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Archives for May 2017

Rangers Fire AHL Coach, Promote Chris Drury To AHL GM

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The New York Rangers have shuffled their organization depth charts today, firing Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander and giving assistant GM Chris Drury the reins of the AHL team. Jim Schoenfeld, the former Wolf Pack GM will remain in the Rangers front office but will no longer have control of the AHL squad.

Neither move comes as much of a surprise, as the Wolf Pack finished the season in last place in the entire AHL. While some (most) of that has to do with the weak prospect group the Rangers have accumulated over the past few years—they haven’t had a first-round pick since 2012—it was time for Drury to be given control of a team. His ascension through the ranks was likely boosted even further when he recently turned down an opportunity to interview for the Sabres GM job, instead wanting to slowly grow and learn with the Rangers organization.

It will be interesting to follow Drury’s tenure with the Wolf Pack, including who he hires for the now-vacant coaching job. His first hire will be linked to him forever, and should give some insight into the type of team he wants to build. For Gernander, it will end a long relationship with the Wolf Pack after spending more than two decades with the Rangers affiliate, first as a player and then as a coach.

Andreas Borgman Leaves HV71, Will Sign In NHL

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Another Swedish defender will be heading to North America soon, as HV71 has announced that Andreas Borgman will be leaving the team for the NHL. They report that he already has a contract, though don’t specify which team it is with. Borgman won Rookie of the Year in the SHL this season after scoring 15 points in 45 games and another 10 in the playoffs en route to HV71’s league championship.

Along with Calle Rosen and Philip Holm, both of whom have been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the exodus of young Swedish defenders looks like it will be quite drastic this summer. Borgman had just played his first season in the SHL, though he had developed in the second league with Timra and Vasteras previously. Undrafted, he was ranked 36th among International skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting in 2013.

Now 21, Borgman says in the translated article that it is a “boyhood dream come true” to sign with an NHL club. While there is no indication which team it is, it would be surprising to see the young defender step right into a full-time role. Though his game did take a tremendous leap forward this year, he’ll be just 22 when the season starts with almost zero experience on North American ice.

Teams Asking Minnesota About Nino Niederreiter

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In Elliotte Friedman’s latest “30 Thoughts” column for Sportsnet, the venerable hockey insider reveals that teams have been calling on Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter. Friedman quotes Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher saying “We are actively listening… on everything.” Nino Niederreiter

After being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, Minnesota has an active summer ahead of them. Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Christian Folin and Erik Haula are all restricted free agents, and the team has somewhere between $11-15MM left to spend depending on where exactly the salary cap lands. That may not leave enough room to sign them all, meaning either they’ll have to move out some money somewhere else or bite the bullet and send one of their young forwards to another team.

Niederreiter could obviously bring in a huge return after his career year that saw him register 25 goals and 57 points. The former fifth-overall pick has turned into one of the more consistent goal scorers in the league, an looks poised to grow even further over the next few years. That doesn’t come without cost though, as he’s just two years away from unrestricted free agency and would command a huge salary should the Wild try to get him to sign long-term. His $2.67MM cap-hit this season was manageable, but he’s in line for a big raise next year.

Obviously it would be better to move out some of their older money, but that may not be realistic. Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Ryan Suter and Eric Staal are all 32 or older and earn close to $31MM combined. As the Wild start to turn more and more to their younger group those contracts have started to become painful cap-wise, and may force them to move out someone they’d rather not.

Patric Hornqvist Out Tonight

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have scratched forward Patric Hornqvist right before tonight’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Ottawa Senators. Hornqvist took the warmup skate and participated in line rushes, but did not make the final roster. Fellow Swede Carl Hagelin will replace him in the lineup.

Hornqvist missed practice on Sunday and did not take part in this morning’s skate, reports the NHL’s Dan Rosen. The Penguins are going to miss his production. He has 4G and 3A in 13 playoff games so far, and adds valuable scoring depth to an offensive-minded team.

Hagelin will have to step up his production if he wants to keep a roster spot. He currently has 1G and 0A in five playoff games, and averaging only 11 minutes a night. He took a step back this season, scoring only 6G and 16A in 61 regular season this year. The Penguins will look to tie the series at one apiece tonight, and will need to be firing on all cylinders.

Capitals GM Undertaking “Thorough Review”

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The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan reported today that Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan is undergoing a “thorough review” of the entire organization after yet another second-round playoff exit. Most importantly is that Barry Trotz’s tenure with the club could be in jeopardy.

Like the last two decades of Capitals teams (h/t reader Daniel Sumerlin for pointing this out), Trotz has never made it past the second round. And with the Capitals championship window slow closing, MacLellan may want to bring in new blood. Trotz will be entering his final year of a four-year contract, and whether he receives an extension will dictate how much confidence the club has in Trotz leading the team to a Finals berth.

Most notably, however, is that Trotz was never MacLellan’s guy. Both were hired by Owner Ted Leonsis and President Dick Patrick around the same time. MacLellan may want the opportunity to bring in his own coach before making drastic roster moves.

Even if Trotz remains, he’ll no doubt be on a short leash like Claude Julien and Ken Hitchcock this year. MacLellan may hold off on a coaching change given the dearth of options right now, but may make a move next season if a quality candidate arises.

 

Snapshots: Buffalo’s Coaching Search, Jones, Dell

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Communication. That’s what new Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill tells John Vogl of The Buffalo News is the most important thing in his next head coach. Vogl breaks down the four key lessons Botterill had learned from his time hiring Wilkes-Barre Scranton head coaches, including current Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan.

Botterill swears to look high and low for the next Sabres head coach, but would like to have one in place before the 2017 Entry Draft on June 23rd. That gives him just more than a month to find the best available name. Earlier today it was written that Washington Capitals assistant Todd Reirden may be a candidate, though it still seems like a long-shot given his previous connection to Dan Bylsma. Many others, including Phil Housley (Nashville) and Rick Tocchet (Pittsburgh) are still working in the playoffs and won’t leave their teams until they’re eliminated or win the Cup. It may be a mad dash before the draft then, if Botterill wants to speak to all possible candidates before making a decision. Last year the Cup-clinching game was played on June 12th, less than two weeks before the draft.

  • Kevin Kurz of NBC Sports takes a stab at what a Martin Jones extension may look like, positing that he’ll undoubtedly get more than both Scott Darling and Ben Bishop received from their respective teams. Darling got $16.6MM over four years from the Carolina Hurricanes while Bishop inked a six-year $29.5MM deal with Dallas.  Jones, who will be eligible for an extension on July 1st, has just one year remaining on his deal worth $3MM. Kurz thinks Jones will fall somewhere in the range of $5.5-6MM per season, though that would still be quite the risk given that Jones put up just a .912 save percentage this season. That number is fine, but puts him 20th among goaltenders who started at least 40 games this season. His playoff performance has been exceptional, but committing to a long-term deal will be hoping Jones regular season numbers increase.
  • Giving Jones a big contract also puts the Sharks in an interesting position with backup Aaron Dell, who burst onto the NHL scene this year with a .931 save percentage in his limited appearances. Dell is actually almost a year older than Jones, but will be looking for a raise after next season in line with Darling’s deal should his solid play continue. While most of the league wouldn’t trust Dell with a starting job just yet, Darling was a similarly late-blooming backup that has just 64 games started at this point. Should the Sharks lock up Jones this summer, look for Dell to be on the market next trade deadline or at the draft as a potential option for teams looking for a cheaper starting option.

Logan Stanley Will Return For Memorial Cup

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Winnipeg Jets fans will get an extra boost this weekend if they decide to tune into the Memorial Cup. Logan Stanley, the Jets’ other first-round pick from last summer (to go along with Patrik Laine) will suit up for the Windsor Spitfires after missing much of the season with a knee injury. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports that Stanley is ready to go for Friday’s opener that will see the Spitfires take on the QMJHL Champion Saint John Sea Dogs. Despite getting knocked out of the OHL playoffs in the first round, Windsor gets a berth in the tournament as the host city.

Stanley played just 35 games this season but was off to a great start, matching his season total from last year with 17 points. The 6’7″ defenseman had improved his skating and confidence before the injury, two things that he’ll need when stepping into the toughest tournament in junior hockey. The Spitfires have an incredible team that includes Canadiens’ top prospect Mikhail Sergachev, shifty Toronto prospect Jeremy Bracco and potential top-3 pick Gabe Vilardi among many others. They are by no means a pushover just because they were knocked out of the OHL postseason early.

Along with Sami Niku who signed today, Stanley represents the future for the Jets among left-handed defenseman. Now that Josh Morrissey has graduated to the NHL and isn’t really a prospect anymore, the long-term bet of Stanley needs to pay off. Still just 18-years old and learning how to use his huge frame, Stanley will almost certainly return to the OHL next season and try to put together a healthy campaign as the team’s #1 defender. He’s also a leading candidate for the Canadian World Junior team for next year’s tournament in Buffalo.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Taylor Raddysh To ELC

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After winning the OHL Championship and getting ready to participate in the Memorial Cup, Taylor Raddysh has inked a three-year entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raddysh and the Erie Otters were victorious on Friday night in game 5 of the championship series against Mississauga, with Raddysh scoring a hat-trick in the final game.

That victory marked another huge accomplishment for Raddysh this season, as he scored 42 goals and 109 points in just 58 games while also starring for Team Canada at the World Juniors. After being picked 58th-overall last summer, Raddysh is showing the league he should have been selected much higher. Part of the OHL’s most dominant line along with Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat and Arizona Coyotes pick Dylan Strome, Raddysh recorded another 31 points in the playoffs and will be a big factor in any Memorial Cup dreams for the Otters.

Raddysh showed this season that he’s not just a solid two-way winger but a potential top-line power forward that can keep up with elite talents and score almost at will. While his line’s play inflated his numbers somewhat, his offensive game took a big step forward this season as he continued to fill out his 6’2″ 209-lbs frame. Always considered an average-or-worse skater, this season saw him drive the net with more power and determination leading to more scoring chances for himself and his linemmates. If that stride can continue to develop he will impress at the professional level before long. He’ll likely return to Erie next season where he’ll be relied upon to carry much of the offensive load with Strome graduating and DeBrincat perhaps jumping right to the NHL. If he does stay in the OHL, it will be interesting to see him work with Ivan Lodnia, likely the next top center for the Otters and a top prospect for the upcoming draft.

Interestingly, Taylor’s brother Darren Raddysh went undrafted and is a free agent with much interest from around the league. The 21-year old defenseman dominated the OHL as an overager with 81 points this season and was named Defenseman of the Year. While he doesn’t possess the ceiling of his younger brother, Darren should find a home with an NHL team this summer somewhere, perhaps even Tampa Bay should the Lightning want to reunite the duo. As a right-handed shot with enough size to compete in pro hockey, his offensive ability has definitely turned some heads around the league.

Snapshots: Niku, Nill, Braunstein

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The Winnipeg Jets have signed seventh-round pick Sami Niku to a three-year entry-level contract. The Finnish defenseman broke out in Liiga this year, registering 27 points in 59 games while playing for Jyvaskyla. Niku has been praised for his mobility and offensive upside, but had trouble producing in a consistent manner before this season.

He’ll enter a Winnipeg Jets system that is fairly weak on the left side behind Logan Stanley, now that Josh Morrissey has graduated to the NHL. With some of the best right-handed depth in the NHL including newcomer Tucker Poolman, the Jets are likely ecstatic with Niku’s development. Should he come to North America next season, he’ll pencil in as one of the top defenders for the Manitoba Moose and try to adapt to the pro game here.

  • Jim Nill is standing by the contract for Ben Bishop according to Yahoo! Sports’ Greg Wyshynski. Nill admitted that in a perfect world he wouldn’t have had to give up six years, but is happy that Bishop wanted to make a commitment to his team. He also seemed confident that there will be opportunities to move one of his goaltenders this summer because of their expiring contracts, something that is necessary after committing to Bishop. As we wrote last week, the Stars do have several options to rid themselves of a goaltender, with Antti Niemi seemingly being the leading candidate for a buyout. Even with a long-term deal, Bishop will have a lot of pressure on him to help the Stars bounce back from a disappointing season. They’ll be looking not only to make the playoffs but to contend in short order, after leading the Western Conference in 2015-16.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have hired Rick Braunstein away from the Arizona Coyotes as their new Director of Player Services according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Braunstein was one of the Coyotes first hires after the move from Winnipeg, and had been with the franchise for their entire 21-year history. While not having an impact in personnel decisions, the Player Services role is an especially important one when it comes to Las Vegas, a city known for its endless temptation. Some of the hesitation by professional sports franchises for decades has been the worry that young, wealthy athletes will get into “trouble” in Vegas and the team will need a strong support system to stop it from happening; Braunstein represents some of that system.

Florida Panthers To Interview Todd Reirden

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The Florida Panthers had been rumored to be interested in several still-working assistant coaches in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and one name has finally come out. Washington Capitals’ associate coach Todd Reirden, whose team was eliminated just five days ago, will interview for the head coaching job in Florida, and is also a candidate for the job in Buffalo according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.

Despite Seravalli’s inclusion of Buffalo, it would be surprising to see the Sabres hire a coach so closely tied to the recently fired Dan Bylsma. Reirden worked with Bylsma in Wilkes-Barre Scranton and then in Pittsburgh after Byslma was promoted in the Pittsburgh system, only splitting apart in 2013-14. While it’s obviously not impossible, bringing in such a similar coach—or at least one with such a connected background—may be a mistake by the Sabres.

Florida seems much more likely as a destination for the associate coach, who was given that promotion this year when he took the reins in training camp for the Capitals while Barry Trotz was off at the World Cup with Team Canada. Reirden works mostly with the defense of the Capitals, who took big strides in the regular season only to be exposed somewhat in the playoffs against Pittsburgh. His work as an assistant coach has been praised however, and at just 45 would give the Panthers an up-and-coming option behind the bench.

Florida has also been linked to University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery, former Montreal Canadiens bench boss Michel Therrien and other assistants around the league like Phil Housley and Bob Boughner.

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