Canadiens Owner Confident Subban Trade Is Good For Team
The Montreal Canadiens will be better off for trading P.K. Subban, according to the team’s owner and president Geoff Molson. Molson spoke about the controversial trade at Monday’s press conference announcing the relocation of the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate from St. John’s to Laval.
The Canadian Press quoted Molson as saying he supports GM Marc Bergevin “100 per cent”, however he’s “not surprised how the fans reacted” because they “love him and still will love him”.
Subban has been a larger-than-life superstar for the Canadiens since his debut in 2009-10, amassing 63 goals and 278 points 434 regular season games. He’s added 38 points in 55 post-season games. The Toronto-native also donated $10MM to the Montreal Children’s Hospital last year, where he spends time visiting with patients.
Bergevin has been busy this summer, trading Subban, Lars Eller, and a pair of 2nd round picks picks for Shea Weber, Andrew Shaw, and two different 2nd round picks. He’s also signed highly-skilled, controversial-in-his-own-right Russian winger Alex Radulov to boost the offence, depth defenceman Zach Redmond, and Al Montoya to create competition in goal.
The Canadiens finished missed the playoffs last year, due in large part to Carey Price‘s injury which limited him to just 12 games. Price is healthy and is expected start for Canada at the World Cup this September.
Molson said he and Subban have spoken since the trade, and Subban will continue his work with the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Predators’ only visit to Montreal next season is March 2, a date Molson said he’s looking forward to.
Ducks Sign Korbinian Holzer
The Anaheim Ducks have signed Korbinian Holzer to a one-year deal worth $700K, reports TVASports Renaud Lavouie.
The German defenseman scored 0G and 3A in 29 games for Anaheim last year. Holzer was traded to the Ducks from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 for Defenseman Eric Brewer and a 2016 fifth round draft pick. The deal represents a slight pay cut from Holzer’s previous contract—down from $750K.
This move is most likely meant to stock the Ducks’ AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls as the NHL team doesn’t seem to have a spot open on defense come training camp—especially if they sign RFA Hampus Lindholm. Holzer could be used as a call-up for injury purposes, and has enough of a gritty game to eat minutes without posing too much of a liability. He averaged over 17 minutes a night with the Maple Leafs before being traded.
Las Vegas Narrows GM Search To Two Candidates
The NHL’s newest expansion team has narrowed its GM search down to two candidates, says owner Bill Foley in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The unnamed Las Vegas team hopes to finalize their decision within a few days.
Whoever takes the GM position will face numerous unique challenges as a product of the expansion process. The new GM will have to run the expansion draft, build a prospect pool from scratch, and balance prudent long-reaching moves with a new fanbase’s desire to see a winning product. The ideal candidate would be experienced and able to quickly hire support and scouting staff.
Foley interviewed seven candidates in his search. Two people thought to have the inside track, however, were not even considered. Panthers President of Hockey Operations (and former Panthers and Blackhawks GM) Dale Tallon told reporters he wasn’t even interviewed. Same goes for Chicago Blackhawks Assistant GM Norm MacIvor.
Possible candidates for the position include former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee, former Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney, and current Montreal Canadiens Assistant GM Scott Mellanby. McPhee helmed the Capitals for 17 years, making to the finals in his first season and remaining competitive for most of his tenure. Maloney was let go this off-season in a surprising move for the Coyotes, but knows the market well and kept things afloat during the almost-constant relocation rumors. Finally, Mellanby played with Foley’s hockey advisor Murray Craven during his career, and is rumored to be a leading candidate for the position.
Sharks Re-Sign DeMelo, Sign Kelly
The Sharks have reached an agreement with two defensemen today, signing restricted free agent Dylan DeMelo to a two-year contract, and free agent Dan Kelly to a one-year deal.
DeMelo, drafted in the 6th round in 2011, has spent most of his short pro tenure with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate. He did play 45 games with the Sharks last season, finishing with 2G and 2A. The big defensemen hopes to start the season in San Jose, but will face stiff competition from former 1st round selection Mirco Mueller for the team’s last defensive slot.
Dan Kelly has spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL Affiliate Albany Devils after they signed his as an undrafted free agent. He’s racked up 64 points in six seasons, and is expected to remain with San Jose’s AHL affiliate next year.
Los Angeles Signs Three RFAs
The LA Kings announced today that they have signed forward Nic Dowd and goalie Jack Campbell to new contracts, while confirming the reported signing of defenseman Derek Forbort. The three players were restricted free agents and all signed two-year two-way contracts.
Dowd, a 26-year-old forward from the notorious hockey town of Huntsville, Alabama, reportedly signed his second contract with the Kings for $640K per year at the NHL level. Dowd got his first taste of NHL action last season, playing in five games for the Kings. He enters his third pro season in 2016-2017, having split the majority of the past two seasons between the King’s new AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, and their former AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs (now ECHL affiliate), where he helped the team win the 2015 Calder Cup.
Campbell, 24, is new to the Kings organization after coming over from Dallas in a draft day exchange for defenseman Nick Ebert. Campbell was the first goalie selected in the 2010 NHL Draft, as the stars took him 11th overall. However, his career has not turned out as either party planned, leading to the recent trade. Campbell has played in just one NHL game, a start in which he allowed six goals on the way to a loss. He has spent the majority of his career with the AHL’s Texas Stars, but has also spent a significant amount of time down at the ECHL level with the Idaho Steelheads. Campbell is expected to resume AHL play with the Ontario Reign next season, and the Kings hope that the change of scenery will help to get him back to his 1st round-caliber form. If he work his way back into the NHL, he will make a reported $612.5K, and could end up being a great value acquisition by Los Angeles.
Zach Sanford Signs With Caps, Continuing BC Exodus
The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed prospect Zach Sanford to an entry-level contract. The contract is for a reported 3 years at $875K per year. Sanford, who was set to be a junior at Boston College this year, will instead enter his first pro season with the Capitals, who drafted him 61st overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. Sanford is the seventh player to depart early from Boston College this off-season, and collegiate hockey players continue to trend towards leaving school early to pursue their pro careers.
Sanford joins defenseman Steve Santini and forward Miles Wood, both New Jersey Devils property, forwards Alex Tuch and Adam Gilmour, both Minnesota Wild prospects, Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, and Florida defenseman Ian McOshen as Eagles who will no longer be a part of the Boston College ’16-’17 season, to the surprise of many in the program. The change is evident in Chestnut Hill, as BC men’s hockey will not have a single junior player on this year’s team.
Boston College is not alone in their struggles, as Michigan has lost five players early, including star prospects Kyle Connor (Winnipeg) and Zach Werenski (Columbus), and the defending National Champions, North Dakota, have lost five and counting as well. Many other programs are still reeling from the early exits of one or two of their star student-athletes as well.
However, Boston College has become the face of this trend. With seven underclassmen players leaving this summer to go along with many that preceded them over the past few seasons, the Eagles know all too well of this worrisome trend and the harsh effects it can have on a program’s ability to compete. The rise of NCAA hockey has been very apparent over the past decade and has been imperative to the continued growth of both grassroots hockey in the United States and a growing American fan base. But with key players now departing earlier than expected, college programs may have to go back to the drawing board in a recruiting sense, changing the ways that they analyze players and build teams based on the likelihood that those recruits will stay or leave. While a storied program like Boston College can replace even a talented prospect like Zach Sanford with relative ease, many programs could be left damaged for years following the early exit of a centerpiece player. It is an issue that will continue to draw attention in the college ranks and throughout hockey.
Full Salary Arbitration Hearing Schedule
The NHLPA released the full schedule of arbitration hearings today, which will not include Jordan Weal, after he re-signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier today. Teams and players can still negotiate up until the hearing, and many will reach agreements before going to arbitration. For more information on the arbitration process, check out part one of our full guide. Here is the full schedule:
PLAYER ELECTED FILINGS
Arizona Coyotes
Michael Stone – August 4, 2016
Colorado Avalanche
Tyson Barrie – July 29, 2016
Mikhail Grigorenko – July 22, 2016
Detroit Red Wings
Danny DeKeyser – July 28, 2016
Minnesota Wild
Jordan Schroeder – July 27, 2016
Nashville Predators
Calle Jarnkrok – August 4, 2016
Petter Granberg – August 3, 2016
New York Rangers
Kevin Hayes – July 27, 2016
Chris Kreider – July 22, 2016
Dylan McIlrath – July 21, 2016
J.T. Miller – August 2, 2016
Ottawa Senators
Mike Hoffman – August 4, 2016
Philadelphia Flyers
Brandon Manning – August 2, 2016
Brayden Schenn – July 25, 2016
St. Louis Blues
Jaden Schwartz – July 20, 2016
Tampa Bay Lightning
Alex Killorn – July 20, 2016
Vladislav Namestnikov – July 29, 2016
Toronto Maple Leafs
Frank Corrado – July 26, 2016
Peter Holland – July 25, 2016
Martin Marincin – August 2, 2016
Washington Capitals
Marcus Johansson – July 20, 2016
CLUB ELECTED FILINGS
Detroit Red Wings
Petr Mrazek – July 27, 2016
Top-Line Options Remaining In Free Agency
For many teams, free agency is a place to find a player or two to slot into your top two lines, to supplement the core you already have in place. Edmonton went out and got Milan Lucic, to add some veteran toughness while replacing the outgoing offensive contribution of Taylor Hall. Vancouver added Loui Eriksson in a questionable move for a team who hasn’t quite decided what direction they’re headed in, and Buffalo brought on Kyle Okposo to ride shotgun with their young talent up front.
Now that the madness has died down, the market for these top-six players is extremely thin, with only a few names having established themselves there in the past. With Shane Doan surely re-signing with the Coyotes, and Patrik Elias looking as though it’s either Devils or retirement, two of the most well known names among this group aren’t going anywhere. Here are the other possibilities for a team to add to their top-six:
(number in parentheses represents ranking on our Top 50 UFAs)
- Jiri Hudler (18) – Though Hudler is now 32-years old and took a significant step back last season, he still represents one of the better second-line options available. His 46 points in 2015-16 split between the Flames and Panthers were a disappointing total for a player coming off a 31-goal, 76 point season but still ranked him right alongside players like Andrew Ladd (46 points, $38.5MM) and David Backes (45 points, $30MM).
- Kris Versteeg (25) – While Versteeg is probably better suited as a third-liner on a good team, he has shown the ability to move up in the lineup consistently in the past. A three-time twenty goal scorer, Versteeg has scored at least 34 points in each of his seven healthy seasons. He can play either wing, and brings a level of physicality to his game as well.
- Radim Vrbata (27) – Vrbata is clearly on the downswing of his career, having put up just 27 points and a whopping -30 mark last season. Now 35, he’ll look to sign a cheap deal and could be a nice value signing for a team pressed against the cap. Remember, this is a guy who has over 250 career NHL goals, and is just one season removed from the second 30-goal season of his career.
- Alex Tanguay (33) – Though he’s now 37, Tanguay continues to produce like a second-line center, putting up another 35 point campaign despite having a much reduced role after a trade to Arizona. For a team looking to shelter their young forwards, a veteran like Tanguay can provide some offensive punch on a cheap, short-term deal. He’ll likely break 900 points in what has been an excellent career for the former Avalanche stalwart.
- Brandon Pirri (NR) – Despite Pirri’s reputation as a bottom-six forward, some teams might see the former Panther as a second-line option, due to his previous goal scoring ability. Pirri has potted 36 goals over the past two seasons, including 22 in 2014-15. The problem is that he’s racked up just 17 assists over the same time. He was an outstanding scorer in his AHL career, and is still just 25-years old, meaning that taking a shot on him might not be the worst gamble among the remaining options.
Snapshots: Burrows, Francis, Arbitration
When the 2015-16 season came to a close, it seemed a sure bet that the Vancouver Canucks were going to buy out the final year of Alex Burrows‘ four-year, $18MM contract. He’d seen his play dwindle, and GM Jim Benning was clear that he wanted to move in a younger direction, all but pointing the finger at the 35-year old. But, as the first buyout window came and went, it was Chris Higgins and not Burrows that found his contract voided.
Now, Burrows says that he’s ready for the new season and is challenging himself to be better. In talking to Ben Kuzma of The Province, Burrows provided great insight into his preparation and mindset heading into this season, including making it clear that he will relish a leadership and mentor opportunity with the younger players this season.
He’s even open to being a healthy scratch on occasion: “There are so many worse things in life than being a healthy scratch or they put a young guy in the lineup ahead of you. My wife is healthy and my kids are healthy and it puts things in perspective.” Here’s some more from around the league:
- After years of floundering without a clear direction, Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News opines that the Carolina Hurricanes are finally doing a re-build the right way. With a full stable of young defensemen they’ve built through the draft, the team now has the option of dealing from a position of depth – one that is scarce throughout the league. Kennedy mentions the recent rumors of David Krejci from Boston as a possible target for one of their young blueliners.
- In hiring Brad Shaw as an assistant coach last month, the Columbus Blue Jackets added an experienced name that can help build and develop their defense like he did in St. Louis. When asked by Rob Mixer of NHL.com why he chose Columbus, Shaw made it clear that players like the recently extended Seth Jones, and second overall pick Ryan Murray were a key factor: “The young defensemen here played a big part in my decision, no doubt about it. The biggest challenge in working with young players is trying to pin down and have a clear picture of what the final product will look like when they’re at their best in the NHL. Every guy is different.”
- After Philadelphia signed Jordan Weal earlier today, three of the twenty-five players who are headed to arbitration (through their own filing or the team’s) have now come to terms before their hearings, as General Fanager tweets. You can follow all the arbitration cases on their tracker, as well as up-to-date depth charts at Roster Resource.
Minor Transactions: 07/11/16
Here is where we will keep track of all the minor transactions happening today:
- According to Harvey Fiaklov of the Sun Sentinal, the Florida Panthers have inked Denis Malgin to a three-year entry-level contract, after drafting him in the third round in 2015. The 19-year old played for Zurich last season under new Ottawa Senators assistant coach Marc Crawford. Overshadowed by number one pick Auston Matthews, Malgin put up 17 points in the professional league.
- Thomas Raffl is heading back to Austria, instead of signing with a new team in the NHL. After coming over last season to play in the AHL, the unrestricted free agent has decided to take his talents back to Europe, according to Brennan Klak.
- The Minnesota Wild have announced that they’ve re-signed defenseman Zach Palmquist to a one-year, two-way deal worth $660K at the NHL level. The 25-year old scored 11 points last season in the AHL, his first full professional season.
- Roman Lyubimov, a 24-year old forward from the KHL has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyers on a one-year entry-level contract, according to a team release. Lyubimov has played six seasons already in the KHL, breaking in as an 18-year old in 2010-11.
- The San Jose Barracuda have inked a quartet of players to one-year, AHL contracts. John McCarthy, Jake Marchment, Matt Willows and Jamie Murray all signed with the team according to a press release. Marchment is a name well known to San Jose fans, as he’s the nephew of former player and current development coach Bryan Marchment, a veteran of 926 NHL games.