Expected Extensions Prior To Expansion
Over the next few weeks, leading up to June 17th, when each team must submit their list of protected players from the Expansion Draft, there is going to be a flurry of activity. The Vegas Golden Knights are expected to make several side deals regarding the selection process, while the other 30 teams will be working through trade proposals with one another as well. Many teams will also make smaller moves, such as extensions and buyouts, to make the expansion process easier on themselves. Examples could include potential extensions by Carolina or San Jose if they decide they would like to protect Lee Stempniak or Mikkel Boedker respectively. However, there remain several teams that must re-sign a current player, following logic anyway, prior to Saturday the 17th, or else risk having to expose and possibly losing a major piece instead. Each team must expose two forwards and one defenseman that played in at least 40 games this season or 70 games over the past two seasons and also have term remaining on their contract. While meeting these quotas is not a problem for some teams, others lack the roster depth in long-term contracts to do so. No team wants to be pressured into exposing a valued player just to fill that quota, so instead they will sign another current player with the caveat that he will be left unprotected in the Expansion Draft. Such situations played out all year long, with Blackhawks’ forward Jordin Tootoo, Hurricanes’ defenseman Klas Dahlbeck, and, the most publicized of all, Flames’ defenseman Matt Bartkowksi. Yet, unsolved situations still exist. Below are some of the most dire situations and who could benefit from an extension in the near future in order for their team to comply with Expansion Draft rules:
Team: New Jersey Devils
Situation: The re-building Devils nonetheless have a solid core of forwards that they would like to keep together: Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac, and Mike Cammalleri. New Jersey should be within their means to protect this group, expect that it leaves only Devante Smith-Pelly as a forward meeting the 40/70 qualification. Even for those who doubt the effectiveness going forward of the oft-injured 34-year-old Cammalleri, surely the Devils could find a better player to sacrifice than he or Smith-Pelly if they so choose.
Expected Extension: As a young team, the devils are chock full of impending restricted free agents. However, not all RFAs are created equal. Beau Bennett, Jacob Josefson, and Stefan Noesen are all candidates for extension and exposure, but Bennett played a bigger role for New Jersey than even Smith-Pelly in 2016-17 and Noesen played the best hockey of his young career after a mid-season trade from the Anaheim Ducks. Josefson has shown next to no progress in six years in New Jersey. Look for the Devils to try to work out an extension with the 25-year-old center to fill the hole in their expansion plan.
Team: New York Rangers
Situation: The Devils’ cross-town rivals are in a similar situation. The Rangers have put together a core of forwards that is the envy of most teams in the league, but it could soon be torn apart. Many feel that backup goalie Antti Raanta will be Vegas’ choice, but New York doesn’t want to give them any reason not to go that route and instead steal a good young forward. The team is already reserved to the fact that 2016-17 breakout star Michael Grabner has to be exposed, but they would rather protect all five of Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes, in addition to Rick Nash, whose No-Movement Clause prevents exposure, and impending RFA Mika Zibanejad. The only problem is that this protection scheme leaves only Grabner as a 40/7o forward.
Expected Extension: The Rangers are not without options for a forward to extend and expose. RFA’s Jesper Fast, Oscar Lindberg, Brandon Pirri, and Matt Puempel would all meet the quota criteria if handed a new deal, as would UFA Tanner Glass. While New York may not be eager to lose any of the four, none significantly outshine Raanta or Grabner in terms of selection value anyway, giving the team every reason to get an extension done with one or more. Fast seems certain to get a new contract from the Rangers anyway, so don’t be surprised if such a deal lands in the next week or two.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 06/01/17
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Linus Arnesson Leaves Bruins, Signs Contract In Sweden
According to multiple reports including Ty Anderson of WEEI.com, Bruins prospect Linus Arnesson has signed a multi-year contract with Orebro of the SHL. Arnesson was a restricted free agent this summer, after spending parts of three seasons with the Providence Bruins.
Drafted in the second round (60th overall) in 2013, Arnesson is a mobile defensive defenseman who this year missed most of the season after Achilles surgery in December. Only suiting up for 20 games, his chance at cracking the NHL roster this year disappeared when his ankle went under the knife. He’ll now head back to Sweden where he found much success before coming to North America, including a full season with Djurgardens in 2014-15.
His contract, reported as 2+1 years likely contains an option for the third season. The defenseman will look to get his career back on track after injury has stifled his development and he wasn’t able to advance past the AHL.
Exclusive Negotiating Rights Of 33 Players Expire
The deadline for signing draft picks has come and gone, and unless more deals come in after the fact, 33 players will see their exclusive negotiating rights expire. With it they will either re-enter the 2017 draft for the final time or become free agents, depending on their age. None of the selections were made any higher than the fourth round, though even that is an unfortunate loss for a team hoping to hit a late-round stud. Below is the full list of players:
Buffalo Sabres
Giorgio Estephan (6th round, 2015)
Gustav Possler (5th round, 2013)
Calgary Flames
Riley Bruce (7th round, 2015)
Chicago Blackhawks
Roy Radke (6th round, 2015)
Colorado Avalanche
Wilhelm Westlund (7th round, 2013)
Timothy Liljegren, Klim Kostin Make Decisions On Where To Play Next Year
One of the top prospects for the upcoming 2017 Entry Draft, Timothy Liljegren has made it clear to both Mike Morreale and Adam Kimelman of NHL.com that he expects to play next season in Sweden for his club in the SHL. He has one more year on his contract there, after which he would be free to come to North America and join the professional ranks of whichever team selects him.
Once ranked among the very top of the draft board, Liljegren has slid down in recent months after battling mononucleosis and inconsistency this season. While Miro Heiskanen and perhaps Cale Makar have passed him among defensemen, he is still likely to go in the top half of the first round. Most prospects that are drafted outside of the top few selections return to their junior teams the next year, and Liljegren will be no different. Lilejgren actually spent some of the season with Timra in the Swedish second league this year, unable to lock down consistent minutes on Rogle his SHL team. Hopefully next season he’ll be able to log more minutes and continue his development a the top level.
In similar news, Klim Kostin the top-ranked skater in the International class, will do the opposite. According to Joe Yerdon of NHL.com Kostin will come to North America next season where he would have several options. An NHL team could assign him to the AHL if they can get him to sign an entry-level deal right away, or he could head to the CHL where the Kootenay Ice hold his rights. Kostin told Yerdon he will “never go there” in regards to Kootenay, though obviously things could change.
Kings Acquire Bokondji Imama From Lightning, Agree To Terms
Thursday: Imama has agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.
Wednesday: With the Lightning set to lose prospect Bokondji Imama‘s rights in less than 24 hours, they have dealt his rights to Los Angeles, the Kings announced. In return, the Kings will send their 2018 seventh round pick, contingent on them getting a deal done with Imama.
Imama was a sixth round pick of Tampa Bay (180th) overall back in 2015. He had a career with the QMJHL Champion Saint John Sea Dogs, recording 41 goals (the team leader) and 14 assists along with 105 penalty minutes in 66 regular season games. He also added eight goals and seven helpers in 18 postseason contests. The Sea Dogs participated in the recently-completed Memorial Cup where he had a goal and two assists in four games.
Imama has played in five career seasons at the major junior level between Saint John and Baie-Comeau, scoring 71 goals to go with 52 assists and 463 penalty minutes in 276 games.
The Kings will have until 4:00 PM CST to get a deal done with the 20 year old. Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports (Twitter link) that no deal had been agreed on prior to the trade. If they’re unable to do get a contract done, they will lose his negotiating rights.
NHL Announces Transaction Freeze During Expansion Window
The NHL has announced that they will put a hold on any waivers, trades or signings from June 17th at 2pm to June 22 at 7am (all times CDT). That would encompass the entire window that the Vegas Golden Knights have to select their expansion roster. Team’s protection lists must be submitted by 4pm on June 17th, while the team will be announced at the NHL Awards Ceremony on June 21st.
June 12th will be the final day for teams to ask players whether they will waive their no-movement clause for the draft, with decisions needing to come by 4pm on the 16th.
This window will put all eyes on the Vegas Golden Knights as they select the first expansion roster in nearly two decades. When the protection lists will be released to the public on the morning of the 18th, fans and media alike will begin to build their own team not knowing of any behind-the-scenes dealing that may already have happened.
The full release can be found below:
Vegas Golden Knights Sign Czech Forward Tomas Hyka
The Vegas Golden Knights have their third player, as the team has signed Tomas Hyka. The 24-year old was once a draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings after spending a few years in the QMJHL, but never reached an agreement with them and has played back in Europe since 2013.
Hyka has elite speed capable of playing in any league in the world, and showed off his offensive skill this season for Mlada Boleslav of the Czech league. In 48 games he registered 38 points, though was held scoreless in his World Championship debut. The undersized winger would be a great fit for the AHL if he can’t make the NHL team. There will be a lack of high-end skill at both levels, something the shifty winger provides in spades.
For Vegas, this marks the third SPC they’ve handed out thus far. Along with Vadim Shipachyov and Reid Duke, the team will take shape mostly through the Expansion Draft and free agent market, though side-deals have already started to bubble up surrounding the team. Yesterday it was reported that they have already made one such agreement with Chicago in order to acquire Trevor van Riemsdyk, agreeing to take on Marcus Kruger and his large cap-hit in return.
iSport out of the Czech Republic was first to report the deal.
Florida Panthers Eyeing Chris Pronger For Front Office Position
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Hall of Fame defenseman and current member of the Department of Player Safety Chris Pronger is in discussions with the Florida Panthers to join their front office in a role under GM Dale Tallon. Pronger’s NHL contract is just expiring with the Arizona Coyotes, though he hasn’t played in the league since 2012.
Regarded by many as one of the smartest players in the game during his prime, Pronger has been looking for the right fit in a front office since he left the game. Earlier this spring he reached out to former rival Steve Yzerman on how he should go about getting into management, and working under Tallon would be a similar path to the earlier executive career of Yzerman under Ken Holland in Detroit. With Tallon re-instated as GM, the Panthers have just two Assistant General Managers currently, Eric Joyce and Steve Werier. Fellow defenseman Bryan McCabe is currently the team’s Director of Player Development.
Whether Pronger takes a role with the Panthers or not, he’s clearly on a path towards a front office somewhere. His 1167 games will help him in that pursuit, as he has seen almost everything there is to see in hockey, including winning a Stanley Cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.
Nathan Walker Re-Signs With Washington Capitals
As the Washington Capitals head into an offseason with several high-priced restricted free agents to sign, they can cross one (much) less well known name off the list. The team has re-signed Nathan Walker to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $650K in the NHL. The 23-year old was just coming off his entry-level deal and would have been a restricted free agent for the first time.
Walker has one of the most interesting paths to professional hockey, born in Wales and growing up in Australia. He signed an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears before then being selected by their parent club in the third round of the 2014 draft. He then signed an entry-level deal and continued to play for the Bears for the next three seasons, this time under an SPC.
Walker has a good shot at spending time with the Capitals next season, as they will need minimum-salary players to fill out the ranks around their big cap-hits. The 5’9″ winger has never been afraid of the physical side of the game, and has an incredible work ethic. His energy style could fit into a fourth-line, while he has shown a bit of an offensive upside during his years in the AHL. The first Australian ever drafted, he would set a similar record as the first to the NHL should he make it this season.