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Archives for June 2017

Trevor Daley, Dan Girardi Close To New Deals

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According to the venerable Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, two deals that seem close as we head into free agency are Trevor Daley heading to the Detroit Red Wings and Dan Girardi heading the Tampa Bay Lightning. While Friedman mentions other potential connections, these are the two he seems surest of, even indicating they could potentially already be done. While Daley can’t sign until July 1st, Girardi is technically already a free agent after being bought out by the New York Rangers.

The pair ranked 23rd and 37th on our top 50 free agent list, expecting Daley to receive an extra year on the open market. Whether the deals are done or not, it shows that there has been fierce interest for both depth defensemen. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chimes in, saying that Daley isn’t done but has narrowed his field to two or three teams (with Pittsburgh not one of them). Despite not being allowed to talk contract details in their pre-July 1st meetings, it’s assumed that basic structures are agreed upon since deals come fast and furious as soon as free agency period commences.

Daley and Girardi may not be the most exciting additions, but they could both provide a nice value for what should be relatively little money. Both players are heading into the twilight of their careers, and as we saw with Girardi’s buyout are too risky to commit big money or term to. It will be interesting to see if either one can lock down a third season, or will have to settle for one or two year deals at age 33.

Steve Mason Will Not Re-Sign In Philadelphia

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According to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer, goaltender Steve Mason will not return to the Philadelphia Flyers, and intends to sign elsewhere once free agency opens on July 1st. We already know the Winnipeg Jets have shown interest in the former rookie of the year, and there will likely be several other teams knocking on his door when the signing period opens.

It always seemed unlikely that Mason would return after the Flyers handed Michal Neuvirth a new contract. For Philadelphia to head into next season with the same duo would be an odd move, given the relatively weak performance they got from the pair. Instead Mason will look to try and find work somewhere else, perhaps as a backup or tandem goaltender. We ranked him #25 on our top 50 free agent list, predicting a one-year deal worth $2.5MM.

Just 29, despite seeming to have been in the league for a few decades, Mason is still an interesting option for teams looking for a veteran option in net. He’s shown at times throughout his career that he can put together brilliance, but has settled into a move average role more than not. A .911 career save percentage is about what you can expect from him, which puts him behind other options like Jonathan Bernier or Chad Johnson who are of a similar age. The one thing Mason has going for him is that he’s logged at least 45 starts in eight of nine seasons, and can be expected to carry the load should your starter or other option go down.

Adam Brooks, Alex Volkov Sign Entry-Level Contracts

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While many eyes are watching the upcoming free agent class to see who will go where, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have signed a couple of their prospects to entry-level contracts. Tampa Bay has inked Alex Volkov (48th overall pick in 2017) while Toronto has signed Adam Brooks (92nd overall pick in 2016) to three-year, entry-level deals.

Volkov was an overage selection by the Lightning who will turn 20 in August and should start the season with Syracuse of the AHL. The Russian winger was ranked 27th among international skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service, but was a surprising pick when there were more well-known prospects still on the board. That’s why they pay the scouts though, and the Lightning seem excited about Volkov’s offensive upside and ability to score on the powerplay. Syracuse is a tough roster to crack after making the Calder Cup finals this year, but he’ll be able to develop in one of the best systems in the league.

Brooks on the other hand was an overage selection a year ago by the Maple Leafs but showed why when he repeated his outstanding performance from 2015-16. In the last two years, Brooks has put up 250 points for the Regina Pats and while some of that has to do with having Anaheim prospect Sam Steel on his line, he’s no slouch in the offensive zone. Whether Brooks’ size keeps him from ever being an NHL player is still undetermined, but he’ll have to first traverse the ranks of the American Hockey League. With the Maple Leafs lacking much center depth in their system, Brooks could easily find himself as the #1 option for the Marlies next season.

Calgary Flames To Sign Kris Versteeg

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Another one of our Top 50 Free Agents is about to come off the board, as Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that Kris Versteeg is close to signing a one-year, $1.75MM contract to stay in Calgary. We had Versteeg projected to earn a two-year deal worth $4.4MM on the open market, but he seems ready to stay put for a more reasonable price. Kris Versteeg

Versteeg had to settle for a PTO with Edmonton last year before signing a $950K contract with Calgary. That late-camp switch was a hard pill to swallow for Oilers fans who had hopes of Versteeg continuing to produce in his normal 35-40 point range. Produce he did, with another 37 point season for Calgary and proof that he’s able to put points up regardless of linemates or situation. For the Flames, Versteeg saw less than 15 minutes a night and only played in 69 games do to injury. That 37 points was still good for sixth among Flames forwards, and a very good per-point cost.

At $1.75MM, Versteeg again represents a bargain for the Flames as they look to compete for the Stanley Cup next season. After bringing in Travis Hamonic for draft picks, and trading for Mike Smith to anchor their net the team looks to have solved both of its issues from last season without sacrificing the roster. It wasn’t clear if Calgary was going to be able to keep Versteeg though, as they had just over $15MM of space with new contracts due for Sam Bennett, Curtis Lazar and Micheal Ferland and still some work to do on the blueline and at backup goaltender. This deal easily fits him into that structure, and puts almost no risk on the Flames with just a one-year term.

At just 31, Versteeg has played for seven different NHL franchises and seems to be a favorite target at the trade deadline. He seems to have found a home of some sort in Calgary though, and it doesn’t hurt to be from just down the road in Lethbridge. Versteeg grew up just a few hours drive from Calgary, and still has family in the area. He was clear about his desire to return at the end of the season, and now will get his wish to stay in Alberta for another year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Toronto, Nashville Among Teams Checking In On Joe Thornton

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Ranked #5 on our annual list of Top 50 Free Agents, “Jumbo” Joe Thornton is receiving interest from all around the league. Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators are among those teams, though cautions that he could still easily return to San Jose.

Thornton will turn 38 on July 2nd, and has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the NHL. Snubbed from the Top-100 list, the San Jose pivot is 22nd in all-time scoring with 1,391 points, and ranks 13th in assists. In both categories he trails on Jaromir Jagr among active players, and could easily find himself moving dramatically up the list in the next couple of seasons.

Any team after him will have to be wary of what they’re buying though, as Thornton’s production took a sharp decline last year and he underwent surgery following the year. He had been playing on a torn MCL and ACL throughout the playoffs, and even with his advanced fitness and relative durability that should give pause to inquiring teams. At 38, his mobility might not bounce-back as well as it used to, and you could be left with an expensive 35+ contract on the books.

Washington Capitals Sign Chandler Stephenson To Two-Year Deal

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The Washington Capitals have signed Chandler Stephenson to a new two-year deal, worth $650K at the NHL level. In 2017-18 the deal will be two-way, with Stephenson earning $125K in the AHL and then will transition to a one-way contract in 2018-19. Stephenson could be a Group VI free agent at the end of the contract if he isn’t given a real chance in the NHL over the next two years (he would need to play in 67 more games to be ineligible).

A third-round selection by the Capitals in 2013, Stephenson has played in just 13 NHL games thus far in his career, and was held pointless in all of them. A center by trade, he’s contributed solid point numbers in the AHL over the past couple of seasons but not enough to force his way onto the Capitals’ roster.

It’s important for Washington to get him in on a cheap contract though, as they will be stretched thin following new contracts for Dmitry Orlov, Andre Burakovsky, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Philipp Grubauer. Even with $17.5MM in cap space, the team will be hard-pressed to find enough room to make a real impact in free agency. Losing three players from their defense in Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk and the Vegas bound Nate Schmidt, they do need to find another option to fill a hole there, either internally or on the market.

Columbus Blue Jackets Buy Out Scott Hartnell

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the remaining two years on Scott Hartnell’s contract, making him a free agent. Hartnell didn’t need to be placed on waivers like a normal buyout because of his full no-movement clause. Columbus will take on a cap-hit going forward as follows: Scott Hartnell

  • 2017-18: $1.5MM
  • 2018-19: $3.0MM
  • 2019-20: $1.25MM
  • 2020-21: $1.25MM

Our own Seth Lawrence listed Hartnell as a potential buyout option last month—along with Antti Niemi who has already been bought out and Kevin Bieksa who remains under contract—and explained why the team needed to move on from the forward, mostly pointing to expansion draft concerns. Hartnell was never asked to waive his NMC for the draft because the team had a deal worked out with Vegas for quite some time to take David Clarkson’s contract off their hands. Clearing him now is just making even more room for the Blue Jackets to make an impact in this summer’s free agency.

Rumored to be interested in everyone from Joe Thornton to Ilya Kovalchuk, the Blue Jackets will now have just under $13MM in cap space this summer, though much of it will be accounted for with internal options. Both Alexander Wennberg and Josh Anderson need new contracts as restricted free agents, and though neither of them have arbitration rights yet both deserve large raises. The team needs every penny of room, thus the buyout.

For Hartnell, it’s a tough ending to what was a pretty excellent start in Columbus. Scoring 60 points in his first year with the team, he fell all the way down to 37 this year as his role was diminished due to the emergence of some young players. Still one of the better 5-on-5 players in the league, his salary can be better used elsewhere. With the team already making a huge splash to bring in Artemi Panarin, it’s clear that they want to compete right now.

It’s rough timing for Hartnell, just a few months after turning 35. Now any contract he signs with another team will come with certain restrictions that will lower his leverage. Not expected to sign anywhere long-term, he does instantly become an interesting option for many teams on the open market at a reduced price. A player who 20+ goals in nine different seasons doesn’t come along every day, and even if he’s not a 50+ point player any longer he can still help a team’s bottom six.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Offseason Keys: Ottawa Senators

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While expansion was the early headline in what will be a busy NHL offseason, there are still several other storylines for each team in the months to come. Here is a closer look at what lies ahead for the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators made a big impression in their first season with head coach Guy Boucher and GM Pierre Dorion at the helm.  Although they didn’t win the Atlantic, they took care of business in the first two rounds before falling to the Cup-champion Penguins in the Eastern Final.  With a lot of players in need of new deals, Dorion will have a lot to accomplish this offseason.  Here are some of the key highlights.

Decide Phaneuf’s Future

While it was understandable that defenseman Dion Phaneuf was believed to be on the block prior to the Expansion Draft, it’s a bit more intriguing that his name has still been out there.  Defenders are in high demand and with it being a shallow free agent market, there are teams still showing interest.

The catch here, of course, is Phaneuf’s contract which isn’t exactly a bargain.  He has four years remaining with a $7MM cap hit and the expectation is that the Sens would have to either retain some salary or take a sizable contract or two in return.  Regardless of what the interest level in the 32 year old is, Ottawa’s willingness (or lack thereof) to retain or match money will go a long way towards determining whether a trade gets done.  Phaneuf also carries some say as he has a 12-team no-trade list.

While Ottawa has some youngsters that are close to making it, it would still be a bit surprising to see the team lose both Phaneuf as well as Marc Methot in the same offseason.  Accordingly, it’s realistic to expect that if they do decide to deal the veteran blueliner (and as things stand, the thought is he’s more likely to stay though that could change depending how the UFA market plays now), they’re going to be looking for a left shot defender in any potential trade return.

Extension Talks For Turris

Oct 28, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) skates during the warmup period against Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsCenter Kyle Turris has been one of the better bargains league-wide in recent years.  He has been Ottawa’s top pivot while only carrying a cap charge of $3.5MM.  Unfortunately for the Senators, that bargain will soon be coming to an end as he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer and will be eligible to sign an extension as of July 1st.

Having hit the 55 point plateau in three of the last four seasons, Turris is going to be in line for a substantial raise.  As a team that typically spends well below the cap ceiling, finding room within their budget will become the biggest question here.

Dorion has done well to build up some depth down the middle with Derick Brassard, Zack Smith, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau but there’s no doubt that if Turris were to depart in 2018, that group would be a weakened unit.  This one may not be on the top of the bucket list at this stage of the summer but it’s something that the Sens will likely want to address sooner rather than later.

New Deal For Pageau

After re-signing Mike Condon earlier today, Pageau is the most notable of their remaining free agents, restricted or unrestricted.  While he didn’t produce as much during the season as he did in 2015-16 (33 points compared to 43 the year before), he still filled an important middle six role while being well above average at the faceoff dot, checking in at 54.8%.

And then there was his postseason run where Pageau scored eight times in just 19 games, further bolstering his reputation as a player with a knack of scoring some key, timely goals.  That playoff performance makes his RFA case a lot more intriguing and he does have arbitration eligibility as well.

Pageau sits two years away from unrestricted free agency status and is coming off his bridge deal now, one that carries a qualifying offer of $1.1MM.  He should easily surpass that on this contract regardless of whether it’s a long-term or a short-term one.  Smith inked a four year, $13MM extension midseason and while those were all UFA years, that should be in the range of a new deal for Pageau.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Morning Notes: Lefebvre, Stalberg, Toronto

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The Montreal Canadiens have hired Sylvain Lefebvre as the first coach of the Laval Rocket, their new AHL affiliate. It’s not much of a change, as Lefebvre has been the coach of Montreal’s affiliate for the past five years, in both Hamilton and St. John’s. He took the IceCaps to the playoffs last season for the first time in his coaching career, but was knocked out in the first round.

Lefebvre had a long NHL career with several clubs, suiting up for 945 games and scoring 184 points. He once hoisted the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded 18 points in 129 career playoff games. The Canadiens also named Larry Carriere as General Manager of the club, in addition to his responsibilities as assistant GM of Montreal.

  • Swiss Hockey News is reporting that there is NLA interest in Ottawa Senators free agent Viktor Stalberg, though it’s not clear if it is mutual. Stalberg has spent time in the SHL and KHL, and likely has interest from around the NHL as a depth option. We ranked Stalberg #45 on our list of the Top 50 Free Agents, expecting him to sign a one-year deal worth $900K. If the Swiss league is offering more than that, perhaps he will bolt for greener pastures.
  • David Alter of The Athletic examines the RFA cases of Maple Leafs forwards Connor Brown and Zach Hyman, explaining that both get high marks from Toronto management. With contract extensions due in the next year for William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs have to be very careful with how they spend their money, especially on their fringe depth. While Hyman and Brown look to be excellent pieces for Toronto, they may be similar to the players Pittsburgh and Chicago have had to watch move on over the years after handing out multiple top contracts.

Edmonton Oilers Waive Benoit Pouliot, Will Buy Out Contract

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The Edmonton Oilers continue to clear cap space, placing Benoit Pouliot on unconditional waivers today for purposes of a buyout. The forward has two years remaining on his contract at $4MM per season, meaning a buyout cap-hit will be structured as follows.

  • 2017-18: $1.33MM
  • 2018-19: $1.33MM
  • 2019-20: $1.33MM
  • 2020-21: $1.33MM

Pouliot’s career in Edmonton will end on a sour note, scoring just 14 points in 2016-17. He fell completely out of favor with the coaching staff, and at 30 seemed to see his game take a considerable step backwards. The fourth-overall pick from 2005, Pouliot has never been able to keep up with his draft contemporaries. Following Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan and Jack Johnson, and selected one spot ahead of Carey Price, Pouliot has bounced around the league and registered a career-high of 36 points (last year and in 2013-14).

Interestingly, Pouliot has long put up solid possession metrics and even recorded a better than average career shooting percentage. Despite that, and the prime ice time he received in Edmonton prior to this year, he never could be relied upon as a top offensive producer.

His career is far from over, as he’ll surely garner attention from several teams around the league now that his price tag has come considerably down. Likely having to settle for a short-term deal on a relatively low salary, teams will be interested in his upside as a third-line winger who could move up if he can find the right fit. It will be interesting to see if he can find a team with it’s eyes on the postseason, or if he’ll rebuild along with a young team.

For the Oilers, saving $2.6MM for the next two years is important as they try to get both Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid under contract long term. Recently it was hinted that McDavid might cost as much as $13.25MM per season, and with Draisaitl looking like he might cost as much as $8MM each year, they need all the room they can get. It’s why they moved out Jordan Eberle—though, immediately committed most of that room to Kris Russell—and why they’ll have to look at other cost saving measures in the future. Pouliot was simply not needed on this team, especially as younger players like Drake Caggiula step into bigger roles.

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