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Early Notes: Iginla, Doan, Polak

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Hockey Canada once again told the Canadian Press that they would consider veteran options like Shane Doan and Jarome Iginla for their upcoming Winter Olympic squad, but reiterated that the pair would need to be playing somewhere to make the team. Because of the high-level still expected even in the absence of NHL stars, Team Canada GM Sean Burke won’t be taking players off the couch to Pyeongchang. Doan and Iginla are still trying to find work around the NHL, but could play for a few months in Europe or the KHL if they want to suit up for the Olympics. Both have experience there before and would lend some star power to the team. Whether they’re better than the AHL or college forwards that they would replace is still uncertain.

  • Roman Polak is skating again and agent Allan Walsh told the Toronto Sun that he expects his client to sign with an NHL team very soon. Polak is working his way back from a broken fibula but looked fine in the video posted yesterday of his skating drills. The 31-year old was seen in Maple Leafs gear, but it’s unclear if Toronto would have any interest in a return. With the free agent market fairly devoid of defensive talent, Polak could be snapped up as soon as he’s medically cleared.
  • Another former Maple Leafs player Matt Frattin has signed with Barys Astana of the KHL. The contract covers just one year for the veteran AHLer, and will be the first time he plays outside of North America. Last year for the Stockton Heat Frattin put up 36 points in 54 games, a pace he’s shown for several years in the minor leagues. Armed with a hard shot and power game, Frattin was never able to establish himself as a full-time NHL player, and will try to prove that he can be a valuable forward at a high level. He’ll have someone familiar in the lineup, as former Stockton teammate Linden Vey also signed with Astana this offseason.

Alex Kerfoot Down To Five Teams

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NCAA free agent and former New Jersey Devils prospect Alex Kerfoot has been expected to make a decision in the near future, and Darren Dreger of TSN has reported his “final five.” The Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche are the finalists for the Harvard forward. Arthur Staple of Newsday adds that he’s heard it’s just between the Sharks and Rangers.

Kerfoot became a free agent last week when the Devils were unable to sign him, and there were as many as 10 teams interested in signing him to an entry-level contract. Many believed his hometown of Vancouver would be his final destination, but other teams also provide interesting options. Former teammate Jimmy Vesey followed a similar path and signed with the Rangers last offseason, while the Sharks and Islanders both have their eye on the playoffs and could be losing key centers—Joe Thornton and John Tavares—after this season.

The Colorado connection is an interesting one, as the team could easily give Kerfoot a role right away on the struggling NHL team but does have several young centers that seem locked in for the long-term. Even if Matt Duchene is moved eventually, Nathan MacKinnon, Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher are all expected to stay in the middle which would likely require a move to the wing for Kerfoot.

It’s not clear exactly where Kerfoot’s priorities lie, as he hasn’t been as vocal as fellow free agent Will Butcher on what he’s looking for in his first professional opportunity. Kerfoot is expected to make a decision within the next few days, at which point he will have to sign a two-year entry-level contract.

Potential Trouble With Andreas Athanasiou Contract Talks

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7:35pm: Craig Custance of The Athletic confirmed with Athanasiou’s agent that he indeed has been offered a one-year contract from a KHL team and is considering it.

5:31pm: The Detroit Red Wings have one restricted free agent left to sign in Andreas Athanasiou, but according to Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver, those talks might not be going so well. Dhaliwal reports that there is a possibility Athanasiou signs in the KHL instead, as negotiations are “going nowhere.” Obviously, these kind of threats are often leaked to the media in order to create leverage but it is interesting that there has been little said from either side on their negotiations throughout the summer. Athanasiou was not arbitration eligible, and is coming off a breakout 18-goal season.

Andreas AthanasiouIronically, having Athanasiou sign in Russia could actually help the Red Wings in the short term, as the club is pressed right against the cap for the upcoming season. While they have potential savings in the form of Johan Franzen’s incoming LTIR placement, an Athanasiou contract would force them to make a different move. If he signed in Russia, his rights would be maintained without a cap hit.

The 23-year old forward played 64 games for the Red Wings this year, recording 29 points and showing off his elite speed to create offensive chances out of relatively innocuous looking rushes. That dynamic ability makes him a valuable asset, but there were also some warts to his game. Whenever he was given the chance to play center he performed poorly on the defensive side of the game, and there were clashes with head coach Jeff Blashill at times over his competitiveness.

It has to be said that there is still plenty of time to work out a contract before the season starts, and that things can change easily at any time. Still, if Athanasiou ever decides to look elsewhere for a playing opportunity, it would come with a likely roster spot with Team Canada at the Olympics. There would also be plenty of interest in the KHL and European leagues for a player of his caliber, giving him some leverage in his negotiations.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Demers, Upshall, McDavid

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Various players were in Toronto today for the BioSteel Camp, which gave savvy media members a chance to talk to them individually and away from the normal post-game scrum. One of them, Luke Fox of Sportsnet, caught up with Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Demers and asked about the report from earlier this summer that he blocked a trade to the Vancouver Canucks. Demers definitely didn’t deny the report, saying that Pierre LeBrun of TSN has “got his sources.”

Regardless, Demers is still playing in Florida this season and is getting ready to try and bounce back from what was a disappointing year. The right-handed defenseman was one of the best two-way options on the open market in 2016 when the Panthers snatched him up for five years and $22.5MM but scored just 28 points and wasn’t as effective in his own end. It will be interesting to see if he becomes available once again if the Panthers get off to a bad start, or if the right deal comes along to pry him out of Florida. His no-trade clause covers just eight teams around the league.

  • Scottie Upshall is waiting for another NHL opportunity after scoring 18 points last season for the St. Louis Blues, and he told John Matisz of Postmedia that he already has offers from the KHL and Europe in hand. Upshall, like James Wisniewski earlier today, still believes he can help an NHL team, but is also excited about the possibility of playing in the Olympics should he be playing in a European league come February. Upshall never did reach the high potential he showed to be selected sixth overall, but has been a solid contributor and fan favorite for nearly 700 games. Only 33-years old, he could be in for a professional tryout like in 2015 when he ended up signing with the Blues on October 5th.
  • Of course, no media day would be complete without talking to the reigning league MVP Connor McDavid, and Kristen Shilton of TSN asked him several questions at the BioSteel camp. When asked about being called the best player in the league, McDavid immediately deflected the praise to Sidney Crosby, saying that “at the end of the day everyone knows who the best player in the league is, and it’s not me.” Many fans would disagree with that, but McDavid went on to say that he wants to work on the things that make Crosby so dangerous, namely scoring from in tight and on deflections. Edmonton Oilers fans will be happy to hear that the $100MM contract he signed hasn’t made McDavid rest on his laurels, and that he’s working to come back even stronger next season.

James Wisniewski Latest To Be Linked To Olympic Roster

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Since the NHL isn’t allowing players to go to the 2018 Winter Olympics, the rosters for both North American squads remain something of a mystery. While Team Canada has been preparing their group by playing in various international tournaments, USA Hockey is opting for a different approach that will likely make it tougher to project a roster until closer to the event.

This morning we heard about some of the top NCAA names that are being considered, and now Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that unsigned free agent defenseman James Wisniewski has also been in contact with the management team. This piece of information comes in an excellent profile of the former Columbus Blue Jackets defender (subscription needed, but well worth it), which also has him waiting for a training camp invite this summer.

Last year Wisniewski had to go play in the KHL after not earning an NHL contract in training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and could have to play abroad once again. The 33-year old is just a few seasons removed from his career-high 51 point output and is right-handed, but still can’t seem to find work anywhere around the league. Perhaps he’ll be able to use the Olympics as a springboard for a return to the NHL.

Bobby Farnham To Attend New York Rangers Training Camp

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The New York Rangers have signed Bobby Farnham to a professional tryout agreement according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, meaning the 28-year old winger will attend training camp to try and fight for a contract. While the Rangers have quite a bit of depth up front, PTOs can often be used as showcases for other teams around the league.

Farnham played three games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, but spent most of the year in the AHL. In 2015-16 he spent the entire year at the NHL level, getting into 50 games with the New Jersey Devils after being claimed off waivers less than a month into the season. His original NHL team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, had signed him out of the AHL after he’d completed four seasons at Brown University.

A long-shot to make an NHL roster at this point, Farnham is known more for his fists than his skill. In just 67 games in the NHL, he’s been involved in 11 fights and many more in the minor leagues. The small but tough winger is always willing to stand up for his teammates, and could catch a two-way deal for the express purpose of protection call-ups. While fighting and the enforcer is being slowly fazed out of the game, there are a few instances of “tough guy” call-ups each season.

“Positive” Talks Continue Between Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres

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The Buffalo Sabres finished re-signing their restricted free agents recently when they inked Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year contract, and immediately turned their attention (if it hadn’t been there already) to an extension for budding superstar Jack Eichel. With Connor McDavid receiving his eight-year, $100MM extension early from the Edmonton Oilers, many wondered if Eichel would also be locked up this summer. The Sabres are clearly trying to get it done before camp, and when Dan Fetes of WROC in Buffalo caught up with Sabres GM Jason Botterill today he seemed very confident they’d be able to.

Our discussions continue to be very positive. It’s obviously a little bit of a new market this summer with some of the different contracts that have come out, but our discussions have been very positive. At the end of the day, we certainly want to get Jack signed up for the max amount of term possible and he has the belief. All our discussions have been positive about the contract, but also just about the season and his preparation in general.

Botterill goes on to discuss the connection Eichel and new head coach Phil Housley have already made, but the most important takeaway for fans is that there is no animosity between the two sides. An extension seems inevitable at some point, but negotiations have definitely been impacted by McDavid’s deal and others like Leon Draisaitl or even Ryan Johansen and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Eichel remains under his entry-level deal for one more season, but will be in line for his big raise starting in 2018-19.

Though he missed a big chunk of last season to injury, Eichel still recorded 57 points and ranked 15th in the entire league in points-per-game. That was ahead of other star centers like Tyler Seguin and John Tavares, leading many to believe that he could take a step and push towards the top of the leaderboards next year. That’ll take a healthy season and an improved overall game by the Sabres, but with the added comfort of an eight-year extension behind him it’s definitely not out of the question.

Interest Increases For Cody Franson

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Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver spoke to Cody Franson’s agent (presumably still Gerry Johannson of the Sports Corporation) and reports that interest has increased in the free agent defender recently, and he could sign in the next few weeks. The Canucks aren’t in the running, and it’s still to be seen whether Franson will get a guaranteed contract or have to settle for a professional tryout.

It’s been quite for the 30-year old Franson over the past few months in a repeat of the 2015 offseason. That year he had to wait until September 10th to sign a two-year deal with the Sabres, and it seems as though a similar outcome is on the horizon. With teams starting to announce the schedule for their training camps, whoever does sign Franson will want him under contract and ready to go over the next two weeks. The puck-mover remains one of the most divisive players in hockey, with some seeing him as a solid offensive threat from the back end that can help drive possession, and others believing his defensive deficiencies far outweigh any potential scoring ability.

We ranked Franson 22nd on our list of the Top 50 Free Agents, projecting a two-year $5MM deal for him. While it’s still not out of the question for him to sign a deal worth that much—his September contract in 2015 was for $6.65MM—the former Buffalo Sabres defenseman may have to settle for a one-year contract this time around. Even as we see much older players like Francois Beauchemin sign, Franson remains one of the top names on the open market. It’s not clear who would be interested, but there are several teams who could afford to add another depth option, especially one that is right-handed.

Snapshots: Jagr, Keenan, Team USA

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Jaromir Jagr remains unsigned now deep into August, and though the second all-time leading NHL scorer wants to play again this year there hasn’t been a ton of interest just yet. Elliotte Friedman joined NHL Network yesterday and said that a few teams have reached out, including the Calgary Flames. The Flames are led by a former Jagr coach in Glen Gulutzan, but nothing sounds imminent with any team so far.

Jagr has joked about playing for his own Czech club to start the year, and that would allow him to play in the Olympics. The Czech Republic have several players in this situation, but could see some late-summer signings rob them of Olympic talent.

  • Kunlun Red Star of the KHL have fired their General Manager just a few months after installing him in March, and have given the reins to Mike Keenan who will remain on as head coach as well. Keenan is a legendary NHL and KHL coach who made big waves after going to China, and will now have full control of the organization.
  • Andy Strickland of Fox Sports reports that USA Hockey is considering Troy Terry, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Donato and Adam Fox for their Olympic team, which comes as little surprise. The quartet of college players are all outstanding options that could likely find great success on the international circuit. Greenway already represented the US at the recent World Championships, while Donato, Fox and Terry were among the best college players in the country last season.

Roman Polak Skating Again, Rehab On Track

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After suffering a broken fibula in the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs, there hadn’t been many updates on free agent defender Roman Polak. Today that changed when agent Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey tweeted out a video of his client completing a skating drill. The interesting part is that Polak is skating in Maple Leafs gear, despite being unsigned at present. Toronto has a history of allowing rehabbing players to train at their facilities, but it could point to Toronto being an eventual destination for the 31-year old.

Polak has already played for the Maple Leafs in two different stints, and there has been speculation since his injury that a spot would be held for him when he eventually returns. A favorite of head coach Mike Babcock during his time there, he was the team’s lead penalty killer and provided some toughness to a blueline mostly occupied by more offensive options. While this is obviously no guarantee that he would return, it’s good to see him on the ice again and healthy.

The right-shot defenseman has played 634 games in the NHL over his career, recorded 115 points and 504 penalty minutes. While possession stats rate his overall impact poorly due to a below-average ability to skate or pass the puck out of his own end, he does draw rave reviews from teammates and coaches for his work ethic on and off the ice. He’s coming off a one-year, $2.25MM contract with the Maple Leafs and would surely have several suitors should he be healthy enough to play at some point this year.

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