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Poll: Which Playoff Team Is Most Likely To Falter In 2017-18?

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Earlier this summer we asked our readers which non-playoff team would make the jump this year and get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning easily paced the pack, with each receiving more than 18% of the votes. They were easy choices after both experienced one-year power outages, but made moves to right the ship in the offseason.

But, if teams like Dallas and Tampa Bay are to climb back into the postseason tournament, someone will have to drop out. After the first couple nights of the season, some teams have celebrated huge wins while others are still trying to figure out what went wrong. One game doesn’t mean much, but it was sure a fun way to start the year.

So now, we’ll ask you the opposite question. Which teams are most likely to fall out of the playoffs in 2017-18? Will it be a division leader, plummeting to the bottom of the standings like Dallas and Florida last season, or a bubble team who just can’t quite hold on to their spot? A former champion, struggling with cap issues or a young team who is struck by the sophomore slump?

Check any and all teams that you think will miss the playoffs this year, and make sure to explain your choices in the comments below. Tell us who you think will jump in, and where they’ll finish.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Minor Transactions: 10/05/17

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We’ll keep track of all the assignments around the league right here, as teams fine tune their rosters.

  • The Golden Knights assigned Brandon Pirri to the Chicago Wolves after clearing waivers. The 26-year old forward was just signed to a contract yesterday, after failing to earn on in Florida’s training camp. For the Golden Knights, there is no risk to signing a former 20+ goal scorer to see if he can still compete at this level. The team may be weak on offense all year, and could look to Pirri to infuse some scoring touch on the powerplay at some point.
  • The Boston Bruins sent Emil Johansson back to Providence, and will go with the more veteran Paul Postma as their extra defenseman. Johansson joined the organization last year after his European season was over, and played in six games for the P-Bruins down the stretch. A seventh-round pick, Johansson is highly regarded by the Bruins staff and could get his shot at the NHL at some point this year.
  • The Calgary Flames made another move, sending Garnet Hathaway to the minor leagues in order to clear room for Jaromir Jagr. Jagr was introduced yesterday at a press conference but likely won’t suit up for the team until he gets a few practices under his belt. The Flames could have used his offense last night as they were shutout by the Edmonton Oilers, in a game where Hathaway played just 11 minutes.
  • The Washington Capitals have loaned Chandler Stephenson to Hershey after clearing waivers, meaning the 23-year old will have to wait patiently for his next NHL opportunity. Since being drafted in the third round, Stephenson has only been given short chances at a job with the Capitals, playing in 13 games over the past two years. Still looking for his first NHL point, he’ll have to prove it at the AHL level once again.
  • Grand Rapids will be getting some help, as the Detroit Red Wings have assigned Matt Lorito and Eric Tangradi to the AHL. Tangradi cleared waivers today, and will return to the team he helped take to the Calder Cup championship a year ago. In the playoffs for Grand Rapids, Tangradi scored 19 points in 19 games, and will try to do the same this year. The Griffins have also signed Matt Carey to a professional tryout, and sent Matej Machovsky to the ECHL.
  • According to Adrian Dater of BSN Denver, the Avalanche have indeed sent Joe Colborne to San Antonio to begin the season. Colborne was among those who cleared waivers today, and will have to work his way up from the minor leagues if he wants to return to the NHL. It’s a far fall for Colborne, who was a 19-goal scorer in the league just two seasons ago with Calgary, but suffered the same fate as many Avalanche players and posted a career-low in points last season. Scoring just eight all year, his $2.5MM salary looks like a dreadful overpay.
  • The Blue Jackets have assigned defenseman Markus Nutivaara to the AHL (via the Cleveland Monsters website). For the former seventh-round pick appeared in 66 games during his rookie campaign, collecting two goals and five assists. He also made his way into a pair of playoff games, compiling one goal and one assist.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Bruins’ David Backes To Miss “At Least” Three Weeks

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The Bruins are already without Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug, and it sounds like one of their teammates is about to be out for a month. The team announced tonight that forward David Backes is set to miss “at least” three to four weeks as he recovers from diverticulitis (an infection in the digestive tract). The veteran has been undergoing treatment at MGH and he will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.

The 33-year-old was set to be the team’s third line right wing alongside center Sean Kuraly and left wing Matt Beleskey. With Backes out of the lineup for the team’s season-opening matchup against the Predators, the Bruins replaced him with Frank Vatrano. The team could shuffle their lineup once again when Bergeron, who is expected to be back in the next few games, returns.

Following a decade with the Blues, Backes signed a five-year, $30MM deal with Boston prior to the 2016 season. After having compiled at least 50 points in five of his NHL campaigns, the veteran slightly struggled during his first year with the Bruins. In 74 games, he finished with 17 goals, 21 assists, and 39 penalty minutes. He also appeared in each of his team’s six playoff contests, collecting one goal and three assists.

Could Senators Trade Kyle Turris?

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We heard recently that the Senators and center Kyle Turris were making “healthy progress” on a contract extension. However, one pundit believes these talks will ultimately lead to a trade. TSN’s Darren Dreger said earlier tonight that he could envision the organization parting ways with the impending free agent.

Oct 28, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) skates during the warmup period against Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

“I think it’s headed to trade,” he said (via TSN.ca). “Trade seems likely. I’m not suggesting it’s imminent, it’s going to happen this week, next month. But before the February 26th trade deadline? Yes, and the simple reason is there has been a fair bit of dialogue between Senators management and the agent who represents Kyle Turris, dating back to early July or late June. Kyle Turris wants to commit long-term to the Ottawa Senators. We’re talking about a seven, eight-year term. So far, the Sens haven’t been willing to do that. So they cannot allow an important piece like Kyle Turris to walk out as an unrestricted free agent.”

For what it’s worth, NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek agreed with the sentiment (via Twitter), noting that “decision time” is coming in Ottawa. Meanwhile, TSN’s Bob McKenzie said he’d be surprised if the team ultimately signed Turris to a new deal.

After having recently inked starting goalie Craig Anderson to a new contract, the Senators had reportedly shifted their focus to Turris. The former third-overall pick is entering the final season of his contract, and he’ll earn an affordable $4MM in 2017. However, reports last week indicated that the 28-year-old was seeking a considerable pay raise at around $6MM annually over seven or eight years. As our own Zach Leach noted earlier this week, he’ll be competing with a number of notable free agent forwards for a hefty contract, and it might be best for both sides to work out an extension. However, if an agreement can’t be made, it makes plenty of sense for the Senators to get some compensation for a player they could lose in free agency.

Turris didn’t live up to expectations during his stint in Phoenix, but he’s turned into a dependable scorer for the Senators. The alternate captain and top line center has collected at least 55 points in three of the past four seasons, including a 27-goal, 28-assist campaign in 2017.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

2017-18 Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

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With the NHL season now underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Carolina Hurricanes.

Last Season: 36-31-15 record (87 points), seventh in Metropolitan Division (missed playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $14.57MM per CapFriendly

Key Additions: F Justin Williams (free agency, Washington), F Marcus Kruger (trade, Vegas), D Trevor van Riemsdyk (trade, Vegas), G Scott Darling (trade, Chicago)

Key Departures: F Jay McClement (free agency, unsigned), D Matt Tennyson (free agency, Buffalo), G Eddie Lack (trade, Calgary)

[Related: Hurricanes Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Sebastian AhoPlayer To Watch: F Sebastian Aho – The Carolina Hurricanes are heading into the season with several exciting rookies this season in Martin Necas, Haydn Fleury and Janne Kuokkanen. All three have impressed in training camp, but for all their youth and flash you shouldn’t forget about last year’s version.

Aho turned 20 years old just this summer and already has a season under his belt with 24 goals and 49 points. For all the ink that was spilled last year over Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and other rookies, Aho quietly put together an outstanding season at age-19 in Carolina and could explode into super-stardom this year. Remember that this is a second-round pick who jumped right from the Finnish professional ranks to the NHL, and clearly still has room to grow.

The Hurricanes will have a fun, up tempo offense this year with speed on every line, but look no further than the top unit with Aho, Jordan Staal and Elias Lindholm as one of the best in the league. Each brings a different skill to the table, and should be able to dominate teams at even strength at both ends of the rink. When you think that Staal—who was recently named co-captain with Justin Faulk—is one of the elder statesmen on the team at 29, it starts to show just how much potential this squad still has.

Key Storyline: The Hurricanes are a sexy pick to make the playoffs this year. Everything written above would have you believe that they’ll easily surpass their 87-point total from last year and glide into the postseason on a barrage of goals. That could happen, but it will still take a lot of work to overcome the daunting task that is the Metropolitan Division.

The reigning Stanley Cup Champions are standing in their way in Pittsburgh, as are three other 100-point teams from a year ago in New York, Washington and Columbus. New Jersey, Philadelphia and the other New York (sorry, Islanders’ fans) aren’t going to lay down, and the Atlantic looks improved and ready to compete for both wild card spots. The Hurricanes will need everything to go right for them to climb this mountain, and a lot of it starts in net.

When the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 it was on the back of a rookie goaltender who stole the job and earned himself the Conn Smythe trophy in the process. Now Carolina will hope another goaltender will steal Cam Ward’s job and run with it. While Scott Darling isn’t the 21-year old upstart Ward was in 2005-06, he’s being given his first chance to earn a real starting position in the NHL and is ready to prove that he’s more than just a backup.

Fighting his way up from the Southern Professional Hockey League, Darling has taken a step forward at every level and recorded an impressive .923 save percentage behind Corey Crawford in Chicago. If he can bring that same level to the Hurricanes every night, they’ll be a team to be reckoned with. Luckily, Darling will have the experience of Ward to help him along the way, in what could be the veteran netminder’s final season in Carolina.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Anaheim Ducks Recall Giovanni Fiore

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Giovanni Fiore has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks and is expected to suit up in his first NHL game tonight. If you haven’t heard the name much before, that’s because Fiore is an undrafted CHL free agent who was signed just a few months ago. After dominating the QMJHL last season as an overaged player, he’ll jump right to the NHL to try and help the wounded Ducks win on home ice.

Fiore impressed everyone that watched him in the preaseason, and will get his chance to show off his skills once again tonight. The 21-year old forward scored 52 goals for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles last year, a huge jump from his previous high of 28. Some of that has to do with being older than most of the players in the junior ranks, but a lot more has to do with his tenacity on the puck and powerplay skill.

The Ducks, who are missing several key players already, were also short Ryan Getzlaf at this morning’s skate according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. Getzlaf has been dealing with a lower-body injury and has been in and out of practice this week. Already without Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves up front, it will be a thin group that tries to start the season off on the right foot.

Paul LaDue Recalled By Los Angeles Kings

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The Los Angeles Kings have made a change to their roster prior to their game tonight against Philadelphia, placing Alec Martinez on injured reserve and recalling Paul LaDue from Ontario. Martinez has a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

LaDue made his debut last season with the Kings after a very short period in the AHL, and showed off the strong two-way game he had at the University of North Dakota. A sixth-round pick, LaDue became an integral part of the Fighting Hawks, helping them to a National Championship in 2016 and wearing an alternate captain’s “A” for his final season. In 22 games for the Kings last year he recorded eight assists, and is still looking for his first goal at this level.

While starting the season without Martinez is not ideal for the Kings, LaDue does offer a pretty solid depth option for the team. It’s likely that he’ll sit out tonight’s game as the seventh defenseman, but there is a chance he could work his way into the lineup quickly. As a waivers-exempt player though, this could be the first of a long list of transactions for him this season.

Martin Marincin, Calvin Pickard Placed On Waivers

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According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Martin Marincin and Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Calvin Pickard have been placed on waivers today. All five players who were placed on waivers yesterday have cleared.

Marincin made the Maple Leafs final roster over several challengers but didn’t play in their first game last night against the Winnipeg Jets. Perhaps the team was waiting to make sure that rookie Andreas Borgman could hold his own in a regular season game before moving on from Marincin, though the timing is interesting. Roman Polak also continues to practice with the club, and could be a potential signing to add some more physicality to the team. Head coach Mike Babcock has been clear with his praise of Polak over the years, and has also been critical of Marincin.

The more interesting name though is Pickard, who looked locked into the backup role in Vegas until a late waiver claim of Malcolm Subban. Since the Golden Knights already have roster troubles with all of their defensemen, carrying three goaltenders never seemed like a realistic option. Still, Pickard has shown that he’s a capable NHL goaltender and was the Golden Knights’ expansion selection from Colorado. While admittedly there weren’t many other options on the rebuilding Avalanche, if he is claimed it will go down as somewhat of a questionable decision.

Pickard was drafted in the second round by the Avalanche in 2010, and has since developed into an excellent professional goaltender. With a career save percentage of .914 in the NHL even behind a struggling Colorado team, he’s at minimum a backup in the league. Subban, while having a higher draft pedigree than Pickard, is far from a sure thing at the NHL level after struggling in his two career games. Still, the team may see him as a big upgrade in potential, especially with the team not expected to compete. Pickard is a restricted free agent next summer and is arbitration eligible, while Subban still has another year after this on his two-way deal.

For the Maple Leafs, burying Marincin in the minors would save them $1.025MM in cap space which the team could use to improve elsewhere during the season. Last year they showed no issue with burying veteran NHL players, as Brooks Laich, Milan Michalek and Colin Greening all spent nearly the entire year in the AHL. Since Pickard makes just $1MM, he’ll cause no cap penalty on the Golden Knights, who are closer than you may think. The team is currently $5MM under the cap, though that will change drastically when Vadim Shipachyov ($4.5MM) is recalled. That said, they don’t have a ton to worry about as Mikhail Grabovski and David Clarkson could both be placed on long-term injured reserve if the team needed room.

Ottawa Senators Extend Mark Borowiecki

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The Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Mark Borowiecki to a two-year contract extension. The deal will kick in for the 2018-19 season, and carries an average annual value of $1.2MM. Borowiecki is heading into the final year of his three-year, $3.3MM extension signed in 2014, and has established himself as a full-time member of the Senators blueline.

"<strongBorowiecki, 28, is an Ottawa native that has made it a long way from the fifth-round. Selected 139th-overall in 2008, a stint at Clarkson University before continually showing off his wrecking ball-like qualities in the minor leagues finally got him a chance. He stuck, and has now played at least 63 games in each of the last three seasons with the Senators. As he’s gotten more comfortable in the league his physical play has only increased, to the point of registering a league-leading 364 hits last year. Even more impressive, is the fact that he did that in just 14 minutes of ice time a night playing on the Senators’ third pairing.

The hitting machine won’t provide much offense, but with the system that the Senators play—which forces the puck to his side of the ice at the defending blueline—Borowicki is able to blast players over and over. In 217 games he’s recorded 17 points, 436 penalty minutes and 939 hits.  Still, some would complain that the team would be better off with a more capable puck moving defenseman that can move up in the lineup. The team seems to be in no danger of needing him to play more minutes though, as Dion Phaneuf, Johnny Oduya are both locked in on the left side with Thomas Chabot and Ben Harpur still to come.

$1.2MM will be just a slight increase on the $1.1MM he earns this year, but will help the Senators keep costs low as they inch closer to an Erik Karlsson extension. The team has to sign Mark Stone, Kyle Turris and Cody Ceci this summer, while Karlsson and Derick Brassard are up the year after that. It doesn’t look like they’ll be able to keep everyone happy, so plugging in a relatively cheap veteran option on the bottom pair helps quite a bit.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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