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Archives for 2017
Important Contracts Still To Sign For Columbus Blue Jackets
As we approach the start of training camps in a little over a month, the Columbus Blue Jackets still have plenty of work to do in order to have the best players ready from day one. Alexander Wennberg and Josh Anderson both remain unsigned restricted free agents, and as Aaron Portzline of The Athletic points out, those negotiations could be holding up extension talks for Cam Atkinson as well. 
Atkinson will hit unrestricted free agency next summer and is coming off a 35-goal performance in 2016-17. His goal explosion earned him his first all-star appearance, and set career highs in almost every offensive category. Heading into this season at just 28, he would be one of the prized forward options should he end up on the open market.
Wennberg and Anderson on the other hand represent two big parts of the Blue Jackets’ forward group that need contracts just to start the season on time. While there has been no negative reports out of Columbus that either is heading towards a lockout, the team does have to be careful with how they spend their funds. After clearing room by buying out Scott Hartnell, the team has just under $12.9MM left to spend for this season. That number isn’t hard to fit the pair under, but going forward the team has many other contracts to consider.
Along with Atkinson’s UFA status, Boone Jenner and Ryan Murray are both restricted free agents next summer, while Artemi Panarin and Zach Werenski are due up in the summer of 2019. Panarin will be looking for a deal closer to $10MM per season than his current $6MM, and Werenski looks like a franchise defenseman that the team needs to lock up long term as soon as possible.
It’s rough waters to navigate for GM Jarmko Kekalainen, but for now the team is in pretty good shape. Not a single long-term deal will pay more than $5.85MM per season, and the team has options at nearly every position. Their solid drafting and development of young defensemen has come in handy, not to mention some successful trading to acquire certain assets. The Blue Jackets should be considered a top contender in the Metropolitan division once again, but it’ll take some more work this summer to get there.
Jakob Chychrun Undergoes Knee Surgery, Out Indefinitely
The Arizona Coyotes announced some disappointing news today, saying that Jakob Chychrun underwent knee surgery and will be out indefinitely. The defenseman suffered the injury this week but should make a “full recovery.” When exactly that recovery will be is still to be determined, as GM John Chayka will “further update once training camp begins on September 14.”
Chychrun was a huge find for the Coyotes last year, making the jump right from junior hockey to the NHL in his draft year. After once being considered a top pick, there were concerns about his dedication to the game as he looked uninterested at times during the OHL season. That didn’t stop the Coyotes from making a trade with Detroit in order to select him 16th-overall, a decision that looks like it will pay off.
In 68 games Chychrun registered 20 points and though he was overwhelmed at times defensively took strides towards the top-4 two-way player he looks destined to be. While that wasn’t expected to be this season, a serious knee injury would set him back in his development. Still just 19-years old until March 31st of next year, another full season in the NHL would give him ample experience. The Coyotes defense should be improved with the addition of Niklas Hjalmarsson, allowing the team to shelter Chychrun still in a third-pairing role.
The team did sign Adam Clendening for this exact situation, adding NHL experience in case of injury. While there is no guarantee Chychrun will miss any of the season, Clendening can step into a full-time role if necessary.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Frost, Ratcliffe To ELCs
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed two more top picks from the recent draft, inking Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe to entry-level contracts. Each player is expected to return to the OHL for the upcoming season.
Frost was selected 27th-overall with the first of two first-round picks the Flyers received for Brayden Schenn. After a breakout season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the thin center is poised for another big season as some older players move on. His responsibility and ice time should increase, and he’ll get even more opportunity to show off his creativity in the offensive zone. Growing up around the Toronto Maple Leafs due to his father’s job as PA Announcer at the Air Canada Center, Frost shot up draft boards this year due mostly to his high “hockey IQ.” If he can add some strength and show that more attention doesn’t slow him down he has a shot to be an effective middle-six center in the NHL.
The Flyers moved up to get Ratcliffe at 35th-overall, dealing a pair of picks to the Arizona Coyotes for the right to draft the 6’6″ winger. Another player who broke out and soared up draft boards, Ratcliffe ended up with 28 goals this year for the Guelph Storm and has a knack for protecting the puck down low with his big frame. While it’ll take quite a bit of work to get his skating up to an NHL level, there is the capability there for a net front powerplay presence and effective five-on-five possession player.
After Arbitration Hearing, Nate Schmidt Still Without Contract
Though arbitration hasn’t resulted in any decisions yet this season, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt could be the first to have a ruling come down. Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the two sides went through the hearing today in Toronto, and still do not have a contract worked out. That leaves them with a 48 hour window with which to come to some sort of an agreement, similar to Tomas Tatar and Viktor Arvidsson last month.
Schmidt submitted a one-year $2.75MM ask, while the team countered with a two-year deal worth a total of $1.95MM. Like any arbitration, those are outside points on a contract that will ultimately fall somewhere in the middle. The two year term is not negotiable however, as Schmidt filed for player-elected salary arbitration, which gives the option on length to the team.
That said, a long-term contract is still a possibility between the two sides. Schmidt has shown impressive potential with the Washington Capitals in the past, and is a dynamic player who could fit in quite well with a team strapped for high-end skill. His skating ability would be quite the draw for new fans, though success on the ice is obviously paramount. If Schmidt does receive a cheap two-year term, he would immediately become an excellent trade chip, something we’ve discussed in the past for the Golden Knights. The 26-year old would be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the two years.
Florida Panthers Re-Sign MacKenzie Weegar
The Florida Panthers have finished signing their RFAs for the summer after announcing a one-year contract with MacKenzie Weegar. Weegar will play next year on a two-way deal, and will still be a restricted free agent next summer.
Weegar, 23, made his NHL debut this season after working his way through the minor league ranks. Drafted in the seventh round in 2013 (206th-overall), he first dominated the QMJHL and then made his mark on both the ECHL and AHL. The undersized defenseman has high-end offensive upside, but has struggled at times in his own end. Last year, he posted 14 goals and 36 points in 60 AHL contests but was held scoreless during his short NHL stint.
A legitimate option as a powerplay quarterback and sort of specialty player, Weegar would need an opening at the NHL level either through trade or injury to play a real impact on the Panthers this year. Ian McCoshen is probably ahead of him on the depth chart in terms of a full-time replacement, but that’s not to say Weegar won’t get at least some time with the team. If the Panthers are serious about moving Jason Demers, he could be a potential addition to a bottom pair that could be sheltered from tough matchups.
That said, it’s likely the AHL once again for the Memorial Cup Champion where he can try to set a new career high and evolve into one of the most valuable minor league blueline pieces in the league.
Calgary Flames Name Don Maloney VP Of Hockey Operations
The Calgary Flames have made some front office moves today, including promoting Don Maloney to Vice President of Hockey Operations. Maloney spent last season in Calgary as a pro scout after being the GM of the Arizona Coyotes for nine seasons. The team has also re-signed Craig Conroy and Brad Pascall to their current Assistant GM roles, while announcing several changes to their other front office staff titles.
Maloney was fired by the Coyotes last summer after another poor finish and replaced with John Chayka, who immediately started his restructuring of the Arizona team. There had been plenty of issues surrounding the Coyotes including the John Scott All-Star incident in which the team and league tried to get him to bow out.
In Calgary he will still report directly to GM Brad Treliving, who was extended this summer to a multi-year deal after building quite the team. The Flames are an early favorite for a deep playoff run after continuing to add to their defense by acquiring Travis Hamonic and re-signing Michael Stone.
Snapshots: San Antonio, Lodnia, McAvoy
The St. Louis Blues have no AHL affiliate for this season after the Chicago Wolves signed a partnership with the Vegas Golden Knights instead, and will have to distribute their minor league players throughout various teams. That won’t last long though, as Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Blues have come to a five-year agreement with the San Antonio Rampage starting in 2018-19.
The Rampage are currently the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche but there has long been rumors of the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL moving up next season and providing the Avalanche with an at-home affiliate. More and more teams are trying to bring their affiliates as close as possible so that recalls and assignments are easier, and the development staff can quickly transit between teams.
- Recently Jeff Marek of Sportsnet reported that the Erie Otters of the OHL could soon trade Minnesota Wild prospect Ivan Lodnia, and the discussions were even confirmed by the player’s agent. Now however, Otters’ GM Dave Brown told GoErie.com that a deal is “very unlikely.” Lodnia dropped to the fourth round after a poor playoff performance, but is still expected to be a top player in the OHL this season at both ends of the rink.
- Matt Kalman of NHL.com released his top prospect list for the Boston Bruins today as part of their “31 in 31” series, and the usual names are included. That said, Mike Morreale of NHL.com chimed in on Twitter saying that his personal prediction for the Calder Trophy is Bruins’ defender Charlie McAvoy, who made an impact in the playoffs and will be expected to take on a big role for the team this year. McAvoy has had immediate success at every level of his career, and now the 14th-overall pick from 2016 will face his toughest test in a full professional season.
Nate Prosser Signs Two-Year Deal With St. Louis
Thursday: The Blues have officially announced the contract as a two-year, two-way deal.
Wednesday: Nate Prosser has spent his entire NHL career in Minnesota, but will be heading to St. Louis for the next chapter after signing a two-year deal with the team. The news was broken by Prosser’s agent, former NHL player Ben Hankinson on Twitter though he did not include any financial details. Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out it is likely a two-way contract.
Prosser played 39 regular season games with the Wild last year, and suited up for three games in the playoffs. He’s played 282 NHL games since signing out of Colorado College, and will likely take on a similar part-time role for the Blues this year.
It’s interesting to see what this means for young players like Jordan Schmaltz and Jake Walman, who looked in line for a big role should any Blues’ defenseman go down to injury. Now with Prosser signed, it’s not clear who would step in. Still, adding depth is an important part of any blueline as teams like Pittsburgh found out in the playoffs. It’s almost impossible to make it through the year with less than nine defensemen playing a substantial role.
Teams Currently Without Captains
The Nashville Predators are the latest team to join the ranks of the uncaptained, after Mike Fisher officially announced his retirement from the NHL this morning. They’ll now have to make a decision on whether or not to give one of their current players the “C”, or wait until a leader emerges at some point down the road. Perhaps one of their young stars will show enough this year to deserve it, if they don’t immediately give it to one of their stud defensemen. Much of the chatter among fans has been about Roman Josi or Ryan Ellis taking on the mantle, though nothing is clear just yet.
There are five other teams who have yet to name a captain for the upcoming season, and though some may go through the year with three alternates instead, there are several options to take up the leadership and stitch that curved letter to the front of their jersey.
Buffalo Sabres
Brian Gionta wore the “C” for the past three seasons, but it seems as though the team might go in a different direction this year. Gionta remains unsigned, and though a return is still a possibility it seems remote. Gionta himself gave some options for the next captain next year, listing Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo and Jack Eichel as obvious possibilities. O’Reilly does seem to be the most logical choice right now, after playing as an alternate last season and generally being regarded as one of the team’s best players. It will be hard to deny Eichel of it though, who was drafted as the face of the franchise and will likely one day lead the team.
An outside chance could be Josh Gorges for a season, as he finishes his current contract. The 32-year old defenseman has been part of the leadership group since coming over from the Montreal Canadiens in 2014, and could prove to be a nice buffer for another season before handing it over to Eichel.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes haven’t had a captain since Eric Staal was moved at the 2016 trade deadline to the New York Rangers, instead using Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk, Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask as their leadership group. There isn’t any indication on whether the Hurricanes will name a captain before the season, but any of those four could be successful options.
There is also the possibility of the newly extended Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin, both of whom are quite young but figure to be huge parts of the franchise for many years. It will be interesting to see who is picked to lead the young group, as the core is set to stay together for quite some time.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have always held their captaincy as a sacred role, and after the ugly exit that was Dion Phaneuf’s departure may wait a little longer to embroider their next jersey. Auston Matthews is the obvious option, but it’s clear the team doesn’t want to put too much on his shoulders right away. Morgan Rielly has developed into a leader on the blueline, and is still young enough to grow with the rookies and help the Maple Leafs find glory once again.
Leo Komarov, Tyler Bozak and Matt Hunwick also wore letters last season, but the latter is already in Pittsburgh and the former two are free agents at the end of the year. It will likely be a whole new leadership group in 2018-19.
Arizona Coyotes
After parting ways with their long-time captain Shane Doan, the Coyotes have yet to announce the next captain of their team. Though it’s not official yet, many believe that role will go to Oliver Ekman-Larsson in part as an attempt to sway him to re-sign next summer. OEL has just two years left on his contract before becoming one of the highest-paid defensemen in the league, and is clearly Arizona’s best player.
This summer the team brought in a friend and former teammate Niklas Hjalmarsson to try and prove to Ekman-Larsson that they’re ready to take a step forward, and if he’s there long-term he would undoubtedly have a “C” sewn on.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights haven’t announced any of their captains as of yet, and it will be a very interesting decision when they do. Only three active players are signed for more than two years, and you would think the expansion franchise would want a stable leader to grow with the team for some time. That said, announcing a captain would be a big marketing play for an organization that is trying to connect with fans.
Deryk Engellend was brought in because of his ties to the Las Vegas community, but he’s only under contract for a single season and is already declining rapidly in effectiveness. Marc-Andre Fleury is likely the face of the franchise for now, but isn’t signed long-term and can’t officially have the “C” as a goaltender. Reilly Smith—one of the only players signed for more than two years—did captain his college team once upon a time, and could potentially grow into that role with his new club. They could also wait and hope Cody Glass or Nick Suzuki make an immediate impact in the NHL, and give the role to one of them in a few years.