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Five Key Stories: 1/30/17 – 2/5/17

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With the trade deadline now less than a month away, things are really starting to pick up throughout the league.  Here are the top stories from the week that was.

1) Blues Fire Ken Hitchcock – Although he was set to retire at the end of the season, the Blues made their coaching change earlier than expected, as they fired Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday.  Associate coach Mike Yeo, who was supposed to take over as head coach after the season, was named as his replacement.  Also let go was goalie coach Jim Corsi with long-time NHL netminder Martin Brodeur taking over that role for the rest of the season.

Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla (12) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports2) Jarome Iginla Hopes To Be Traded – While he was unwilling to accept a trade last year, Avalanche right winger Jarome Iginla is much more open to the possibility this season, admitting that he is hoping to be dealt to get a shot at playing for the Stanley Cup.  Both Iginla and the Avalanche have struggled considerably this season and Colorado is set to miss the playoffs for the third straight season.  The 39 year old Iginla is a pending unrestricted free agent but carries a rather pricey cap hit of $5.33MM.

3) Arizona Arena Deal Falls Through – Just when things were finally starting to look up for the Coyotes and their lengthy search for an arena outside of Glendale, a proposed agreement to build an arena in Tempe, Arizona fell through.  The team has a lease in Glendale through the 2017-18 season but it’s expected that team ownership will continue to look for other options in the area over pursuing an extension to that lease.

4) Rangers Extend Alain Vigneault – The Rangers handed head coach Alain Vigneault a two year contract extension while giving him a significant raise on the final year of his original deal.  After being set to earn $2MM next season, the 55 year old bench boss will receive twice that while earning $4MM and $4.25MM in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively.  He’s fourth in franchise history in wins and will likely move up to third in the next couple of weeks.

5) Hartford Interested In Hosting The Islanders – With the reports that the Barclays Center will look to remove the Islanders as their tenant following the 2018-19 campaign, the City of Hartford has publicly expressed an interest in becoming a landing spot for the team, either on a short-term or more permanent basis.  Majority owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin have been looking into alternative arena options going back to the beginning of the season.  It appears they’ll have another option to look into now.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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With the trade deadline now just weeks away, we’re going to start taking a closer look at each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?

After struggling mightily in 2015-16, the Columbus Blue Jackets weren’t expected to be a big threat this year.  However, they have been one of the more pleasant surprises through the first half and not only find themselves in the thick of the playoff race but also in a battle for top spot league-wide.

Record

33-13-5, T-2nd in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$9.1MM – full-season cap hit ($13.9MM with LTIR), 44/50 contracts, via CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2017: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd*, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
2018: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd*, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th

* – Columbus owes one of those second round picks to Vancouver as compensation for hiring head coach John Tortorella.

Trade Chips

Given that they’re a top team, it’s unlikely that they’re going to deal anyone off of their active roster.  Accordingly, their trade bait consists of the draft picks noted above and youngsters who haven’t quite made the full-time jump to the NHL but would be intriguing to rebuilding teams.  Given what they’re likely to target GM Jarmo Kekalainen likely won’t consider giving up their top young assets such as wingers Oliver Bjorkstrand and Sonny Milano.

On top of that the Jackets have a pair of young netminders who are slated to be exposed in the Vegas expansion draft that could be of interest to some teams as potential backup goalies for next season.  It’s unlikely that they’d deal both but one moving would certainly be a possibility.

Five Players To Watch For: LW Paul Bittner, G Anton Forsberg, LW Markus Hannikainen, D Dillon Heatherington, G Joonas Korpisalo

Team Needs

1) Veteran Backup Goaltender – With Curtis McElhinney not holding down the backup job, youngsters Forsberg and Korpisalo have been splitting the number two duties behind Sergei Bobrovsky.  While both have fared well at the minor league level, neither have had enough NHL success for the team to be comfortable with one of them stepping in for Bobrovsky if he were to go down in the middle of a playoff series.  Getting a veteran with some postseason experience would be a useful addition and is one that shouldn’t cost one of their top young assets either.

2) Center Depth – Columbus has a pair of centers who struggle considerably at the faceoff dot in Alexander Wennberg and William Karlsson.  With matchups being exploited that much more in the postseason, the Blue Jackets would stand to benefit from adding someone who is above average on the draw.

While the team has several capable fill-in options on the wings at AHL Cleveland, the same can’t be said down the middle.  They have Boone Jenner who can shift over from the wing (who is also quite strong at the dot) but since they can’t really expect one of their minor league centers to step in, they’ll have to look outside the organization to add any further depth and with center being a crucial position, they would be wise to explore the market for some help at that spot.

Stars Notes: Niemi, Oleksiak, Sharp

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Although Stars goaltender Antti Niemi struggled considerably in his last three outings (allowing 11 goals in 71 minutes in that span), head coach Lindy Ruff isn’t afraid to use him again in the near future, he told Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.

Dallas has been juggling between Niemi and Kari Lehtonen on a regular basis as they look for at least one of them to get on a run but that has yet to happen as both have been well below average this season, hardly what the Stars were expecting when they made them the highest paid goaltending duo in the NHL.

Lehtonen has received the last three starts but he too has allowed 11 goals in that span (though to be fair, he played 177 minutes in those games).  Accordingly, Niemi may not have to wait that much longer before he gets another look.

More from Dallas:

  • Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is expected to miss another 7-10 days as a result of his hand injuries, notes Mark Stepneski of Stars Inside Edge (Twitter link). Oleksiak has been out of the lineup since January 11th.  After spending most of the season as a healthy scratch early on, the 24 year old had been starting to play more before getting sidelined.  On the season, the 2011 first round pick has played in 20 games this season, scoring five goals while adding an assist.  If the Stars opt to sell at the trade deadline, Oleksiak would be in a prime position to take on a bigger role down the stretch.
  • Right winger Patrick Sharp dealt with a lot of motion sickness issues while dealing with two separate instances of post-concussion symptoms, writes Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. He noted that he has been much more comfortable since returning back in late December and put up a productive month in January with five goals and five assists in 13 games.  If Dallas falls out of the playoff hunt, Sharp becomes a potential trade candidate but he will likely call the shots on a move as he can be dealt to just ten teams (while also carrying a pricey $5.9MM cap hit).

Latest From Garrioch: Julien, Doan, Coyotes, Shattenkirk, Duchene

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While many are wondering if the Bruins will opt to replace Claude Julien as head coach, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun suggests that team owner Jeremy Jacobs has played a big role in keeping him around.  On the flip side, he notes that team president Cam Neely wouldn’t mind a change being made.  Julien is the longest-tenured coach in the NHL and is in his tenth season behind Boston’s bench.  The Bruins currently find themselves in a playoff spot but they sit just one point ahead of Toronto who have five games in hand so it likely won’t be long before they’re on the outside looking in.

Garrioch also covered several league-wide topics in his Insider Trading column.  Here are some of the highlights although the full column is worth a read:

  • While it’s far from a guarantee that Arizona right winger Shane Doan decides to agree to a deal, it sounds like he may be staying in the Pacific Division if he does move as he would prefer to not have to go too far. Anaheim, San Jose, and Los Angeles are believed to have interest in the 40 year old.  After a 28 goal 2015-16 campaign, Doan’s offensive production has slowed down considerably this year as he has just five goals and 12 assists in 51 games.  Accordingly, he would be a bottom six forward if he does eventually agree to a move.
  • While it’s well-known that the asking price for Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is quite high, GM John Chayka has also put a very high price tag on some of their other rental players including right winger Radim Vrbata, center Ryan White, and defenseman Michael Stone. As of yet, no one’s willing to meet the prices and it’s worth remembering that the playoff bonuses in Vrbata’s contract will be absorbed by whoever acquires him which should affect his value.  Stone’s likely to fetch a decent return as one of the better rental blueliners but the price for White, a fourth line center, shouldn’t be too high.
  • One team in the Eastern Conference received permission over the last two weeks to talk to St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk regarding a contract extension. However, that deal fell through.  It has been suggested over the past few weeks that it’s much more likely that Shattenkirk will have to be dealt as a rental and not in a sign-and-trade deal which would undoubtedly yield a better return for the Blues.
  • The Lightning are among the teams to express an interest in Matt Duchene. Given who they have to re-sign this summer (including forwards Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat), it seems difficult to imagine that they’d be able to keep them and add Duchene’s $6MM cap hit although it’s also possible that one of those players could be of interest to Colorado GM Joe Sakic in a possible deal.

Trade Candidates: Brian Boyle

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have largely underachieved but some of their players are quietly having big seasons.  One of those is Brian Boyle who is quietly positioning himself for a nice pay day while giving GM Steve Yzerman one of the more intriguing trade options on the market.

Contract

Final year of a three year, $6MM deal – Will be a UFA in July.

2016-17

May 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle (11) moves the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Lightning won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsBoyle quietly sits in the top five in goals on the Lightning this season, continuing his upward trend in offensive production that he has shown since signing with them in the 2014 offseason.  He’s on pace for over 30 points, something he hasn’t done since 2010-11 with the Rangers.  Injuries to several forwards up front have resulted in Boyle seeing more ice time than usual as well; he’s averaging 13:42 per game, his highest since 2012-13.

Simply talking about his production is selling him short though.   He’s above the 50% mark at the faceoff dot once again and can play both center and the wing.  Boyle logs a regular shift on both special teams as well.  That type of flexibility in terms of position and role has made him a very valuable role player for Tampa Bay this year.

Season Stats

47 GP, 12 goals, 7 assists, 19 points, +7 rating, 41 PIMS, 87 shots, 13:42 ATOI, 54.6 CF%

Potential Suitors

The list of teams that would be interested in a versatile 6’7 forward in Boyle would be longer than the list of teams that wouldn’t have a use for him.  Here are a few teams in particular that would likely value his services though.

In the East, the Blue Jackets jump out as a good fit.  Boyle has plenty of postseason experience (something that can’t be said for many on their roster) and he played his best hockey under John Tortorella back when both were with the Rangers.  Columbus also has the cap space to fit him in without sending any money back or having the Lightning retain salary.  The Capitals may be an all-in team this season and have a vacancy in their bottom six, though it may have to be on the wing.  GM Brian MacLellan made a move to add a veteran penalty killer last year in Daniel Winnik and could conceivably do the same here with their top six in solid shape.  They don’t have the cap space to take him on, however, which could complicate things a bit.

Out West, he would be a terrific fit in Chicago.  The Blackhawks have been forced to use a lot of youngsters in the bottom six for cap reasons and could benefit from an experienced veteran who can fill a big role.  GM Stan Bowman has a history of dealing for bottom six upgrades at the deadline as well.  That said, as is always the case when it comes to the Blackhawks, making the finances work would be a challenge.  The Oilers are believed to be looking for an upgrade over rookie Drake Caggiula on their third line and Boyle would fit that bill well while giving them some more experience on a team that doesn’t have a lot of playoff-tested players.  They also have the cap space to bring him in while leaving enough room for the expected bonuses of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Likelihood Of A Trade

There’s little doubt that Yzerman would like to keep Boyle around but unless he’s willing to take a discount on his market rate and sign early, there probably won’t be an extension forthcoming.  As a result, there’s a very good chance he gets dealt unless the Lightning go on quite a run this month to get back into the playoff race.

Boyle could command one of the top prices at the deadline in a trade market bereft of top six rental talent and with a lot of teams fairly tight to the cap.  Accordingly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him be one of the most-targeted players over the next month which will set the Lightning up for what should be a fairly significant return in a deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Snapshots: DeBrincat, Second Round, Sergachev

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Since Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat was cut from the United States World Junior team in late December, he’s determined to prove that it was a mistake. When he was dropped, he was the OHLs leading goal-scorer and trailed only teammate Taylor Raddysh (who played for Canada at the tournament) in points. He hasn’t slowed down at all, scoring four more points today for the Erie Otters and extending his lead in the scoring race. He now has 92 points in 45 games and is a clear leader in goals scored.

The Blackhawks signed DeBrincat to a three-year entry-level contract earlier this season, and it looks like he’ll be making an impact in professional hockey as soon as he makes the leap. His 39th-overall selection looks like a steal now, as he’s about to post his third straight 100+ point season in the OHL and possibly help his team to a Memorial Cup.

  • Over at Fan Rag Sports, Hannah Stuart took a look at five potential second-round steals in the upcoming draft. It even includes one Erie Otter rookie who will be getting a ton of extra ice time next season when DeBrincat, Raddysh and Ryan Strome all leave for greener pastures. Ivan Lodnia, the Otters’ young sniper has 21 goals and 45 points in his OHL debut. She also mentions Boston University’s Jake Oettinger, who sat in the press box at the World Juniors behind Tyler Parsons and Joseph Woll on Team USA. Despite being ranked 3rd on Central Scouting’s goaltender list, Stuart believes big things are ahead for the NCAA standout.
  • The Montreal Canadiens are in the thick of trade talks all around the league, and Darren Dreger of TSN says that GM Marc Bergevin is “all in” on upgrading this season. That has sparked some talk about the possibility of dealing last summer’s first-round pick Mikhail Sergachev, but The Fourth Period has shut that down. The report says that while Sergachev is basically untouchable, Noah Juulsen may be in play when it comes to big upgrades down the middle for the NHL club. Juulsen is the captain of the Everett Silvertips in the WHL and was Montreal’s first-round selection in 2015.

Maple Leafs Notes: Rielly, Marchenko, Maturity

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Morgan Rielly gave Toronto Maple Leafs fans a scare today as he was absent for practice, but it shouldn’t be too concerning. Head coach Mike Babcock told reporters including David Alter of The Athletic afterwards that Rielly will be skating tomorrow and that it was just a maintenance day coming off injury. Rielly missed a few games for the Leafs with a knee injury recently, and looked a bit tentative in last night’s win against the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs will need him if they’re to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout-shortened season.

  • Alexey Marchenko hit the ice for the first time with his new team today, skating as the extra defenseman at practice. While Mike Babcock admitted to Alter that Marchenko won’t play Monday versus the New York Islanders, the coach will be getting him into the lineup sooner or later. We looked at what the acquisition of Marchenko means for Roman Polak and the other right-handed defenseman yesterday, but it doesn’t look like it will happen right away in Toronto. Polak remained firmly in the third pairing role alongside Matt Hunwick, who will likely figure back into the lineup after Martin Marincin took three minor penalties against Boston.
  • Frank Corrado has indeed been sent to the minors where he will assume big minutes on the Toronto Marlies. With Rinat Valiev out with a lower-body injury, expect Corrado to join the top pairing and have something of a showcase as we get closer to the trade deadline.
  • In winning the see-saw battle last night against the Bruins, and with it slaying any lingering demons from the Maple Leafs collapse in game 7 of their last playoff appearance, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com considers this group well ahead of schedule. In her latest column, she writes that the team is maturing much faster than was expected and should be considered a completely different entity than the lackluster teams of the last decade (or longer, depending on who you ask).

PHR Originals: 01/30/2017 – 02/05/2017

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As we get closer to the NHL trade deadline, PHR has been pumping out the original pieces. Here is a look at the past week:

Robby Fabbri Out For Entire Season With ACL Injury

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After reporting that Robby Fabbri left last night’s game with an apparent leg injury, the St. Louis Blues have announced today that he will miss the rest of the season with an injured ACL in his left knee. The team has recalled Magnus Paajarvi and Kenny Agostino from the Chicago Wolves in a corresponding move.

Fabbri took a check from the Penguins’ Carter Rowney in the first period, slamming into the boards just in front of the Blues’ bench. He needed assistance to get off the ice and was in obvious pain, as he was heard yelling on the broadcast.

As we wrote yesterday, losing Fabbri is a big hit for St. Louis, who were trying to turn around their early season struggles. They would lose 4-1 to the Penguins last night, unable to build on their big win against the Maple Leafs on Thursday. For a team sitting at 55 points and just barely out of a playoff spot, losing a top forward can completely change the complexion of a season.

Already expected to deal expiring contracts in Kevin Shattenkirk and Patrik Berglund, it will be interesting to see how another injury like this one will affect the way the team views the trade deadline. Other players like David Perron, Paul Stastny or even Alex Steen would be attractive pieces to many teams if the Blues could make the salaries work (which will be difficult, as all three come with significant cap-hits).

The Blues were expected to be a contender for the Stanley Cup once again but are having a nightmarish season. Between Jake Allen’s struggles, nagging injuries, the Ken Hitchcock circus and now the end to Fabbri’s year, the team may want to put this year in their rear-view mirror.

Peter Budaj And The Comeback Kids

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Peter Budaj was done. Finished. Washed-up. On his way out. Lost at sea.

Then, suddenly he wasn’t.

When Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff both sustained injuries within the first two weeks of the season, many believed the Kings would panic and overpay for a replacement netminder. Ben Bishop, Jimmy Howard, Marc-Andre Fleury were all names that were expected to be linked to the west-coast royalty, but nothing materialized. The team immediately said that they weren’t going to overpay for a goaltender when they weren’t sure how long Quick would be out, and believed their team was good enough to hold down a playoff spot until his return. What they didn’t expect, was that they would get all-star level goaltending from a guy who had never given it before, and who was rapidly approaching the back half of his thirties.

Peter Budaj made his first start for the Los Angels Kings this season on October 20th, and allowed three goals on 20 shots. Here we go, thought Kings’ fans who expected an .850 save percentage was about all they would get from a 34-year old journeyman. After all, Budaj had played in just one NHL game the last two seasons, and had a career .903 save percentage. Their season was lost unless they went out and got another goaltender, but how could they afford it?

And then, magic. Budaj would find another gear and lead the Kings to a 24-14-3 record while recording a .923 save percentage. His seven shutouts lead the league (ahead of some household names in Braden Holtby, Devan Dubnyk and Tuukka Rask) and he’s recorded a goals against average 0.7 less than his career average. In short, he’s been great.

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