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Jacob Middleton Signs Entry-Level Contract With San Jose Sharks

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The San Jose Sharks have decided that Jacob Middleton played well enough last season to deserve an NHL contract, signing him to a three-year entry-level deal today. Middleton played last season under an AHL contract after not signing with the Los Angeles Kings who drafted him in the seventh round.

Don’t look at Middleton’s draft pedigree to evaluate his game, as he’s taken several huge steps forward since 2014. A 6’3″ defenseman who is exceptionally mobile for his size, Middleton has grown into an excellent positional defender. Even when he was drafted his hockey IQ was considered excellent, and that understanding of the game has finally translated to his big frame. He scored just nine points last season in the AHL, but turned into one of the key members of a San Jose blueline that went deep into the playoffs. He’s a legitimate prospect who could eventually make the jump to the NHL as a depth piece.

Snapshots: Daly, Deadline, Horvat

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In one of the more interesting pieces of hockey journalism this summer, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic shadowed NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for an entire day, chronicling his routine and the sort of things he has to deal with on a daily basis. LeBrun was obviously pushed out of the room on several occasions, but was also allowed some internal league access rarely given to media members in any sport.

One of the more interesting things (in a piece filled with them) is that the league has yet to create a memo to explain to teams the penalty for any player that leaves the league for the Olympics mid-season. Even though there have been various players threatening to go anyway, Daly and the league “don’t believe it’s going to be an issue.” The likely result of any country trying to use an NHL athlete would be disqualification from the tournament, as the IIHF has made it clear they will honor the league’s decision to not attend.

  • The NHL Trade Deadline will be Monday, February 26th this season, the day after the gold medal game at the Olympics. That gives any player who is in Europe or on an AHL contract enough time to sign with a team and be eligible for the NHL playoffs. Remember, teams can still technically make trades and signings after the deadline, but any player not on their reserve list (which includes unsigned draft picks) by then are ineligible for the postseason. Jaromir Jagr, for instance, could play in the Olympics and still have a chance to suit up for an NHL club down the stretch.
  • Elliotte Friedman joined Sportsnet 650 radio this morning, and spoke about the incoming Bo Horvat contract. The deal for Horvat seems imminent, and Friedman thinks that a long-term deal “is better for both the player and the team. “ He also points to Jonathan Drouin’s six-year contract with a $5.5MM salary, and Aleksander Barkov’s $5.9MM cap hit as potential comparable numbers for each side. Horvat is currently a restricted free agent, but is the new face of the Vancouver Canucks franchise.

William Nylander Not Focused On Contract Extension

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William Nylander spoke to the media after an optional skate in Toronto today, and one of the first questions asked was about a potential contract extension. Nylander is heading into the final year of his entry-level contract, and proved last season that he’s ready to step into a starring role on the young Maple Leafs squad. The 21-year old was non-committal when talking about whether he’d thought about his next contract yet.

I’m just focused on the season right now. Nothing big, just want to be ready and be prepared for when the season starts. 

I don’t know, [my agents and the Maple Leafs] have talked a little bit, but we’ll see what happens. I just want to focus on the season right now.

Nylander exploded onto the scene in 2015-16 with 13 points in 22 games, before outdoing himself as a (technical) rookie with 61 points last season. That 0.72 points-per-game rate puts him right up among some of the best players in the NHL already, and there is still plenty of room to grow. We featured him in our look at who could earn in-season contract extensions this year, and it’s good news that the two sides have at least begun to talk about a potential deal.

This year, if Nylander plays with Auston Matthews once again there could be room for even more offensive production and with it an even higher price tag. Looking forward for the Maple Leafs, the team will need to figure out how to fit their trio of top forwards—Nylander, Matthews and Mitch Marner—into a cap structure that allows them to still compete. Just recently we learned that pending free agent forward James van Riemsdyk is looking for something around $6MM per season, something that the Maple Leafs might just not be able to afford.

2017-18 Primer: Vegas Golden Knights

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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 Vegas Golden Knights.

Obviously, looking at the Vegas Golden Knights is a bit different than the other teams. Heading into their first year in the league there are no “Key Departures” or even a record from last season. Instead, they’ll go in with sky-high hopes but reasonable expectations that should allow them to succeed regardless of how they finish in the standings. Their first job this season is to entertain and educate the hockey-going public in Las Vegas, showing them how exciting the sport can be—especially when your team wins.

Remaining Cap Space: $5.62MM per CapFriendly, with 26 roster players (23 will make the team).

[Related: Golden Knights Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Players To Watch: F Vadim Shipachyov – The Golden Knights brought in some exciting players through the expansion draft, but none quite as intriguing as Shipachyov. The Russian forward has played his entire career in the KHL as one of the most consistent offensive players in the league, and has dazzled among the best in the world at international competition. Whether or not his game translates perfectly to the NHL is still up for debate, but he’s sure to put up at least a few remarkable plays to make the national highlight reels.

Shipachyov is signed for just two seasons in Vegas, and his role isn’t to take them to the playoffs. Instead, bringing in high-end offensive talent will help to take the burden off some of the lesser skilled players and allow them to contribute in roles their more accustomed to. Shipachyov will likely see a ton of time on the first powerplay unit and skate alongside scoring wingers like James Neal or Jon Marchessault right away.

The interesting thing about Shipachyov’s two-year contract is that it comes without any trade protection. The 30-year old center could become one of the Golden Knights’ best trade assets if he can show an ability to be a 40-50 point player in the NHL. It will be tough to move him though if a fan base falls in love with his slick puck work and playmaking ability, so we’ll have to wait what the Golden Knights decide to do.

Shea TheodoreD Shea Theodore – For all the fanfar Neal and Marc-Andre Fleury received when they were selected in the expansion draft, the real jewel of the process was Theodore. The Anaheim Ducks were willing to give him up to see Clayton Stoner taken off their hands, mostly because of the pipeline of young defense talent the team has built. Make no mistake, Theodore isn’t a failed prospect. His potential is still immense, and at 22-years old he could quickly become the Golden Knights’ best defenseman and remain that way for a long time.

While generally the Golden Knights went after draft picks and tradeable assets, Theodore stands out as a potential franchise-defining piece. Selected 23rd-overall in 2013, his game has developed from a purely offensive style to a more well-rounded puck mover. He’ll likely never be a shut down option, but could play a role similar to someone like Morgan Rielly or Alex Goligoski blending quick defensive zone outlets with a bit of offensive upside.

Key Storyline: Vegas needs to find a middle ground between showing enough talent and excitement to start building a hardcore fan base, and finishing low enough to capitalize on their 2018 draft picks. They have accumulated several picks in 2019 and 2020, but next year’s draft—which projects to be one of the deeper groups in several years—is the most important one right now. After adding an impressive group of young talent in Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, Erik Brannstrom and Nicolas Hague this year, another top-five pick could create a core that will allow them to compete sooner than many think.

That’s not to say the team shouldn’t be looking to win, but when the trade deadline rolls around a fire sale should be in order basically regardless of their position in the standings. Neal, Marchessault, and others like Colin Miller and Brayden McNabb will likely fetch hefty asking prices if Vegas is willing to deal, only adding to their prospect pool in the coming years. By pumping these assets full of easy zone starts and powerplay time, they could get an even better return on investment.

Early Notes: Parros, Jets, Red Wings

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George Parros will the new voice at the top of the Department of Player Safety according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who reports that current head Stephane Quintal will be staying with the league but taking on different projects. Quintal will help Parros transition into the leadership role, which comes with its fair share of stressors.

Parros was known for his fists during his playing days, and continues what has been a trend for the DoPS; hiring those who played their career right on the edge of the rules. The Princeton grad will be the decision maker on many suspensions and fines next season, something that comes with incredible scrutiny. Friedman also mentions that newly retired Shane Doan has been considered as a replacement for Chris Pronger, who departed the DoPS for the Florida Panthers this offseason.

  • The Winnipeg Jets have indeed given extensions to both GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and coach Paul Maurice, both coming with multi-year terms. The pair will be in Winnipeg for the next several years, trying to take a franchise to the playoffs for just the third time in their history (Atlanta included). Cheveldayoff has done strong work in the draft room and getting players under contract, but he’ll have a huge offseason ahead of him next year. 19 players are restricted free agents including most of their forward group, and another five will be unrestricted. It could change the course of the franchise should he not be able to find a way to fit them all in.
  • Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) went all-in on the Detroit Red Wings and their ongoing negotiations with Andreas Athanasiou, explaining where each side is and how they’ve come to a point where the KHL is a legitimate option. He mentions how Sam Bennett’s recent contract could easily be a starting point for the Athanasiou camp, as the Detroit forward outscored his fellow Definitive Hockey client last season. The most interesting part of the whole piece is near the end, when Custance mentions that the Red Wings are in conversations on several trade fronts around the league. GM Ken Holland has admitted that if they’re to get through camp healthy, a move would likely be required to keep the Red Wings cap-compliant.

Atlantic Notes: Pastrnak, Karlsson, Brassard, Athanasiou

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While the Bruins and unsigned winger David Pastrnak remain far apart on money, Pastrnak’s agent J.P. Barry told Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald that they are both in agreement on discussing a maximum eight-year term.  Prior reports have suggested that the team is offering around $6MM per year while Pastrnak’s camp is looking for something closer to the $8.5MM that Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl signed for earlier this offseason so there is still quite a gap to bridge financially.  TSN’s Pierre LeBrun adds (Twitter link) that there were lengthy discussions between the two sides today.

More from the Atlantic:

  • There remains no timeline for Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson to resume skating as he continues his recovery from foot surgery back in June, reports Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. At the time of the procedure, the expected recovery time was four months.  As a result, his availability for the season opener a month from now against Washington is now in question.
  • Another Senators player recovering from offseason surgery is center Derick Brassard, who told Postmedia’s Ken Warren that he feels that his recovery is ahead of schedule. The 29-year-old went under the knife to repair a torn labrum on June 6th with an expected recovery time of four-to-five months.  He doesn’t expect team doctors to clear him for contact until at least the four-month mark which makes it unlikely that he’ll play in the opener on October 5th.
  • There’s “nothing new” on contract talks between the Red Wings and RFA winger Andreas Athanasiou, GM Ken Holland told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Meanwhile, Athanasiou’s agent Darren Ferris told reporters that the KHL has “moved to more of a probability at this time”.  James notes that AK Bars Kazan in the KHL has a one-year offer worth between $2.5MM-$3MM while the Red Wings are coming in at two years at around $1.9MM.  It wouldn’t be surprising if Detroit’s PTO deal for P.A. Parenteau from earlier today came about with the uncertainty surrounding Athanasiou’s situation.

James Van Riemsdyk Seeking Around $6MM On Next Contract

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Toronto winger James van Riemsdyk is one of several prominent players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the upcoming season.  He currently finds himself on one of the team-friendlier deals around with a cap hit of $4.25MM.  According to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, the 28-year-old is looking for a big raise on his next contract with the current asking price checking in at around $6MM.

Although he has never led the Maple Leafs in scoring in any of the five seasons he has been there, he quietly has been one of the more productive scorers in the NHL during that span.  Since the 2012-13 season, he ranks eighth league-wide in goals by a left winger with 118.  He’s also coming off of a career year with 29 goals and 33 assists. That level of production and consistency is certain to be rewarded on the open market next summer.

McGran notes that given Toronto’s depth up front and the lesser amount they have on the back end, a player like van Riemsdyk may be their best trade chip to use which would lower the likelihood of a possible extension.

Although Toronto has only $47MM committed for 2018-19 (and $5.3MM of that is for Nathan Horton who will be on LTIR that season as well), they have a lot of notable contracts on the horizon which could impact things.  Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov are also eligible for unrestricted free agency and will be seeking raises while William Nylander is a restricted free agent.  They will also likely be facing a significant bonus overage penalty from the upcoming season and extension talks can open up for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner next summer.

For what it’s worth, van Riemsdyk isn’t too worried about entering the final year of his deal:

“That’s stuff you can’t worry about as a player. It’s out of your control. I just want to go out there, play, and be a productive member of the team, and hopefully the rest of it figures itself out.”

Based on his consistent production, van Riemsdyk should be able to sign a deal that’s at least close to that asking price.  The question becomes, will it be with Toronto or another team?

Flames Re-Sign Sam Bennett To Two-Year Deal

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The Flames announced that they have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with center Sam Bennett.  The deal carries a cap hit of $1.95MM.

Apr 17, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (93) skates with the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsThe fourth overall pick back in 2014 is coming off of his second career professional season and his sophomore campaign didn’t go as well as his first.  Last season, Bennett posted 13 goals and 13 assists in 81 games which checked in below his 2015-16 output (18 goals and 18 helpers in 78 contests).  He did, however, pick up a pair of goals in Calgary’s first round sweep at the hands of the Ducks back in April.

The fact that he was coming off of a down year and has yet to realize his potential made a bridge deal like this a much more likely outcome than some of the larger contracts that have been handed out to young players this summer.  The breakdown of salary by year has not yet been announced but it will be interesting to see if the contract is back loaded as whatever his 2018-19 salary is will represent his qualifying offer that summer.

Bennett will likely begin the season as Calgary’s third line center behind Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund.  That will give him time to continue to work on his game without too much extra pressure being put on him right away.  With Backlund eligible for unrestricted free agency in July, the 21-year-old could be in line to slide up into his spot one year from now if the Flames can’t get Backlund re-signed.

After re-signing defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon yesterday, Calgary has all of their players left under contract for the upcoming season.  They have a little over $5MM in cap space remaining, per CapFriendly.  League-wide, there are now just eight remaining restricted free agents left to re-sign.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2017-18 Primer: Washington Capitals

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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 Washington Capitals.

Last Season: 55-19-8 record (118 points), first in Metropolitan Division (lost in the second round to Pittsburgh)

Remaining Cap Space: $4.09MM per CapFriendly

Key Newcomers: F Tyler Graovac (trade with Minnesota), F Devante Smith-Pelly (free agency, New Jersey)

Key Departures: D Karl Alzner (free agency, Montreal), F Marcus Johansson (trade with New Jersey), D Kevin Shattenkirk (free agency, NY Rangers), F Justin Williams (free agency, Carolina), F Daniel Winnik (free agency, unsigned)

[Related: Capitals Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Alex Ovechkin – Last season was a down one for the Russian sniper, whose 33 goals were his second lowest total in a full season in his career, same for his 69 points.  By no means is that bad production but since Ovechkin is the focal point of their attack with one of the highest cap hits in the league, the extra pressure is certainly there.

Jan 1, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) waves to the fans after defeating the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY SportsThe 31-year-old has reportedly slimmed down a bit over the offseason in an effort to gain a bit of speed which is an area that he would like to improve on.  While playing a bit slower hasn’t stopped him from getting plenty of shots off as he leads the league in shots on goal over the past five seasons (and it’s not particularly close), getting quicker should potentially open up even more opportunities for him.

The pressure is always on Ovechkin.  He’s their highest paid player, their captain, and one of the faces of the league.  But with a big chunk of the supporting cast gone now, that level of pressure is going to be even higher this season; the team needs him to get closer to the 50 goals he has routinely produced in the past and to help get them over the hump in the playoffs.  That’s a lot to put on any player.

Key Storyline: Even though they currently have over $4MM in cap space, they still have a few players to sign to fill out the rest of their roster.  They’re basically going to be very tight to the cap without much flexibility all season long.

As a result, they’ll be forced to turn to some of their youngsters to try to not only fill out their roster but deepen their depth which has taken a beating over the summer.  If their prospects are able to get the job done, the Caps will be a top team again as long as they stay healthy.  If not, they’re going to have very limited cap room to improve their roster and not the deepest of prospect groups to deal from either.

Everyone knew this was coming after a season where they went all-in.  GM Brian MacLellan has managed to get the team in at least a manageable situation heading into training camp but if more needs to be done either in terms of cutting money or trying to add another piece, it will be worth watching to see what type of manoeuvring will need to be done to accomplish that.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

P.A. Parenteau Signs PTO With Detroit Red Wings

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According to agent Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey, free agent forward P.A. Parenteau has signed a professional tryout with the Detroit Red Wings. He’ll join David Booth in Red Wings camp trying to show that they still deserve an NHL contract.

Parenteau, as Walsh points out, has averaged 17 goals over the past two seasons and has always been a capable offensive player. With 114 goals in 491 games, he can still help a team like Detroit who will be looking for offense, but comes with his share of warts. He’s never been a very capable defensive player and has been criticized in the past for not giving a consistent effort. His best seasons have come on relatively bad teams, when he was given top (or near top) line minutes.

Still, he’s an NHL player that last year brought back a sixth-round pick at the trade deadline. Whatever you think of Parenteau as a fit in Detroit, bringing in an asset to camp is never a bad idea. If he proves he can still score at a reasonable level, allowing him to see some powerplay time through the first half of the season and flipping him at the deadline is a good plan for any rebuilding squad.

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