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Archives for September 2017

2017-18 Primer: Vancouver Canucks

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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 Vancouver Canucks.

Last Season: 30-43-9 record (69 points), seventh in Pacific Division (missed the playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $1.99MM per CapFriendly

Key Newcomers: F Thomas Vanek (free agency, Florida), F Sam Gagner (free agency, Columbus), D Michael Del Zotto (free agency, Philadelphia), G Anders Nilsson (free agency, Buffalo)

Key Departures: G Ryan Miller (free agency, Anaheim), D Nikita Tryamkin (free agency, KHL)

[Related: Canucks Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

"<strongPlayer To Watch: F Brock Boeser – There isn’t a single player on the Vancouver Canucks with as much excitement around him as Boeser. The rookie exploded onto the scene at the end of last year with a goal in his first game, recording five total points in his nine game showcase. Coming straight out of the college ranks, Boeser looked like he had an extra gear for the NHL and continually beat defenders with speed and power. The winger, selected in the 2015 first round has developed quickly at the NCAA level and should be a contender for the Calder trophy should he play in the NHL all year.

After locking up Bo Horvat earlier today for six years, Vancouver fans will hope he and Boeser can find some chemistry together in the next few seasons, and form a dynamic top line duo. While there are other top young players—Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund in particular—these two will carry a lot of the offensive weight for the Canucks going forward. Boeser is only 20-years old however, so expectations should be held in check. There is no guarantee that he’ll adapt to the NHL as quickly as he seemed to this spring, or be able to hold up for an entire season. The acquisition of Vanek could even mean he starts in the minor leagues, should Vancouver think he still has things to learn.

Still, there is a level of optimism around him that continues to rise. In a season where the biggest excitement will likely be how many prospects and draft picks come back at the trade deadline, Boeser should be a shining beacon for the future.

Key Storyline: Daniel and Henrik Sedin enter 2017-18 on the last year of their identical (as one would imagine) four year, $28MM contracts. They’re still the highest paid players on the team, and represent the last gasp of a Canucks run that had dominant regular season results and more than a few devastating playoff losses. Turning 37 later this month, it will likely be the twins’ last season in Vancouver and perhaps even the NHL. The pair have had dwindling results in recent years, and will give way to the next wave of Canucks talent.

Fans of the team and hockey in general should take a long look at some of their games this year, just to appreciate the dominance and cerebral play they can still create on occasion. It’s not often that two players find such chemistry together, and a pair like Daniel and Henrik may not ever grace the NHL again. While it’s not exactly a farewell tour, it may be the end of an incredible era in Vancouver, stretching all the way back to that fateful night in Boston, when Brian Burke worked some draft-floor magic in order to select both of them.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Bo Horvat Signs Six-Year Contract With Vancouver Canucks

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed their young center Bo Horvat today to a six year contract worth $5.5MM per season. Horvat is coming off his entry-level contract, and had discussed everything from two-year bridge deals to eight-year extensions. A long-term deal always seemed like the eventual outcome, and Horvat will be giving up two unrestricted free agent years to stay in Vancouver. The deal contains no signing bonuses or trade protection, and the breakdown is as follows:

  • 2017-18: $6.5MM
  • 2018-19: $7.0MM
  • 2019-20: $5.775MM
  • 2020-21: $3.5MM
  • 2021-22: $5.775MM
  • 2022-23: $4.45MM

"<strongThe 22-year old Horvat was selected ninth-overall by the Canucks in 2013, and has turned out to be everything the team hoped for. His game is developing into that of a true number one center, capable of leading a team offensively and playing well enough to hold his own in the defensive zone. In just his third season he topped the Canucks with 52 points, coming in just ahead of Henrik Sedin in a metaphorical passing of the torch. The Sedins, so long the faces of the Vancouver franchise, will start to take a back seat to Horvat and the other young stars coming through the system.

Horvat was never expected to be a dynamic, league-leading type of offensive player. Even in London, where he played his junior hockey with the Knights in the OHL, he took on a two-way role behind Max Domi (now with the Arizona Coyotes) and other offensive stars. He used a heavy frame to do his fair share of scoring, but now there may be even more upside to his game. Horvat’s 20 goals included just three on the powerplay, a number that is sure to increase as the Sedin’s move on. Interestingly, it also included two short-handed goals, an area which he’ll likely excel throughout his career. Like Mikko Koivu in Minnesota, being a number 1 isn’t always about putting up 80+ point seasons.

The $5.5MM cap hit is a reasonable number for the Canucks, as other players are being paid more and more just out of the entry-level deals. Horvat’s contract will come in at the same amount as Jonathan Drouin, a fellow 2013 draftee that had similar production last year. While Drouin has considerable offensive upside, he also hasn’t proven himself at center thus far in his career. He’ll have a chance to do that in Montreal this year, but Horvat will likely remain the more natural player in the middle. Alexander Wennberg, another comparable to Horvat just signed a six-year deal for only $4.9MM, which looks better and better for the Blue Jackets as the weeks go on.

Vancouver doesn’t have a ton to worry about cap-wise at the moment, as this will mark the last year of the Sedin’s current contracts and with it will open up $14MM. With the team rebuilding, there will be plenty of room to fit Horvat’s number in going forward. If he takes another step offensively this could even look like one of the biggest bargains in a few years, especially if the salary cap goes up in the coming years (which is far from guaranteed).

Bob McKenzie of TSN first gave us the details and confirmed the deal was done.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vancouver Canucks Sign Scottie Upshall To PTO

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The Vancouver Canucks have decided to bring in another veteran forward on a professional tryout, signing Scottie Upshall to a PTO according to Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy. He’ll join Ryan White in Canucks camp trying to force themselves onto an NHL roster. For a team looking to rebuild, either one could provide another deadline asset.

Upshall is one of the most interesting draft stories of the last few decades. Selected sixth-overall by the Nashville Predators, Upshall was a do-it-all player for the Kamploops Blazers who mixed goal scoring with physicality and defense. His WHL team had winning records in all three seasons, and he was one of the stars for Team Canada in both World Junior Championships—one in which he served as captain. He was expected to become a premiere two-way forward in the league, capable of contributing 20-25 goals while handing out punishing checks. Comparisons to Michael Peca were made.

Upshall never did grow into his offensive potential, capping out at 18 goals and 37 points during his career so far. But, instead of fading into the distance like other draft “busts” he has remained in the league as an important player for several franchises. Suiting up in 696 games so far, Upshall was a welcome addition to the St. Louis Blues most recently, scoring 10 goals and being a grade-A pest every night. It’s surprising that he has only earned a PTO, as even at 33 there is definitely enough left to help a team’s fourth line. We’ll have to wait and see if he gets an NHL deal or has to settle for an AHL pact. The latter would allow him to play in the Olympics for Team Canada if they’re so inclined.

Snapshots: Eichel, Franson, Girardi

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We’ve heard several reports over the past few weeks regarding an extension for Sabres center Jack Eichel. The 20-year-old recently made it clear that he wanted to remain in Buffalo, and he reemphasized those sentiments earlier today. However, as opposed to last time, Eichel wasn’t so keen to give a timeframe on any contractual resolution.

“It’s kind of in my agent’s hands and Mr. Botterill’s,” Eichel said (via Tom Gulitti of NHL.com). “For me, it’s all about just going out and performing, playing well, being a good teammate and trying to help make a positive impact on the Sabres and get the organization back to the playoffs. I want to be in Buffalo. I want to be there for a long time. I want to be there when we’re winning. I want to bring that to the city.

“But in terms of the deal, it’s going to get done at some point whether it’s now or a couple months or next year. Who knows? I just know if my play takes care of itself, then good things will happen.”

The former second-overall pick has been productive during his two seasons in the league, compiling 48 goals and 65 assists in 142 games.

Let’s take a look at more notes from around the NHL…

  • Defenseman Cody Franson signed a professional tryout contract with the Blackhawks earlier this evening, and Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times believes the move could give the squad “a much-needed boost on the back end of their back end.” The 30-year-old compiled three goals and 16 assists in 68 games for the Sabres last season, and the writer believes the veteran will be a welcome addition to a team that is “desperate for help on the blue line.” Ultimately, Franson is expected to compete with Jan Rutta, Ville Pokka and Erik Gustafsson for a spot on the team’s third line.
  • Veteran defenseman Dan Girardi signed a two-year, $6MM deal with the Lightning earlier this offseason, and the 33-year-old told Joe Smith of TampaBay.com that general manager Steve Yzerman was a big reason why he chose to sign with the organization. “I came here because ’Stevie Y’ called me personally and said, ’We want you here,'” Girardi said. “I felt that meant a lot to me as a guy who pretty much played his heart out for 11 years in New York, got bought out. You don’t know what’s happening and you get a guy like Steve Yzerman call you personally. It’s like, ’Okay, that’s where I know I need to be.'” Girardi had played the past 11 seasons with the Rangers, and he finished the 2016 campaign with four goals and 11 assists.
  • Alex Nylander is trying to build off his four-game cameo from last season, and the Sabres prospect appeared to be “bigger and more confident” as he prepared for the upcoming Prospect Challenge. As John Vogl of the Buffalo News writes, a solid performance during the rookie tourney could lead to the former first-rounder earning a spot on the team’s NHL roster. “You’ve got to have a good impression on them,” Nylander said. “You’ve got to be working hard and showing what you can do on the ice. It’s like a new start, so it feels really good coming into this year.”

 

Cody Franson Signs PTO With Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks have signed free agent defenseman Cody Franson to a professional tryout according to freelance journalist Dhiren Mahiban (and later confirmed by Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune). Apparently Franson turned down one-year contracts with other teams in order to head to camp with the Hawks, perhaps to sign a contract after the season begins and Marian Hossa is placed on long-term injured reserve. Either way, Franson will finally have an NHL camp to skate in as he tries to secure himself a position in the league this year.

Cody FransonFranson, 30, is one of the most divisive players in the league. His play is simultaneously lauded for its breakout efficiency and general possession numbers, while criticized for a lack of defensive play (and sometimes even the ability to skate backwards). Some believe that he can still be effective as a low-key powerplay quarterback, getting the puck to the net through traffic, while others think he’s such a liability in his own end that it’s not worth it to deploy him for any meaningful minutes. The Blackhawks will decide that themselves in camp, when he battles with other fringe NHL players for the last few spots.

Michal Rozsival, Michal Kempny and Jan Rutta are all in the running for a full-time position in Chicago’s defense corps, along with several young players including Ville Pokka and Gustav Forsling. Franson may represent more upside than the former group and more stability than the latter, giving him an inside edge at breaking camp with the team. As noted above, the team doesn’t have much cap room to sign him at the moment and would need to do some salary cap gymnastics to fit him in on anything more than a minimum contract. He’s earned over $3MM for the last few seasons, but it’s unlikely that he’ll receive anything close to that even if he does make an NHL roster.

Franson had 19 points in 68 games with the Buffalo Sabres last year, but has 30+ point upside if given the opportunity. He recorded two such seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, including 32 in just 55 games before being dealt to the Nashville Predators in 2015. At 6’5″ he’s not a physical player, but can use his long reach to adequately break up plays, and uses a strong first pass to exit the zone. Likely his most important attribute is that he’s right-handed, something that is in high demand around the league.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Edmonton Oilers Sign Dmitri Samorukov To ELC

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The Edmonton Oilers have signed another 2017 draft pick, after inking first-round pick Kailer Yamamoto earlier this summer. Dmitri Samorukov, the team’s third-round pick has signed his three-year entry-level contract. That brings Edmonton to 49 of their allotted 50 contracts, though several of those will fall off when sent back to junior. 18 and 19 year olds playing in junior or European leagues don’t count towards their team’s total.

Samorukov played last season for the Guelph Storm of the OHL, scoring 20 points in 67 games after coming over from Russia. He’s expected to play there again after attending the Oilers’ rookie camp. The 6’2″ defenseman has twice played for the Russian U18 World Junior team, and is a possibility to suit up for the U20 team this year. He won’t turn 19 until June of next year, but with his advanced size and play he could play the tournament at a young age.

Edmonton is desperately trying to develop defensemen in order to supply a Connor McDavid-led team with some depth on the back end, and Samorukov is one to watch this season. A former second-overall pick in the CHL import draft, his play at the end of last season showed there could be big upside hidden beneath a fairly raw product.

Minor Moves: Erixon, Strachan, Robidas

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The New Jersey Devils have signed Tim Erixon to a professional tryout, bringing in the former NHL defenseman after two years spent entirely in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Erixon is a former first-round pick of the Calgary Flames who has bounced around the NHL during his short career. Suiting up for 93 games split between the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, Erixon will try to prove that he deserves a permanent home. He’ll join Jimmy Hayes in Devils camp on a PTO.

More news from around the league…

  • The Arizona Coyotes have added journeyman Tyson Strachan on a PTO of their own, bringing him in after a year with the Rochester Americans. The 32-year old Strachan has 186 NHL contests under his belt, but has never had much of an impact in the league.
  • Toronto has officially hired Stephane Robidas as their Assistant Director of Player Development, where he’ll continue many of the duties he took on last year as an unofficial development coach. Robidas was technically still under a player contract last year, but effectively retired due to injury after the 2014-15 season. In 937 career NHL games, he recorded 258 points, but was a bust for the Maple Leafs, who signed him for three years but only saw him suit up in 52 games.
  • Gabe Vilardi, the Los Angeles Kings’ first-round pick this year, will miss training camp with the team due to a back injury that flared up this offseason. Vilardi had an outside chance at cracking the Kings’ roster right away if he exceeded expectations at camp, but this likely confirms he’ll head back to the Windsor Spitfires for next year. Should he get through the year healthy he’s a near-lock for Canada’s World Junior team and could challenge for the OHL’s goal scoring title.

Ryan Ellis Not Expected Back Until January

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Big news out of Nashville Predators camp today, as GM David Poile met with the media. Poile explained that defenseman Ryan Ellis would be out four to six months after a knee surgery this summer and isn’t expected back until at least early January. It’s a big blow to a team that is looking to follow up their Stanley Cup Finals appearance with another strong season.

When the Predators went out and acquired Alexei Emelin this offseason many people scratched their heads, wondering why they’d bring in a veteran defender making a hefty salary when they already had four rock solid options on the blueline. Emelin will now come in handy and likely move into that top group, though Matt Irwin and several young prospects could also step into an increased role. Samuel Girard’s name was immediately all the rage on Twitter, as the 19-year old has shown that returning to junior hockey might be a worthless endeavor when it comes to his development. The second-round pick has put up 74 and 75 points in the last two seasons, but is still extremely undersized and could have trouble adjusting to the NHL.

Either way, losing Ellis hurts as he had turned into one of the best defensemen in the league and was an absolute bargain for the Predators. The 26-year old makes just $2.5MM per season and scored an impressive 16 goals last season, include 11 at even strength. He’s used in all situations, and logged just under 24 minutes a night for the Predators.

Brian Gionta Has Several Interested Teams

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Brian Gionta has been clear that he’d like to go back to the Buffalo Sabres if possible, but he certainly has other options. John Vogl of the Buffalo News reached out to agent Steve Bartlett, who told him Gionta has had a “number of teams” interested in signing him already. Gionta continues to mull over his options, but is preparing as if he’ll play professional hockey again this season.

Gionta scored 35 points once again for the Sabres last year, serving as their captain for the third straight season. Even at 38-years old he’s been an effective middle-six player, capable of chipping in offensively and providing a solid defensive presence. The new Sabres’ brass may want to go in a younger direction, but Gionta will easily find a job around the league if he wants one. Bartlett said that he’s still weighing his options, which likely include a starring role on the USA Olympic roster.

The veteran forward could potentially sign in Europe or the AHL in order to maintain eligibility for the tournament, one that he has played in once before with USA Hockey. In 2006 Gionta played in the Olympics and actually led his country in goal scoring with four in just six games. With a roster made up of several college-aged players and international professionals, Gionta could bring some NHL experience to Pyeongchang.

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