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Archives for November 2017

Cedric Paquette Handed One-Game Suspension

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A tough night in Boston continues to have repercussions for the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a 3-2 loss to the Bruins, a score that doesn’t accurately reflect the lack of effort shown by the Bolts, the physical, frustrated style the team fell into will have a lasting effect into their next game, a Saturday matinee against the San Jose Sharks. Cedric Paquette has received a one-game suspension for boarding, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced (video).

Down 2-0 early in the second period, after a dominant first period by the B’s, Paquette drove Boston defenseman Torey Krug into the boards and received a minor penalty for boarding for his efforts. Player Safety decided that wasn’t enough, and Paquette’s hearing today has resulted in a one-game ban. Paquette had ample time to pull up or change the angle of his contract on Krug, who turned his back to play the puck on the end board. Instead, Paquette came at full force and drove Krug into the boards, turning an otherwise legal check into an illegal, suspendable check.

Fortunately, Krug – one of many Bruins who has struggled with injuries this season – was not hurt on the play. Team mate Frank Vatrano was also quick to jump in and defend him. The real justice for Krug was the Bruins holding on for the win against the Atlantic’s top team, as Boston won their fifth game in the past six outings.

Trade Rumors: Canadiens, Canucks, Maple Leafs

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The Montreal Canadiens are not even 12 hours into their latest trade and the team is already thinking about their next move. A report from Sportsnet’s Eric Engels states that defenseman Brandon Davidson could soon be on his way out of town. Habs GM Marc Bergevin is not just listening to offers for Davidson; he emailed the entire league informing the other 30 general managers of the blue liner’s availability. While the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ian Cole is also known to be on the block right now, Davidson should come at a much lesser price and be much easier (and more timely) to move. The 26-year-old has been a frequent scratch this season and has just one point in 13 games. It wasn’t long ago that Davidson was thought to be an up-and-coming rearguard, playing major minutes for the 2015-16 Edmonton Oilers after a long stretch of solid AHL play. However, when he was shipped to Montreal for a rental in David Desharnais at last year’s trade deadline, it was clear his stock had dropped. Davidson could still be a valued depth addition for many teams, though. The Canadiens likely won’t have to shop him for very long.

  • Following the difficult news about Derek Dorsett, Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning was very clear with the media today that he won’t be looking to trade for a replacement for the veteran grinder. Instead, Benning said that the situation “gives guys a chance to play more and step up.” The Canucks plan to fill Dorsett’s void internally, with the recently-promoted Nikolay Goldobin getting the first shot. After a hot start, Vancouver has been slipping of late and more than anything needs to put the puck in the net more often. Goldobin should be an offensive upgrade over Dorsett, but can he handle a big role?
  • Following the Anaheim Ducks-New Jersey Devils blockbuster today, many in the hockey media are asking a predictable question: Why weren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs in on Sami Vatanen? It feels like the Leafs have been searching for a top-pair right-shot defenseman to play alongside Morgan Rielly for years now, yet couldn’t top an offer of Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi to get an elite righty puck-mover in Vatanen? Nazem Kadri is perhaps the closest comparable in the NHL to Henrique and, although three years older, Tyler Bozak compares favorably to Henrique as well. With a wealth of young talent in the AHL to boot, it seems unlikely that Lou Lamoriello and company couldn’t have outbid the Devils if they wanted to, so perhaps the better question is why didn’t they want to? In a relatively weak Atlantic Division, no one will be surprised if Toronto makes a run to the Eastern Conference Finals this year and maybe farther. If they don’t reach that goal, they may find themselves regretting missing the chance to strengthen the defense both this season and beyond.

Hockey Canada Names 25 Players To Pre-Olympic Tournament

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Hockey Canada has released another roster for a pre-Olympic tournament, this time the Channel One Cup in Moscow from December 13-17. This and the Spengler Cup—which is scheduled for December 26-31 in Switzerland—are the final two tournament looks for Team Canada before they send a roster to Pyeongchang.

We learned earlier today that Jarome Iginla wasn’t going to make it back from his hip injury in time to play in either tournament, making him a long shot for the Olympic squad. This group, which includes many of those who’ve already suited up international for Canada this year, will likely make up most of the eventual roster sent to South Korea. The 25-man team is as follows:

F Wojtek Wolski
F Matt Frattin
F Derek Roy
F Taylor Beck
F Ryan Garbutt
F Eric O’Dell
F Brandon Kozun
F Rene Bourque
F Linden Vey
F Gilbert Brule
F Matt Ellison
F P.A. Parenteau
F Max Talbot
F Teddy Purcell
F Rob Klinkhammer

D Karl Stollery
D Shawn Lalonde
D Chay Genoway
D Chris Lee
D Maxim Noreau
D Simon Despres
D Stefan Elliott
D Mat Robinson

G Ben Scrivens
G Barry Brust

Snapshots: Paquette, Kane, Malkin

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette is having a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety regarding his hit from behind on Torey Krug last night. Paquette was assessed a two-minute boarding penalty on the play (along with a roughing minor for his scrap with Frank Vatrano a few seconds later) and could face additional discipline.

From the video, it looks like Paquette had ample time to avoid or minimize the contact after Krug turned his back to him instead of driving through his body and into the boards. Paquette has not been suspended previously by the DoPS, although he was the target of a hit that resulted in Zac Rinaldo being suspended for five games.

  • Evander Kane is the big trade target, but Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill hasn’t made up his mind on whether to move him or not. As Botterill told John Vogl of the Buffalo News, the Sabres are ecstatic with how Kane has played this season under new head coach Phil Housley, and could decide to keep him during his successful season. With the Sabres falling out of contention, the only real reasons to keep Kane around would be if you believe you can complete a dramatic comeback in the second half of the season, or have a shot at re-signing him before he bolts in free agency.
  • Evgeni Malkin is set to get back into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup after taking a full-contact practice today with his teammates. Malkin hasn’t played since November 18th, but was off to quite the start to the season. With the Penguins still floundering in the middle of the Metropolitan Division, Malkin’s return will be a welcome sight. As Phil Kessel put it to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “whenever you can get one of the best players in the world back in your lineup, it adds to your team.” You’ve got that right, Phil.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Nashville Predators

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for as the season nears the quarter point of completion. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on. So far we’ve covered ANA, ARZ, BUF, CGY, CAR, CBJ, COL, DET, LAK, NYI, STL, TOR, WSH, and VGK.

Who are the Nashville Predators most thankful for?

David Poile.

Ryan JohansenNot only did Poile orchestrate trades for P.K. Subban and Ryan Johansen that resulted in a Stanley Cup Finals berth in their first full season with the team, but he has repeatedly locked up assets for reasonable contracts and once again used his trading skills to bring in a key player. Over the past two summers, the Predators had several high profile restricted free agents to sign. Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson were all without deals but are now locked in for at least five seasons together.

Poile was able to sign the trio to a combined $18.25MM cap hit because of previous deals he’d struck, most notably with Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm. That group is currently earning only a combined $10.25MM, despite each being regarded as potential top-pairing options.

He’s done it again this season, by bringing in Kyle Turris and immediately extending the center for another six seasons without any signing bonuses or trade protection. Turris has played just nine games since coming over from the Ottawa Senators but has fit in perfectly, recording seven points already. Poile has never been one to shy away from long contracts or big trades, and it’s paying off again in the standings this year.

What are the Predators most thankful for?

Improving health.

The end of last year’s playoffs must have been hard to watch for the Predators front office, as Johansen, Kevin Fiala and others went down to freak injuries just as they were approaching the Finals. That injury luck carried into the summer, when doctors told the Predators in September that Ellis could need another six months to rehab his surgically repaired knee. He’d hurt it in those Stanley Cup Finals, but played through pain in Game 6 anyway.

Ellis joined teammates on the ice today for their morning skate, the first time he’d attended a team practice since the surgery according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. While it isn’t at all a signal that he’s set to return early, just the fact that he’s “on track” is good news for Predators fans. A return from the 26-year old will be a huge addition for the team, as he is as important as any other defender to the club when fully healthy.

What would the Predators be even more thankful for?

Someone slowing down the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.

No matter how well the Predators play, they still are in a division with two teams that look equally dangerous. The Blues and Jets have played just about as well as you could this season, and both sit above Nashville in the standings (not to mention the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks looming in the shadows). All three teams have some similarities, but the Predators will hope that their experience from last season will take them to the next level this year.

Winnipeg is especially green, but loaded with young talent throughout their roster. With a goaltender who is finally stopping the pucks on a regular basis, they look primed to wrench open their window of success a little early.

St. Louis has been arguably the best team in the NHL right from the start, armed with an incredibly deep forward group and a Norris candidate defenseman. Even with some struggles from Jake Allen recently, the team keeps winning and could be unstoppable if he can find his form once again. The 27-year old goaltender struggled early on last year as well, before going on a Vezina-caliber run through the second half and early playoffs. St. Louis doesn’t look like they’re going away anytime soon.

What should be on the Predators Holiday Wish List?

Another scoring winger.

Despite locking up their core long-term this summer, the Predators actually have a bit of cap space to play with as they head into the months leading up to the trade deadline. Though young forward Fiala has been solid on the powerplay and Turris has added another dimension down the middle, they still rely too heavily on their top three to handle the scoring load. One more forward capable of playing somewhere in the middle-six could push them over the edge.

After already dealing Samuel Girard, Vladislav Kamenev and a second-round pick to obtain Turris, it’s not clear if Poile wants to sacrifice more future assets for help this season. But if a big, scoring winger were to shake loose at the deadline, they’d surely have to take a look.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vegas Golden Knights Activate Luca Sbisa, Place Two Others On IR

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The Vegas Golden Knights are getting an important defender back, activating Luca Sbisa from injured reserve. Unfortunately in his place the team has placed both David Perron and William Carrier to IR, and neither are with the club on their current road trip.

Sbisa hasn’t played since November 10th, when he was knocked out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. The 27-year old defenseman had been logging more than 20 minutes a night for the Golden Knights, and was on a career-high pace in the early season. Having only recorded more than 20 points in a season once before, eight in his first 16 games was certainly impressive. His speed and experience will come in handy for the Golden Knights as they continue to lead the Pacific Division a quarter of the way through the season.

For Perron and Carrier, Sunday is the earliest either can return since both will have their IR stints dated retroactive to their previous game. The pair both missed Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at the hands of the Dallas Stars, a team chasing them in the standings. Sbisa is expected to jump back into the lineup alongside Colin Miller.

Jarome Iginla Will Not Play In Spengler Cup

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The Olympic dream for Jarome Iginla could be over, as the veteran forward will not be ready to play in the upcoming Spengler Cup according to Darren Dreger of TSN. Hockey Canada has been clear that they want to see Iginla playing at a high level before naming him to a potential Olympic roster, something that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

Jarome IginlaStill, there is an outside chance that Iginla could be a late-season addition to an NHL club. The 40-year old winger wasn’t able to secure a deal this summer, but did look sharp in his 19-game stretch with the Los Angeles Kings after a deadline deal. If it is the end for Iginla’s playing career, it comes with championships at every level except the NHL.

Iginla is a two-time Memorial Cup champion, a gold medalist at the Olympics (twice), World Cup, World Championship and World Junior Championship, and has won a long list of individual awards. He has scored 625 goals and 1,300 points during the regular season, adding another 37 and 68 in a relatively short playoff career. The Stanley Cup eluded him, despite coming within a disallowed goal of it in 2004.

When he was without a contract at the end of the summer most hoped he would suit up one last time for Canada on the international stage, perhaps to bring some luck to what will be a lackluster squad pieced together from leagues around the world. It doesn’t seem like that will happen now, after his hip surgery has kept him out longer than expected.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Minnesota Claims Nate Prosser, Buffalo Waives Matt Tennyson

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The Minnesota Wild have claimed Nate Prosser off waivers, essentially replacing Kyle Quincey on the roster after he cleared. Jordin Tootoo, the third player on waivers yesterday also cleared and has been assigned to Rockford. Today, Nathan Walker (WSH) who we addressed earlier, and Matt Tennyson (BUF) are on the wire.

Prosser returns to familiar stomping grounds, having played for Minnesota for the first eight years of his professional career. After playing 282 games for the Wild over that span, he signed a two-year contract with the Blues this offseason. Only suiting up for one game for the Blues this year, they were right in their assumption that he would be claimed if they exposed him to waivers.

The 31-year old gives the Wild another right-side option, something that Quincey wasn’t willing to do according to Michael Russo of The Athletic. With Jared Spurgeon injured and not travelling with the team, Prosser could potentially jump into the lineup right away. Quincey hasn’t technically been sent to the AHL, and Minnesota had been offering him to clubs before eventually waiving him. Clearing waivers could facilitate a move now that the acquiring team could send him to the minor leagues without issue.

For Tennyson, waivers indicates he’s healthy enough to return to action. He was placed on injured reserve on November 16th, and has played in just 14 games with the Sabres this season. With seven healthy defensemen already on the roster, Tennyson is likely headed for Rochester should he clear.

Cam Talbot Placed On Injured Reserve

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Though he had been ruled “questionable” for Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Edmonton Oilers have instead placed Cam Talbot on injured reserve and called up Nick Ellis to dress in the game. Talbot suffered what was supposed to be a minor injury in Tuesday’s game, but will now miss at least two as he must stay on IR for seven days from the injury. In fact, head coach Todd McLellan updated reporters including Chris Johnston of Sportsnet with a two-week timeline, adding that it “it could be longer.”

Laurent Brossoit will get the net in Talbot’s absence, and will continue to try and get his season back on track. The 24-year old has an .881 save percentage on the year, but can pin most of that on two bad outings against Carolina and St. Louis.

If Brossoit falters, inserting Ellis would be asking a lot. The 23-year old was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Providence College in 2016, and has played just 45 professional games in his career, all of them in the AHL. Even in the NCAA he has a relatively short history, as he served as a rarely-used backup to Calgary Flames goaltender Jon Gillies for two seasons. While definitely an interesting prospect, throwing him into the fire against the Maple Leafs or Flames would be a daunting task.

Mika Zibanejad Out With Concussion

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The New York Rangers, fresh off a loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers have confirmed that Mika Zibanejad—who missed that game with an upper-body injury—has suffered a concussion and will not practice with the team. New York did add a center in Peter Holland earlier today, but it was expected that he’ll remain in Hartford for at least the time being.

Zibanejad was scratched from the Florida game just before it started, but according to head coach Alain Vigneault (via Matt Calamia of NHL.com) he suffered the concussion during last Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Symptoms didn’t present themselves until Tuesday morning. It’s a huge loss for the Rangers, who already had depth issues at center ice after trading away Derek Stepan in the offseason. Zibanejad had taken over as the top option in the middle and led the team in scoring through 25 games.

If he’s out for an extended period of time, Holland or even Filip Chytil could potentially see time in the middle once again. Chytil did begin the year with the Rangers but has been playing in Hartford for some time. The first-round pick 12 points in 13 games for the AHL club, but is still a raw prospect at just 18 years of age.

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