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Archives for September 2017

Free Agent Notes: Gionta, Athanasiou, Da Costa

September 16, 2017 at 1:58 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Winger Brian Gionta is the second highest scoring player from last season that remains an unrestricted free agent as training camps get underway.  However, his agent Brian Bartlett told Leo Roth of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that the fact he remains unsigned is Gionta’s choice and that it may stay that way for a little while longer:

“It’s not for lack of opportunities, teams want to sign him, but he has to decide if it fits into his family situation.  I think we’ll play it out awhile, see if anything changes in Buffalo, and then decide to go elsewhere or not. But it’s not like I don’t have opportunities for him to play, I do.’’

The 38-year-old played in all 82 games last season and collected 35 points (15-20-35) which marked the fourth straight year that he has surpassed the 30 point plateau.  As is the case with any remaining free agent at this time, staying unsigned to potentially play in the Olympics in February is also a possibility.

Other notes from free agency:

  • Talks continue between the Red Wings and RFA winger Andreas Athanasiou with agent Darren Ferris telling Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that they “are having productive discussions”. However, Ferris was quick to note that those discussions don’t mean that they are getting close to putting pen to paper on a new contract.  It’s believed that Athanasiou has a one-year KHL offer on the table worth around $3MM while Detroit has come in well below that AAV in their offers.  James added on Twitter that GM Ken Holland flew to Toronto today to continue negotiations in person.
  • Center Stephane Da Costa was expected to garner NHL interest over the offseason after a strong showing at the World Championships. However, he has been dealing with a health concern since August that will keep him off the ice for several months according to a report from L’Équipe in France which explains why he isn’t currently at an NHL training camp.  As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him sign back in the KHL when he’s able to return and then make a run at an NHL roster spot next summer.

Detroit Red Wings Andreas Athanasiou| Brian Gionta| Stephane Da Costa

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2017-18 Primer: Philadelphia Flyers

September 16, 2017 at 12:49 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

With the NHL season now just a month away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Philadelphia Flyers.

Last Season: 39-33-10 record (88 points), sixth in Metropolitan Division (missed the playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $4.9MM per CapFriendly

Key Additions: G Brian Elliott (free agency, Calgary), F Jori Lehtera (trade with St. Louis), F Nolan Patrick (entry draft)

Key Departures: F Nick Cousins (trade with Arizona), D Michael Del Zotto (free agency, Vancouver), F Roman Lyubimov (CSKA Moscow, KHL), G Steve Mason (free agency, Winnipeg), F Brayden Schenn (trade with St. Louis), D Nick Schultz (free agency, unsigned)

[Related: Flyers Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Claude Giroux – Giroux has been Philadelphia’s front line center pretty much full-time since 2010-11.  However, after hovering at a point-per-game or better for three straight years (2011-12 through 2013-14), his production has dropped for three straight years with his output last season (14 goals and 58 points) checking in well below his career averages.

Mar 21, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) waits for the puck to drop during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY SportsGiroux is still just 29 and shouldn’t be on the downswing just yet but it’s fair to question if his decline is a sign of things to come or are better days on the horizon?  With no real help being brought in offensively over the course of the summer (Schenn to Lehtera is a bit of a step back), the team is undoubtedly counting on Giroux to pick up his play.

The Flyers have their top line center of the future in Patrick but he’s still a few years away from realistically being ready to ascend to that role.  Their other internal options (Lehtera, Valtteri Filppula, and Sean Couturier) aren’t capable of being top liners so expectations are going to remain high on Giroux for this season and well beyond.  If he can get back to even around the 70 point mark, Philadelphia will be much better off for it.

Key Storyline: There aren’t many certainties around the league from year-to-year but one of them is the annual question of whether the Flyers have good enough goaltending and this season is no exception.

Elliott did not play particularly well with Calgary last season and his numbers were only marginally better than what Mason put up as the starter in 2016-17, a level of production that wasn’t good enough.  If Elliott plays similarly this year, starting goaltending will likely be a problem once again.  That said, there is upside here based on his play with St. Louis over the previous few seasons.  If Elliott gets even close to that level of performance, then Philadelphia will have a reliable starter.

Michal Neuvirth is still in the fold as well and will be looking to push for more playing time as well.  He’s also coming off of a down campaign but is only one year removed from a strong year with Philly.  However, he hasn’t been able to hold down the number one role for long in the past.

In a perfect world, both veterans rebound and provide the team with above average goaltending but if they repeat their performances from last season, their play between the pipes will be problematic once again.  One of these years, the Flyers will find themselves with some stability in goal with a proven, high-quality starter but 2017-18 isn’t going to be the year it happens.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux

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Salary Cap Deep Dive: San Jose Sharks

September 16, 2017 at 11:43 am CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Navigating the Salary Cap is probably one of the more important tasks for any general manager to have. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2017-18 season. This will focus more on those players who are integral parts of the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

San Jose Sharks

Current Cap Hit: $66,290,500 (under the $75MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Kevin Labanc (Two years remaining, $718K)
F Timo Meier (Two years remaining, $894K)

Potential Bonuses

Labanc: $183K
Meier: $750K

Total: $933K

Labanc didn’t make San Jose’s roster out of training camp but after being recalled in November, he was pretty much a regular for the rest of the season aside from a brief game or two here and there at the AHL level.  With the team not replacing Patrick Marleau in free agency, they will be looking at Labanc among others to pick up the slack.  Meier didn’t see as much NHL action as Labanc did but the fact he was pretty much a regular in the playoffs bodes well for his short-term NHL future.  If one of them can lock down a top-six role by the end of their contracts, they’ll be in line to at least double their current pay two years from now.

One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level

G Aaron Dell ($625K, RFA)
D Dylan DeMelo ($650K, RFA)
F Jannik Hansen ($2MM*, UFA)
F Tomas Hertl ($3MM, RFA)
F Chris Tierney ($735K, RFA)
F Joe Thornton ($8MM, UFA)
F Joel Ward ($3.275MM, UFA)

* – Vancouver is retaining $500K on Hansen’s contract.

Thornton’s raise came as a surprise but that only happened once Marleau departed for Toronto.  He has the reputation of being a premier playmaker but is coming off of his lowest points-per-game average since 1998-99 and he’ll likely only be on the second line.  Value wise, this isn’t a good contract but they have more than enough space to deal with it.  Trading the contract might be tough but Thornton isn’t likely to waive his no-move clause anyway.  Hansen is on a bargain contract for someone who is expected to play in the top six.  If he can stay healthy and put up around 35-40 points, he’ll be in line to beat the $3MM salary he’s earning this season on the open market.  Ward is better off as a third line winger at this stage but has still been a productive player even as he approaches the age of 37.  If he decides to keep playing, he’ll be heading for one-year contracts from here on out.  Tierney took his qualifying offer but unless his output takes a big dive, he could stand to double his contract next summer.

Apr 6, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) warms up before the game against the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center at San Jose. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2.  Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY SportsThen there’s Hertl, whose case is quite the intriguing one.  He signed a bridge deal last summer and the first year didn’t go exactly as either side planned.  A knee injury cost him a big part of the season and he wound up with just 22 points in 49 games.  The Sharks will be counting on him to take a big step forward this season and if he delivers, the long-term, big money contract should be there as he’ll have lots of leverage with arbitration rights.  If he only gets back to around the 35-40 point mark though, the question of what his ceiling is will come up – is he a front liner in the near future or more of a middle-six forward?  If that happens, another one-year contract might not be out of the question.

DeMelo was banged up last year and was scratched at times when he was healthy and will likely once again be a depth defender.  He’ll be in line for a raise due to his qualifying offer ($735K) but unless he gets regular playing time, he probably won’t get much more.  Dell had a fantastic rookie season as the backup goaltender and his cap hit (which falls below the league minimum) looks like a major bargain.  He is positioning himself nicely to be one of the better backups to hit the open market next summer at a time where quality backups are starting to get bigger contracts.

Read more

Two Years Remaining

F Logan Couture ($6MM, UFA)
F Joonas Donskoi ($1.9MM, UFA)
D Tim Heed ($650K, UFA)
D Paul Martin ($4.85MM, UFA)
F Joe Pavelski ($6MM, UFA)
F Marcus Sorensen ($700K, RFA)

Couture and Pavelski are the cornerstones for San Jose up front and it’s interesting that both of their contracts expire at the same time.  Pavelski has established himself as a legitimate number one center and those players are in high demand so he is looking at a fairly hefty increase on his next deal.  Couture’s offensive numbers haven’t been quite as strong the last couple of seasons and if that continues, he’ll wind up with his next contract being somewhat similar to this one.  If he can get back to the 65+ point form though, there will be a major deal waiting for him.  Donskoi’s sophomore season wasn’t anywhere near as strong as his rookie campaign but with a cap hit below $2MM, he’s reasonably priced even in a bottom-six role.  Like Meier, Sorenson didn’t see a lot of regular season action but was a regular in the playoffs.  If he holds down a regular spot over the next couple of years, he’ll get a bit of a raise but they shouldn’t have to budget much more than that down the road.

Martin is coming off one of his best offensive seasons and has been a steady second pairing player.  He’ll be 38 at the end of his contract though which will set him up for one-year deals when it expires.  If he can hold down a second pairing spot for the next two years, he’ll be worth his deal (or close to it) but if Martin drops down to the third pairing, his contract may be a tough one to try and trade away.

Three Years Remaining

F Mikkel Boedker ($4MM, UFA)
D Justin Braun ($3.8MM, UFA)
D Brenden Dillon ($3.27MM, UFA)
F Melker Karlsson ($2MM, UFA)

Boedker’s first season in San Jose wasn’t a particularly strong one.  His 26 points were his lowest since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign and he found himself on the third line (or lower) for good chunks of the season.  History suggests he’s due to rebound somewhat but if he doesn’t, this will be a tough contract to try to move without taking a comparably bad deal in return.  Karlsson has been an effective bottom six winger and should be able to hold down a third line role which will provide decent value on his contract.

With San Jose having a lot of money tied up in their back end, there was some speculation that a player like Braun could be moved for some help up front.  While it appears they’ll give their prospects (and bounce back candidates) the first chance, this scenario could present itself once again during the season if they’re struggling to score.  Dillon is no more than a third pairing player and with this much term and money left on his contract, he’ll be a tough one to trade if they ultimately decide that they would like to go cheaper at that spot.

Four Or More Years Remaining

D Brent Burns ($8MM through 2024-25)
G Martin Jones ($3MM in 2017-18, $5.75MM from 2018-19 through 2023-24)
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($4.25MM in 2017-18, $7MM from 2018-19 through 2025-26)

Coming off of a career year, the Sharks didn’t waste much time getting Burns inked to an early extension and he rewarded them by doing even better last season while winning the Norris Trophy for the NHL’s best defenseman.  However, he’s already 32 and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be a top pairing All-Star by the end of his contract.  San Jose should get good value out of this deal for a few years at least but this could be a problem by the time the last couple of years come around.  Vlasic also wasted little time getting an extension done back in July and as long as he can maintain his spot on the first pairing, he’ll be worth the money.  Once that changes though, this will likely also become a burdensome contract on the books.

Jones was yet another player to extend a year early.  He has quickly emerged as one of the better starting goalies in the league and at $5.75MM, he’s signed at a lesser rate than a lot of the more prominent number ones.  His shorter track record (he has only been in the league for four years and a starter for two) likely didn’t help his leverage in contract talks very much.

Buyouts

None

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

None

Looking Ahead

This feels a bit like a transition year for San Jose with eyes on reshaping things next summer.  They have plenty of cap space for this season with Thornton’s big contract coming off of the books as well so they should have plenty of flexibility if they choose to do that.

They will likely want to be a bit careful on the back end where they’re going to be spending over $25MM this year, a number that will likely approach upwards of $29MM-$30MM for 2018-19.  If they opt to change things up, they probably won’t want to add much more to the defense.

The big thing to watch for is Pavelski and Couture’s deals two years from now.  Currently, the Sharks don’t have many long-term contracts on the books (which is a nice spot to be in) but that will have to change if they want to get those two signed.  Given their penchant for early extensions, it wouldn’t be surprising to see talks kick off pretty quickly come July.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

San Jose Sharks Salary Cap Deep Dive

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Tampa Bay Lightning Angling For Outdoor Game

September 16, 2017 at 10:37 am CDT | by Mike Furlano Leave a Comment

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik spoke to media today ahead of training camp, and said that he is trying to get an outdoor game. Reported by both Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith and NHL.com writer Bryan Burns, Vinik said that he’s talking to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about hosting an outdoor game in Tampa Bay. Vinik also dismissed the hot Florida climate as an obstacle.

Vinik has a point about the climate. The NHL has held outdoor games in Las Vegas (1991), Los Angeles (2014), and Santa Clara (2015) without issue. Cooling technology has come far enough that hosting an outdoor game in a traditionally hot climate more than a pipe dream.

Boosting the Lightning’s chances of hosting is that the team has never participated in an outdoor game—one of just seven teams without any outdoor game experience. Tampa Bay is also slated to host the 2018 NHL All-Star Game this season on short notice. Tampa Bay was chosen later than usual because the NHL thought it might be heading to the Olympics this year instead. When those plans were scuttled, the league chose Tampa Bay as the All-Star venue.

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Morning Snapshots: Leafs, Sabres; Calgary Arena

September 16, 2017 at 9:23 am CDT | by Mike Furlano Leave a Comment

News and notes from around the NHL this morning:

  • Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Martin Marincin may be fighting for his job in training camp, reports the Athletic’s Jonas Siegal. Siegal writes that the former 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft may not have many more chances to stick in the league, despite showing flashes of natural talent. Marincin was once the Maple Leaf’s top-pairing defenceman alongside Morgan Rielly, but has struggled of late and sat out 38 games last season. The Slovak defender will have to turn things around quickly if he wants to maintain a roster spot amid the youth movement pushing from below.
  • The Buffalo Sabres may not have a captain on opening night, reports the Times Herald’s Bill Hoppe. Hoppe reports that new coach Phil Housley is not rushing to name a captain. Some teams, like last year’s Toronto Maple Leafs, opt to play an entire year without a captain. Housley may go that route, but he may also see how training camp plays out and whether a natural leader emerges. Becoming an NHL captain requires additional responsibilities and poise that not all players have—or want. The Sabres’ previous captain, forward Brian Gionta, did not re-sign with the Sabres this season. Hoppe thinks that forward Ryan O’Reilly is a good candidate to fill the void. The Sabres could also be waiting to see if top prospect Jack Eichel steps up into the role.
  • Former MLSE president and CEO Richard Peddie chimed in on the ongoing Calgary Flames arena saga yesterday. Peddie—who once ran the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and the AHL Toronto Marlies—tweeted that Toronto’s arena was 100% privately financed. Not only did Peddie state that the arena  fully privately-funded, but MLSE paid full property taxes and infrastructure costs. The Flames are looking for a substantial public investment in any new arena, and have implicitly threatened longterm consequences if they cannot reach some sort of agreement.

Buffalo Sabres| Calgary Flames| Snapshots| Toronto Maple Leafs Martin Marincin

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Sharks Not Pursuing Jaromir Jagr

September 15, 2017 at 8:17 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

With the answer to just one little question, San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson eliminated the last hope that Sharks fans had of a major free agent addition this off-season. It’s now mid-September, training camps are opening, and San Jose still has yet to make a notable move. They added aging grinder Brandon Bollig, who played exclusively in the AHL last year, Antoine Bibeau, most recently the fifth-string goalie in Toronto, and just a few days ago AHL veteran Brandon Mashinter. Meanwhile, they watched career Shark and franchise leader in just about every category, Patrick Marleau, leave for the Maple Leafs and failed to take advantage of late-summer, affordable replacement options like Drew Stafford (New Jersey) and Thomas Vanek (Vancouver). The Sharks don’t even have an intriguing PTO player in camp.

The last hope of a big-name free agent who could actually help the team in 2017-18 was none other than the legendary Jaromir Jagr. The highest-ranked member of PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents yet to sign at #13 overall, Jagr’s continued availability had been an ongoing story all summer. The 45-year-old future Hall of Famer may seem washed up by age alone, but played in all 82 games with the Florida Panthers last year, registering 46 points. The year before that, Jagr was nearly a 30-goal scorer, racking up 66 points in 79 games for Florida. Somehow, one of the greatest players in NHL history continues to have gas in the tank. In need of replacement scoring and even some veteran guidance for a plethora of young up-and-coming forwards, Jagr seemed like a good fit for San Jose and has continued to be attached to the team in rumors. That ended today. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz asked Doug Wilson about the possibility of Jagr going to San Jose, to which the GM replied definitively that he did not see the Czech phenom as a fit.

So, the search continues for both sides. Jagr has heard all off-season about teams that “seem like a fit”, but has not had any concrete offers all summer. Last anyone checked in, Jagr was still considering simply playing for HC Kladno of the Czech Liga, a team that he is a part owner of, and then suiting up for the Czech Republic at the 2018 Olympics. After that, perhaps Jagr would draw some interest as a stretch run addition for an NHL team. For now, that seems to be the only option for the aging superstar. As for the Sharks, Wilson nor any of his colleagues have expressed any concern over the team’s lack of off-season additions or potential scoring difficulties. While it is possible that they could still make a trade before the season or early on in the new campaign, the fact that they have no interest in Jagr seemingly means that they are done with free agent additions for the 2017 off-season. The only other notable names left that could be of any interest to San Jose are veterans like Jarome Iginla, Brian Gionta, or Jiri Hudler, all of whom would seem to provide even less upside than Jagr. The Sharks seem content to head into the season with their current group. Maybe a rough start could make them rethink their position on one of the greatest scorers of all time.

AHL| Doug Wilson| Olympics| San Jose Sharks Antoine Bibeau| Brandon Mashinter| Brian Gionta| Drew Stafford| Hall of Fame| Jarome Iginla| Jaromir Jagr| Jiri Hudler| Patrick Marleau

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Minor Transactions: 9/15/17

September 15, 2017 at 7:15 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

There have been an overwhelming amount of camp announcement in recent days – professional tryouts, amateur tryouts, and the like – but there are still many team and players looking for permanent homes this season. The following are some notable recent signings:

  • Defenseman Victor Bartley is making his North American exit. The long-time Nashville Predators prospect seems to have run out of options and has opted to sign with Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, according to a local news release (link in Swedish). This will be Bartley’s second go-round in Sweden, having played for Rogle BK in 2010-11 after a disappointing first pro season. It was in Sweden the first time that Bartley gained some NHL attention, signing on with Nashville the following off-season. Bartley played in the Predators system for five seasons, skating in 112 NHL games and recording 23 points, before being traded to the Montreal midway through the 2015-16 campaign. Barley then signed with the Minnesota Wild last summer, but spent the entire year in the AHL with Iowa. Bartley, an Ottawa native, now heads to Sweden with hopes of sparking his career once again. Orebro finished 12th in the SHL last year and offers little in the way of NHL veterans, but between Bartley and exciting, young Latvian Rodrigo Abols, the team hopes to turn it around in 2017-18.
  • The Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, have signed Garret Ross to a one-year deal, according to a team announcement. While Ross is likely happy to under contract in 2017-18, the signing represents a further decline in the career of the 25-year-old forward. A fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012, Ross got his pro career off to a hot start in 2013-14 and 2014-15 with 34 and 43 points respectively. Ross also built a reputation as one of the more tough, physical forwards in the AHL. Yet, his production fell off in 2015-16 to just 20 points and Chicago chose not to qualify him, making him an unrestricted free agent. Ross landed another NHL gig, signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Arizona Coyotes, but injuries and poor play limited him to just four points in 27 games. Ross will have to show that he still has potential while playing on a minor league contract this year. There’s room for Ross to play a major role in Rochester, but he just needs to take advantage of the opportunity.
  • Daniel Ciampini will look to take the next step in his career in 2017-18, as he has signed with the AHL’s re-located Belleville Senators, per a team release. While the deal is of a two-way nature and Ciampini could wind up back in the ECHL, he hopes that his production in 2016-17 can earn him a regular AHL spot. The Union College alum was a point-per-game player with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs last year, spending about half the season with the New Hampshire-based team and the other half with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, affiliate of the L.A. Kings. With 28 points in 28 ECHL games to go along with 5 points in 23 AHL games, it appeared that Ciampini was heading in the right direction if he hopes to return to the dynamic scorer he was in college. Belleville hopes that the trend continues and the AHL numbers improve in the new campaign.
  • The Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have decided to give young Dylan Margonari another shot. The team announced that they have resigned the two-way center to a one-year extension. While under contract with Hersey in 2016-17, Margonari nevertheless played the whole season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. He has just two AHL games under his belt, back in 2015-16, after he signed on with the Bears out of college. Unlike many players whose production drops off at the pro level, Margonari has never been much of a scorer – not at Minnesota State, not with South Carolina, and likely not with Hershey should he make the team. Instead, the 25-year-old simply brings smart decision making and quiet confidence to his role as a defensive forward. While some teams may overlook that ability, it seems to be a trait that the Bears still value.

AHL| Buffalo Sabres| ECHL| Minnesota Wild| Nashville Predators| Ottawa Senators| SHL| Transactions| Utah Mammoth| Washington Capitals Swedish Hockey League

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Ryan Carter Announces Retirement

September 15, 2017 at 6:15 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

Give Ryan Carter credit. Around this time last year, it seemed as though the veteran forward’s career was already over. Carter had been unable to secure a guaranteed contract for the 2016-17 season, but was working toward a new deal with the Minnesota Wild by way of a PTO. However, when a nagging shoulder injury – a torn labrum to be exact – ended his attempt, Carter decided that he needed to move forward with surgery and, at 33, did not know if he would play again. Yet, Carter underwent his procedure, rehabbed, and by mid-February, he was back skating with the Wild. Carter ended up playing in 18 games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild and was one of Minnesota’s “black aces” come playoff time, though he never did get to fully make his NHL return.

It took a lot of effort just to get close to a comeback in 2016-17 and another try just wasn’t in the cards for Carter this year. The Athletic’s Michael Russo was the first to report that the ten year veteran has decided to hang up his skates. The Minnesota native can rest easy in retirement, knowing that he got to play his final two NHL seasons with his hometown team and gave it all he had to return for a third. Along the way, the Minnesota State standout also suited up for the Anaheim Ducks from 2006 to 2011 and the New Jersey Devils from 2011 to 2014, with brief stops with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers in between.

A hard-working, two-way threat, Carter was known more as a defensive specialist best-suited for a bottom-six spot and key penalty killing role than he was a point-producers. Yet, Carter finished his career off strong with a career high 15 points with the Devils in 2012-13 and three more double-digit totals to close out his NHL tenure. Carter will also be remembered for a very strong postseason performance for New Jersey in 2012, nearly matching his regular season production as the team charged to a Stanley Cup final appearance. In total, Carter notched 41 goals and 52 assists in 473 NHL games. While his scoring was far from the pace he exhibited in his college days in Mankato, Carter was still able to provide consistent two-way play, work ethic, and character throughout an NHL career built off of solid bottom-six play.

AHL| Anaheim Ducks| Carolina Hurricanes| Florida Panthers| Injury| Minnesota Wild| New Jersey Devils| Retirement Ryan Carter

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2017-18 Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

September 15, 2017 at 5:01 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 2 Comments

With the NHL season now less than a month away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last Season: 50-21-11 record (111 points), second in Metropolitan Division (Won Stanley Cup)

Remaining Cap Space: $3.28MM per CapFriendly

Key Newcomers: D Matt Hunwick (free agency, Toronto), F Ryan Reaves (trade, St. Louis), G Antti Niemi (free agency, Dallas)

Key Departures: G Marc-Andre Fleury (expansion, Vegas) F Nick Bonino (free agency, Nashville), D Ron Hainsey (free agency, Toronto), D Trevor Daley (free agency, Detroit), D Mark Streit (free agency, Montreal), F Matt Cullen (free agency, Minnesota), F Chris Kunitz (free agency, Tampa Bay)

[Related: Pittsburgh Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Jake GuentzelPlayer To Watch: F Jake Guentzel – How exactly are you supposed to follow up a two goal NHL debut on a line with your childhood idol? How about tying a rookie record with 21 playoff points en route to a Stanley Cup victory. That’s how Guentzel started and finished his first season in the NHL, and 2017-18 could hold even more breathtaking moments for the 22-year old forward. With 54 points in a combined 65 regular season and playoff games, Guentzel could have easily been in contention for the Calder trophy had he played a full season. Immediately finding chemistry with Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin, before transitioning to the wing of Sidney Crosby, he’ll have much more responsibility this year.

The Penguins have lost some of their long-time forward depth in Bonino, Cullen and Kunitz and will be relying on players like Guentzel to repeat their performance from last year. Whichever line he ends up on—which could even be the middle of the third group, though the team clearly wants him to remain on the wing—he should crack 50 points and could push even higher. His knack to find open ice and release quick shots has resulted in some incredible totals already in his career, and with superstar players surrounding him it doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon.

That said he’ll have to do a better job of keeping his head up this year. Twice last season players were suspended after huge hits to Guentzel’s head, with both Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Manning being sat down by the Department of Player Safety. Though you can’t blame Guentzel for what were illegal checks, both times he was watching the puck as he crossed his own blueline instead of being aware of the rushing defenders. It’s unfortunate that a player has to worry about these hits, but the simple fact is that they do. Guentzel suffered at least one concussion, and could easily have missed more time had something worse happened.

Key Storyline: No team has won three straight Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980’s, but Pittsburgh has a real chance to do just that. With nearly their entire core returning, and with a healthy quartet of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Kris Letang, they will enter the season as one of the early favorites. Last year, it took some late-season additions by GM Jim Rutherford to shore up a painfully deteriorated defense group, and he’s looking to work his magic already with talk about third-line centers in camp today. Should he be able to add an impact player like Matt Duchene, or even just a solid center to add depth down the middle, there are few teams who should be able to compete with them.

The Penguins have smartly left themselves some room under the cap this summer, making low-key veteran additions like Hunwick and Reaves. They’ll have the room to make a splash at the deadline once again, but will have to be careful going forward. Several players including Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist will need new contracts next summer, and there isn’t a ton coming in the pipeline to replace them. While free agent additions like Zach Aston-Reese and Adam Johnson will help that prospect depth, the team has selected one player in the first round in the past five years (Kasperi Kapanen) and included him in the deal to get Kessel. It’s a tightrope at the top, but so far Rutherford has walked it beautifully. The Penguins are hoping they can stay up there just a little bit longer.

Pittsburgh Penguins Jake Guentzel

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Restricted Free Agents Still To Sign

September 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 4 Comments

Originally published on August 8th, and updated as of September 15th.

While the offseason has crawled along, name after name has been knocked off the list of restricted free agents as teams try to put together their roster for next season. With Monday’s signing of Barclay Goodrow by the San Jose Sharks, there are only 20 RFAs remaining unsigned for the 2017-18 season.

Heading that list is still Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak, two young superstars looking for a long-term payday before they turn 22. Each of them scored at least 70 points last season and have established themselves in the top tier around the league. Past them there is still a ton of talent. Alexander Wennberg and Bo Horvat make up the next tier of RFAs, coming off 50+ point seasons and key building blocks for their respective teams down the middle. Both just 22-years old they’ll be important contracts for Columbus and Vancouver to deal with before training camp starts.

After that, the list is dotted with several useful players who should have full-time roles this season along with some who are on the edge of the NHL still. Calgary leads the way with three remaining, while many teams have all their free agents locked up. Below is a list of the remaining free agents, along with their point totals from last year.

Andreas Athanasiou (DET) – 64 GP, 18 G, 11 A, 29 P

Josh Anderson (CBJ) – 78 GP, 17 G, 12 A, 29 P

Nikita Zadorov (COL) – 56 GP, 0 G 10 A, 10 P (Signed, two years, $4.3MM)

Marcus Foligno (MIN) – 80 GP, 13 G, 10 A, 23 P (Signed, four years, $11.5MM)

David Pastrnak (BOS) – 75 GP, 34 G, 36 A, 70 P (Signed, six years, $40MM)

Leon Draisaitl (EDM) – 82 GP, 29 G, 48 A, 77 P (Signed, eight years, $68MM)

Alexander Wennberg (CBJ) – 80 GP, 13 G, 46 A, 59 P (Signed, six years, $29.4MM)

Bo Horvat (VAN) – 81 GP, 20 G, 32 A, 52 P (Signed, six years, $33MM)

Connor Brown (TOR) – 82 GP, 20 G, 16 A, 36 P (Signed, three years, $6.3MM)

Damon Severson (NJD) – 80 GP, 3 G, 28 A, 31 P (Signed, six years, $25MM)

Sam Bennett (CGY) – 81 GP, 13 G, 13 A, 26 P (Signed, two years, $3.9MM)

Zemgus Girgensons (BUF) – 75 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 P (Signed, two years, $3.2MM)

Anthony Duclair (ARZ) – 58 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P (Signed, one year, $1.2MM)

Brendan Gaunce (VAN) – 57 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 P (Signed, two years $1.5MM)

Brett Kulak (CGY) – 21 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3P (Signed, one year, $650K)

Robbie Russo (DET) – 19 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (Signed, two years, $650K)

Petteri Lindbohm (STL) – 7 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (Signed, one year, undisclosed)

Tyler Wotherspoon (CGY) – 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (Signed, one year, $650K)

Jean-Sebastien Dea (PIT) – 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (Signed, one year, $650K)

Tye McGinn (TB) – 0 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (Signed, one year, undisclosed)

RFA Alexander Wennberg| Andreas Athanasiou| Anthony Duclair| Bo Horvat| Brendan Gaunce| Brett Kulak| Connor Brown| Damon Severson| David Pastrnak| Josh Anderson| Leon Draisaitl| Marcus Foligno| Nikita Zadorov| Petteri Lindbohm

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