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Archives for December 2017

West Notes: Ducks Injuries, Mitchell, Wilson, Mason

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The Ducks have seen some of their walking wounded return in recent days (including winger Ondrej Kase tonight) and it appears that they’re getting closer to getting a couple of key centers back.  GM Bob Murray told Mike Coppinger of the LA Times that they believe that Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler will be ready to return by the time Anaheim’s next road trip starts (which is December 14th).  Getzlaf got off to a strong start to the season with seven points in seven games before suffering a facial injury that required surgery.  Meanwhile, Kesler has yet to play in 2017-18 after undergoing hip surgery in June.

That’s not the only good news on the injury front either as Coppinger adds that the Ducks are also expected to welcome back winger Rickard Rakell on Tuesday night.  If that happens, he’ll wind up missing four games with his upper-body issue.  It wasn’t long ago that Anaheim was lacking for offensive threats but within the next couple of weeks, that should change considerably.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference:

  • Although he was acquired more than a week ago, Kings center Torrey Mitchell has been waiting for a work visa before he could suit up. Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports (Twitter link) that he has finally received it and will be eligible to play.  In a follow-up tweet, Rosen notes that Mitchell will fly to Chicago and meet up with the team there in advance of their matchup there on Sunday.
  • Avalanche center Colin Wilson missed his second straight game tonight against the Devils. BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater suggests that head coach Jared Bednar was hoping he’d be able to play but now they’ll target Sunday as a return date from this undisclosed injury.  Wilson’s first season in Colorado has been a quiet one as he has just a goal and four assists in 16 games.
  • Jets goaltender Steve Mason is feeling better as he recovers from his concussion, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters, including Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun (Twitter link). He has had multiple days with no setbacks which is certainly an encouraging sign although there is no timetable for his return.

Red Wings Unlikely To Be Active In Trade Market

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After a strong start to the season, the Red Wings have struggled considerably as of late, winning just two of their last ten games to fall out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  While some may be hoping for Detroit to make a trade or two to get back on track, that doesn’t appear to be a likely scenario.  GM Ken Holland told Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News that any movement between now and the trade deadline will simply be shuffling the deck internally:

“There’s a player or two we’d like to see in Grand Rapids.  If we have injuries up front or on defense, there’s a young player or two in Grand Rapids we’d like to see what they can do.  So, I think for the most part it’s going to be internal between now and the deadline.”

One of those young defensemen may be 2016 second-round pick Filip Hronek.  He’s off to a strong start in the AHL, leading all Griffins defenders with seven points through 16 games despite just turning 20 years old last month.  Others that Holland may want to get a look at include Robbie Russo who saw action in 19 games in Detroit last season or undersized rearguard Joe Hicketts who had a dominant junior career but has yet to reach the NHL level.

Of course, a big factor in their likely inactivity stems from their salary cap situation.  Even with Johan Franzen on long-term injured reserve, Detroit has less than $271K in cap room at the moment per CapFriendly.  That’s not much room to work with.  The team is carrying a full 23-man roster and could waive someone to free up a bit more money but still, they would basically be in a situation where they will need to match cap hits in any trade of consequence.

If the Red Wings hope to get back into the playoff picture, it appears that they will have to get there with what they have on their current roster instead of looking for help elsewhere.

International Notes: CHL Players In The Olympics, Expansion, Ryder Cup

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With NHL players not participating in the Olympics and the availability of KHL players now in the air, the focus has shifted to availability for junior-aged players.  TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Hockey Canada had a conference call with the heads of each of the three CHL leagues to discuss the potential for their players to be made available.  Currently, junior teams are reluctant to grant permission for their players to participate at both the World Juniors and the Olympics as not only will that be a lot more wear and tear on their top players, it will also keep them out of their regular lineup for the better part of two months.  A one or the other idea has been floated by the CHL leagues but that’s something Hockey Canada isn’t believed to be content with at this time.  Once the availability of KHL players is determined (which should be next week), a decision on this should soon follow.

More notes on international play:

  • While some have wondered if the NHL might look across the pond at some point for expansion, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that an international-based NHL team is still a long way away. He cites the logistical challenges as well as arena sizes as a couple of barriers while also indicating that he’s not looking to compete with existing teams and leagues in those markets with the NHL looking to still grow the game internationally.
  • In that same interview, Bettman suggested that the league is looking into a Ryder Cup-styled event but will likely wait until an announcement is made for the next World Cup before really looking into that. He added that all talks involving those go through the NHL Players Association and that he has urged them to “pick up the pace” on those discussions.

Kris Versteeg To Undergo Hip Surgery, Out Month-To-Month

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The Flames will be without winger Kris Versteeg for the foreseeable future.  The team announced that he will undergo hip surgery on Monday with no definitive timetable for his return per GM Brad Treliving.  He will be listed as month-to-month for the time being.

Mar 29, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) skates against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Los Angeles Kings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsThis is a notable blow to a Calgary attack that has been somewhat limited this season beyond the contributions of top liners Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.  In particular, Versteeg was a useful piece on their power play with five of his eight points (in 22 games) coming with the man advantage.  Last season, he had a career-high eight goals on the power play.

The 31-year-old was a success story in 2016, turning a PTO deal (with Edmonton) into a one-year contract and then earned himself a considerable raise for 2017-18, going from $950K to $1.75MM in salary (with a 10-team no-trade clause) on the heels of a 37-point season.

The Flames already have 14 healthy forwards on their roster excluding Versteeg so it’s unlikely that any further roster moves are required.  They currently sit with a little over $3.4MM in cap space per CapFriendly and will be able to transfer the veteran winger to long-term injured reserve to open more room if they need to free up more space.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Snapshots: IIHF HOF, Players Of The Month, Devils

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The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named their 2018 Hall of Fame class today, with several notable NHL names among them. Former stars Daniel Alfredsson, Rob Blake, Chris Chelios, and Jere Lehtinen will all be immortalized for their impressive international careers. Between them, the Swede, Canadian, American, and Finn have 16 Olympic Games and 8 Olympic medals, to of course go along with outstanding professional careers. Builders Philippe Lacarriere, a former European player and IIHF Councilman, and Bob Nadin, a long-time referee, will also be inducted.

  • In terms of current recognition, the NHL announced the top players of the month of November today. The Three Stars of the Month were Colorado Avalanche star center Nathan MacKinnon at #1, Toronto Maple Leafs keeper Frederik Andersen at #2, and new St. Louis Blue Brayden Schenn at #3. MacKinnon was a point per game player last month, notching five goals and fifteen assists in 12 games for the Avs. Andersen kept the Leafs going with nine wins, a 2.14 GAA, and .938 save percentage. Schenn was arguably better than either despite coming in third, with seven goals and twelve assists in just 12 games, bringing his season total to 30 points in 25 contests. Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser was named the Rookie of the Month behind his 16 points in 15 games, as the young scorer has kept the Canucks afloat early on and leads all first-year players in scoring.
  • If there was an award for Team of the Month, it could have easily gone to the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have somehow survived another month at or near the top of the toughest division in hockey, the Metropolitan, despite little expectation that they would even be a playoff contender in 2017-18. To cap off the month, they swung a deal to acquire a much-needed elite defenseman yesterday as well. The Devils are just getting started though – the team announced that Sami Vatanen caught a cross-country flight, took part in morning skate, and will make his debut tonight and joining him will be Marcus Johansson, the big off-season acquisition, who is returning from a long injury absence. November was a great month for the Devils, but December is starting off even stronger.

Erik Karlsson Unwilling To Take Hometown Discount

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Erik Karlsson’s contract doesn’t expire until the end of the 2018-19 season and he isn’t even eligible to sign an extension yet, but when you’re the best defenseman in the NHL, everyone is focused on your future and (potential) availability. So, it’s no surprise that a question of his future was posed at practice Thursday. However, the surprise, at least for many Senators fans, was his answer, as retold by the Ottawa Citizen’s Ken Warren:

“When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going… That’s the business part of it. That’s the way every player has been treated ever since this league has started, and I think the players have been a little bit on the other side of things when it comes to negotiations. I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners)… “I like it here, I’m comfortable here, I’ve been here my whole career… but at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, if it’s not the right fit and it’s not going to work out business-wise, then you’re going to have to look elsewhere because that’s what (owners) are going to do, as well.”

Karlsson isn’t incorrect – it is far more frequent in all pro sports to see a star athlete take a hometown discount to stay with a team than it is for a team executive to offer a premium contract to retain such an athlete. Karlsson clearly recognizes that he is one of the best in the game and is deserving of perhaps a record-setting contract, one that should at least erase P.K. Subban’s $9MM mark as the highest AAV ever handed to a defenseman. A Norris-caliber defenseman hitting the open market at the age of 28 is beyond rare and Karlsson is ready to cash in. However, the big question – and one that could plague the team for the next year plus – is whether the Ottawa Senators will be the club that ponies up for Karlsson’s massive promotion.

 

Blackhawks Place Corey Crawford On IR

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Seemingly out of nowhere, the Chicago Blackhawks have placed All-Star goaltender Corey Crawford on the injured reserve today, the team announced. The team has recalled J-F Berube from the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs and he and Anton Forsberg will man the Chicago net for as long as Crawford is out with his unidentified injury.

Crawford not only played all sixty minutes for the Blackhawks last night, but even put in some extra time in an overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. At no point was there any clear injury to Crawford, nor did he leave the ice for any span of time. Yet, the Chicago keeper is headed to the IR, putting his team in a tough spot for an indeterminate amount of time. While Crawford has easily been a top ten NHL goalie this season, single-handedly winning some games for the defense-deficient ’Hawks while posting a truly impressive .930 save percentage. Now, he’ll be substituted for two new players to Chicago that have yet to impress. Forsberg, a piece of the Artemi Panarin–Brandon Saad deal, has struggled mightily as Crawford’s backup so far. He has just one win and a 3.67 GAA in five appearance. He’s now the impromptu starter, with Berube – who has been nothing more than pedestrian in the AHL – as the primary backup. Until more is known about Crawford’s condition, this is a scary situation for the Blackhawks, who now have an inexperienced and struggling duo behind an inconsistent defense.

Fortunately, Chicago is quite out of it just yet, despite some early season issues. Their 28 points puts them outside the Central Division’s top three spots, but well within the wild card mix. Even without Crawford, upcoming match-ups with Buffalo, Arizona, and Florida favor the Blackhawks and a quick return for Crawford from whatever ails him could mean little harm comes from this whole unexpected ordeal. A long-term injury is whole other discussion though…

Jared Spurgeon Out With Groin Injury

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The Minnesota Wild have been one of several teams racked with injuries in 2017-18 and they can now add another major contributor to the list. The Star Tribune’s Sarah McLellan reports that defenseman Jared Spurgeon is expected to miss at least two weeks with a groin strain. Spurgeon has missed the past two games and is likely to land on injured reserve.

Spurgeon, who teammate Mathew Dumba calls “one of the most underrated guys in the NHL”, will be missed in Minnesota. As the long-time partner of Ryan Suter on the team’s top-pair, Spurgeon is counted on for major minutes and mistake-free hockey. Spurgeon is as solid as they come, and it is no surprise that the Wild’s first game adjusting to his absence was a 7-2 rout by the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. However, the team did bounce back with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights last night, with Dumba filling in beside Suter. That will most likely be the top pair moving forward until Spurgeon is back on his feet.

The extent of the Spurgeon injury also lends some explanation to the Wild’s recent claim of old friend Nate Prosser. Prosser has nearly 300 games with Minnesota under his belt, but bolted for St. Louis this summer hoping for greater opportunity. When that opportunity never presented itself, Prosser was happy to return home and the Wild were fortunate enough to bring a familiar name back into the fold when they needed him most. Prosser could play a key role on the Minnesota blue line over the next two weeks, as could recently-recalled Ryan Murphy and young Gustav Olofsson. 

Oilers Claim Nathan Walker Off Waivers

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Nathan Walker became the first Australian-born player to play in the NHL earlier this season and he’ll soon become the first Australian-born player to play for a Canadian NHL team as well. The young forward was placed on waivers by the Washington Capitals yesterday and the Edmonton Oilers announced this morning that they have claimed him.

Walker, 23, had one goal in seven games for the Caps thus far this season, but played with an impressive edge in his bottom-six role. At just 5’9″, 186-lbs., Walker may not have the typical size of an energy line contributor, but makes up for it with more than enough actual energy. The disappointing Oilers could use an injection of tenacity and work ethic more than perhaps any other team in the league, making Walker a potential steal as a waiver claim.

In a corresponding move, Iiro Pakarinen has been placed on waivers by Edmonton. He joins Ottawa’s Chris DiDomenico on the wire today. Walker’s waiver wire partner yesterday, Buffalo’s Matt Tennyson, has cleared and has been sent down to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

Minor Transactions: 12/01/17

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The calendar has turned to December, and the NHL is flush with trades and rumors. The Ducks and Devils completed a big swap, but there was also a minor trade between old foes and a waiver claim that brought a familiar face back home. Today is expected to be filled with more transactions, and we’ll keep track of the minor ones right here.

  • As expected, the Buffalo Sabres have returned Linus Ullmark to the AHL after spending practice with the team yesterday. Robin Lehner was given a maintenance day, but the Sabres still wanted two goaltenders on the ice. Ullmark’s time will come with Buffalo, as he continues to impress in the minor leagues.
  • Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey, the Penguins have reassigned Josh Archibald to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning assignment. The 25-year-old forward hasn’t been injured; he just hasn’t played this season. Through two months of the 2017-18 season already, Archibald has skated in only two games with Pittsburgh and had to this point avoided the AHL entirely. However, a total time of 21:38 of game action means Archibald needs to get his legs back under him in the minors if he is to be of any use in the NHL this year.
  • The San Jose Sharks announced that they have returned goalie Antoine Bibeau to the AHL, as he’ll head back over to the Barracuda locker room. Bibeau, 23, was arguably the biggest off-season addition that San Jose made this summer, but is still looking for his first NHL action of the year. Bibeau has a very impressive 2.04 GAA and 0.925 save-percentage in the AHL this year, but with Martin Jones and Aaron Dell putting up those kinds of numbers themselves in the NHL, it doesn’t look promising for Bibeau to see extensive big league action this season.
  • The Blue Jackets have recalled defenseman Gabriel Carlsson and forward Markus Hannikainen from Cleveland of the AHL, per a team release.  Both players have spent the bulk of the season with Columbus but had each been sent down within the last week to pick up a bit of playing time at the minor league level to stay in game shape.
  • With Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson heading to injured reserve, the team announced that they have promoted blueliner Ryan Stanton from AHL Bakersfield.  The 28-year-old has a single assist in 11 minor league games this season but is no stranger to the NHL having 120 games of experience under his belt with Chicago, Vancouver, and Washington.
  • The Lightning announced that they have brought back winger Cory Conacher from Syracuse of the AHL.  The veteran has played just once with Tampa Bay this season (on Saturday against Pittsburgh) but he made the most of it, scoring in that game.  As usual, he has been quite productive at the minor league level, collecting 15 points in 18 games.

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