Free Agent Focus: Arizona Coyotes
The 2015-16 Arizona Coyotes were better than many expected them to be, finishing fourth in the Pacific Division. That said, they did have a losing record and feasted on lowly division rivals Edmonton and Calgary, going a combined 8-1-1 against the two Alberta teams. The team is built around superstar defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Christian Dvorak, and Dylan Strome representing a deep prospect pool up front. Wily veteran and captain Shane Doan scored 28 goals at age 39. Ekman-Larsson lead the team with 21 goals and 55 points (7th among defensemen).
The Coyotes have already made a few waves this summer, hiring a 27-year old rookie GM John Chayka. Chayka has already made his first trade, acquiring the rights to pending UFA defenceman, Alex Goligoski. There have also been rumors that the Coyotes have made a big trade offer to the Maple Leafs so they can draft Scottsdale, AZ native Auston Matthews first overall. Chayka has since denied the rumor, which had the Coyotes’ two first round picks (7th and 20th) going to Toronto with one of Domi or Dvorak for the first selection, calling it “ridiculous speculation”.
Cap space: $38.5MM, 13 players under contract.
Key RFAs: D Connor Murphy, W Tobias Rieder, D Michael Stone – Murphy and Stone have developed nicely into capable NHL defensemen, and will be qualified. Rieder scored 37 points in his sophomore season, and should be a solid middle-6 option up front for the Coyotes.
Other RFAs: D Jarred Tinordi, LW Sergei Plotnikov, D Klas Dahlbeck, D Kevin Connauton, and G Louis Domingue.
Key UFAs: Doan and Goligoski – the team’s captain and longest serving member (he was a member of the original Winnipeg Jets) is expected to re-sign with the team for one season at a time. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the recently acquired Goligoski and his wife are visiting Arizona this week to check out the city and meet with team officials.
Other UFAs: W Alex Tanguay, C Boyd Gordon, C Kyle Chipchura, F Viktor Tikhonov, D Nicklas Grossmann, and G Anders Lindback.
Outlook: The Coyotes have just $34.4MM committed to next year’s roster, which is $40MM less than the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, have. According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, the Coyotes don’t plan on re-signing any pending UFAs other than Doan and Goligoski, so new GM Chayka will have plenty of money to spend rounding out their roster.
As well, big C Martin Hanzal is entering a contract year and will need to be extended or traded. Fox reported Chayka as being open to all options regarding the Czech centre.
Look for them to draft one of the high-end defence prospects at 7th overall, or attempt to move up and snag Scottsdale-native Matthew Tkachuk.
Free Agent Focus: Colorado Avalanche
The 2015-16 season was a very disappointing step backwards for the Colorado Avalanche, who finished up 39-39-4 and missed the playoffs by 5 points. For a team that just two years prior had won the Central division with 112 points, it’s a steep two year decline. With a trio of elite forwards in Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, the team should never be that far removed from another excellent season. With rumors swirling around their defense corps, it should be an interesting offseason.
Key RFAs: D Tyson Barrie and MacKinnon – One of the most discussed players already this summer, Barrie has been rumored to be on the block after another excellent offensive season which saw him put up 49 points from the back end.
Barrie was a third round pick out of Kelowna in 2009 and has quietly become one of the better point producers in the league from the blueline. With 140, he ranks 11th in the NHL over the last three years in points from defensemen, ahead of players like Drew Doughty, Ryan Suter and Alex Pietrangelo. Those rankings are going to make him awfully expensive as he comes off a two-year $5.2MM deal that he signed when he was just 22.
If they do re-sign him long-term, Colorado will be committing a lot of money to two defensemen as they already have Erik Johnson signed at $6MM/year until 2022-23.
With MacKinnon, Colorado basically is going to pay whatever it takes. The former first overall pick has put up exceptional numbers from the moment he stepped into the NHL as an 18 year old, netting 153 points (59-94) in 218 games, all before his 21st birthday.
If the Avalanche can’t get him signed to a long-term deal that buys out a few free agent seasons, look for him to sign a deal similar to the one Duchene signed coming out of his entry-level contract. After putting up three seasons that look eerily similar to MacKinnon’s (150 points in 219 games), he inked a two-year $7MM deal before the 2012-13 season.
Colorado might play it the same way, as Duchene eventually re-signed for five more seasons at $6MM/year buying out a couple years of free agency along the way. Having MacKinnon and Duchene for under $15MM together in a few years would be an ideal situation for the Avs as they continue to play at an all-star level.
Other RFAs: C Mikhail Grigorenko, G Calvin Pickard, C Andreas Martinsen
Key UFA: W Mikkel Boedker – GM Joe Sakic is on record as saying the trade deadline acquisition will be allowed to test free agency come July 1, but the 26-year-old Dane has not ruled out a return to the Mile High City. Despite Boedker never having reached the 20-goal plateau, it’s expected his ask will be around the $5-6MM mark.
Other UFAs: C/L Shawn Matthias, D Zach Redmond, RW Jack Skille, D Andrew Bodnarchuk
Outlook: The Avalanche will look to improve their defence core this summer. However, Sakic will need to think twice about any defensive help, as the team must protect Johnson and 35-year-old Francois Beauchemin in the expansion draft. Tyson Barrie will also need to be protected, meaning as it is hulking prospect Nikita Zadorov will likely be exposed. Also interesting will be the Avalanche’s goalie situation, with both Semyon Varlamov and goalie-of-the-future Pickard needing to be protected.
Despite Barrie’s success and Sakic’s insistence otherwise, it’s widely believed that Barrie will be on the move soon. With many buyers and fewer sellers, the market for defensemen will certainly be interesting to watch.
NHL Salary Cap Set At $73MM
The NHL and NHLPA announced the salary cap for 2016-17 will be set at $73MM. That represents a $1.6MM growth from last season’s $71.4MM ceiling.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that the raise is thanks to the NHLPA enacting the 5% growth factor. Without the players using escrow money to boost the cap, the ceiling would have fallen to $69.5MM according to James Mirtle of The Globe & Mail.
The cap floor is set at $54MM.
Coaching Notes: French, Skahan, Lamb
Now that the NHL coaching carousel has ended, lower level leagues are filling their coaching vacancies. Here are the latest coaching developments:
- The Calgary Hitmen have given head coach Mark French a multi-year extension after another successful season. French, the former Calder Cup winning coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, is considered an excellent bench boss that would have a few job offers if he decided to head back to the AHL at some point. Blueliner Jake Bean is set to become the latest Hitmen to go in the first round of the NHL draft.
- After spending years with Anaheim and last season with Buffalo, long-time NHL strength and conditioning coach Sean Skahan will be brought on with the Minnesota Wild, Michael Russo reports. He’ll replace the outgoing Kirk Olson, who is yet to sign on with another team.
- Mark Lamb is the new coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona Coyote’s AHL affiliate. Lamb was the GM and coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, and previously worked under Dave Tippet’s Dallas Stars as an assistant coach. The Roadrunners also hired Mark Hardy as an assistant coach. Hardy previously served as an assistant coach for both the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.
Free Agent Focus: Buffalo Sabres
The 2015-2016 Buffalo Sabres finished with a 35-36-11 record, good for 81 points and 7th in the Atlantic. After finishing dead last the season before, the Sabres improved their record by 27 points. They will no doubt be looking to continue their upward climb and shift their rebuild into the next gear.
Cap Space: $21,871,309 (according to CapFriendly)
Key UFAs: G Chad Johnson and F Jimmy Vesey. After offseason acquisition Robin Lehner went down with an ankle injury in the Sabres’ opening game, Johnson stepped in and held down the fort admirably. He finished with a .920 SV% and a 2.36 GAA in 45 games. Given that Lehner is still an unproven commodity, the Sabres still need a capable backup in case things go sour. The Sabres have made big splashes in the past two off-seasons, so it is not be out of the question for the Sabres to go after a high-profile goalie and relegate Lehner to a backup role. That would leave Johnson as the odd man out, especially with young prospect Linus Ullmark waiting in the wings.
The Sabres traded for Jimmy Vesey’s negotiating rights on Monday June 20th, which we reported here. Vesey won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top hockey player, and was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2012. Nashville traded the young prospect after they failed to sign him late in the season. Despite the trade however, Vesey’s camp maintains that he still plans to explore unrestricted free agency.
Other UFAs: F David Legwand, D Carlo Colaiacovo.
Key RFAs: F Marcus Foligno, F Zemgus Girgensons, and D Rasmus Ristolainen. Foligno is fresh off an ELC and looking for a reasonable raise as he enters his RFA years. The young forward finished last year with 10G and 23P in 75 games. Girgensons is also coming off an ELC and 7G and 18P in 71 games. While the Sabres would like to bring him back, the Latvian centerman is rumored to be considering signing in the KHL. Finally, Finnish defenseman Ristolainen finished fourth in team scoring with 9G and 41P in 82 games. He lead the team in playing time with over 25 minutes—three minutes more than any other player. Re-signing the former first-rounder is Buffalo’s main RFA priority.
Other RFAs: D Casey Nelson, D Jake McCabe, G Jason Kasdorf.
Ryan Callahan Out Five Months
Tampa Bay right winger Ryan Callahan underwent hip surgery today and is expected to miss the next five months, the team announced. That means that it’s unlikely that he will be ready in time to start next season. Callahan will also miss the upcoming World Cup of Hockey for Team USA.
Last year, Callahan played in 73 games with the Lightning, recording 10 goals and 18 assists. His 28 points marked the lowest full-season output of his career. This injury was ailing him for the second half of last season, reports Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. Callahan also suited up in 16 of Tampa’s 17 playoff contests, collecting two goals and two assists. He has spent parts of three years with the Bolts, picking up 40 goals and 43 assists in 170 games.
Callahan has four years left on his deal with Tampa Bay with a cap hit of $5.8MM. He is presently the Lightning’s highest paid forward though that would certainly change if they are able to come to terms with pending UFA Steven Stamkos.
Snapshots: Schedule, Shattenkirk, Salary Cap, Coyotes, Red Wings, Malkin, Dallas Defense
The NHL released their 2016-17 schedule on Tuesday. Here are some of the important dates:
Wednesday, October 12: Regular season begins
January 27-30: All-Star Break
Tuesday, February 28: Trade deadline
Sunday, April 9 Final day of the regular season
Elsewhere around the league:
- The market for St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk appears to be heating up, writes Joe Haggerty of CSN New England. Boston, Edmonton, and Philadelphia have already expressed an interested in acquiring Shattenkirk who is one year away from unrestricted free agency with a cap hit of $4.25MM. Haggerty also notes that Shattenkirk is looking to play on the East Coast following this coming season.
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that teams should learn the salary cap figure for next season at some point today. If the NHLPA exercises their 5% inflator, an option given to them each season in the CBA, the cap should be somewhere around $73MM.
- The Coyotes are open to trading up or down from the seventh overall pick in Friday’s NHL Entry draft, writes The Arizona Republic’s Sarah McLellan. GM John Chayka acknowledged he received a “pretty impressive offer” last week with regards to trading down in the draft.
- If Detroit wants to move the cap hit of now-retired Pavel Datsyuk, GM Ken Holland may have to give up a top young prospect. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that other teams are asking for 2015 1st rounder Evgeni Svechnikov or speedster Andreas Athanasiou to be included as a sweetener for them to take on Datsyuk’s $7.5MM cap charge.
- Steve Zipay of Newsday hears that the Blackhawks are “seriously kicking tires” on Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin. Considering Chicago is in a tough spot with their free agents and cap situation, they would have to find a way to clear up a lot of cap space in order to take on Malkin’s $9.5MM contract.
- Dallas GM Jim Nill said Tuesday that he expects free agent defensemen Jason Demers and Kris Russell to test the free agent market, reports ESPN’s Craig Custance. Nill noted that they’re content going with a younger group of defenders.
Top Draft Prospects: Matthew Tkachuk
The NHL draft is now less than a week away with the first round set for this Friday. Over the next several days, we will be taking a closer look at the prospects who will hear their name called early on Friday night.
Next up is Matthew Tkachuk, the son of ex-NHL’er Keith Tkachuk.
Bio
Position: Left Wing
Birthdate: December 11, 1997
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs
2015-16
Tkachuk’s debut season in major junior was nothing short of great. He was part of the OHL champion London Knights and skated on their top line with Toronto prospect Mitch Marner and Arizona prospect Christian Dvorak. Tkachuk tied for the second most assists in the league and finished fifth overall in points, the best among any draft eligible prospect. He also finished second in postseason scoring, collecting an impressive 40 points (20 goals and 20 assists) in just 18 games.
He also suited up for Team USA at the World Junior Championships, finishing tied for the team lead in scoring with projected first overall pick Auston Matthews. As the Knights won the OHL title, Tkachuk was also able to suit up in the Memorial Cup, scoring the tournament winning goal in overtime against Rouyn-Noranda.
Statistics
London: 57 GP, 30 goals, 77 assists, 107 points, 80 PIMS, +45 rating
WJC’s: 7 GP, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points, 6 PIMS, +7 rating
Memorial Cup: 4 GP, 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points, 4 PIMS, +8 rating
Scouting Report
Tkachuk is a very well-rounded offensive winger. He’s an elite passer who sees the ice extremely well while his shot, though not used as often in London, is also above average. Skating is an area that needs improvement – it’s not a weakness but he’s not as strong a skater as some of the other top prospects in this draft class. He’s also highly above average at protecting the puck and is quite effective at working the cycle game.
On the defensive side, he’s a work in progress. He’s capable of making the right reads but his commitment to doing so tends to waver. Part of that is a by-product on being part of an elite offensive team that could score their way out of trouble so that’s something he should improve on over time. Physically, he’s strong enough to cover bigger forwards down low and along the boards in his own zone and can use his strength to create turnovers.
One of Tkachuk’s biggest strengths is his willingness and ability to get to the high traffic areas. He has no problems taking a hit to make a play or deflect a shot and is strong enough to withstand the physical pounding for doing so. He sometimes gets a little too involved in the rough stuff which is something he’ll need to improve on over time as well.
Projected Future Role
Front line power winger.
NHL Timeline
Physically, Tkachuk is ready to step into an NHL lineup right away. However, his skating and defensive zone play needs to be improved before he can really become a top player at the pro level. It’s feasible to think he’ll spend most of this season at the junior level before making a run at a full-time roster spot in 2017-18.
Previous Profiles
Free Agent Focus: Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens got off to a franchise-best 9-0-0 start in 2015-16 but were unable to sustain their success, eventually dropping all the way to 13th in the Eastern Conference.
With most of their team already under contract for next season, GM Marc Bergevin will have to be active in the trade market if he wants to bring in more than just one or two new faces. Here’s a closer look at the few remaining free agents they have to deal with.
Key Restricted Free Agents: Phillip Danault was the centerpiece of the pre-deadline trade that saw Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann go to Chicago. The former first round pick didn’t play a big role with the Canadiens after being acquired, averaging just 12:37 per game while picking up five points in 21 games. Danault is expected to play a bottom six role for the Canadiens next season and should receive a short-term contract.
Winger Daniel Carr was a pleasant surprise last year. The 24 year old rookie picked up six goals and three assists in 24 games with Montreal after starting the season at AHL St. John’s. He is due a two-way qualifying offer of $840,000 in the NHL and $70,000 in the AHL but the team may try to convince him to take a smaller NHL cap hit in exchange for more guaranteed money in the form of a higher AHL salary.
Other RFA’s: F Michael Bournival, D Darren Dietz, D Morgan Ellis, D Joel Hanley, F Lucas Lessio
Key Unrestricted Free Agent: It was a down year for D Tom Gilbert who picked up just one goal and one assist in 45 games before a knee injury ended his season in February. He’s coming off a $2.8MM contract and will have to take a substantial pay cut to get a contract in free agency. He should still have some suitors for a third pairing role as mobility and shot blocking are still desired attributes on the open market.
Other UFA’s: D Victor Bartley, F John Scott, G Ben Scrivens
Cap Situation: Montreal has just shy of $64MM committed to 20 players already for next season, according to Cap Friendly. After re-signing Danault and Carr, they should have enough money to sign one impact player on the free agent market.
Sabres GM Talks Vesey, Draft
Buffalo GM Tim Murray spoke to the media on Tuesday to talk about the upcoming draft and yesterday’s acquisition of Jimmy Vesey’s negotiating rights. John Vogl of the Buffalo News has the highlights.
On Vesey, the Hobey Baker winner for the best college player last season:
“It’s a gamble,” He can sign with somebody else August 15, but it was a third-round pick and we can debate the value of third-round picks. Between 30 percent and 10 percent of them play.
“He’s got top-six potential. He’s the type of player we’re looking for.”
Since the trade occurred, Vesey’s agent acknowledged that he still intends to test the free agent market in mid-August, according to WKBW’s Nick Filipowski.
On the 8th overall pick, Buffalo’s first selection in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft:
“If somebody offers us a top-end, young, left-shot” defenseman “and they demand our eighth overall pick and we feel it makes us better, we’ll do the trade.”
Murray added that the team has a shortlist of three players at that selection should they hold onto the pick. The team isn’t willing to move any of their top young players to move up in the draft, notes Mike Harrington, also of the Buffalo News.
Murray also noted that the team has been in talks with D Rasmus Ristolainen, D Jake McCabe, and F Zemgus Girgensons on new contracts. The team has not yet started negotiations with F Marcus Foligno, reports Shawn Stepner of WKBW.