
- Ansar Khan of MLive opened up his mailbag and answered an array of reader questions. Of particular note was the sense of frustration fans are feeling about longtime GM Ken Holland. Not only is Detroit not considered serious Stanley Cup contenders at this point, there is also the impression that some of Holland’s recent re-signings for veteran Red Wing players will serve to hamstring the club’s salary cap situation in future seasons. Again, there’s plenty of insight in the post so feel free to give it a read in its entirety.
- Writing for the Sun Sentinel, Harvey Fialkov discusses the upcoming battle veteran defenseman Steve Kampfer faces to make the Florida roster despite coming off a career-best season with the Panthers. Kampfer appeared in 47 games in 2015-16 and told Fialkov that if not for a late-season injury he would have been in the lineup during the playoffs. Florida made several notable additions to their blue line this summer, bringing in Keith Yandle, Jason Demers and Mark Pysyk to add skill and puck-handling ability to the defense corps. Joining the new trio is young superstar Aaron Ekblad. Jakub Kindl and Alex Petrovic round out the top six on the team’s depth chart. Kampfer is going to face an uphill battle to earn playing time but it’s a battle the veteran depth defender is fairly accustomed to.