Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for September 2017

Snapshots: Rozsival, Cleary, Wild

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Michal Rozsival did not pass his physical today in Chicago Blackhawks camp, meaning he will not be allowed to participate in on-ice activities. The 39-year old signed a new contract during last season to help the Blackhawks fulfill their expansion draft requirements, but wasn’t expected to take on a full-time role with the team this year.

Despite that, it looked as though he might have to be a big contributor since Chicago had seen Brian Campbell, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Niklas Hjalmarsson all leave through various methods, and not many players brought in to replace them. Cody Franson and Mark Stuart are both in camp on professional tryouts, and Rozsival’s absence certainly helps their case when working towards an NHL contract.

  • Dan Cleary is back with the Detroit Red Wings this year, as Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that he’ll have the title of Director of Player Development. Cleary was an unofficial coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins last year, as he was actually on a player contract but never suited up for the club. The Griffins won the Calder Cup as league champions, and Cleary will continue his role as a mentor for the young players.
  • Michael Russo of The Athletic had a disappointing series of tweets about Minnesota Wild prospects today, as he reported that Mason Shaw is out four to six months after tearing his ACL, Jack Walker will miss six weeks with an injured shoulder, and Dante Salituro will miss two weeks because of a shoulder injury. While none of the three represent blue chip prospects for the club, early injuries are starting to pile up for the depth players of the Iowa Wild.

Nikita Zadorov Signs With Colorado Avalanche

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Colorado Avalanche have signed Nikita Zadorov to a two-year contract worth $2.15MM per season. Zadorov was one of three remaining restricted free agents who are currently not in camp with their respective teams. The two sides had been going back and forth between $2MM and $2.5MM, but finally settled closer to the Avalanche’s offer.

Nikita ZadorovThis week Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said that negotiations were close enough that he expected Zadorov to be in camp, and though the big defender has missed the very beginning a deal today allows him to participate in almost the entire thing. That’s good news for a club who have had nothing but turmoil lately, including both Tyson Barrie and Tyson Jost leaving the ice today with injuries (both are minor). Zadorov’s return will be a boon to an Avalanche defense corps that right now looks like it will employ several minor league players.

Zadorov, 22, is coming off a season in which he showed off both sides of his potential. A hitting machine, Zadorov filled up highlight reels with big open ice collisions, but also recorded just 10 points and at times struggled to get the puck out of his own end quickly. His offensive upside, something that he was expected to grow into as he learned to use his 6’5″ frame more effectively, has still been absent on most shifts. The Avalanche are hoping that with more development time he can become a more effective shutdown player, and every day in training camp with the team helps that.

A big part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, Zadorov’s progression—or lack thereof—is now impacting the way Sakic handles his Matt Duchene trade negotiations. Several reports have come out that say Sakic is only willing to deal his star center for a huge package, partly because of the lackluster performance of Zadorov and J.T. Compher to this point. While neither player has developed into the kind O’Reilly is, both still have plenty of potential to make an impact on the Avalanche going forward.

Signing a two year deal will keep Zadorov a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the contract, allowing both him and the team to reevaluate his play down the road. Though bridge deals have seemingly taken a back seat to long-term extensions this summer, Zadorov’s play doesn’t warrant it at this point. Instead, he’ll still have two years of restricted free agency left after the contract, though will be eligible for arbitration. Should he breakout into the player many thought he would be, a long-term extension next summer isn’t out of the question.

Adrian Dater of BSN Denver was first to report the deal was finished, with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic providing the financial details. 

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

No Timeline On Ryan Kesler’s Return

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Anaheim Ducks took to the ice for the start of training camp today, and they were without several of their key players. While Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen work to come back from shoulder surgeries, Ducks’ GM Bob Murray told reporters (including Eric Stephens of the Orange Country Register) that there is no timeline on Ryan Kesler’s return from hip surgery. Murray said he hopes to have his center back by Christmas.

That would be much longer than initially expected, as he was originally only expected to be out 12 weeks. Given the surgery happened on June 8th, that estimate would have put him back on the ice earlier this month, not deep into the season. Initial timelines like that are often misleading, but it’s definitely not good news that Kesler won’t be back on the ice to start the year. The team already had question marks at center behind Ryan Getzlaf and Kesler, and will now likely have to rely on Rickard Rakell in the middle to start the year.

Behind him though, it gets less inspiring. Antoine Vermette will be back, but is a better fit for the fourth line than third, and youngster Sam Steel will almost certainly be heading back to the CHL to captain the Regina Pats this year. Perhaps there is still a move to be made for Anaheim, who have their sights set on the playoffs once again but will have a tough start to the year without some of their star players.

Calgary Offers To Pay One-Third Of Arena Costs

at CDT | by 2 Comments

12:40pm: King and the Flames held a press conference to address the offer. He said that the Flames will reveal their counter-proposal next week, and that they’re not going to hide anything any longer. King revealed that the two sides had not even met since July 31st, and that was when they “surrendered” that a deal would not happen. He reiterated that the Flames ownership group has never wavered in their goal of keeping professional sports in Calgary, and that they would “already be gone” if they were only going for a “money grab.”

11:12am: In the latest battle over who will pay for an NHL arena, the Calgary Flames front office announced this week that they were “no longer pursuing a new facility” and that the negotiations with the city over public funding were going nowhere. The Mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi shot back at the Flames, saying that the city had always been negotiating in good faith but still things were left at something of an impasse.

Now, the Canadian Press is reporting that the city has offered to pay for one-third of the proposed $555MM building costs, though that still doesn’t seem good enough for the Flames. The report states that the team wants public funds to cover “closer to half” of the cost. The public war of words will likely continue, with both Flames President Ken King and Nenshi using the issue politically, heading into the civic elections next month.

It’s tough to see how this doesn’t end up with the Flames somehow getting their new building and remaining in Calgary, though NHL commissioner Gary Bettman didn’t mince words when speaking about how poorly the negotiations had gone:

The city is nowhere close to embracing [the proposal]. So there was no point in continuing. It’ll play out the way it’ll play out. In the short-term, no one should doubt the Flames or their ownership’s commitment to this community, but at some point I envision without a new building there will be consequences that everyone will have to deal with.

This public battle comes after a report that Seattle would be unveiling a plan for a new $600MM arena, though that announcement was put on hold due to new sexual assault allegations laid against Mayor Ed Murray. The announcement hasn’t yet been rescheduled, but the deal shouldn’t be in jeopardy even with the scandal. Seattle would be a potential relocation option for Calgary, though the league is obviously still quite a distance from a decision like that.

Calgary has been in the NHL since 1980, when the Atlanta Flames moved north. In 1983 the Saddledome, where the team still plays, opened its doors and just a few seasons later saw the franchise’s lone Stanley Cup victory. With a team poised to take another run at the playoffs, this arena news can only be a distraction in what should be a promising season.

“Talks Have Stopped” Between Josh Anderson, Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Just yesterday we heard that there was a “vast” gap between Josh Anderson and the Columbus Blue Jackets on the young forward’s next contract, and now it seems negotiations have come to a halt altogether. Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch quotes Anderson’s agent Darren Ferris, who says talks have stopped and that they are evaluating their options.

Anderson of course is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract, but up until recently it had seemed like everything was progressing towards a new deal. The Blue Jackets have begun camp without him, and head coach John Tortorella has been clear that he could lose his spot if he misses enough time. Though it’s hard to see Anderson actually being left out of the lineup after scoring 17 goals last year, Tortorella is notoriously loyal to the players who work hard for him and show up on a daily basis. It’s not exactly Anderson’s fault that he’s not in camp, but every day he misses gives a chance to someone else.

In his absence, young players like Sonny Milano, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tyler Motte will all get a chance to establish themselves alongside some of the regulars, and impress Tortorella enough to keep them around. While Anderson provides a different game than any of those three, he’ll have to fight hard to re-establish himself whenever the contract negotiations do end.

Jim Rutherford Focused On Three Center Candidates

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford met with the media today at the start of training camp, and was quite forthcoming about his potential pursuit of a third-line center. Many have speculated that the Penguins would need to look outside the organization, with Rutherford himself saying they were looking for an “impact” player for the role. Today, he said that they were looking at three players for the role, though he obviously can’t name names.

We have our focus on three guys. I think one or two may become available before the season starts.

Pittsburgh has been rumored to be interested in various players over the summer, including Riley Sheahan (DET), Tyler Bozak (TOR), Matt Duchene (COL), and Jordan Staal (CAR) among others, but it’s unclear where Rutherford’s focus lies. It’s hard to see Pittsburgh going out to get one of the top names on the market, but the team does actually have a bit of cap space and some prospect capital that could get a deal done. Whether Rutherford wants to spend it now, or closer to the deadline when he normally does his shopping, is still to be seen.

As we said in our live chat yesterday, the Penguins are likely waiting for someone to shake loose so they can snatch them at a reduced price. A team like Detroit, who will need to make a roster move before the season starts if everyone gets through training camp healthy, could be an example. Regardless of where they’re looking it’s clear that the Penguins aren’t satisfied with the depth they have at the position right now. As camp begins, some combination of Carter Rowney, Zach Aston-Reese, Scott Wilson or even Jake Guentzel would likely be put into the role.

Evening Snapshots: Hischier, Hitchcock, Leafs’ Captaincy

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The New Jersey Devils’ top pick in the 2017 Entry Draft told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale that it would be a “disappointment” if he didn’t make the Devils’ roster following training camp. General manager Ray Shero called him a “special talent,” and that if there’s a spot, it’s his to win. Teammate Taylor Hall reminisced about his first season with the Oilers, when the 2010 #1 overall pick learned a lot from then captain Shawn Horcoff. He added how important it was for younger players to have a veteran presence to “bounce things off of,” when beginning a career after being a first overall pick. Hischier is certainly saying all the right things–it’s just a matter of time if the youngster get a shot as a regular.

  • It’s the return of Ken Hitchcock in Dallas, and it’ll be the “new adventures of old Ken Hitchcock,” writes the Dallas Morning-News’ Mike Heika. The veteran coach and Dallas’ all-time winningest coach has promised a camp that “no one has ever seen before.” Heika adds that Hitchcock has to rein in an offensively “supercharged” team that failed to defend in its own zone. Unlike his 90’s teams or even more recently in St. Louis, “Hitch” plans to attack in the offensive zone while being responsible with the puck in their own zone. Center Tyler Seguin believes the team has more than enough offense to score goals and that it’s just a matter of being better defensively. Should the Stars stay healthy, they could certainly be a favorite in the West.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs will once again go without a captain, and opt for three alternates reports the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran. General manager Lou Lamoriello sees no reason to name a captain, citing a number of leaders in the room with no rush to name one player as the captain. McGran speculates that the C will eventually be sewn onto Auston Matthews’ jersey, but believes that keeping any additional pressure off of the second year forward may be the team’s motive for not bestowing that honor yet.

Atlantic Notes: Eichel, Lightning, Panthers’ Playoff Hopes

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

NHL.com’s Joe Yerdon writes that Buffalo star center Jack Eichel says that he “hasn’t proven anything”  despite a couple great seasons scoring over 20 goals and being nearly a point-per-game player last season. But the thirst for regular and postseason success drives Eichel, and calling his past work “mediocre,” it’s clear that the 2015 second overall pick is ready for his Sabres to turn the corner:

“It’s the third year, so if there’s ever a time to start winning and being a good team in this league, it’s right now. I think all the guys are pretty sick of losing and not playing in the playoffs. I don’t think I’m the only guy; I think I can speak for a lot of guys in the room, that we’ve got to be there at the end of the year.”

Set with a new general manager and head coach, a fresh approach may just be what the Sabres need to finally break through.

  • The Tampa Bay Times Tom Jones wonders if the Bolts have another deep playoff run in the horizon. Or, as Jones asks, could last year’s playoff miss be the start of Tampa’s descent in the Atlantic, and Eastern Conference? He quotes head coach Jon Cooper, who says that after two deep playoff runs, anyone asks “what happens,” when a team completely misses the playoffs. The Lightning held a 2-1 advantage during the 2015 Stanley Cup Final before Chicago roared back to take three in a row. Two seasons ago, they came within a game of returning to the Final. General manager Steve Yzerman called it “humbling” while players say there’s a certain “hunger” to the playoffs this season. Though Yzerman says the expectations remain high, certainly no one thought that was a cause for decline. It was the injury bug that bit hard in Tampa and crippled any chances at postseason glory. Should they stay healthy, the Lightning a formidable opponent not only in the conference, but also the league.
  • The other Floridian team also has a shot at making a playoff run opines the Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn. The Panthers, despite an off year in 2016-17 after such a strong 2015-16, are projected by Luszczyzyn to see a marked improvement based on his metrics. Anyone familiar with his work knows that Luszczyzyn uses advanced stats more than most writers. Similar to the Lightning, the Panthers suffered from injuries and just having Jonathan Huberdeau back a full season will do wonders for a team that was starved for goals in his absence. Ludzczyzyn admits that there isn’t much further to go down from here, but he advises that no one should sleep on the Panthers, either.

Marcus Foligno Signs Four-Year Contract With Minnesota Wild

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Minnesota Wild have signed their final restricted free agent of the summer, inking Marcus Foligno to a four-year contract worth $11.5MM. The deal will pay him $2.875MM per season, only a slight raise over his 2016-17 salary of $2.25MM. Foligno had been skating with teammates prior to the start of training camp today, showing his confidence that a deal would eventually be signed. The 26-year old forward is new to Minnesota, having come over from the Buffalo Sabres along with Tyler Ennis in a trade for Marco Scandella and Jason Pominville, but should be an interesting addition to their deep forward group. The breakdown of the deal is as follows:

  • 2017-18: $2.0MM
  • 2018-19: $3.0MM
  • 2019-20: $3.5MM
  • 2020-21: $3.0MM

Marcus FolignoThe Wild have always held defensive play in high regards for their forwards, with players like Mikko Koivu and Nino Niederreiter among the league’s best two-way performers. Foligno’s game brings some of that defense as well, along with an incredibly physical style that should give the team a new look in their bottom-six. He’s been penciled into the third line alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Charlie Coyle, though that could obviously change at any moment during training camp. That line would be difficult to handle physically, as all three players stand at least 6’2″, with Coyle and Foligno some of the odds-on favorites to lead the team in hits (Nieddereiter edged out Coyle last year).

Still, Foligno has some warts to his game. Thought at times he’s shown he can contribute offensively, that touch in the offensive zone has never been very consistent and he’s finished with no more than 23 points in a single season of his career. In his mid-twenties he could still improve in that area, but more likely he’ll still struggle to produce more than 10-15 goals in a year. Part of that is why the contract likely took so long, as both sides were trying to project what he can do surrounded by better players and on a winning team.

Though the contract took a while, Minnesota fans should be happy with it. Foligno is giving up two unrestricted free agent seasons but still making a relatively low amount that fits nicely into their salary structure. He’ll have to be more than a fourth-line player for them, but with the deal expiring before Foligno turns 30, Minnesota has bought out his prime for a reasonable amount. It does however get them awfully close to the cap, and probably means they won’t be able to sign Daniel Winnik to a deal any more than the league minimum despite inviting him to camp.

Michael Russo of The Athletic was first to report the deal and its details.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top