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Archives for September 2017

Poll: Where Will Matt Duchene Start His 2017-18 Season?

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Matt Duchene showed up for the start of training camp this morning with the Colorado Avalanche, clearly frustrated with how this offseason has played out. Duchene and agent J.P. Barry have made it clear they would like a resolution to the ongoing trade speculation, and instead of face countless more questions from the media, had a simple statement:

I’m here to honor my contract. I’m here out of respect for the fans, and I’m here for my teammates. I had a great summer training and I’m in great physical condition.

Duchene will take part in training camp now that he’s there, but questions continue to swirl around his future with the club. With only two years left on his current contract, the asking price of GM Joe Sakic has yet to be matched. Sakic has reportedly been looking for a first-round pick, a young NHL caliber defenseman and a top prospect, and while that may have changed slightly there still doesn’t seem to be any deal in sight. Many teams around the league could benefit from having Duchene on their roster, but giving up all that for two years of a player coming off a down season is almost impossible for anyone to do.

The question is asked nearly every week in our live chats (of which we’ll hold the latest in about an hour’s time), where will Duchene eventually end up? Does he end up going to one of the oft-rumored destinations like Columbus or Carolina? Will another team swoop in and snatch him up in a last second move? Or will he have to start the season with Colorado and hope his play draws more interested parties in? Vote below on where you think Duchene will play his first game this season, and make sure to leave your reasoning behind in the comments.

Where will Matt Duchene start his 2017-18 season?
Colorado Avalanche 33.50% (327 votes)
Other (leave in comments) 15.78% (154 votes)
Pittsburgh Penguins 13.73% (134 votes)
Columbus Blue Jackets 10.96% (107 votes)
New York Islanders 10.35% (101 votes)
Carolina Hurricanes 8.20% (80 votes)
New York Rangers 5.23% (51 votes)
Anaheim Ducks 2.25% (22 votes)
Total Votes: 976

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Minor Moves: McGrattan, Miller, Flyers

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Noted NHL enforcer Brian McGrattan is back with the Calgary Flames organization, joining the team today as a player development coach. The veteran of 317 games actually played last season for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in England, where he registered 19 points and 138 penalty minutes in 47 games.

  • J.T. Miller will begin camp with the New York Rangers as a center, in order to get him used to the position again should they need him to take on that role. The Rangers currently project to have Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes as their top two options, while the third line pivot is something of a mystery. Miller, Lias Andersson, David Desharnais and Boo Nieves are the leading candidates, though Vinni Letieri and Andrew Desjardins could be options as well. Miller was outstanding as a winger last year, but definitely has the skill to lead the third line if it’s asked of him.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have sent four players back to junior, cutting Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, Matthew Strome and Maksim Sushko from their training camp roster. All four took part in the rookie camp, but will now head back to their respective OHL teams to continue their development. Frost was the team’s second first-round pick this year, and is coming off a breakout season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Undersized but already a capable two-way player, he’ll try to improve his offensive game and come into next summer’s training camp with something to prove.

Clarke MacArthur Fails Physical, Future Unclear

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Unfortunately for everyone who was rooting for his comeback, Clarke MacArthur has failed his physical at Ottawa Senators’ camp and will be unable to participate with the team. It remains unclear what the future holds for the 32-year old winger, after concussion issues have robbed him of most of the past two years.

MacArthur has played in only four regular season games in each of the last two seasons, but made a comeback at the end of last year and suited up for the Senators’ playoff run. Scoring nine points in 19 playoff games, he was one of the more inspiring stories of the year in the NHL. Still, he complained of neck pain after the Senators were eliminated and needed to consult doctors. It seems as though something has resurfaced, at least enough to keep him out for the time being.

Related: [Updated Ottawa Senators Depth Chart]

It would be foolish to rule him out for the season, as MacArthur has shown an relentless drive to get back on the ice in recent years. But for now the team will have to move on without him occupying one of the spots in their top nine. The team already had some question marks on the wing, and MacArthur’s loss only complicates things further. While Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Ryan Dzingel and Bobby Ryan remain locks, the rest of the group is an uninspiring mishmash of bottom-six players. Senators camp will be interesting to watch, as players like Colin White and Nick Paul could potentially be impact wingers in the NHL if given the chance.

“Vast” Gap Between Josh Anderson, Blue Jackets

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Though Aaron Portzline of The Athletic makes it clear that things could change at any moment, the negotiations between Josh Anderson and the Columbus Blue Jackets don’t appear to be close to a conclusion. Portzline tweets that “vast” was used to describe the difference between the two sides, an interesting adjective to use when talking about a pre-arbitration player coming off his entry-level deal and first full season.

Anderson did have an exceptional year, scoring 17 goals in his first real crack at the NHL, a tally that surpassed Alexander Wennberg, Scott Hartnell and Brandon Dubinsky among others. His role in the Blue Jackets’ lineup is an important one, able to move in and out of different lines and play several different styles of hockey. GM Jarmo Kekalainen said yesterday that he still believes Anderson would sign before camp, but with the team reporting for medicals today it would have to get done quickly.

Now that David Pastrnak has signed with the Boston Bruins, Anderson is one of just four restricted free agents left unsigned. Two of the other three—Nikita Zadorov and Andreas Athanasiou—have offers waiting for them in the KHL, while the fourth, Marcus Foligno, is all but signed in Minnesota. He’s already taken the ice with his teammates before camp started, and is just waiting for the contract to be finished before joining them again. While RFA negotiations often leak into training camp, it’s never a good thing for the development of a young player to miss time with his teammates. Camp is often where chemistry is found between potential linemates, and trust is built in the eyes of a coach. Though Anderson is at little risk of losing his spot in the lineup, every day he misses in camp is another chance someone else can impress.

Mikhail Grabovski Wants To Play This Year

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Mikhail Grabovski hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2015-16 season, spending all of last year on long-term injured reserve with continued post-concussion symptoms, but as Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com reports he’s in Las Vegas today for his medical and maintains his desire to play. His agent, Gary Greenstein, told Cotsonika that Grabovski is “very positive.” The 33-year old forward was selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft after receiving a first-round pick from the New York Islanders, but few thought he’d ever suit up for the team.

At one point in his career, Grabovski was a dynamic center that could drive play offensively and hold his own in the defensive end (despite what some detractors might say) but hasn’t played more than 60 games in a single NHL season since 2011-12. For a team that will likely have trouble scoring goals, his addition could provide some depth down the middle and another presence for the powerplay.

All of this is just hope from Grabovski’s side at this point, as he’ll need to pass the medical and then convince head coach Gerard Gallant that he’s ready to compete in the NHL once again, but we have seen things like this before. Clarke MacArthur returned to the Ottawa Senators late last season after nearly a full season off with similar issues, and was a big contributor in the playoffs. Perhaps Grabovski can do the same, even if it doesn’t come at the start of the season.

Teddy Purcell To Attend Bruins Camp

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The Boston Bruins have signed Teddy Purcell to a professional tryout according to Ty Anderson of WEEI.com, bringing in the veteran forward after he spent much of last season in the minor leagues. The 32-year old will attempt to earn a contract on a team that currently projects to have several rookies in the lineup on opening day.

Purcell was always an effective offensive player, even scoring a career-high 65 points in 2011-12 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but saw his play deteriorate last year. After signing a one-year $1.6MM contract with the Los Angeles Kings, Purcell was waived by the team in early December and sent to the minor leagues. At the time, he had just two points in his first 12 games with the Kings but then showed he could still dominate lesser competition. In 38 games with the Ontario Reign, Purcell scored 38 points, prompting his minor league coach to even state that he was “too good for this league.”

There is a real chance that Purcell could crack the Bruins lineup if he shows his offensive talent is still at least partly there. Even after signing David Pastrnak earlier today, the team could still be looking at players like Anders Bjork and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson for full-time roles, something that could be avoided with another veteran option. Though both young players look great, some time in the minor leagues wouldn’t hurt their development. That would all be predicated on Purcell showing up fit and looking the part of the 30-50 point man he was for so many years, something that is far from certain.

Zadorov To Miss Start Of Camp; Duchene In Denver

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10:50am: Duchene indeed reported to camp, but would not take questions from the media. His statement, from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post:

I’m here to honor my contract. I’m here out of respect for the fans, and I’m here for my teammates. I had a great summer training and I’m in great physical condition.

8:13am: Even though Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said yesterday that he thought Nikita Zadorov could attend camp because the two sides were so close, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that this will not be the case. The restricted free agent remains unsigned, and will not suit up with teammates today when camp opens.

Matt Duchene on the other hand is in town according to Adrian Dater of BSN Denver, and is expected to be with the team today. Duchene had been skating on his own in Toronto, skipping both the optional “captain’s skate” and team’s charity golf tournament.

The last report has Zadorov and the Avalanche just $500K apart, meaning Sakic is probably correct in his assumption that the deal is close. Still, that has seemed to be the gap between the two sides for some time. If a contract can’t be reached, Zadorov has said in the past that he will play in the KHL, something the Avalanche want to avoid if possible. While they’re not expected to compete this season, letting Zadorov walk and get a taste of life in the KHL is a risky proposition. Not only would his development with the team stall, but there is always a chance of him never returning to the NHL.

Horton, Lupul Fail Medicals, Will Remain On LTIR

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have two players under contract for next season who haven’t played in more than a year, and are destined for long-term injured reserve once again. Before doing that, the team needed to bring Nathan Horton and Joffrey Lupul in for medicals, which they subsequently failed. The Maple Leafs will use the cap space opened by the pair this season, as they already project to be over by $4.78MM by CapFriendly.

Though usually it is believed that teams need to get under the salary cap by the start of the season, this is not necessarily the case for the Maple Leafs. Toronto will use a type of “offseason LTIR” to work their way under the cap, since both Horton and Lupul’s injuries were known long in advance. LTIR is calculated in two ways, depending on when it is used.

In season, the formula to find out how much extra cap space is created is as follows:

Bonus cap space = Cap hit of LTIR player – Current cap space

This usually results in teams using paper transactions to call players up and push them as close to the cap as possible, before placing a player on LTIR. That gives them the maximum amount of extra room to work with. During training camp though, it’s a little different.

Bonus cap space = Current team cap hit – Season salary cap

That means, a team like the Maple Leafs can place Lupul and Horton on LTIR during training camp in order to give themselves a huge amount that they’re allowed to exceed the cap by. The combined salaries of the injured pair is $10.55MM, meaning the Maple Leafs can manipulate the salary cap several ways. By pushing the team’s salary as close to $80.25MM as possible before putting one of the players on LTIR, they’ll get back under the limit for the start of the season. That’s what has allowed them to sign players like Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey this summer with little risk, even though they already were right up against the cap.

David Pastrnak Signs Six-Year Contract

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The Boston Bruins and David Pastrnak have finally come to terms, signing a six-year $40MM contract. The deal will pay Pastrnak an average of $6.67MM throughout the deal, which at first glance looks like a tremendous value.

David PastrnakBreaking out this season with 34 goals and 70 points, Pastrnak showed why he was so highly coveted by the Bruins organization and proved he could be an elite offensive talent. At just 21, he’s now completed three seasons in the NHL meaning this extension buys out only two UFA years. That length, which will make him a unrestricted free agent at 27, is why the cap hit is so much lower than someone like Leon Draisaitl, who was compared to Pastrnak all offseason. Draisaitl gave up three UFA years, but received an $8.5MM AAV on his new contract.

More similar is the deal Filip Forsberg signed last summer after his own entry-level contract expired. Forsberg received $34MM over six years, but was a year older than Pastrnak is now and didn’t have quite the high in terms of points. Forsberg backed up his deal with another 30-goal campaign, a path Bruins fans will hope Pastrnak follows.

One of the more interesting things is that Pastrnak’s average salary comes in right between Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, something that had been reported as important to the team. Though Marchand told them it was fine if the new contract surpassed his, they likely still didn’t want it to far outpace the two superstar forwards. It would have, had the term been extended to eight years.

While the deal seems good for the Bruins, it’s almost perfect for Pastrnak as well. He gets paid a hefty salary and entirely avoids the arbitration process, and will hit the market in 2023 as an in-his-prime scoring machine that could demand another huge contract. Obviously the Bruins will want to keep him around even longer, but he’ll likely have the ability to demand an eight-year contract from any team that wants to buy out UFA years (as long as the CBA stays the same).

Some may point to the fact that Pastrnak has “only had one good year,” but the Bruins certainly don’t think that he was just a flash in the pan. Even in his first two seasons he still scored at more than a 40-point pace, and those were mostly played as a teenager. If he continues to develop, he could be pushing Marchand for the team scoring lead as soon as this season.

The deal also has ramifications elsewhere around the league. Young wingers like William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Patrik Laine will be looking to get paid in the next couple of seasons, and there is now another sub-$7MM extension for an elite scorer. While Draisaitl’s deal likely gives them a top end to negotiate towards—though he has played plenty of center during his short career as well—Pastrnak, Forsberg and Johnny Gaudreau give them something more realistic to work up from. You can bet this deal will be brought up in negotiations for the next several years.

Darren Dreger of TSN was first to report the deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Roman Polak Signs PTO With Toronto Maple Leafs

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Though it’s far from an NHL contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs released their training camp roster with a familiar name today; Roman Polak. The injured defenseman has signed a professional tryout, and will continue his rehab from a terrible leg injury suffered this spring.

Polak’s agent Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey posted some more video of the 31-year old training, again wearing Maple Leafs gear as he was a few weeks ago. With the Maple Leafs still having a need for a right-handed depth defenseman, bringing Polak in to make sure he’s healthy makes complete sense. There is clearly trust between head coach Mike Babcock and the veteran defenseman, who deployed him as a main penalty killer and defended him in the media almost weekly.

Though he’s never been the flashiest player, Polak has been able to log minutes on the back end of a defense corps for many years. He’s suited up for 634 games split between the Blues, Maple Leafs and Sharks, and should earn a contract somewhere around the league even if Toronto decides to pass.

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